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After Starter Set (Prologue) v01.04 PDF
After Starter Set (Prologue) v01.04 PDF
A History of the Virus The first person died on May 27th 2020
and by Christmas there were less than
300 million people scattered across the
Society fell apart so quickly that globe. That number has been dwindling
survivors found themselves wondering ever since.
how things had lasted so long in the
first place. That was almost two years ago and
everyone who is left has had to do bad,
Dubbed the "Dog Flu" by the media due bad shit since then to survive.
to it being possible to contract the
virus from man's best friend, H724 was There are no governments left, no
a pathogen like nothing the world had military, no rules and no borders. There
ever seen before. are just survivors and the dead.
Initially it was just like the flu, then it There are some pockets of survivors
became more dangerous. By the time have chosen to band together, usually
half of the planet was gone, the World for the security numbers bring in a
Health Organization had classified five dangerous world. They can be often be
mutations, each having such different found trying to rebuild whatever they
properties as to make the search for a can from the world before
cure as futile as it was desperate.
There are other survivors who roam the
A little over five months after the first land, unwilling to stop moving for fear
deaths were reported, H724 had wiped that the disease - or worse - might
out 96% of human life. No one was sure catch up to them.
where it originated, let alone determine
a patient Zero, but in the end it didn't Some have banded together like packs
matter. Three to five days after a of jackals to take whatever they want
patient exhibited symptoms of the virus by force and who only care about
and they were dead. making it from day to day.
At least, to start with. By the time the Others have just gone plain crazy and
sixth mutation (H724-f) was identified, will do anything to survive.
humanity had no chance. People got
sick but instead of simply dying like
they had before, seemingly moribund Then there are the carriers, bringing
victims would rise from their beds and the sickness with them wherever they
attack anything and everything around go, continuing to infect what’s left of
them. society.
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introduction
What is After? Rules Clarifications:
After is a game where the players take on Occasionally there will be rules that
deserve or require working examples,
the roles of survivors in the aftermath of a which you will find in boxes like this.
virus that has decimated humanity and
where every day in this new world brings
risks and threats.
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you anything about the situation 2D6 + SMod + AMod + CMod
except that it’s quiet.
For example, someone with an Acumen
“Are we going in?” Score of 4 gets a +1 Ability Modifier, or
AMod to any Acumen roll.
You hear someone say. Maybe it was
you. You clear your throat. The player rolls 2D6 and gets a 3 and
a1, for a total of 4. Adding the +1
“Yup,” you say, this time sure it’s your Modifier only brings the score to 5,
voice. “We’re going in.” which is a Fail.
Tell the players that the gas station is The next player rolls at a 7 and as they
literally the only thing for miles in either also have an Acumen of 4 and there
direction on a country back road. They ran get a +1 AMod for a final score of 8 - a
success.
across it by accident and if they are lucky,
there may be some canned food or maybe All players should roll 2D6 and compare
some other useful supplies inside. Food is their total with the Table 1: Outcomes.
in such short supply that they can’t pass
this chance up to restock. They have to go
Table 1: Outcomes
inside.
1 Catastrophic Fail
Have each of the players check their
character sheets and find their Acumen 2-7 Fail
attribute. They should note any Modifier 8-11 Success
they get from it and share that number
with the group. 13-14 Wild Success
15+ Unqualified Success
6
How did any Modifiers affect their rolls?
Were they successful yet?
7
Remind them that they stopped their car a relevent AMod and then check their final
ways back - as soon as they realized there score against Table 1: Outcomes.
was a car at the gas station - and
approached very cautiously. They are Was the check higher or lower than 8?
currently lying in the grass about 30 foot Were they successful or unsuccessful?
from the station.
If anyone got less than 8, tell them that
Ask the players how they plan on they are watching the gas station with
approaching the station - are they hooping such intensity that they don’t notice a
and hollering with excitement or are they bottle in their path that they accidentally
proceeding with caution? kick. They watch in horror as it clatters
across the street. Tell the player that they
If they are making a lot of noise or being hold their breath and look around but
careless, make an Acumen roll for Roy nothing and no one seems to be reacting
Nuzzi, who is asleep inside the station. As to the noise.
his Acumen is 3 he gets no modification to
the dice roll but does get a +1 CMod his Make another Acumen roll for Roy Nuzzi
roll, to reflect the noise they are making. to see if their noise woke him up. Add a +1
CMod for the noise of the bottle. If they
If they state that they are approaching wake him, he will be confused and startled
cautiously, have each player check their and grab his weapon to defend himself.
character sheet and tell the group their
Physicality score and any Modifier.
Remind the players that this is their Ability
Modifier or AMod, and is added to their
dice rolls.
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gas station without making any noise.
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otherwise useful, such as batteries,
sewing kits or first aid supplies.
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underlying RAPID attribute - in this case, As the Narrator, you should also make an
Influence. Lastly, give them a +1 to +3 Initiative roll for Roy, who has actually has
CMod based on how convincing their a -1 AMod due to his low Dexterity and
attempt to win him over is. also suffers a -2 CMod due to his terrified
state of mind.
If they are unsuccessful, Roy will scream
at them to shut up and they will move to Using a piece of scrap paper, write down
combat. the names of the combatants and their
Initiative scores, with the order of actions
If players get above an 8 then they are going from the character with the highest
successful and will be able to convince to the lowest score, including Roy.
Roy to lower his gun and listen to them.
For example, Franklin and Macy are
Having got his attention, tell them to scavenging in the store when Roy
repeat their skill check with a +2 CMod to appears, waving his gun around and
any attempt to talk Roy down. All he really shouting at them to get out.
wants is to feel safe and if they can The Narrator instructs the players to
convince him they are no threat then he roll for Initiative.
will offer to share his scant belongings
with them, so long as they promise to take Franklin rolls a 7 and gets +2 for his
him with them. He admits that he is scared Acumen of 5, +3 for his Dexterity of 6
and tired of living alone and wants to be and +1 CMod for a total of 13.
part of their community.
Macy rolls an 4 and has a +1 AMod for
The group should discuss their ideas of her Acumen of 4, nothing for a
what to do with Roy. Just talking him with Dexterity of 3, and the +1 CMod for a
total of 6.
him makes them realize that he poses no
threat and may actively help build their The Narrator rolls 10 for Roy and due
community. You should also remind the to his Dexterity of 2, has a 1 Amod to
players that Roy could potentially be a apply and a -2 CMod for a total of 8.
carrier, even if he doesn’t seem sick - but
if he is sick, they have all been close Initiative goes Franklin first with his
enough to him to get contaminated. score of 13, Roy next with 8, and Macy
goes last due to only getting a 6.
If the group is unable to subdue Roy or
actively decide to fight things out with him, Tell each player that they can either take
tell them that they should roll for Initiative a movement and an action, or two actions,
to determine the order they are all going to and ask the player who scored highest on
act in, as they are about to enter combat Initiative what they plan to do.
for the first time!
The available Actions are Aim, Attack,
Each player rolls 2D6 for Initiative, adding Cover Fire, Defend, Draw Weapon, Duck,
any Dexterity and Acumen AMods to Find Shelter, Reload, Reposition,
reflect their ability to assess and react to Suppressive Fire, Targeted Shots and
the situation at hand. Unjam Weapon.
Tell them that they also each get a +1 For now, don’t worry about knowing what
CMod as there are more of them than him, each action does. Most are fairly self-
and because Roy seems to be having explanatory but for full details, see the
trouble focusing on any one target and is Actions section on page X.
instead waving his gun around wildly.
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If they want to shoot Roy, tell them that him long enough for the players to get him
they are a comfortable range and don’t back to their base, should they choose to
need to move. No movement means that do so.
they will have two actions but unless they
previously stated they had their guns A Unqualified Success kills Roy outright,
drawn , they will have to spend one of their no matter how much damage is actually
actions to Draw Weapon. done.
If they want to spend their second action If Roy survives long enough to get off a
to Attack, tell them to look at their skill shot, roll 2D6, subtract 1 for his low
sheet to see if they have any Levels in Dexterity of 2, and an additional -3 CMod
Firearms or Marksman. for his frantic state of mind, particularly
having just been shot at. Have whichever
They should roll 2D6 and add any SMods player he is shooting at check their
for any Levels in Firearms or Marksman, character sheet for a Ranged Damage
any AMods for their Dexterity, and tell Mitigator, and subtract that number form
them that you are giving them a +1 CMod Roy’s check.
as Roy is stationary and a reasonably
easy target. If Roy is successful, have the player mark
down the 4 damage from his .38 S&W (a
Lastly, as Roy has a Dexterity of 2, due to Light Pistol). Have them also mark down
being old and slow, he actually has a the 1 Resilience Point damage.
Ranged Damage Modifier of +1, meaning
the players get an additional +1 to the final If every participant survives the first round
total. of combat, Roy will drop his gun and fall to
his knees weeping and begging for mercy.
If they score less than 8, they missed. Roy
will panic and on his turn will shoot He will plead with the players to spare his
whichever character fired at him last. life and will willingly give up everything he
has if they just let him live. If he senses
If the player scored an 8 or higher, they any mercy in their attitude, he will beg
have hit Roy and he takes whatever them to take him with them.
Damage is listed next to the player’s
Weapon on the character sheet. In If any of the players are wounded, tell
addition, Roy takes whatever Resilience them that they can tend their wounds back
damage is listed in parentheses next to at their base camp.
the Damage.
It’s starting to get dark and there’s still
a bit of a drive back to the motel
you’ve been staying at. You should get
all the supplies you have just found into
the car and get back on the road. It’s
not safe to be out after dark. You look
Assuming he survives, Bob will drop his at Roy again. It’s also not safe to take
weapon and slump to the floor and plead in strangers.
for his life.
No matter what the players decide to do
If they get a Wild Success, they have hit with Roy, tell them that they have
Roy in an artery and he immediately starts completed the first encounter and have
spurting blood. If they do nothing, he will earned 10 Experience Points (XP). They
bleed out within minutes. A successful should mark down on their character
First Aid or Surgery check will stabilize sheets to spend later.
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Map One: The Gas Station
3 4
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Franklin Johnson
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
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Franklin Johnson
Name:_______________________________________
3 5 3 3 6
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
0 +2 0 0 +3
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Primary Archetype:
Driver Secondary Archetype Mechanic
Specialty: Specialty:
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
Flashlight
Heavy Pistol S 6(3) 17
Mechanics Toolkit (+1 Mechanic Checks)
29
Macy Coleman
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
30
Macy Coleman
Name:_______________________________________
6 4 3 4 3
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
+3 +1 0 +1 0
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
31
Ross Bennett
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
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Ross Bennett
Name:_______________________________________
5 3 3 6 3
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
+3 0 0 +3 0
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Primary Archetype:
Local Politician Secondary Archetype Business Man
Specialty: Specialty:
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
33
Mateo Garcia
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
34
Mateo Garcia
Name:_______________________________________
3 4 4 4 5
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
0 +1 +1 +1 +2
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Primary Archetype:
Cop Secondary Archetype Mechanic
Specialty: Specialty:
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
35
Micha Stone
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
36
Micha Stone
Name:_______________________________________
3 3 6 3 5
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
0 0 +3 0 +2
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
37
Morgan Lieu
Name:_______________________________________
Background
Motivations:
38
Morgan Lieu
Name:_______________________________________
6 4 3 4 3
Reason Acumen Physicality Influence Dexterity
+3 +1 0 +1 0
+3
Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
Weapons Equipment
Weapon Name Range Damage Ammo Equipment Equipment
39