Ironsworn
 Ironsworn Core Rulebook | |
| Designers | Shawn Tomkin |
|---|---|
| Illustrators | Joshua Meehan |
| Publishers | Tomkin Press, Modiphius Entertainment |
| Publication | 2018 |
| Genres | Universal, Fantasy, Science fiction |
| Systems | Ironsworn, Powered by the Apocalypse |
Ironsworn is an indie role-playing game written and self-published by Shawn Tomkin.[1] Its Ironlands setting is low fantasy, set in a rugged frontier. Rob Wieland for Forbes named Ironsworn one of his favorite RPG products of 2022 and one of the best fantasy tabletop role-playing games for solo play.[2]
System
[edit]Character creation
[edit]Player characters are built by allocating a specific number of points to the five different stats. These are edge, heart, iron, shadow, and wits.
Apart from the starting stats, there are also trackers for health, spirit, and supply.
Vows are the main mechanic by which a player can track progress and accomplish goals.
Gameplay
[edit]There are three ways to play Ironsworn.
- Guided: One or more players take the role of their characters, while a gamemaster (GM) moderates the session.
- Co-Op: One or more players play together to overcome challenges and complete quests. No GM required.
- Solo: One player portrays a lone character driven to fulfill vows in a dangerous world.[3]
Tomkin took inspiration from the Powered by the Apocalypse system, among other systems. The player narrates the story and then makes Moves when it makes narrative sense. If for instance, the player is about to enter combat, they can make the Enter the Fray move. Dice are rolled to determine if the move is a success or a failure. The player accumulates Momentum through succeeding at rolls or through narrative. Momentum can be used to improve the result of a die roll. Experience can be gained by completing vows and then spent upgrading existing assets or gaining new ones.[citation needed]
Supplements
[edit]There are four official supplements that have been published by Shawn Tomkin.
- Ironsworn Lodestar (2018): A short reference guide that contains an oracle for character disposition and also alternative starting stats for easier and harder modes of play.
- Ironsworn: Delve (2020): The first major expansion adds additional content to the game, including dungeon-crawling mechanics.
- Ironsworn: Starforged (2022): Funded in a Kickstarter campaign, this is a new core rulebook adapting the original Ironsworn system to a science fiction setting. Along with the new setting, there are also new rules, assets, moves, and oracles.[4]
- Ironsworn: Starforged Sundered Isles (2024): This supplement is an expansion for Starforged with a sailing setting (instead of spaceships), and require the core Ironsworn: Starforged rules to play.[5]
Actual play
[edit]In season 2 of Me,Myself and die, a YouTube channel and series focusing on solo tabletop role-playing games, Canadian voice actor Trevor Devall is playing Ironsworn[6].
Awards
[edit]The game received the 2019 ENNIE Gold Winner Award for Best Free Game/Product.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Ironsworn Review". Tabletop Gaming. 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
- ^ Wieland, Rob. "My Favorite 2022 RPG Products". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- ^ "Ironsworn by Shawn Tomkin". itch.io. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- ^ Parkin, Jeffrey (2022-06-14). "Take your role-playing game to the stars with Ironsworn: Starforged". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
- ^ Rascher, Jared (2024-07-15). "Sundered Isles Review". Gnome Stew. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ "Me, Myself and Die! Season Two". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ "List of ENNIE Awards 2019 Nominees and Winners". Retrieved 2022-09-12.