Triangle Agency is a new RPG from Haunted Table games about working 9 to 5 to save the world from [REDACTED].
We love the idea of a secret agency out there that is both surprisingly mundane and that routinely deals with the supernatural. What does it say about us as a society that there’s an undeniable appeal about an organization full of casette futurism technology that goes up against gods and monsters and also has to fix the coffee machine in the breakroom, or has a cafeteria where you can get those weird little key lime pie slices.
Games like Control, shows like Loki, books like The Laundry Files, or even just the legendary SCP Wiki are all about cataloguing and understanding the unknown while also dealing with the sprawling horror of bureaucracy. Personally, I think it’s because deep down we want there to be a grown up to take care of all the scary things in our lives.
Even the most ‘has-it-together’ adult you know longs for the comfort of a grown up to say “don’t worry about this, I’ve got it.” And it doesn’t get more grown up than a government type agency. Which is perhaps why Triangle Agency, a new RPG from Haunted Table Games, did so well on Kickstarter. Drawing inspiration from that genre of occult/weird bureaucratic organizaiton, it blends humor and action and office rules in a fast-playing RPG with a lot of atmospheric depth to it.
Full disclosure, I wrote an adventure for the companion piece accompanying Triangle Agency, titled The Vault which is a collection of adventures. So you might want to play it yourself, but there’s no denying the vibe. Just look at the trailer.
And that’s where we start. Triangle Agency came out digitally this week. You can snag it today or pre-order a physical copy.
Triangle Agency – Clock In, Save the World
Triangle Agency is a tabletop role-playing game in a present-day setting about wielding enormous, reality-warping power, navigating bureaucratic red tape, and juggling your everyday responsibilities.
Player characters work at the Triangle Agency, an international corporation with influence in every industry. As Field Agents, players investigate and capture supernatural Anomalies that threaten the lives and comfort of normal citizens.
Designed for campaigns of 10-30 missions or high energy one-shots, our brand new game system creates seamless transitions between chilling horror, wacky comedy, and the emotional truth of trying to survive in a world with no right answers.
One of the things that made me excited to work on this project was the sense of humor in the system itself. Read through the book, and you’ll pick up on some serious Portal vibes in the best way.
In the 300-page book, you’ll get the rules for running and playing the game. But you’ll also get a peek behind the scenes, so to speak:
- Learn about the mysterious Triangle Agency and your role in advancing its mission in the Field Agent Manual, featuring basic game rules, story guidelines, setting details, and important regulatory information for compliance with Agency standards and practices.
- Action and conflict builds naturally with our all-new Stability/Chaos rule system, where every roll creates Chaos for Anomalies to spend on powerful effects and obstacles.
- Build your Agent character by selecting their ARC! Each player selects three pieces representing your Agent’s Anomaly, Reality, and Competency, creating up to 729 starting combinations and a completely personal set of abilities as they grow and change.
- Receive advice from the Agency on how your GM can prepare and run missions using the General Manager’s Toolkit, including examples of interesting Anomalies and ways to bring your Agency Branch to life!
- Finally, as your characters grow in power and prestige, peer behind the Playwall to access hidden powers, items, and hidden details of Triangle Agency’s story. Inspired by legacy board games, the Playwalled Documents provide countless hours of discovery and surprise, accessible only by playing the game.
Curious as to how it works? You can download a demo version of the game at the link at the end of the article, or if you’re already convinced, pick it up.
Triangle Agency: The Vault – 12 Missions, 12 Ways the World Might End
This is the book I wrote for. It’s a collection of pre-made adventures that you can play through so you can take your Agents through a series of challenges with enough variety to satisfy even the most jaded of players.
New to General Management? Looking to spice up your team’s Field Work? Or simply too busy to prepare? This book contains 12 Anomaly Retrieval missions and enough characters, locations, rival corporations, and new abilities to last an Agent’s entire career.
And again, at the link, you can download two full adventures from the book for free, so you can try that one out before you buy it.
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