Honey Heist Comedy; Rules Lite; Quick-Play / One-Shot; Low Prep; Narrative-Driven
At-a-glance: Rules‑lite • d6 • 3–6 players + GM • 1–2h one‑shot • Near‑zero prep
Premise and Tone
Honey Heist is Grant Howitt’s viral micro‑RPG about criminal bears attempting a high‑stakes honey robbery. The tone is unabashedly comedic—think Ocean’s Eleven by way of Yogi Bear—and it thrives on quick scenes, visual gags, and player improvisation.
Core Mechanics
Each character has two stats: Bear (mauling, climbing, terrify) and Criminal (planning, deception, gadgeteering). Roll 1d6: succeed on ≤ your relevant stat. The game’s heartbeat is the tug‑of‑war between Bear and Criminal; when plans go wrong, frustration pushes you toward honey‑madness, while clever crimes bring you back from the brink.
Tables for roles, hats, and twists spin up a fully formed heist in minutes. The GM escalates complications, clocks security measures, and spotlights each bear’s gifts and disguises. Failure isn’t a stall—it’s a new gag, chase, or broken window.
Running the Heist
Start with a target (convention, vault, apiary expo), sketch a few locations, and introduce a weird wrinkle (celebrity beekeeper, rival bear gang). Keep scenes snappy; cut hard on outcomes and keep the honey prize visible. For extended play, add simple progress tracks (heat, suspicion, honey haul) and a post‑heist fallout to chain episodes.
Who It’s For
Ideal for new players, mixed‑experience tables, and anyone who enjoys big, silly capers. If your group prefers deep builds and tactical combat, this stays intentionally breezy—strengths are speed, shared bits, and memorable reveals.
