Tabletop publisher Hit Point Press (Humblewood, Field Guide To Floral Dragons) today launched the Kickstarter campaign for SHIFT, a new setting agnostic TTRPG from designers Jordan Richer and Graeme Fotheringham. While Hit Point Press has published original indie TTRPGs in the past like If I Were A Lich, Man and the Constellation RPG Anthology, SHIFT is their very first to be developed in-house.
What is SHIFT?
SHIFT is a pick up-and-play game system that allows players and GMs to collaborate on stories in worlds of their own creation. SHIFT’s minimal ruleset allows players to create characters and start playing in minutes.
All the systems in SHIFT revolve around one core mechanic, Shift dice. Whether it’s a character’s dwindling energy levels, the standoffish attitude of a favorite vendor or the condition of a weapon after a recent skirmish, the Shift dice system represents it all. It’s a simple mechanic that allows game masters and players to focus on the stories they wish to tell.
SHIFT is a full, standalone system that doesn’t require any other rulesets to play.
SHIFT System Features
Dynamic Action Resolution. Players mix and match their character’s abilities and resources with every roll to directly affect the narrative. Successful rolls can still have downsides, and failed rolls advance the story.
Fast Paced Encounters. Whether your characters are in the heat of battle or bargaining for a coveted prize at the local market, SHIFT’s simple mechanics keep things moving and provide players with meaningful decisions to make.
Many Worlds. Whether you wish to explore space and the mysteries of unknown planets, rise up against the evils of your favorite fantasy setting, or band together to survive the perils of a post-apocalyptic landscape; SHIFT is adaptable to any setting you wish to play in!
Simple and Fast Character Creation. Players choose abilities (called focus traits in SHIFT) for their character and customize them with Keywords, which reflect the character’s specialties. No two characters are the same!
A Game Designer’s Playground. Because all aspects of SHIFT are built from the same Shift die mechanic, creating custom NPCs, adversaries, items and abilities is intuitive and easy. Players and GMs can design their own custom rules with ease, adding depth to their settings without increasing the complexity of the game!
Story-first Mechanics. SHIFT’s mechanics are designed to keep the narrative of your game front and center. Dice are rolled and actions are resolved quickly without any math.
The SHIFT Kickstarter Campaign will run Tuesday, October 7–Thursday, November 6, 2025. You can stay up to date by following on Bluesky at @shiftrpg.bsky.social and @hitpointpress.bsky.social, Twitter at @SHIFTRPG or @hitpointpress, or on Hitpoint’s Instagram and Facebook. You can learn more and check out the playtest materials at the SHIFT RPG website.
Images via Hit Point Press
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