Dragon Dowser
A downloadable game
"Using your dowsing crystal, you must overcome the elements, uncover ancient mysteries, avoid the attentions of a tyrannical ruler and save the last of the dragon eggs."
Dragon Dowser is a solo journaling RPG using the Carta SRD by Peach Garden Games.
'The Carta SRD is a great toolkit for setting up games of exploration. It is played with a deck of cards and this will allow you to have a different game every single time you play - which is just awesome!' - WuDeRPG via Twitter
'Looks immediately intriguing! The art! the name! The whole thing!' - Nemo via discord
You play a mysterious character known as a 'Dowser'. Your aim is to locate abandoned dragon eggs and return them to your Sanctuary. If you succeed before expending your resources, the hatchling you rescue will be reared to change the kingdom forever!
Throughout this task, you will be tested in four distinct ways, each associated with a different playing card suit.
♥️ Community: Associated with culture and people.
♣️ Conflict: Associated with war and intolerance.
♦️ Mystery: Associated with exploration and secrets.
♠️ Survival: Associated with landscape and weather.
'Rich has been an invaluable member of the team from WOAD's inception. Generating fresh ideas for gameplay, establishing fundamental mechanics and consulting throughout development.' - Art of Arklin
The Carta system will have you traversing a spread of 24 playing cards (6x4 grid) answering journaling prompts as you go. Your aim is to find a preselected dragon egg (Ace) and return it safely to your Sanctuary (Joker). Journaling has you answering a series of questions to form a picture of your experiences.
You begin the game with 8 resource tokens, which can be increased or expended depending on the cards you reveal. The lower the number on the playing card, the higher the drain on your resources. Revealing a 2 of any suit is calamitous, whilst a King is the ultimate boon!
The four Aces represent different eggs, but also distinct narrative conclusions. If you choose the Ace of ❤️s for example, with adulthood, your dragon will overthrow the ruler with help from the community. However, if it's the Ace of ♠️s, they'll use the environment to their advantage.
If you reveal an egg not chosen from the start, it will turn up broken. By offering a blessing and burying the shell fragments, you will gain resources.
Two Sanctuary cards are placed on the outside of the grid. You can begin from and return to either of these as you play. Once your rescued egg is taken to a Sanctuary, you'll be asked to journal the experience of rearing the hatchling to adulthood and describe how it influenced the world when released.
The beauty of journaling games is in the sheer variety of potential stories. With 48 cards, each displaying 3 open-ended questions, every playthrough will be unique and every experience distinctly personal.
For example, in one session the tyrannical ruler could be consuming dragon egg yolks for eternal youth. In another, they could simply be greedy for land. Whatever your answers to the prompts, Dragon Dowser is certain to ignite the imagination!
For the physical book and custom card deck, head to Indie Press Revolution
Download
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Exclusive content
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Digital Edition
Digital PDF of the Dragon Dowser core rules.
Development log
- Physical books & card decks!46 days ago
- Physical edition now available!Mar 27, 2024
- Dragon Dowser PDFsJul 18, 2023
- Autumn card updateSep 24, 2022
- Dragon Dowser is LIVE!Aug 16, 2022
Comments
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Hey,
Would it be possible to have the cards already at the right size so I could just print them and sleeve them ? The full page pdf of the cards isn't really useful.
Thanks !
Hey,
I just bought this game through Drive Thru RPG because I had a birthday gift certificate there and it was the same price as here (though in US funds) but seems to only have come with the main PDF? I was really hoping to print it in Spreads and be able to play with your cards. Is it possible to also get those files from you?
Thanks,
Megan
Hello! I sent an email but I haven’t received a response. Hopefully I can get answers more quickly here. I purchased this game through the website and not itch. However, although the cost is the same, I sm missing files that are listed here including the track spreads, playing cards. I am requesting these additional files. Thank you.
No problem, I’ll send you a free key for the files here. Expect a response tonight.
Apologies, I can't find your email for some reason. Could you send it again to hatchlingdm@gmail.com when you get the chance?
Resent with confirmation of my Itch.io name in the email, too.
Thank you so much I appreciate it!
Any chance there is a printable version without the background?
As a nominee for the 2024 CRiT Awards, please note their policy of Jew-exclusion at https://x.com/crit_awards/status/1801754068773441586 and consider whether you want your name associated with this blatant Jew-hatred.
I know it’s not pleasant to be put on the spot, so I’m NOT asking for a public statement. Please take the time to evaluate what’s going on before commenting. But I’m certain you’ll decide to do the right thing long before the July 7th deadline for withdrawing.
Great! Next year is good, too. Being a bit closer to Essen than you guys I can go both years. But I definitely will note it down.
Hi!
Is it possible that you'll be at "Spiel" in Essen in September/Oktober?
Assja
Would love to go, but I’m saving all my big trips abroad for next year. Will be GAMA, Essen and Big Bad Con.
Hi, I backed this on itch.io in 2022 on the Queen tier and recently received my physical rewards. However I am missing the die cut sticker that was supposed to come, as described in your message on 23/05/23 via itch.io following the Kickstarter launch. Is this something that can be fixed?
Thank you.
I've bought this game in the "Solo but not Alone" bundle. This game is awesome and has a very nice atmosphere to it. I like the evocative prompts and the simple mechanic.
However, the file available to me was "pdf only" and had no cards. Where can I get access to the printable cards? It would certainly make my games more immersive.
In March I will place the cards on our website for download.
Where can we buy a physical copy? Previous links appear to be closed or just not available
You can now order from our website… as of today coincidentally. www.hatchlingsgames.co.uk
got it :)
Looks like it only ships to UK or US. Any idea when shipping to Canada will open up?
We’ll be sending a bunch of copies to Indie Press Revolution in July. That will be your best bet for picking up a copy.
This is a fun, quick to learn game that can be played with anyone of any age! I was lucky enough to back the kickstarter and have a physical copy with the special cards that go with the game and couldn't be happier.
Hi! I’m an educator looking at trying these to get my reluctant readers to write. Do you have a signup list for community copies? This seems like it’s kid-friendly and interesting. :)
Hi, any chance of the cards being available for PNP ?
+1 👍
Is it still possible to get the physical version?
Absolutely. Head to our preorder page.
https://dragon-dowser.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
How long for the next batch of printed books to ship?
I really enjoyed reading through the game! I made a short video about it!
Very fun game! This is a perfect solo-journaling game in that it builds the story SO well from prompting the player in addition to having great mechanics. The artwork for this is also absolutely beautiful.
I definitely recommend, and check out the review on TTRPGkids here:
https://www.ttrpgkids.com/2023/05/23/review-of-dragon-dowser-a-solo-journaling-t...
My daughter and I have a podcast about playing roleplaying games with kids: Almost Bedtime Theater. If you are interested in a review and a short actual play of the Dragon Dowser, you can hear us go through it in Episode 19. Even though the game is designed for solo play, it worked out great as a collaborative story game for the two of us!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1505161/12856657
I'm still super excited about getting my hands on this game one day! I really do hope that folks come across this and continue to help it reach its target.
Um do we get charged once it reaches 100%?
No, you get charged immediately. It doesn't work the same way as other crowdfunds that succeed or fail on a goal like Kickstarter. Regardless, we have enough funding to produce the cards we wanted, so the book and deck will be delivered complete.
Ah OK thank you! Sorry was puzzled when the charge didn't go through right away.
Hello! I wanted to let you know that the third card down is titled "Queen of Spades" but the symbol is a K -- which is for the King. In addition /she/her pronouns are used in the card text :)
I'm really looking forward to this game! I've bene wanting to try a solo jrpg for a while and this is set to be the one!
Congrats on reaching 50% goal! Would you be showing a gameplay video, that would certainly help some of those who are on the fence! Marching forward to 100%!
Stunning game and wonderful execution. Very excited to see this live!
This looks so great! Very well put together Itch page too!
Thanks Ben!
Where will this game be shipped from? Just so ppl can gauge shipping/tax
It'll be shipped from the UK by ShipQuest for backers here and in Europe.
Indie Press Revolution will handle US orders.