It is something of a tragedy that the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles – The Roleplaying Game has been largely tucked away inside a massive board game Kickstarter campaign.
While Monolith has a stellar reputation for miniatures, it is a shame that this tabletop RPG might never see a full, standalone retail release, as it deserves to be on the shelves of local gaming stores everywhere.
For those curious about what they might be missing, the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles – Quick Start offers a tantalising glimpse into a system that captures the brooding intensity of the Dark Knight’s world with surprising elegance.
You can download the Quick Start for yourself from DriveThruRPG, but not the full game.
The System
At its heart, this game utilises a d20 framework based on Chroniques Oubliées Contemporain, a streamlined French evolution of the 3.5 OGL. The core mechanic will be instantly familiar to anyone who has rolled a twenty-sided die in the last two decades: roll a d20, add a modifier from attributes like Strength or Dexterity, and try to beat a Difficulty Level. However, the designers, including Nicolas Texier, François Verstraete, and François ‘Franz’ Stricher, have injected a truly heroic flavour into this chassis through Exploit Points (EP).
Exploit Points are a standout feature for a superhero game. Rather than small incremental bonuses, spending an EP allows a player to add a massive 10 to their result. Alternatively, if a test is already successful, an EP can instantly upgrade it to a critical success. This creates moments of cinematic brilliance, allowing non-superpowered vigilantes to pull off feats that defy the odds, perfectly emulating the source material. It is a robust system that empowers players to take charge of the narrative when it matters most.
Ethics and Atmosphere
One of the most reassuring elements to see in a quick start of this size is a dedicated mechanic for morality. The Ethics system tracks where a Hero stands on the scale of Good and Evil, utilising values such as Order, Anarchy, Justice, and Crime. These are not just fluff on a character sheet; they are mechanically integrated. A player can tap into their Ethics score to gain a bonus on a test, but doing so gives the Game Master ammunition to apply penalties later when the Hero is forced to act against their values.
This push-and-pull ensures that the internal conflicts defining characters like Batman or Renee Montoya are played out at the table. It is entirely appropriate for a game set in Gotham, where the line between vigilante and villain is often blurred by trauma and difficult choices.
Visuals and Setting
Visually, the PDF is nothing short of fantastic. The cover art by Jorge Jimenez sets a high bar, and the interior layout captures Gotham’s noir aesthetic beautifully. The quick start focuses on the Rebirth and New 52 narrative arcs, presenting a city that is a sprawling, gothic labyrinth of glass, stone, and steel. The atmosphere is palpable, describing Gotham not just as a location, but as a living, breathing entity that leaves its mark on its citizens.
The Adventure
To get you started immediately, the booklet includes a scenario titled A Hostage for a Duel. It is a solid introduction designed for 4 to 6 hours of play, in which characters must rescue Bruce Wayne after Lady Shiva and the Ghost Dragons kidnap him. The adventure is well-structured for novice Game Masters, offering clear leads, such as investigating the Batmobile’s last known location or analysing video ultimatums, that guide the narrative without feeling overly railroaded.
The provided pre-generated characters are excellent, offering a mix of power levels and playstyles. You can hit the streets as the acrobatic Nightwing or the tactical Batwoman, or take a grittier approach with GCPD stalwarts like Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya. There is even an option to play as Alfred Pennyworth, proving that you don’t need a mask to be a hero in Gotham. It is a generous package that effectively showcases the game’s potential.
