Durance (role-playing game)

Durance is a tabletop role-playing game designed and written by Jason Morningstar and published by Bully Pulpit Games. It focuses on a group of prisoners exiled to a distant and unforgiving penal colony, specifically a barren planet far from Earth. The game explores themes of isolation, desperation, loyalty, and the struggle for survival under harsh conditions.

The core mechanic of Durance relies on a collaborative storytelling approach driven by conflict resolution. When characters encounter a problem or conflict, the players involved define the stakes and then make bids using tokens representing their influence and resources. The outcome of the conflict is then narrated based on the bids and the pre-existing fictional positioning of the characters and the environment.

Durance is designed for one-shot play or short campaigns. The game is intended to be highly adaptable and encourages players to create their own unique penal colonies, complete with distinct cultures, hierarchies, and challenges. The setting materials provided in the rulebook offer a springboard for imaginative worldbuilding.

Unlike traditional RPGs, Durance places less emphasis on character stats and more on relationships, personal histories, and the moral dilemmas faced by the exiles. Character creation involves defining backgrounds, criminal offenses, and affiliations within the prison population. These elements heavily influence the characters' actions and motivations during gameplay.