Powered By the Apocalypse – the Movement That Launched a Thousand Games
Powered by the Apocalypse is the RPG movement that launched a thousand games. But what was the apocalypse that started it all?
If you’ve looked outside of the D&D playground at all in the last five years, you’ve almost certainly found four letters lurking at the heart of a new take on a favorite genre. From mecha anime to teen superhero angst to monster of the week shows, it seems like everything is PBTA: Powered By the Apocalypse.
But what apocalypse? After all PbtA has been around since long before 2020 introduced “gallows” as a fifth essential humor (alongside blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, of course). In fact the Apocalypse that started it all happened all the way back in 2010.
Apocalypse World
Back in 2010, Apocalypse World by notable RPG design dynamic duo D. Vincent and Meguey Baker smashed onto the scene in a big way. With its bold take on a very specific genre (post-apocalyptic fiction) and an ethos that encouraged creativity, experimentation, and play, Apocalypse World was the start of a movement that would change everything, all from a few simple principles.
Something’s wrong with the world and I don’t know what it is.
It used to be better, of course it did. In the golden age of legend, when there was enough to eat and enough hope, when there was one nation under god and people could lift their eyes and see beyond the horizon, beyond the day. Children were born happy and grew up rich.
Now that’s not what we’ve got. Now we’ve got this. Hardholders stand against the screaming elements and all comers, keeping safe as many as they can. Angels and savvyheads run constant battle against there’s not enough and bullets fly and everything breaks. Hocuses gather people around them, and are they protectors, saviors, visionaries, or just wishful thinkers? Choppers, gunluggers, and battlebabes carve out what they can and defend it with blood and bullets. Drivers search and scavenge, looking for that opportunity, that one perfect chance. Skinners and the maestro d’ remember beauty, or invent beauty anew, cup it in their hands and whisper come and see, and don’t worry now what it will cost you. And brainers, oh, brainers see what none of the rest of us will: the world’s psychic maelstrom, the terrible desperation and hate pressing in at the edge of all perception, it is the world now.
It’s hard to overstate how much of an impact this game had. It won awards when it came out, but the big lasting impact was the RPG framework/”school of design”.
Because the thing that lends PbtA to so many different narratives, from telenovelas to the adventure stories of Avatar: the last Airbender is, more than anything else its ethos. It is about genre and narrative and figuring out how to help players (GM included) tell those stories.
PBTA – Genre At Its Genrest
A big part of what makes any PbtA game feel so immediately engaging is how actively it involves the players in building the world and situating characters within it. It doesn’t shy away from familiar tropes or ideas—many games often have rules or moves that share names with their influences and inspirations.
The mechanics often have their roots in driving forward the fiction of the game. You aren’t making an attack roll, you’re exchanging blows. You’re putting yourself at risk and opening up a new way of talking about what happens next between the player and GM. It’s a very different approach from D&D and one that catches many newbies off guard.
It puts the reins of the story in everyone’s hands—dice included. And that clearly resonates with its audiences. It’s why PbtA can work so well at telling stories about Thirsty Sword Lesbians and high school girl gangs from the 70s.
It’s a system that was designed so that other designers and players could hack it. It’s an influence that you can feel today in many games. The PbtA community is diverse and growing as it heads into a new era.
RPGs wouldn’t be what they are today without the work of Meguey Baker. She helped change the whole scene. And now, you can help give back:
Meguey Baker was diagnosed with breast cancer on 7/17, with a surgery date of 8/30. She has lost one week of work so far due to appointments and expects to be out of work for a couple of weeks recovering. Meg and Vincent, along with their children, deeply appreciate your help and support.
What’s your favorite game Powered by the Apocalypse?
