“Gritty early 1990s roleplaying at its finest, complete with themes and story elements taken directly from the 1989 Faith No More album of the same name.”
The Real Thing: A Faith No More Role Playing Game
Taking inspiration from Faith No More‘s third album of the same name, The Real Thing is a tabletop RPG based on the band as led by Mike Patton. The cover art seems to have direct influence from the music video for “Epic” and the themes are also said to be inspired by the album. This release is the first of a series of five books which will each be based on one Faith No More album.
The game is built on the Powered by the Apocalypse system but uses a new mechanic called “discovery” which allows players to “quickly create a character concept, then expand upon that character as the story unfolds.” Gameplay is said to be inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade, Anne Rice Novels, gritty 90’s culture, and the goth-industrial lifestyle of that time.
RPG Based on Faith No More
You may wonder, as I did, what sort of game could be based on a band’s album? Publisher Accidental Cyclops states that The Real Thing RPG took a few themes directly from Faith No More’s 1989 album. Creators Jason Ward and Jason Peercy explain,”It was groundbreaking at the time, and remains one of the best albums ever created, in our humble opinions. More to the point, however, is the fact that many of the songs revolve around similar themes and ideas, making it a perfect album around which to craft a concept RPG.” They explain that The Real Thing A Faith No More Role Playing Game takes a few themes directly from Faith No More’s work:
What is true? The story begins with questions, mysteries, and intrigue. The players make their way through the story with a combination of curiosity, confusion, and resilience, and in the end, they learn the truth about a whole lot of things.
Who are we, really? Throughout the game, players will be crafting stories about their characters and learning more about who they have been, using a custom mechanism called “Discovery.” They simultaneously get to remember and become who they are.
Maybe it ain’t all bad. Most of the story involves uncovering personal fiction, many of which are dark and disheartening. These characters got where they are because of bad luck, bad choices, and social ills, after all. That said, at the bottom of the downward spiral there is an opportunity to realize that there is hope and light.
Faith No More RPG Available Now
The Real Thing: A Faith No More Role Playing Game is available now from Accidental Cyclops and Exalted Funeral. The book is available in print and PDF formats. You can also buy a sticker or a set of beautiful custom dice to go with your game.
