https://systemxemotion.itch.io/the-ancient-ones-speakWhy should I pick up TAOS?
Have you ever wondered what a dungeon-crawl would be like if you had to talk to the bosses?
The Ancient Ones Speak (TAOS) is a game of tactical conversation-based gameplay that tests players’ social and empathy skills, as well as their logic and reasoning capabilities. As players work to unpick “conversational puzzle boxes”, a card-based system facilitates the Arbiter (the GM) taking the role of their eldritch opponent while ensuring the fairness of the interaction.
Between the Arbiter and the custom cards on the table, TAOS facilitates complex gameplay without the need for preparation time or up-front rules explanations to your players, so you can get straight into playing the tutorial campaign.
TAOS is a game with strong real-world connections; it allows players to explore their own identities, opinions, and experiences and make their mark upon a unique version of the human world. It is also a system where information (rather than battle prowess) is king; so while you keep track of how they are changing the world, they will be building maps of the relationships and motivations of ancient god-like beings.
In short: If you like the idea of players agonising over how to seduce the personification of The Public Opinion so that they can overturn an election result, this might be the game for you.