While many tabletop RPG players find comfort in traditional and familiar game systems like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder, there’s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered.
One of the most influential TTRPG frameworks to emerge in the past decade is “Powered by the Apocalypse” (PbtA), a fresh take on the gameplay philosophy that has spawned dozens of award-winning and top-rated games.
Compelling narratives mixed with fun gameplay are why you’ve likely seen PbtA played on more than a few of the top play podcasts. But what is it about Powered by the Apocalypse that’s made the system so intriguing?
Let’s take a look at the PbtA game system and how you can find your next favorite game on DriveThruRPG!
Check out top PbtA titles and much more online with DriveThruRPG – the web’s top destination for TTRPG resources!
What is Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA)?
Originally released with the 2010 game Apocalypse World, Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) is a TTRPG design framework created by Meguey and Vincent Baker.
The system focuses heavily on storytelling and GM-driven play, and the PbtA system has caught on quickly. In the past 15 years, PbtA has inspired hundreds of other indie RPGs – including Monster of the Week, Dungeon World, Masks: A New Generation, and Avatar Legends.
What Are The Key Mechanics of PbtA?
The 2d6 Core Mechanic
At its heart, PbtA uses a pretty simple resolution system that keeps gameplay focused on the story and the characters (rather than complex numbers and tracking).
When your PbtA character attempts something risky, you’ll immediately roll 2d6 and add a relevant stat (usually ranging from -1 to +3). The results of your roll then play into the narrative flow of the moment.
- 10+: You succeed brilliantly
- 7-9: You succeed, but with complications or a cost
- 6 or less: Things go wrong (sometimes very wrong), but the story gets more interesting
The PbtA system is built to make sure that each roll matters and pushes the story forward. As such, there’s no “nothing happens” result – something has to happen!
A Fiction First Philosophy
Unlike some RPGs where players might declare “I attack with my sword!” and roll dice, PbtA games lean more on descriptive narrative.
This means that players will describe what your character does in the fiction first. Only then does your description determine if a move is triggered. This type of gameplay helps to create a more immersive experience where the story drives the mechanics, not the other way around.
Gameplay Built on Collaborative Storytelling
PbtA takes the traditional GM-player dynamic and makes it far more collaborative. The PbtA GM (often called the MC or Master of Ceremonies) still facilitates the gameplay, but players have significant input into the world and story.
For example, the GM might ask, “You’re running from something through the ruins! What’s chasing you?” – which then puts the creative control directly in players’ hands.
Play to Find Out What Happens
One of the reasons many players love PbtA is that the core philosophy is “play to find out what happens.” GMs aren’t required to pre-plan elaborate plots or predetermined outcomes, which takes a ton of the heavy-lifting out of preparation.
Instead, GMs create interesting situations and let player choices drive the narrative. This can lead to some interesting and surprising emergent stories that no one at the table could have predicted.
Player Agency and Narrative Control
Since the gameplay is so collaborative, players often decide the outcomes of their own rolls – choosing from lists of options on successful moves. They might decide whether to deal extra damage or avoid harm, whether to ask certain questions about a situation, or how their relationships with other characters develop.
What are the Core Concepts in PbtA Titles?
Moves
Moves are the heart of PbtA gameplay. Moves are broad narrative triggers that cover entire categories of actions.
For example, if you “Manipulate Someone” or “Act Under Fire,” you’re taking a specific move with different potential outcomes for success, partial success, and failure.
Playbooks
PbtA comes with “playbooks” – pre-designed character archetypes with unique moves, relationships, and narrative hooks.
But these playbooks do far more than just help you create a character. They become guides on how your character would typically engage in each different decision moment.
Each playbook comes with advancement options that let you customize your character while maintaining their core narrative identity.
The Conversation
A huge draw of PbtA games is the flow of natural conversation between players and the GM.
There’s no initiative order, no turns, no complex action economy. Players just describe what their characters do, and the GM describes how the world responds.
The moves are then triggered organically when the fiction demands it. The GM never rolls the dice. All of the uncertainty and drama come from what each player rolls.
Failure as Progress
Best of all, failure in PbtA doesn’t create a game-ending scenario. The rolls create new opportunities for different gameplay moments.
For instance, when you roll a 6 or less, you don’t just “miss” your attack or “fail” to pick the lock. The GM makes a move that escalates the situation or introduces a new complication. Maybe you pick the lock, but security arrives. Maybe you convince the guard to let you pass, but now they want a favor in return.
Must-Try PbtA Games on DriveThruRPG
Apocalypse World (2nd Edition)
This is the PbtA game that started it all. Apocalypse World drops you into a gritty post-apocalyptic wasteland where survival means making hard choices and harder alliances.
Ironsworn
Ironsworn is a Norse-inspired fantasy game designed for solo, co-op, or guided play. The game creatively combines PbtA mechanics with innovative solo gaming tools. Players will swear “iron vows”, take on various quests, and forge a unique story – with or without a GM.
Brindlewood Bay
Murder, She Wrote meets cosmic horror in cozy Brindlewood Bay. In this PbtA title, elderly women solve murders while uncovering dark occult conspiracies. The PbtA mechanics mean even the GM doesn’t really know whodunit until the players solve the case.
Monster of the Week
Channel your inner Buffy or Winchester brother in this monster hunter PbtA title. Each session is played as an “episode” of a supernatural TV show – so you can really dig into your character and enjoy episodic style storytelling.
Ready to Play? Check Out PbtA Titles on DriveThruRPG
The world of Powered by the Apocalypse games is huge – and as the system gets more popular, you can be sure that the options will grow. The good news? Here at DriveThruRPG, we have one of the largest libraries of PbtA titles anywhere.
Whether you’re looking for your first PbtA experience or ready to expand your collection, now’s the perfect time to dive in. Browse the PbtA collection on DriveThruRPG today!
