QDE & TDE Licensing

Use Our Card Engines in Your Own Games

The QuestDeck™ Engine (QDE) and TarotDeck™ Engine (TDE) are in‑house systems created by James Pearson, Jim Brooks, and Pete Ruttman. Both engines are available for licensing under reasonable, inexpensive, creator‑friendly terms.

These systems are not open source, but they are designed to be accessible for independent creators, small publishers, and studios looking for a flexible, modern card‑driven RPG engine.

QuestDeck™ Engine (QDE)

QDE is a universal, modular engine built on a standard deck of playing cards. It is fast, flexible, and adaptable to nearly any genre or setting. Designers can activate or deactivate suits, court cards, and card behaviors to shape the system to their world.

Learn more about QDE: QuestDeck™ Engine Overview

TarotDeck™ Engine (TDE)

TDE is the thematic sibling to QDE, built on the natural symbolism of tarot. It excels in horror, occult, supernatural, and mythic storytelling. If your game leans into mood, mystery, or symbolism, TDE provides a powerful narrative backbone.

Learn more about TDE: TarotDeck™ Engine Overview

Licensing Options

1. License the Engine for Your Own Project

You can license QDE or TDE for a one‑time project fee. This grants you the right to use the engine in a single commercial or indie game. Terms are straightforward, affordable, and designed to support creators of all sizes.

2. Publish With Us — Use the Engine for Free

If you choose to publish your game under our banner, you may use QDE or TDE at no cost. This includes access to documentation, support, and integration guidance.

This option is ideal for creators who want a unified publishing partner and a frictionless path to using the engine.

Reasonable, Creator‑Friendly Terms

Our licensing is intentionally simple:

Not open source, but accessible
One‑time fee for standalone projects
Free if you publish with us
No ongoing reporting requirements
Clear, easy‑to‑understand agreements

We want creators to succeed without being buried in legal complexity.

Contact Us to Discuss Licensing

If you’re interested in licensing QDE or TDE, or want to discuss publishing options, reach out directly. We’re happy to talk through your project and help you determine the best path forward.