In this preview we discover the fascinating Bioma – The Roleplaying Game, a universe where post-apocalyptic, survival and fantasy come together.
The game comes to us thanks to Grim Moon Studio and Aces Games, and will be the protagonist of a crowdfunding campaign on Gamefound.
World of Bioma
The setting of Bioma was created in 2022 with the Lorebook/Artbook Bioma – The New World, published by I.P.A Studio.
The world in which we go to live our adventures is hard, dirty and lethal. In fact, we are facing a post-apocalyptic setting in which a mysterious event has completely changed the world. On top of all this, humanity is threatened by incomprehensible creatures and for this they must fight for their survival.
Even just from the little information in the quickstart, we can see how interesting this setting is to explore. In fact, we find various factions fighting each other, mysterious creatures and places to discover and much more.
All this is embellished by the aesthetics, truly of a high level and consistent with the themes proposed. They manage to return the feeling of the setting in a spectacular way.
Preview of the Bioma Game System
The Bioma game system was created by Simone “Aces” Morini and perfectly conveys the sense of precariousness and constant danger.
The most particular mechanics of the system is that each character has three dice reserves: Risk, Resource and Safety. These resources correspond to the dice we will use during the various Tests, which can be related to Statistics or Skill. And after each test, the dice will change section; at the beginning each Survivor (as the PCs in Bioma are called) starts with 6d6 in each Resource.
During a Statistics or Skills Test, we will take as many d6 from the chosen reserve as the value of the Statistic or Skill put into play. Each roll with a result of 4 or more counts as a Success, while lower values are Failures.
This is where the mechanics of reserves come into play. In fact, a die that comes from the Resources and obtains a failure, passes to the Risk reserve; instead, each Success is equivalent to a die that passes to the Safety reserve. These dice will now be divided differently and will have special effects; if using Risk dice you get two or more failures, you will face a Critical Failure. While a Success on a Safety die equals 2 Successes and, if you get 2 or more six on the dice, then there will be a Critical Success.
Each time the dice belonging to the Risk or Safety reserve are used, they will then return to the Resource reserve. Surely this system makes all the tests always unexpected and fun to play.
Survival
The survival soul of Bioma emerges in the various mechanics inserted to better immerse players in a harsh and cruel world.
During the sessions the PCs will have to sleep, drink and eat, otherwise they will see the value of the Stents increase and accumulate Attrition. The latter must be kept under control because the higher it is, the less dice we can recover from the Risk reserve to send them to the Resource reserve.
Over all of this, we should be careful about the Temperature. If the Survivors are not heated enough, they will suffer malus at the rolls and at rest, accumulating Attrition.
In addition, we find a lethal and quite articulated combat system. In fact, any confrontation could be deadly, so the Survivors will have to weigh carefully when fighting or finding alternative solutions to manage the hostile nature.
Lastly, we are introduced to the management of Equipment and the crafting of items. All these mechanics help to create a complex but satisfying system, which perfectly restores the sense of living on the edge of the razor.
Conclusion of the Bioma – The Roleplaying Game Preview
In conclusion, I find that the Bioma project is really interesting and can be a novelty to keep an eye on in the world of post-apocalyptic TTRPGs in which survival is fundamental.
Thanks to the intriguing and particular setting, the complex but satisfying system and a truly impressive artistic side, players will be immersed in a harsh, arduous but truly satisfying world. Therefore, Survivors, be ready to face the pitfalls of the new world!
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