RPG Blog Carnival: Small Souls in a Big World! - 3DIE6 RPG

 

Happy Spring. And this month we transition from the Very Big, to the Very Small, thanks to Errant Thinking.

Back in '21 or so, I pledged to a little game produced by Deeply Dapper Games as part of that year's Zinequest: 3DIE6.

And playing as a tiny ant-thing is about as small as you'll get in an RPG. Because, as far as I know, no one has developed "Tardigrade, the RPG" yet.

First of all, the game, as you might have intuited, is a d6 system. In 3DIE6 (and its sister games), the three d6's are either combined into a 3d6 additive roll (skill tests) or as three individual dice with individual values (combat) - these being "attack," "defense," and "effect."

But first, the setting. 3DIE6 takes place within "The Shimmer," a subterranean labyrinth of fungus-illuminated tunnels and warrens. Your PC is one of the Roan, an insect that may be a bit human, or alien. We're not sure... 

It's a dangerous and deadly land for a tiny arthropod such as yourself. So much so, that it's good to bring along a friend. Or two. Not as companions, but in your own head. Because each Roan is actually three personalities, selected from the six base archetypes of the game: Brutal, Clever, Nimble, Precise, Resilient, and Vicious. The archetypes are designed not to be across the board equivalent to our familiar basic PC classes, but to overlap or be more setting-specific in our ant-world. And as archetypes, each has its strengths and limitations. 

an example character

So what's up with the three-in-one character? Each Roan is inhabited by three selected archetypes, and may switch in three situations: after a rest (referred to as cocooning), the primary or active personality is killed, or under duress during an encounter (although with penalties for the ratter two cases). The idea was borne from the system/game originally being designed as a solo system, so an individual player could have access to a "party" of different skills. Regardless, it's also useful for one-on-one play, or a limited party of just a couple of players. Think of it as resource management including the three PCs in your body...

The setting, The Shimmer, has a number of post-apocalyptic undertones. The Queen is fading in virility and power, which allows the Roan to break from their natural hive-mind and explore, seeking resources and propping up their decaying City and Queen. Or striking out on their own.

As a subterranean world, there are plenty of foes: rogue Roan, fungal beings, giant boring worms, spider things, and probably real ants. Combat with the d6 system is fast and fatal.

The zine includes setting background, character creation, the d6 mechanics, a handful of statted foes, and a brief "Tunnel Master" section with some game advice and lightweight random tables for plot, tunnel generating, and loot.

In addition to the 46 page zine version, a 135-page expanded core rulebook is also available. A Second Edition is pending on Kickstarter.