za3k > games > loot boxes v1.1

A short storytelling game for 2-4 players, best with 2. Play as long as you want, 10-30 minutes. It's a good time to kill time on a long drive.

written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance

Rules

• Each player describes their character in one or two sentences. You can have a goal or not.
• You always have an inventory of exactly three items. Pick any three items to start. Don't think about them much.
• One player starts out as GM.
• The GM tags a player. They describes a challenging situation. For example the player's driver's license has expired but they need to get to the airport to pick up Rhianna.
• The player describes how they solve the challenge using an item in their inventory. For example, they use their Grouch Marx disguise to blend in with the orcish army.
• The player always loses the item they used to solve the challenge--all items are one-use only.
• When a player beats the challenge, the GM rewards them with a loot item. Items can be totally random, or can relate to the challenge.
• After the player beats the challenge, they become the GM. They tag a new solver, and issues that player the next challenge.
• When it's getting boring, you stop getting new items--just use up your existing ones and end the game.
• Variant: You can have the same GM for every challenge and loot reward, rather than rotating.
• Variant: After the GM describes the challenge, one of the players can volunteer to solve it, rather than being tagged to solve it.
• Variant: When you succeed at a challenge, get two items, not one. Players start with only one item.
• Variant: Start with 5 items. Whenever you finish a challenge, throw an extra item you dislike out (each challenge you gain 1 item and lose 2). When you're out of items, the game is over.

Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Fenn for comments on No, this cannot be and Cards Against Humanity
• Thanks to Richard for the first playtest.