Age of Ambition presents a world in rapid flux, where magical and technological advancements are challenging the long-standing social order. It takes place in the fantasy world of Trystell, home to different peoples from humans and minotaurs, to ogres and gnomes. Trystell is a moon orbiting a gas giant, and has a hostile sister moon that once tried to colonize the world.
Trystell's Dark Ages ended with the Lunar Occupation. The advanced Blaugh'ock civilization introduced many new technologies and ideas: the empirical worldview, the crossbow, gunpowder, lunar magic, and (unfortunately) colonialism. With these, Trystell was jolted to a new age of reason. But the Lunar Occupation also did great harm to the world's social fabric. Families were torn apart; borders were imposed. Despite the success of the Native Revolts, it took civilization a long time to recover and to fully absorb the new technologies and social methods. Today these changes continue, as the world leaves the medieval trappings of its past behind and enters a brave new era of exploration and discovery.
Trystell is rapidly evolving both socially and culturally, from its equivalent of Earth's Middle Ages into what might be called the Early Modern era. It's grown beyond medieval fantasy on its way to something new. Age of Ambition heroes are agents of social change – inventors and agitators, spies and civic leaders – who bravely help guide the world into an uncertain future.
Age of Ambition is inspired by fantasy fiction like Joe Abercrombie's First Law novels, Daniel Abraham's The Dagger and the Coin books, Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard Sequence, and Brian McClellan's The Powder Mage trilogies. The setting supports a wide range of stories about power and influence, personal ambitions, and social change. The rules include systems for inventing new devices, trading goods, leading organizations, social climbing, and more.
Age of Ambition depicts a world drawn in shades of gray and full of intrigue. No one knows what this new era will bring, but with it comes great peril and great promise. So strap on your breastplate and pick up your pistol. There are discoveries to make, wrongs to right, tyrants to overthrow, and new social orders to trial.
- A lifepath character creation system, including birth omens, life events, and careers that connect each character to the world at large
- A fully-realized fantasy setting, including social dynamics, history, magic, politics, and plot hooks galore
- Support for a wide spectrum of power and influence, from peasant revolutionaries to the leaders of nations
- Systems for personal ambitions, influence, social change, bonds, magic, invention, combat, social status, and more
Each player needs a standard poker deck of playing cards. Learn more at the January 2020 Kickstarter campaign page.
Consequence Cards (retail price $2): Print-and-cut cards for each of the 14 consequences listed in the Age of Ambition rulebook. Set them on the table in front of you as your character takes consequences, or hand them to other players when you cause them.
GM Screen Inserts (retail $2): Two letter-size landscape panels with useful charts and tables.
Trystell Poster Map (pay-what-you-want): A color map of the world of Trystell, a companion to any Age of Ambition campaign.
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