The Setting
Our Good Damage is a standalone tabletop role-playing sport core e-book that runs simply wanting 300 full color pages. It’s a trendy combination of a number of genres and eras, so I can solely describe it as a “Victorian Twenties sport of horror, intrigue and thriller set within the Edwardian period.”
The sport takes place in a free assortment of counties often known as ‘The Dramark’ which could be the final bastion of civilisation on a planet ravaged by a drive often known as ‘The Damage’. The Dramark is dominated by a group of aristocratic households who run their estates and domains extra like a criminal offense household than the the Aristocracy. They’re served by the Truefolk; craftsmen, servants and mercenaries who’ve discovered a spot that fits them on this new social order. Whereas they serve the aristocracy, they’re organised into a group of Guilds that provide them some safety and safety from their employers. Exterior this social order are the Unbonded who do as they please, with no masters however no safety. They supply the providers which may as soon as have been referred to as prison. Nevertheless, the rule of legislation solely actually applies so far as every noble household decides it does, so there may be a number of selection in what you would possibly get away with. The facility of the aristocracy is held in verify by the specter of Shivaree.
That is basically the potential for the Truefolk to seize pitchforks and ship some old skool justice. I’m not solely positive how nicely this could work, however basically it signifies that society works so long as everyone seems to be each moderately joyful but in addition ‘is aware of their place’. Principally, in the event you want justice, you will should get it for your self.
The rationale issues have devolved from a peaceable (if draconian) countrywide authorities into varied baronies preventing for energy is a drive referred to as ‘The Damage’. It’s the mild from a corrupt star that begun to wash the complete planet with ruinous power a few hundred years in the past. This unusual type of radiation causes steel to rust a lot faster and turns individuals and animals into monstrous issues like chimera, ghosts, flesh eaters and vampires. In an analogy for local weather change, this smash has been progressively rotting the world for over a century and few individuals see a lot level in doing something about it so long as they’re doing okay. However the level of this sport is to not save the world. Most individuals have determined to exit in model, partying and having fun with themselves for so long as they’ll whereas one thing of the world stays. There could also be terrible corruption and horror, however what individuals are actually frightened of is that the gin would possibly run out.
The System
The system for the sport is straightforward and whereas it’s new you’ll recognise a lot of its options. It’s basically a easily merged assortment of nice design you’ve seen earlier than. You solely want D6s and roll them in a cube pool constructed from including one in every of your Persona attributes to one in every of your Expertise (there are 9 of every). Each are curiously nebulous, so that you don’t make a Power + Athletics roll, as a substitute it could be a Defiance + Physicality roll. In case you are new to the sport this will take slightly getting used to because it isn’t all the time clear which attributes it’s best to use. However the important thing right here is that truly a number of would possibly apply, and it’s as much as the participant to make it clearer by describing their method.
The Gamemaster tells you what the issue is; it’s as much as the participant to resolve how they will cope with it. As an example, are you going to maneuver the impediment by choosing it up, getting another person to maneuver it or making a tool to maneuver it? As soon as you already know your method when it comes to Talent, you add the Persona attribute that describes why you’re taking motion. So rolls are extra ‘Why and How’ than the same old ‘what and which of aptitude and talent. I also needs to add that solely the gamers ever roll cube. So they’re both rolling to defeat an impediment or to defend themselves from some kind of assault. As a substitute of creating a check for his or her antagonists, the Gamemaster simply assigns a problem for the participant.
Having gathered your pool of D6s, you solely want to have a look at two or three outcomes. Each 6 you roll is a “Brill” and rolling only one is a profitable roll. Every 1 you roll is a “Gloom” and whereas they don’t cancel out Brills, in the event you get extra Glooms than Brills you could have suffered a “Disaster” fumble. In case you roll 3 Brills you succeed with a “Triumph” essential success.
There’s a beanie level system within the type of Ardour. In case you spend some extent of Ardour then you definately get a bonus of two further cube to your pool and 5s additionally depend as Brills. Whereas this offers you a significantly better probability of success, twice within the (solely 2 hour!) video games I performed I nonetheless managed to roll a disaster when utilizing ardour, with 1 Brill and a pair of Glooms. However I really feel that’s a characteristic not a bug as there ought to all the time be an opportunity it goes flawed, and with my cube rolling that isn’t uncommon!
Every character additionally has a “Portfolio” of 9 potential belongings, corresponding to Mentor, Instruments or Wardrobe. As a substitute of including to the cube pool these are factors that may be spent. They both grant an opportunity to make a roll while you’d in any other case be unable to take action, or grant an automated success to a roll you could possibly make. So if you’re about to choose a lock you would possibly spend some extent of Instruments to robotically succeed through the use of superior lockpicks. In case you are attempting to elevate a heavy object, when the GM says it’s too large for one individual, spending some extent of Entourage permits you a roll when you’ve obtained a few of your crew round it.
From there, the one remaining components of the character sheet are basically the hit factors: Vitality for bodily injury and Misery for psychological injury. When a participant must roll a certain quantity of Brills to defend themselves, in the event that they fail, the shortfall turns into the injury they take. If that’s preventing a monster they lose Vitality. In the event that they get roasted in a social battle they endure Misery. Whereas the outcomes of reaching zero in both are barely completely different, they each doubtlessly put your character out of motion, making social fight as harmful as bodily fight.
Know-how, Denizens, and Areas
The remainder of the e-book particulars the know-how, denizens and areas within the Dramark. The know-how stage is roughly that of the Victorian/Edwardian period, however there are additionally a couple of Syllokinetics remaining. These (often big) autonomous steampunk model units had been as soon as ubiquitous however have now principally failed as a result of affect of the smash. However a couple of proceed to work, even when their authentic objective is misplaced. Most are too large to cease, and every is exclusive with a number of intriguing examples detailed within the e-book.
Monsters and denizens are detailed within the chapter on the Damage itself. All the standard traditional monsters are right here, and lots of (like flesh eaters and vampires) nonetheless look human sufficient to proceed to run their estates. There are additionally particulars on how the Damage impacts everybody and the way even gamers would possibly turn out to be corrupt. I would really like a bit extra on this however whereas participant characters will not be resistant to the Damage the main focus is on them preventing it quite than falling to it.
The areas of the Dramark are detailed in 4 instance areas: Grandhurst, Ripper’s Fork, The Gloaming, and Crow’s Croft. They’re nice microcosm settings and every has their very own model, from social politics to gothic horror. Nevertheless I might have preferred a map of the Dramark itself to make it clearer how every part associated. Having mentioned that the main focus is on creating your personal location throughout the Dramark. Every participant character group is taken into account to be a part of an “Property” both as its rulers, servants or itinerant workers. Gamers create the property collectively, describing its dimension, affect and any particular locations and options. It’s a brief however completely sufficient system, so whereas it’s not missing I hope we see extra growth it later dietary supplements.
Lastly, among the many varied NPCs are a wealth of journey hooks, a lot of which may be directed on the gamers from quite a lot of completely different angles. Any one of many NPCs concerned within the hook could be the patron of the PCs, providing a number of completely different twists. There may be additionally a full journey “Fortunes Flip at Crowscroft Manor” which units the PCs up of their property, fixing its issues and getting concerned within the politics of the area people.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Our Good Damage is a neat and concise sport introduced with a wealth of attractive paintings. The setting is evocative and intriguing and gives an array of potential adventures in many alternative kinds. I had a number of enjoyable taking part in it, and it was straightforward to familiarize yourself with each the system and the setting.
In case you are in any respect tempted to take a deeper take a look at the sport it’s very straightforward to take action. Studio Hermitage has made the PDF of the total corebook accessible without spending a dime. I totally recommend getting maintain of a replica.
