This is a blog for the Life Series TTRPG game I've been working on for the past 6 months or so.
In this game you will find adventure, peril, eldritch horror, friendship, betrayal, and (if you're doing it right) gratuitous flirting with your friends.
It's inspired by the fanon of the Life series because, let's be honest, if you wanted to play your version of 3rd Life all you need is some friends and Minecraft. With this game you can discover the "real" motivations of the Watchers, have tragic flashbacks to previous games, and roleplay having actual bird wings during a death game.
Basic rules and archetype explainations can be found here.
I'll be updating this blog with things about the game, maybe organize some game testing, and answer any questions that come up.
Let the games begin.
Character Build Progress:
*Requested names/in progress builds
**please, don't make me figure out Real Life builds. Please, I get so motion sick watching it, lol.
This guy is experiencing the horrors of cottage core!
Explanations and breakdowns under the cut
@littlevandalist behold! Secret Life Scar!
This archetype was pretty straightforward because of all the influence the Secret Keeper (watchers?) had on Scar and his narrative in Secret Life.
For his level up I was tempted to give him extra grift instead of multi classing him, but for all his plans and schemes this season had less emphasis on his social skills.
Moves
Whispers and Secrets: This is a secret task given by the watchers, appropriate for a Secret Life build, lol. Because of this I imagine that Scar is not very aware of the watchers and that this task is a secret kept from him as well, until he figures out that all his secret keeper tasks were related to him becoming the villain of the server.
Bend the Narrative: Scar has a special way of defying the odds in the life series. It's almost... supernatural.
Cornered Animal: Scar is a much better pvper than you would expect. I am forever surprised on how long he survived during the Boogiepocolypse.
This guy is experiencing the horrors of cottage core!
Explanations and breakdowns under the cut
@littlevandalist behold! Secret Life Scar!
This archetype was pretty straightforward because of all the influence the Secret Keeper (watchers?) had on Scar and his narrative in Secret Life.
For his level up I was tempted to give him extra grift instead of multi classing him, but for all his plans and schemes this season had less emphasis on his social skills.
Moves
Whispers and Secrets: This is a secret task given by the watchers, appropriate for a Secret Life build, lol. Because of this I imagine that Scar is not very aware of the watchers and that this task is a secret kept from him as well, until he figures out that all his secret keeper tasks were related to him becoming the villain of the server.
Bend the Narrative: Scar has a special way of defying the odds in the life series. It's almost... supernatural.
Cornered Animal: Scar is a much better pvper than you would expect. I am forever surprised on how long he survived during the Boogiepocolypse.
Such a cool cool concept! Would love more information about each archetype and what characters belong where, and if requests are open to get third life scar typed because it’s a classic :)
Thank you! This is so much fun to get stuff finally out here.
I just wrote a basic explaination of the rules and archetypes here that explains the basic premise of the archetypes and some of their abilities!
While I haven't sorted everyone out with their archetypes here is my temporary brainstorming chart.
Can you tell Last Life is my favorite season?
I haven't watched all the povs (my mains are Scott, Grian, Tango, and Martyn) so I want to watch some episodes of each person before I really nail down who goes where.
Some people are also a mix! Like Double Life Pearl being both Deranged and Lonesome.
I will say the biggest misconceptions so far have been with Lonesome and Loyal.
Most characters express some amount of loyalty throughout the series. The Loyal archetype is specifically the flavor of codependent, 'give my life and everything I am to you' type of loyalty.
It's Joel yelling at Jimmy to kill him so Jimmy can live an extra half hour in Limited Life. It's Martren desperatly holding onto what could have been. It's Scott breaking apart in grief when his husband dies. It's Jimmy burning the Dogwarts banner at even the smallest hint Scott's life could be in danger.
The Lonesome are character who are alone. They are lone wolves and rogue agents. But they are also characters who could have been The Loyal, if only they had someone to be loyal to. If only they hadn't been abondoned by everyone around them. They are defined by their loneliness and their solitude, by absense.
This more than anything else is why Pearl is The Lonesome, because she can be incredibly loyal. It's a tragedy when she can't be.
Help, I have too many feelings about block people.
If you have questions about specifc archetypes, feel free to ask! I've been thinking about this game since April, so I just might have thoughts on whatever you're curious about.
Welcome welcome! Here are the basic rules of the game and explainations of the archetypes!
Basic Premise:
RPG Life is based on the Powered by Apocolypse system (specifically I've referenced Monster of the Week, the original Powered by Apocolypse, and Simple World).
It's a system that emphasises roleplay and simplicity. All you need is the basic rules, character sheet, and two, six sided die to play.
You roll the two dice, add them and any relevant stat together. 2-6 is a fail, 7-9 is a mixed success, while 10+ is a success.
Preferable you need 3-5 people to play like most ttrpgs. One player becomes the Game Master (or Watcher in our case) and plays as the world, NPCs, and the in game watchers. The rest of the players create characters with an archetype and an optional hybridization.
Archetypes:
There are (currently) 9 archetypes you can play as in RPG Life. Each one is based on a specific playstyle from the Life Series and popular fanon. In contrast to the Hermitcraft TCG, archetypes are based on how players interact with each other and the world around them rather specifc skills like redstone or building.
The archetypes focus on specific seasons rather than players as a whole.
For example, Grian could be The Loyal in 3rd life, The General in Last Life, The Survivalist in Double Life, The Trapper in Limited Life and so on.
Each archetype has stats and moves (or special abilities) that build your character, much like a class in Dungeons and Dragons. As you level up you can upgrade stats, get more moves from your archetype or a different one.
The Hustler
“I’m gonna need your pants”
What’s better than making deals? Nothing. Hustlers play this death game like they were born to, walking around groups of enemies without a care in the world and leaving with the clothes off their backs. They guide unsuspecting players into contests that lead to their deaths or smooth talk to safety. No matter what, the Hustler knows how to play people like a fiddle and they’ll do it to achieve their goals.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Scar, Martyn, Tango, and Impulse
This archetype gets options like creating a signature hustle, talking your way out of bad situations, pretending to have better gear than you do, and having a keen eye to read people.
The General
“Me hand, I’m gonna ask ye for the first part of tonight’s test to do a terrible, terrible thing”
Power. That’s what people flock to when the chips are down. Generals lead a group of people to victory through reputation, a silver tongue, or pure strength. They gather in larger groups and delegate tasks to make sure things get done. They have responsibility to bolster their troops, keep order, and maybe sacrifice themself or others for the greater good.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Ren, Gem, Skizz, and Grian
This archetype gets options like becoming stronger the more sanity you lose, building alliances faster and stronger, giving inspiring speeches for your allies, and stronger fighting when you're with your allies.
The Perceived
“You told me if I did everything you said, that there would be a place for us in the end.”
Something is watching. The Perceived have the unwelcome honor of having the watchers’ eyes on them constantly. They never lose the feeling that something is watching them just out of sight. Perceived players get a few consolation prizes from this attention, they understand the mechanics of the game more than the average player, and the watchers have left gifts of power that come at high costs.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Martyn, Grian, and Scar
This archetype gives you a secret task given to you by the watchers, whether you are aware of it or not. Then, you have options like a sense of the supernatural, the ability to change dice rolls to affect the narrative, and stonger connection to the watchers.
The Loyal
“I know what’s gonna happen here. You’re gonna end up on the altar. I’m gonna be looking you in the eyes and they’re gonna sacrifice you. And I don’t want that, alright?”
Death is better than winning without them. The Loyal gains strength from helping their close knit group and will do anything to help them. They use this strength of conviction to overcome impossible obstacles, hold true to their sanity, and maybe even find small bits of joy in the games.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Scott, Cleo, Skizz, and Etho
This archetype starts with a person you are loyal to above all else. Then you get options like the ability sacrifice yourself for your person, a way to harness memories of past lives to change the present, and a way to get back sanity points.
The Lonesome
“How did the guy with no friends win?”
Lone wolves are such a tragedy. In a game of loyalties and alliances, it’s only natural some would reject the status quo, or fall through the cracks. Lone wolves may have a variety of opinions about their situation, but they’ll make the most of it regardless. They will fight tooth and nail to get what they want, whether it’s victory or revenge, and bless the soul that tries to stop them.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Joel, Scar, and Martyn
This archetype gets options like, fighting better when you're outnumbered, a better way to get secrets out of people to start rumors and gossip, better resource gathering, and a way to get information about the watchers.
The Deranged
“Call the dogs of war!”
The line between genius and insanity is a jump rope. The taste of blood sings to the Deranged longer before they're red. They can smell fear and hunt it. They call this death match a game for a reason and The Deranged revel in its chaos regardless of who might get in their way.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Joel, Pearl, BigB, Martyn
This archetype get stronger the more insanity points you lose and something that is keeping you sane. You can sacrifice sanity points to save the thing you care about, like an ally, pet, or base, but doing so pushes you further and further off the edge. You also get options like improved fighting, intimidating presence, and an ability to remove sanity points from other people.
The Brawler
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Punching people is stress relief. Brawlers are skilled in PvP and they know it. This is what they were built to do and others fear them for it. This takes not only physical strength, but strategy, and a reputation. That is what sets Brawlers apart from the rest.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Gem, Martyn, and Joel
This archetype gets a signature weapon with special abilities. You also get options like doing extra damage and learning the weaknesses of other characters.
The Trapper
“I’m just gonna go big with this idea. You can laugh it off if you want to, but…what about ghast farms?”
Ah, I see you have fallen right into my trap. The Trapper is a commodity in the Life Games. These people use their technical skills and analytical thinking to create contraptions that make life easier for their allies and harder for everyone else.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Mumbo, Etho, Joel, and Grian
This archetype gets options like a signature trap, a way to get back sanity, better ways to investigate, and more resources.
The Survivalist
"I just wish you were better at this game"
The only goal is to survive the day, and then the next, and then the next. Survivalists will lie, plot, run, hide, anything to live for another day. They are the cockroaches of the Life Series.
Life Series Characters that fit this role: Etho, Scott, Impulse
This archetype gets options like better healing, more inventory, better fighting against mobs and bosses, and an ambush attack.
Stats
There are 5 stats in RPG Life. Each stat is related to 1-2 basic moves that anyone can do and ranges from -1 to +3 max.
Grift: Charisma baby! This is the skill of understanding other people and getting them to do what you want.
Power: Strength and fighting prowess. Beat people up and gathering resources.
Cunning: Intelligent for those of you who are technically minded! This includes powers of observation and creativity building contraptions.
Escape: This stat represents your ability to act in tough situations and hide/get away from dangerous forces.
Weird: This is your connection to the watchers and ability to create magic like potions and enchantments.
Hybridization
This is an optional rule to make your own hybrid to play as. Mix and match a strength and a weakness depending on what type of hybrid you are.
For example
Avian Hybrid
Strength: Flock/Herd instincts
You build a nest/den in your base instead of a bed. When you nest together with a close ally (2+ alliance points) you both gain 1 sanity back.
Weakness: Sensory Overload
You are more sensitive to sound, light, touch, or smell. When in tense situations you must act under pressure to stay present and make moves.
This makes it so you can create hybrids that aren't as common or aren't categorized easily. You can start as a hybrid, become corrupted into one as you lose lives, or switch hybridization depending on the story you're telling and how much fun you're having.
Health and Healing
You have two health bars in this game! Health/hearts and sanity.
You have seven hearts of health each life. Once you get down to three hearts you're wounds are too great and start affecting your rolls until you heal. Taking 4+ damage in one hit also knocks takes one sanity.
You have six sanity as well. You can lose sanity a couple of different ways like losing a close ally, failing an enchanting roll, or dying. The more allies you have the less likely you are to lose sanity, so build relationships to stay stable.
This is to reflect the way some players in the series get bloodthirsty once they hit red, while others stay fairly level-headed.
There are very few ways to regain sanity, so be careful.
For the life series ttrpg I'm making I've made eight archetypes or classes for characters, based on the different members. Obviously the next step was making a uquiz for it. lol.
Mans is so special I had to make a whole new archetype for him.
Explanations and breakdowns under the cut.
ask and ye shall recieve, beloved mutual
(Secret Life Scar and a 3rd or Double life Tango are on the list)
I joke about The Survivalist archetype being made specifically for Tango, but he is the last push for it. This new archetype is the only one not in the uquiz! Let me know if you want me to add it in.
This archetype is all about being a cockroach. They'll lie, plot, run, hide, anything to live for another day. This includes characters like Etho, Tango (obviously), and Scott.
The Moves
All three are Survivalist moves!
It's Not Paranoaia If... is in reference to zoomy Tango this season! It's having an eye on your surroundings and carefully tracking dangers. He had some fun chases as the last of his color and has earned this skill.
Survival of the Fittest: Skizz go splat. Skizz's trivia bot go brrr. Tango was absolutly unhinged and out for blood. He didn't focus on direct kills, but sneaky shots and underhanded tricks.
Healification: Even more cockroach energy. Half the server hated him and he just kept bouncing back.
Stats
Grift: The only grift and charisma this mine relied on was the power of annoyance. 10/10, no notes.
Power: This man cries when he has to swing a sword. Let him use wind charges, please.
Cunning: Hear me out, the bridge trap might have failed so hard it disqualified him from the Trapper archetype, but he did have some good ideas and generally pulled off some highjinks.
Escape: Zoomies. no notes.
Weird: Not very in touch with the watchers, but just enough to be weird about it.
Hybrid
While I could have gone with a breeze hybrid as was popular with this season, I went with the classic and then picked the traits that show up the most in fanfiction. Voila.
(Wording is simplified from actual rules since they are still being fine tuned.)
Explanations and breakdowns under the cut.
The people have spoken.
Interestingly enough, Pearl was very controversial in the uquiz tags. She's down as an example for Deranged and Brawler because of 5am Pearl and her pvp skills in the quiz, however she spans a bunch of different archetypes of the seasons. Last, Limited, and Secret Life show off her incredible loyalty for example!
This ttrpg is based on the Powered By the Apocolypse system which means each class has specific stats and extra actions or "moves" that represent an archetype or play style.
The Moves
Succumb to Madness and Hanging by a Thread are moves from The Deranged archetype.
Succumb to Madness represents her 5am Pearl nature while Hanging by a Thread represents her special bond with Tilly!
Cornered Animal is a Lonesome move, which can be unlocked from leveling up.
Mechanically it's inspired by her showdown in the finale. Being able to take down multiple opponents is a huge part of her Double Life win and deserves a reference here.
Stats
Of course Pearl has the strongest base strength you can get, have you seen her fight?
Additionally, she has great cunning as seen in her base design. Her tower was the most defensable base the entire season. (And one of the prettiest to boot).
Her grift is not in reference to her gift of gab, but her strength of charisma. Acting as a spy during the Council of Reds? "Something Wicked This Way Comes?" Girl has got pazzaz and strikes the fear into the hearts of yellows and reds alike.
Because of her strong presence in Double Life, her ability to run and hide (her escape skill) wasn't as character defining and gets a lower stat.
Pearl is plenty weird, don't get me wrong, but weird here represents magic or connection to the Watchers, which isn't particularly strong this season. Sure, the Watchers could have been using her, but was she aware of it? Depends on your personal headcannons.
Moth Hybrid?
For these stat blocks I'm going to be choosing whichever hybrid headcannon seems to be the most common in the fandom. I might switch it up If I do multiple stat blocks for the same person.
As a moth hybrid, Pearl can use her wings to negate fall damage! This could be why she felt safe enough to play "fishing rods" with Grian.
Dietary resctrictions are inspired by the origins mod and make it more difficult to find food she can eat.
You've made it this far, who do you want to see next?
For the life series ttrpg I'm making I've made eight archetypes or classes for characters, based on the different members. Obviously the next step was making a uquiz for it. lol.
