A downloadable template

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Craft the next classic fantasy rpg zine with this time-slaying, grid-taming, torch-swinging layout template. 

It's all the basics you need with no added fluff or tedious details. A sword to your workflow. This starter template also comes packaged with the full template's guide and sample document, which includes multiple layouts, copy-n-paste features, and, of course, tips and tricks for how to bring it all together. 

The following is included in this starter template pack:

  • InDesign file (Compatible w/ Adobe CC)
  • InDesign file (Compatible with CS6+)
  • Publisher Package (Compatible w/ Affinity 2)
  • Publisher File (Compatible w/ Affinity 1)
  • Canva Template Link (Compatible in-browsers)
  • 4 Open Fonts w/ Language Support
  • Classic Explorer Guide PDF
  • User Instructions

What does this template make?

An old-school style A5 zine with small but legible type. It's perfect for adventures, games, and campaigns in the style of Cairne, Into the Odd, and adventures like The Isle, Silent Titans, and Deep Carbon Observatory.

What's not included?

This template doesn't have art, copy, or instructions for how to print or distribute your game. For those adventures, you'll need to turn to the internet. 


Ready for more?

Upgrade to the full template and get much more from your hard-earned coin. The full Classic Explorer Template offers everything here (including the same files), in addition to all the bones and pieces of the guide laid out for you to play with. 

That's twice as much utility and a lot less of your time spent in the design mines. 

Check it out on the Explorers Design storefront. 


Explorers Design Studio

Keep on exploring!

Gawk at the wood paneling and trophies of past adventures in Explorers Design. A boutique studio on a quest to discover the power of design in tabletop rpgs. There you'll find articles that delve into the design dungeons of other great games, including how-to guides on how to be just like them. 

You can find the link to Explorers by clicking here.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this template in Scribus? 

No, this template was built for Adobe InDesign and Affinity 1 & 2. However, you can still read and play around with the files for free by downloading the free starter template. 

The metadata is citing you as the author! How do I fix this?

Sometimes these programs are stubborn. To change the metadata in InDesign, got to: files > file info. In Affinity Publisher 1, go to: view studio > fields. And in Affinity Publisher 2, go to: windows references fields. 

Can I change anything in this template? Even the fonts?

Yes, you have full creative control. The templates are meant to act as starting points. Be warned: Once you start, you won't want to stop. Design is addictive. Can I sell the games I make with this template?

Yes! You can sell and release whatever you make. All you have to do is cite me and Explorers Design somewhere in the document. This product is released under Creative Commons and gives you the irrevocable right to remix and modify this template however you like. You can even release your project under a different, more restrictive license. 


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Explorers Design
StatusReleased
CategoryPhysical game
Publisher
Release date May 24, 2023
Rating
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
(28 total ratings)
AuthorExplorers Design
GenreEducational, Role Playing
Made withAdobe Illustrator
Tagsaffinity-publisher, Fantasy, Game Design, indesign, layout, OSR, Tabletop, Tabletop role-playing game
Asset licenseCreative Commons Attribution v4.0 International
Average sessionA few hours
LanguagesEnglish
AccessibilityColor-blind friendly, High-contrast
LinksBlog, Homepage

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

Classic Explorer Starter Template.zip 4.7 MB

Comments

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Hi, just wanted to let you know that the canva link is not working.

Thanks for letting me know! I'll try to fix that.(It probably broke during the recent Canva updates.)
Try this link instead: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFlKaE3JZU/PecYla2p5N3TmPJb80_h4A/edit?utm_content... 

I've been using half-letter instead of A5, as i reasoned that printing half-letter on A5 gives wider gutters while printing A5 on half-letter gives wider top and bottom margins. Somehow, that translated in my non-design-trained head as being a nicer whitespace to aid reading. Does that make sense, or am i just overthinking it? Either way, thanks for the gorgeous template!

(+3)

The US Half Letter is only about .2 inches taller than the A5 at the expense of being almost .3 inches narrower. 

I think in the case of this template, width is more valuable than length. The narrower your paragraphs, the choppier the writing can feel. 

That said, the change can feel pretty minimal. It depends on the project! 

Some tips for readability: 

  • Remember to keep sidebars short. No more than 2-4 lines. Avoid one-word lines.
  • Try not to hyphenate words across lines.
  • Embrace the paragraph. Multiple singular lines broken by space can feel disjointed. When that feels unavoidable, consider using lists or tables.

That makes sense!

(+1)

Thanks for sharing- looking forwards to putting something together with this!

(+1)

Feel free to come back with any questions you might have!