Venture Land Games ‘The Narrative Game System’ Hits Kickstarter Goal

NGS is a rules-light tabletop role-playing game that will unleash the awesome power of your imagination.

The Narrative Game System has one goal: for you and your friends to tell an amazing story together. The rules are no longer the master of your universe! NGS gives you a framework for your own story and imagination to come alive. 

The Narrative Game System follows these 3 simple core principles. These principles guide every aspect of our design and inform the choices we make.

• Collaboration: This game is about narrative collaboration at every single stage. From character creation to the story itself, and even the awarding of experience, the GM and the players will work together. The story is everyone’s responsibility, not just the GM. 

• Narrative: The story and the characters taking part in it are paramount. The advancement of that story in a fun, engaging and dynamic way is the most important goal. If rules ever conflict with the evolution of a captivating story, then the rules are wrong and the story is right.

• Empowerment: The game itself offers simple directions for the creation of your narrative and your characters, but it’s a tool set, not a text book. You are as much the designer every time you sit down at the table as we are and we want to empower you in that role.

In the Narrative Game System, characters start with their story. When it comes time for mechanics, everything revolves around three ideas: Narrative Abilities, Mechanical Priorities and our exciting Narrative Accolade system.

Narrative Abilities

Narrative Abilities are traits characters have that set them aside from other creatures, groups or individuals in the world. Some Narrative Abilities might be shared by others of the same race or who have similar training; others could be completely unique; granted by powerful items or as boons from potent beings.

With Narrative Abilities, there are no mechanical descriptions or exact definitions of what they are capable of. This is what sets NGS apart. Instead, NGS offers broad descriptions and advice on how your character might attempt to use these abilities to overcome the various challenges they encounter in their story. The reach and scope of each ability can be molded and changed to fit any world or setting, from the gritty two-fisted action of pulp noir to the highest flying heroes of the golden age. 

Mechanical Priorities

Most actions in the Narrative Game System are decided by cleverly using your Narrative Abilities and describing how you want to effect the story; no roll necessary. When you do need to roll, its a fast and easy process of one die and one bonus based on where you have set your priorities. If you want to be a potent physical threat, you are! If you want to be brilliant, you are! You don’t make that choice ten or a hundred times over the coarse of character creation; you make it once and you are done. 

Our goal with the mechanics was to allow you to decide anything with a simple roll. This keeps the mechanics light enough that they fall into the background so that all you focus on is your character and the story. 

Narrative Accolades

Our exciting Narrative Accolade system lets you collaborate like never before. Everyone at the table both shapes the narrative and rewards each other for a job well done. Each player at the table can award other players with Narrative Accolades whenever they do anything exciting, engaging, crazy, fun, funny, amazing, unique or whatever that player likes. These accolades can then be used for experience or to allow the player to take control of the story. 

Narrative Accolades ensure that both the story and the rewards are now in the hands of everyone at the table.