A kids-friendly tabletop RPG about tiny folk living hidden in our world
A quiet suburban neighbourhood block is, to its tiniest denizens, an entire continent of mystery.
In this whimsical yet dark world, insect-sized humanoids known as the Small Folk live hidden in our homes, gardens, and walls. A flower bed becomes an enchanted forest. A single backyard spans kingdoms. The gap behind a skirting board conceals an entire village.
The mood balances wonder with mystery — reminiscent of Coraline or The Borrowers in atmosphere. Every cozy hideaway has its lurking secrets, and even friendly scenes can turn unsettling when the lights go out.
⚠ Beta Version 0.2 — The Crack in the Wall is a work in progress. Some sections are incomplete (notably the Mistweaver class and some rules edge cases). Play it, break it, and let us know what you find!
Explore the book
Setting
The hidden world of the Small Folk and the Law of Witness
Rules
The Crux System — Boons, Banes, Grit, and combat
Species & Classes
Five peoples, ten roles, levels 1–10
Equipment
Needle rapiers, beetle-shell shields, and firefly lanterns
Bestiary
Foes from feral ants to the terrifying Nightcat
The Thornwick Block
A ready-to-run campaign setting
Mechanics at a glance
- Roll tests with multiple dice, keep the highest (Boon) or lowest (Bane)
- Combat rolls deal damage — attacks only miss on a natural 1
- Grit — earn it on bad rolls, spend it to improve future odds
- The Law of Witness — a human's direct gaze collapses magic
- 3 actions per turn, with reactions costing actions
The five peoples
| Species | Feel | Key attributes |
|---|---|---|
| Whisperlings | Secretive lore-keepers | DEX, INT |
| Wayfarers | Nomadic shapeshifters | WIL, DEX |
| Shellbacks | Stout defenders | STR, WIL |
| Rainlings | Water-wielding wanderers | DEX, WIL |
| Veilings | Shadow-bound illusionists | DEX, INT |