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Building the Website for Our Brilliant Ruin — A Glimpse Into a New Narrative Universe
Every once in a while, a project comes along that breaks the mold — and Our Brilliant Ruin was exactly that. This wasn’t just a tabletop RPG. It was the foundation of a much larger narrative universe, one that would eventually include a video game, a comic series, and an audio drama. The site needed to reflect all of that — not through feature checklists or platform links, but through vibe, mystery, and storytelling.
This wasn’t a typical “here’s what you can play right now” kind of site. It was more of a window into a world that was still unfolding, and I was thrilled to help bring that to life.
The Mission
The core goals for the website were:
Tease the larger Our Brilliant Ruin universe without overwhelming visitors
Introduce the tabletop RPG as the first entry point into the world
Give space to hint at upcoming projects — the game, the comic, the audio drama
Set a tone: dark, stylish, narrative-rich
Deliver all of it in a way that felt cohesive, professional, and ready to grow over time
This project was about atmosphere and anticipation — not answering every question, but making people want to ask more.
Visual Direction & Design
Once again, I worked with Mike Heald at Fully Illustrated for the design. The visual style was cinematic and moody — high-contrast, painterly, and full of implied story. Think: gorgeous stills, minimalist typography, and just enough visual noise to make the world feel lived-in and layered.
It wasn’t about showing everything — it was about suggesting. The world was intentionally fragmented and mysterious, and the site needed to mirror that.
Tech Stack
The build used my usual trusted stack:
Nuxt 3 for flexibility and performance
Storyblok to allow modular control over content and future expansions
Netlify for fast hosting and easy deployment
The technical focus was on flexibility. This world was just beginning to take shape, and the site needed to grow with it — whether that meant adding a new project section, expanding lore content, or launching a dev blog.
Key Features
A layered, atmospheric homepage with teaser visuals and an invitation to explore
An intro to the tabletop RPG that gives just enough to intrigue without overwhelming
Sections for the upcoming video game, comic series, and audio drama — each presented like a visual teaser rather than a traditional game feature page
CMS-driven content that allows the team to update and expand as new projects evolve
Subtle animations and transitions to keep the site alive without being flashy
Why This One Was Different
Our Brilliant Ruin wasn’t a pitch for something you could download or wishlist. It was world-building in its purest form. The site had to serve as a kind of narrative artifact — something that felt like part of the universe itself.
I loved working on this because it was a completely different creative challenge. Less structure, more suggestion. Less "sell," more "show." It let me stretch a different set of muscles, and it reminded me that not every website has to give you all the answers right away.
Final Thoughts
Helping launch the Our Brilliant Ruin website was a refreshing shift from the traditional game site format — and a real opportunity to build something immersive, narrative-focused, and full of potential. This world is just getting started, and I’m excited to see (and help) where it goes next.
You can check out the site here: ourbrilliantruin.com
If you’re building a rich, story-driven universe and need a site that feels like an extension of that world, let’s make it real.