PUPPET STRINGS

AGENCY AND PARADOX

Coincidences, freak accidents, plot twists. Are TABLE OF CONTENTS

some things truly random happenstance, or are
they the outcome of a dark conspiracy? When FLASHBACK PG 3
the villain turns out to be your evil clone
brother, was it chance that brought you TWIST OF FATE PG 4
together or was it fate?
TRIVIAL COINCIDENCE PG 5
This document addresses a paradox: Role
DARK REVELATION PG 6
playing games are best served by embracing
player agency, that is the ability for players to TIME PARADOX PG 7
collaborate in the storytelling alongside the
referee, but the genre of “conspiracy thriller” APPENDIX: Enemies & NPCs PG 8
are often stories in which the protagonists are
puppets pushed and pulled by dark forces APPENDIX: Cyclops Gadgets PG 9
beyond their control.
APPENDIX: Collectibles. PG 10
This document contains five new optional rules.
They need not all be used, the players and
referee can decide which they want to use. Feel free to share this document and use it for
non-commercial purposes. All of the artwork is
FLASHBACK and TWIST OF FATE let players spend made by the author, utilizing public domain
their war dice to affect the story in ways photography found on the wikimedia commons.
beyond typical in-character actions and take
retroactive preparations. The FLASHBACK mechanic is inspired by an
identically named mechanic from the game
TRIVIAL COINCIDENCE and DARK REVELATION, let Blades in the Dark and is used in lots of “Forged
the referee invite their players to “fill in the in the Dark” games. If you know a version of that
rule from another game that you prefer over
blanks” and choose how the story develops.
this one, you should use it!
TIME PARADOX lets the referee rewind time
when the players change the course of history.
Version 1.0 for the Finishing Line jam.

Finally, the appendix contains new enemies,

cyclops gadgets and collectibles. Some of
these reference the new optional rules.

PUPPET STRINGS page 2

FLASHBACK
PLAYER TOOL
A FLASHBACK allows the player to retroactively
take actions in the past. Once a mission is
underway, you can expend a WAR DIE to
retroactively take an action that you could have
conceivably taken earlier. If the action isn’t
risky, it happens automatically. If there is
conceivable risk to the action, then it requires a
do something risky roll and you can add the
result of your WAR DIE to that roll.
FLASHBACKS must be things you are normally
capable of doing, they don’t allow you to break
reality or undo events that have already taken
place.
Safe FLASHBACKS
1. You left a spare getaway car just around the
corner.
2. You have an umbrella and rain jacket on a
stormy night.
3. You brought steaks to give to the guard dogs.
4. You hid an important item somewhere safe.
5. You called in a favor with an NPC ally.
6. You have useful maps and blueprints of the
current location.
FLASHBACKS can be obvious preparations, like
bringing an umbrella on a rainy night, but they
might also be a lucky guess or eerie foresight,
like placing a spare gun in a gutter right where
you need it. Preparations can have included
spending money and acquiring assets, but not
beyond your actual means. If buying something
would have been risky, make a do something
risky roll.
Here are some examples of possible
FLASHBACKS, the players should come up with
their own as suits their current situation and
needs.
Risky FLASHBACKS
1. You bribed a guard to leave this door unlocked.
2. You placed your rocket launcher in a nearby
public trash can.
3. You watched the guard patrols the previous
night and know their pattern.
4. You bugged a public location.
5. You already purchased several kilos of cocaine.
6. You extorted a politician into betraying his
allies.
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TWIST OF FATE
PLAYER TOOL
A TWIST OF FATE allows the player to
dramatically change the story, by adding a plot
twist into the current scene. You can do a
TWIST OF FATE at any moment and it costs a
WAR DIE. This rule allows the players to add and
change things about the story, beyond the
actions their characters can normally take. For
example, a player could use a TWIST OF FATE to
reveal that an npc is a former lover, or that they
know an arms dealer that has a nearby hideout.
TWISTS of FATE can invent entirely new npc
contacts, locations or complications for a
mission. They shouldn’t trivialize or completely
circumvent a mission, but they can help the
players carry out their objectives. Alternatively,
a TWIST can be introduced simply because a
Inconsequential TWISTS
1: There is a gas station across the street.
2: The villain has a funny mustache.
3: The park has a flock of geese.
4: Today is your mom’s birthday.
5: The circus is in town.
6: The chief of police is named Furby Dingle Jr.
player thinks it'd be a cool thing to add to the
story, even if it isn’t helpful.
Some TWISTS are inconsequential and others
are consequential. If there is a question as to
how effective a TWIST should be, that is a
consequential twist and the referee should roll
a die of fate. Roll a d6, if the result is high, the
TWIST is in favor of the player. If the result is
low, there might be a complication or cost. If a
TWIST is truly inconsequential, the player rolls a
d6. If the result is 4 or higher, the player retains
their WAR DIE.
Here are some examples of possible TWISTS OF
FATE, the players should come up with their
own.
Consequential TWISTS
1: You know an ARMS DEALER (FIST pg 133)
nearby, are they willing to deal?
2: The villain is your evil twin brother. How much
do you know about him?
3: You’ve infiltrated this place before, how much
has it changed?
4: The train is late, how long until it arrives?
5: There is a policeman standing outside, will they
help or cause problems?
6: There is a venomous snake under a rock, how
deadly is the venom?
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TRIVIAL COINCIDENCE
REFEREE TOOL
A trivial coincidence allows a player to
spontaneously develop their backstory. The
player character stumbles across something
and it reveals details about that player
character.
Each trivial coincidence asks a question and the
player provides the answer. The character then
gains something, like a piece of equipment,
information or insight. This reward may or may
not be useful. The player character should
acknowledge it in game to the other characters,
revealing something humanizing about
themselves to the other characters.
The referee can place a trivial coincidence
wherever, but should consider adding them at
TRIVIAL COINCIDENCES
1. Sporting Equipment: You were a professional or
semi-professional athlete. What is your sport?
2: Tool: You worked as a tradesman like a
carpenter or plumber, what is your trade?
3. Restaurant: Your favorite restaurant is on this
street. What is it?
4. Lost Animal: You find a stray animal that likes
you, what is it?
5: Animal Dream: You have a dream about an
animal doing something weird, what’s it doing?
6. Wig: You find a wig that looks good on you,
what kind of wig is it?
quiet moments, like when investigating an area
or at a rendezvous point.
The trivial coincidence can help describe the
world the players are in and connect them to it.
If multiple players are interested in opting into
the trivial coincidence, decide if multiple
players can share in it or otherwise have them
roll-off for it. It’s okay if nobody is interested in
opting into the trivial coincidence.
The referee shouldn’t create scenarios where
trivial coincidences are mandatory for purposes
of moving the story forward.
Here are some example Trivial Coincidences, the
referee should come up with more.
1. Booze or Cigs: You find your favorite alcohol or
tobacco brand, what is it?
2. Medicine: You find drugs for a common medical
condition you have. What is it?
3. Music: Your favorite or least favorite song is
playing, what is it and why do you love or hate it?
4. Raunchy Magazine: You find a magazine that
trips your trigger. You hide it in your bag.
5. Toy: You find a toy that you played with as a
child. What is it?
6. Vending Machine: A vending machine has your
favorite soda or snack, what is it?
PUPPET STRINGS page 5
DARK REVELATION
REFEREE TOOL
A DARK REVELATION allows the referee to
connect a major plot development to a
character’s story. The character discovers they
have a surprising personal connection to the
current mission. Each DARK REVELATION asks a
question and the player provides the answer.
The player then gains 1d6 WAR DICE. The player
character should acknowledge the Dark
Revelation in game to the other characters,
revealing something about themselves to the
other characters.
The referee can place a Dark Revelation
wherever they want to, but consider adding
them at moments of tension and action, like
during a villain's monologue, in active combat or
DARK REVELATIONS
1. BROTHER!: The villain reveals they are your Evil
Twin (pg 9). Why do they hate you?
2: Secret Orders: You begin the mission with an
Amnesia Gun (pg 10) and can’t remember the last
two weeks.
3: Former Lover: You and this NPC had a romantic
tryst, why did it end?
4: Rivalry: You and this person competed for
something: a job, a lover, a contest. Who won?
5: WANTED: You committed a crime in this city and
are wanted by the police. What was the crime?
6: Former Boss: You used to work for the villain,
what job did you do for them?
after an enemy is defeated. You might also
place more cryptic REVELATIONS in quiet
moments of exploration or travel.
If multiple players are interested in opting into
the Dark Revelation, decide if multiple players
can share in it or otherwise have them roll-off
for it. If no player opts in, choose an npc ally
the characters care about and have them be
the subject of the Dark Revelation.
By opting into a Dark Revelation, the player
signals their interest in having the plot twist
around their character, introducing shocking
secrets, inconvenient complications and terrible
dilemas.
1. Alien Hybrid: You’ve been injected with alien
DNA that is rewriting your biology, what is your
first symptom?
2. Revengeance: Someone you killed is back as a
Cyborg Ninja (FIST Ultra pg 127). When/why did
you kill them?
3. Blackmail: An npc has blackmail on you, what is
it?
4. Clone: You are a clone replacement of your
original character. When did you swap?
5. Real Name: An enemy reveals your true identity
and name. What is it?
6. Hostage: The villain has taken a hostage,
someone dear to you. Who?
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TIME PARADOX
REFEREE TOOL
A time paradox occurs whenever something
happens in the story that would radically
contradict history as we (the players) know it.
For example, if President Kennedy is not
assassinated or if Yuri Gargarin doesn’t
complete his first space flight or if Billy Joel
doesn’t record his 1973 hit song, Piano Man.
What does and doesn’t constitute a time
paradox is up to the referee and what the group
thinks would be fun. If something can be
explained away or shuffled out of view, it
probably doesn’t constitute a Time Paradox.
When a Time Paradox occurs, all play is halted
and the players all gain 1 WAR DIE. The referee
explains what triggered the paradox, and then
resets the scene at an earlier point when it
could be prevented. Play then resumes, but
PARADOX ANOMALIES
1. TERMINATION: An Exterminator (pg 9) arrives
from the future to kill a character.
2: Elvis Sighting: Elvis (pg 8) appears .
3: Furry: An important npc now has the Hybrid
trait (Fist Ultra pg 49)
4: Evening Party: Everyone is now wearing
fabulous tuxedos and evening gowns.
5: Animal Attack: A large animal, like an elephant
or crocodile attacks.
6: Evil Weather: The weather turns strange, it
rains ash, frogs, blood or something else bad.
with a Paradox Anomaly altering the scene. The
referee can roll on the table below or invent a
new Paradox Anomaly.
Time Paradoxes can recur, but each time the
same paradox occurs, retain any anomalies and
add another anomaly. There is a 1-in-1d6 chance
a player realizes they are repeating history,
which increases by 1 for each time they have
repeated events. If a time paradox recurs d666
times, the world is destroyed. No one knows the
hour or the day. The referee should roll this
number and keep it secret, even from
themselves.
Once the moment of the paradox is passed and
the triggering event is clearly prevented, any
Paradox Anomalies fade away.
1. : Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu: R'lyeh wgah'nagl
fhtagn.
2. Rebellion: A Lost Angel (FIST Ultra pg 136)
appears, seeking to repeat the paradox.
3. Fission Mailed: An important npc is actually an
AI and is now malfunctioning badly.
4. New Actor: An npc looks subtly, but noticeably
different.
5. War Games: The previous events were just a VR
simulation.
6. Laugh Track: The scene repeats, but this time
an audience can be heard laughing, gasping and
crying in response to the action.
PUPPET STRINGS page 7
APPENDIX:
ENEMIES and NPCs

EDGELORD (4 HP, CHOKE 3: Cry About How Unfair Things Are)

Katana (1d6+1 DAMAGE) Edglelord Appearance D6

Black Leather Trench Coat (Armor 1) 1: Long Dirty Hair
Fedora (Accessory) 2: Pocket Protector
3-in-1d6: Mall Katana (Breaks after 1 hit) 3: Combat Boots
2-in-1d6: Shuriken (1d6 uses, 3 DAMAGE) 4: Fingerless Gloves
1-in-1d6: Portable Computer (Hacking) 5: Silk Shirt (Hawaiian or DBZ)
6: Socks and Sandals

NOTHING PERSONAL, KID: Edgelords are obnoxious dorks who spend too much time online and
not enough time showering. They are patronizing and most have superiority complexes. When
things don’t go their way, they often throw tantrums. They seek praise and affection and will
take any chance to show off their computer hacking or katana skills.

ELVIS (6 HP, CHOKE 6: Puke)

Mesmerizing Pelvis (Roll CRE or be stunned)

Guitar (3 DAMAGE, Breaks in 2 Hits)
3-in-1d6: Carrying Drugs (1d6 uses)
1-in-1d6: 1d6 Grey Observers appear

CRYPTIC SIGHTINGS: When Elvis appears, he

can either summon enormous crowds of
spectators or go completely unnoticed by
nearly everyone. Elvis likes to help out those
in need, especially underdogs. Some say he is
still loyal to the CIA, while others say he now
serves extraterrestrials. No one will believe
you when you say you saw him.

Elvis Costume 1D6

1: White Silk Jumpsuit (Armor 0)
2: Baby Blue Tuxedo (Armor 0)
3: Black Leather Jumpsuit (Armor 1)
4: Army Fatigues (Armor 1, Pistol 1d6 DAMAGE)
5: Comedic Fat Suit (Armor 2)
6: Apollo Space Suit (Armor 2, Vacuum Seal)

PUPPET STRINGS page 8

APPENDIX:
ENEMIES and NPCs

EVIL TWIN (CHOKE 4: Resentful Monologue)

An Evil Twin has HP, Armor, Weapons and Traits Distinguishing Feature 1D6
identical to its player character twin. The Evil 1: Eyepatch
Twin also gains 1 random trait 2: Unusual Hair Color
3-in-1d6 chance for Evil Triplets. 3: Different Accent
1-in-1d6 chance for 1d6 additional evil twins. 4: Pet Companion
5: Alien Hybrid
6: Hairless, Days-Old Clone

INFERIORITY COMPLEX: Evil Twins have had their minds poisoned by conspiratorial thinking.
They believe that their twin has stolen everything from them, including opportunities, love of
their parents and even genes. They are filled with resentment and often undertake
convoluted plans to kill their siblings.

EXTERMINATOR (12 HP)

Steel Fist (1d6+3) Exterminator Appearance 1D6

Sawn-off Shotgun (1d6+1) 1: Naked Human (No Guns)
Steel Android (Armor 2) 2: Cop Uniform
3-in-1d6: Laser Eyes (1d6 DAMAGE, Melt Metal) 3: Biker Leather
2-in-1d6: Motorcycle 4: Rebel Soldier Fatigues
1-in-1d6: Minigun (2d6, Ammo Drum) 5: Naked Steel Robot
6: Liquid Metal Skin (Armor 4, Disguises)

I’LL BE BACK: Exterminators arrive from the future. They are time traveling assassins with
inflexible missions: destroy their target. When an Exterminator is destroyed it says “I’LL BE
BACK”. Roll 1d6. If the result is 3 or higher, the Exterminator arrives from the future again in
that many days, fully healed and possibly with new features.

PUPPET STRINGS page 9

APPENDIX:
ITEMS
THE ZAPRUDER CAMERA (COLLECTIBLE)

This Bell & Howell Zoomatic Camera was used by

Abraham Zapruder to film the Kennedy
Assassination. It has a sleek, modern portable
design. It takes reels of 8 mm color film.

If you use the Zapruder Camera to record an

event that causes a Time Paradox, all players gain
1d6 WAR DICE instead of just 1 WAR DIE. Roll twice
for the Paradox Anomaly, the camera operator
can choose which anomaly appears or choose
both.

LOCATION: The Zapruder Camera is usually on

display at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey
Plaza, a small museum dedicated to the Kennedy
Assasination. EDGELORDS (see Appendix) will
often steal the camera or hire others to steal the
camera, when documenting paranormal and
psycho-politico operations. It’s considered good
manners to return the camera after such a
mission

PSYCHOGIMP MASK (CYCLOPS GADGET)

This mask is made from a standard gasmask, but it has the imprint of a powerful psychic upon it. The
mask prevents your mind from being read by other telepaths or machines. You can use FLASHBACKS
without expending WAR DICE, each time you do this reduce your maximum hp by 1 until the end of the
mission.

Amnesia Gun (CYCLOPS GADGET)

Amnesia Guns are given to CYCLOPs assassins, and are typically either sniper rifles or silenced pistols.
24 hours after you kill someone with an amnesia gun, you forget all details of the last two weeks.

PUPPET STRINGS page 10