DEBT MERC & Emberjack Offer Two Ways To Die Glorious Deaths
Whether a particular Storyteller out there is looking for the setting for their next epic Cyberpunk campaign or dark fantasy chronicle, or just a simple and approachable mecha combat system to bolt onto another game’s system, the DEBT MERC and Emberjack double campaign book has plenty to offer. I also recommend STs look to the idea of running short, tragic stories in both settings. Even if the intent is to run a grand campaign that sees the capitalist system of DEBT MERC torn down once and for all, a short adventure that humanizes all the mercs who don’t survive to see their debt paid down can add context and emotional investment to the world.
Why Crunchy RPGs Offer Two Games In One
Storytellers need to remind themselves that player agency matters in all facets of the game, not just at the table. They should also be eager to court any source of player “buy in” and enthusiasm, which certainly should encompass the campaign’s theme and narrative, but it can also include game mechanics. If a player organically chooses to change their planned build, and instead focuses on the use of an overpowered magic item the Storyteller gives them, that isn’t agency, that’s the Storyteller dictating a character’s build for them, in essence. So long as reasonable guardrails are in place, the character-building game adds value to TTRPGs.