Publisher and distributor Peregrine Coast Press chose this weekend’s Tabletop Scotland convention to debut the first-ever print edition of Milk Bar, a new sci-fi roleplaying game. The release is an alpha version of a TTRPG set in an alternate timeline, retro-futuristic Poland, which will eventually be published under a Creative Commons license.
Milk Bar places players in Southern Poland after the Russians have departed, leaving behind a scarred landscape and reality-bending technology. The setting is a direct reaction to an organisation called Ameripol, whose disastrous experiments “shorn The Belt in half” and ruined the city. Rather than fleeing, players are communards taught to stay and fight for a better future, blending a post-Soviet aesthetic with elements of Polish and Slavic mythology.
The alpha release, titled Milk Bar: Cut Your (Milk) Teeth Edition, is a 52-page zine designed to get players started immediately. The mechanics are described as rules-light and in the “old school tradition”. A standout feature is its unique progression system, which is tied directly to base-building. For example, to heal injuries, the community must first construct an Infirmary and find a Doctor. The game also includes rules for solo play, a bestiary mixing sci-fi with folklore, and adventures into abandoned Soviet superstructures to uncover advanced tech.
Notably, the final version of Milk Bar will be published under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license. This means the core text will be free and can be legally and freely adapted, republished, and even sold by other creators, provided they give credit to the original source. Peregrine Coast Press has confirmed that the text-only version of the game will remain entirely free to download.
The physical alpha edition was available at Tabletop Scotland and can now be purchased directly from the Peregrine Coast Press online store.
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A special thanks to All Rolled Up for sponsoring Geek Native’s coverage of Tabletop Scotland. You can find them in the trade hall and explore their fantastic range of indie RPGs and high-quality gaming accessories on the All Rolled Up website. You also also win £50 to spend with them.
