Tricksters v1.2
Tricksters v1.2
Tricksters v1.2
Tricksters
Credits
Kurt Potts
Game Design, Writing, Layout
Special Thanks
Kate
For all the hours spent
talking about games.
2
Tricksters
What sordid tales
these mortals tell
of our bizarre
interventions.
Getting Started
Tools
You’ll need some things to play this game. Most importantly, 2-5 hu-
mans. Then grab some scraps of paper or notecards, a few dice and
something to write with. If you’re feeling fancy you can print out the
character sheets.
What’s my role?
Most of you will take up the role of a single character, but one player
designated as the facilitator will portray all the other characters. They
are usually the person reading this, but if you’re not sure, choose that
player now.
As you answer questions about the village write down geographical ele-
ments on note cards and put them on the table.
Create Characters
To create characters answer the
T
questions on the character sheet (See ricksters
also next page). You’re all tricksters, but are a
you aren’t all the same. What makes you common
different? You all protect the village but archetype
why is up to you. Why do you protect the in myth and legend.
village? Work with the group so you don’t They include figures
end up with the same tricks or desires like Loki, the Norse
unless everyone thinks it’s a good idea. god of mischief, Rey-
nard the anthropo-
When you create villagers and enemies
morphic fox, Anansi
add them to the notecards on the table.
If a good place doesn’t exist yet talk
the spider of West
about what place best represents them. Africa, Kitsune (fox)
Write that place on a notecard and then of Japanese lore, and
add the character to it. Coyote, a god to many
indigenous peoples of
Once you’ve answered all the questions North America.
on the character sheet go grab a physical
thing to represent your trickster (or an Your trickster can be
image if you’re playing online). It can any manner of being
be a paperclip, a block of wood, or a including fairies,
miniature figurine. Just make sure you animals, anthropo-
can tell it apart from all the others. One morphic animals, or
of the players that aren’t the facilitator, minor deities. What-
grab your hunk of character, put it on
ever you chose, take
one of the notecards and answer one of
care when portraying
the following questions:
figures important to
• What rule did I break here and a particular culture.
who just caught me? Do so in a way that is
both respectful to said
• What is here that I desire and who’s culture and the other
preventing me from getting it? people at the table. If
all else fails, be some-
• Why did my Favorite Villager just
thing unique.
get in trouble here? What can I
do to help?
Character Questions
Name
Give your character a name. They probably need a human name too, but
that’s up to you.
Pronouns
What Pronouns does your character use? They can be different.
True form
What is your true form? Are you an animal, a fairy, a spirit? Are you
scary, cute, perfectly ordinary?
Human Form
All tricksters have a human form. When you change what do you look
like? What is your gender presentation? How old are you?
Favorite Villager
Make a villager. Who are they? What do they do? Why do you favor
them? How do they feel about you?
Enemy
Who is your enemy? They can be a villager, a supernatural creature or
maybe another trickster. Don’t choose another player.
“Lord, what
fools these
mortals be!”
Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Setting Scenes
Scenes in Trickster don’t need to be exhaustive or chronological. To start
a scene pick a character or characters and put them in an interesting
position. Be clear about what is at risk and ask what the characters are
doing about it. Follow the action until the tension breaks or you find a
good cliffhanger.
Dressing Scenes
Usually, the facilitator will do the heavy lifting when dressing scenes,
but anyone can add details. Start by describing the most interesting
thing in the scene, then throw it to the other players to add more de-
tails. Let them take turns each adding a detail. Remember the senses.
How does this place Look, Sound, Smell, Feel or Taste?
Having a Conversation
Scenes in Trickster work like a conversation. Each participant adding
details, speaking in character, describing their actions and wants until
the outcome is uncertain. Anytime you’re not sure what happens next,
roll the dice.
Teaching a Lesson
A tricksters primary goal is to protect their people by teaching them
lessons. When you try to teach a lesson, say what the lesson is and what
could go wrong if it’s misunderstood? Check Running the game for more
on lessons.
6: You get what you desire. You may lose what you were willing to
risk. If you do, the desire will hold no sway over you (Do not lose a
die) for the remainder of the session.
4-5: Choose: Get what you desire but the risk is realized or walk
away empty handed.
2-3: You can’t get your desire this time and you’ve lost whatever was
at risk.
1: Your desire proves unattainable. You lose what was at risk and
something or someone stands between you and your desire.
You’ll need to deal with that before you can try again.
Testing Fate
Sometimes an action will be uncertain but doesn’t teach a lesson or
fulfill a desire. When you Test Fate, roll a single die.
Cheat Fate
After rolling dice, if you have an unlocked Desire slot you may take one
of the dice rolled and place it in the Desire slot. If there was a die in
that slot you instead swap the dice.
How could the tricksters prevent the villagers from falling for this fast-
talking music man? Let’s look at some lessons.
Introduce a complication.
Are they trying to help? Bring in a character’s desire or enemy. Are they
up to no good? Bring in their favorite villager or an authority figure.
Move along
If a complication doesn’t make sense and the players don’t know what
they want. Jump to a transition. You can always come back to that scene
when it’s more clear what the players want and what is at risk.
Now is a great time to call out your favorite moments and check in on
any players who processed heavy emotions or themes during the game.
Name Pronouns
True Name
Human Name
Tricks
Desires