Scum and Villainy

Scum and Villainy uses the Forged in the Dark engine, focusing on capers and consequences. You roll small pools of d6s, the GM sets position and effect, and progress clocks track goals and threats to keep the action engaging. Planning is minimal since you can flash back to prepare on the fly. Teamwork is essential, featuring assists and group actions. Your crew and ship can gain upgrades and abilities, while fallout increases tension with factions. It feels more like a fast-paced space heist show than traditional dungeon crawling.

You typically begin as a score kicks off with an engagement roll that establishes the opening. Then we navigate through bold moves, twists, and significant choices, employing flashbacks when preparation arises at just the right moment. You can push yourself or resist trouble by spending stress. After the score, downtime allows you to repair, reduce heat, work on projects, and prepare for the next opportunity. Most groups finish a complete job along with downtime in 2 to 3 hours.

Yes. The core loop is straightforward: state your action, gather a few six-sided dice based on your action rating and bonuses, and read the highest die. The GM will explain position, effect, assists, stress, and resisting as they arise. You can use pregenerated characters or create one quickly from a playbook. A brief walkthrough gets everyone rolling, and our Game Masters teach the rules as you play.

Your crew has its own sheet featuring abilities, contacts, and a shared pool of gambits for bold maneuvers. Your ship determines your focus, whether as smugglers, bounty hunters, or aspiring rebels, and gains upgrades, modules, and quirks that reflect your operational style. Jobs generate heat and affect your standing with syndicates, noble houses, and the Hegemony, ensuring that friends and foes remain. Downtime decisions influence how your crew develops and how the ship transforms.

Yes, with the tone adjusted. The game includes blasters, chases, and sci-fi crime, but a professional Game Master can keep violence non-graphic, avoid heavy themes, and focus on clever plans, humour, and teamwork. We use clear content boundaries and safety tools. Families often enjoy playful smuggling runs, rescue missions, and racing against the authorities. Older kids and teens tend to pick it up quickly because the rules prioritise storytelling and the dice mechanics are straightforward.

It works well either way. A one-shot provides a focused experience, quick character creation or pre-generated characters, and a brief downtime to reach the conclusion. A campaign allows your crew to build reputation and heat, upgrade the ship, pursue long-term projects, and engage with recurring factions and rivals. The same mechanics support both formats, so you can test a single evening before making a commitment. If you prefer a specific table atmosphere, check out GM playstyles to find a suitable match.