Tabletop RPGs have long been the playground of fantasy. Not just the genre of stuffy elves and grim knights, but the very concept of a fantasy. It’s practically an elevated version of those playground games when kids would recreate their favorite stories. But at about the same rate, tabletop RPGs and comic books matured, taking on grittier and bloodier topics.
This upcoming indie TTRPG is a wickedly good example.
100 Dead Heroes by Rookie Jet Studio is a rules-light narrative TTRPG inspired by Kick-Ass, Invincible, and naturally, The Boys. Players do not get to have DnD classes with all the fancy features. They are working-class joes, disgraced intellectuals, hardboiled detectives and every human in between, all united by a hatred of the superhero. Far from paragons of justice, these superheroes are corrupt, corporate puppets causing widespread destruction.
The game utilizes a fast-paced system driven by d6 rolls and a mechanic called “Heat.” . The more heat you draw with your anti-supe schemes, the more the system pushes back, and eventually, those supers might just aim their laser eyes on you. I’ve always been of the opinion that the best systems to get folks out of the DnD bubble is fast-paced action, and that’s exactly what this game provides With over a hundred superheroes to beat, it’s gonna be a tough time making that title come true.
I really enjoy the emphasis on short and brutal fights. One of the reasons The Boys is so compelling is because The Boys literally cannot hold a sustained fight. They are facing off against human weapons of war, and without a solid plan, they cannot hope to get anywhere. It feels like being an Imperial Guardsman squaring up against some random overpowered “grunt” from other Warhammer 40k factions.
I also love having a “superhero system” that isn’t focused on the superheroes. While I love Mutants and Masterminds as much as the next guy, the genre of non-powered street levels sorely needs love on the tabletop. If 100 Dead Heroes is scratching your Billy Butcher spirit, check it out on Kickstarter here.
If you want to meet some super cool people, the Wargamer Discord has plenty of regulars who promise not to use their powers for evil.
Source: Wargamer
