BRUTAL

BRUTAL is just what its name implies - it is a very brutal, punk tabletop RPG. BRUTAL bases itself on a modified version of the Moleskin System by Rothbard & Gazpus, with the Game Master replaced with a separate character class, to better open story creation to every individual player in a fairly anarchist fashion. This 20 page manual contains everything you need to run every aspect of a BRUTAL RPG.

In BRUTAL, players are equal in their ability to contribute to the story. One player prepares their character and an adventure into the world of BRUTAL, preparing particular places to explore and creatures you may meet along the way. Players journey with their friend, contributing their own story elements, and telling what they find as they go, whether prepared by their guiding friend or not. With static dice standards set in game play, anything can happen, and anyone can contribute to the game. But players must be careful however, as perma-death awaits around every corner. BRUTAL intimately believes in the sanctity of fictional life and so characters are precious. This game is not for the faint of heart and characters will deal with real consequences for their actions, from death, to serious injury, to mental trauma. Players should expect extreme difficulty, with constant creativity necessary, and a heavy emotional toll hovering over them throughout.

BRUTAL is fairly rules light, but creativity heavy. It depends upon the players entirely and their ability to build-out a world, characters, dangers, and everything in between in a DIY fashion. While in one sense, BRUTAL can be said to be "without a GM", it is perhaps more accurate to say that in BRUTAL, everyone is the GM. BRUTAL is not well equipped for people who have rarely ever played an RPG and may even be difficult for those who have never acted as a GM. But players who are willing to take on the challenge will find it rewarding and creatively stimulating.