Indie RPG Spotlight: ‘Mausritter’ is a Game of Swords and Whiskers
We’re shrinking down to mouse-size and going on some very big adventures this week when we play Mausritter.
It’s a big, dangerous world out there for a mouse. But Mausritter invites you to “take up the sword and don the whiskers” and bravely take on all of these pint-sized adventures in a world that’s a rules-light yet expansive sandbox of a game.
Mausritter
There are a lot of games that feature small animals- or just animals at all. We’ve talked in the past about Mouse Guard, Pugmire, and Wanderhome, and it’s easy to see why this theme of ‘cute animals on adventures’ is so appealing. Something about making your adventurers an adorable little guy makes the entire thing feel a little cozier, even if the game itself moves away from that feeling. The world also gets so much larger when you’re so much smaller, and even the most mundane thing to our eye could look like a legendary adventure through a mouse’s eyes.
Mausritter is also a rules-light system in a massive sandbox-style world that encourages you to explore and create without having to worry too much about making a thousand rolls to just see the world around you. In a word, this game is welcoming.
Character Creation and Gameplay
Mausritter bases its own rules on the Into the Odd rule with a few little twists and chances. But if you’re not familiar, this is a simple roll-under system.
Making your character is quick and easy and leaves very little up to you to figure out or math out. Your character has three attributes—strength, dexterity, and willpower—and to determine them you roll 3d6 and drop the lowest number. Then roll to determine hit points, pips (mouse currency), background, and appearance, and if you’re really stuck you can even roll to randomly build your mouse’s name. The background will determine the starting equipment, and you’re ready to go. No classes or races to choose between and no special skills to buy. You roll up a randomly selected mouse and start exploring.
To roll for checks and saves throughout the game, simply roll a d20. The goal is to roll under your character’s attribute. Leveling up and experience points allow you to increase attributes. And having your HP reduced to zero will harm your attribute scores.
There is also a magic system in Mausritter with a relatively short list of spells. After all, we’re keeping it simple. By and large, the spells will tell you how to use and recharge them. But similar to spell slots in other games, you have a set number of times to use a spell—usually three—but casting multiple uses at once will allow for more dice in your roll. For example, casting two uses will give you 2d6 worth of power.
And of course, the system looks nice. The art is as cute and cozy as you would expect, and with just 48 pages, there’s not a whole lot to it. Just get your swords and whiskers and explore.
If you’d like to play Mausritter for yourself, you can learn more on the official website.
Have you played Mausritter? What is your favorite cute-animal-based adventure tabletop RPG? Do you enjoy these simple, inviting games or do you prefer some more crunch? Let us know in the comments!
Happy adventuring!
