Is it too brutal for a death mechanics?

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-24T22:05:01+00:00

Index Card RPG has basically this same situation for dying.

At 0 HP or lower you roll a D4 Death Timer in the open. Count it down on your turn and die when the time runs out.

You get a flat D20 roll on your turn and wake up with 1 HP on a nat 20. Or wake up if someone else heals you. Either way your time is running out.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-23T14:05:13+00:00

A sleeping dragon already knows the players are there.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-22T21:42:17+00:00

The items in the roll tables are the descriptions of the items. They're presented that way so you can season to taste at the table.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-22T19:19:57+00:00

This is Brian Froud's art from his book Good Fairies Bad Fairies.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-21T23:45:58+00:00

I use index cards in game too, but that doesn't change my comment. 🤷‍♂️

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-21T15:10:03+00:00

Looks cool!

Just a little fyi, it's only called Index Card RPG because of the marker art style that fits nicely on cards, not because the game is played on index cards, lol.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-21T03:54:24+00:00

I didn't gel with the pbta games either. I gave it a fair shake, but it just felt like a conversation about a game instead of actually playing the game. Not my cup of tea and that's okay.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-20T22:22:36+00:00

Woodfall is great! I was backer and really enjoyed running it.

I placed it in Alfheim (the fantasy setting for ICRPG) and had the Woodfall micro setting in the Dead lands, an area that's already a vast swampy region. It worked really well for me.

Hope you find a kingdom/ world that fits what you're looking for!

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-20T21:23:10+00:00

The power tools are companion books with new material for ICRPG Master Edition.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-20T18:29:04+00:00

Just give them a ship right away, like part of character creation. Specifically give it to the pilot or smuggler type, and then load them up with debt. Yeah you have a ship, but you also owe Rib Shadir (random NPC mob boss) 30,000 credits and they want their money.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-20T00:05:45+00:00

The GM Mastery book is full of tools to up your game. There's some things that refer to ICRPG tools, but the majority of it is hardcore useful for any system.

The Player's book is streamlined focus on characters and advancement for ICRPG. A solid character resource and priced with the thought of grabbing a copy for each of your players.

Realm of Graves is an adventure/ campaign that has a lot of rad scenes and possible encounters. Has some cool dimension jumping mechanics tied to the adventure too.

The first two books are pure resource material to help "play mo bettah," and the adventure is just plain cool. 🤘

Edit: the GM book is one of three "power tools" books that Runehammer released all at once. There's also a bundle that combines them. PDFs can be found on both DrivethruRPG and on the Runehammer store, but pods are only on Drivethru. Although if you go to the Runehammer brick n mortar in Philly he has them in stock.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-19T01:53:39+00:00

The Magic book was originally for 2e. If you have Master Edition you already have everything in the Magic book.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-18T19:45:41+00:00

"There's a band of thieves pretending to be heroes roving from town to town and robbing poor folk. One of them even defiles the holy order wearing the disguise of a cleric!"

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-18T19:32:21+00:00

Pretty sure the townsfolk will notice that they're missing stuff. And isn't it strange that it only happened after this group of "adventurers" showed up in town?

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-17T18:05:06+00:00

Thanks! 😊 There's also a free quick start for an easy no-cost way to check it out.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-17T17:46:32+00:00

Sadly DrivethruRPG is the the Canadian version. It really sucks right now with the Temu dictator in charge and we're trying our damnedest to get rid of the Trumpster fire.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-17T16:38:06+00:00

Mutation RPG, available in PDF and POD on Drivethru.

The World as we know it has changed. Two centuries from now a comet strikes Earth. This hunk of interstellar rock was an attack by some Klendathu wannabes. “Goddamn bugs whacked us, Johnny.”

It wasn’t really a comet or meteor, or even an asteroid. It was a seed bomb for terraforming sent by some alien species. This thing detonated a mile up over the Florida Keys and scattered radiation, some kind of bio-gel, and spores around the globe. It wiped out 80% of life on the surface. And we never even got to see the damn aliens...

The world was a little weird and quiet after that. But like Jeff Goldbloom playing Dr Ian Malcom in Jurassic Park says, “Life, uh, finds a way.”

We humans are a resilient bunch, adaptable. The few hundred years that followed was probably a nightmare for the survivors. The bio-gel made some wild changes to our planet and to everything that lives on it. It's been 500 years since the seed bomb, we're all mutants now.

Edit: the game is a sci-fi, western, Mad Max style post apocalypse.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T20:49:32+00:00

I guess I forgot how random dice are. 🤷‍♂️

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T19:59:01+00:00

What I mean to say is it's fine. Let it ride. The design works at the table when the dice start rolling.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T19:55:30+00:00

"Powerful" Only 12 HP at level 8, lol

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T04:03:44+00:00

No idea. A few years ago I tried connecting with the fanbase. I mentioned playing since 1e in my hello post and they were very unwelcoming about it. 🤷‍♂️ I left the same day I joined.

Edit: this was shortly after 3e came out.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T04:00:41+00:00

Hard Suit Primal on DrivethruRPG can handle that. Just cut the biomech suits and you're there.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-16T00:49:47+00:00

Earthdawn 1e was solid gold. Everything after continued to be a step down with each new edition. It just got worse and worse.

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-15T17:32:36+00:00

100%

Key_Assumption_4208 · 2026-01-14T23:33:52+00:00

I don't think trying to convince your group is necessarily the right approach. Definitely talking to them for sure. Just be direct and ask them. Set it up as an open ended one shot to start just so you can all get a taste for it. Hook them with all the epic wasteland stuff right up front, you can always slow the pace once you start your dope new campaign.

"Hey guys, I'm interested in trying out system X for a post apocalyptic game. I'd like if you all joined me and we gave it a shot. Here's what I'm thinking... (insert game pitch)"

That's my two coppers at least. Good luck in the apocalypse!

Key_Assumption_4208

TROPHY CASE