Getting Started

Welcome to Meat Space, a Dystopian Sci-Fantasy Tabletop Roleplaying Game!

Meat Space is a narrative setting and game system for you and your friends to tell stories both grand and small. Tales of fortune-seeking spacers navigating a universe of arcane mysteries, hulking machines and impossible wonders, whilst avoiding the boot of corporations that would rather own them than employ them. If they're lucky, they might just carve out a few moments of genuine connection before they catch a bullet.

Starting here we're going to cover the fundamental rules and how to run or participate in a Meat Space campaign.

The setting of Meat Space combines classic high fantasy, chunky science fiction and capitalist dystopia into a universe of high-flying, mechanised adventure. Across the stars, indebted Spacers struggle to make a living in a galaxy determined to squeeze every last credit from them. If they're tough enough, clever enough and just a little lucky, they might survive long enough to earn a comfortable living and maybe even save a life or two… or sell someone out for a quick cred transfer. In Meat Space, both are valid career paths.

The universe is dominated by the Giga-Corps. What were once nations of spacefaring sapient species have become privatised entities, all competing for power, influence and control over the seemingly endless resources of Known Space. Between them stand two groups desperately trying to maintain some form of balance: the Universal Federation of Sapient Races and the independent Spacers. The Federation, once responsible for governing and distributing resources across the galaxy, has steadily declined since the rise of capitalism and now struggles to maintain its authority beside the ever-growing power of the Giga-Corps. Meanwhile, Spacers fill the gaps left behind, working as freelancers, specialists, pilots, traders, mercenaries and opportunists wherever profit can be found.

The galaxy was once on the verge of economic collapse. It was Humanity's proposal of a privatised capitalist economy that saved civilisation and ushered in a golden age of prosperity and expansion. At least, that's the official story. In reality, Th00l prices keep rising, rent has never been more expensive, and the Giga-Corps continue posting record profits quarter after quarter. Most citizens remain comfortably distracted by adrenal stims, synth-skin packages and Swole-MAXX subscriptions, but beneath the chemical bliss and endless advertising, many wonder whether things were once better. The races old enough to remember tell stories of times not so long gone while races young enough to fight for something different listen. The Giga-Corps, however, have no intention of letting anyone kill the golden goose… at least not before they do.

You play as a Spacer. Together with your Crew, you're simply trying to carve out a life in a universe that rarely gives anything away for free. Spacers can be masters of nature, technology or magic. They can be soldiers, merchants, corporate executives, explorers, mechanics, con artists or pilots. They can specialise in certain situations or be rough and ready for whatever comes their way. They can spend their lives charting new worlds, repairing starships, negotiating trade deals or hunting dangerous bounties. What matters is not where they came from, but what they're willing to do next. Every Spacer lives from job to job, loyal to little more than the next paycheck, the road ahead and the Crew beside them.

Adventures in Meat Space can take Spacers anywhere. One day, a Crew may be exploring an uncharted world on the edge of civilisation. The next, they may be negotiating a fragile trade deal between rival Giga-Corps, diving into Cyberspace to hunt a wanted criminal Netrunner or venturing deep into Astral Space to wrestle a demon on behalf of an eccentric Th00l Baron. Meat Space is a setting where humour and tragedy often share the same airlock. Stories range from heroic and hopeful to bleak and deadly, often in the same session. Not every Spacer will walk away from every job, but those who do might just leave the galaxy a little better than they found it… or at least get paid a crapload of credits.

Firstly, Meat Space has a set of Golden Rules. These rules establish the expectations and responsibilities of everyone at the table. While the world of Meat Space can be dark, cynical and dangerous, often exploring confronting themes and difficult subjects, it also creates opportunities for memorable stories and meaningful roleplay. While the characters might, at times, be arseholes, the table itself should remain welcoming, respectful and enjoyable for all participants.

These rules form the foundation upon which the game is built and take precedence over every other rule in this book. If you find yourself, or someone else, repeatedly crossing them, it is time for a serious conversation. Please take the time to read, understand and discuss these rules with your table before you play. A shared understanding of these expectations will help ensure that everyone is working together to create the best experience possible. Never assume that everyone at the table shares the same understanding of respect, boundaries or good sportsmanship; talk about them first.

With The Golden Rules in mind we can begin covering what to expect in the course of playing a game of Meat Space.

The following information contains everything you need to begin playing Meat Space. With just this page and a Character, you can jump straight into a campaign. Additional rules and options exist, but you will already have everything you need to get started.

At its simplest, a game of Meat Space follows a straightforward loop:

• The Game Master sets the Scene, establishing the location, points of interest and Characters present.
• The Scene is broken down into smaller Encounters, each representing a particular challenge, conflict, conversation or objective.
• The Cast interact with the various objects and Characters within the Encounter, declaring their goals and intentions, as well as any Actions or Abilities they may wish to use.
• The Game Master responds to the Cast's declarations, describing how the world reacts and what happens next.
• If the outcome of an act is uncertain, the Game Master may call for an Action, Ability or Dice Roll to determine the result.
• The Game Master and Cast continue this back-and-forth, collaboratively telling a story through a combination of narrative declarations and the occasional Dice Roll.
• Once an Encounter is resolved, the group moves on to the next. As Encounters are completed, the Scene progresses until the story moves on to a new location, situation or objective.

We've mentioned a number of concepts here that may be new or foreign to you, don't worry, we will go into further detail about them below.

All play within Meat Space occurs in segments referred to as Encounters and Scenes.

A session will often consist of a couple of Scenes, each made up of multiple Encounters. How long or short Scenes and Encounters are varies as you, the Players, deem when a Scene or Encounter has run its course and is Appropriate for it to end. Common ways to delineate when an Encounter should end include: Reaching the end of a lively conversation and moving to another location, resolving a combat against your enemies or even a quick segment of downtime activities. For Scenes, they are often ended with the Cast changing location, the close of a [Period] or after a major event has concluded.

Please Note: Many Abilities, Conditions and effects end when a Scene or Encounter ends, so it can be prudent to extend or cut them short where Appropriate.

Certain mechanics trigger or resolve at the beginning or end of Scenes and Encounters. They are detailed below:

Meat Space can, at times, be a complex game. Thankfully, it is extremely simple to play. All Players need to do is react to one another's prompts, going back and forth as the story unfolds. The GM establishes the Scene, describing the environment, important details and the Characters present. The Cast then responds, declaring what their Characters do and how they interact with the world. In many cases, this requires no dice at all. A CM declares an action, the GM describes the outcome, and the process repeats. Only when an action creates conflict, uncertainty or a meaningful chance of failure should any dice be rolled to determine the outcome.

To play Meat Space, you will need a standard set of polyhedral Dice:

• A twenty-sided die (D20).
• A twelve-sided die (D12).
• A ten-sided die numbered 0 to 9 (D10). When used as a D10, a Result of 0 counts as 10.
• A percentile die numbered 00 to 90 (D100). This die is rolled alongside a D10 to generate a result from 1 to 100, with the D100 providing the tens digit and the D10 providing the ones digit.
• An eight-sided die (D8).
• A six-sided die (D6).
• A four-sided die (D4).

You may also use a dice-rolling app or website if your table is comfortable with it. We recommend using our automatic [Character Sheet] Link to handle some of the calculations for you, as well as keeping a pen and paper, or another method of taking notes, close at hand.

When a Player needs to roll dice, they will make one of four types of Roll: a Check, an Attack, a Save or a Test. Each serves a different purpose and is used in different situations. The GM will determine which type of Roll is required and which bonuses apply. Below, we explain when and how each is used:

• A Check is rolled when a Character performs an action against the environment, an object or no particular Target. The GM will specify a Skill and a Difficulty. A Check is performed by rolling a D20 and adding the bonuses from the specified Skill. If the Total is equal to or greater than the Difficulty, the Check is Successful.
• An Attack is rolled when a Character performs an action against another Character, [Vehicle] or specific Target. The GM will specify a Skill, while the Difficulty is determined by an Appropriate Rating or Save performed by the Target. To perform an Attack, roll a D20 and add the bonuses from the specified Skill. If the Total equals or exceeds the Difficulty, the Attack is Successful.
• A Save is rolled when something happens to a Character as the result of another Character, [Vehicle] or the environment. The GM will specify a Rating, while the Difficulty is determined by the GM or Attack performed by another Character or [Vehicle]. To perform a Save, roll a D20 and add the bonuses from the specified Rating. If the Total equals or exceeds the Difficulty, the Save is Successful.
• A Test is a little different. A Test is any Dice Pool that is not a Check, Attack or Save. These are explained by their individual mechanics, but common examples include determining Damage, Miscasts, Injuries, Swagger, Initiative and Reaction.

It is common for additional dice to be added to a Dice Pool, or for Properties to modify the Results of a Roll. Rolling dice is intended to be a table-wide activity, so don't be afraid to take your time and roll in the open where everyone can see. Other Players may have special rules, Abilities or effects that can modify the Results, add bonuses or otherwise affect the final Total.

When performing a roll, whether it is a Check, Attack, Save or Test, you first form a Dice Pool. One unique aspect of Meat Space is that a Dice Pool can remain interactive even after it has been rolled. This helps make managing the various effects, rules and Abilities available to each Player easier, while also making the act of rolling dice a more engaging part of the game.

The exact composition of a Dice Pool depends on the type of roll being performed. As discussed above, Checks, Attacks and Saves are all quite similar, so we will begin with those. Tests can vary significantly, but each type of Test explains its own requirements and resolution. For now, it is enough to understand that the rules for interacting with a Dice Pool remain largely the same.

Every Dice Pool has one or more Primary Die. For Checks, Attacks and Saves, this is a D20. A Dice Pool will also contain a Static Modifier, a flat value added to the Result of the Primary Die to create the Total. Additional Bonus Dice and Properties may also be present, modifying how the Dice are rolled or creating additional effects based on the Results generated.

A Result refers to the number on the Die. A Total refers to the final amount, once all the Results, both positive and negative, have been added and subtracted.

Properties are general mechanical rules that modify the Dice in a Dice Pool. They are present throughout almost every roll performed during a session of Meat Space. They are used to reflect a Entity's special rules, abilities, effects or tactics in a given situation. They can also be used to represent situational advantages and disadvantages, as the events of Meat Space are often wild, nuanced and unpredictable.

Once all Players have finished rolling, modifying and Rerolling any Dice in the Dice Pool, the Results are combined to determine the Total. If the Total is equal to or greater than the Difficulty, the roll is Successful. Otherwise, it is a Failure. Below, we provide several examples.

A Character interacts with the world through the use of Abilities. Walking, talking, manipulating objects, fighting and countless other activities can all be represented by Abilities. While not every action performed by a Character needs to be defined in mechanical terms, we have done our best to ensure there is an Ability to support almost anything a Character might reasonably attempt.

In many cases, a Character can simply act and the GM can describe the outcome. However, when additional detail, mechanical support or a formal resolution is required, often when acting in Turn Order, Abilities provide the rules needed to resolve the action. There are several types of Ability, the most common of which are: Actions, Quick Actions, Free Actions, Rituals and Traits. These are detailed below:

• An Action is a singular act a Character performs. Most significant activities performed by a Character are resolved as Actions. The number of Actions a Character can perform during a Turn is determined by their available Action Points.
• A Quick Action is a singular act a Character can perform at almost any time, often in response to another event or outside the normal Turn Order. The number of Quick Actions a Character can perform during a [Round] is determined by their available Quick Action Points.
• A Free Action is an Ability that can be performed without consuming an Action Point or Quick Action Point. Free Actions are primarily used to resolve mechanical effects, support gameplay and handle interactions that do not meaningfully impact a Character's available actions.
• A Ritual is a longer and more involved Ability performed over time. Most Rituals are completed by performing multiple Actions to advance the Ritual until its requirements have been fulfilled. Depending on the Ritual, this may take several Actions, Turns, [Hours] or even entire [Periods].
• A Trait is a passive Ability. Unlike other Abilities, Traits are not performed. Instead, they provide ongoing benefits, restrictions or effects as described by the Ability.

All Characters have access to a suite of Basic Abilities that they can use to navigate almost any Scene or Encounter they find themselves in. In addition, almost all Characters will gain unique Abilities from their Race, Job, [Masteries] and other sources throughout their adventures.

The Universal Rules are a set of mechanical rules that apply to all games of Meat Space, if ever there is a conflict or contradiction, these Universal Rules supersede all but The Golden Rules and should be referred back to when those situations arise.