Learn all about Powered by the Apocalypse with our brief guide designed to help new players navigate the world of tabletop gaming.
Powered by the Apocalypse is a term for a type of tabletop roleplaying game, or TTRPG. TTRPGs are games of collaborative storytelling where players take on the roles of characters in a shared imaginary world. One player, the Game Master (GM), takes on the role of the world those characters inhabit; they’ll play as the people those characters meet, the places they explore, and the physical, social, and even magical environments the players’ characters must navigate!Â
Powered by the Apocalypse, or PbtA, refers to a subset of these roleplaying games which are inspired by a game called Apocalypse World, which pioneered the system these games use. This game system is renowned for its ability to generate incredible, dramatic stories full of twists, turns, and surprises that not even the Game Master can predict! While every PbtA game puts their own spin on the rules, their shared DNA makes it easy to play any Powered by the Apocalypse title after learning just one.
PbtA games come in every flavor you can imagine, but some of the most popular ones are Monster of the Week, where players hunt monsters Ă la Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Supernatural; Masks, where you can become teenage superheroes like in Teen Titans or Young Avengers; and Avatar Legends, in which players adventure in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
After players create their characters, the GM will present them with the scenario those characters find themselves in. Players describe or act out what their characters do, and the GM tells them how the world responds. Sometimes, they’ll make or trigger “moves” that require them to roll dice to find out whether their action succeeds, fails, or something in between. But most importantly, every choice the players make progresses the story and keeps the action flowing. Powered by the Apocalypse games center collaborative storytelling, where the “fiction,” the shared imaginary world, always comes first.
Powered by the Apocalypse games are, at their core, a conversation. For that reason, it’s extremely easy to play them online! All you need to play is a pair of six sided dice and at least two players (although three to five is usually best), one of whom acts as the Game Master. Most PbtA games make their character sheets and move lists freely available to download, and voice and video platforms like Zoom and Discord make face-to-face communication simple. Being mostly conversation, PbtA games are often played in a “theater of the mind” style, where the fiction is described by the players and takes place entirely in their imaginations. For those who prefer visual aids, however, there are plenty of virtual tabletops, or VTTs, that allow players to share images, maps, tokens, notes, and handouts, and even have virtual dice to roll!
Finding a group of people to play with, especially as a beginner, can feel like a daunting task. Don’t worry! The hobby is growing faster than ever, and with plenty of gaming groups who eagerly welcome new players. You might start by visiting your local game store, which may have an active community of players you can join, a place to advertise open seats for games, or even a scheduled night of organized play you can drop into. Online communities focused on RPGs frequently have “Looking for Group” (LFG) forums or channels dedicated to helping players find the right game for them. Reddit and Discord are common places to look, as are the community forums for digital tools like Roll20. There’s also a dedicated forum on the Apocalypse World designers’ website at https://lumpley.games/thebarf/index.php, which includes resources for plenty of PbtA games beyond the original! Not to mention here at StartPlaying, where we’ve created a powerful, user-friendly tool for browsing open games on your schedule and simply signing up to play! Finally, if you have a group of friends who are interested and willing to learn, it’s completely feasible to jump in feet first, learning the game as you go. Of course, someone will need to take on the mantle of the Game Master.
The easiest way to learn any TTRPG is by playing, and the easiest way to play is by finding a Game Master to teach you. Professional GMs can call upon years of expertise to not only introduce players to the hobby and make them feel welcomed, but also give immersive and incredible experiences to players old and new. This isn’t easy; creating scenarios that present real challenges, invite creative solutions, include an ensemble cast of compelling characters, and result in a satisfying narrative for any choice the players make is a substantial craft to master! Not to mention Powered by the Apocalypse games have no pre-planned plot or storyline to follow, and often require a Game Master to skillfully improvise and weave their players’ actions into a constantly evolving narrative. Nevertheless, professional Game Masters dedicate themselves to offering the one-of-a-kind experience that only RPGs can: being the hero of a story where your choices really matter. These pro GMs are the fastest and easiest way to jump directly into the fun of roleplaying games; they can teach you the rules, create an amazing adventure, and guide you into the endless possibilities of the TTRPG hobby.
StartPlaying allows you to easily find and book sessions with professional Dungeon Masters and Game Masters that work for your schedule. You can focus on enjoying the game without worrying about the logistics of organizing sessions. Playing online provides flexibility, as you can join games from anywhere with an internet connection.
Player reviews on StartPlaying make it easy to find a Dungeon Master whose style aligns with your preferences. With reviews from other players, you can gauge whether a DM is the right fit for how you want to play, whether it’s combat, role-playing, storytelling, or a specific genre.
Professional Dungeon Masters on StartPlaying are committed to running the best game ever. When a Dungeon Master is focused on running the best game every and are doing so professionally, games are less likely to get cancelled. Players who play in professionally run games are also incredibly invested, and not likely to flake on sessions.
If you can’t wait to find the flavor of PbtA that’s right for you, there’s no better way to start playing than StartPlaying.Games! With thousands of professional GMs offering games, it’s incredibly easy to find one that’s right for you. GM profiles and reviews help you get exactly the kind of game you want to play, at a time that fits in your schedule, from the best Game Masters in the world. So what are you waiting for? Start Playing!
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