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Thirsty Sword Lesbians

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

Details

3-6 Players
D6 System
Powered by the Apocalypse

Themes

Fantasy
Swashbuckling
Imaginative
Supernatural

Release Date

June 2021

Thirsty Sword Lesbians Reviews (8)

See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Thirsty Sword Lesbians

Adrian  avatar

Adrian

New review

Ran 45 sessions

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.

Delri avatar

Delri

New review

Played 8 sessions

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!

GM Mr Patrick avatar

GM Mr Patrick

New review

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!

KASAI avatar

KASAI

New review

+Sebepoznání, empatie a zdravá sexualita +Petrý výběr archetypů a rychlá tvorba postavy -Nepříliž situační tahy

Anya avatar

Anya

New review

Ran 4 sessions

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.

Craityr avatar

Craityr

New review

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 “roll +Daring” or “roll +Grace.” 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+), 7–9, or 6 or less (6-). A 6- is also known as a down beat, 7–9 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 “nothing happens.” Something interesting is going to happen—you roll to find out if it’s good or bad for the PCs.

Online Thirsty Sword Lesbians campaigns

Thirsty Sword Lesbians Dungeon Masters

DMs Guild Writer
Podcaster
LGBTQ+
Queer
Veteran
Published Writer
Voice Actor
Women/Femme Identifying
Game Designer

3 years on StartPlaying

1007 games hosted

DMs Guild Writer
Streamer
LGBTQ+
Queer
Neurodivergent
Game Designer

4 years on StartPlaying

823 games hosted

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

Streamer
LGBTQ+
Queer
Neurodivergent
Voice Actor

2 years on StartPlaying

588 games hosted

Average response time: Under 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

DMs Guild Writer
Streamer
LGBTQ+
Queer
Disabled
Neurodivergent
Published Writer
Teacher/Educator
Voice Actor
Game Designer

2 years on StartPlaying

986 games hosted

Average response time: 1 hour

Response rate: 100%

LGBTQ+
Queer
Neurodivergent
Artist

4 years on StartPlaying

905 games hosted

Average response time: 10 hours

Response rate: 100%

LGBTQ+
Queer
BIMPOC
Black
Women/Femme Identifying

4 years on StartPlaying

534 games hosted

Streamer
Podcaster
Cosplayer
Women/Femme Identifying

4 years on StartPlaying

38 games hosted

2 years on StartPlaying

477 games hosted

Average response time: 13 hours

Response rate: 67%

Frequently asked questions about Thirsty Sword Lesbians

Explore Thirsty Sword Lesbians Playbooks

The Beast image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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 image

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.

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