We Are But Worms: A One Word RPG
A downloadable game
A one word RPG about worms. You can play it as a LARP too if you want.
"A truly dense & poetic game, rife with possibility & riddled with iterative replayability. Constantly amazed at how a simple shift of setting can have massive reverberations on the context (implicit & explicit) of this genre-defying [live action?] roleplaying game." - Aaron King, RPG designer & zine-maker
If the price of this game is a hardship to you, please email me at Taylor@RiverhouseGames.com or DM me on Twitter @LeviathanFiles and I'll get you a download key, no questions asked.
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Worms
I just found my favorite system.
It's amazing how this jewel amongst role-playing games flew under my radar for so long. But it is so, the best things are often hidden deep-deep under the surface and you find them only by accident, or pure luck, while searching for something completely different. This amazing creation by Riverhouse Games contains everything we could possibly wish the modern RPGs had:
- simple and clear rules
- unique setting
- they do not require experienced game master
- each game is slightly different
I tried the game immediately after first read and although I was kinda nervous and, ahem, writhed on my chair a bit, after few minutes I found out that this game does not force their players into streamlined play style - whether you approach your alter-ego with all the seriousness or a humble smile on your lips, you all will be awarded equally - with an experience you all will strive to fell again. And again.
The only downside of this masterpiece is the title cover, thanks which I have constant urge to buy a pack of gummy worms.
A ttrpg dev asked me to name the best product made in the last 10 years, I instantly said this game. Turns outs we weren't taking about ttrpgs, just products in general. I still stand by it.
I still, months later, regularly think about this game. It's so deeply compelling I feel moved to play it more often than I ever expected.
My good friend is an education professor and is planning his curriculum for a "games in education" class. I was chatting with him, and we inevitably got to talking about, "What is a game?"
I sent him the link to We Are But Worms and got to listen live on the phone as he bought it, opened it, and started laughing. He uttered The Word, continued to laugh, and then wheezed out The Word again. He said, "What if I broke the class into groups and assigned one group Monopoly, one group soccer, one Call of Duty, and one We Are But Worms?"
I'm really hoping he puts this in the curriculum. I'll let you know if he does. He teaches at a small liberal arts college in Minnesota, so maybe you'll get some response games.
The rules-heavy and crunchy approach this TTRPG takes does bog down character creation for the first couple sessions, but otherwise it has a very solid combat and exploration system.
I really appreciate this feedback! I've been thinking about ways to make the rules slimmer for exactly the reasons you have here, but I haven't found an approach that really feels right to me. But I'm really happy you enjoyed the rest of the game!
Transcendent.
I want to tattoo the entire content of this game on my body
I opened this game and shrieked.
This wears baby shoes like minaudiere
I just wanna say that I made an account specifically to download this pdf, and it was 1000% worth it.
...as the kind of person that would do this you have my attention- and possibly my haunted sour skittles?
Writhe
spoiler
Writhe