Another game inspired by Simon Stalenhag and created by Free League. As to the setting, it’s an alternative 1997. Civil War started in the US in 1975 and ended in 1984 with a ceasefire. The US was basically torn apart with new ‘nations’ being created and even affecting Canada and Mexico in some fundamental ways. And it wasn’t only North America that was affected, but the rest of the world. The world has become more isolationist and less globalist. It’s part post-apocalyptic and part Matrix. Neuronics is a thing as are neuroscapes. One dons a neurocaster and gains access to a digital network that can be local or global, normal or bizarre. The problem is the immersive nature of the neuroscape is addictive and many have become so entrenched in the neuroscapes that they never unplug from the system and end up dying of dehydration or hunger. The main nation is Pacifica (formerly California). A map is included as a fold out prop as well as a smaller version in the book. Dice rolls are going to be like in Tales From the Loop: grab a handful of d6 and try getting at least one 6.
Chapter 2 goes into the history of Pacifica and the events that led up to the civil war and reshaping of America and the world. Also included is information on the other nations in America as well as the corporations that survived.
Chapter 3 is character creation. There are 10 choices for your traveler, including: Outsider, Runaway Kid, Investigator, and Artist. Tension is an interesting addition to the game. You have Tension 1 with 1 or 2 of the characters and zero with the rest. Players discuss what that tension is and it’s something ever changing during the course of the journey.
Chapter 4 is Combat and Neuronics. Combat is pretty straightforward and the concept and use (and dangers) of neuronics are fleshed out more.
Chapter 5 is all about the Journey, or campaign. Instead of an adventure, there is a ‘stop.’ There aren’t a shortage of tables in the chapter to create stops to randomly pick or to roll either a D6 or D66 (2d6 with one being tens and the other being the ones).
Chapter 6 talks about the different threats one can come across such as: violent, personal, or past sins.
Chapter 7 is a sample journey titled “Into the Dust.” There are 3 stops, each with an objective to complete and advance the overall plot.
Chapter 8 is about solo play and how to navigate the rules. Overall, it’s a pretty rich world and I have (of course) only scratched the surface of what is there. There’s enough to do a number of different types of storylines. Free League has a bunch of games out there I don’t own, but have played vicariously by way of YouTube actual plays. 2 of the more well known would be Alien and Blade Runner.
