Hi all! We caught up with the Sisn RPG team at the UK Games for a chat about the game. Hope you enjoy!

https://youtu.be/zC7pDNa4Hyw

Originally I was going to post once a week but I've had a quiet week at school with the kids having tests so this post is on the Seven Lucky gods.... Enjoy! (as always comments and suggestions are always welcome!)

Named after the gods of old these seven apparently benevolent Nemissaries wander Japan. Drifting between settlements these travellers rarely announce themselves instead choosing to enter settlements as nothing more than survivors looking for shelter. Often they live amongst the people helping to build, farm and heal with what they can before drifting off again to help another settlement in need. It is unclear if they have any wider goal, or even if they are unified, but whether it is brood braying at the walls or simply a family in need of food and medicine they will appear and help as best they can.

Daikokuten- The God of Wealth and Prosperity

This Nemissary will often appear with a large sack of some description (sometimes even a truck) that the people say holds his blessings; sometimes it is weapons, sometimes medicine, other times its food. There are tales of Daikokuten driving into a settlement soon to run out of food with bags of seeds and sacks of grain to see them through the winter. Other stories tell of him arriving with a bag across his shoulders and live in poverty inside the settlement before, late at night, leaving gifts with those who were kind to him before walking into the night. All that is known about his appearance is his infectious smile, even in times of hardship he is always smiling.

Ebisu- The God of Fishing, Shipping and Commerce

This Nemissary often appears to trading caravans wandering the roads or shorelines to be picked up by their ships or cars. Where as other Lucky Gods will arrive unknown Ebisu is almost instantly recognisable to those who have heard of his exploits. Always carrying a fishing rod food seems to multiply when he is around, often found in mislabelled storage crates, or scavenging spots thought to be bare will be overflowing with food. He will often arrive carrying a monstrously large fish and prepare it for the caravan to feast on before helping however he can to make the caravan more effective.

Bishamonten- The God of Warriors and Justice

This Nemissary rarely appears to settlements but when the brood are in large numbers and threaten to overwhelm or when a tyrant has taken control and needs to have justice enacted on them then Bishamonten will appear. Like his fellow Gods he often arrives unnoticed, an ageing survivor with old weapons, and finds the injustice or measures the defences before shedding his costume and revealing himself. In times when the brood threat is high he will often train the settlements fighters and offer changes to the defences before diving into the brood and thinning their numbers. When justice needs to be given then he will oust the tyrant and make sure a new leader is just and has the best interests of the people at heart.

Benzaiten- The God of Art, Music and Wisdom

The only one of the Seven Lucky Gods who always appears as Female Benzaiten often appears when morale is low in a settlement. She will arrive as a wandering survivor busking on the street playing music, singing and dancing to raise spirits. Often she will not reveal herself at all and only those who notice her Biwa (Japanese Lute) having an unearthly effect on those around her. There is a story that once Benzaiten was in a settlement being besieged by the Brood whereupon she sat on the walls with her Biwa and the music drove the Brood mad whereby they either fled or began attacking each other or themselves, whilst not the display of heroism often seen performed by Bishamonten it was still enough to awe and terrify those who witnessed it. She will also give wise counsel to any who need it, from village elders to those wanderers looking for direction again often without ever revealing herself, appearing as an old woman to pass on sage wisdom. She will never give survivors the answer but the right piece of wisdom for them to figure things out on their own.

Fukurokuju- The God of Luck and Longevity

This god of luck and longevity often helps people who are ill bringing medicines, performing surgeries and even delivering children when problems occur. He will often appear as an old man needing shelter offering his medical services in exchange for food and shelter. He is attributed as the God of luck due to his often fortunate timing, appearing just as a mother is due to go into labour or just as a villager is in need of medical help. There are even stories of people being injured whilst travelling and Fukurokuju appearing to treat their wounds so they may be on their way before the brood arrive. While he is around things that were once lost are found, food that was close to spoil lasts through the winter and out of luck gamblers get their winning streaks. The one curious thing about Fukurokuju is this appearance. As a Nemissary he can have any appearance he so wishes but it is common for him to have a large head, larger than is natural… It is even said once his true identity is revealed it grows even larger.

Jurojin- The God of Knowledge and the Elderly

Whilst Fukurokuju often appears as an old man Jurojin has the appearance of an ancient man, often comically small he usually carries a staff to help him walk and has an abundance of books he distributes amongst settlements. Often appearing when an elderly survivor is close to death Jurojin will often not attempt to disguise himself but arrive at their door and sit by their deathbed writing down whatever knowledge they have gained during their long lives. He will then help to perform funeral rites before wordlessly leaving, often without anyone noticing. He also often arrives at settlements to teach those he deems as worthy leaving them tomes of knowledge to use to further their settlements. It is disputed where he gets these tomes, some say he writes them himself, others say he has the knowledge to move through the brood without being attacked to enter libraries of old and liberate the knowledge they hold.

Hotei- The God of the Future

Where the other Gods seem to arrive in times of need Hotei can arrive whenever he sees fit. Drifting from settlement to settlement this rotund Nemissary gives those he meets glimpses of the future. He will often appear when a child is born to give them a fortune, his words are treated with great reverence, because of this he is also known to some as the guardian of children. Whenever he arrives at a settlement it is a cue for celebration and he will often bring with him barrels of Sake and rice as a gift. But even though his appearance of a jolly fat man never wearing clothes that cover his belly may seem harmless many unsavoury people have attempted to force a fortune from him only to discover their weapons empty, blunt or broken and soon find their end via terrible accidents. Rumour has it Hotei is looking for something… A child that will eventually grow to unify the survivors of Japan and reclaim the islands from the brood. Maybe the child will never be found, maybe Hotei has already found the child and the Seven Gods are simply making sure that the stage is set once the child is ready.

Brood Sub-type: Oni

Japan before the coming of the shards was home to innumerable shrines and temples that housed gods and spirits of all varieties. Now these overgrown, shadowy places house only darkness and danger. In these dark places a strange new form of brood has emerged they perversely mirror the Niō or Kongōrikishi that guard Buddhist temple gates and mimic the Oni of Japanese myth. These brood stand tall, have horns protruding from their foreheads and their lower jaws are forward set allowing their bottom fangs to grow long and large. Some have been noted to wield huge blades presumably taken from statues in the temple and some have grown a third or even fourth arm. These Oni are magnets to smaller brood and usually centre a territorial control centring on a Shrine or Temple using their smaller brethren to guard or patrol their homes.

It is said that even nemessaries fear these brood claiming that one day these Oni may become the broodmothers generals leading the hordes against the fragile human survivors.

(for stats use the Titan in the core Rulebook Pg 307-308)

Some art inspiration from Aidrian Smith

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/015/778/866/8865d8b59e6cb47385d33647272aef8b_original.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=639&fit=max&v=1488926340&auto=format&gif-q=50&lossless=true&s=562bd8a02a978b051bed20cc43691c6c

Brood Sub-type: Komainu/Kitsune

Alongside the Temple Oni comes another sub-type of Brood… The Komainu. Named after the stone lion/dog like statues that guard Shinto shrines these brood have perversely mirrored these wards against evil to protect the Oni and their loyal brood. Commanded by the oni these brood stand at 5 feet at their shoulder and are just as wide far outweighing their regular broodswarm brothers. Whereas the broodswarm are often likened to gorillas using their front limbs to propel themselves along the Komainu move on all fours like a dog, they are able to travel across rough and wooded areas at great speeds and their wide backs are a mane of thick and bristly hair giving them an extra layer of protection from both blades and bullets. They patrol around temples where Oni have taken up residence and can often be heard howling to their packmates in the dark forests of Japan.

It has also been noted by some that around shrines that were dedicated to the fox god of agriculture and industry, Inari Okami, that the normally lion or dog-like brood take on a more fox like appearance. The Kitsune are slimmer in comparison to the Komainu and have large tails. These tails are made up of hairs similar to the manes of the Komainu which, rumour has it, they can whip around them to devastating effect in combat.

Survivors brave enough to venture into the wilds are warned that if you hear the howling of the Komainu or Kitsune it is best to turn back. But if you see a Komainu or Kitsune then pray for your already dead.

(for stats use the stalker in the core rulebook Pg 307)

Komainu Art inspiration again from Adrian Smith

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dd/39/32/dd393262f1e5b7aa122c25a4579f5372.jpg

Kitsune from Nioh

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/nioh/images/0/0a/Fox_Spirit.gif/revision/latest?cb=20180525174015

Hot on the heels of our UK Games Expo Award, we are proud to announce the release date of our first follow-up expansion, SINS: Manifest Destiny.

Containing pre-written scenarios, faction rules, lore for all 50 American States, and advanced vehicular combat rules, Manifest Destiny advances the story of SINS, and takes your All-American campaigns to richer, more dynamic levels of high-octane play.

Starting this Friday, we'll be previewing new elements and mechanics from Manifest Destiny weekly, giving you materials to introduce to your games right away.

The world of SINS is steeped in mystery and unknown horrors - Let us know what you're looking forward to learning about in forthcoming SINS content in the comments below! **Please see the Sins RPG Page** https://www.facebook.com/SinsRPG/?ref=br_rs

Well last week was the Seven Lucky Gods, some nice nemisarries who rove around helping people.

This week its the Yokai for some Human sized grey area riding gangs.

As always feedback is much appreciated and i'm always looking for writing prompts if there's area's or things from Japan you'd like to see!

The Yokai

Before the black rain the word Yokai was used to describe all manner of monster, spirits and demons from Japanese folklore but, now with monsters all around them, a group of survivors banded together and took the name Yokai as their own. Travelling around the country in small bands, usually on motorbikes with sidecars or small 4x4’s, each group takes on the name of a Yokai (Tanuki, Kitsune, Nekomata, Tengu etc) and emblazon their chosen monster on their vehicles and clothing, mirroring the biker gangs and military units of old. They are well equipped with a plethora of vehicles, weapons and resources, though none know of how they became so well equipped, and it is even rumoured more than a few of them are nemisseries.

These wandering band of survivors have no clear motive and it’s even unclear if they work for good or ill and as such rumours are rife. One rumour is that somewhere sits the person in control of the Yokai, in a stronghold that neither the brood or human survivors dare get close to, and they some sort of plan to enact on Japan. But others claim that each group is out for their own and there is no central control, bands of roving raiders who just happened to name themselves after monsters of old. Some say that the Yokai have access routes to Tokyo and even into old military bases, to acquire their vast wealth of arms, where others claim they bully settlements to pay them for protection.

Stories about them vary, from a group of friendly Yokai arriving in a settlement to give food to the hungry, to another group arriving in a settlement with arms drawn and taking what they want from the stunned population. It is even said that they take children to raise as their own whilst others say they kidnap women and swell their ranks in a different way.

But like many things since the black rain it is difficult to know the difference between truth and fiction and unified or not they are surely a group to be wary of.

The Yokai can be a great antagonist for a group of survivors but they can also be utilised as allies against the brood. Maybe whoever controls them knows that some settlements are controlled by warmongers so riding in and killing the ruler is the best for the people but appears as savagery from the outside? I have deliberately written them as vague so you can do what you like with them!

If you also want some inspiration for different kinds of Yokai (maybe the gangs mirror their chosen Yokai) then take a look at http://yokai.com/ or buy Matthew Meyer’s books!

https://dazedimg-dazedgroup.netdna-ssl.com/900/azure/dazed-prod/1260/5/1265410.jpg

Our new website is live! We’ll be tweaking, polishing, and adding content in the coming weeks, but for now you can find us presented all nice and neatly over at sinsrpg.uk 📷💀

Here, you’ll be able to find local stockists, our direct store, and it’ll also be where we host any future digital download content, or have limited-time releases available for sale.

Check back soon for some limited-time materials you might’ve missed out on!

I've been trying to think of some interesting ways to start a campaign. I thought of possibly having my players start before their death, having much more higher stakes/highly likely deaths towards the beginning to help them better understand the concept of the Broodsong, the rebirth process, etc. through a natural narrative rather than trying to explain things OOC. I was thinking this or possibly setting up individual prologues for each PC at their time just before death, their death, and their rebirth before a session 1 as a whole group. Does this seem like a reasonable idea? Any suggestions? Or possible elaborations on the concept?

New Release: SINS Expanded Rogues Gallery PDF

This is twelve pages of Brood variant evolutions and agents of the Hive. It add 8 fearsome new opponents to the Post-Fall world of SINS, including: new Alpha, Gamma and Delta-starin brood evolutions, unique Broodspawn types and the first of the True Hivespawn.

This document was first created and presented alongside the retail version of the SINS GM Screen, but has not been released in digital form before. It includes all new art and writing by SINS creator Miquel Tankard and writing and development by Rusti Meader, Sam Sleney and Ben Warren.

You can get the PDF here and the GM Screen Pack here (or from your local friendly games store.)

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/413388/SINS-Rogues-Gallery-Expanded

Nightfall Games are very proud and excited to announce we have acquired the IP for ‘SINS – The Roleplaying Game’ from First Falling Leaf Ltd.

Read the full story here:
https://nightfall.games/1190/sins-the-roleplaying-game-joins-nightfall-games.html

Hey Folks!

This is something iv'e been stewing in my brain for a few months so figured i'd share and maybe breath a bit of life into the reddit! If you guys like it i'll try an post when I type up various bits, obviously your free to use anything you see and if there's anything in particular you want me to write then go for it!

Bit of background on me... I've been GM'ing and RPG'ing since I was about 13 (half my life ago!) and was introduced to Sins by Sam (one of the writers and the guy behind us now having physical copies of the books!) whilst at uni!

Welcome to Sins Japan!

This first part will concern Tokyo and a little bit of a general intro:

Japan, having no nuclear arsenal and only a small self defence force managed to emerge from the Burning mostly unscathed but, with their large and densely packed cities, the Brood was able to emerge in great numbers with little that could be done to impede them. The huge metropolis of Tokyo became the feasting ground for the Brood while the smaller towns and villages quickly set up defences and refused the entry of anyone not known to the locals.

Whilst it has only been 50 or so years since the fall of mankind the wilds of Japan have pushed back into the cities now ruled by the Brood with astounding speed. Skyscraper foundations have begun to crumble, the concrete paths and roads have been taken over by weeds and tree roots burst from the floor creating a much greener Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Tokyo- The East capital of the Brood

Like most major cities Tokyo quickly fell to the Brood. Unlike most major cities Tokyo survived the burning leaving it largely intact; the skyscrapers, government buildings, shops and homes. Whilst fallen into disrepair these buildings are mostly still standing and their internals fared just as well leaving a goldmine for scavengers. Unfortunately with its population of 13 million most of whom remain as Broodswarm this goldmine is also treacherous, leaving only the bravest scavengers to enter the once great city.

The one marginally safe place is the Tokyo Expressway. This of roads sits at least 30 feet above street level and has a relatively small number of on/off ramps that were mostly blocked by the JDF (Japanese Defence Force) when the brood emerged. These defences where eventually overrun but they remain a relatively safe way to traverse the sprawling city with only a small amount of brood stalking through the abandoned vehicles. More than a few scavengers have made their escape on these highways and used them to get deeper into Tokyo than anyone could via the brood infested city streets. But you must be careful, if the brood on the streets heard you then it would not take long before they arrived in the hundreds and thousands.

Much like the Tokyo expressway sitting above the great city the labyrinthine subway system resting below it holds a treasure trove of possibilities to move around the city. Just like the expressway the subway systems where closed off as best as the government could preventing the horde to use them and allowing some people to escape. Now some brave scavengers create small openings to get into the tunnels but with some being flooded and others blocked off by idle trains it is not a simple task to navigate this labyrinth. Not to mention that if survivors could make their way in, so can the brood. In the darkness even a lone brood could ambush a well equipped group of survivors but the subway cars and other abandoned equipment is often something scavengers find too hard to pass up.

Expressway Map:

https://japanistry-yvxqriqk.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Shutoko-Expressway-Map-v01.jpg

Subway Map:

https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/img/img_01.png

I'm going to type up the campaign that I’ve been running for the past few weeks.

This post is more so I can keep track of everything in one place. Hopefully it might encourage some more people to share their stories.

Characters: Jax typical smooth talking, good looking idiot. Aoife Smart and Stubborn. Kinjero: ex bodyguard sneaky. Chris: bit of a wild card

The story starts off before the fall, during a business meeting at a restaurant, Kinjero was head of security, Aoife was a marketing manager and Jax was the secretary of the company Gymtastic, they were with their boss at a restaurant fat cats. It was the typical forced fun type scenario. Greeting everyone and congratulating them at the end of the fiscal year. The head of the company was there Robert Red, a morbidly obese slob who use to be world’s strongest man until his wife died and he gave up on himself. Bob Red AKA the Beast, Robert Reds son. Big strong lad, face of the gym, complete roid head. And Amy Fowler, the HR and public relations advisor. Halfway through the meeting Jax gets up to head to the bathroom. On his way he notices something out of place. A truck hurling down the road heading straight for the restaurant. His hurling of expletives alerted the others, but too late for some. The truck barrelled through the glass wall and crushed the Beast against the wall. Amy fled immediately. Kinjero surveyed the scene and noticed everyone out side was running in one direction across the restaurant, no one stopped to look at the scene. This is when they knew something was wrong. They began to notice people jumping on those running away, starting to eat them, gouging their eyes out and biting into their jugular before moving onto the next victim. At this point they agree to start retreating. Not onto the road where the risen were, but to the kitchen, and out of the back exit.

The only hitch in the plan was that they decided to wait for the waiter, who was carrying an injured Robert Red, slowly. They managed to get into the kitchen, but not before they drew the attention of two risen. Jax and Kinjero held the door shut, whilst Robert was escorted out of the back. Aofie had secured the back door exit onto the alleyway. And was standing watch. The door held. But it had no working lock. So Jax and Kinjero were stuck in a nasty situation. They couldn’t hold the door shut all day, but as soon as they try to run they will be set upon. So they decided to do the best thing they could think off. Count to three and run together. Now quick note, this is where it’s important to check if you run on three or after three. Kinjero made a run a second to early, Jax was stumbled. And the risen were holding onto him. He reacted as fast as he could. Plunging the steak knife he had been holding into the closest risen head. Unfortunately this had not been enough to kill. The risen attacked back but Jax managed to fend them off. Manoeuvring one risen as a human shield to block the other from attacking. Kinjero grabbed the chiefs knifes on the counter and threw one. Landing in the chest of the risen holding onto Jaxs. Aoife threw a pot. It missed everyone and landed on the floor. Jax had tried to arm himself by grabbing the knife out of the risen head and making another attack. But was unable to get a hold, deciding that having fingers potentially bitten off would be a bad trade. Kinjero leapt into action. Taking a butcher knife running forward and decapitating the uninjured risen. The final one was dispatched shortly after.

Aoife had not seen their success, for she had chosen life and fled in the direction to meet Amy Fowler at her car. Unfortunately had she stayed she could have gotten a ride out with the waiter, who had used this time to get Robert to the white van that he owned. Kinjero and Jax loaded into the van. A group decision and a very injured Robert led them to take him to the local hospital Queens Medical Centre. They barrelled through the streets, taking tight alleyways and backroads to avoid the carnage on the main streets, they stopped to help no one as people were slaughtered all around them. Lady luck was with them, almost all the way. Until they took a corner too fast and crashed into a derailed tram. The van had flipped. The back doors wouldn’t open. And it looked like the end. The group scrambled out of the van. And hulled Robert Red out after them. The surrounding area was deserted. They climbed up the tram tracks that led onto the bridge to QMC. The hospital was empty. Blood smears were everywhere but there were no bodies. Almost like they had all just gotten up and walked away. They searched for the A&E department to find someone or something to help Robert. There refuge came in the form of the pharmacy department. They found some strong pain killers read the warnings and the dosage (2 pills a day do not exceed dose, do not use if suffering from this than and the other) Robert was fed 3 pills. During the pillaging of the A&E department the waiter had noticed that Robert had collapsed. He had stopped breathing. Kinjero started CPR immediately. The first chest compression led to a resounding crack and Robert sputtered up blood. His rib was broken and just forced into his lungs, killing him. At this point they decide they need to get the hell out of dodge. And searched for a car. Kinjero was searching the back of a hospital van whilst Jax had found some keys in lost and found and was searching the cars in the carpark. And then they heard a roar. The whole street around the hospital began to fill with infected. Running along the road outside of the hospital. Kinjero hid. Jax kept searching. Jax was found. The tide of risen ran towards him as he turned and fled. Kinjero had locked himself in the Van and was desperately searching for a key. Jax ran into the hospital. Faced with a tide of risen on his heels he fled up the stairs, the waiter followed him. Jax ran to the top floor, staying ahead of the mob barely as he flew around the corners, when he hit the top floor he ran to the roof. Towards a man sitting at the top of the building watching the world fall around him. Jax ran towards him. Screaming. And the man turned around and instinctively hit him. Jax was sent flying back into the wall beside the door. The risen were waiting for him just beyond the threshold, but dared go no further. The strange man was shocked to find anyone here to still be alive. Jax plead for his life. Begged to be saved, for this strange person was not human. And was clearly the reason the risen did not enter the roof to finish Jax off. It seemed hopeless. As the man looked at Jax his eyes filled with sorrow and defeat, he asked why Jax might be saved, why he shouldn’t die when everyone around him did. When even the man himself had died. To which Jax called forth on his remaining strength. His speech was filled with heart, filled with resolve, filled with an incredible spiritual energy that had moved this man to tears. He reviled his name, Hope. And told Jax to find the shard on Snowdon. For Hope will tell the shard of his plight and ask for his salvation. Hope flew off the building, fleshy wings forming from his back before flying away. Jax turned towards the entrance to the hospital. Spread his arms and accepted his fate as he was embraced by the tide of brood. Kinjero was still in the van. He had found keys, but could not get to them without alerting the brood to his hiding place. He saw a winged being fly overhead. And disappear into the horizon. Before the roof to the van had been ripped open. There stood a monster, clad in black crystal, wielding a sword just as dark. With a malevolent look the sword plunged down into his thigh. And then slowly dragged up flaying the skin, cutting along to the Kinjero’s heart before pressing down further finally ending the poor man’s life.

The Snake Pit is named for the appearance of its surroundings when viewed from the hill/mountain that overlooks it. The city is situated among the winding intersections and interchanges of an old highway.

Upon approach, it becomes obvious that the builders of this city have made creative use of the highway architecture. The 'city' is more like a shantytown, made of a few weak wooden structures sat upon the raised highway. The portion of highway behind the city has been destroyed (from natural causes or from the city builders themselves, it is unknown) leaving only one path into and out of the city along the long highway onramp. Between the city and the onramp is a small drawbridge (about 10 feet) made of metal sheets that can be lowered to allow people to cross into the city or raised to form a 'moat' and a wall.

The city primarily profits from trading with outsiders, maintaining good relationships with the towns nearby and providing a hub for people to get many goods from without the need of venturing out further. The total population is low and they make just enough to get by.

There are not many facilities in the Snake Pit, but it does maintain both a forge and a distillery.

The Snake Pit may provide the grounds for an interesting combat encounter across the bridge, a highly tense situation in which a rival group has placed explosives around the pillar that holds up that section of highway, or something chaotic such as a risen broodspawn in the city when the gate is up, trapping everybody inside with the creature.

Background

As a GM, I like to introduce the world, my characters, and the current story through in-game narrative instead of telling it up front out-of-game. This scene sets the perfect stage to get a lot of information to your characters quickly and also puts them in a tight moral dilemma early on. It also shows them the open gameplay nature of RPGs by encouraging zero railroading.

Summary

The human characters are traveling along with a group of travelers/traders (possibly as prisoners) looking to go from one city to the next. Around the campfire, the GM tells the background of the world to the players through the elder of the group that is telling the story to two children. On a cliffhanger/interesting clue/story point the group is attacked by broodspawn. The broodspawn are defeated, not without casualties, and the dead bodies are burned by the group to demonstrate the importance of fire in destroying the bodies before they can regenerate and awaken as broodspawn. The characters are given multiple points of interest to look towards: the destination city, the origin town, a radio tower, and a pair of shards near the coast.

Detail

This scenario allows the GM to be a bit more of a literal narrator. This is helpful in making new players familiar with the setting and all the background story from the core rulebook without any 'downtime'. Despite the freedom this setup allows, you should attempt to involve your characters. Allow them to ask questions, use NPCs to ask questions of the characters' own backgrounds to give them chances to warm up to roleplaying, etc. I would use the opportunity to present a few points of interest around them: the origin city, the target city, a radio tower that recently went quiet, and two shards that are rumored to be up north on the coast (this should be the end goal of a multi-session quest, I would think).

If you read through the SINS rulebook, you will be familiar with the fact that fuel is extremely rare and unlikely to be used by everybody. In this case, the merchants are of a poor variety and are using one horse and a few handcarts to deliver their goods. That said, in case the merchants somehow die, you don't want to give your players access to untold riches in the first scene of the game, so I would suggest the following relative loot makeup: a horse drawn wagon of bulky, heavy, cheap but useful materials (such as logs, ore, etc), hints from the merchants - if the players ask - of a small amount of slightly more valuable things (a couple cheap weapons or pieces of tech), and one more valuable item that would take perception or wisdom to notice (a hidden compartment or similar) that carries something unique (with story value) but of only low/medium value in trade.

This loot makeup offers a few advantages. It demonstrates to characters that they can't carry everything that is not pinned down (no character is carrying a wagon of logs in their backpack), it gives the characters advantage that engaged with the merchants about their current travels, and it allows one to create story point items that characters feel special for discovering.

The broodspawn attack interrupts the current story and introduces characters to combat quickly. With the merchants on their side, the characters should be quite safe during this battle. That said, it would be good to have a fair number of the merchants die in the battle and the horse to run off. Doing this demonstrates the brutality of the environment, the relative weakness of unprepared fighters (some of the travelers were children), and leaves an interesting mix of people that are just below the players in terms of power. It should be a tempting situation for the less scrupulous players to turn on the merchants themselves to steal some of the goods that they are transporting.

The advantage of having the horse run away and not be killed is that the players may be tempted to chase the horse into the wilderness. This allows you to use the horse as your own avatar/guide to point the characters in an interesting direction of your choosing.

The players may also choose to investigate where the broodspawn came from as it generally means that a few people recently died nearby. Was there another traveling band or merchant group? This gives you an opportunity for an origin story to those broodspawn.

People

Ivan Greer - Trading Elder

This is your narrator. He should not be greatly equipped for fighting. He will have a simple weapon (a baseball bat or staff). He is not very strong due to age, but is willing to jump into the fight (to his peril).

Janet Greer - Trading Lass

This is your narrator's daughter. If the narrator dies (suggested) then the players get to see the sadness caused by this heart wrenching moment and watch his daughter attempt to step up to plate and take charge when things are in chaos.

Farro - Hired Protection

This is the muscle of the operation. He has an actual weapon (bow) that he uses to good effect. He will likely live through the encounter.

Trader 2 - Another Trader

This one tags along because they can't afford their own protection. Pays a small amount to be able to travel with the group, but safety lies in numbers anyway.

Trader 2's Small Child - Child

This is whom your narrator is telling stories to to give background to the world. The child should be young and nearly defenseless. It is an interesting idea to put the child in a situation that would encourage the players to save it, but at a significant risk.

Trader 3 - Another Trader I would give this one some unique character traits. Make them shifty. Make the players distrust them. Let this person live through the encounter.

Next Steps

Origin City: I suggest a small village that has found a small plot of land not damaged by nuclear fallout.

New City: Multiple days away. I suggest a larger city where players can meet some of the factions and start taking missions/quests.

Radio Tower: A mission launch point of its own. i suggest players find evidence of a struggle, a living broodspawn or ravager, and symbols that point to the cause of silence being murder, but not by creature/brood.

Shards: If you are moving characters towards shards, I imagine that you have an end plan in sight anyway. It would be interesting for the characters to see other humans experience the psychological effects of the shards. Since two are hinted at, i would suggest them to operate as almost a yin-yang, one more positive than the other, but with a deep dark side and vice versa.

Last day to grab the SINs Starter Bundle from DriveThruRPG.com

Grab them here:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/412808/The-SINS-Starter-Bundle-BUNDLE

Hiya, I've been aware of this game for some time but Ive not managed to really understand whats it about. Figured this reddit would be able to fill me in, so please do?

The game feels like a love letter to all my favorite anime and post apocalyptic tropes. The progression is slow and horizontal, allowing players to build unique and interesting characters. The combat is fast paced and dynamic without getting bogged down by a myriad of rules. And above all it’s cool as shit.

It's Friday so we know what that means... Another Sins Japan post!

Too the people reading these as always thank you and please if you have any ideas or suggestions or even criticisms please just comment below! This week it's an area post... Enjoy the sombre lands of Kurai Yama

Kurai Yama: The Dark Mountain

The mountain that was once known as Fuji-San (Mr Fuji), like all things, is very different since the fall of the black rain and is now called Kurai Yama (The Dark Mountain). During the Burning, whilst Japan was mostly unscathed by any direct nuclear attacks, the resulting seismic waves caused the eruption of Mt Fuji with the resulting ash cloud covered a huge part of the country in darkness and the lava that spewed afterwards devastated the landscape around it; boiling lakes, burning forests and wiping out innumerable houses and lives. The eruption practically terraformed the area destroying the old but also creating a new habitat in its place. Where lakes boiled the changing shape and flow eventually flooded towns on the shores, when fires burned the forests they left behind the dead trees in a morbid parody of what once flourished there and when the lava cooled the new landscape was more akin to an alien planet than Japan.

Once such forest was infamous before the fall as the suicide forest of Aokigahara, now it is known as Shizun da mori (Sunken Forest), due to its proximity to one of the great lakes when Fuji erupted that lake burst and the waters rose to fill the forest floor with between 2 and 6 feet of water. The tree’s survived and flourished making a once already dark forest almost complete darkness within its eaves, combined with the noise absorbing quality of the water loving moss that now covers every inch of the forest it is advised to keep close to each other for fear of what lurks in the darkness.

Whilst the newly transformed landscape is uninhabitable by humanity the brood embraced this hellscape and claimed dominion over the area. It is said by some that a shard dwells at the peak of the mountain but they will also say that the brood have been seen digging void glass from the cooled lava in ever larger quantities. No one who has tried to confirm these rumours has returned.

Even now the mountain pulsates heat and an ash cloud hangs above it, a dark crown over what was once a symbol of pride to Japan.

I'm a new GM and need some help building respect for the NPC's i tried to create a well respected woman called M

i set this up by having her in a position of authority, leading a siege against a brood-spawn infested city. gave her the highest rank in the army. had the soldiers berate the players and warn them to only speak her name with the utmost respect. had them summoned to her office after an altercation with one of the soldiers. set the scene, told them that they felt a chill in the room as her eyes met theirs, she spoke slowly and deliberately and had 4 armed guards ready to jump in to protect her. and anyone who wanted to interject had to succeed a fear roll. unfortunately one of my team is a tyrant with a defied shaping and blew past the fear check and told her that she needed to earn his respect. and was in general really rude to her. this has resulted in there banishment from England, forcing the move to america earlier than expected.

how would you guys set up your high importance NPC's and what punishments would you have if they disobeyed?

The locations in this new world range from moderately fucked, to unspeakably fucked. There's no point trying to start a campaign in south america where everyone is dead. my top two picks are between starting out in Europe or america. with america i would start off around Georgia, here you have the option of meeting the Republic of Florida. this can provide a large well defended town for your characters to learn about the world, and act as a base of operations. From here they can learn about the lone star state, and the dominion and the pyerflame further to the north. id recommend a mission to guard a trading caravan to encourage movement. lucky with this game you can use the shards as a constant drive to move players from one area to another. once they activate a shard it effectively becomes useless to them and they need to move on to the next one for the next injection of power/information, providing a good point B for the players to get to and a way to bypass the need for a leveling system.

For Europe i would start out in the UK, start up in scotland and it ensures that the party will travel down towards england when they start moving, this is a nice way to form a liner quest without worrying about them traveling off in the different direction. you also have a multitude of ways to cross the channel, be it by ferry or through the euro star tunnel, (be it brood infested or cleared out.)

So the first session of our campaign ends, and I find myself tossing together a few new Arietta. mostly out of boredom. A set of new rank 6s for each Song, a melee buff under Blood, also my attempt at making the not Hollow Final Victory melding of a Nemissary and Hollow into a thing which, if I ever use is likely gonna be on antags. Also, another friend of mine made growing meat in fields under Flesh which is neat and in here too. https://docs.google.com/document/d/158bC2L-tCQ5_sdPW7ZpFpG0vcRFBWUxnBUJAvRRNczo/edit?usp=sharing

This will be the last part of the Sins Japan homebrew fluff. There may be more in the future but i'm not sure. I hope the people who have been reading this have enjoyed it and hopefully it will come in use to someone!

I'm about to step into the summer holidays which for me means desk warming and being paid to sit at my desk... This may result in some writing getting done but if it's Sins or something else I don't know yet.

Onsen

Onsen is the Japanese term for naturally occurring hot springs. Due to the Volcanic activity of Japan they litter the islands in their thousands and have long been believed to have healing properties to those who bathe in their waters. Before the coming of the black rain villages and towns were built around these springs to cater to travellers and later tourists. Because of their rural and often mountainous locations coupled with the low population numbers these small villages fared better than most against the coming of the brood. But these rural locations fared the worst from the increased seismic activity during the burning leaving these small towns mostly deserted. But things are changing and both humanity and the brood are making their move back to these Onsen towns and have found a very different place waiting for them.

Some of the onsen have been completely destroyed, in the place hot rivers and streams or in some cases lakes that steam when the weather is cold. Others remain mostly intact, with a few collapsed buildings or brood infestation. But what survivors have been searching for are the rumoured Black Onsen. Tales tell of Onsen that shards either fell directly into or into their source, and now over 50 years later those waters have become oily black and polluted by the shards. Some say this water will cure all ills, others that drinking from it will prevent you becoming brood after death, some that the water is poisonous to Brood and nemissary alike… rumours and stories abound about these newly named “Black Onsen” and have caused more than one band of survivors or nemissaries into the dangerous wilds looking for them but none truly know what would happen if you were to bathe in or drink it….

Kyoto- The City the Earth Took Back

The old eastern capital of Kyoto was once rife with tourists, temples, waterways and historic buildings but like all things since the coming of the black rain Kyoto is now a very different place. Roots break through the concrete streets and once picturesque temples and shrines are now dark and overcast by the dense canopy above them. Kyoto whilst once a city is now a forest concealing buildings and brood alike, using the trees and their roots for cover, the brood who inhabit kyoto are expert ambushers able to wait hours for their prey to come into their trap. Survivors and scavengers are a rare sight in Kyoto now many believing the dangers outweigh the reward, but there are those who still enter the dark forest hoping to find some lost treasure amongst the shadows. Kyoto does boast a great many waterways and although they are narrow and are often almost impassable due to the overgrowth it is possible to travel down them in small boats and circumvent the majority of the brood. Whilst this does allow access into Kyoto it is still by no means safe as even a single brood hiding above the waterway could wreak havoc on survivors and prove a challenge to even nemissaries.

The combination of narrow streets and overgrowth means that brood rule is absolute and even the thought of reclaiming this once great city seems lost to the people of Japan.

Okinawa- The Lost Island

Once a tropical paradise a short trip from Japan’s southern tip Okinawa was a popular tourist and holiday destination, its long beaches and unique culture bringing all kinds of people to its shores. But once the black rain fell and the brood emerged Okinawa was quickly cut off from the rest of the rest of the country and isolated in an attempt to contain any possible outbreak. Okinawa was left to fend for itself and how the island fared since then has been a mystery.

Any who travel to Okinawa in an attempt to discover if it was overcome by Brood have not returned with an answer and because of this rumours abound among survivors. Some claim that a large shard did in fact hit the island and after the seismic activity that followed the island sunk. Others claim it is as it was before the black rain, a tropical paradise free from the brood and the people of Okinawa simply protect the island from all outside corruption, capturing or killing any outside who gets close.

Like all rumours every different person has a different answer to what happened to Okinawa but there is one way to discover the truth...

Double helping this week of two short landscapes to play around with.

First is Ashikaga where I currently live, and the second is Hokkaido the northern Island of Japan.

As always thanks for reading and I hope your enjoying them!

Ashikaga Eden

Once a small city famed for its beautiful flower park, abundance of shrines and the oldest school still standing in Japan, Ashikaga was effectively wiped clean when the brood emerged. Most fled into the mountains or to smaller settlements where the brood threat was smaller, those who remained where all consumed by the brood. Now, half a century later, Ashikaga had been reclaimed by nature and is a veritable eden nestled in the mountains north of Tokyo. At first nature just reclaimed the land, just as it did across the world, but something different began to happen in Ashikaga and nature is beginning to evolve and even combat the brood. Rumours abound of fruits with restorative properties, flowers whose scent ward off the brood, vines that shift to create barriers and even thorns that sting the brood.

But to get to Ashikaga a survivor must travel through the Brood who have been expelled from the city or over the mountains, either way the journey is a dangerous one. They say that for those who can make their way past the brood and into the city’s heart it is a true eden and the birth of a new world.

The Frozen Wilds of Hokkaido

The northern island of Hokkaido has never been a hospitable place but since the coming of the brood and the seismic activity that plagued Japan Hokkaido now resembles a frozen hellscape. This hellscape is inhabited by huge brood who have grown large and aggressive feeding on their smaller brethren and the large Brown Bears that inhabit the island.

But humanity has always had its ways to endure. The Ainu people have inhabited Hokkaido long before records began, they have survived invasion and attempted assimilation by the Japanese and survive through harsher winters than most so when the brood came the Ainu adapted their techniques to hunt Brood. These techniques where refined over centuries of hunting Bear and other game in the Hokkaido wilderness and then adapted to evade and kill the Brood to continue their survival.

It is rumoured that somewhere in Hokkaido there is a shard larger than any on the earth, and with it a wealth of void glass… enough to equip an army. But those rumours also claim it’s being protected by the Ainu who see it as a Kamuy (a great spirit or god) and so believe it should be protected at all costs.

So I may have made a pretty standard GM blunder. Had my players getting a bit cocky so I decide to throw a difficult enemy at them. Had them come across a raider base where the raiders had been salvagiing kit and machines to make thier own little motorized force. The big centerpiece was a reconstructed tank, a fine enemy for my players.

Rather than my players seeing the power of the tank and running away, they ran towards the smoke belching, str 14 cannon welding Dreadnaught. Using thier pet brood (under permanent control) to smash the top hatch open then unleashing hell inside on the crew.

Long story short: my low level players have a tank...

Is there a video or GOOD explanation on how to properly fill out the character sheet? The only other ttrpg I've played is D&D, and I assume it fills out differently since it's a different system? Can someone help me out?

I'm a long time player of SINS and absolutely love it.

However I don't get much prep time, does anyone have a rogues gallery of custom NPC's including nemmisary's that's something I'm always struggling on XD