Health Trackers

Role-play without pencil and paper

Client/Publisher

Stratagem. A brand that aims to bring affordable gear to the underserved niche of tabletop gamers who would love to transition away from DIY solutions.

Target Audience

Tabletop and RPG gamers that prefer lightweight gaming gear.

Project Brief

Create a product that is more compact than pen and paper where a player can track their own character's health and status.

Role

• Art Direction

• Identity Design

• Product Design

• Illustration

• Product Packaging

Product Overview

Health trackers are used to keep track of life totals during a tabletop or role-playing game. Pen and paper, several counters and dice, or a digital device can be used but are generally cumbersome and can detract from a player’s game experience. A small analog device such as a health tracker can keep the player immersed in their experience while providing reference during a game.

This project led me to create two sets of health trackers; one set for role-playing games and one set for trading card games. My contribution to this project was to create everything from scratch, including the die lines and assembly guide below.

Pocket Health Trackers

For role-playing games

Built for role-playing games as a set of 5
Themed by popular classes
Includes modifier wheel
Includes status effect wheel with 6 buffs and debuffs

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, product photography of illustrated trackers and packaging

There has not been a life tracker design on the market that includes 4 wheels for tracking life total, status effects, and modifiers until now. This set of 5 life trackers is somewhat novel in the sense that role-play gamers can eschew traditional pen and paper if they wish, immersing them in the in-game experience a little bit more. Each status effect icon represents a myriad of possible ailments or buffs; for example, disabled could represent either “paralyzed” or “petrified”.

This was a great opportunity to highlight 5 commonly picked player-character classes from role-play gaming that may make up a party; Warrior, Barbarian, Sorcerer, Cleric, and Rogue. Each of these illustrations were inspired by the tropes of their respective classes with a stylized border, an iconic item in the center, and an appropriate background.

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, illustrations on front and images of status icons

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, illustrations on front and back with their pantone colors

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, product photography of trackers in context being used in an RPG game

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, front illustrations on thief or rogue tracker

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Health Trackers, back illustrations on cleric tracker

Pocket Life Counters

For trading card games

Built for trading card games as a set of 2
Life totals can reach up to 209
Includes artwork for both "Timmy and Johnny"

The majority of trading card games are 1 on 1 play so only a pair of traditional trackers were needed to be created for this purpose. These trackers allow a player to track their life total and their opponent’s life total at the same time.

The illustrations were chosen with subject matter near and dear to my heart. I chose to highlight two visually rich Magic: the Gathering player profiles; Timmy and Johnny. Timmy loves to summon monstrous creatures and cast spells of epic proportions. Timmy’s (green) tracker is inspired by the idiom “tooth and nail”; which is to fight ferociously like a wild animal and is also the namesake of a powerhouse card used by the players who fit this profile. Johnny’s (blue) tracker is inspired by the love of casting well-timed spells, bending the rules of the game, and navigating intricate combos with finesse. Johnny’s tracker includes a nod to Magic’s most iconic, rarest, and game-breaking flower species in the lotus.

Zack Marsh Design, Pocket Life Counters, illustrations on front and back

Product & Packaging Designer