OTHER TALES

Designed by @Justonky

PLAYERS: Create Your Character Choose 1 additional Equipment (keep in mind

RPG ADVENTURE that this game is set in a very early era
of the Hearthian Space Program, as a result
1. Choose or roll for your character’s
background and motives. there are considerable space constraints, and
Disclaimer: This transformative work is NOT FOR
SALE. Neither it nor its distributors is in any many of the equipment you are familiar with
ROLE IN THE VILLAGE don’t exist in combined form. For example the
way authorised, approved, licensed, or endorsed by
Mobius Digital, Annapurna Interactive, nor John 1. TREEKEEPER 2. PHILOSOPHER Jetpack is not part of the spacesuit, and the
Harper. All copyrights and trademarks referenced Scout Launcher has a manual retrieval system).
herein are the property of their respective owners. 3. ENGINEER 4. ASTRONOMER
5. ARCHAEOLOGIST 6. ATHLETE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
WARNING: THIS RPG IS ABSOLUTELY NOT FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT PLAYED OUTER WILDS. OUTER WILDS 1. Hearthian-Nomai Dictionary
PERSONALITY
IS THE BEST GAME OF ALL TIME, AND ANY SPOILERS
Allows one to make rudimentary translations
WILL RUIN THE GAME BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE REPLAYED 1. Creative 2. Impulsive
ONCE YOU KNOW THE SECRETS. THUS IT IS IMPERATIVE
in the field, however, flipping through a
THAT YOU DO NOT SPOIL YOURSELF. DELETE THIS RPG 3. Curious 4. Contemplative book is a lengthy affair.
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE NOT PLAYED OUTER WILDS. 2. Prototype Signalscope
5. Lazy 6. Insightful
Picks up any strange energy signals,
This is a collaborative storytelling rpg hack wavelengths or sounds.
of LASER & FEELINGS by John Harper. This game
MOTIVATION FOR BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT 3. Scout Launcher & a Surveyor Probe Mk. I
serves as a prequel of sorts to the Outer
Wilds video game, but very importantly, it is 1. To explore distant planets and indulge A launcher that can launch a handy scout
also set in an alternate universe completely your curiosity. probe with a built in camera that sends a
freed of the stations of canon. feed to you. The probe has a very long chain
2. To learn more about the Nomai. that lets you reel it back, but it takes
Chiefly, the players play original Hearthian 3. The thrill of piloting a spacecraft. some time. Slate says that they are working
characters who are part of the early missions on a “warp” retrieval system, whatever
into the Hearthian Solar System. In addition, 4. To learn more about alien biology: that means, but for now, you will have to
they share a single spacecraft with multiple jellyfishes and anglerfishes, and more. retrieve your probe the old fashioned way.
seats and only one pilot’s seat (however, the 5. To search for meaning in a meaningless 4.Extra Fuel Tank, Oxygen Tank & Supplies.
GM may choose to give each player their own cosmos. Extra fuel and oxygen tanks. Good for
spacecraft and advanced radio communication one emergency refill in the field. Extra
to conduct parallel adventures on distant 6. You are unbelievably bored.
supplies such as extra marshmallows and
locations). Another important difference is canned food.
that the stations of canon may not be true. 2. Choose your number, from 2 to 5. A
The prompts featured herein are meant to high number means you’re better at OUTER 5. Jetpack
inspire you to use your imagination and come (technology; science; cold rationality; calm, Runs on limited fuel reserves. Very useful
up with new mysteries and new wonders. precise action). A low number means you’re for navigating in low gravity environments.
better at WILDS (intuition; diplomacy; music; These do not come standard with a Suit due
Your character is a passable expert at wild, passionate action). to space and weight constraints, but if you
translating Nomai writings, however, the Nomai take a Jetpack, it will be attached to your
Translator has not been invented yet, so 3. All Hearthian Astronauts have a spacesuit suit.
you are limited in your abilities to derive which has a limited oxygen supply that lasts
secrets (this is especially important because six minutes. Oxygen can also be used as a weak
we don’t want to rethread the events of propellant in lieu of a jetpack, however this
canon). uses up your Oxygen supply faster.
1
 Designed by @Justonky

4. Choose a Musical Instrument. ROLLING THE DICE GM:Create an Adventure!

These mastercraft musical instruments were When you do something risky, roll 1d6 to find
made by Gneiss. Music is necessary for moments out how it goes. Roll +1d if you’re prepared When players choose to visit a particular
of true peace, joy, or reminiscence out in and +1d if you have a personality, skill or celestial body or station, you may choose from
the darkness of the void. Can have unexpected equipment suitable for the situation. (The GM an adventure hook/prompt on the tables below
effects on different creatures, or to help tells you how many dice to roll, based on your (or roll for it using the indicated die) to
oneself in a difficult situation. character and the situation.) Roll your dice try and piece together some kind of event or
and compare each die result to your number. scenario.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
If you’re using OUTER (science, reason), you Call for a roll when the situation is
1.Flute want to roll under your number. uncertain. Don’t pre-plan outcomes— let the
A reedless wind instrument. Invokes joy. chips fall where they may. Use failures to
2.Harmonica If you’re using WILDS, (rapport, passion) you push the action forward. The situation
A free reed instrument. Invoke fearlessness. want to roll over your number. always changes after a roll, for good or ill.
3.Banjo
GM: If you’re ever unsure of something,
A stringed instrument. Invokes wonder. 0 If none of your dice succeed, it goes just ask the players! They can fill in the
4.Drums wrong. The GM says how things get worse background for you, or flesh out the details
A percussion instrument. Invokes thinking. somehow. of whatever is happening. You don’t need to be
5.Nomai Scepter [Piano]
A mysterious Nomai object found long ago
1 If one die succeeds, you barely manage it. in total control, just let the adventure and
the mystery unfold ogranically.
The GM inflicts a complication, harm, or cost.
with keys that can be depressed to play
alien music. Invokes acceptance. 2 If two dice succeed, you do it well. Good TIMBER HEARTH (d6)
6.Whistling job!
1 You come across a previously undiscovered
Not an instrument. Invokes loneliness.
3 If three dice succeed, you get a critical Nomai Structure hidden behind some
success! The GM tells you some extra effect waterfalls.
PLAYERS: Create Your Ship you get.
As a group, choose a Name, and then pick two 2 The rainfall has caused a sudden flooding
strengths for your Ship: Fast, Nimble, Well- of the underground water currents beneath
stocked with supplies, Strong Hull, Great ! If you roll your number exactly, you are the planet’s crust. The geysers shot
outwards and flooded Hearthian homes.
Radar, flies silently and stealthy, armed a true Astronaut of OUTER WILD VENTURES. You
with actual weapons (must be a primitive get a special insight into what’s going on. 3 You sat down with Slate to roast some
weapon, like a harpoon gun or a catapult). Ask the GM a question and they’ll answer you marshmallows. The stars are beautiful
Also, pick one problem: Fuel Hog (always needs honestly, taking care to rationalise how it tonight. What did you talk about with
more fuel), Perpetual air leak somewhere but is that you were able to intuit this answer Slate?
you can’t find it, Fries easily if touching within the context of the story. (A roll of
anything electronic, Damaged easily and 4 The Hearthian atmosphere is slowly
OUTER WILD VENTURES counts as a success.) disappearing. We have to figure out how
requires constant Zero-G repairs, etc.
to colonize new planets.
HELPING: If you want to help someone else
Ships usually have extra fuel and oxygen who’s rolling, say how you try to help and 5 Someone tripped and fell off the Launch
supplies for refills. These generally do not make a roll. If you succeed, give them +1d. Tower!
run out during a session, but if so at the 6 A Hearthian no one has seen for a long
GM’s discretion, can be refilled at a location long time appeared in public.
with plants or an atmosphere.
2
 Designed by @Justonky

THE ATTLEROCK (d4) HOLLOW’s LANTERN (d4)

1 Deliver vital supplies to Esker at the BRITTLE HOLLOW (d8) 1 A ball of lava erupts from the Volcano
Lunar Outpost. you’re currently exploring.
1 The ground you were standing on broke
2 At the Lunar Lookout, you detected apart, sending one or all of you 2 A Nomai ruin was discovered inside a
something unexpected! plummeting into the hollow core, and Volcano. The opening is too small to land
3 At the Eye Signal Locator, you found towards the black hole at the centre of a spaceship within. How will you get in?
something strange! the planet. If you fall inside, where do 3 Some kind of creature is swimming beneath
you end up? Near which planet? the lava. Your spaceship is a fair
4 Close encounter with Ghost Matter.
2 You found a secret way further down distance away.
beneath the crust of the planet. 4 The lavas are rising slowly, slowly
THE HOURGLASS TWINS (d6) covering a valuable Nomai ruin you
3 You found some gravity crystals on a
EMBER TWIN cavern wall. Clearly a path of them must discovered. It will be destroyed forever,
exist nearby, but it is hard to search in so you better translate any writings
1 Sand is falling from the Ember Twin onto the darkness. Where does the path lead? fast, and get the portable valuables out
the Ash Twin. You were accidentally of there.
caught in it and sent to the Ash Twin. 4 You met a fellow Hearthian who was not
Where? part of Outer Wilds Ventures. How did
they get here? THE INTERLOPER (d4)
2 The cavern you were exploring begins to
fill with Sand. While trying to make your 5 You discovered a Nomai artifact! It’s 1 You discover a path deep into the
way out, you discover something, but the very big. It looks like a spacecraft. Interloper. But saw that there were
sands are falling quickly, do you have 6 A ball of lava from Hollow’s Lantern is signs of the Interloper actually being a
time to explore further? coming down towards your location! giant spaceship! Who built it? For what
purpose? Did it come from outside the
3 The sands falling away revealed a Nomai 7 You discovered a secret path leading Solar System?
structure that goes down deep into a to the Hanging City! But it is very
canyon. Could this be a path to the dangerous. 2 Ghost Matter litters the interior of the
Sunless City? There is no way down by Interloper. This was dangerous enough,
8 A strange creature is alive and stalking but you begin to hear sounds and see
foot.
you. It seems to protect the Hanging City things moving by themselves. Could there
ASH TWIN from intruders. be actual Ghosts?
4 Sand is falling from the Ash Twin onto 3 While deep inside the Interloper, the
the Ember Twin. You were accidentally THE ASH TWIN PROJECT entire comet suddenly changed on a
caught in it and sent to the Ember Twin. trajectory towards the Sun. Get out
Where? 0 If it even exists in this alternative
quickly before you all die. The ice
timeline, the Ash Twin Project could be
5 You found a Nomai artifact, technology, melting is also releasing some kind of
an entirely different secret from the
or entity! dangerous alien organism.
canonical project. For example, it could
6 Something fell from space in the contain Living Nomai in stasis. Or it 4 Finding a control panel of sorts, you
distance. Is it alive? Dead? Should could be a sealing chamber for ghosts. accidentally set the Interloper flying
you investigate? Has its arrival begun away. To where? Outside the Solar System?
changing the environment of the planet in To another planet?
some way?
3
 Designed by @Justonky

THE SUN STATION (d4) GIANT’S DEEP (d8) DARK BRAMBLE (d4)
1 According to the Nomai logs, you 1 You found an Island covered in Nomai 1 You are lost. The space inside Dark
discovered that the Sun Station can fly. Ruins. There is something here that Bramble is bigger, there are large roots
But it is heavily damaged. teleports you to somewhere else! (send everywhere, and portals that lead into
2 The Sun Station periodically descends the player who gets teleported to a more spaces. And there are very dangerous
into the Sun for a short amount of time. different Planet). predators here.
Nomai logs mention a secret city within 2 The waves launched all of the islands 2 A Nomai Shuttle was discovered. What
the Sun itself! into orbit, including your own. Hang on could be inside?
3 The Sun Station is not a Station. It is a tight! But what an opportunity to see 3 You saw an alien structure, not of Nomai
weapon meant to fight something the Nomai what else gets thrown up! Is that a Nomai origins. It is guarded by Anglerfishes.
logs refer to as the Devourer of Stars. City in the distance, falling back into
the ocean? 4 You discovered an opening inside a root
And it is due to return to the Solar that leads to another planet in the solar
System. 3 A Nomai shipyard was discovered. What system.
4 The first thing you saw was dead bodies. were they building here?
Hearthian bodies. Your own bodies. 4 Jellyfish approach the surface and
THE QUANTUM MOON (d2— a coin)
According to the logs, the Sun Station begin attacking your spaceship which is
is a time machine and it came from the floating on the open waters. 1 The entire Moon looks like it is made
future. 5 Your spaceship broke apart upon violent of Quantum Shards. Who else is on
entry into Giant’s Deep. How will you get this planet…Nomai ghosts or Hearthian
back home? ancestors, perhaps? Echoes from another
timeline perhaps, another you… a certain
ORBITAL PROBE CANNON (d4) 6 A large chunk of Dark Bramble is floating Hatchling.
on the waters. Strange signals are coming
1 You found a living Nomai, living on and from it. Will you explore? (you can reach 2 You landed on it. But it looks like
off in Stasis for hundreds of thousands other planets that have Dark Bramble another planet in the solar system. Did
of years. roots, or within Dark Bramble itself you teleport? Are you in an alternative
2 According to logs, it is an automated through this passageway). dimension or universe?
weapon that is aimed at Timber Hearth. 7 What is in the core? An ancient city?
You must find a way to shut it down A sleeping monster? The Probe tracking THE EYE OF THE UNIVERSE
before it fires, which is within a few module?
hours. 0 The greatest mystery of all is for you
8 You found an island workshop full of and the players to work towards.
3 There is a Shuttle that is keyed to the statues. One of them suddenly turned
location of the Probe which was launched and open their eyes, staring at one of
earlier today (if so, the Orbital Probe the players (this doesn’t mean they are
Cannon is broken into several pieces). If now in a time loop. The ultimate secret
you can only turn it on, it will take you of this alternative universe could be
to the outer limits of the Solar System. anything, for example, that player might
4 The Probe is waiting patiently inside the now be possessed by the ghost of a dead
Cannon, unfired. The Secret to firing it Nomai).
is on Giant’s Deep. What is its purpose, If you enjoyed the game, be sure to leave
and should you try and trigger the firing comments and feedback as I continue to
mechanism? revise the game.