In the ever-expanding landscape of tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), the genre has often been dominated by high-stakes tactical combat and sprawling epic fantasy campaigns. However, a recent trend toward rules-light, narrative-driven experiences has opened the door for something more whimsical and decidedly more chaotic. Enter Hello Wizard, I Have a Problem, a new TTRPG that invites players to shed the mantle of the "competent hero" and instead embrace the mantle of the powerful, yet profoundly incompetent, spellcaster. Created by designer Sam Armstrong, this upcoming title positions itself as a love letter to absurdist comedy. Drawing clear inspiration from the surrealist humor of Monty Python, the dry wit of What We Do in the Shadows, and the offbeat energy of The Mighty Boosh, the game promises a tabletop experience defined by rapid-fire scenes, catastrophic magical failures, and the kind of collaborative storytelling where the punchline is almost always more important than the character sheet. The Core Concept: Failure as a Feature At its heart, Hello Wizard, I Have a Problem dismantles the traditional power fantasy. In most fantasy RPGs, magic is a tool of precision and control. In Armstrong’s latest creation, magic is a volatile, unpredictable force that is as likely to turn your party members into sentient cabbages as it is to solve the problem at hand. The gameplay loop is uniquely democratic. Unlike traditional systems that rely on a single Games Master (GM) to arbitrate the entire narrative, Hello Wizard employs a rotating spotlight mechanic. In every scene, one player takes the lead as the active spellcaster, attempting to solve a situation with their magic. The remaining players collectively assume the role of the GM, not to provide a narrative framework, but to decide exactly how the active player’s spell goes horribly, hilariously wrong. This shift in power dynamics ensures that no one is burdened with the role of "judge" for the duration of the session. Instead, the responsibility—and the joy—of creating chaos is shared equally across the table. It is a system built on the principle that the most memorable stories are rarely the ones where the plan goes perfectly; they are the stories where everything catches fire, and the characters have to scramble to pick up the pieces. Chronology of a Magical Misadventure The development of Hello Wizard represents a natural evolution in Sam Armstrong’s design philosophy. Having previously gained notoriety for his work on All Bastard—a game that explored the duality of heroes and their defeated foes—and the horror-tinged Slasher, Armstrong has consistently shown an interest in subverting tropes. Conceptualization: Armstrong began prototyping the mechanics for a "wizard failure" system, focusing on the intersection of improv theater and fantasy tropes. Artistic Integration: Recognizing the need for a visual identity that matched the game’s offbeat tone, Armstrong partnered with illustrator Evlyn Moreau. Known for her work on Liminal High School, Moreau provided a distinct, whimsical aesthetic that grounds the game’s absurdity in evocative character and creature designs. Playtesting and Refinement: Throughout the development phase, the focus remained on accessibility. Armstrong stripped away complex modifiers and stat-heavy tracking, favoring a system that allows players to jump into the narrative within minutes of sitting down. Crowdfunding Launch: The project moved to Kickstarter, capturing the attention of the indie TTRPG community by offering a low barrier to entry and a promise of high-replayability through its unique procedural generation tools. Supporting Data: The Infinite Problem Generator One of the most innovative features of Hello Wizard is the "Problem Generator." Recognizing that even the most creative players can occasionally hit a wall, the rulebook includes a comprehensive engine designed to spark immediate inspiration. The generator is capable of producing over 200,000 distinct prompts for magical malfunctions. By consulting these tables, players can ensure that the "consequences" of their spells are always fresh, bizarre, and perfectly calibrated to the tone of the game. Whether it’s an accidentally summoned spectral accountant demanding back-taxes or a teleportation spell that swaps the wizard’s limbs with those of a local woodland creature, the generator acts as a tireless collaborator for the group. The game also utilizes a loose, improv-based scoring system. Once a series of scenes have concluded, players "tally" their points—though the definition of a "point" is intentionally fluid. This is not a game about winning; it is a game about who managed to be the most impressively, disastrously incompetent wizard of the bunch. This subjective scoring encourages players to lean into their failures rather than trying to mitigate them, further reinforcing the game’s comedic ethos. The Design Philosophy: Accessibility Meets Absurdity The design goals for Hello Wizard were clear from the outset: keep it simple, keep it fast, and keep it funny. In an era where some TTRPG rulebooks stretch into hundreds of pages, Armstrong has opted for a streamlined experience. The rules are intended to be transparent, allowing players to spend more time improvising dialogue and less time flipping through manuals. Furthermore, the game includes extensive advice and optional modules for groups who want to tailor their experience. Whether a group wants a darker, more cynical comedy or a bright, high-energy slapstick session, the core rules provide the flexibility to accommodate those preferences. By lowering the barrier to entry, Armstrong is positioning Hello Wizard as the perfect "filler" game—a title that can be played in a single evening, requiring minimal setup and no long-term commitment. Implications for the TTRPG Market The success of Hello Wizard, I Have a Problem on platforms like Kickstarter signals a broader shift in the tabletop industry. Players are increasingly looking for "snackable" RPG content—games that offer a complete, high-quality experience without the need for a three-year campaign commitment. This move toward collaborative, GM-less or rotating-GM structures is also a reaction against the traditional "adversarial" GM style. By forcing players to define the consequences of their own actions, the game fosters a sense of collective ownership over the narrative. It transforms the table from a space where players are tested by an external force, into a theater troupe working together to produce the funniest possible outcome. The inclusion of high-quality, professional-grade artwork from Evlyn Moreau also highlights the increasing importance of visual identity in the indie TTRPG space. Even a game about incompetence is expected to look professional, and the art for Hello Wizard serves as a crucial anchor for the game’s whimsical atmosphere. How to Get Involved The crowdfunding campaign for Hello Wizard, I Have a Problem has been met with enthusiasm, reflecting a growing appetite for games that prioritize humor and social interaction. Pledge Tiers: With an entry point of approximately £4 ($5) for a digital PDF and £8 ($10) for a physical copy, the game is exceptionally affordable. This pricing strategy reflects the creator’s desire to make the game as accessible as possible to a wide audience. Availability: Following the conclusion of the Kickstarter campaign, interested players can expect to find the game available via Sam Armstrong’s Itch.io storefront. This digital-first approach ensures that the game remains accessible to an international audience long after the physical print run is fulfilled. Final Thoughts Hello Wizard, I Have a Problem is a testament to the idea that in tabletop gaming, failure is not the end—it is the beginning of the best part of the story. By stripping away the pressure to succeed and replacing it with a structured system for glorious failure, Sam Armstrong has created a space where players are free to be truly, wonderfully terrible at being wizards. In a market saturated with serious fantasy epics, this game offers a necessary, irreverent counterpoint. It invites us to stop worrying about our spell slots and start worrying about why our familiar is now wearing a monocle and demanding a promotion. If you are looking for an RPG that prioritizes laughter, collaboration, and the sheer joy of watching a magical plan fall apart in real-time, Hello Wizard is an essential addition to your collection. Post navigation Growing Up in the Gilded Age: A Deep Dive into ‘Castles in the Air’ The Gilded Age Reimagined: How ‘Castles in the Air’ Brings the Coming-of-Age Novel to the Tabletop
