Fennel Tavern: A Player's Handbook & Log Sheets
The Basics
THE OBJECTIVE
FENNEL TAVERN is a single-player, community-driven, interactive YouTube series that combines real cooking footage in a homemade tavern set, pixel art, and RPG-style scenarios. Viewers can play along with each episode at home using dice. The game features the main character, Tav, who has decided to leave home and run a tavern—despite having no prior experience in the business. The aim of the game is to gain XP from buying, selling, and trading food items; interacting with NPCs who visit the tavern and letting your d20 determine if it’s a friendly or hostile encounter; and creating a sense of community and camaraderie in the YouTube comments section. It is highly recommended, if not crucial, to record your process as you play so that you keep track of your ongoing XP score and achievements of levels. This can either be recorded in this booklet (feel free to print out the sheets) or using whatever system works best for you (notes app, scrap of paper, word document, etc.).
WHAT YOU NEED
The barrier of entry for this game is low! The most basic requirement you need is a device to watch the FENNEL TAVERN YouTube channel. Next is a d20 (20-sided die). If you don’t have any physical dice you can the Google “Roll Dice” feature or any preferred online dice-rolling app. As mentioned above, you will also need a way to record your gameplay. The CHARACTER SHEET (pg. 6), the TRACKING SHEET (pg. 7/8), and the INVENTORY (pg. 9) are specifically designed for this purpose. On the following pages are examples of how to fill them out.
HOW TO PLAY
Everyone begins at Level 0 with 0 XP. In each episode, you will be presented with three RPG scenarios that require a roll of a d20. The lower the roll, the more XP you may lose, while higher rolls will reward you with more XP. The game, in the long run, is complete at Level 20 with 18,000 XP. How long it takes to complete depends on the player as everyone’s journey and pace is different. The YouTube series is set to run for at least 5 seasons which, with an episode released every ten-day, will end in 2029. If you are ever to dip below a total score of 0 XP your items will be repossessed by the debt collector and you will be knocked back to Level 0. Don’t worry—it isn’t all over! He will ‘kindly’ reimburse you for 200 XP no matter what your items were worth originally. Do not start from the beginning of the YouTube series, but continue to the next episode empty-handed.
Levels & XP
As previously stated, all players begin at episode 1 at Level 0 with 0 XP. The game ends either when the player reaches Level 20 and 18,000 XP OR the series ends at it’s predestined fifth season in 2029.
Level 1 (Wandering Wayfarer) = 900XP
Level 2 (Tavern Traveller) = 1,800XP
Level 3 (Learning the Inns and Outs) = 2,700XP
Level 4 (Common Patron) = 3,600XP
Level 5 (Steady Sipper) = 4,500XP
Level 6 (Pub Partaker) = 5,400XP
Level 7 (Barfly Beginner) = 6,300XP
Level 8 (Frequently by the Fireside) = 7,200XP
Level 9 (Tavern Regular) = 8,100 XP
Level 10 (Cantina Companion) = 9000XP
Level 11 (Merry Mug-Mate) = 9,900XP
Level 12 (Loyal Lodger) = 10,800XP
Level 13 (Gilded Guest) = 11,700XP
Level 14 (Alehouse Aficionado) = 12,600XP
Level 15 (Hearthside Hero) = 13,500XP
Level 16 (Local Legend) = 14,400XP
Level 17 (Lord of Libations) = 15,300XP
Level 18 (Crowned Connoisseur) = 16,200XP
Level 19 (High Patron of the Hall) = 17,100XP
Level 20 (Elder of the Inn) = 18,000XP
Gameplay
THE RPG
Each episode, you will be faced with three RPG situations that require the roll of a d20 to determine the outcome. These encounters may range from friendly to hostile, as can the consequences of your roll.
Rolled a 1, 2, 3, or 4 = -20XP
Rolled a 5, 6, 7, or 8 = -10XP
Rolled a 9, 10, 11, or 12 = No loss, no gain
Rolled a 13, 14, 15, or 16 = +50XP
Rolled a 17, 18, 19, or 20 = +80XP
AN EXAMPLE OF GAMEPLAY
What follows is a hypothetical scenario that may occur in the game. Assume, for whatever reason, that you are trying to pickpocket a half-orc patron. The outcomes might look something like his, depending on what you roll.
You roll a 1, 2, 3, or 4
The half-orc catches you trying to untie his purse strings. Enraged, he grabs your hand and crushes it tight, breaking a few fine bones. Ouch! [-20 XP]
You roll a 5, 6, 7, or 8
The half-orc notices the attempt but he’s in an unexpectedly lenient mood today. He decides to let you off with a warning this time—and the agreement that you buy him a drink. [-10 XP]
You roll a 9, 10, 11, or 12
You fumble the attempt but no one notices. [0 XP]
You roll a 13, 14, 15, or 16
While you don’t manage to make off with his entire purse, you manage to snag a few coins. [+50 XP]
You roll a 17, 18, 19, or 20
You pull of the attempt flawlessly and manage to get away with his very heavy coin purse without him suspecting a thing! [+80 XP]
Items
You can only hold 12 items in your inventory at any given time. You may not purchase more items than you have space in your inventory. Unused items carry over to the next episode.
It is crucial to record all items ‘gained’ and ‘lost’. You may gain an item by buying it from the Tavern storehouse, finding it, or being gifted it. You may lose an item by consuming it or selling it to an NPC. It is advised to note this down using the INVENTORY sheet (pg. 9).
When an item can be gained, its ‘cost’ will always be available to you, as will its ‘retail value’. These are similar concepts but not entirely interchangeable.
When you gain an item that you wish to keep, enter it into the ‘items gained this episode’ column AND ‘my parting inventory’. Enter the price you paid for it into the ‘cost’ AND ‘retail value’ box.
Sometimes you may receive an item for free whether that’s a gift from an NPC or stumbling across it. In this case, enter its ‘cost’ as 0 (as you did not pay for it), but enter its ‘retail value’ as whatever it has listed.
There are two ways to lose an item: consuming it or selling it to an NPC. You may choose to lose an item either of these ways to free up space in your inventory or to reap the reward from the NPC.
You may consume up to 12 items from your inventory at any time. You may only sell an item to an NPC if they bring up the deal first.
When you consume an item from your inventory you must roll a die (any will work). If it lands on an odd number then you may only take half its ‘retail value’. However, if you roll an even number then you may take double its ‘retail value’. This is the gamble when it comes to buying items to sell.
An NPC may ask you for a particular item. If you have it in your inventory you may choose to sell it to them if you wish. In this case, the original ‘retail value’ is ignored and the NPC may set its price. This could either be much less or much more than what you bought it for originally.
At the end of your turn, calculate your total earnings and spendings; add and subtract these from your ongoing XP tally. This is your final parting score for that episode.
As mentioned before, if your total XP score reaches zero then all your items will be seized by the debt collector. You will receive 200 XP for the lot no matter their original retail value. Remove all items from your inventory and start empty-handed the next episode.
Character Sheet
Current XP:
Current Level:
Character name:
Class (look up the DnD list of classes):
Race (look up the DnD list of races):
Alignment (look up the DnD alignments):
Age:
Height:
Eyes:
Skin:
Hair:
Appearance:
Traits, Skills, and Personality:
Backstory:
Tracking Sheet
XP at the beginning of the episode:
Level at the beginning of the episode:
Scenario One
Brief description of the encounter:
What I rolled:
XP loss/gain:
Scenario Two
Brief description of the encounter:
What I rolled:
XP loss/gain:
Scenario Three
Brief description of the encounter:
What I rolled:
XP loss/gain:
XP at the ending of the episode:
Level at the ending of the episode:
Did I hit 0XP and was set back to Level 0 (200XP)? YES/NO
Notes:
Inventory
Did I hit 0XP and thus all my items were lost and reimbursed for 200XP by the debt collector? YES/NO
ITEMS LOST THIS EPISODE: (profit)
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
Total XP earned this episode:
ITEMS GAINED THIS EPISODE: (spent)
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
Total XP spent this episode:
MY PARTING INVENTORY: (retail value)
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
EXAMPLE PAGES FILLED OUT:
Character Sheet
Current XP: 4,480
Current Level: 4
Character name: Tav
Class (look up the DnD list of classes): Rogue
Race (look up the DnD list of races): Half-elf
Alignment (look up the DnD alignments): Chaotic good
Age: 28
Height: 5'7
Eyes: Green
Skin: Fair
Hair: Red
Appearance: Wears red hair in pigtails bound by golden cuffs. Ears are pointier than most half-elves. Green eyes. Dresses in a blouse, green bodice she embroidered herself, and a purple skirt.
Traits, Skills, and Personality: Tav knows a fair bit about herbs and sewing but little about cooking. She is talkative, reckless and jumps into projects she's not qualified for. Generally she is friendly, kind and positive,
Backstory: Sick of studying to be a seamstress, Tav decided to run away from their hometown to Waterdeep to open a tavern. Mostly because it matched her name and little to do with careful planning.
Tracking Sheet
XP at the beginning of the episode: 4,480
Level at the beginning of the episode: 4
Scenario One
Brief description of the encounter: Pickpocketed an orc.
What I rolled: 19
XP loss/gain:+80
Scenario Two
Brief description of the encounter: Helped a tabaxi find its cub. Got a tuna in return.
What I rolled: 14
XP loss/gain: +50
Scenario Three
Brief description of the encounter: Listened to tavern gossip. Got caught eavesdropping.
What I rolled: 2
XP loss/gain: -20
XP at the ending of the episode: 4,625
Level at the ending of the episode: 5
Did I hit 0XP and was set back to Level 0 (200XP)? NO
Notes:
Beginning = 4,480 XP
apple +5
lemon + 10
cheese wheel +30
bread -10
scen.1= +80
scen.2= +50
scen.3= -20
total: +145
End XP = 4,625 (leveled up! lvl 5)
Inventory
Did I hit 0XP and thus all my items were lost and reimbursed for 200XP by the debt collector? NO
ITEMS LOST THIS EPISODE:
1.) Apple ( profit +5 XP)
2.) Lemon (profit +10 XP)
3.) Cheesewheel ( profit +30 XP)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
Total XP earned this episode: +45 XP
ITEMS GAINED THIS EPISODE:
1.) Bread ( spent -10 XP)
2.) Tuna ( spent -0 XP)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
Total XP spent this episode: -10 XP
MY PARTING INVENTORY: (retail value)
1.) Bread (10 XP)
2.) Tuna (0 XP)
3.) Cream (5 XP)
4.) Pumpkin (25 XP)
5.) Sausage (20 XP)
6.) Pear (10 XP)
7.) Apricot (5 XP)
8.) Bacon (50 XP)
9.) Pheasant (100 XP)
10.)
11.)
12.)