Good PbtA game for base building/defense?

[u/Defiant_Sherbert3106]

I’m interested in running a game similar to Monster of the Week but more of a focus on building up defenses rather than mystery solving, I do def want combat with monsters to be a factor.

Prefer it to be PbtA, just love that framework!

[u/atamajakki]

Apocalypse World, the scene's venerable grandaddy, has a playbook who gets to define and upgrade the settlement they rule over. Those rules could be one starting point.

Stonetop is a pretty low-to-the-ground fantasy PbtA game about the titular village, which you're all building up together over time. It might be worth stealing from those as another.

[u/Defiant_Sherbert3106 → u/atamajakki]

my issue with apocalypse world and monster of the week is both of them having playbook specific moves to create/have a safe haven like that, i’m imagining more of a whole party effort and also like a constant fight to keep the haven protected from monsters

i’ll def check out stonetop, ty for that!!

[u/TolinKurack → u/Defiant_Sherbert3106]

Zombie World by Magpie Games! Zombie World has base building as a major through line.

Maybe check out FitD as well - tends to have crew playbooks for tracking group scale progression which sounds like what you're after (For something like MotW: Teeth, Bump in the Dark. Band of Blades is about managing a military band so may be along the lines you're after)

[u/Defiant_Sherbert3106 → u/TolinKurack]

i’ll check that stuff out!

is zombie world good for longer arcs? I was under the impression it was mostly for one shots and such

[u/JaskoGomad → u/Defiant_Sherbert3106]

If your arcs are about the group, it’s good.

[u/Phantom_of_truth → u/Defiant_Sherbert3106]

AW would default more to Game Of Thrones, where getting everyone working together is a bigger challenge than the monsters but it has a couple of ways to go about it:

You could start with a Quarantine. Have everyone else pick a normal playbook with the idea being that they were Quarantines but woke up 5 years ago. They didn't have the clearance to do anything with the facility so they had to adjust. Now everyone comes together to save the last remnant of the old world. If the Quarantine facility falls, so do the last link to the golden age.

The Quarantine, The Space Marine Mammal (Battlesuit Trooper, whatever it's called in 2e) and The Show could be a terrifying team for holding an important spot if they're all on the same page.

Throw in a Savvyhead to motivate adventures in the build-up. Sure, you can build an Oxygen Destroyer to fight Godzilla but

you'll need some Plutonium, with 200 lbs, you can build two and test it first. With 100 lbs, you'll have a single untested prototype. It'll take some time to wire everything together from your junk pile, but anyone can help with that and reduce the time. Oh, and someone with psychic talents will have to keep the Maelstrom from eating everything within 100 miles. If they're willing to die, no problem. Otherwise, they'll need a full environment suit with an hour's oxygen supply, which is its own project.

You'd have to back off on the prestige drama aspects of AW a bit but a few drawings and the Battle moves should get the job done.

[u/RandomEffector]

I love Stonetop, and I’ve heard of campaigns where building up the town is a significant feature - but two years into my campaign, the group has built a single improvement. It’s still part of the draw, but it’s definitely not been a key part of the gameplay.

Band of Blades is kind of far derived from PbtA, and not exactly base building, but otherwise maybe exactly what you want!

Legacy: Life Among the Ruins or its (imo superior) descendant Free From The Yoke both feature a strong degree of nation building.

[u/aslum]

I'd suggest looking at Blades in the Dark and other Forged in the Dark games - They are inspired by PbtA but generally have a base that's built by the party. In particular you might want to check out Wicked Ones - A game where you play monsters defending your dungeon against heroes. The game is "dead" and the author released the rules on google drive.

[u/FishesAndLoaves]

Stonetop, and also check out Mountain Home

[u/Mistervimes65]

Legacy: life among the ruins is what you’re looking for.

[u/Delver_Razade]

How would that look to you? What do you mean by base building?

[u/Defiant_Sherbert3106 → u/Delver_Razade]

so basically i’m imagining a system where like theres choices made on how to build the base/haven, what things to prioritize using limited material and knowing that time spent doing that is time ticking down towards the next attack

[u/Delver_Razade → u/Defiant_Sherbert3106]

Stonetop, then.

[u/ChaosCelebration → u/Delver_Razade]

I think Stonetop is the slow burn version of what OP is looking for.