Alas for the Awful Sea is a story focused roleplaying game set in a a grim world of suspicion, sadness, and desperation.

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Dive into the world of
Alas for the Awful Sea

Unnatural storms and terrifying waves forced your ship to shore. Now you’re stuck here, in this dirt poor town, drenched in the smell of cheap whiskey and rotten fish.

As poverty and politics consume the town, and folklore tales come to life, you will face harsh realities and even harsher choices.

You and your crew must make deals, find answers, and pick sides. But believe me, you won’t all pick the same one…

Alas for the Awful Sea

Alas for the Awful Sea PDF

$27.50

What will you do when
the sea itself turns against you?

Alas for the Awful Sea explores the bitter dilemmas facing starving towns torn apart by crime and loss. To tell this story, it delves into the fantastical, weaving in folktale elements that mirror the beliefs and struggles of the town.

Based on the rich myth of the Scottish Hebrides, this folklore springs forth from the same desolate coastal landscapes that dominate the atmosphere of the game.

The PbtA System

The rules of Alas have their origin in the award-winning Apocalypse World system. However, we have modified and stripped these rules down to their core to create a raw, narrative focused and unforgiving system almost as harsh as the world of Alas itself.

In Alas, players influence the world by making moves, either from the core rules, or individual character playbooks. Every move is significant. Success gets the player what they want, while failure will turn the characters, environment, and forces of myth, against them.

“It’s that awful sea. It takes what it likes and it don’t give nothing back.”

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Alas for the Awful Sea Play Materials

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