Identity, gender, (super)power and resistance

Bound by Conviction is a System Reference Document (SRD) for designing tabletop role-playing games about identity, gender, (super)power and resistance. It uses a token-based system to tell stories about an allegorical prison, where characters within struggle to be authentic and free against social norms, a terrifying villain and fate itself.

The SRD is based on W.H. Arthur's CONVICT-ION, winner of Nonbinary Tabletop Award 2025, which can be found here: aryl-ether.itch.io/convict-ion

Themes

Inspired by the writings of Judith Butler and Michel Foucault, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki, the Persona series by Atlus and the Life is Strange series by Don’t Nod/Deck Nine, a Bound by Conviction game has the following themes:

• A critical look at systems and structures in society that seek to enforce norms and suppress individuality
• Characters with convictions who strive to be their authentic selves despite it all
• Superpowers that are linked to one’s identity
• A terrifying villain with some degree of authority
• A fascination with campiness or the bizarre

Inspirations

• Dream Askew/Dream Apart (Belonging Outside Belonging) by Avery Alder and Benjamin Rosenbaum
• Sleepaway by Jay Dragon
• Flortsam: Adrift Amongst the Stars by Joshua Fox
• Apocalypse World by D. Vincent Baker and Meguey Baker

Open License

Bound by Conviction is available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. You are free to make your own Bound by Conviction game as long as you give appropriate credit.

Game Jam

Join us in the Bound by Conviction Game Jam here: https://itch.io/jam/bound-by-conviction-game-jam

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The download includes the PDF document as well as the Bound by Conviction logo.