The Village Secret

A fantasy tabletop roleplaying game where you play indomitable villagers protecting a secret and the relentless interlopers trying to expose it

In a pre-industrial time when magic and mysteries abound, a community of people live in an unusual village. Perhaps it is haunted, underground or at the edge of the world. In addition to being unusual, this village has a secret that nobody from the outside world knows. Maybe that is why the Interlopers have come. This is not the first time interlopers have disturbed the harmony of this place, but it could be the last time.

Featuring:

• A collaborative method for making your own village, characters and secret.
  
• A versatile system for creating heroes, villains, companions, monsters, spirits or whatever suits your setting.
• The Sea Monster's Egg, a ready-to-play setting where an expedition from Temple City threatens to expose the secret of the island of T'Pali.
• Extensive handouts that let you spend more time telling stories, less time looking things up.
• Over 50 secret techniques and fantastic capabilities to bring your character concepts to life.
• Guidance for how to enjoy playing characters on both sides.

Will you expose the secret, protect it, or find another way?

Story

This game invites you to tell a story about a few remarkable people (Villagers) who protect their home from a disruptive group of outsiders (Interlopers). The players create the Villagers and the Interlopers, all of whom have secret techniques or remarkable capabilities. One player takes the role of the game moderator (GM). Players may switch back and forth between their characters as desired, as long as no one plays an Interloper and a Villager simultaneously.

The story begins with the Interlopers disturbing the community, develops as the Interlopers get closer to uncovering the secret, and ends when the Interlopers are no longer a threat. There are many ways the story can end, ranging from defeating the Interlopers in a decisive conflict to joining them.

Setting

A setting and pre-generated characters are included with the game. However, the best way to play is to make your own setting, characters and secrets. The rules include a stepwise process for doing this. Frame the plot you want to play out with the antagonists you want to engage - or portray. Play in any time period from neolithic to early modern.

Many other fantasy games are based on a version of the “hero’s journey” myth. The protagonists start in their comfortable home, answer a call to adventure, journey to a strange place, prevail against the antagonists and then return to the comfort of home. This game invites you to twist the hero’s journey myth into something different. The antagonists make the journey. The protagonists’ comfortable home is a strange place. If they want to preserve their home, they must prevail against the antagonists. Anything can happen once the story gets going, but moving away from the classic hero’s journey opens the door to new stories and creative twists.

Rules

Curious about the rules? Check out the game materials, which include the Abridged Rules, Setting Creation Sheets and a variety of Reference Sheets. Also, brief reminders of key rules are printed right on the character sheet. Download them and have a look!

Printed Version

This game is now available in paperback through Indie Press Revolution. Or, if you're in the Bay Area, look for it at It's Your Move and Games of Berkeley!

Credits:

Created and designed by Alan Hodges
Layout by Casandra Johns
Cover art and character sheet by Joze Grosel
Interior art Adobe Stock

Contact Information:

You  may email us at The-Village-Secret@pm.me with requests or inquiries.