Titmouse's Premiere Board Game Originated as a Boozy Gag
Titmouse Animation Studios may be most recognized for developing successful Critical Role animated series such as The Legend of Vox Machina and Mighty Nein, however after a highly triumphant crowdfunding effort late last year, the studio's premiere tabletop game arrives on Nov. 28.
Drunkards, Druggies, & Delinquents is billed as a “mind-altering fantasy drinking roleplay” for players of all experience and intoxication degrees. Imagine a simplified edition of the classic RPG where in place of HP, you forfeit “sips” or “drags” every time you take damage. (However the creators have stated participants are welcome to use any alternative from pushups to spicy food or candy as a replacement — anything that causes you to take some kind of generally safe physical “harm.”)
The most amusing aspect about this rowdy new game, though, is that it originally began as a joke.
“Each year we create a weird client gift, a unique item that we deliver to every partner,” Titmouse founder and CEO Chris Prynoski explained during a video call. “In the past, I aimed to make a game master screen.”
Oakland-based artist SKINNER, who focuses on “trippy artwork,” developed the bright illustrations for the shield. But the founder said they needed the inside of the shield to display content. Therefore he recruited the studio's creative head Alexei Bochenek to throw together content meant to appear “extremely wordy and technical” as if the D&D co-creator had written a drinking game in the manner of AD&D.
“I didn't anticipate someone to use it,” the CEO confessed. “I just thought it would be a entertaining novelty item. However a group of players played it and recommended we could develop this.”
The founder explained it was Luke Gygax, Gary Gygax’s son, who ultimately encouraged the Titmouse team to crowdfund a more developed iteration of the project.
Following the start on the crowdfunding platform last November, Drunkards, Druggies, & Delinquents was totally financed in just two hours, ultimately smashing through stretch goals to raise a sum of $over 100k. (Regrettably, that left it $17,000 below activating the Vintner character.) This title has 12 classes inspired by ale, liquor, or marijuana — including the Beerbarian, Whiskey Wizard, Druid of the Flower. In addition to standard skills, the majority have familiar mechanics you see in boozy activities. The Pontificator must continuously execute a speech every game moment in minute particulars, and if they pause, they must drink.
There are pre-generated character cards players can utilize outlining how each hero has base stats, dual actions (a blend of melee and spells), a Distinct Power, and a Individual Characteristic. However you can additionally mix and match with these elements to design a fully unique persona. Expendable gear and gear additionally adjust different approaches, like the Bongwater Staff that forces any foes it hits to suffer increased injury for a single turn.
“It isn't designed for the heavy narrative,” Prynoski said. “The fighting rules is fundamentally a meat grinder, so it’s designed for character roleplay and fighting.”
The whole game system is focused on utilizing a one twelve-sided die provided in all versions of the title (that can additionally be employed on a set of charts to create the atmosphere). During each turn, the present Leader uses that die. According to the role, they choose a creature card from a limited selection (19 monsters in total) to put on the playing field. Might it be the playful Weed Monarch that returns spell damage? Or maybe the monstrous Brute that causes all opponents add a d12 for strikes?
Every creature assaults as instructed by the present GM, followed by all gamers.
“The biggest difference among this title and traditional TTRPGs is that there isn't a single game master,” the founder said, stating that like a traditional board game, the duty shifts between participants with each leader running the monsters for the turn. To Prynoski, this is a key aspect that make it easy to new players.
Assault checks are compared to a gamer or monster’s armor: Should the Hangover Mummy attempts an assault and rolls an 11 with the 2d12+4, it does not deal any damage versus a Beerbarian’s twelve defense. But when it performs that same attack versus a Booze Mage with six defense, the {player|gamer|participant