Want to create your own tabletop RPG setting? Start with PBTA (Powered by the Apocalypse). Its simple rules and storytelling focus make it perfect for custom games. Here's how:
- Why PBTA? It prioritizes narrative over strict rules, uses a 2d6 system for dynamic outcomes, and encourages collaborative storytelling.
- Core Elements: Moves (actions that drive the story), Playbooks (character archetypes), and the MC (Master of Ceremonies) role ensure smooth gameplay.
- Customization Tips:
- Design playbooks that fit your setting's archetypes.
- Create moves that reflect your genre’s unique challenges.
- Add optional mechanics like clocks, resources, or relationships to enhance immersion.
- Balance Mechanics and Story: Keep rules simple, focus on storytelling, and ensure every mechanic serves the narrative.
PBTA’s flexibility lets you craft settings from cyberpunk to space operas. Playtest often, refine based on feedback, and let your players shape the world with you. Ready to dive in? Let’s break it down.
How to Play PbtA (Powered by the Apocalypse)
Core Components of PBTA
Understanding the core components of PBTA is essential for crafting a successful hack. This framework revolves around three interconnected elements that drive its signature narrative-focused gameplay.
Key Elements: Moves, Playbooks, and the MC Role
Moves are the heartbeat of PBTA gameplay. They’re actions that trigger dice rolls, pushing the story forward. Even when a move fails, it adds depth by introducing complications or unexpected twists. Basic moves, such as "Act Under Fire" or "Read a Situation", are staples in nearly every PBTA game and can be attempted by any character.
The beauty of moves lies in their cause-and-effect structure. A failed roll doesn’t mean the story stalls - instead, it adds tension, reveals hidden truths, or creates new challenges. Every roll becomes a moment of storytelling, not just a pass-or-fail mechanic.
Playbooks take the place of traditional character classes. Each playbook represents a specific archetype or role within the game world. Instead of piecing together stats and abilities from endless lists, players select a fully realized character concept. This includes predefined stats, special moves, equipment, and narrative hooks.
These playbooks not only shape individual characters but also establish connections between them, building a foundation for collaborative storytelling. This interconnectedness is a hallmark of PBTA games.
The Master of Ceremonies (MC) acts as the narrative guide. Unlike players, the MC doesn’t roll dice. Instead, they make moves - like escalating drama or introducing consequences - that reflect and respond to player actions.
MC moves are designed to keep the story moving and maintain thematic consistency. Examples include "Reveal an unwelcome truth", "Put someone in a spot", or "Take away their stuff." These tools allow the MC to create tension, introduce surprises, and ensure the narrative remains dynamic and engaging.
These elements come together to create a storytelling experience where everyone at the table contributes to the unfolding narrative.
How PBTA Encourages Collaborative Storytelling
PBTA’s mechanics are designed to involve players directly in shaping the story, rather than leaving all narrative control to the MC. This collaboration feels natural thanks to a few key design choices.
Players contribute to both their characters’ actions and the evolving world through storytelling moves. For example, when a player rolls to "Read a Situation", they might ask, "What here is not what it appears to be?" While the MC provides the answer, the player’s question influences the direction of the story by determining what details come into focus.
The "Say yes or roll the dice" principle simplifies MC decisions. If a player proposes an action that fits their character and the situation, the MC either allows it without question or calls for a move. This approach avoids drawn-out debates about feasibility and keeps the game focused on interesting outcomes.
Partial successes are another way players help shape the story. These results often come with meaningful choices, such as succeeding but at a cost, achieving a goal while giving the MC a future opportunity, or succeeding with reduced impact. This shared authorship deepens the narrative and keeps everyone engaged.
The flow of gameplay feels like a natural conversation, punctuated by dice rolls. Players describe their characters’ actions, the MC reacts with the world’s response, and moves trigger when the fiction demands it. This seamless rhythm minimizes mechanical distractions, keeping the focus on storytelling.
For the MC, fronts and threats provide a framework for collaborative world-building. Instead of scripting detailed plots, the MC prepares dynamic situations that react to player decisions. This method ensures the world feels alive and responsive, giving players real influence over how events unfold.
Mastering these core elements is key to adapting PBTA to any setting or theme you want to explore.
Step-by-Step Guide to Hacking PBTA for Your Setting
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of PBTA, let’s dive into how you can shape it to fit your setting. This involves three main areas: customizing playbooks to match your world’s archetypes, crafting moves that capture your genre’s essence, and integrating mechanics that highlight your setting’s unique themes.
Adapting and Designing Playbooks
Start by identifying the key archetypes in your setting and building playbooks around them. For instance, in a cyberpunk world, you might create roles like The Hacker, The Street Samurai, and The Corporate Insider. A pirate-themed fantasy game could include The Navigator, The Swashbuckler, and The Sea Witch.
When tweaking existing playbooks, focus on aligning them with your setting’s tone rather than overhauling mechanics. For example, Apocalypse World’s Gunlugger could become The Heavy in a heist scenario or The Enforcer in a crime family drama. Keep the core idea intact but adjust the flavor to fit your world.
Tailor stats to your setting’s priorities. A horror game might emphasize Nerve and Intuition, while a political intrigue game might favor Influence and Cunning. Just ensure the overall stat bonuses remain consistent with typical PBTA games to keep things balanced.
Design starting moves that clearly define each playbook’s role and add depth to the gameplay. For example, The Detective’s "Read the Scene" could offer specialized, investigation-focused questions, while The Corporate Spy’s "Network of Contacts" might allow players to declare useful connections in any major city.
Character advancement should reflect the type of growth your setting encourages. In a game centered on relationships, advancement could strengthen bonds or create new ones. In a survival-themed hack, it might enhance resource management or adaptability to harsh conditions.
Ensure playbooks overlap in competencies but differ in their methods. For instance, The Diplomat and The Spy might both excel at gathering intel, but one does so through negotiation while the other relies on subterfuge. These distinctions create opportunities for dynamic roleplay.
Once your playbooks are ready, shift your focus to crafting moves that bring your genre to life.
Creating and Tweaking Moves
Moves are where your setting’s personality shines. They capture the actions and conflicts that define your genre while keeping PBTA’s narrative momentum intact.
Basic moves are the backbone of gameplay. Many PBTA hacks retain universal moves like "Act Under Fire" or "Help or Interfere", though you might rename them to better fit your tone. For instance, "Act Under Fire" could become "Keep Your Cool" in a social drama or "Hold It Together" in a horror game.
When designing custom moves, think about the actions players will frequently attempt in your setting. A space exploration game might need moves for scanning planets, negotiating with alien species, or managing ship resources. Be clear about what triggers each move, what outcomes are possible, and what the consequences might be.
Partial successes should provide progress but with a twist. For instance, a successful hacking attempt might grant access to critical data but trigger an alarm, or a persuasion attempt might work but come with an unwanted obligation.
Failures shouldn’t bring the story to a halt. Instead, use them to escalate tension, introduce new complications, or shift the situation. For example, a failed stealth roll might mean the character is caught but overhears something valuable in the process, or succeeds but at someone else’s expense.
Consider moves that reinforce your themes. A game about corruption could include moves that tempt characters with morally questionable shortcuts. A game focused on community building might offer moves that strengthen or strain relationships.
Conditional moves can add flavor without overcomplicating things. These only trigger in specific situations, like "When you’re alone with someone you’ve betrayed" or "When you enter a place tainted by the supernatural." They create memorable moments tied to your setting’s unique elements.
Once your moves are solid, you can enhance your hack further by adding custom mechanics that deepen the experience.
Adding Custom Mechanics or Themes
Beyond moves, unique mechanics can add depth and bring your setting to life. These should feel natural and support the type of stories you want to tell.
Clocks and countdowns are perfect for time-sensitive scenarios. In a heist game, clocks might track security responses, while a disaster survival game could count down to the next catastrophe. Keep these visible to players to build tension.
Resource management can create stakes without bogging things down. For example, a post-apocalyptic game might abstract resources like food, fuel, or ammunition. Running low could trigger scarcity moves that force tough decisions.
Relationship mechanics are great for character-driven stories. Some hacks use bonds that provide benefits when helping connected characters, while others track reputation with factions. Design these systems to encourage interaction without adding unnecessary complexity.
Environmental challenges make your world feel alive and dangerous. A survival horror game might include exposure rules that wear down characters over time, while an urban fantasy setting could feature moves for navigating supernatural politics.
Custom harm and conditions help tailor consequences to your genre. A psychological horror game might track sanity alongside physical health, introducing conditions like "Paranoid" or "Dissociating" that influence how characters interact with the world.
When introducing new mechanics, playtest thoroughly to ensure they enhance the game without overshadowing its core. Every addition should have a clear purpose and integrate smoothly with existing systems. If a mechanic slows down gameplay or requires constant rule-checking, consider simplifying or removing it.
The secret to hacking PBTA lies in understanding what makes your setting distinct and finding ways to express those elements through the system’s narrative-driven framework.
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Balancing Narrative and Mechanics in Your Hack
When crafting your PBTA hack, finding the balance between narrative and mechanics is key. The goal isn’t to pile on rules but to ensure every mechanic enhances the storytelling experience. PBTA thrives on its ability to keep the narrative flowing, so any mechanics you add should serve that purpose. If they bog players down with calculations or disrupt the story, it’s time to rethink them.
Maintaining PBTA's Narrative Focus
Keep mechanics simple and intuitive. Players should know when a move is triggered and understand its outcomes without needing to constantly reference the rules. If a mechanic requires a lengthy explanation, it’s likely too complicated for PBTA’s fast-paced, story-driven gameplay.
The conversation-first approach should shape every decision. When players describe their characters’ actions, the fiction should naturally suggest which moves apply. If players are often pausing to recall mechanical triggers that don’t tie directly to the story, your hack may be drifting away from PBTA’s core principles.
Stick to the "fiction first" philosophy by ensuring mechanical outcomes always lead to new story developments. A failed roll shouldn’t just mean “nothing happens.” Instead, it should create tension, introduce challenges, or uncover new information that propels the story forward.
Design mechanics that reflect and enhance the drama unfolding in the story. For example, if your hack features a reputation system, changes in reputation should stem from meaningful in-game actions, not arbitrary point tracking. Mechanics should feel like a natural part of the story, not an external framework.
Avoid unnecessary complexity. Ask yourself if each rule directly supports the themes or conflicts of your setting. If it doesn’t, consider cutting it. PBTA works best when the rules remain in the background, stepping in only to resolve uncertainty or add dramatic tension.
Playtesting is essential. Run your mechanics through common scenarios to see if they keep the story moving. If players spend more time debating rules than advancing the narrative, it’s time to simplify. The sweet spot is when the mechanics feel almost invisible until they create moments of tension or resolution.
Examples of Balanced PBTA Hacks
Here are some PBTA hacks that show how to integrate mechanics seamlessly into storytelling. These games demonstrate how minimal, well-thought-out mechanics can amplify narrative tension without overwhelming players.
Monsterhearts uses a strings mechanic to represent emotional leverage between characters. Strings emerge naturally from roleplay and allow players to manipulate each other, fueling messy interpersonal drama.
The Sprawl captures cyberpunk tension with its mission clock and corporate response mechanics. Instead of tracking countless variables, the game uses simple countdown clocks that escalate as players make noise or take too long. These clocks build tension naturally, and when they fill, the consequences flow directly from the story.
Masks reimagines harm mechanics for the superhero genre, replacing hit points with emotional conditions like "Angry", "Guilty", or "Insecure." These conditions reflect the struggles of teenage superheroes, blending mechanics with the game’s focus on emotional storytelling.
Urban Shadows handles political intrigue with its faction and debt systems. Characters owe debts to supernatural factions, creating a web of obligations that fuels ongoing storylines. The debt system is simple to track but constantly generates fresh conflicts and opportunities.
These examples succeed because their mechanics serve specific narrative goals. Monsterhearts’ strings heighten teenage drama, The Sprawl’s clocks build heist tension, Masks’ conditions explore emotional growth, and Urban Shadows’ debts drive political intrigue. Each mechanic feels essential to its game’s identity, not like an unnecessary add-on.
What makes these hacks stand out is how they build on PBTA’s core framework rather than replacing it. They use moves, consequences, and collaborative storytelling as a foundation, adding just enough complexity to support their themes without disrupting the narrative flow.
The takeaway? Less is more. The best hacks add only the mechanics needed to reinforce their unique themes while keeping PBTA’s storytelling momentum intact. Use these examples as inspiration when designing your own system. Ask yourself: Do your mechanics feel as natural and story-driven as strings, clocks, conditions, or debt? If they require too much explanation or disrupt the flow of conversation, simplify or remove them. Let your mechanics work quietly in the background, supporting the story without overshadowing it.
Using TTRPG Games Directory for Inspiration
The TTRPG Games Directory is a treasure trove of resources for anyone looking to create a PBTA (Powered by the Apocalypse) hack. Instead of starting from scratch, you can explore how other games have tackled similar themes or mechanics. This not only saves you time but also helps you avoid common design challenges that others have already addressed. Every tweak you make should amplify the storytelling focus that lies at the heart of PBTA. The directory serves as a practical extension of the customization strategies we've discussed, offering concrete examples to guide your design process.
Exploring Existing PBTA Games in the Directory
The directory organizes PBTA games by genre, making it easy to find inspiration that aligns with your creative vision. For instance, if you're working on a space opera, you can study how sci-fi PBTA games handle elements like advanced technology, alien interactions, or spaceship battles. On the other hand, for a horror-themed hack, you can examine how other designers use mechanics to create tension, dread, and fear.
Take a close look at how games adapt PBTA's core elements to fit their unique settings. For example, a game centered on political intrigue might rework basic moves to emphasize social manipulation and diplomacy, while an action-adventure game might stick closer to the standard moves with a few thematic tweaks. Observing these variations can help you decide what works best for your setting.
Game summaries in the directory often highlight mechanical innovations that you can adapt to your project. If you're wrestling with how to incorporate magic into your fantasy hack, see how other PBTA games approach spellcasting. If your game involves managing reputations or alliances, look for examples of systems that track relationships with factions or communities.
Another key area to explore is the variety of playbooks across different games. Some PBTA games stick to six playbooks, while others expand to twelve or more. The number of playbooks often reflects the game's scope: broader themes may require a wider range of archetypes, while more focused games can thrive with fewer, specialized options.
For those blending genres, the directory is especially useful. Games that combine, say, western and supernatural elements can show you how to balance seemingly contrasting themes without losing coherence. These hybrid designs often reveal creative solutions that you can adapt to your own unique genre mix.
Researching Best Practices for Customization
Once you've explored the directory, it’s time to dig deeper and analyze what makes each PBTA game stand out. Game summaries often shine a light on key customization techniques, showing how successful hacks tweak mechanics to support their themes while staying true to PBTA's core structure.
Pay attention to how games align their mechanics with their themes. For instance, a survival game might use resource management systems to create a sense of urgency, while a game about building communities could reward collaboration and penalize isolation. The directory often explains these connections, helping you see how mechanics and narrative go hand in hand.
You’ll also notice a range of approaches to complexity. Some games introduce detailed subsystems, while others keep things streamlined to ensure accessibility. By comparing these approaches, you can decide what level of complexity suits your game and target audience.
Move design is another area to study. Some games craft entirely new basic moves, others tweak existing ones, and some focus on adding playbook-specific moves. The directory's descriptions often provide insight into why designers chose a particular approach, giving you a clearer sense of what might work for your hack.
When borrowing ideas, always ensure they serve your story rather than overcomplicating it. For example, a game about running a business might include mechanics for managing finances and employee morale. You could adapt those ideas for a spaceship crew or a magical academy, tailoring them to fit your setting while keeping the gameplay engaging.
The directory also highlights common pitfalls by showcasing the full spectrum of PBTA adaptations. If certain mechanics appear rarely or receive mixed feedback, it could be a sign they're harder to execute well. Use this knowledge to steer your design toward proven approaches.
Finally, seek out player feedback and reviews when available. Games praised for their mechanical creativity often succeed because they solve specific challenges in a clever way. Conversely, games criticized for being overly complex or too simplistic can teach you valuable lessons about finding the right balance for your design. By learning from both successes and missteps, you can refine your hack into something truly compelling.
Bringing Your Custom PBTA Setting to Life
Creating a successful PBTA hack is all about experimenting, revising, and fine-tuning your ideas through actual gameplay. It's a process of balancing your creative vision with practical design, ensuring your narrative shines while staying grounded in what works. This builds on earlier advice about adapting playbooks and moves.
Key Takeaways for Hacking PBTA
At its core, a strong PBTA hack starts with understanding what makes the system work. PBTA thrives on gameplay driven by conversation, where mechanics naturally flow from the story rather than dictating it. Your custom setting should amplify this by ensuring every rule change enhances the collaborative storytelling experience.
Start with your theme and let it guide the mechanics. For instance, if you're designing a game about corporate espionage, your moves should focus on generating tension around gathering information, navigating trust, and facing betrayal. Every rule tweak should deepen the player's connection to the narrative.
When crafting playbooks, tailor them to fit your setting's conflicts. A space exploration game will require entirely different archetypes than a medieval political drama. Each playbook should offer a unique perspective on your world and provide clear fictional positioning, sparking engaging conflicts and relationships.
Designing moves requires careful attention to triggers and outcomes. The best moves feel natural and inevitable in play - players should instinctively know, "Of course I roll this when I'm trying to hack the mainframe", rather than second-guessing when to use it. Keep your move list concise and ensure each one has meaningful consequences for the story.
When adding mechanics, build on PBTA’s core structure rather than replacing it. Whether it’s resource management, tracking relationships, or custom advancement rules, these additions should feel like seamless parts of the narrative flow - not standalone mechanics that disrupt the game's rhythm.
Encouraging Experimentation and Playtesting
Just like with playbook and move design, actual gameplay is the ultimate test of your hack. What works on paper might stumble in practice. Moves that seemed intuitive may confuse players, and playbooks that felt balanced could dominate or fade into the background during sessions.
Take note of unexpected moments at the table. When players use moves in ways you didn’t anticipate, ask yourself if this reveals a flaw in your design or an opportunity to expand your vision. Sometimes, the most exciting ideas come from leaning into player creativity instead of limiting it.
Iterate based on feedback, but stay true to your original vision. Not every suggestion will align with your goals - and that’s okay. The challenge is identifying feedback that helps you refine your vision versus feedback that pulls you away from what you’re trying to create.
Be willing to cut mechanics that bog down play or confuse players. Even if you’ve poured hours into designing a particular system, it might need to go if it doesn’t serve the game’s flow or clarity.
Above all, embrace the collaborative nature of PBTA design. Your players are co-creators of the experience, and their insights during playtesting are invaluable. The best PBTA hacks feel like they’ve grown organically from the table, shaped by the shared imagination of everyone involved.
FAQs
How can I create balanced moves for my PBTA hack that enhance storytelling?
To craft moves that truly enhance the storytelling in your PBTA hack, focus on giving each move clear triggers and impactful outcomes that keep the narrative moving. Strive for balance - moves should add to the story without being so overwhelming that they dominate the game or so specific that they rarely come into play. The goal is to ensure every move fits seamlessly into the flow of the story and allows all players to shine.
Playtesting is a must. Run your moves through various scenarios to understand how they influence the game’s rhythm and balance. Be ready to tweak and refine based on feedback, ensuring the mechanics align with the themes of your setting. Also, aim to design moves that inspire player creativity and teamwork, giving players the freedom to shape the story while maintaining the tone and genre of the game.
What mistakes should I avoid when creating custom playbooks for a PBTA game?
When creating custom playbooks for a PBTA game, there are a few pitfalls you'll want to steer clear of to keep the gameplay smooth and engaging. One common misstep is packing playbooks with too many options - this can overwhelm players and bog down their decision-making process. Another issue is designing moves that don't align with the theme of your setting, which can dilute the game's immersive experience.
It's also essential to find the right balance between storytelling and mechanics. If the mechanics are overly rigid, players might feel boxed in. On the flip side, mechanics that are too open-ended can leave the game feeling aimless. To avoid these problems, make sure to thoroughly test your playbooks to confirm they enhance both the narrative and the collaborative spirit of the system.
How can I use player feedback during playtesting to improve my PBTA hack?
To get the most out of player feedback during playtesting, start by carefully watching how players engage with your PBTA hack. Pay attention to what flows smoothly and where they seem to hit roadblocks, and jot down notes as you observe. After the session, ask open-ended questions to dig deeper into their experience. For example, you might ask how the mechanics helped drive the story or if there were moments where they felt unsure or stuck.
Look for patterns in the feedback - are there recurring challenges or themes? Focus on tweaks that improve both the gameplay and the storytelling elements. Keep your changes small and precise so you don’t accidentally disrupt the game’s core mechanics. Then, put those adjustments to the test in the next round of playtesting. This step-by-step approach helps your PBTA hack grow while staying true to its narrative-driven roots.
