Created by W.H. Arthur
(aryl-ether.itch.io/wharthur.carrd.co)

Introduction

Bound by Conviction is a System Reference Document (SRD) for designing tabletop role-playing games based on W.H. Arthur’s CONVICT-ION. It is a token-based system for telling stories about identity, gender and superpowers, in which characters in an allegorical prison struggle against social norms, a terrifying villain and fate itself.

The system is derived from the Belonging Outside Belonging system, first used in Dream Askew/Dream Apart by Avery Alder and Benjamin Rosenbaum. It also draws inspirations from Sleepaway by Jay Dragon, Flotsam: Adrift Amongst the Stars by Joshua Fox, and Apocalypse World by D. Vincent Baker and Meguey Baker.

Special thanks to Chloe Montgomery for serving as the sensitivity consultant to the CONVICT-ION project.

This document contains the license of the system, the core rules and the scenario Existence is Queer from CONVICT-ION, and a guide in making your own Bound by Conviction game.

Licensing

The contents of this SRD are available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. You are free to make your own Bound by Conviction games as long as you give appropriate credit by including the following text:

The work is based on the Bound by Conviction system by W.H. Arthur (aryl-ether.itch.io/bbc), and licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0).

You are free to use the Bound by Conviction logo in your work built upon the system.

You cannot imply that W.H. Arthur is endorsing or sponsoring you unless special arrangement has been made.

Lastly, you are expressly forbidden from using this system to make games promoting homophobia, transphobia, racism, ableism, misogyny, fascism or any other form of bigotry.

Themes

Bound by Conviction draws influence from 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

Each Bound by Conviction scenario is a standalone game, in which the systems and structures in the society form the basis of an allegorical “prison”, and the characters who strive to be their authentic selves are the Convicted.

Performativity is the philosophical concept that words and actions alter our social reality. Textbook examples include a judge pronouncing a verdict in a court and a priest declaring a couple “husband and wife” in a wedding ceremony. Inspired by Judith Butler’s writing on gender performativity, each Convicted has a reality-altering power called GENDER, which is linked to their identity.

In the scenario Existence is Queer, the Convicted are the students in a small coastal town. The school and town form the “prison” which seeks to normalise the students and turn them into useful tools for the society. The villain is a predator who holds a teaching position at the school.

The goal of a Bound by Conviction game is not to “win”, but to tell gripping, and perhaps cathartic tales about the Convicted’s struggle against society to be authentic and free.

Due to the nature of the topics that are being explored, one should include content warnings and discussion of safety tools in their Bound by Conviction game.