Let’s face it: dueling is sexy.

But do you know what’s sexier than combat? That slower, higher tension duel that occurs before any damage is done—before any blow is even struck. The duel of word and wit, of melodramatic motion and threatening maneuvers. I Have the High Ground is a short, collaborative tabletop roleplaying and storytelling game for 2 players about that kind of duel. It's GM-less and genre-neutral, and takes 1-2 hours to play. You can hear it played on Party of One, The Neon Caster, and Chicks with Dice!

Using game mechanics inspired by competitive fencing, players choose moves in secret. After their choices are revealed, the winner takes the opportunity to flaunt their bravado or to perform subtle acts that leave an imposing quiet in their wake. Your game is not an action-packed fight to the death but rather a portrayal of the slow, smoldering tension between two people about to risk their pride, their reputation, or even their lives.  As a genre-neutral game, playtesting included cyberpunk, space opera, superheroes, dance competitions, lesbian callout drama, Locked Tomb necromancers, wizard grad students, post-apocalyptic bake-offs, and more.

It features invaluable contributions from:

• Jess Levine, the creator and lead game designer, whose previous games includes going rogue.
• Ezra Rose, the illustrator, whose previous work includes illustration for Avery Alder and Benjamin Rosenbaum’s Dream Askew / Dream Apart.
• Vin Tanner, the layout artist, whose previous games includes Galactic 2e: The Droid Expansion.
• satah, the game design consultant, who helped create I Have the High Ground's unique Descriptor and Circumstances mechanics.
• Will Jobst, the game's editor, whose previous games includes TORQ and this discord has ghosts in it.

There's so much more, but I'll let you all check itout if you want! Also, if you want to use it on a podcast, write about it, etc. I am happy to send you a free press copy!

So, get it on my itch.io page, then...pick your weapons, push the limits, and whenever justifiable: flourish your capes.