Content Warning: R-level violence, disturbing unchildlike behavior.

The tungcrete towers rise like black gravestones against the scorching sky.

Lily’s weapinserts whir as the saw-blades catch up to speed.

“Straight and deep around the face-plate. You don’t want to damage the nerve links.” 

 I scan the surroundings. Crowds on Lania don’t stick around once shooting starts.

The Game

Carnifex is phase one of a larger Breathless military sci-fi game,  focusing on the core game mechanics and standard-style play. Set in  a corner of the universe turned into a world-spanning refugee camp after the last war, the players take on the role of Reapers: cybernetically augmented bounty hunters built from milsurp supersoldier components.

Iterating on the Breathless system, Carnifex has a slightly more complicated dice mechanic, relying on Difficulty and Stress rather than fixed roll outcomes. By adding bonuses from gear to a pool of points gained from roll results, characters can bid for the results they want by minimizing their risk or maximizing their outcomes.

It's still light and fast enough for pick-up-and-play games.

System: Breathless

Type: Stand-alone game

Genre: Action-adventure

Mechanics: Single die roll using d4, d6, d8, d10, d12; possible extra dice.

Intended Players: 3-5 players

Supplies needed: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, character sheets.

Setup time:  5-15 minutes

Session time: 3-4 hours

License: CC-BY 4.0

Included Bonuses: Character sheet.

Last Updated: May 20, 2022