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A Crazy Little RPG Idea
Spy x Family
Disclaimer: Spy × Family is the property of Tatsuya Endo, Shueisha, and CloverWorks. This is an unofficial fan-made TTRPG idea, not licensed or endorsed by the rights holders, and shared non-commercially for fan enjoyment only.
One of my favorite anime releases in 2022, was Spy x Family. Set in an alternate Cold-War era, it follows an unlikely trio: a spy (Loid), an assassin (Yor), and an adopted esper/telepath (Anya), who find themselves together as an unconventional family. The spy and assassin conceal their true professions and missions from eachother and the outside world. The adopted esper, however, knows the truth, but she cannot reveal that she knows without exposing herself.
If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. Many episodes center on a specific mission or event, with one of more of the characters secretly juggling their true roles behind the scenes. This often leads to clever, heartfelt, or comedic outcomes that drive the story and family’s relationship forward.
Now, comes the question that everyone would ask…
how do I make Spy x Family into a fun tabletop roleplaying game?
Where we can embody our favorite characters, and create similar moments as created by the show. Lets get into it!
All the content for this is listed below, but any changes that will be made will be done on the doc provided here
So this will work a little differently than a normal traditional ttrpg like Dungeons and Dragons. For this, there will be no Game Master, and each player will assume control over one character, where you will use your character navigate the world, solve problems, come up with setbacks, and use your abilities to bring the game to life.
For this game, you’ll be picking one of three characters. Each are equipped with their own abilities and character traits. Its important to note that after every mission, you’ll be switching which character you play.
Loid Forger- the elusive spy codenamed Twilight, a master of disguise-able to blend into any space. Who is careful and calculated with their plans. Who is broadly educated and a sweet talker, capable of impersonating and seducing targets. Who has a growing fondness and genuine love for this new family.
Goals: To make Anya an imperial scholar (7 stella awards), so he can get close to the leader of the rival nation.
Abilities:
Meticulous Planner: You plan ahead, which means you have a backup plan.
Flawless Disguise: For a limited time you can assume any disguise.
Master Spy: Expert in infiltration, information, social
Yor Briar/Forger- A famous assassin known as the Thorn Princess, an expert in stealth, and master martial artist and acrobat. Sometimes naive and clumsy, but is gentle and kind hearted. Who is protective in her role as mother and is much stronger than she looks when it comes to defending her family.
Goals: To protect and support her family, and to keep her assassin role a secret.
Abilities:
Apex Prowess: You are capable of incredible feats of immense strength, dexterity, endurance, and acrobatics, when motivated you are superhuman.
Master Assassin: Resistant to poisons, master martial artist, and melee weapons fighter.
Disarming Innocence: Your awkward charm and demeanour can be used to make others thing your lost, or clueless.
Anya Forger- An esper who can read people's minds and tries to put it to good use. Who is still a child and is playful and easily distracted. Who loves her new parents and life and wants them to stay together, otherwise she will be abandoned (*gasp*). Who knows her parents’ secrets at a surface level and needs to make sure her parents stay together at all costs to the mission. Who loves her spy show (BondMan) and eager for any excitement. Who longs for acceptance of both family, friends and acquaintances. She also needs to academically succeed (an uphill battle), to help Loid on his mission.
Goals: To not be abandoned, by keeping Loid and Yor together, and helping them succeed on their missions.
Abilities:
Overhear Secrets: You can read the thoughts of others around you to learn new information.
Childish Charm: Being a child can let you get away with getting places and doing things that an adult wouldn’t be able to get away with.
Bond with Bond: Bond has the powers of premonition; sometimes he acts on his own accord, and sometimes Anya sees these visions as well.
As you roleplay through your adventure, you will be using your abilities to solve problems.
When you use your ability to try and solve a problem, roll a d6 into the Waku Waku (Excitement) Pool. If there are no matching die faces, you succeed as intended. If there is a matching face in the pool, then a Complication is triggered, something goes wrong or takes an unexpected turn! If you have a match, take the two matching dice out of the pool.
For example, if you roll a 2, and there is a 3 and 5 in the pool, you succeed.
If you roll a 2, and there is a 2, and 4 in the pool, the twos match and and a complication occurs, you also remove the two 2s from the pool..
To mimic the episodic format of the series, we will set things forward in a mission structure Where there will be a singular goal set out at the beginning, and players will set out to make it happen. These stories can cover things like:
There is a special craft project at school for Anya to get a stella
Loid gets an assignment from WISE to infiltrate and steal information.
Yor receives a mission to defend a client from assassins.
MIssion Roles
With every mission (in addition to rotating characters), you will also be rotating Mission Roles, which functions as the character focus for the episode. There are three mission roles:
Main Character - You get to decide the next mission for this episode. It’s important to remember that most of the family should be able to accompany or assist you for a vast majority of it, for instance going to the mall to meet up with an informant, or taking a vacation somewhere.
Example: Main Character is Loid, and has a mission to help Anya pass a group project
Supporting character - You are the core supporting character that will be going along with the main mission, you may find ways to insert your ideas and abilities to help move things along.
Example: Supporting character is Yor, she will accompany Loid to the mall to get supplies and assist on making the project come to gether.
Secret Mission Character - You are able to partake as a supporting character, but you are also allowed to embark on a secret mission. This sidequest, will run in parallel to the main mission, but the catch here is that you are doing your best to avoid being spotted by the other characters. Of course getting spotted isnt the end of the world, you can either join the family, or find an excuse to disappear again.
Example: The Secret Character is Anya, and her secret mission is to get Bond some dog treats from the same mall.
This is going to feel a lot more different than traditional ttrpgs, its going to be far more collaborative and open ended. If you’re not accustomed to it, the other players can serve as GMs to help facilitate what you run into and when a challenge might be imposed.
Fail-Forward is the name of the game here. Any consequences that get triggered are to provide additional roadblocks, wrinkles, or challenges to overcome.
