"Swear an oath. Face the impossible. Pay the price."
Looking for players interested in trying out Ironsworn and/or Ironsworn: Starforged in a cooperative Play-by-Post experience!
This will be a GM-light collaborative storytelling game, where the players build the world together, make difficult choices, and discover the story as it unfolds. No traditional dungeon master required — the system uses narrative mechanics, progress tracks, oracle tables, and player-driven storytelling to create adventures dynamically.
Depending on player preference, the setting can be:
- Ironsworn — gritty low fantasy survival, harsh wilderness, vows, iron-age inspired settlements, monsters, raiders, ancient mysteries.
- Starforged — sci-fi exploration inspired by Mass Effect, Firefly, Cowboy Bebop, Alien, and space westerns. Explore dangerous sectors, forge bonds, hunt bounties, uncover anomalies, and survive the Forge.
This game is beginner-friendly, especially for people curious about:
- Solo/co-op RPGs
- Narrative-first systems
- Roleplay-heavy games
- Sandbox storytelling
- GM-less games
No experience with either system required.
WHAT IS IRONSWORN / STARFORGED?
Ironsworn and Starforged are narrative tabletop RPGs created by Shawn Tomkin. Instead of focusing heavily on tactical combat grids and strict encounter balancing, the games focus on:
- Character-driven stories
- Narrative consequences
- Momentum and risk management
- Collaborative worldbuilding
- Fiction-first gameplay
Core Mechanics (Simplified)
Most actions use:
- 1 Action Die (d6) + a relevant stat
vs
Results are:
- Strong Hit → You beat both die. You succeed well.
- Weak Hit → You beat one die. You succeed, but with a cost/complication.
- Miss → You beat no die. Things go badly.
The game heavily embraces:
- Fail-forward storytelling
- Meaningful consequences
- Character vows and goals
- Exploration and discovery
- Emergent storytelling
Combat is dangerous, journeys are uncertain, and even success usually comes at a price.
RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Mode: Cooperative GM-less Play
Platform: Discord PBP
Experience Required: None
Posting Style: As long as it's not a one-liner
Character Creation: Guided during Session 0
Homebrew: Possible depending on group interest
Tone: Flexible (gritty, hopeful, cozy, tragic, adventurous, etc.)
Important Notes
- We will collectively decide the setting truths/world details together.
- Rules are relatively light and easy to learn.
- Heavy focus on collaborative storytelling.
- Players are expected to help move scenes forward.
- Dice rolling can be done using Discord bots.
EXPECTATIONS
Combat: Medium
Roleplay: High
Exploration: High
Sandbox Freedom: High
Preparation Required: Low
Themes
- Survival
- Exploration
- Discovery
- Found Family
- Dangerous Journeys
- Oaths and Promises
- Cosmic Mystery (Starforged)
- Ancient Secrets
- Hope in Harsh Worlds
Potential optional vibes:
- Cozy settlement building
- Space western
- Horror
- Political intrigue
- Monster hunting
- Frontier survival
SCHEDULE AND LOCATION
Location: Discord
Timezone: GMT+8 preferred but open internationally
Expected Activity: At least 1 meaningful post every 1-3 days
PLAYER PRIORITY
Beginner-friendly
3-4 slots available
Players who enjoy:
- collaborative storytelling
- character development
- improvisation
- narrative consequences
- journaling/RP-heavy games
…will probably enjoy this system the most.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Official resources:
- Ironsworn is completely FREE. Starforged isn't but I'm willing to share the rulebook through google drive.
- Character sheets and reference materials will be provided.
- I can teach the system as we play.
If interested, feel free to message me with:
- Your RPG experience
- Whether you prefer fantasy or sci-fi
- The kinds of stories/themes you enjoy