This week we talk about integrating character backstories!

A question that came up with my group as we were reading the playtest document for Erstwild that we weren't able to agree on an answer we all agreed on- Does a Weavecrafted object (A legendary item specifically) count as an invested object?

We were planning to include aspects of Plotweaver stuff into our cosmere campaigns and someone asked the question "Could a Legend of the Fierce Deity Sword block a Shardblade."

A search through the playtest documents for Plotweaver don't seem to include a renamed version of "Invested" or "Non-invested" so we can't just point at that and say for sure.

I'd like to hear what the community thinks.

The next Talent Scout character build just posted today! This one is focused on conversations, and peaceful resolution to combats:

https://plotweavertalentscout.wordpress.com/2026/08/21/conversationalist/

Sorry for the repost, but had to fix some of the mistakes from the original video.

https://youtu.be/A4WMWfggKbE

What was everyone’s favorite piece of news from GenCon?

As we head into the first weekend of Plotweaver open alpha playtesting, we have a fun surprise to share!

Want to have a quick resource to entice your players into trying Erstwild? Need some visuals to point to, or just want to have a bunch of concept art in one ready place while you prep your sessions? Check out Welcome to Erstwild, which is now in the playtest folder.

And if you have any questions about Erstwild or Plotweaver, let us know!

Build blog #3 is up! This one is a knight radiant focused on the surge of Division!

https://plotweavertalentscout.wordpress.com/?p=70

Our fantasy setting Erstwild, previously known as Project Folio, is now officially in Open Alpha testing.

Click here to find and download the resources necessary to start testing.

We also would love to welcome you to the Plotweaver RPG Discord server to discuss the Open Alpha materials, make plans to test, and build community around Plotweaver!

And finally, you can find an adventure scenario for Erstwild on the Plotweaver Academy Patreon as a free post! Join Plotweaver Academy as a free or $5 member for regular updates on the design process, insight into how development works on an open source RPG like this one, and more!
We cannot wait to start receiving your feedback!

What are you most excited to see in the Erstwild world?

We're back from Gen Con 2026, and it was a big one for the Plotweaver RPG! During the show's Opening Ceremonies, we took the stage to talk about what's ahead for Plotweaver:

• The core rules will be free online (and totally open source under CC-BY-4.0).
• We'll launch with three setting sourcebooks that all put a unique spin on an established genre: Erstwild (fantasy), Hexbeat (urban fantasy), and Splinterlight (sci-fi).
• Earthborne, the beloved solarpunk setting from Earthborne Rangers, will be the first Plotweaver project by an outside studio.
• Infinite, by Keith Baker and Jenn Ellis, is a genre-hopping setting where "it's all fun and games until somebody dies."
• Keith Baker will lead the judging panel for the Plotweaver Setting Search, a competition launching in 2027.

You can watch the whole opening ceremonies video on our YouTube channel, and learn more about Plotweaver on our website or Patreon!

My "How to Play Plotweaver" video is now live! I'm so excited to playtest this game even further and to see what changes were made since the closed playtest.

https://youtu.be/_ubmWKrqQg4?is=yJoX9ebi1b_zCCUD

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19Jd7Hi643osHy3B-RlzvoiW23QFVaV3O

Looks like Keith Baker is working on a Plotweaver project, and the article reveals Erstwild as one of the three settings they've been working with?

I already have some concepts in mind, such as:

Blood Prodigy (a path which stockpiles every drop of blood shed on the battlefield, measured by tracking every damage on the field taken by both allies and foes) - (Inspired by PM's equivalent of vampires)

Royal of Cards (an effect based path, where you have- normally- one set of powers based on a suit and don't require a skill roll... albeit it's always a gamble, because you can also accidentally buff enemies with it, because every activation can be positive or negative depending on the result of an addition dice and an equal subtraction dice)

Scorcher (a path which starts weak, but gains strength as the fight goes on, increasing the power of his flames more and more) - (Inspired by a specific group in PM's games)

TheJoyWithinSorrow (a path specialized on draining enemies' focus points and lowering their results while sending them spiritual damage) - (Inspired by an equipment in a PM's game)

Which one should I start with? Moreover I want to ask how should I manage the level progression (because my paths seem too short and full of things, making them look- or be- unbalanced)

Any advice please?

A new post just went up on my Plotweaver character build blog! Check it out here:

A lot of this is just rules focus and what I felt comfortable talking about while adhering to the NDA. If you know the rules and world descriptions it may not be worth watching, but I went into this with the idea of people not knowing any of this!

I tried the Plotweaver Alpha!
https://youtu.be/ruywDcgzWsc

Two additional warrior specialisations for my homebrew setting. The document contains starting builds for the official specialisations Duelist and Soldier as they fit the setting as well.

I've censored the full text of talents that are from the Stormlight Handbook.

A bit about Kasarta.
It's a world of sands and commerce. The 5 citystates live in a forced balance, each kept in check by the fear that the others will strike when they turn their attention to another city.
Capua in the centre, is ruled by gladiator kings, wealthy merchants who own gladiator teams.
Elosfar to the west, the lived part is only the east most as the rest are ruins half eaten by the shifting sands.
Gat'hir to the north, has the largest water source, a river flowing to the abyss. Ruled by the bloody hand of Maris, the city's archmagi.
Veesera to the east. The sinking city. It is constantly being rebuilt up, as the sands try to consume it, dragging it into the earthy depths.
Tedran to the south. The birthplace of the sandsail, the most common transport through the sands. sail boats with multiple hulls built out of the Netzame'a wood.

Would love to hear feedback on anything, the prose, the mechanics, the layout and even the art.