Powered by the Apocalypse

Overview

Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) is a tabletop roleplaying game design framework created by Meguey Baker and D. Vincent Baker for Apocalypse World, which Lumpley Games published in 2010. Its hallmarks are playbooks, rolls of two six-sided dice plus a stat, three tiers of result and "moves" that tell the table when the rules apply. The Bakers don't define PbtA by its mechanics. Vincent Baker describes it as a self-applied label for games inspired by Apocalypse World or by other PbtA games, so only a game's creator can say whether it qualifies, and many games share the mechanics without using the name. The framework spread because Baker encouraged others to publish hacks, and itch.io listed more than 800 products tagged PbtA as of April 2023. The framework is built on Apocalypse World, a post-apocalyptic game published in 2010 and revised in a second edition in 2016.

Description

In a PbtA game, players take on characters from playbooks, which are archetype templates rather than classes or races, and the game's setting is shaped by the table. The game master (GM), called the Master of Ceremonies (MC) in the original, creates conflicts for the characters to resolve, and creative responsibility is shared among all players. Players and the GM build the world together and often create non-player characters together. The framework asks a table to play by the fiction. A player has to describe what their character does to trigger a move, and if something that should trigger a move happens in the story, it has to be rolled for or walked back. It suits groups who want a story that keeps moving and don't mind a GM who doesn't prepare fixed encounters.

Active games and players

PbtA
Powered By The Apocalypse
Ocean Pines
Campaign
Root the RPG
Players
0/5
GM
1/1
Powered By The Apocalypse
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Root the RPG

Combat focused
Fights, tactics and initiative take up most of the table time.
Roleplay focused
Conversation, character and story take up most of the table time.
Root the RPG from (Magpie Games) is the RPG based off the Board game from (Leader Games.) The adventures are anthropomorphic critters in a low-tech none magical world where bears and deers and some other woodland animals are dangerous but may not be the biggest problem your party comes up against.  This is a game of Woodland Might & Right. Where you and the other PC play as vagabonds. Career specific (but not set in stone) woodland wanders working to handle the problems of factions fighting secrete wars and not-so-secrete wars, solving delicate situations of local magistrates and trying not to make more enemies then you can manage, while exploring the dangerous woodland and becoming entangled in the known 'clearings' - cities filled with denizens and trouble aplenty.

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DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
...
Online
Michelle
The storyteller Narrative minimalist
Let’s go on an adventure together! I'm looking for a free, cooperative, consent-based, story-focused TTRPG table. I enjoy character-driven games with party relationships, meaningful combat, exploration, mystery, downtime, and earned emotional moments. Ideal balance: about 40% roleplay, 20% combat, 40% exploration. I like sincere games with humor, but not constant bits, edgelord behavior, or main character syndrome. I fit best with players who share spotlight, cooperate, respect boundaries, and care about everyone’s character mattering. Consent and safety are important to me. Heavy themes, PvP, romance/flirting, sexual content, intense character conflict, or major effects on another PC should be discussed first. Lines and veils should be respected. I’m in Hawaiʻi Time / UTC-10. Weekends are best, and I prefer 2–3 hour sessions. I’m open to voice, PBP, or hybrid formats. Not a good fit for bigotry, disruptive rules-lawyering, non-cooperative play, unconsented PvP/romance/sexual content, trauma dumping, or using RPGs as therapy. Message me on Discord; I’m more responsive there. Please say you saw my Groupfinder post and send a short game pitch. Discord: goldaline
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New
Posted 20 hours ago
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PbtA
Powered By The Apocalypse
Online
Dev
Hello, I’m an experienced player / GM in my 30s, LGBT+, and live in Pacific time zone. Please refer to me with she/her, but sir and mr and similar, not lady, girl or miss. I am looking for a weekly voice or voice/video campaign of Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Defy the Gods, or similar, as a player. I am available on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, earliest start time 3 PM Pacific / 7 PM Eastern and latest start time 4:30 PM Pacific / 8:30 PM Eastern. Looking for: mythology, high fantasy, gods and spirits, fairytales, bright/optimistic tones, wonder, whimsy, hijinks; soap opera drama, social intrigue; light-hearted adventure; mystery, romance, heroes, light spooks, fighting fantasy evil in a world where PCs don't have to deal with real-world sexism, homophobia, etc.; ideally a group with other non binary people, trans and queer people, women, etc. and not just straight men (have been sexually harassed by them) To avoid: I will not play DnD of any edition, Pathfinder, OSR, or dungeon crawling / combat focused games. I'm not into Call of Cthulhu or GURPS. I want to avoid horror, ERP, gritty/survival, grim/dark, low fantasy, isekei, high schoolers, "realism," and grimdark. I do not want to play with creeps, murderhobos, or minors. I'm not looking for homebrewed rules that make a game more difficult, crunchy, or increase "challenge" or "realism." If you aren't familiar with Thirsty Sword Lesbians or Defy the Gods, here's some resources! The rules are free for both systems currently (Defy the Gods may run out of free copies soon though): Defy the Gods resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15ECsOq7dT9LG-SHjei3ginaIAR2rxEQwy0AoBrmIJNg/ Thirsty Sword Lesbians resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13C8i6zEooHLKIiB2EgcdMBNmopA2dG9Wg-kaqWxqztg/ Profile picture by GrandFailure: https://stock.adobe.com/images/a-kid-standing-and-holding-a-torch-facing-a-burning-giant-digital-art-style-illustration-painting/450076886
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PATH2E
Pathfinder 2E
DH
Daggerheart
...
Online
CaspSU
Hello, I'm Caspian, I'm a pretty experienced TTRPG player looking for more groups. I love trying out new games and that's what I'm trying to do, and I'm willing to GM as well.
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PATH2E
Pathfinder 2E
VtM
Vampire: The Masquerade
...
Online
Salith
I'm a He/Him|They/Them pansexual 50 year old demi-guy who's been playing and GMing since I was 13. I'm currently looking to play in games on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings/nights. Also, I don't do anything Wizards of the Coast as I don't like the Pinkertons or Hasbro.
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DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
...
Online
El Dodo
I am a ttrpg player of 6 years. Mostly in dnd, but I have experience playing PF2E, Fabula Ultima and Thirsty Sword Lesbians. Additionally I have read up a bit on most if not all of the systems I'm interested in! I enjoy finding a specific vibe for my characters, like a fighting style, a specific backstory, an aesthetic etc. I then push a system to fulfil that vibe to it's fullest, committing entirely to that bit, even to the character's detriment at times. I am also an avid heroforge user and deeply enjoy making heroforge models of all the pcs! When actually playing I try my best to use my character not just to their own end, but also to try my best within my characters personality, to empower other players. My fatal flaw is definitely my attention span, I am distracted very easiily, something I have been working to mitigate for a while, but that I'm not sure I'll ever fully ditch. I am looking for a Wednesday game that starts no later than 12am GMT (yes I know thats technically thursday xD). I also have little preference for the system.
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