The systems we play are all from small and indie publishers. There are thousands of games out there, and finding the right one for the story you want to tell can make the difference between fun and frustration.
Current system: Scum and Villainy
Scum and Villainy by Stras Acimovik and John LeBoeuf-Little is “a Forged in the Dark game about a spaceship crew trying to make ends meet under the iron-fisted rule of the Galactic Hegemony.
Work with the members of your crew to thrive despite powerful criminal syndicates, warring noble families, dangerous aliens, and strange mystics. Explore the ruins of lost civilizations for fun and profit. Can your motley crew hold it together long enough to strike it big and insure your fame across the sector?”
We have done some hacking on this system to make it work in an enclosed cyberpunk system, and of course replaced the excellent stock setting with our own.
Hear the setup for season 2 during part 1 and part 2 of our Session 0. We also played Scum and Villainy for the first time during Interseason 1: Asteroid Blues.
Current System: Monster Care Squad
In Monster Care Squad by Sandy Pug Games, “The peaceful state of the world is threatened when a mysterious poison… finds its way into the veins of the world’s Monsters, causing terrible, maddening Wounds, which drive these incredible beings into uncontrollable rages. The once unbreakable bond of harmony and respect between Humans and Monsters is on the brink of collapse, and it’s up to you and your allies to set things right.”
This fantastic new system focuses on a three-part structure in which you diagnose the Monster’s Wounds, figure out local and traditional methods to treat them, and then use those to heal the Monster. There is no combat in this game; only healing. We use our original setting in place of the beautiful world of Ald-Amura.
You can hear the three phases of the game here: Diagnosis, Synthesis, and Symbiosis.
Previous System: City of Mist
In City of Mist by Amit Moshe, “you play modern-day versions of your favorite myths, legends, and fairy tales.
Investigate crimes committed by the Snow Queen, the Minotaur, or Alice in Wonderland as you explore a gritty City teeming with legendary powers.”
We used this system during Inchoate, near the end of Season 1. Hear the session zero here, and the first episode of play here.
Previous System: Monster of the Week
In the Powered by the Apocalypse system Monster of the Week by Michael Sands & Steve Hickey, you “Hunt high school beasties a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer, travel the country to bring down unnatural creatures like the Winchester brothers of Supernatural, or head up the government investigation like Mulder and Scully.”
We used this system during The Splinter Beast of Sector 5 in season 1. You can hear the first part here.
Previous System: Dungeon World
We no longer endorse this system due to the actions of one of its creators, Adam Koebel. This was the system used during In Gov’s Service and In Gov’s Service Again. We will not be using it again. I created custom playbooks to suit the setting of Gov’s Domain.
Previous System: FATE Core
Fate Core by Leonard Balsera, Brian Engard, Jeremy Keller, Ryan Macklin, and Mike Olson is “a tabletop roleplaying game about proactive, capable people who lead dramatic lives. The type of drama they experience is up to you. But wherever they go, you can expect a fun storytelling experience full of twists…of fate.”
We used this system for the main campaign starting in Chapter 5, which you can listen to starting here.
Previous System: Fate Accelerated Edition
FAE by Clark Valentine, Leonard Balsera, Fred Hicks, Mike Olson, and Amanda Valentine is “a condensed version of the popular Fate Core system that brings all the flexibility and power of Fate in an easily digestible—and quickly read—package. With FAE, you and your friends can step into the world of your favorite books, movies, and TV or you can create a world of your own. And set up is simple—you can be playing in minutes. Whether you’re new to RPGs or an expert gamer, FAE brings something special to the table.
Fate Accelerated Edition. Your story—full speed ahead.”
This was the first system we used on the podcast! It’s a great way to introduce new players to tabletop role playing games.
We hope you’ll try out some of the systems we play too! Enjoy your gaming, and find the right game for your story.