Critical Core

Harness the power of therapeutic gaming with Critical Core!

Critical Core is a fun, easy-to-understand tabletop RPG that helps new and experienced game masters run epic games. Players build social confidence and connect with family, friends, and the world around them. 

Critical Core includes two thoughtfully designed reference books, three game modules specially designed to make any game master look like an experienced veteran, and a plethora of additional tools which make the game accessible to new and experienced players alike. It is enhanced with Game to Grow’s therapeutic foundation, backed by years of therapeutically applied role-playing game experience and specifically designed to build social confidence and collaboration between players. 

With Critical Core, you can bring the benefits of intentional gaming into your own home!

Critical Core

Critical Core was designed to get everyone, regardless of experience level, playing a tabletop role-playing game with as little preparation as possible. Even the game master will be ready to start playing right away! Not only are the reference books and modules spectacular for new game masters, but even experienced game masters will find valuable new tips and tricks to hone their skills and that they’ll use for years to come. The modules, rules, and game itself are built to support an open collaboration and a playful mentality, creating an engaging and fun experience in each play session. The Critical Core has everything game masters and players need to get started and play through hours of beautifully crafted and diverse stories. 

What’s Inside?

Game Master's Guide

Regardless of experience level, game masters can dive in and begin running groups, with this simplified ruleset, making elements of the game mechanics easier than any other tabletop role-playing game to pick-up and play.

Facilitator's Guide

Packed with best practices and tips to help parents and professionals run effective game groups, the facilitator’s guide provides game masters with tactics that help players flourish in several ways on their own terms. Here’s just a subset!

• Help kids who may often struggle to fit in to feel welcome and valuable
• Build social confidence for kids who have struggled with friendships
• Support the development of self-advocacy skills during group work
• Use game events to provide opportunities to view events and feelings from other perspectives, even when emotions are heightened and intense  
• Support formation of friendships and caring for others 
• Manage group dynamics when conflict emerges
• Adjust the game for a range of player needs

3 Starter Adventure Modules

The unique module layout has been carefully designed using over a decade’s worth of experience running therapeutic game groups. The clean and simplified 2-page encounters, or scenes, have everything a game master needs to cater to the needs and interests of their players with a digestible amount of flexibility and structure making any GM seem like a pro. Gameplay is balanced and dynamic, featuring role-play, combat, and exploration. There are moments of drama and comedy, hope and fear, triumph and disaster, all designed to keep players engaged and eager to come back session after session.

The Little Town of Tusk:

 While trying to help a new friend escape certain death after an encounter in a tavern, adventurers start to unravel dark secrets that must be protected at all costs. This classic dungeon crawl adventure is generally light in tone and fun for all players, a great introduction to the world of role-playing games for both players and game masters.

The Festival of the Birds:

While relaxing at an exoteric festival in the city of Myren, players and villagers alike are attacked by hordes of bugs! The players embark on an adventure to relieve the city of their newfound pestilence. The player characters navigate unknown depths, encounter new friends, and battle mysterious creatures to bring peace back to the city of Myren and restore the success of its festival.

The Age Of Green:

A diplomatic mission for the town of Fildree takes players through the dangerous Living Woods only to discover a threat that could bring about the end of the world. As they work to restore balance to the world the player characters must negotiate with ancient dragons, discover lost magics, and travel across the map and in an exploration of new and fantastical biomes. All in a day's work for your average adventurer, right?! 

Pre-generated Character Sheets

Critical Core comes with 8 illustrated character sheets designed with everything players need to jump right in. The simple layout is rich with content acting as a players guide and a character sheet all in one.

Module Maps

Maps for game-play are in the module and also in separate files so you can easily use the maps in your digital game space.

World Map

An ultra high resolution printable map of Toverus - the world of Critical Core. You'll find lots of details that will spark your imagination if you want to build your own adventures

Additional Resources

Critical Core also includes additional tools available to help improve engagement at the table such as: Spell Cards, Monster Cards, and Ability Cards, and Printable Game Tokens. Everything that you need to play and more!

Join into the fun and growth of Critical Core today!