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Tales From the Loop

Tales From the Loop

2017
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About this Game

Roleplaying in the ’80s That Never Was: In 1954, the Swedish government ordered the construction of the world’s largest particle accelerator. The facility was complete in 1969, located deep below the pastoral countryside of Mälaröarna. The local population called this marvel of technology The Loop. In this roleplaying game, you play teenagers in the late 1980s, solving Mysteries connected to the Loop. Choose between character Types such as the Bookworm, the Troublemaker, the Popular Kid and the Weirdo. Everyday Life is full of nagging parents, never-ending homework and classmates bullying and being bullied. Explore the secrets of the Loop in two main game settings – one based on the Swedish Mälaren Islands, the other on Boulder City, Nevada. The Mysteries let the characters encounter the strange machines and weird creatures that have come to haunt the countryside after the Loop was built. The kids get to escape their everyday problems and be part of something meaningful and magical – but also dangerous.

Categories

Mystery Imaginative Sci-fi Modern

Mechanics

D6 System

How to play Tales from the Loop

Looking for a chill mystery game? How about something akin to the first season of Stranger Things or the ‘80s movies it references? Well check out Tales from the Loop! This tabletop RPG, or TTRPG, puts you in the role of a kid solving mysteries in a fictional small town. The Loop is an old machine left over from an experiment done years ago. But its effects still linger, calling strange creatures to your town. The adults aren’t paying attention, so you’ll have to ditch homework and figure out what’s going on.

Kid Types

Bookworm

Bookworm

When you read, you travel thousands of miles to foreign countries. You speak with mad poets and discuss the meaning of life with philosophers who died hundreds of years ago. You have secret rendezvous at Alpine peaks and shootouts with Russian agents. In real life, you wish that your pimples would not show as much as they do, and you long for the day you will leave this place, so that your real life can truly begin.

Computer Geek

Computer Geek

You know exactly what is important in life – to break the record in Super Mario Bros, to build revolutionary programs on your computer, to understand how a robot works, or to cast just the right spell to save the party during roleplaying nights. Who cares what all the others think?

Hick

Hick

Your classmates smile at you because of your tan, your pronunciation and your jokes, but what does it matter when you get to go out in the fields and the woods every day? The smell of corn and the grateful sounds that the cows make at morning milking have been a part of your life since you were born. You know how to build and repair an engine, how to drive a tractor, and how to hunt and slaughter animals.

Jock

Jock

You feel at home in sweaty locker rooms and at lit training fields in the autumn darkness. Nothing beats the feeling of a perfect shot, the aching muscles after training, and the companionship with teammates. You wish everything in life was as easy.

Popular Kid

Popular Kid

It is you who decide what is lame and what’s cool in school, and you know who’s in love with who and who did what at the kiosk on Saturday night. Others listen when you talk, and you’re used to being liked. It doesn’t matter why they love you, just that they do.

Rocker

Rocker

It was a worn cassette tape that changed your life. When that song had finished playing, you had found a home. You are an insane hard rocker who is high on life and play music so loud that the windows crack. In any case, you wish it would be like that. But you’ve just learned to play a C on your electric guitar and soon you will form a band down at the recreation center.

Troublemaker

Troublemaker

You’re a tough guy or girl who never holds back. Your classmates are afraid of you or look up to you, the teachers hate you, and everybody is nagging you to change. But they don’t understand that you don’t live in the same world as they do. When life turns on you, humiliates you, and hurts you, there is only one thing to do. Fight back.

Weirdo

Weirdo

They make fun of you for your clothes, your interests, your choice of words and call you “weirdo”, but you don´t care. They know nothing about your thoughts and feelings, or what you’ve been through. You want the world to see that you are different. One day you will outshine them all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play Tales from the Loop?
Any good ‘80s movie needs a cast of diverse characters split into easily-identifiable roles. Tales from the Loop gives you the means to create these roles, such as the Popular Kid or Bookworm. Once everyone has selected their role, the Game Master will begin the story. Tales from the Loop differs from many other TTRPGs in that it isn’t about powerful characters fighting for loot. Since you’re average kids, you need to deal with average kid problems. Part of the game is playing out mundane activities like going to school and dealing with bullies. It may seem odd, but it’s essential to building the characters. Players and GMs also describe the world collaboratively, making it a good storytelling game. The dice come out when the action picks up, but Tales from the Loop is a mystery first and foremost.
What supplies do I need to play Tales from the Loop?
Obviously this will vary from table to table, but here are some good places to start! If your game is played in person, most likely you will want to get a set of dice, something to write with, and paper to take notes. If your game is hosted online instead, you will probably need to make accounts on a few sites for things like character sheets, access to the Virtual Tabletop for maps and tokens, and sites like Discord or Zoom for video/voice calls during the session. You won't always need to have the rulebooks to start, but if you want to read through them to make sure you know all the rules, this might also be a good option.
What if I'm not comfortable with certain themes or content in Tales from the Loop?
Tabletop Roleplaying Games can cover an impressive range of topics and styles, including violence, horror, romance, and many many more! However, if there are specific themes or content that you’re uncomfortable with, let your group and GM know before the game, and have an open conversation about these topics. Any group worth playing with should be respectful and understanding of your concerns and the game can be adjusted so everyone is having fun. Many tables also use “Safety Tools” which help ensure that these conversations are handled easily, and everyone has a voice at the table.
What dice do you use for Tales from the Loop?
Tales from the Loop uses regular six sided dice, or d6s, for its rolls.

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Free League Publishing Purchase
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