Thirsty Sword Lesbians
Thirsty Sword Lesbians is a roleplaying game for telling queer stories with friends. If you love angsty disaster lesbians with swords, you have come to the right place. A sword duel can end in kissing, a witch can gain her power by helping others find love, and an entire campaign can be built around wandering matchmakers flying from system to system.
Originally created by April Kit Walsh
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Thirsty Sword Lesbians Reviews (8)
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Thirsty Sword Lesbians is one of my Favorite games to run as a GM. I was part of the Playtest back in 2019, it was pitched as a game about Love, Swords, and Adventure. Now in 2025 I see that it has potential to be more than that. the Mechanics are Flexible enough to play in just about any genre (Magical girls, old west, Outerspace you name it.) and they focus on moving the story forward. it's a game about connections whatever form they may take.
Thirsty Sword Lesbians is a queer-centric Powered by the Apocalypse game where you go on adventures and become smitten with friends and villains alike! Each playbook comes with internal conflicts reinforced by their moves, like the Trickster, seeking closeness has a feelings track that grows as they hide their true feelings from others. It also prompts you with questions that make you really think about who your character is, why they're smitten with whom, and why they think their love could never be!
Okay, I'm a (mostly) cishet white dude of a certain age and so, at first, I was very much concerned that I was NOT the right person to be running a TSL game. But my players wanted it, and so who was I to deny them? I'm still not sure I ran it 'right', but said players enjoyed it, and that's what's important. Now, that said, I think cishet white dudes of a certain age SHOULD ABSOLUTELY GM AND/OR PLAY this game. Lean into it, have some fun, laugh a lot, learn more than a little, and, most importantly, make out while swordfighting!
While I love TSL as a system (yay for centering queer folks and our stories!) I've come to the conclusion that this Powered by the Apocalypse system just doesn't quite work mechanically for me. There are times when people want to do X thing but there is nothing that quite works for them to do it and you have to bend the moves to kind of suit the situation and do Y thing instead. It's still a very fun game that is enjoyable to play, but it lends itself to a very particular play style that won't work for everyone.
I absolutely adore TSL! It's a phenomenal system that is incredibly player-friendly, and it really allows for focus on the journey of each character. TSL is a powerful way to tell a collective story and watch as characters and their relationships grow. I highly recommend this system to anyone looking to explore a new TTRPG.
How to Play Thirsty Sword Lesbians
When certain situations arise in the story, you pause the conversation to roll dice. This is called making a move, and each move has a different trigger condition. Each PC has access to the same basic moves, plus a few moves and features that are specific to the playbook they choose.Whenever you roll, roll two six-sided dice and add them up, for a number between 2 and 12. You often add a stat, like Daring or Grace. This is denoted by âroll +Daringâ or âroll +Grace.â So if your Daring stat is 1, roll +Daring means roll two six-sided dice, add them up, and add 1. Each move gives different results depending on whether you roll a total of 10 or more (10+), 7â9, or 6 or less (6-). A 6- is also known as a down beat, 7â9 as a mixed beat, and 10+ as an up beat. These terms refer to the narrative tone that follows from each result. In this game, there is no roll result that means ânothing happens.â Something interesting is going to happenâyou roll to find out if itâs good or bad for the PCs.
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Explore Thirsty Sword Lesbians Playbooks
The Beast
The Beast follows their truth and their passions, which puts them in conflict with civilization and civilized norms. Unless they give up what makes them special and powerful, they cannot make themself acceptable to that civilized society. Their central conflict is living their truth versus fitting in with a dominant social order.
The Chosen
The Chosen playbook revolves around special status, relationships across social strata, and the crushing expectations of fate, family, or the adoring public.Their central conflict is inner truth versus crushing social expectations.
The Devoted
The Devoted is a selfless protector, committed to a person or a cause. Their central conflict lies in pitting this devotion against self-care.
The Infamous
The Infamous once participated in wicked deeds, but they've become fiercely righteous in trying to atone. Their central conflict arises from the lasting consequences of their past actions and beliefs versus their new convictions. Will they repair the harm they caused, will they seek forgiveness, or will they despair? Will they find a new place to belong?
The Nature Witch
The Nature Witch is deeply connected to their environment and less experienced when it comes to people. They're either new to socializing or are newly exploring what it feels like to socialize as their true self. Their central conflict revolves around the growth that their explorations will require from them and those who love them.
The Scoundrel
The Scoundrel is a hero of action and intense physicality. Their sword fights are punctuated by banter and flirtation and end in kisses as often as they end in bloodshed. Their central conflict lies in their urge to explore new horizons versus committing to purpose or security.
The Seeker
The Seeker comes from a toxic society and has found a new community in which to belong and grow. Their central conflict pits tradition and upbringing against justice and developing their personal values.
The Spooky Witch
The Spooky Witch is a weirdo who does their own thing while craving connection. They've found that many monsters are quite friendly if you give them a chance, but befriending them brands you a monster, as well. Their central conflict lies in navigating pressures to conform versus their own desires or those of their monstrous friends.
The Trickster
The Trickster is devious and calculating. They fear closeness, sincerity, and vulnerability. If they show you the truth of their heart, they'll be wearing a mask to do it. Their central conflict lies in desiring closeness while fearing vulnerability.