Scum and Villainy

Scum & Villainy · Scum and Villainy TTRPG

Scum and Villainy

Be a starship crew trying to make rent and a name in a dangerous galaxy. Scum and Villainy delivers high-energy capers, tangled loyalties, and that found-family feel as you hustle between factions, noble houses, and the heavy hand of the Hegemony. Scenes move quickly, choices matter, and consequences boomerang in satisfying ways. Your ship grows with you, reflecting how your crew likes to work, whether slick smugglers, daring bounty hunters, or would-be rebels.

A session drops you into the middle of a job, focuses on bold moves, then cools off while you patch the ship, make allies, and plot the next score. It is welcoming to first-timers and rewarding for veterans who enjoy clever problem-solving and teamwork. Great for birthdays and team events, in person or online. Ready to try it with a steady hand at the helm? Meet our Game Masters.

How to play Scum and Villainy

In play, you describe what your character does, then roll a small pool of six-sided dice based on your action rating. Take the highest die. A 1 to 3 means trouble, 4 or 5 means you succeed with a hitch, 6 means a clean success, and two 6s is a critical. The Game Master sets risk and impact for each move, tracks progress with clocks, and brings consequences and opportunities. You can push yourself, help a crewmate, or resist fallout by spending stress. The crew also shares gambits, a pool that fuels bold manoeuvres.

Players bring a character playbook, a sense of their drives and relationships, and a willingness to improvise. Gear is flexible, picked as needed within your chosen load. A professional Game Master brings the sector map, factions, jobs, ship options, and a rhythm that keeps scenes tight. Online play is smooth with voice, shared sheets, and simple dice rollers, see our online play platforms.

In a one-shot, you make characters quickly or use pregens, tackle a focused score, and take a short downtime to wrap up loose ends. In a campaign, your crew builds reputation, heat, and long-term projects, upgrades the ship, explores new systems, and tangles with recurring rivals. Both styles highlight teamwork and tough choices, with sessions typically running 2 to 3 hours.

Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.
Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.
Close-up of a green twenty-sided die with gold numbers, used for tabletop role-playing games like dungeos and dragons.
Close-up of a green twenty-sided die with gold numbers, used for tabletop role-playing games like dungeos and dragons.
Green ten-sided die with gold numbers 5 and 9 visible.

Common questions

How is Scum and Villainy different from D&D?

Scum and Villainy uses the Forged in the Dark engine, focusing on capers and consequences. You roll small pools of d6s, the GM sets position and effect, and progress clocks track goals and threats to keep the action sharp. Planning is minimal as you can flash back to prep on the fly. Teamwork is key, with assists and group actions. Your crew and ship gain upgrades and abilities, while fallout builds heat with factions. It feels more like a fast-paced space heist show than traditional dungeon crawling.

What occurs in a single Scum and Villainy session?

You typically begin as a score kicks off with an engagement roll that establishes the opening. Then we navigate through bold moves, twists, and significant choices, using flashbacks when preparation comes into play at just the right moment. You can push yourself or resist trouble by spending stress. After the score, downtime allows you to repair, reduce heat, work on projects, and prepare for the next opportunity. Most groups finish a full job plus downtime in 2 to 3 hours.

I have never played Forged in the Dark. Can I pick it up quickly?

Yes. The core loop is straightforward: declare your action, gather a few six-sided dice based on your action rating and bonuses, and read the highest die. The GM will explain position, effect, assists, stress, and resisting as they arise. You can use pregenerated characters or create one quickly from a playbook. A brief walkthrough gets everyone started, and our Game Masters teach the rules as you play.

How do the crew sheet and ship really impact gameplay?

Your crew has its own sheet with abilities, contacts, and a shared pool of gambits for daring manoeuvres. Your ship sets your focus, like smugglers, bounty hunters, or would-be rebels, and gains upgrades, modules, and quirks that reflect how you operate. Jobs create heat and shift your standing with syndicates, noble houses, and the Hegemony, so friends and enemies remain. Downtime choices shape how your crew develops and how the ship evolves.

Is Scum and Villainy suitable for kids or teens?

Yes, with the tone adjusted. The game includes blasters, chases, and sci-fi crime, but a professional Game Master can ensure that violence remains non-graphic, avoid heavy themes, and focus on clever plans, humour, and teamwork. We implement clear content boundaries and safety tools. Families often enjoy playful smuggling runs, rescue missions, and racing against the authorities. Older kids and teens usually pick it up quickly because the rules prioritise storytelling and the dice mechanics are straightforward.

Is it better as a one-off or a long campaign?

It works well either way. A one-shot provides a focused experience, quick character creation or pre-generated characters, and a brief downtime to wrap up the story. A campaign allows your crew to build reputation and heat, upgrade the ship, pursue long-term projects, and face off against recurring factions and rivals. The same mechanics support both formats, so you can try a single evening before fully committing. If you have a preference for a particular table vibe, check out GM playstyles to find a suitable match.

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Genres you can play in Scum and Villainy

  • Space Opera

    Epic sci-fi melodrama set among the stars, featuring daring pilots, noble rebels, tyrants wielding planet-destroying weapons, and a crew…

    View genre: Space Opera
  • Crime

    Pull off a slick heist, track down a killer, or navigate the mob's code. Crime games balance planning, pressure, and morally ambiguous…

    View genre: Crime
  • Heist

    Gather the team, scout the target, and execute the heist. Picture Ocean's Eleven, filled with clever strategies, skilled roles, narrow…

    View genre: Heist
  • Rebellion

    Whispered schemes, audacious raids, and tough decisions as you stand up to authority. Imagine The Hunger Games vibe brought to your table…

    View genre: Rebellion
  • Pulp

    Two-fisted thrills, cliffhanger chases, masked villains, and deathtraps. Think Indiana Jones-style adventure or hardboiled capers, where…

    View genre: Pulp

What players are saying

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a fantastic job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Cheers, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varied experience levels, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed for our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I organised a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is really passionate about it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was a fantastic GM who adapted seamlessly to our group and helped us make great progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided; they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were quite rough. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A great first experience with D&D. Amber was excellent at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating on attack strategies with my colleagues was a fun activity that provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly a legend as a DM! He's cheerful, adaptable, and incredibly experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in a fun manner and engaged every player in the story, whether they were vocal or reserved. If you go adventuring with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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