posted by on
Published on itch.io two weeks ago, Austin Walker's latest TTRPG, Realis has been a lot of fun to read through and talk about with friends in various Discord servers.
The core thing differentiating this game compared to other entries in the (even Indie) TableTop Role-Playing Game space is how it eschews dice in favor of Sentences: a mechanic where Sentences of a greater than or equal Reality (just think higher modifier like +0, +1, +2, +3) always counteract Sentences of a lower Reality. Over time, your characters, NPCs, objects, and all sorts of other things will have these Sentences be refined, thereby strengthening them but also taking away part of when they're relevant. For example:
+0 I always know where I'm going -> +1 I always know where I'm going, when I'm underwater
Because so much of this game is designed around the Sentences that a character has access to from their Class, it's been a fun exercise to come up with Classes as a sort of way to imagine a template of a story without necessarily finding people to play with first. There are 20 Classes included in the Ashcan Edition available now and likely double that in the full release. With that in mind, below are a few Classes that I've put together since reading through the rules. Note that several of these skip the "background description" because I was either too lazy or had forgotten that that was part of defining a class when I first wrote them.
Classes
Looper
Sphere of Soujourn (Impulse: Respond to a local problem with excursionary Means)
Class Sentences
- I always remember the past
- I always get a second chance
- I always notice the smallest things
- I always have to keep moving
Example Bonds
- I know what I would sacrifice for
[Character], but they'll never fully understand why [Character]has changed me, and I need to show them in which ways
Example Dreams
- I will escape this loop
- I will discover a way to forget
- I will finally find a use for my time
Rebel
Sphere of Shadow (Impulse: Respond to a noble problem with dishonorable Means)
Class Sentences
- I always do what I must to survive
- I always worry my those close to me
- I always inspire people
- I always keep climbing
Example Bonds
[Character]has my back. I just hope they don't sacrifice too much for me.- Only time will tell how much I can trust
[Character]'s incredible access to opportunities.
Example Dreams
- I will give the people fighting the Consortium a new hope
- I will one day achieve Greatness
- I will break every shackle
Subject
Sphere of Sorcery (Impulse: Respond to a mundane problem with magical Means)
Broken, reformed, full of promise. Your identity was once taken from you in favor of crafting a more potent tool. But you no longer serve your masters, if they're even still alive. You're free, for now. Only time will tell if for good.
Class Sentences
- I always remember my 🍃 Training 🍃
- I always know how to push my limits
- I always balk at authority
- I can always choose my own future
Example Bonds
[Character]is stronger than they know. I can teach them confidence.- I will never lie to
[Character], and I expect them to always be honest with me in return
Example Dreams
- Break the chains of our reality
- Realize my true perfected form
- Live normally, for once
Youngster
Sphere of Steel (Impulse: Respond to a peaceful problem with violent Means)
Class Sentences
- My sole 🍃 little dude 🍃 always wins
- I always have comfortable and easy-to-wear clothing
- I am always underestimated
- I always get in over my head
Example Bonds
- I have a lot to learn from
[Character]about being stronger, if only I could convince them to teach me. - Now that
[Character]and I exchanged numbers, I can call them whenever I need help.
Example Dreams
- I want to be the very best, like no one ever was
- I will teach my 🍃 little dude 🍃 to understand the power that's inside
- I will catch every little dude in the world
Thistlewhisperer
Sphere of Soujourn (Impulse: Respond to a local problem with excursionary Means)
Verdant and ever tangling brambles yearn to fill the darkest voids with new growth. They heed your caring word, but burgeoned thistle will eventually turn conversational, and you may not like what they want from you in return.
Class Sentences
- Plants always take my suggestions
- I always survive in the light of the Corpse Sun
- My green thumb is always growing
- I always hurt people I touch
Example Bonds
[Character]loves to reap. I will teach them to sow.- I trust
[Character]to guide me out of the thickest knots and towards the light
Example Dreams
- I will reignite the Corpse Sun and enter eternity
- My plants will consume Realis itself and form a better world
- I will not be owned by these plants' desires.