Bright & Terrible
A downloadable game
The Story So Far...
For ten thousand years, Atlantis ruled the Earth.
From the winged children of Black Aerie to the ophidian witches of Graven Reach to the merchant princes of Bazzan, every human bent knee to the Empire of Air and Darkness.
Ten thousand years, but no more.
Rumors spread of the Sea of Sorrows boiling and rising to drink the shining towers, or of Mount Bleak exploding in a rain of hellfire, or of an impossible tempest surrounding the isle.
Only one thing is certain: for a decade, no one has seen the indigo triremes of Atlantis, nor its bright and terrible rulers.
You are the last of your kind.
You are an Atlantean exile, wandering the newly-free world, as humans both great and petty beg for your aid or seek to make you pay for the sins of your lost people.
Will you render the justice of a bright queen, or the terror of an alien tyrant?
Bright and Terrible includes...
- Simple, evocative rules tied directly to the setting. Number matching between dice judges success, metes out consequences, and pronounces doom.
- Flashback rules that reveal the glories and tragedies of Atlantis in play.
- Twenty-seven d6 tables for generating full adventures, including conflicts, people, demons, and more.
Try the scenario generator here!
Status | Released |
Category | Physical game |
Rating | Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars (6 total ratings) |
Author | Rose on Mars |
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $10 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Development log
- New layout and improved accessibilityApr 18, 2022
- File UpdateMar 25, 2022
- Wicked & Graceful released!Mar 16, 2022
- Wicked & GracefulFeb 16, 2021
Comments
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Are there print versions for this and Wicked & Graceful at all?
I'm working on a collected edition, Bright & Terrible: The Atlantean Trilogy. It will include Bright & Terrible, Wicked & Graceful, and Majestic & Venomous.
That sounds awesome
The issue has been that the best PDF layout, landscape, wasn't designed for print and won't smoothly fit pages. I did one in an attractive but minimal layout for each, but the total pagecount wasn't enough for print.
I'm hoping that the Trilogy will hit the minimum pagecount for PoD or an offset partner. If not, there are probably some missing tables I can mix in. ;)
There's also some new stuff coming for the universe, but I don't quite know what or when.
A friend randomly started work on a solo skirmish wargame using the similar mechanics to what I'd thought of for a multi-era or mixed game.
Coincidentally, at the same time I started a larger scale RPG but don't really know what I'll do with it publication-wise.
Also a possible Villainess Romance...
Bright & Terrible is a rules-lite but evocative RPG. You are the last surviving Atlantean, journeying across the human world where you are seen almost like a god. Will you be a benevolent bright hero or a terrible tyrant?
Hello! The Priceless Treasures table seems to have been overwritten with a copy of the Puppet Rulers table. Do you have a backup?
Darn it. I'm working on a printer-friendly layout right now; I'll make sure that table's right before I post it.
Here's what it's supposed to say:
Priceless Treasures
1 A mirror which shows any person their truest self
2 A sword which knows hate from love
3 A ring which commands the spirits of all with royal blood
4 A ruby which makes anyone satisfied with their lot
5 A mask whose wearer will never be forgotten
6 A coin whose flip distinguishes truth from lies
And thanks for reporting the error!
You're welcome!
I'm a bit confused by the sword. The others are plausibly valuable enough to start a war over, with the possible exception of the ruby - which reads as targeting 'the owner' rather than 'anyone it's used on', I think because it's a valuable - but the sword seems more like a weak loyalty test, or perhaps a tool for navigating courtly intrigue, which seems ill-fitting for a sword. Perhaps you could share your thoughts on the matter?
I envisioned the sword as a sort of loyalty test, yes. If you have this sword, you definitely know how your subordinates feel about you.
The idea behind the ruby is that people go through a lot of shit if they're convinced they'll be satisfied in the end. And here's a magic stone that can guarantee you'll feel that way!
(EDIT: Although if you wanted to read it as the ruby making other people satisfied, that's still a great plot hook.)
Thanks!
Hey Rose,
I purchased the first edition on Drivethru. Will wee see updates there, or is there any way to get that purchase transferred over here or something?
The second edition will go up on DriveThru somewhat later. This is my first itch release, so I want to give it some breathing room before I put it up there.
Then, can the backers of Cavaliers of Mars expect an update as well?
I'm not currently working on a second edition of Cavaliers of Mars. My next second edition is Beautiful Anomalies 2e.
I am sorry, I should've elaborated. There was a Add-on for your mini games that was part of the kickstarter and was fulfilled through backer kit and it contains a copy of Bright and Terrible 1 ed.
Did that get fulfilled by DriveThruRPG coupons, or a download from BackerKit?
(I was sidelined with a broken leg while OPP was fulfilling that stuff, so I don't know how it was done.)