This year’s Zine Quest tabletop RPGs prominently feature themes of resisting fascism. Among them is Dillin Apelyan’s All’s Fair, which offers a unique perspective on fighting far-right ideology through the lens of intimacy. This two-player game reimagines the classic card game War, where one player assumes the role of The Soldier, supporting The Regime, while the other is a Clone, a victim of oppression. Gameplay involves card dueling that triggers ‘Intimate Prompts’, but matching cards shift focus back to the harsh realities of The Regime. A special rule for the Joker card introduces an additional Clone, hinting at existential questions about complicity in oppressive systems.
Published by Elliot Davis, known for the emotionally impactful The Time We Have, All’s Fair promises to provoke profound reflections on power dynamics and resilience against fascism.
Also featured in the crowdfunding initiative is Robin Ekberg’s Rise, Wizards!, a more whimsical RPG. This game transforms the act of stacking dice into a worldbuilding tool, allowing players to construct towers that represent their fantasy realms. Each new layer added to the tower generates storytelling prompts and affects the surrounding landscape. While Rise, Wizards! leans into light-heartedness and competition, it still explores themes of legacy and consequence.
For additional discussions about tabletop RPG experiences and the latest from Zine Quest, visit the Wargamer Discord.
