The Glasshouse Codex: Complete Guide

A Fractal Garden RPG for Contemplative Play to Practice Actual Meditation Techniques, for both single players and co-operative players

This game is free to download and use, but there are multiple versions (light and dark mode) and a full expanded version with two dozen pages teaching you how to meditate and the history of meditation practitioners in a visually stunning manner, that you will have access to if you choose to make the recommended donation ($4.00 purchase). This gives you full access to updates for life, and access to the static / offline PDFs and high-res scans for poster printing.

[NOTE]: As the book is still in development, purchases ($4.00 donation) should receive an email with their downloadable assets in an update within three months. You will only receive an email with the download, you won't receive a confirmation receipt. 

The one page RPG game is meant to be printed double-sided on a single letter-sized sheet of paper, or scaled up accordingly to poster sizes (high-resolution exports are downloadable). 

Table of Contents

1. How to Play
2. Garden Mode Rules
3. Character Attributes
4. Roll Results
5. Stakes Tables (Risks/Edges & Rewards/Supports)
6. The Six Patterns
7. Zone Powers
8. Resources
9. Transformations
10. Session Types
11. Cooperative Play
12. Complete Turn Example
13. Pattern Combinations
14. Quick Reference
15. Materials Needed
16. Digital Features
17. Philosophy
18. Full Version & Downloads

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How to Play ↑

Quick Start (30 seconds)

Roll 2d6, draw patterns in zones, watch your garden grow. Each zone affects how you draw. Patterns touching create synergies. Fill 7 growth circles to complete.

Two Play Modes

• Pure Mode — Draw freely. No dice. Just meditation and patterns.
• Garden Mode — Full game with dice, resources, and emergent mechanics.

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Garden Mode Rules ↑

Core Loop

1. Choose Zone – Pick where to draw based on intention
2. Choose Stakes – Pick 1 Risk/Edge and 1 Reward/Support
3. Roll – 2d6 + Attribute (Mind/Soul/Form/Echo)
4. Draw – Follow constraints based on result
5. Resolve – Apply effects, mark progress

Character Attributes ↑

Distribute 7 points (max 3 per attribute):

• Mind: Logic and planning
• Soul: Emotion and intuition
• Form: Physical and precision
• Echo: Memory and repetition

Roll Results ↑

Roll	Result	What Happens
≤ 6	Tangled	Risk/Edge only, gain 1 Tangle
7–9	Natural	Choose Risk OR Reward
10–11	Sacred	Reward/Support only, gain Growth
12+	Transcendent	Reward + remove 1 Tangle

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Stakes Tables ↑

Risks/Edges (Challenges) — choose 1 per turn

Name	Practice	Drawing Rule
Wanting	3 breaths, notice desire	Curves only
Aversion	Say "May I be at ease"	Soft lines only
Dullness	Stand, 5 alert breaths	Bold straight lines
Restlessness	Count 10 breaths	One continuous line
Doubt	Note uncertainty, continue	Max 7 strokes
Overgrowth	Pattern exceeds zone	Must overflow boundary
Fragility	No erasing allowed	Mistakes permanent
Drift	Pattern moves zones	Roll d6 for direction

Rewards/Supports (Benefits) — choose 1 per turn

Name	Practice	Drawing Rule
Mindfulness	3 breaths at nostrils	Slow: 2 sec/stroke
Investigation	Ask "What is this?"	Add ½-scale detail
Energy	Energize spine	Add 5 tick marks
Joy	Half-smile	Include upward arc
Tranquility	Long exhales	Even spacing
Concentration	Focus on pencil tip	Repeat motif 3×
Equanimity	"Let it be"	Leave empty space
Clarity	Gain 1 Edge token	+1 to future roll
Fecund	Immediate growth	+1 Growth Point
Cleansing	Remove negative	−1 Tangle

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The Six Patterns ↑

Pattern	Symbol	Effect	Synergy
Spiral	@	Flow to adjacent zone (−1 next roll)	2 touching = +1 GP
Branch	⫸	Next pattern splits in 2	Meeting = −1 Tangle
Circle	○	Creates anchor (return in 3 turns)	Nested = +1 Edge each
Triangle	△	Bank roll result for later	Touching = permanent
Hexagon	⬡	Neutralize Risk/Edge	3+ = share GP
Fractal	❋	Copy previous pattern effect	Nested = transform

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Zone Powers ↑

Each zone has unique rules:

Zone	Power	Constraint
MIND	+1 Edge on 10+	Straight OR curved only
SPIRIT	Swap Support after roll	Must include curves
FORM	+1 for line discipline	Declare style first
ECHO	+1 for exact copies	Cannot modify
SACRED	Any roll → 7–9	No rewards
TIME	Advance Season Clock	Show progression
VOID	Erase Tangles	Equal negative space
ROOT	Gravity pulls down	Lines flow downward
BLOOM	+1 GP touching 2 zones	Organic shapes

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Resources ↑

Growth Track (7 circles)

• Fill 1 per successful pattern
• Circle 3: First transformation
• Circle 6: Second transformation
• Circle 7: Harvest (complete)

Tangles (3 boxes)

• Gain from failed rolls (≤ 6)
• At 3: Draw pest, −1 to rolls
• Remove with Cleansing or VOID

Edge Tokens (max 3)

• Gain from Clarity or MIND zone
• Spend after rolling for +1
• Can trade to other players

Season Clock (4 segments)

• TIME zone advances clock
• At 4: Roll Weather Event

Weather Events (d6)

1. Wind — All lines lean left
2. Rain — Flowing connections
3. Drought — Minimal lines (7 max)
4. Storm — Chaotic energy
5. Mist — Soft edges only
6. Sunburst — Clear all Tangles

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Transformations ↑

Unlock at Growth circles 3 and 6:

Name	Effect	Constraint
Crystal Skin	+1 in FORM zone	Straight lines only
Vine Veins	Connect any zones	Crossing = +1 GP, +1 Tangle
Fractal Eyes	Always can choose Fractal	See patterns within
Root Mind	Mirror across center	Skip rewards
Petal Breath	Erase 1 line per turn	+1 all rolls
Quantum Bloom	Draw 2 patterns	Second at −1

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Session Types ↑

Micro (5 min)

One pattern, one zone, quick meditation

Quick (20 min)

• SEED: Set intention (2 min)
• GROW: Draw patterns (15 min)
• HARVEST: Reflect (3 min)

Standard (30–45 min)

• SEED: Intention & breathing (5 min)
• ROOT: First pattern (5 min)
• BRANCH: Develop (20 min)
• BLOOM: Expression (10 min)
• HARVEST: Integration (5 min)

Deep (60 min)

Complete garden, all zones, full transformation

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Cooperative Play (2–4 Players) ↑

• Symbiosis: Touching patterns = both +1 Edge
• Resonance: Copy pattern = take their Risk
• Pollination: Gift Edge token (once/session)
• Group Breath: 1 min sync = advantage (3d6, keep 2)

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Complete Turn Example ↑

Sarah's Turn

1. Zone: MIND (working on career clarity)
2. Stakes: Risk = Restlessness, Reward = Clarity
3. Roll: 2d6 + Mind(2) = 9 (Natural)
4. Choose: Takes Reward over Risk
5. Practice: 3 breaths at nostrils (Clarity)
6. Draw: Spiral with slow tempo constraint
7. Resolve: Gains 1 Edge token, marks 1 Growth

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Pattern Combinations ↑

• Vortex (3 spirals): +2 to next 3 rolls
• Stability (2 triangles): Both permanent
• Mandala (7 circles): See all as connected
• Hive (3+ hexagons): Share all resources
• Gateway (circle + triangle + spiral): Portal between zones

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Quick Reference ↑

Turn Order — Zone → Stakes → Roll → Draw → Resolve
Dice Formula — 2d6 + Attribute + Modifiers − Penalties

Modifiers

• Edge tokens: +1 each
• Zone bonus: Varies
• Symmetry: +1
• Group breath: +1

Penalties

• Tangles: −1 at 3
• Fatigue: −1 per
• Drift: −1
• Flow cost: −1

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Materials Needed ↑

Essential: 2 printed pages (or tablet), pencil, 2d6 (or app)
Optional: Colored pencils, timer, extra paper for notes

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Digital Features ↑

• Theme Toggle: Press T to switch between Victorian (black/gold) and Garden (green/white) themes
• Session Timer: Built-in timer with milestone notifications
• Interactive Elements: Click growth circles to track progress

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Philosophy ↑

The Glasshouse Codex treats drawing as meditation and gameplay as practice. Every mechanic reflects contemplative principles—challenges aren't failures but opportunities to practice with difficulty. Supports aren't rewards but qualities you're cultivating.

Your garden grows as you grow.

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Full Version & Downloads ↑

Full Version & Downloads: johnnyfived.itch.io/glasshouse-codex
#GlasshouseCodex