# Night Witches

Night Witches is a Powered by the Apocalypse RPG about the all-female Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment in WWII. Players alternate between daytime interpersonal drama and nighttime bombing missions, facing both Fascist enemies and sexist comrades. Classless and narrative-driven, it emphasizes heroism, sacrifice, and endurance through modified PbtA moves.

## At a Glance

Powered by the Apocalypse lineage • 2d6 + moves • 3-5 players • GM rotation • Low prep • Rules-lite • 2-4h sessions

## Why It Fits

A strong fit for groups that want fiction-first play and scene-level consequences, with narrative-Driven helping define the experience.

## Fit Facts

- Players: 3-5 players + GM
- Session length: 120-240 minutes
- Prep: Low

## Facets

- Genres: Military, Historical
- Systems: Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA)
- Mechanics: Narrative-Driven, Rules Lite, Survival, Team-Based
- Themes: Dark

## Scores

- Complexity: 2/5
- New GM Fit: 5/5
- Roleplay Focus: 5/5
- Combat Focus: 2/5
- Tactical Depth: 1/5
- Campaign Depth: 3/5

## Best For

- Tables that want fiction-first play and scene-level consequences
- Tables that want quick onboarding and low mechanical drag
- Groups already comfortable with fiction-first move-based play

## Avoid If

- You want denser mechanical crunch or build complexity
- You want combat and action to drive most of the session
- You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table

## Directory Notes

Night Witches thrusts players into the harrowing world of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, an all-female Soviet unit that flew harassment bombing missions against Nazi forces during World War II. Known as "Nachthexen" (Night Witches) by the Germans for their stealthy wooden biplanes and night attacks, these women faced impossible odds in obsolete aircraft—often flying multiple missions per night with minimal equipment.

## Theme and Setting

The game explores both the terrifying night missions and the brutal daytime reality of discrimination, sabotage, and sexism from male comrades. Set across historically accurate targets throughout the Soviet Union, Poland, and Germany, players experience the arc of the war from desperate defense to final victory.

## How Play Feels

The setting confronts themes of patriotism, sacrifice, gender discrimination, and the limits of human endurance. Night Witches is built on Vincent Baker's Apocalypse World engine but heavily modified to meet the unique demands of its historical setting.

## What Makes It Distinct

The game uses the classic PbtA 2d6 resolution (6- miss, 7-9 partial success, 10+ full success) with custom moves that reflect wartime stress and interpersonal conflict. Day and Night Structure Play alternates between two distinct phases: Day: Focuses on renewal, interpersonal conflict, and dealing with base life—sexist officers, secret police paranoia, supply shortages, and squadmate relationships.

## Where It May Not Fit

You want denser mechanical crunch or build complexity You want combat and action to drive most of the session.

## Links

- Directory page: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/night-witches
- Agent JSON: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/api/games/night-witches.json
- Publisher or official site: https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/night-witches
- Reviews or retailer page: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/146173/night-witches?affiliate_id=1659151