200-Word RPGs
I don't have the energy for NaNoWriMo anymore, so instead I'm participating in Prokopetz's 200-word RPG challenges in Novembers. Play them and let me know what you think!
If you like the 200-word RPG format, you can find more of them on the original challenge website and this archive.
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Practical Applications
You are a group of nerds who’ve been isekai'ed into a fantasy world. The only way to get back is to become the heroes of the realm by accomplishing these goals, in order:
- Gather supplies
- Cross the Shifting Swamp
- Sneak through the Forest of Eyes
- Defeat the Dark Flame Sorcerer
(If there’s >4 players / you want the game to last longer, brainstorm more goals to add to the list.)
Each player goes to Wikipedia and clicks “Random article”. Whatever you get is your Specialty. You’re an expert on your Specialty, and know everything that’s possible to know about it.
Decide on a turn order. On your turn, attempt to accomplish the current goal. If you convince the other players you can do this with your Specialty knowledge, you succeed automatically and remove the goal from the list. Otherwise, say what you’ll try and roll 1d6. On a 6, you make it through somehow. Otherwise, you fail; the other players narrate how you made things worse, and add a new goal to the top of the list.
If you defeat the Sorcerer, you win! If you have 3x as many goals as players, you give up and settle down.
TIME DUEL
Two players play as TIME TRAVELERS who are BITTER ENEMIES. Give yourselves SUITABLY RIDICULOUS NAMES and decide on the long-forgotten origin of your feud.
Gather around a piece of paper or word document. This represents the current timeline. The younger player goes first. On your turn, roll 2d6. You get that many TIME POINTS. Use each TP for one of the following:
- Add a word. If it’s your name or your opponent’s name, add a star beside it.
- Add a star beside a word.
- Choose a non-starred word. Replace it with a different word, and add a star.
Punctuation can be changed for free. When you are done, the words on the page should form a story in third person about you winning the TIME DUEL. Optionally, describe how you used your TIME MACHINE to change the timeline, and gloat at your opponent for failing to foresee this outcome.
Example:
Zorbulax rolls 7, and writes “Zorbulax* blasts Bleventeen* with a petrifying ray.”
Bleventeen rolls 6, and changes it to “Zorbulax* blasts Bleventeen* with a healing* ray, then falls into a pit.”
If you cannot figure out a way to do this, your opponent wins the TIME DUEL.
Weekend at Hiro's
The Chosen One, Hiro, has just died in a ridiculous accident. You, his party, must somehow save the world without him.
Setup
Playing cards represent problems:
- Hearts: Hero’s Friends (love interest becomes suspicious, etc.)
- Diamonds: Hero’s Influence (elves refuse to negotiate with anyone but Hiro, etc.)
- Clubs: Hero’s Body (the corpse is obviously damaged, etc.)
- Spades: Hero’s Enemies (monsters only Hiro can defeat, etc.)
Start with two problems, the Queen of Spades (Dark Lord) and a random card. Shuffle the rest of the deck and place it face-down.
Play
Choose a problem. You can’t choose the Dark Lord if there’s any other problems. Brainstorm a way to solve it, then draw two cards.
For each card:
- If its face value is higher than the problem’s (10 < J < Q < K), it’s a success; discard the card.
- Otherwise, things get worse; the card becomes a new problem.
If there were any successes, discard the problem. Narrate the outcome accordingly, then repeat.
Ending
If you defeat the Dark Lord, you win!
If all 4 Kings are discarded, you get eaten by monsters.
If you have more than 5 unsolved problems, Hiro’s death becomes public knowledge. Without a Hero, the world falls into chaos.