I was sent the Tales From the Loop rulebook for free to cover for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run a game yet, but I have read through the book. I also got a solid preview of the game during the Alchemy RPG workshop happening this week. Sign-ups are still open, so check it out if you haven’t done so. I sat in a session and believe its worth your time.
The official Tales from the Loop Alchemy module is now available on the marketplace. Pick yours up today if you’re planning on running your session.
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What is Tales from the Loop
Tales From the Loop is a narrative-heavy mystery RPG. In an alternate universe, advancements in technology have made great strides. The Soviets have discovered anti-gravity leading to a world with giant robots and floating cars. Governments across the globe race for technological supremacy, each building secret research facilities to achieve their goals.
Play as kids stuck in a sleepy boring town where the adults don’t notice the strange and mysterious phenomena that exist around the Loop. You and your friends must use your unique skill set to solve mysteries and find the truth that lies within the loop. What secrets will you uncover along the way?
Impressions
I received a PDF of the ruleset, so I can’t speak on the quality of the physical hardcover. That said, the art in this book is phenomenal. The aesthetic leans heavily into a nostalgic 80s vibe that gives the book its unique flavor. The nostalgia feels authentic, and the book provides a good amount of resources to give players a vibrant feel for the era.
The book is a hefty resource with an insane amount of lore to ensure players and GMs have the tools they need to build a world in the loop. The book reads like a history book as it details important events, figures, and places. I love the style, and even if I don’t run a game in the system, I enjoy it for the well-written piece of fiction that it is.
The mechanics seem interesting and easy to pick up, but it is more narrative-heavy than what my group is used to. Tales From the Loop is a collective story you create with your table. There is no combat or death because the focus is on the adventure. This means your table will have to be more comfortable with the RP side of things. I think my group is getting there, but they’ll need to decide where to go next.
I still need to run a campaign in the system for a more complete review, but what I’ve seen has me interested. It has cool flavor, easy-to-learn mechanics, and a very expansive lore. There is a prewritten adventure included in the rulebook to run a campaign that I’ll run as soon as my group is ready for the switch. Stay tuned for that.
Until then, you can pick up a copy of the rule book on the official site ($51.35) or Amazon ($39.30).