Playtest Update! Reviewing Our Survey Results!
Today, I’m sharing the first round of feedback we received for the Guardians of Getica playtest—a sub-setting I’m developing with kids and families in mind. If this is the first time you’re hearing about it, here’s the gist: Guardians of Getica is designed to be a safe and fun way to introduce kids to the world of tabletop RPGs. Kids and elders are the only ones who can see the Frights, monstrous creatures that feed on fear, and it’s up to these young heroes to protect the realm.
The playtest packet included three simplified classes (Protector, Explorer, and Keeper), six pre-generated characters, and a starter adventure called The Creepies of Willow Creek. While I used 5E as a base, the setting is meant to be system-agnostic—it can slot into your home game, whether you’re running 5E, Pathfinder, or something else entirely.
Here’s what we learned from the playtest results:
What system did you use? 100% of respondents used 5E, which was a good call for the base packet.
How much fun did the kids have? 25% gave it a 4 out of 5, and the rest gave it a 5—so the kids are having a great time!
What part of the setting was the most popular? Half of respondents said the kids being the heroes was the most exciting part, with the secret organization vibe and the idea that only kids and elders can see the Frights also getting lots of love.
Did you use the sample adventure? 50% ran it as-is, and 50% modified it to fit their own campaign style.
The overall takeaway? The Guardians of Getica concept really resonated, with kids especially enjoying the idea of being the heroes who see what others can’t. Adults described the vibe as nostalgic, reminiscent of ‘80s and ‘90s cartoons. And everyone appreciated the simplified mechanics, which helped kids jump in and have fun right away.
Where can we improve?
Clarifying the Frights concept and how they fit with traditional monsters—some confusion there, so I’m working on better explaining it.
Expanding the types of Frights with unique abilities and challenges to keep the setting fresh.
More visual aids and presentation materials like maps and color-coded character sheets—right now it’s very bare-bones, so I’m planning to flesh that out.
Expanding the lore—some of you want to know more about the Guardians’ history and how they fit into the world. I’m thinking about how to do that while leaving room for you to customize it for your table.
One suggestion I loved: using Hero Forge to create custom visuals for the kids’ characters. We’re big fans of Hero Forge here too—I’m an affiliate partner, so check out the link in the description if you want to build your own custom mini or digital token!
Overall, I’m really encouraged by the positive feedback and can’t wait to roll out more material. If you haven’t signed up for the playtest yet, there’s still time!
The link’s in the video description, and once you sign up you’ll have access to everything I’ve released so far—including two more adventures: The Rusty Menace and The Missing Elder.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this project, so head over to the video and let me know what you think!
Cheers,
Brian