Here’s my first attempt at an Apocalypse World hack: Today’s World, a game for exploring our dystopian present:
Drug dealers smuggle contraband into prisons with drones. You can pay back alley body-modders to install microchips in your hands with cryptographic currency. Powerful corporations track your every move, while vast government surveillance systems scan your emails. Militaries wage cyberwarfare across the globe. Cult leaders have the ear of world leaders. A washed up game show host is now the President of the United States.
This isn’t some dystopian cyberpunk future. It’s Today’s World.
Today’s World is a rule-lite role playing game about the strangeness of modern life. It’s suitable for telling many stories in contemporary settings, from exploring complex social issues to wallowing in the absurdity of the human condition. Inspirations range from literary sources like William Gibson’s “Blue Ant” trilogy to pulpy entertainment like the Gotham TV series to more gonzo sources like Nathan Barley and Crank. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of any of these things: the fact that you’re alive and breathing means you’re already living in Today’s World.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6OKZxuHP8vSblJGVkVsZDNzTWs/view?usp=sharing
Very interesting.
Alfred Rudzki Thanks! There’s still a lot of kinks to work out, so any feedback would be more than appreciated.
Very interesting but, you cannot get hurt when you trigger the move Shoot unless you roll 6-?
Seibei As written, not necessarily, but there’s a pretty good chance of getting a 6- since there’s a -2 penalty for anyone who doesn’t have a special shooting move. Also, on a 7-9 you only get to choose one, so if you choose no ricochet, you accidentally hit someone else, and if you do choose not to shoot anyone else, then you might get hit by a ricochet.
Ah, ok. I understand. I have to read it more carefully but I liked. I’ll stay tuned.
I guess it can be used like a more rpgish version of Fiasco too. Right?
Seibei Absolutely. I hadn’t thought about it, but you could probably use Fiasco playsets as story seeds.
Ooph… will have to take a look at this at some point.
Interesting. What other group playbooks do you have planned?
Greg Gelder Startup will be the next one. I had been planning “cult,” but I think that might have to turn into a separate game to handle it appropriately. I’m also planning “Fixers for hire” and “childhood friends.” Open to suggestions/requests as well!
Startup and childhood friends both sound great, I agree, cult sounds like a different game. “Extended Family” might be interesting as well as “Non-governmental organization”.
Greg Gelder Activists, college students and politician’s staff are three others on the potential list.
I read through your playbooks and decided that I (as a real person) am one of them. This cuts a little too close to home. I am just glad I am not an adventurer.