Powered by the Apocalypse
Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) is a tabletop role playing game design framework[1] developed by Meguey Baker and Vincent Baker for the 2010 game Apocalypse World and later adapted for hundreds of other RPGs.
Other names | Notable Examples: Apocalypse World, Avatar Legends, Bluebeard's Bride, Dungeon World, Ironsworn, Monsterhearts, Thirsty Sword Lesbians |
---|---|
Designers | Meguey Baker, Vincent Baker |
Publication | 2010 |
Genres | Role-playing game |
Website | http://apocalypse-world.com/ |
Game mechanics
Most PbtA games share some similarities in game mechanics; nevertheless, the Bakers define a PbtA game not by its mechanics, but simply by its designers' decision to cite Apocalypse World as an influence. Both definitions of PbtA are in use.
Typical mechanical features in PbtA games
Powered by the Apocalypse games are typically centered on resolving what characters do as "moves." Characters have access to a default selection of moves based on the expectations of the game setting. For example, in the fantasy game Dungeon World, characters have access to a hack and slash move, as combat is central to the dungeoneering experience. Alternatively, Apocalypse World has a "seize by force" move, as the game assumes a setting where collecting scarce resources is part of the game-play experience.
Moves are resolved by rolling two six-sided dice and adding any relevant modifiers. Success levels fall on a scale of total success, partial success, or miss. Partial success often means "success at a cost," where players must select an additional negative outcome as the price of success. Likewise, "miss" often means a negative outcome that moves the narrative forward, rather than "nothing happens."
Most PbtA games are class-based. Character classes have access to a number of class-specific moves.
Emily VanDerWerff for Vox highlighted that:
in PBTA games, players roll two six-sided dice (or D6s) to determine whether they succeed or fail at tasks set for them by the game master. The GM, in turn, keeps things moving and tries to preserve a modicum of continuity. But the players also have extreme amounts of leeway to help shape the world and their relationships with other characters.[2]
James Hanna for CBR contrasted the mechanics of PbtA and Dungeons & Dragons:
the differences really come down to crunch and conversation. Players looking for a sandbox or linear adventure with lots of crunchy combat will enjoy D&D in all its glorious variety. Those who want a more collaborative storytelling experience with fewer granular choices (and probably less math) should try PbtA games.[3]
Keerthi Sridharan for Polygon wrote, "Games that use the PbtA label are ones that take their cues from Apocalypse World regarding any number of things: running a session zero, how dice mechanics work, or even aesthetic and design elements."[4]
Originators' statements on PbtA mechanics
Although most PbtA games contain some or all of the above features, Vincent Baker wrote that PbtA:
isn't the name of a category of games, a set of games' features, or the thrust of any games' design. It's the name of Meg's and my policy concerning others' use of our intellectual property and creative work. [...] Its use in a game's trade dress signifies ONLY that the game was inspired by Apocalypse World in a way that the designer considers significant, and that it follows our policy [with respect to] others' use of our creative work[5]
Reception and analysis
Multiple reviews discuss how the system's reliance on moves provides a streamlined focus on the fiction.[6][7][8] Emily VanDerWerff for Vox wrote that the "stripped-down simplicity makes PBTA games a natural fit for people spreading their wings either as players or game masters."[2] Bitch magazine commented on the messy interconnected relationships the system produces.[9]
Screen Rant highlighted Vincent Baker's game design theory articles:
designers building their own 'Powered By The Apocalypse' games will learn from posts that talk about how to construct 'Moves,' how to refine a game through iteration, and how to move the themes of a 'PBTA' game away from conflict and towards other transformative experiences[10]
Academic PS Berge commented on the messy nature of characters in PbtA games and highlighted that many PbtA games "actively support queer narrative".[11]: 179 Berge also wrote:
Vincent and Meguey Baker's Apocalypse World (AW, 2010) marked the beginning of a critical era in 'fiction-first' TRPG design. [...] AW itself is less important to the legacy of independent TRPGs than the Baker's invitation to other designers: 'If you've created a game inspired by Apocalypse World, and would like to publish it, please do'. [...] 'PbtA' is not a branding or a mechanical linkage to AW's system but a mark of ludic etymology[11]: 182
Keerthi Sridharan, for Polygon, wrote:
While I’d still highly recommend getting into Apocalypse World, there are so many different ways to get into other PbtA-style games. In Magpie Games’ Velvet Glove you can be a ’70s high school girl gang; in Evil Hat's Monster of the Week you can be a group of monster-hunting detectives. [...] You could also try my personal favorite, Masks: A New Generation, which stars a coupla goddamn kids who are, obviously, secretly superheroes. The possibilities are endless[4]
In 2020, James Hanna for CBR discussed the lasting impact of the PbtA framework on role-playing game design:
ten years on, Powered by the Apocalypse games (PbtA) are everywhere. The Bakers designed the PbtA engine so that other game designers could 'hack' it, creating games with similar mechanics, but unique worlds and rules. [...] That influence continues to be felt as games move into new territories and find new audiences. [...] The result of that empowerment is a thriving and diverse community of PbtA games, each with its own unique flavor and design. [...] Because the PbtA mechanics are so flexible, any kind of game is possible.[12]
Apocalypse World won the 2010 Indie RPG Award for Most Innovative Game.[13] Additional awards for PbtA games appear in the following list of games.
List of games
Because of the simplicity and the flexibility of the Powered by the Apocalypse engine, and Vincent Baker's encouragement of publishing hacks,[14] there is a large number of PbtA games. As of April 2023, Itch.io listed over 800 products tagged as PbtA.[15] The following is a list of PbtA games that have received press coverage and/or awards.
- Alas for the Awful Sea
- Alas for the Awful Sea, designed by Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon, is a game about a ship's crew in the 19th century navigating the remote corners of the British Isles in a world consumed with suspicion, sadness, and desperation.[16] It is published by Storybrewers.
- Apocalypse Keys
- Apocalypse Keys is a mystery game about monsters who decide to save the world, designed by Rae Nedjadi and published by Evil Hat Productions. It is inspired by Hellboy, Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, Men in Black, Penny Dreadful, and Doom Patrol.[17][18]
- Apocalypse World
- Apocalypse World is the post-apocalyptic game the system was created for and is set after an unspecified apocalypse (which may either be specified in the course of play or left a mystery) that created a psychic maelstrom.[19]
- Avatar Legends
- Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, designed by Magpie Games, is set in the world of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. Taking players through numerous eras of the series, Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game lets players engage with tales long past and tales yet to be told as players take control of elemental benders, masters of weapons, or wielders of new-fangled technologies.[20]
- Bluebeard's Bride
- Bluebeard's Bride is a gothic horror tabletop role-playing game based on the Bluebeard folktale. Players represent five aspects of a woman's mind as she explores the mansion of her frightening new husband. It was designed and written by Whitney "Strix" Beltrán, Marissa Kelly, and Sarah Richardson, and published by Magpie Games in 2017.[21]
- City of Mist
- City of Mist, designed by Son of Oak Game Studio, is set in a modern-day metropolis where ordinary people of all walks of life become modern-day reincarnations of myths, legends, and fairy tales, gaining magical powers and abilities.[22][23] The game's narrative driven engine is partially based on the Powered by the Apocalypse game engine and the tag system featured in free RPG Lady Blackbird.[24][25]
- Dungeon World
- Dungeon World is a fantasy game, created by Sage LaTorra and Adam Koebel. The game is advertised as having old-school style with modern rules.[26] The text of the game was released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.[27] The setting for Dungeon World is Dungeons & Dragons-esque fantasy. Rather than present a pre-written setting, the game master is instructed to "Draw maps and leave blanks", meaning to not put too much detail in the setting but allow it to emerge in play.
- Epyllion
- Epyllion is a game where players play dragons in a dragon-centric world, published by Magpie Games.[28]
- Fellowship
- Fellowship is a high fantasy game where players control every aspect of their chosen race. The player who controls the Elf, for example, is the only person who has the final say in anything regarding elves. The goal is to defeat the Overlord, a GM-controlled character, by gathering sources of power while trying to prevent the Overlord from destroying communities that could be helpful in defeating them.[28] The game was successfully Kickstarted in 2015 and released in 2016 by LibriGothica Games.
- Ironsworn
- In the Ironsworn tabletop roleplaying game, the player is a hero sworn to undertake perilous quests in the dark fantasy setting of the Ironlands. The player will explore untracked wilds, fight desperate battles, forge bonds with isolated communities, and reveal the secrets of this harsh land.[29] Created by Shawn Tomkin
- KULT – Divinity Lost
- KULT: Divinity Lost is a reboot of the contemporary horror role-playing game Kult, originally released in 1991. This Kickstarter-funded version of the game features a completely new rule-set, and the setting is updated to present day. Published by Swedish Helmgast and distributed by Modiphius.[30]
- Legacy – Life Among the Ruins
- Legacy: Life Among the Ruins is a game of survival and rebuilding in a world ravaged and altered by incomprehensible calamity. Its biggest feature is gameplay at multiple levels: each player builds a Family of survivors and a Character from that family. Stories take place across multiple generations, with each generation creating new characters and altering the families. Family stats are Reach, Grasp, Tech, and Mood, with playbooks including The Enclave of Bygone Lore, The Brotherhood of Gilded Merchants, The Tyrant Kings, The Servants of the One True Faith, and The Lawgivers of the Wasteland. Character stats are Steel, Sway, Force, and Lore, with playbooks including the Hunter, the Envoy, the Seeker, and the Sentinel. Legacy was designed by Mina McJanda (published under the name James Iles),[31][32] and was successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter in December 2014.[33] After another successful Kickstarter campaign,[34] a second edition was released in June 2018.
- MASHED
- MASHED explores life in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War.[16] Default statistics are Luck, Nerve, Skill, and Tough. The character playbooks are the Angel (nurse), Corpsman, Cowboy (pilot or mechanic), Cutter (surgeon), Doc (physician), Grunt (aka pogue), and Padre (chaplain). Designed by Mark Plemmons, MASHED was Kickstarted[35] in October 2016 and published by Brabblemark Press in January 2017.[36]
- Masks
- Masks is about teenage superheroes learning to bond as a team during both their regular high school lives and their superhero adventures.[37][38] The game uses conditions instead of hit points in combat.[39] It was designed by Brendan Conway and published by Magpie Games.[40]
- Monsterhearts
- Monsterhearts is "a story game about the lives of teenage monsters"[41] by Avery Alder. Default statistics are Hot, Cold, Volatile, and Dark, and the playbooks presented in the main rulebook are The Chosen, the Fae, the Ghoul, the Queen, the Witch, the Werewolf, the Infernal, and the Vampire. It was nominated for six separate awards, although it didn't win any.[42][43]
- Monster of the Week
- Monster of the Week is "an action-horror role playing game"[44] about a group of monster hunters, written by Michael Sands. Statistics are Charm, Cool, Sharp, Tough, and Weird and the default classes are the Chosen, the Expert, the Flake, the Initiate, the Monstrous, the Mundane, the Professional, the Divine, the Spooky, and the Wronged.[30][43]
- Nahual
- Nahual is about "Mexican shapeshifters who hunt down parasitic angels and sell their dismembered body parts on the black market."[45] It was designed by Miguel Ángel Espinoza and published by Magpie Games.[46]
- Offworlders
- Offworlders is a framework based on the rules lite variant, World of Dungeons, for creating space based games.[47]:
- Pasión de las Pasiones
- Pasion de las Pasiones lets players create the romantic melodrama of a Telenovela. It was written by Brandon Leon-Gambetta and published by Magpie Games.[48][49] It was nominated for the 2023 ENNIE Awards for "Best Game."[50]
- Root RPG
- Root: the Roleplaying Game is a tabletop roleplaying game based on the original Root board game. Root is a game of woodland creatures fighting for money, justice, and freedom from powers far greater than them. The players take on the roles of vagabonds, outcasts from the normal society of the woodlands. Written by Brendan Conway of Magpie Games, it is officially licensed by Leder Games and created and published by Magpie Games.[51] The project launched on Kickstarter on September 17, 2019, with an initial goal of $10,000, and raised as much in 30 minutes.[52]
- Ruma – Dawn of Empire
- Ruma: Dawn of Empire is a game by Martin Greening.[53] The game is set in an alternate Roman Empire, called the Ruman Empire, where magic and mythology also exists.[54][16] The project was launched on Kickstarter where it was successfully funded, having raised $10,046.[54]
- Spirit of 77
- Spirit of 77 is an action RPG based on 1970s pop culture, including The Six Million Dollar Man, Shaft, and the Dukes of Hazzard. Popular music of the time plays heavily into its gameplay, including the option for players to play 1970s "rockers", ala Fleetwood Mac and Kiss. The game includes multiple adventures packaged as "Double Features", including titles such as "Women's Prison of the Apes", "BEAST: Bound and Down", and "Jurassic Parking Lot". Published by Monkeyfun Studios.[55][16]
- The Sprawl
- The Sprawl is a cyberpunk RPG in which parties of underground criminals run missions for and/or against vast megacorporations while trying to avoid exposure and extermination. William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy is cited as a major inspiration. Graphics, editing, and supplemental fiction for the RPG were funded via Kickstarter. Game books began releasing in early 2016.[56]
- Starhold
- Starhold is a space-themed survival horror developed by S.M. Noble.[57] There are 8 Spacer playbooks, each of which has 3 additional variants, allowing for 32 different unique Spacers to choose from.[58] Starhold was released in September 2020.[59]
- Thirsty Sword Lesbians
- Thirsty Sword Lesbians is a 2021 narrative-focused role-playing game which emphasizes telling "melodramatic and queer stories".[60] It was developed by April Kit Walsh and published by Evil Hat Productions.[61] The base game has nine playbooks (Beast, Chosen, Devoted, Infamous, Nature Witch, Scoundrel, Seeker, Spooky Witch, and Trickster)[62] and characters have five main stats: daring, grace, heart, wit and spirit.[63] Thirsty Sword Lesbians was the first tabletop game to win a Nebula Award[64] and the fourth winner in the "Best Game Writing" category.[65] The game also won the 2022 ENNIE Awards for "Best Game"[66] and for "Product of the Year".[67]
- Transit – The Spaceship RPG
- Transit: The Spaceship RPG is a 2019 science fiction game of Artificial Intelligence, interstellar craft, and galactic exploration. Players take on the role of AI inhabiting interplanetary vessels, with different AI Types and Ship Classes combining to form unique characters. The fleet will expand the universe through play while contending with the needs of their headquarters, external threats ranging from hostile ships to bizarre cosmic phenomena, and even their own biological crews. Transit is sold exclusively through DriveThruRPG,[68] and is published by Fiddleback Productions.[69]
- Tremulus
- A storytelling RPG in the style of the works of H. P. Lovecraft, Tremulus was Kickstarted and raised over $60,000.[70] Statistics are Reason, Passion, Might, Luck, and Affinity, and the default classes are The Alienist, The Antiquarian, The Author, The Devout, The Detective, The Dilettante, The Doctor, The Heir, The Journalist, The Professor, and The Salesman. There were plans for the kickstarter to produce a "The Congo" playset, allowing characters to explore "the Heart of Darkness"; this idea was dropped after a backlash.[71]
- Uncharted Worlds
- Successfully backed on Kickstarter,[72] Uncharted Worlds is "a Space Opera pen-and-paper roleplaying game of exploration, combat, politics and commerce across the stars." Designed by Sean Gomes.[73]
- Urban Shadows
- Urban Shadows is an urban fantasy game set in "a dark urban environment drowning in supernatural politics",[74] with Archetypes including vampires, werewolves, wizards, ghosts and human monster hunters using the main stats of Blood, Heart, Mind, and Spirit. Urban Shadows introduces systems to emphasize the political, tragic, and horrific aspects of the genre: characters must interact with different Factions to advance, or mark Corruption to gain unique and powerful moves while drawing closer to being retired from play dead or to become antagonists.[74][28] Written by Andrew Medeiros and Mark Diaz Truman and published by Truman's Magpie Games as a result of a successful Kickstarter campaign.[75] 2016 Ennie Award Nominee for Best Game[76]
- The Warren
- The Warren is a game[43] that involves "intelligent rabbits trying to make the best of a world filled with hazards, predators and, worst of all, other rabbits. It is a game about survival and community."[77] Published in 2016, "This game takes inspiration from classic rabbit tales such as Watership Down, Fifteen Rabbits, and Peter Rabbit. It uses a heavily modified version of the game mechanics from Vincent Baker’s Apocalypse World."[77]
- World Wide Wrestling
- World Wide Wrestling is a tabletop roleplaying game[78] that allows players to create their own fictional professional wrestling franchise, wrestlers and storylines. The game is designed by Nathan D. Paoletta.
References
- "Powered by the Apocalypse, part 1 – lumpley games".
- VanDerWerff, Emily (2020-04-03). "Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A guide to the vast, exciting world of tabletop RPGs". Vox. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- "Powered by the Apocalypse vs. Dungeons & Dragons: How the Mechanics Compare". CBR. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Sridharan, Keerthi (2021-11-25). "Powered by the Apocalypse is the best way to get started with tabletop role-playing games". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Baker, Vincent. "An open letter re: Powered by the Apocalypse". Apocalypse World. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Review of Apocalypse World Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Play Unplugged, July 2012
- Apocalypse World Review Flames Rising
- Barf Forth Apocalyptica Critical Hits review
- "The Sexuality of Monsterhearts". Bitch Media. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "Tabletop RPG Design Resources For Amateur Indie Game Designers". ScreenRant. 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Berge, PS (2021). Mitchell, Alex; Vosmeer, Mirjam (eds.). "Monster Power. Rebel Heart. Gay Sword: Queer Structures and Narrative Possibility in PbtA Tabletop Roleplaying Games". Interactive Storytelling. Cham: Springer International Publishing. 13138: 179–192. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92300-6_16. ISBN 978-3-030-92299-3. S2CID 244882412. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- "Powered by the Apocalypse: How an Indie RPG Is Still Changing the Industry". CBR. 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Most Innovative – 2010 Indie RPG Awards
- Forum statement – Vincent Baker, 11 June 2010
- "Top physical games tagged PbtA". itch.io. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- "7 Powered by the Apocalypse TTRPGs for History Buffs". CBR. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Wieland, Rob. "Monsters Save The World In The Apocalypse Keys RPG". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- Carter, Chase (2023-01-19). "7 most anticipated new tabletop RPGs coming out in 2023". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- Hanna, James (2020-10-04). "Powered by the Apocalypse: How an Indie RPG Is Still Changing the Industry". CBR. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- Carter, Chase (2021-08-09). "Avatar Legends: The RPG preview". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- "Diving Deep into Gothic Horror in 'Bluebeard's Bride'". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
- "Solve The Mysteries of Gods and Legends in the 'City of Mist' RPG". Nerdist. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- "Dig a Fantasy Grave and Open Schrödinger's Box in the Latest Tabletop Gaming News". Gizmodo. November 26, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- "City of Mist: Quick Start Rules - Son of Oak Game Studio". DriveThruRPG (Product page). Retrieved 2021-10-14.
- "City of Mist RPG: An Interview with Amit Moshe". obskures.de (in German). 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
- "Dungeon World: A Game with Modern Rules & Old-School Style". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- LaTorra, Sage. "Open License". Dungeon World. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "7 Powered by Apocalypse TTRPGs for Fantasy Lovers". CBR. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- Wieland, Rob. "My Favorite 2022 RPG Products". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- "8 Powered by Apocalypse TTRPGs for Horror Fans". CBR. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- McJanda, Mina [@minahoneybat] (April 24, 2020). "Hey hello! Just as a public service announcement, Jay Iles is no more~ I hope you'll continue to visit Minerva McJanda (Mina for short) for all your excellent tabletop RPG needs" (Tweet). Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
- McJanda, Mina [@minahoneybat] (April 24, 2020). "not sure - probably 'By Mina McJanda, published under [old name]'" (Tweet). Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Legacy: Life Among the Ruins - world-rebuilding roleplaying". Kickstarter.
- "Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2nd Edition". Kickstarter.
- "MASHED: A Korean War MASH RPG". Kickstarter.
- "Brabblemark Press". Brabblemark Press.
- James, Emily St (2020-04-03). "Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A guide to the vast, exciting world of tabletop RPGs". Vox. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- Lowthian, Declan (2022-03-20). "D&D: 8 Tabletop Games That Will Make You A Better DM". CBR. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- Dornbrock, Devin (2023-03-08). "10 Best Superhero Tabletop RPGs". High Ground Gaming. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- "Masks". Magpie Games. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- "The Monsterhearts website".
- "Monsterhearts (1st & 2nd Eds.) | RPG | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com.
- "Must-Play Roleplaying Games That Are "Powered By The Apocalypse"". ScreenRant. 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- "Generic Games". genericgames.co.nz.
- Gailloreto, Coleman (2021-04-02). "Urban Fantasy RPGs Not Based On European Folklore". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- "Nahual Core Book". Magpie Games. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- "Offworlders". www.drivethrurpg. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
- "Make Valentine's Day Roleplaying Hot with 'Pasion de las Pasiones'". icv2.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- "pasion". Magpie Games. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- "2023 Nominations – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- "Root RPG". magpiegames.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- "Root: The TTRPG Live on Kickstarter! | Magpie Games". Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- Girdwood, Andrew (2017-05-29). "Ruma: Dawn of Empire – an alternative Roman Empire". geeknative.com. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
- Greening, Martin. "Ruma: Dawn of Empire RPG". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
- "Monkeyfun Studios". Monkeyfun Studios.
- "The Sprawl: Cyberpunk Roleplaying, Powered by the Apocalypse". Kickstarter.
- "Starhold Press Kit". starholdrpg.com. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- "About the Game". starholdrpg.com. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- "Starhold: Available Now! Listen to our Let's Play!". starholdrpg.com. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- "Thirsty Sword Lesbians". Kickstarter. Evil Hat Productions. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- Valens, Ana (2020-10-14). "'Thirsty Sword Lesbians' role-playing game blows past Kickstarter goals". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- Girdwood, Andrew (2019-12-04). "Thirsty Sword Lesbians RPG announced by Evil Hat". Geek Native. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- "Flirt and fight in queer tabletop RPG Thirsty Sword Lesbians". Dicebreaker. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- "Thirsty Sword Lesbians Wins Nebula Award for Best Game Writing". ComicBook.com. May 23, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- "Sapphic and sharp tabletop RPG Thirsty Sword Lesbians wins Nebula Award for best game writing". Dicebreaker. 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ENNIE Awards [@ENnies] (August 5, 2022). "Best Game Silver goes to: Root: The RPG Gold goes to: Thirsty Sword Lesbians" (Tweet). Retrieved August 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ENNIE Awards [@ENnies] (August 5, 2022). "Product of the Year Silver goes to: Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set Gold goes to: Thirsty Sword Lesbians" (Tweet). Retrieved August 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
- "Transit: The Spaceship RPG - Fiddleback Productions | DriveThruRPG.com". www.drivethrurpg.com.
- "Transit RPG". Fiddleback Productions.
- "tremulus: a storytelling game of lovecraftian horror". Kickstarter.
- RPG Cultural Appropriation, RPG Review issue 17, September 2012
- "Uncharted Worlds: A Space Opera Roleplaying Game". Kickstarter.
- "Home". uncharted-worlds.com.
- "Urban Shadows (official page)". Magpie Games. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- "Urban Shadows Kickstarter". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- "2016 ENnie Award Nominees and Spotlight Winners | ENnie Awards". Archived from the original on 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
- "The Warren". Bully Pulpit Games. 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- "The World Wide Wrestling RPG". ndpdesign. Retrieved 2023-08-11.