Truth & Justice
Encyclopedia
Truth & Justice is an "indie
" tabletop role-playing game designed to emulate the superhero
genre. It was created by Chad Underkoffler and published by Atomic Sock Monkey Press
. The game allows players to take the role of superheroes and supervillain
s.
Compared to the standard PDQ system, T&J divides stats into normal scale and super scale. (This is similar to the "mega-damage" mechanic in Rifts
, or the "mega-dice" mechanic in Aberrant
.) Therefore, one character may have Good [+2] Strength (i.e. normal scale) and another has Good [+2] Super-strength (i.e. super scale). Normal scale must roll 2d6+2 for typical tasks. In contrast, super-strength will automatically succeed at normal scale tasks, but must make a 2d6+2 roll for tasks as rated on the super scale. Super-scale damage on a normal-scale target adds the power's Target Number (i.e. 5 to 13) to the damage ranks done. Normal-scale attacks can still affect super-scale targets as failure ranks, though they cannot do damage per se.
s of the superhero stries and how they can can be implemented in an RPG. Topics addressed include T&J "philosophy" (Lies vs. Truth; Injustice vs. Justice; Heroism; Mad, Beautiful Ideas), the differences between human-scale and superhuman-scale abilities or events, the differences in superheroic styles, namely Grim 'n Gritty; Cinematic; Four Color; Animated. It also lists list of common comic book tropes.
There are three superheroic settings included within the book, each with their own chapter:
"Second-String Supers" places the player character
s in a world where the world-class heroes have left to deal with a situation of grave importance. The PCs take the roles of the less experienced supers, teenage sidekicks, aging pulp heroes, or reformed villains who must protect humanity in the first-stringers' absence.
"SuperCorps" is a near future setting where powered individuals work in well-paid security, troubleshooters, or researchers jobs. Whether as employees of one of the globe-spanning multinational corporation
s or as self-employed "super-consultants," PCs must balance their ethics, morals, and paychecks in a dangerous world.
"Fanfare for the Amplified Man" is a "ripped from the headlines" setting, where a certain few individuals (including the PCs) have received a mysterious piece of jewelry that grants them superpowers. Ideas for running secret superheroic campaigns and freeform adaptation of current events for gaming are included in this chapter; the overall theme is an exploration not only of the "great power vs. great responsibility" issue, but also the ability of one person to change the world.
format in July 2005, and a print version became available through distributed retail in 2006.
As of March 2007, there are two Truth & Justice supplements: Dial S for Superhumans, a free, downloadable PDF created by several contributors; and The Turtlezilla Dossier focusing on a giant kaiju
known as Turtlezilla, a downloadable PDF for purchase.
Indie role-playing game
An indie role-playing game is a role-playing game published outside of traditional, "mainstream" means. Varying definitions require that commercial, design, or conceptual elements of the game stay under the control of the creator, or that the game should just be produced outside of a corporate...
" tabletop role-playing game designed to emulate the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
genre. It was created by Chad Underkoffler and published by Atomic Sock Monkey Press
Atomic Sock Monkey Press
Atomic Sock Monkey Press is a small press game company that publishes “beer and pretzels” role-playing games and board games. The company is run by Chad Underkoffler, also known for his game columns on RPG.net and Pyramid magazine, as well as writing contributions to Atlas Games' Unknown Armies...
. The game allows players to take the role of superheroes and supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s.
System
The game uses a modified version of the Prose Descriptive Qualities or PDQ system. PDQ offers three different levels of task resolution for any situation, in order to let players resolve encounters in as much or as little detail as possible.Compared to the standard PDQ system, T&J divides stats into normal scale and super scale. (This is similar to the "mega-damage" mechanic in Rifts
Rifts (role-playing game)
Rifts is a multi-genre role-playing game created by Kevin Siembieda in 1990 and published continuously by Palladium Books since then. Rifts takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, deriving elements from cyberpunk, science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, mythology and many other genres.Rifts...
, or the "mega-dice" mechanic in Aberrant
Aberrant
Aberrant is a role-playing game created by White Wolf Game Studio in 1999, set in 2008 in a world where super-powered humans started appearing one day in 1998. It is the middle setting in the greater Trinity Universe timeline, chronologically situated about 90 years after Adventure!, White Wolf's...
.) Therefore, one character may have Good [+2] Strength (i.e. normal scale) and another has Good [+2] Super-strength (i.e. super scale). Normal scale must roll 2d6+2 for typical tasks. In contrast, super-strength will automatically succeed at normal scale tasks, but must make a 2d6+2 roll for tasks as rated on the super scale. Super-scale damage on a normal-scale target adds the power's Target Number (i.e. 5 to 13) to the damage ranks done. Normal-scale attacks can still affect super-scale targets as failure ranks, though they cannot do damage per se.
Settings
The first chapter of Truth & Justice discusses common tropeTrope (literature)
A literary trope is the usage of figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech in which words are used in a sense different from their literal meaning...
s of the superhero stries and how they can can be implemented in an RPG. Topics addressed include T&J "philosophy" (Lies vs. Truth; Injustice vs. Justice; Heroism; Mad, Beautiful Ideas), the differences between human-scale and superhuman-scale abilities or events, the differences in superheroic styles, namely Grim 'n Gritty; Cinematic; Four Color; Animated. It also lists list of common comic book tropes.
There are three superheroic settings included within the book, each with their own chapter:
"Second-String Supers" places the player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s in a world where the world-class heroes have left to deal with a situation of grave importance. The PCs take the roles of the less experienced supers, teenage sidekicks, aging pulp heroes, or reformed villains who must protect humanity in the first-stringers' absence.
"SuperCorps" is a near future setting where powered individuals work in well-paid security, troubleshooters, or researchers jobs. Whether as employees of one of the globe-spanning multinational corporation
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
s or as self-employed "super-consultants," PCs must balance their ethics, morals, and paychecks in a dangerous world.
"Fanfare for the Amplified Man" is a "ripped from the headlines" setting, where a certain few individuals (including the PCs) have received a mysterious piece of jewelry that grants them superpowers. Ideas for running secret superheroic campaigns and freeform adaptation of current events for gaming are included in this chapter; the overall theme is an exploration not only of the "great power vs. great responsibility" issue, but also the ability of one person to change the world.
History
The game was originally published in PDF and Print on DemandPrint on demand
Print on demand , sometimes called, in error, publish on demand, is a printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book are not printed until an order has been received...
format in July 2005, and a print version became available through distributed retail in 2006.
As of March 2007, there are two Truth & Justice supplements: Dial S for Superhumans, a free, downloadable PDF created by several contributors; and The Turtlezilla Dossier focusing on a giant kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
known as Turtlezilla, a downloadable PDF for purchase.
Awards
Truth & Justice won the 2005 Indie RPG Award for Best Support, the 2006 Silver ENnie Award for Best Electronic Book, and the 2006 Silver Award for Innovation (an ENnie Judges' Award).External links
- ASMP's Truth & Justice product page
- Pampero's Truth & Justice fanpage
- John Kim's Truth & Justice notes