Terminal Plasticity is a lightweight, fast-paced, versatile RPG of over-the-top action in a trans-/posthuman superfuture. The system lets players get creative without encumbering anyone with a bunch of fiddly mechanics. The DM is free to focus on narration and plot, creating an escalating violencefest that keeps everyone on their toes.

This is an ashcan version of the zine. It has the full core content but minimal art and supplementary materials. Eventually, I’d like to run a Kickstarter that will allow me to add more illustrations (a lot more—like, way too many to list here), three more interconnected intro missions, more unique NPCs, and other cool extras. If you want to see that happen, please leave a rating or a comment and share this with your gamer friends.

 

The Game in a Nutshell

Use XP to purchase any augments and equipment you can dream up during character creation or at any time during play.

You have two stats, subterfuge and violence, and roll d6 pools based on relevant augments and equipment, your specialty, and doing things that grind your teammates’ gears.

Rolls are player facing, can be proactive (like attack rolls or skill checks in other games) or reactive (like saving throws or defense tests), and can represent individual actions (shooting, taking cover, etc.), simultaneous interactions between characters (exchanging fire), or larger sequences (an entire gunfight).

Rolls are against difficulty values (DVs) based on the scale of the action and intended outcome. Generic NPCs have flat DVs that players roll against. Unique NPCs can have their own augments and equipment that determine DVs for engaging with them.

No hit points. Character longevity is measured by stacking dice. Especially bad (or good) rolls add a die to a player’s stack. When a stack falls, a plot twist occurs, and the player starts a new stack with an additional base die. If a stack falls while adding base dice, the character meets an unfortunate end—unless they spend XP to get back in the action with a clean slate.

 

Setting

TP is broadly futuristic, but it doesn’t have any established lore or canon. In keeping with the design principle of flexibility, the state of technology and what it’s capable of is determined at the table by the DM and players.

 

The 60-Side Zine

• A player-facing section that walks through the mechanics and character creation (9 pages)
• A sample team of four prefabbed characters
• An action report that demonstrates gameplay (16 pages)
• A DM-facing section with advice and guidance on managing play, setting DVs, and handling PvP and EvE combat (2ish pages)
• A table of 18 plot twists
• 10 generic NPCs and 2 unique NPCs
• An introductory mission
• A ludography and other credits

 

Printable Materials

• A character sheet that integrates the core mechanics
• A single-page reference sheet that summarizes literally every other mechanic (plus a bonus table of NPC reactions—that’s right, enough room was left over for an extra benny)

 

Not Included

An absurd number of d6s. Better stock up now.