The Quiet Year

Quiet Year · The Quiet Year TTRPG

The Quiet Year

The Quiet Year is a tabletop story game about a community picking up the pieces after a collapse. Together, you draw a shared map, define landmarks, and watch the seasons change. Each scene poses human questions about scarcity, trust, and hope, building a town that feels real. People love its calm rhythm, the bittersweet ending, and the way every choice leaves a mark on the page. If you enjoy grounded Post-Apocalyptic tales focused on people rather than firefights, this will resonate.

A session feels thoughtful and hands-on. You talk, sketch, and discover surprises, with quiet tension rather than combat. A professional Game Master acts as facilitator, teaches the structure, keeps the pace, and ensures every voice is heard. It is welcoming to first-timers, great for mixed groups, writers, and teams who prefer collaboration over rules crunch. Perfect for one-shots at parties or offsites, in person on butcher paper or online with a shared whiteboard. 2 to 4 players, 2 to 4 hours.

How to play The Quiet Year

The Quiet Year uses a standard deck of cards, no dice. Each turn, someone draws a card that represents a week and reads a prompt. You add to the map, start or advance projects, hold brief discussions, or discover something new. As the weeks pass, tokens and notes track resources, tensions, and ongoing work. The year ends when a specific card appears, so decisions carry weight and time matters.

Players bring curiosity, questions, and a willingness to sketch simple shapes. You do not need to draw well. Our Game Masters provide the deck, large paper or a shared online board (see online options), markers, and tokens, explain the phases, handle timing, and keep everyone engaged with the game’s conversation tools. They also set the tone and ensure safety so the table feels supported, whether you prefer hopeful rebuilding, political debate, or grittier stakes.

It shines as a single sitting, usually 2 to 4 hours. For longer bookings, your facilitator can spread the year over two sessions, or host a short series of standalone communities set in the same region. Each session stands on its own, so people can drop in without feeling lost, while returning groups enjoy seeing themes echo across maps.

A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen
Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen

Common questions

Do we need to know the rules or be good at drawing?

No rulebook study is required. A professional Game Master will teach the flow in minutes and ensure turns are clear and fair. You will make simple marks and symbols on a shared map. Stick figures and boxes work perfectly. There are no character sheets, stats, or dice. Each card provides a prompt, then you add to the map, start a project, or hold a brief discussion. The focus is on ideas and conversation, not artistic skills. Curiosity is the only requirement.

How is The Quiet Year different from D&D?

You are building a community together, rather than controlling individual heroes. There is no combat system or tactical grid. The deck establishes the rhythm of weeks and seasons, and the map expands as you play. Decisions are made through brief discussions at the table and projects on the map, rather than through skill checks. Our Game Master facilitates and maintains the tone, but the group determines what the community does. It feels reflective and collaborative, with gentle tension instead of battles and treasure hunts.

What materials do we need, and how do you conduct it online?

In person, our Game Master brings a standard deck of cards, large paper, markers, and tokens for projects and notes. Online, you will use a shared whiteboard for drawing, digital tokens, and a virtual card deck. No special software is required beyond a voice or video call and a browser. The facilitator manages setup and teaches quick drawing conventions to ensure the map remains clear. If you prefer online tools, see options here: online play platforms.

What group size is ideal and how long does a session last?

It is designed for 2 to 4 players. The sweet spot is often 3 or 4, allowing ideas to flow without anyone waiting too long. Most sessions wrap up in about 2 to 4 hours, depending on how much discussion you prefer. For a longer booking, our Game Master can split the year across two sessions. Each session is self-contained, so a guest can join without any prior preparation. The deck determines when the year concludes, ensuring the pacing remains natural.

Is it suitable for kids? What age groups are best?

Yes, with the right tone. The themes revolve around scarcity, choices, and collaboration after hardship. There is no gore or tactical violence in the rules. With guidance, ages 10 and up generally do well, and teens often excel. Our Game Master assesses comfort levels and establishes boundaries before play, then tailors prompts to suit your group. You can maintain a hopeful and constructive atmosphere, or cautiously delve into more challenging questions. Families and classrooms often appreciate its gentle pace.

Can we replay it or use it as a mini series?

Absolutely. New maps, different starting assumptions, and shuffled cards create fresh outcomes each time. You can change the vibe, from cosy rebuilding to thornier politics, and watch entirely new landmarks and projects emerge. For a short series, your facilitator can run several standalone communities set in related locations. You will notice echoes and contrasts without needing strict continuity. It is satisfying as a one-off, and just as rewarding to revisit with a new perspective.

Booking Form


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Genres you can play in The Quiet Year

  • Survival

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  • Gritty

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What players are saying

  • Tom was fantastic! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The kids asked the next day when we could do this again.

    Danny

  • 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.

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