Anyone have thoughts on a game that would do Attack on Titan well?

Anyone have thoughts on a game that would do Attack on Titan well?

Anyone have thoughts on a game that would do Attack on Titan well?

For those unfamiliar with AoT, it is a manga/anime series following a group of soldiers who attempt to protect the last remnants of humanity by keeping them behind great walls that keep the titans out. Titans are largely mindless humanoids of gigantic proportions who seek to eat humans. The titans can only be killed in a very specific way (slicing deep in the back of the neck), so humanity has developed devices that allow users to fire spikes on lines to attach to objects and maneuver through the air to slice at the back of the titans’ necks. The story has a sense of mystery about how the world became like this, and * minor spoilers* it is revealed that certain humans have the ability to turn into titans. The story has frequent character death as well.

Thoughts on a game that might do this well, or does this game need to be written, or does this type of story not translate well to tabletop games?

18 thoughts on “Anyone have thoughts on a game that would do Attack on Titan well?”

  1. I think it might be important to identify specifically what you want from this story in a gamified setting. So is it the thrill of the players taking down a giant in tactical combat with a “life phase” in between (like how a lot of mega dungeons are run). Or is it more of exploring the relationships, intrigue, “slice of life” aspect with Titans as more of a catastrophic event that mixes all these elements up?

  2. I think it might be important to identify specifically what you want from this story in a gamified setting. So is it the thrill of the players taking down a giant in tactical combat with a “life phase” in between (like how a lot of mega dungeons are run). Or is it more of exploring the relationships, intrigue, “slice of life” aspect with Titans as more of a catastrophic event that mixes all these elements up?

  7. I’d sincerely argue The Ward: Acute Care Edition would do it very very well. It gets at the heart of the story’s very human element of relationships, competition, hierarchy, and intrigues, in the midst of an extremely high stakes profession. Just replace the medical specialties with titan-fighting/jet-gear flying skills and swap the playbook names with Support (Nurse), Rookie (Intern), Veteran (Resident), and Specialist can stay. Use the special edition Orderly playbook for PCs who can turn into titans.

    Do it. It’d be awesome. And let me play. Gosh, I want to run this game now.

  8. I’d sincerely argue The Ward: Acute Care Edition would do it very very well. It gets at the heart of the story’s very human element of relationships, competition, hierarchy, and intrigues, in the midst of an extremely high stakes profession. Just replace the medical specialties with titan-fighting/jet-gear flying skills and swap the playbook names with Support (Nurse), Rookie (Intern), Veteran (Resident), and Specialist can stay. Use the special edition Orderly playbook for PCs who can turn into titans.

    Do it. It’d be awesome. And let me play. Gosh, I want to run this game now.

  9. Alternatively, Band of Blades could do well at the strategic survival and tactics elements for a larger scope, longer term campaign. Just reskin some of the lore and gear, highlight 3D movement in narrative positioning, and you’re good to go.

  10. Alternatively, Band of Blades could do well at the strategic survival and tactics elements for a larger scope, longer term campaign. Just reskin some of the lore and gear, highlight 3D movement in narrative positioning, and you’re good to go.

  15. I think having Night Witches perhaps. It’s tough to do this justice because the game is so much about sexism, but it also does a really good job of patriotism vs a government that is mildly against you. I think if you hit more to the classism of Attack on Titan it’ll help unify the games and show’s tones.

    Edit: Of course this won’t do a great job of handling the titan transformation plots, but personally I’ve never really liked playing a game based on a series where the characters do the same thing. Honestly, there’s a lot of cool emotional territory to explore just being a scout.

  16. I think having Night Witches perhaps. It’s tough to do this justice because the game is so much about sexism, but it also does a really good job of patriotism vs a government that is mildly against you. I think if you hit more to the classism of Attack on Titan it’ll help unify the games and show’s tones.

    Edit: Of course this won’t do a great job of handling the titan transformation plots, but personally I’ve never really liked playing a game based on a series where the characters do the same thing. Honestly, there’s a lot of cool emotional territory to explore just being a scout.

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