Punk's Been Dead Since '79 (by Jeph Lewis)

About the adventure

"These shows are what keep you going. They let you survive in this flat, unforgiving, inoffensively boring town. They're the lifeblood of anyone who doesn't fit the perfect little mold that the town tries to force everything into. Like the man from Bremerton said, 'we ain't got no place to go, so let's go to the punk rock show.' Punk's Been Dead Since '79 is a game about being an outcast in the darkest heart of the American midwest." The arc of a session of PBDS79 often includes you and your friends trying to find a show, find a way to get there, going to the show, and seeing what's going on in the scene and finding yourself all while trying to keep your Edge and save Face. You might have a clash of subcultures, a physical fight, a great time in a mosh, a romance or flirtation, or to get your band out there and maybe snag an opening spot. This game is a slice of life, roleplay heavy game that works well for drop ins and groups of pals alike. This game will feature a wide variety of (sometimes parody) punk, metal, pop punk, alternative, or (God forbid) ska bands performing at killer venues like the VFW Hall, Chad's Lake House, the grain elevator on the outskirts of town, the roller rink that needs to host a concert for business, or some other venue you and your crew may desire beforehand. PBDS79 is a Rural 90's Counterculture RPG designed by Jeph Lewis. Cover Photo by Quaid Lagan on Unsplash

Additional Details

How to prepare

A webcam and mic to participate in a Zoom or other virtual conference conversation, 3d6 dice or an online dice roller, a loose thought as to a punk or punk-adjacent character you'd like to be! I'll be sending the Quickstart rules and it'd be swell if you could give them a perusal, but even that's negotiable.

What I provide

The PBDS79 sourcebook, likely a punk outfit, a playlist, and some great niche jokes.

Gameplay details

Featuring a simple, easy to learn d6 system, this game focuses on roleplaying the badass, awkward, wonderful punk you've always dreamed of being. Each session of Punk's Been Dead is standalone as it is set as one show/event! Characters may absolutely be brought back if desired, but if you miss a session or go awhile without playing - no worries! Your character probably just had killer homework or to work their downer of a part time job. Beforehand, I'll send you the Quickstart guide to the game, but don't worry! We'll go over the very few rules at the top of the session if you don't have much prep time. We'll start the game by making/finalizing your character sheets, introducing your character, and jumping into play.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Character creation can happen prior to play if you'd like to jump right in, but if you come with a loose idea for a punk you'd like to be, that's all you need and we can talk through building your stat sheet when you arrive. Additionally, I have pregenerated character sheets available for use in the following rough archetypes of punks: the average kid, the cool girl, the sensitive one, the jock, the tough guy, the elder, the mean one, and the raver settling for a punk vibe because this town has nothing in it, damn it.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.