For a recent one-shot, I was co-GM and we wanted to
provide a 1920s setting. The idea was
always going to be gangsters against cops in America during the prohibition on
selling alcohol. There was a twist,
however. What if a new gang was active
in town, one that had grander plans…
This was the challenge we set ourselves. So I came up with a system inspired by other one-shots I had watched, including Dungeon World, Impulse Drive and the one page roleplays created by Grant Howitt.
The idea behind the system was to keep the structure
simple. I structured it around two types
of dice. A d12 for carrying out an
action, and an additional d6 if the player has a Skill they can apply to that
action. Each player has a Life Force
score, representing the number of hits or attacks a character can take. Then there are five Core Stats that are added
to any action, depending on how mentally strong, knowledgeable, charming, agile
or physically strong the character is.
The players made their characters beforehand and quickly
learned their way around the system, asking to apply skills and rolling their
actions in turn. This enabled them to
carry out their teams objectives whilst investigating the new gang. The final twist took them by surprise however. They tied a cult leader to the fiancé of a nouveau
riche gentleman and made their way to his mansion. The chemical effects of the spiked drinks and
the tragic history of the building brought into being the summoning of an
otherworldly monster who tore at all in his path. They managed to send the alien beast back to
the furthest planes from which it came from, but not before it could drag one
of the gangsters with it.
The system proved successful, being both easy to use and
working with the theme; that of 1920s America.
As for a sequel, it’s difficult to follow that plotline and I think we’ll
pick a different story and a different theme for next time.
If interested, Story-Noir is available to use on a ‘Pay What You Want’ amount. If you do play, please let me know what you think.