City of Mist

No prior rules are necessary. A professional Game Master will teach the basics at the table. You describe your actions, roll two dice when a move applies, count helpful tags to determine your Power, and note any weaknesses or statuses that affect you. The results guide what happens next. Character creation uses guided "themebooks," so a few prompts will turn your idea into useful tags and a weakness for each theme. For one-shots, you can use pre-made characters or quick builds. Most groups feel comfortable within the first scene.

There are no classes or hit points. Your character has mythic and everyday "themes" with tags you invoke to influence rolls. Harm and conditions are tracked as flexible statuses like injured-2 or terrified-3. Clues are a resource you earn by investigating, then spend to ask targeted questions. Fights are cinematic, focusing on positioning and consequences rather than grids and damage calculations. Advancement reflects your identity shifting over time, replacing themes as your myth deepens or your everyday life takes hold. The tone leans towards modern mystery and drama, not dungeon crawling.

City of Mist shines with 3 to 5 players, allowing everyone time to investigate, question suspects, and share the spotlight. Two players also work well for a buddy-cop vibe. A one-shot typically runs for 3 to 4 hours for a complete case with a clear conclusion. Campaigns often pace at one case every 2 to 3 sessions of similar length. For corporate events, a focused 3-hour format keeps the energy high. You can browse available Game Masters to see specific session offerings and recommendations.

Each character balances Mythos themes, which channel a specific legend, and Logos themes, which reflect your everyday life. Every theme provides useful tags and one weakness tag. When you take action, you choose the move, tally the relevant tags to determine your Power, and roll. Weakness tags can diminish your effectiveness or introduce complications. Effects are tracked with statuses that can be physical, emotional, or social. You can draw on any source of myth, from Greek heroes to urban legends, whether literal or reimagined. Throughout a campaign, themes evolve as your identity changes.

Absolutely, with the right approach. City of Mist delves into crime, temptation, and difficult decisions, but a professional Game Master can adjust the content to suit your comfort level. For teenagers, a PG-13 tone is effective, focusing on mystery and heroism while using fade-to-black for more intense moments. For family groups with younger players, the GM can simplify scenarios, steer clear of frightening imagery, and maintain lighter consequences while still offering exciting mythic powers. Prior to the game, the GM will discuss topics and safety preferences to ensure everyone is aligned.

It runs smoothly online. The game relies on conversation and shared notes more than maps, so video chat plus a simple virtual table or shared document is usually sufficient. Digital character sheets make tracking tags and statuses easy, and handouts manage clues and suspects. Many GMs provide specific tools on their profiles. If you are considering platforms, check out common online play options and choose what suits your group’s comfort. Expect the same noir vibe and pacing you would experience at a physical table.