City of Mist
Here's the lowdown: City of Mist is set in a modern city where legends are real people. Heroes, tricksters, and monsters are reborn inside ordinary people, regular Joes and Janes, who gain supernatural powers connected to their legendary alter-egos. Someone is running the show in this City, and it's up to you to find out who. Hit the streets. Collect the clues. Face small-time villains and demi-gods in epic showdowns. Solve not just the case, but also your own personal mystery and the secrets at the core of this very City. This is your City: gritty, corrupt, and rife with magic and mystery.
Originally created by Amít Moshe
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City of Mist Reviews (5)
See what other Game Masters and players are saying about City of Mist
To be fair to the game, my players would give it a 6 out of 5 if they could. As a GM, though, whoof, I love the concept--regular folk with problems and lives also having to deal with being embodiments of folk stories, fairy tales, and even philosophical concepts--and I'm even pretty pleased with the fusion of PbtA-style dice rolling and FATE-style tags; but in practice, it took me and my players (all of whom are experienced roleplayers) quite a while to figure out how to make it all fit together in practice at the table. Eventually, we did, and the players were happy with how the campaign went, and even want to play again sometime. When we do, maybe I'll come back and change my score from 4 to 5. Until then, enjoy getting lost in the mist!
A great cinematic, investigative, modern noire rpg system which seamlessly blends narrative and game mechanics. Son of Oak has made sure that each of their books is riddled with gorgeous, evocative art that immediately pulls one into the more modern noire world of City of Mist, which is a huge plus in my opinion. The mechanics are perfectly tailored for the specific intended play experience, but at the same time allow for easy adaption where needed and/or wanted, all without having the drawbacks of 'do it all'-systems. The rules are very easy to pick up for both MCs and players, especially so when learned via the official introductory case (adventure). The only 'drawback' is that if one is not at all familiar with how to handle some of the more 'loose, adaptable and sometimes even a little situational' parts of the rules, but this is only a minor problem which disappears altogether if one is in the 'right' headspace - playing it as if it's a movie/series and focusing on the narrative, whilst disregarding what doesn't make sense or is not engaging to the players and MC.
The real power of City of Mist is how it unboxes the full TTRPG experience. In most games, players are restricted to various stats and abilities as determined by the game system. But in the City of Mist system, players write up their characters with several power tags; short text descriptions of the character that can apply to circumstances and rolls the character might need to make. The system opens up the experience and allows players to forge a destiny or persona that simply can't be approached in other systems. I highly recommend City of Mist for those interested in harnessing their own myth and writing their own story without the constraints of prewritten stats.
City of Mist is fantastic. It really allows for player and GM creativity in creating characters and narrating scenes. It treats characters as whole beings, and blends various levels of the real and fantastic without a character who is heavily myth/legend/god based not overpower the other characters who is occupation/relationship/backstory based. In fact, they’re equally powerful, and characters transition from one extreme to the other and back as they level up!
City of Mist: A Love Letter to Mystery, Myth, and Roleplaying As a professional Game Master and long-time RPG enthusiast, I’ve spent years diving into countless systems, each with its unique charm. But nothing prepared me for the transformative experience of City of Mist. This game didn't just capture my attention—it completely reshaped my perspective on tabletop roleplaying games, elevating my craft as a GM and deepening my appreciation for narrative-driven systems. A Setting Steeped in Mystery and Myth City of Mist is set in a neo-noir urban sprawl where the ordinary mingles with the extraordinary. At its core lies the concept of "Rifts," individuals who channel the powers of mythical legends, deities, or archetypes—living dual lives as both mundane citizens and larger-than-life manifestations of their myths. The city itself is cloaked in an ever-present "Mist" that keeps the supernatural hidden from most. This thematic balance between myth and reality is not just unique but utterly captivating, providing fertile ground for rich storytelling and character exploration. From the very first session, I was hooked. The setting is alive, breathing with possibilities, and every corner of the city feels like it holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. Whether you're chasing down leads as a hardboiled detective imbued with the power of Hermes or struggling with the duality of your human life and your mythos as Baba Yaga, the game pulls you into its world with an intensity I hadn’t experienced before. The Power of the Narrative What truly sets City of Mist apart is its narrative focus. Powered by the Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) system, it emphasizes storytelling over crunch-heavy mechanics. The ruleset encourages players and GMs to weave cinematic, character-driven stories with dramatic stakes. Every move made by a character feels meaningful and intentional, further immersing everyone in the narrative. The tag-based system for defining characters is an absolute game-changer. Instead of rigid stats and skills, you create descriptive tags for your abilities, weaknesses, and mythos. This not only grants unparalleled freedom in character creation but also challenges players to think creatively about how their powers manifest. For example, one of my players defined their character’s ability to "shatter lies" as a tag, which weaved seamlessly into both their investigations and personal arc. As a GM, this system opened up a world of collaborative storytelling. The mechanics guide you but never confine you, allowing you to focus on crafting a story that’s deeply personal to the players. And that’s the magic of City of Mist—it’s not about winning or losing but about uncovering truths, confronting internal conflicts, and telling unforgettable tales. A New Perspective on RPGs Before City of Mist, I leaned heavily into high-fantasy games like Dungeons & Dragons. While I still adore those experiences, City of Mist has shifted my perspective on what RPGs can be. It showed me the profound impact of a narrative-first system, where the spotlight shines on emotions, relationships, and moral dilemmas rather than stats or loot. It’s a system that encourages vulnerability, introspection, and collaboration. Running this game for nearly three years has not only improved my storytelling but has also brought me closer to my players. Every session is an exercise in shared imagination and mutual investment. I’ve laughed, cried, and been genuinely awestruck by the stories we’ve created together. Why You Should Try It If you’re looking for an RPG that prioritizes storytelling, challenges your creativity, and immerses you in a world of intrigue and mythology, City of Mist is unparalleled. It’s perfect for seasoned players seeking a fresh experience and newcomers who want to focus on character and story. It has changed how I approach RPGs, and I have no doubt it will leave an indelible mark on anyone who plays it. City of Mist isn’t just a game—it’s an experience. It’s the kind of RPG that stays with you long after the dice are put away, and for me, it’s become a cornerstone of my passion for roleplaying. It reignited my love for the art of storytelling and proved that the best RPGs are the ones that create unforgettable stories, not just for the characters but for the players themselves. If you’re ready to step into the mist and uncover the legends hiding within, I promise you won’t regret it.
How to play City of Mist
Your City of Mist character is a one-of-a-kind combination of a myth, legend, or fairy tale, and a modern-day walk of life, like a detective, a vigilante, or a homemaker.
Described using tags, your abilities, gear, and personality are completely unique and unconstrained by a fixed list of classes, powers, or attributes - unlike any other tabletop RPG!