Swashbucklers_of_the_Seven_Skies

<i>Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies</i>

Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies

Tabletop fantasy role-playing game by Chad Underkoffler

Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies is a role-playing game by Chad Underkoffler, published by Evil Hat Productions in 2009.

Description

Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies is a swashbuckling RPG that is set in a fantasy world where players can adventure across islands that float in the sky.[1]: 425  Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies was intended an homage to pulp swashbuckling stories, including a full chapter discussing the tropes of the genre.[2]: 265  Swashbucklers took place in an entirely original setting, where sky pirates battle each other in ships that fly across the sky.[2]: 265  Chad Underkoffler used his PDQ system for this game, which has some similar characteristics to Fate – including its Fortes (or qualities) to be applied as freeform occupations, motivations, histories or organizations.[1]: 425  Swashbucklers used a new variant of the PDQ system which Underkoffler renamed PDQ#; Underkoffler revamped his system mechanics for the first time, as PDQ# gave foibles and techniques to characters while its combat system made conflict more tactical.[2]: 265  Swashbucklers had its own ship combat system to meet the needs of the setting.[2]: 265 

Publication history

Chad Underkoffler had been designing a game about sky pirates as his first independent role-playing game for Atomic Sock Monkey Press, but put that game aside to develop Dead Inside (2004) instead.[2]: 261–262  Due to a business arrangement between Atomic Sock Monkey Press and Evil Hat Productions, Underkoffler was finally able to publish his game as Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies in 2009.[2]: 265  The companies were able to make a joint arrangement to produce the game, despite a disagreement over the size; Fred Hicks from Evil Hat persuaded Underkoffler to use a 7" x 10" format, which was slightly smaller than the print size of a traditional role-playing game.[2]: 265 

Reception

Shannon Appelcline, in his 2011 book Designers & Dragons, noted that this was a more traditional RPG for Evil Hat, and commented: "Whereas The Zorcerer of Zo had received some criticism for its rough development of superb ideas, Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies was a more polished game, showing the benefits of indie designers working together in a larger design house."[1]: 425  After its publication, Swashbucklers received a Silver ENnie,[3] and was runner-up for the Indie Game of the Year.[2]: 265 

References

  1. [1]
    Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
  2. [2]
    Shannon Appelcline (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '00s. Evil Hat Productions. ISBN 978-1-61317-087-8.
  3. [3]
    "2009 Noms and Winners". August 24, 2010.
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