{"title":"Scryptid Games","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt Scryptid Games, we make story games for cryptids. We love strange, liminal, punk, and outsider stories—and players who find meaning and community beyond the mainstream. From trash animals who celebrate each other's \"grossest trait\" to aging shelter animals to magical punk musicians to alien ecologies, our games invite you to play with quirky and queer perspectives, exploring delight, survival, and purpose through easy to learn TTRPGs designed for one-shot play.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"psychic-trash-detectives","title":"Psychic Trash Detectives","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLive fast. Eat trash. Solve mysteries.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe world is electric with supernatural energy, an interconnected web of memory and emotional echoes that only animals can perceive. Nowhere is that energy more present than in human \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — abandoned, lost, and discarded objects with long history, aching with deep \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003epsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e wounds…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInspired by guidebook-style TTRPGs and a pulpy, punk ethos, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eTrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Detectives is a shared-GM game for 3-4 players about \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003epsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e animals solving the mysteries no one cares about. You do not need roleplaying experience to play—just open the book and start to read.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you have played a TTRPG before, you'll find that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eTrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Detectives offers an immersive storytelling experience unlike any other. You and the other players will use actual \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to generate elements of the game world, resolve questions, and push the story forward. You'll use whatever \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e you bring to the game space (or whatever \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is there already).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlus, you'll create the setting of the game together too, mapping out on a hand-drawn map the weird places where your characters find their favorite \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. And when it comes to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003epsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e visions, you'll play weird, surrealist mini-games to determine the supernatural messages and memories, such as:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMemory collage. Each player shares a vision of one 5-second interaction that occurred with this\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein the past 24 hours. Discuss how these visions may answer the question.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esketching. Each player either closes their eyes or uses their non-dominant hand to privately sketch a picture that answers the question asked at the top of the scene.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eErasure poetry. The Protagonist chooses a piece of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efrom the playing space or someone’s private\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003etrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estash that has words on it. Each player blacks out one of the words, revealing a new meaning within the text.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMusical inspiration. Randomly select a song from the musical playlist you’ve been playing. Listen to the song together and discuss how the title, music, and\/or lyrics answer the question.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten by game designer and published fiction writer Brigitte Winter, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eTrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Detectives is a full color core game book illustrated by Ava Eerie, who creates the amazing queer webcomic Along the River Phoria. In addition to containing the full \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eTrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Detectives roleplaying game, it also features poetry and fiction inspired by the world of the game by:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ejason b. crawford\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeidre Delpino Dykes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNino McQuown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNat Mesnard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTonee Mae Moll\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA.E. Osworth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTyler Vile\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTristan B Willis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDustin Patrick Winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAwards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2024 Crit Award for Best Indie TTRPG\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2024 Crit Award for Best Cover Art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2024 Indie Groundbreaker Award Nominee for Most Innovative\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The folks at Scryptid Games are thoughtful and clever, and the ode to synanthropes that they've created in \u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ePsychic\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eTrash\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e Detectives is beautiful and profoundly odd.\" \u003c\/em\u003e—Avery Alder, designer of Dream Askew, Monsterhearts 2, and A Quiet Year\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e83 page, 6 x 9 inch, full color, perfect-bound book. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinted in the USA\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncludes access to digital package with printable versions and scrap sheet!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scryptid Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43832067391522,"sku":"SCRYP-001","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/8020\/4578\/files\/psychic_trash_cover_1.png?v=1762442915"},{"product_id":"the-goodest-girls","title":"The Goodest Girls","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"product__text inline-richtext\"\u003eA Dice-less TTRPG with Real Treats\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eEarn real treats for stupid human tricks in this zany, dice-less story game about senior shelter animals living their best lives together\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInspired by 1980s sitcoms like\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text-italic\"\u003eThe Golden Girls\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Goodest Girls\u003c\/em\u003e is a replayable, single-session, shared-GM TTRPG for 2-6 players about a tight-knit group of senior animals at the local animal shelter, Shady Pines.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollaborate to build the sitcom world of Shady Pines and the paw-inspiring characters who live there. Earn real treats for goofy antics as you step into a flashback episode where you reminisce about the times you and your fellow fuzzballs shared.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Goodest Girls is a stand-alone game, but the characters live in the same universe as Brigitte Winter’s critically-acclaimed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/tabletopbookshelf.com\/products\/psychic-trash-detectives\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePsychic Trash Detectives\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, with illustrations by award-winning artist Ava Eery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo gather your favorite people and your favorite treats, and explore the angst and the antics of day-to-day life at Shady Pines!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e80 page, 6 x 8.35 in, full color, perfect-bound softcover book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes access to digital version\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scryptid Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44744581840930,"sku":"SCRYP-002","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/8020\/4578\/files\/goodestgrilscoverwhtiebg.png?v=1768934080"},{"product_id":"against-the-gloom","title":"Against the Gloom","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Role-Playlisting Game\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat if our heroes exchanged their battle axes for Stratocasters? And what if lyrics and harmony were actual magic? Against the Gloom is a fantasy TTRPG of melodic mayhem that asks this and more! It's about the joy and power of music, chosen family, and building community in the face of the void. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoll dice. Build your playlist. Fight the Gloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Against the Gloom, players take on the roles of punk pirate troubadours sailing across a vast and dangerous void—the Gloom—aboard a ramshackle ship propelled by the power of song. Use your character's sonic powers to push back the Gloom as it seeks to obliterate any pockets of community that dare to resist it. Build your story one gig at a time. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA set of unique \u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003echaracter playbooks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: the Thunderwell, the Soulbell, the Brightstring, the Heartkey, and more.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuide to \u003cspan class=\"text-italic\"\u003eAgainst the Gloom's\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eeasy-to-learn\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ed6 (six-sided dice)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esystem inspired by Yahtzee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— you'll \"harmonize\" dice values to succeed, earn and spend songs on a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003ecollaborative music playlist\u003c\/span\u003e, and truly unite your band.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRules for collectively imagining and building out Anchora\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eto visit and explore as your band sails across the Gloom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eSafety\u003c\/span\u003e tools and frameworks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat support joyful, consent-based storytelling while roleplaying as messy musicians.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGorgeous \u003cspan class=\"bold\"\u003eillustrations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eof weird musicians rocking it out in the face of despair, ennui, and self-sabotage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e110 page, 6 x 8.5 in, full color, perfect-bound book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes access to digital version\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scryptid Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44748147654690,"sku":"SCRYP-003","price":22.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/8020\/4578\/files\/against_the_gloom_book_white_bg.png?v=1768936517"},{"product_id":"assemblage","title":"Assemblage","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003en eco-storytelling game of world-building and world-breaking\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAssemblage is a card-based eco-fantasy storytelling game for 2-6 players where each player portrays an entire species—and collaborates in crafting an interdependent ecosystem on the verge of collapse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll begin by collectively choosing a strange and mysterious habitat. Then you will draw prompt cards and take turns describing the assemblage of species living there: history, relationships, adaptations, and myths. Then you'll encounter an epic environmental disaster—and explore what it means to survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContains:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuidebook containing rules of play, safety tools, and help with facilitating a GM-less game for the first time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHabitat cards to inspire fantastical habitats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEcological relationship cards to establish species interdependence and conflict\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvent cards to inspire scenes and roleplay, and let you tell the story of your assemblage over time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCataclysm cards to outline the depth and extent of the crisis your assemblage will face\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeystone species and Extinct species role cards that define player species who shape the story in special ways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA pad of tear-off species placards so you can name (and illustrate!) your species \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor fans of reflective story \u0026amp; worldbuilding games, Assemblage is the perfect addition to any TTRPG table seeking revolutionary, expansive play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5 x 8 in, full color,  card box set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes access to print and play version\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scryptid Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44748222824482,"sku":"SCRYP-004","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/8020\/4578\/files\/assemblagebox.png?v=1768934724"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/8020\/4578\/collections\/fullcolor-PNG-1-sg.png?v=1789764461","url":"https:\/\/tabletopbookshelf.com\/collections\/scryptid-games.oembed","provider":"Tabletop Bookshelf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}