Martin Buinicki, Ph.D., Professor of English and Richard P. Baepler Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, has released a new book, “Designing TTRPGs for Dummies”, through Wiley’s long-running “for Dummies” series. Over the course of the book Professor Buinicki gives veteran players and curious newcomers a detailed guide on how to get into the hobby and create epic adventures with tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).
With the prominence of TTRPGs in popular media, including “Stranger Things,” the industry has been projected to see 13% growth per-year through 2028, reaching $40 billion in revenue and attracting countless new players. “Designing TTRPGs for Dummies” gives those new players a solid start on many of the core aspects of the hobby in a format that’s digestible for beginners.
“One of the hurdles is this idea that the rules are very complex. I hope that one of the things my book might do is, by explaining how the rules work, you can realize that they’re not really that complicated, and that there are hundreds of games now with all kinds of rulesets.”
Chapters in the book cover topics ranging from worldbuilding to specific mechanics, with advice on how to select an appropriate genre for a setting, rule systems for combat, crafting a compelling story and more. Those wanting to share their creations with a broader audience can also find guidance on how to format their story for publication, and the steps needed to see their work in print.
A lifelong enjoyer of pen-and-paper adventures, Professor Buinicki began playing tabletop games with early editions of Dungeons and Dragons and is currently the lead writer for TTRPG company Gaming Honors. Since 2022, he has taught RPG writing at Valparaiso University, an experience that shines through in his book.
“The voice that I use in my classroom is pretty much the voice I use in this book. It’s supposed to be engaging and encouraging, and when you’re preparing for a class, you want to think about how to get your students to get from one point to another. This book was a great opportunity for me to do that chapter by chapter.”
In addition to his work in RPG writing, Buinicki has been dedicated to introducing the learning potential of gaming across Valparaiso University’s campus. The Center for Games and Interactive Entertainment opened in February of 2025 as a unique space to explore video games, board games, TTRPGs and streaming. He has also been instrumental in the University’s relationship with Goodman Games, a TTRPG publisher that has brought multiple Valpo students on as interns.
“Designing TTRPGs for Dummies” is available wherever books are sold. To learn more about Professor Buinicki’s work in incorporating gaming in education, click here. To learn how gaming is impacting other courses at Valpo, click here to learn about a collaboration between the Music and Computer science departments.
