The classic tabletop trope of three goblins masquerading as a human has finally been codified into a dedicated system. Sam Armstrong, the designer behind Tales From The Spectral Sea, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Small Folk in Big Coats, a chaotic roleplaying games title focused on the inherent friction of multiple creatures attempting to pilot a single trench coat.
The project has already surged past its modest £200 funding goal, currently sitting at nearly five times that amount with over 90 backers. This interest follows a growing trend in the indie scene for “emergency goof buttons”: highly portable, zero-prep roleplaying games designed to fill gaps in a gaming group’s schedule or serve as a palate cleanser between more serious campaigns.
The Mechanics of Discord
Unlike traditional cooperative roleplaying games, where the party works toward a unified objective, Small Folk in Big Coats thrives on internal conflict. While the physical “stack” of smallfolk must maintain the illusion of being a single human entity to the outside world, each individual player has a secret, conflicting goal.
The gameplay loop involves taking turns in different positions within the coat. Players must capitalise on their moment in control to move the stack toward their personal victory condition before the inevitably clumsy arrangement descends into squabbling. The game ends when the group either achieves a modicum of success or, more likely, scatters in a panic, at which point the player who most effectively met their hidden objectives is declared the winner.
A Suite of Silly Systems
The campaign is not limited to just the titular zine. Armstrong is leveraging his previous successes, such as Hello Wizard I Have A Problem, which saw physical distribution at the UK Games Expo. For those looking for a broader library of low-prep titles, the “Party Pack” tier includes two additional games:
- Hello Wizard I Have A Problem: A chaotic magic system where players portray powerful but often incompetent wizards.
- …All Bastard: A narrative-heavy game set in a tavern where heroes compete to tell the most impressive (and likely exaggerated) stories of their exploits.
Production and Ethical Standards
In an era where generative tools are increasingly common in digital publishing, Armstrong has taken a firm stance on the creative process.
Rest assured, Small Folk in Big Coats is 100% made by humans (or at least a series of goblins masquerading as one). I believe that using AI in creative works would be unethical, even if it didn’t create soulless and uninteresting products.
The physical zines will be produced using recycled paper, with art provided by Sarah Gobble, known for her work on Oddity Roadshow. Given the ongoing volatility in international shipping in 2026, the creator is deferring shipping costs until the point of dispatch to ensure backers are not overcharged due to fluctuating carrier rates.
Pledge Tiers
- Pledge £3: PDF only please. A digital version of the game in PDF format for those who prefer paperless play.
- Pledge £8: A Physical Zine. A physical copy of the zine printed on recycled paper, plus the digital PDF.
- Pledge £20: The Party Pack. Includes physical and digital versions of Small Folk in Big Coats, Hello Wizard I Have A Problem, and …All Bastard.
- Pledge £50: Too Many Zines. A comprehensive bundle featuring eight different zines from the creator’s catalogue.
The campaign for Small Folk in Big Coats is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. Digital rewards and physical zines are estimated to begin delivery between May and June 2026.
