28 Trains Later

THE SCENARIO

Normally, I Love the Corps involves playing a squad of badass sci-fi marines in action / psychological horror scenarios.

For this mad one-shot (which has been run at the Expo many times in the Before Times), you’re instead playing everyday residents of the Isle of Sodor travelling Thomas’s carriage, Annie, when she crashes, and a strange nightmare begins…

THE SYSTEM

I LOVE THE CORPS is a tabletop role-playing game and unique system of military action, horror and military sci-fi, and the first published by Psychic Cactus Games (me). 

The game uses a straight forward 1d6 + score and situational modifiers mechanic. However, passive abilities (score, +3 for narrative scenes, +1 action) allow you to do plenty of cinematic things without rolling dice; you’re trained marines after all.

By beating a Target Number, you gain Success Levels, which can be spent for additional effects. If shooting someone, this is likely more damage, but can also be used to knock foes down, backward, and other weapon-specific abilities. 

Each character has eight different Abilities that they share, a set of Aspects that define what makes each marine unique to each other, and their Gear (such as it is with this setting). 

One Ability total covers a range of connected actions. 

In a Narrative Scene, you have three Beats, and in each Beat you get one Active (dice roll) and one Passive (diceless) Ability. The position you are in at the end of the scene’s final beat dictates the nature of the next scene, or whether it becomes an Action Scene. 

In an Action Scene, active abilities (rolling the dice) are far more reliable, and the number of Beats depends on when you defeat or escape the danger. 

Do you love the Corps, marine? Only one way to find out.