itch.io

absolutely love it!

Thank you for playing it!

Amazing! Thank you!
Submitted now

I can't believe I was late for a few minutes....d'oh!

Anyway, the game I made is here if you are still keen to accept it or have a look at it: https://questludica.itch.io/cape-crisis

thanks! Spread the word!

I'm excited to share my latest project: Root of the Rot, a 5th Edition one-shot adventure that's a bit different from your typical "kill the monster" scenario.

The Premise: A frontier village is dying from a mysterious blight. Everyone blames the forest witch, but what if the real monster is fear and ignorance itself?

What Makes It Special: 

• Investigation-focused - Four detailed locations with environmental storytelling 
• Moral complexity - No clear villains, just people making bad choices from desperation 
• Rich NPCs - Five characters with real motivations, secrets, and complete stat blocks 
• Beginner-friendly - Clear structure for new DMs, engaging for experienced players 
• Professional presentation - 29 pages with full-color artwork and handouts

This adventure came from wanting to explore what happens when the "villain" isn't actually evil—just misunderstood. Players can resolve the situation through investigation, negotiation, combat, or political maneuvering. All paths are valid, but the consequences differ dramatically.

Technical Details:

• 29-page professional PDF with full-color artwork
• 3-4 hour playtime
• 4-6 characters, 5th level (scales for 3rd-7th level)
• Complete stat blocks (no Monster Manual needed)
• Three handouts, quick references, scaling advice
• Digital-optimized with bookmarks and hyperlinks

I'm launching this as Pay What You Want because I believe good adventures should be accessible to everyone. If you try it and enjoy it, any support helps me create more content like this!

The investigation system actually works—clues feel earned rather than handed out, and player choices genuinely matter. It's perfect for groups tired of hack-and-slash who want something with real emotional stakes.

Link: https://questludica.itch.io/root-of-the-rot

Would love to hear thoughts from fellow creators and players! What kinds of moral dilemmas do you like to explore in your games?

Thanks for checking it out!

The Blighted North – A Survival Horror TTRPG (With Apologies)

Play Free: https://questludica.itch.io/the-blighted-north-quickstart

Hey everyone!

We’re Quest Ludica, and for the Never51 jam, we asked one question:

What if the zombie apocalypse hit Canada… and everyone stayed weirdly polite about it?

Welcome to The Blighted North—a free quickstart tabletop RPG about freezing to death, fighting undead, and apologizing while doing both.

This isn’t a gritty military sim or a power fantasy. It’s a story of duct-taped winter coats, hockey pads as armor, and zombies that still queue and say “sorry” as they try to eat you.

What's inside

• One-shot survival horror TTRPG with a dry, absurd edge
• 4 pre-built characters (auto mechanic, doctor, teacher, corner store clerk)
• Sanity, survival, cold, and luck mechanics
• Sample scenario: "The Last Transmission" – your friend is dying, and the nearest meds are deep inside a zombie-filled Walmart
• Entirely playable in one evening with nothing but dice, friends, and some Canadian-level endurance

Why Play it?

Because it’s Free RPG Day.
Because it’s short, sharp, and ready to run.
Because the undead are polite but the world is falling apart anyway.

If you’ve ever wanted to yell “Shut the door, he’s still holding it open for the zombie!” then this might be your game.

Full game coming Spring 2026.
Lore, updates, and our other dystopian project (MENTARIS) at: https://questludica.com

Thanks for reading! Let us know if you play—we love hearing survivor stories, especially the ridiculous ones.

Play it free: https://questludica.itch.io/the-blighted-north-quickstart

Hey everyone!

We’re Quest Ludica, and for the Never51 jam, we asked one question:

What if the zombie apocalypse hit Canada… and everyone stayed weirdly polite about it?

Welcome to The Blighted North—a free quickstart tabletop RPG about freezing to death, fighting undead, and apologizing while doing both.

This isn’t a gritty military sim or a power fantasy. It’s a story of duct-taped winter coats, hockey pads as armor, and zombies that still queue and say “sorry” as they try to eat you.

What’s Inside

• One-shot survival horror TTRPG with a dry, absurd edge
• 4 pre-built characters (auto mechanic, doctor, teacher, corner store clerk)
• Sanity, survival, cold, and luck mechanics
• Sample scenario: "The Last Transmission" – your friend is dying, and the nearest meds are deep inside a zombie-filled Walmart
• Entirely playable in one evening with nothing but dice, friends, and some Canadian-level endurance

Why Play It?

Because it’s Free RPG Day.
Because it’s short, sharp, and ready to run.
Because the undead are polite but the world is falling apart anyway.

If you’ve ever wanted to yell “Shut the door, he’s still holding it open for the zombie!” then this might be your game.

Full game coming Spring 2026.

Lore, updates, and our other dystopian project (MENTARIS) at: https://questludica.com

Thanks for reading! Let us know if you play—we love hearing survivor stories, especially the ridiculous ones.

thank you! 
I had a lot of fun making it! Glad you enjoyed it!!! 

Having a look at it, and loving it. Quick, immediate to pick up, fun! Well done! :D

LOL!!!! Thanks!
We tried to have a lot of fun doing it, hope it comes across!!! :D

Hey Never51 community!

I just submitted The Blighted North (Quickstart Guide) to the jam, and I'm excited to share what happens when territorial expansion goes catastrophically wrong.

The Premise: 

It's 2025. America really wants Canada's lithium for all those Tesla batteries. Diplomacy fails. Someone thinks chemical weapons are a reasonable next step. Plot twist: Instead of peaceful annexation, America accidentally creates Canadian zombies who still queue politely and say "sorry" after trying to eat you.

What I Made:

• Complete quickstart RPG using BRP/d100 mechanics
• 4-6 hour survival scenario with real moral choices
• Pre-made characters including a mechanic who explains everything in car metaphors
• Hockey equipment as zombie armor (goalies are basically immortal)
• Zombies that apologize while shambling toward your face

How It Fits Never51:

The jam challenges us to explore “chaotic possibilities when America adds a 51st state against the will of the people.” I asked: what if instead of successful annexation, the attempt creates something worse? What if Canada doesn't get conquered - it gets zombified?

The game explores themes of resistance and cultural identity under pressure with deliberate irony - but without trivializing the real human cost of survival and loss of autonomy.

The Experience:

This isn't just “zombies but Canadian.” It's about ordinary people maintaining their humanity while doing whatever it takes to survive - all while navigating zombies who still hold doors open and geese who were already apocalyptic before they became undead. You'll face moral dilemmas like “Do I shoot the zombie or wait for it to finish apologizing first? (it’s rude to interrupt!)” and discover that the real monsters were the supply shortages we made along the way. Also, Tim Hortons as fortress settlements is 100% realistic and I will die on this hill.

Try It Out:

This Quickstart Guide is completely free (though donations are obviously very welcome!). I'd love feedback from the community - especially if you find creative ways to survive the most courteous apocalypse in gaming! Really curious to hear if the tone lands right, whether the mechanics feel smooth, and if anyone actually tries using hockey gear as armor (and whether it is effective against zombie geese!).

What Players Are Saying:

“I've never felt so conflicted about zombies saying 'excuse me' while shambling toward my face.” - Totally Real Playtester

“Finally, a game where being Canadian is a survival advantage!” - Another Definitely Real Person

“The zombie asked if I was having a good day before trying to bite me. I didn't know how to respond” - Confused But Satisfied Gamer

“Sorry about the apocalypse, eh?” - Actual Canadian Zombie

Thanks for an amazing jam theme that let me explore the absurd question: What's the most Canadian way for an invasion to go wrong?