Step back into a world of VHS static, cheap cologne, and flickering motel signs.
The World Anvil Publishing, which Geek Native readers may remember as our RPG Publisher Spotlight winner in December 2024, has announced its next project: Dirt City Blues. Ahead of its crowdfunding campaign, a free quickstart guide is available for download now.
Dirt City Blues is a tabletop roleplaying game about hard-edged protagonists, “Badasses”, with haunted pasts and nothing left to prove but everything to fight for. The game is set in a dangerous metropolis frozen in time, somewhere between the late 1980s and early 1990s, drawing inspiration from the action films and TV shows of that era.
In the game, one player takes on the role of the “Boss,” who describes the world, controls the non-player characters, and presents the team with “Problems” to solve. The other players portray the Badasses, men and women of action, pulled back from the brink to help citizens in distress when the system has failed them. As they navigate a city full of danger, they must also confront their pasts and protect the people they care about.
Get Straight into the Action
The free quickstart is designed to throw you and up to four friends straight into the action, allowing you to learn the core rules of the Monad Echo game system as you play. The introductory scenario is titled “Maldita Pasión.”
To play, you will need:
- The Quickstart guide
- A Badass Sheet for each player, included in the download
- Standard six-sided dice (d6)
- Markers, such as coloured rhinestones
- Paper and pencils or electronic devices for note-taking
How it Plays
When a player describes their Badass attempting an action where success isn’t guaranteed, they perform a “Check.”
- The Boss declares the Opposition Level (OL), which can be 3 (Easy), 5 (Medium), or 7 (Hard).
- The player compares their character’s relevant Attribute value, which equals their “Base Successes,” to the OL.
- This comparison determines the outcome, which can range from Failure (Base Successes <OL) to an Outcome with an Increment (Base Successes =OL+2), where the action succeeds and provides a bonus.
Players can always “Pump their Successes” to improve their outcome. This can be done by spending points from their “Soma” pool, which represents their willpower and grit, or by rolling additional dice. However, rolling dice comes with a risk: if any die shows a “1,” the action automatically fails.
Characters are defined by Descriptors like “Cliché” and “Career,” an Iconic Item, and a “Trauma” from their past. They also manage “Bonds” with other characters through a “White List” of friends and allies and a “Black List” of enemies with whom they have unfinished business. Developing these relationships is a key way for players to evolve their Badasses.
Crowdfunding in October
Dirt City Blues comes from the publisher of acclaimed roleplaying games such as Broken Tales and Dead Air: Seasons.
The full version of the game will launch on Backerkit Crowdfunding in October. The World Anvil Publishing is encouraging fans to sign up on the pre-launch page to download the free quickstart. They are hoping for a strong launch with pledges on day one and have hinted at bonus rewards for their most committed supporters.
