Both! You are free to add any depth and complexity, and I can't take credit for it. It belongs to you 100%! I've learned a lot through how other people use my system, but I will never own their games or their tech. Hope this answers your question!
omg that sounds amazing! i hope i can punch a n*zi in it! thank you so much for choosing my lil system! drop a link when you're done and i'll check it out!
I'm a budding game designer, about to publish some of my work soon for sale.
I have to give you all my thanks! Because Caltrop Core has provided a large part of the basis of my latest project, Corkscrew, a journaling experience based on the Saw franchise.
this really made my day T_T thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment!! i'm so glad caltrop core could help you along! good luck with your first publication!!!!!
For the new optional rule, how is “You don’t get what you want, but you gain a benefit” and “You get what you want, but things get complicated” meaningfully different? It feels like it’s mostly semantic and would have an almost identical result in the game.
Thanks for your question! 3 is still a success (Partial Success), and 2 is still a failure (Partial Failure). Since the roll should have been triggered by a player character wanting to accomplish something, a 3 would mean they accomplish it but there's a catch. A 2 would be them not accomplishing their goal, but they gain some other kind of benefit or opportunity. Previously, a 2 would do nothing at all. For certain genres, like heists, this is still useful (you don't successfully pick the lock, but nothing else happens. you can try again. in our new optional rule case, perhaps the next roll is easier somehow). In my own games, sometimes rolling a 2 feels like it deflates the table a little. The new optional rule is to allow a 2 to be more dynamic for genres/games that want it. Hope this clarifies!
I was making a little game based on responses from solo oracles, and I popped over to the ttrpg dev subreddit to ask a few questions about probability. Someone told me about this game and it's very similar to what I had in mind. It's awesome and I love everything you have created around this idea.
I loved this SRD, got to know it by playing Bloodless and it inspired me to create a game of my own: https://vinisoul.itch.io/slenders-mystery. Thank you for your creation!
Holy crap this looks AMAZING!! Just purchased and can't wait to dig in! Such a coincidence, too--I've been on an internet horror kick lately, so this is perfect timing! Thank YOU for choosing to bless my lil system with your creativity and ideas!!
Fun SRD, really well written and easy to turn into a game — thank you for designing it! I wrote a little solo one pager from it and I’m still smiling thinking of it: https://dsteph.itch.io/airport-cat
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hey, is "Any complexity and depth you add is all you" means "you are free to add complexity" or "what you add is belong to you"? thx!
Both! You are free to add any depth and complexity, and I can't take credit for it. It belongs to you 100%! I've learned a lot through how other people use my system, but I will never own their games or their tech. Hope this answers your question!
Thank you for your reply!
I finally got around to trying to write a caltrop core game. It's about werewolf punk rockers.
omg that sounds amazing! i hope i can punch a n*zi in it! thank you so much for choosing my lil system! drop a link when you're done and i'll check it out!
Heh, I did include a short list of prompts that include thwarting a fash attempt to raise a nazi ghost.
https://damianoddson.itch.io/paws
This SRD is so useful! I released a game a week ago that uses it alongside the Aspire SRD, and I just realized I forgot to let you know what I made.

Here's Dolorine, a Caltrop Core game that is also Built with Aspire: https://open-story-games.itch.io/dolorine
I'm a budding game designer, about to publish some of my work soon for sale.
I have to give you all my thanks! Because Caltrop Core has provided a large part of the basis of my latest project, Corkscrew, a journaling experience based on the Saw franchise.
This is your fault and I love you for it.
this really made my day T_T thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment!! i'm so glad caltrop core could help you along! good luck with your first publication!!!!!
For the new optional rule, how is “You don’t get what you want, but you gain a benefit” and “You get what you want, but things get complicated” meaningfully different? It feels like it’s mostly semantic and would have an almost identical result in the game.
Thanks for your question! 3 is still a success (Partial Success), and 2 is still a failure (Partial Failure). Since the roll should have been triggered by a player character wanting to accomplish something, a 3 would mean they accomplish it but there's a catch. A 2 would be them not accomplishing their goal, but they gain some other kind of benefit or opportunity. Previously, a 2 would do nothing at all. For certain genres, like heists, this is still useful (you don't successfully pick the lock, but nothing else happens. you can try again. in our new optional rule case, perhaps the next roll is easier somehow). In my own games, sometimes rolling a 2 feels like it deflates the table a little. The new optional rule is to allow a 2 to be more dynamic for genres/games that want it. Hope this clarifies!
Ah okay that makes more sense. Thanks!
I was making a little game based on responses from solo oracles, and I popped over to the ttrpg dev subreddit to ask a few questions about probability. Someone told me about this game and it's very similar to what I had in mind. It's awesome and I love everything you have created around this idea.
I loved this SRD, got to know it by playing Bloodless and it inspired me to create a game of my own: https://vinisoul.itch.io/slenders-mystery. Thank you for your creation!
Holy crap this looks AMAZING!! Just purchased and can't wait to dig in! Such a coincidence, too--I've been on an internet horror kick lately, so this is perfect timing! Thank YOU for choosing to bless my lil system with your creativity and ideas!!
Fun SRD, really well written and easy to turn into a game — thank you for designing it! I wrote a little solo one pager from it and I’m still smiling thinking of it: https://dsteph.itch.io/airport-cat
Is there going to be a Caltrop Core Jam #3?
Awesome system that I am excited to use!
Yay thank you!! I'm so glad!