Deep Sky Ballad

Overview

Inspired by legendary settings such as Firefly, Westworld, Borderlands, Trigun or Cowboy Bebop, Deep Sky Ballad is a space western ttrpg where the characters play the members of a Posse - fortune seekers more or less tightly bound to each other who share their resources and a spaceship in search of purpose or wealth.

Description

The game mechanics are based on the Blackjack System, a poker cards based system; it's the same rules system Arcana Familia ttrpg use, and give agency to the player to balance the power and accuracy of an action through what can be considered a subgame. The peculiar solving mechanics of Deep Sky Ballad, the Blackjack System is essentially reduced to a very rapid game of the homonymous card game; a number of cards are drawn and revealed from a deck of poker cards, which are then increased or discarded based on the attributes and skills of the character, in order to bring the sum of their value between a number established by the difficulty of the challenge and 21. This system has been designed to be quick and simple but still guarantee the player maximum control over the test itself, and to distinguish between the possibility and the control possessed by the character. In addition to the Blackjack System, there are an innovative spaceships combat system and the Hardboiled System. The first is a simple, agile and fast mechanic involving all the players; the Hardboiled System, instead, is a system of abilities possessed by the character determined by the interaction that he possesses with his fellow Posse, in order to create dramatic and cinematic scenes such as those presented by the TV series from which Deep Sky Ballad is inspired. Even the starship itself owned by the Posse can be defined as a separate character, even if driven by all players. With its own sheet that defines its characteristics, it can be modified according to the needs of the group in every aspect. And space battles will prove to be a pleasant way to break the pace of the game, through a combat system between spaceships that is quick and easy, but which allows each character to contribute to its progress, regardless of his job or her abilities.
Deep Sky Ballad

Additional links

drivethrurpg.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/it/product/451970/deep-sky-ballad-quickstarter - Quickstarter drivethrurpg.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/it/product/461444/deep-sky-ballad - Core Book drivethrurpg.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/it/product/558874/deep-sky-ballad-kowtown-associates-chronicles-masterless-and-soloplay-adventure-generator - Solo-play/Masterless expansion gamefound.com https://gamefound.com/en/projects/a-game-of-nerds/for-a-fistful-of-seeds - Space Farmer Expansion

Active games and players

No active games or players listed for this system yet.

Other entries

The Apocalypse Players
Actual Play & Podcasts

The Apocalypse Players

English
Actual Play
Call of Cthulhu
A Call of Cthulhu actual play podcast. Dice-driven cosmic horrors supplied by Dominic Allen, Joseph Chance, Danann McAleer and guests. --- The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, Links apocalypseplayers.com - Podcast website patreon.com - Patreon page discord.com - Discord server

Read more

Frugal GM
Blogs

Frugal GM

English
Reviews
Frugal GM is a long-running tabletop RPG blog focused on helping Game Masters run better games while spending less money. Its core idea is summed up pretty directly: it’s about “resource-saving options for running a better role-playing game.” At its heart, the site is built around three main types of content: 1. Reviews of RPG Products Modules, maps, supplements, tools, and even occasional games Strong emphasis on value for money Honest, practical evaluations (what works at the table vs. what doesn’t) 2. Free & Low-Cost Resources Links to free maps, generators, tools, and downloads Highlights of “hidden gems” you might otherwise miss Frequent “Free GM Resource” posts 3. Practical GM Advice & Tools Tips for running games more efficiently Ideas you can plug directly into a session Focus on usable content over theory

Read more

Dungeon Master's Block
Actual Play & Podcasts

Dungeon Master's Block

TTRPG
English
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeon Master's Block is a premier resource podcast dedicated to the most important person at the table: the Dungeon Master. Recognized as a "gym for the mind," the show is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip GMs. From those prepping their very first session to veterans of twenty years to "Keep On Dungeon Mastering."  The podcast moves beyond simple rule explanations, diving deep into the creative philosophy of world-building, monster design, and player management. Through recurring segments like "DM-Nastics" (mental exercises for GMs) and the "Mailbag of Holding," hosts Neal Powell (DM Neal) and Derrick (DM Derrick) provide actionable advice, narrative inspiration, and a supportive community for the "only person at the table capable of playing god." Links spotify.com  - Spotify feed podcasts.apple.com  - Apple Podcasts feed youtube.com  - Youtube channel

Read more

Reviews

Sorted by:

No reviews yet.

Login to leave a review.

Looking for a group?

Find a tabletop group to join or players to invite.
Groupfinder is a free looking-for-group/players platform. By players, for players.