Sad Space Cowboys: Jam Like Firefly & Cowboy Bebop
Spin up the tapes, you've got a job to do. Trucking, trouble, and vinyl: Play the melancholy spacefarer of Cowboy Bebop, Firefly, and more!
TYPE
SYSTEM
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$18.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Tuesday - 5:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2.5–3 hours
Campaign Length / 6–12 Sessions
1 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Ever dream freelancing in a wide open, star-studded sky? Find the last great wilderness in the terraformed worlds. Stake your freedom on a semi-reliable frigate. Outrun your troubles with a retro song and oddball compatriots! Welcome to Orbital Blues! Explore solar systems where rustic settlements dust up against would-be despots and corporate bigwigs. Make your own way and try to stay one step ahead of your past. In between delivery jobs and bounty hunting, you may just be able to keep the hand-me-down jalopy of a ship in working order. Orbital Blues takes cues from the retro scifi of Cowboy Bebop, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Alien. Encounter frontier settlements, burned out gambling dens, and up-and-coming cities where the rich can get away with anything... until you gum up the works. Kick off with a delivery job that pays just a little too well. Who will you side with on the Rock of Tariq? Is your past coming up to haunt you? Are old debts coming due? What new gambit will you learn when you are next singing the Blues? This game will use Discord for calls and theater of the mind play with Miro used for a shared whiteboard-like play space. Join with a crewmate for a $5 discount for both of you for each session you play together!
Game style
Combat Lite
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
19 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Teacher
Average response time: 7 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I offer: 🏳️🌈 A welcoming, inclusive play style 🔥 Player-focused flair and action 🧭 Open-ended storytelling following player cues 🎭 In-game action, horror, awe, and comedy ⚖️ Settings with themes of justice and transformation 📆 Over a decade of game mastering experience 🖋️ Know-how with dozens of systems Even in the midst of death-defying adventure or bone-chilling horror, I aim to be a warm and welcoming game master. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC players can expect respect at my tables. I've run games for children, seniors, and all ages in between. Safety tools such as the X Card are always part of my table. I suffuse hope, respect, and warmth into every session I run. That's why I go by the Gentle GM. At thirteen, three of us huddled around the Dungeons & Dragons 3e starter set, laughing at a natural 20 to breakdown a door with the fighter's head. In high school, I found the Call of Cthulhu rulebook and made investigators, still clueless how to actually play. In 2014 with the launch of D&D 5e and Call of Cthulhu 7e, I committed to running these games and an old love sparked brilliantly to life! I've since taught dozens their first TTRPG! I'm an inveterate game dabbler. If you're curious if I run a particular game, just ask! I'm up to the challenge to try something new you're excited to play. I run games full-time. You can expect preparation and dedication at my table. Local cafes and bars also host my game sessions and workshops. My newsletter and itch page also share game design reflections and projects. Images are used with permission from James' RPG Art, https://jamesrpgart.com.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We'll create characters and ship as part of the zero session. Character creation details will be shared, but you can pick up the PDF or hard copy through Soul Muppet Publishing: https://soulmuppetpublishing.itch.io/orbital-blues https://usa.soulmuppet-store.co.uk/pages/orbital-blues Players are encouraged to think of the archetypes of cassette futurist adventuring groups like the crew of the Bebop (Cowboy Bebop), Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the like. This setting does not include non-human characters as a default, but if you have a pitch for something unusual (a rogue AI on the ship, an experimentally uplifted animal, or something else), then bring it!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need: 1) Discord profile and to join the Gentle GM server 2) A mic and headphones (webcam is encouraged, but not required) 3) A free account with Miro, an online whiteboard platform Players can use physical dice if they prefer. Orbital Blues uses a handful of six-sided dice. Discord also offers Dice Golem for dice rolling.
What Caleb | The Gentle GM brings to the table
My players say it better than I can: "When you sit down to play a game at one of his tables, you feel like you interact with the world and story better than I have felt anywhere else... it's like being given the keys to your dad's classic car on date night. Every game with Caleb is a breath of fresh air. I've played and run games for years now, and Caleb truly brings player involvement and agency to a different level than I see elsewhere." - Matt "Caleb’s tables feel inclusive and safe. I love how he encourages player creativity." - Cindy "I've been part of multiple table-top gaming groups in the past 10 years and Caleb's storytelling, world-building, knowledge of different systems, and ability to create an inclusive, safe space for every single player at the table is (and I say this with my whole chest) exceptional. If you are looking for a GM that will support, encourage, and wrap you up in the most amazing worlds, Caleb is that GM." - Jenna You can expect: A story defined by the player characters and your choices Patience and support in moments of uncertainty Colorful characters and fantastical settings Theatrical acting for side characters with a touch of voiceacting Celebration of character success and plot beats Respect and consideration of my players and their consent
Homebrew rules
This is an OSR-inspired game. That means the rules can feel pretty light. Expect plenty of rulings, situations without set outcomes, and an emphasis on player character agency.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Platforms used
Safety
How Caleb | The Gentle GM creates a safe table
For safety tools, you can expect: 1. The X Card hard pauses the session. No explanation needed. 2. Open Door: Step away or leave without penalty. 3. Content Warnings: These are in the listing. Any questions? 4. Rating: I'm expecting a PG-13 with some adult situations that can be tailored based on player feedback. 5. Lines: What content do we want to exclude altogether? 6. Veils: What content do we want to fade to black? 7. Fast forward/Rewind: Jump ahead or revisit due to sensitive content. The 18+ Game: Teenaged players can join if they have an adult also playing at the table. Discussion of how this informs content and tone will be part of the zero session.
Content warnings
Safety tools used
