Kids on Bikes

Kids on Bikes TTRPG · Kids on Bikes Roleplaying Game

Kids on Bikes

Kids on Bikes places you in a small town where friendship and curiosity encounter the unusual. You take on the roles of kids, teens, or adults with everyday concerns and big hearts, cycling into whispers, culverts, and restricted areas. The tone strikes a balance between cosy and eerie. Laughter mingles with goosebumps. Simple rules ensure the focus remains on choices, emotions, and teamwork, allowing the mystery to unfold quickly and personally.

Prefer storytelling over statistics? This game excels at birthdays, family gatherings, and laid-back team events. It's suitable for children, but adults enjoy it as well. A professional Game Master steers the mystery, manages clues, and ensures shy players feel at ease, whether in person or online. Browse available Game Masters to find the right match for your group and schedule.

How to play Kids on Bikes

Each trait uses a different die, ranging from d4 to d20. When the outcome is uncertain, you roll the die for the most relevant trait against a target number set by the Game Master. A high roll is beneficial, and dice can explode, allowing you to roll again and add the results. Failure doesn’t mean nothing happens; it earns Adversity Tokens that you can use to enhance later rolls or assist a friend. Some groups also share a special Powered Character with unique abilities.

You come with a character idea, a few strengths and flaws, and a readiness to collaboratively build the town. Our Game Masters provide a map of locations, vibrant NPCs, intricate clues, and safety tools, pacing scenes so everyone has a moment to shine. A one-shot centres on quick town creation and a single mystery with a clear resolution. A campaign develops relationships, deepens the oddities, and allows consequences to resonate across seasons. Discover more about GM styles at GM playstyles.

Game Master leans over a fantasy RPG table as players discuss the encounter around a GM screen.
Game Master leans over a fantasy RPG table as players discuss the encounter around a GM screen.
Close-up of a blue eight-sided die with gold numbers, used for tabletop role-playing games like dungeos and dragons.
Close-up of a blue eight-sided die with gold numbers, used for tabletop role-playing games like dungeos and dragons.

Common questions

Do I need to know the rules or have a book?

You don’t need to know the rules or purchase anything. A professional Game Master will teach you the basics in minutes and keep the game flowing. Character creation is quick, based on simple traits and a few quirks. The group collaborates to build the town, so your ideas are important from the start. The dice are easy to read. If children are playing, explanations remain straightforward and visual. If you’re already familiar with the game, the GM will adjust to your pace and skip what you don’t need.

What sets Kids on Bikes apart from D&D?

You play as ordinary people rather than classes, and there are no levels. Teamwork and choices shape the story more than combat. You create the town and relationships, then pursue rumours and strange clues. Rolls involve different die sizes for traits, with exploding highs and Adversity Tokens when things go awry. Maps are kept to a minimum. Scenes resemble a mystery show rather than a dungeon crawl. One-shots can complete a full story, while campaigns develop the town over time.

Which edition do you run, 2nd or 1st?

Most tables use Kids on Bikes 2nd Edition by default. It streamlines play and provides helpful guidance for players and the GM. If your group prefers 1st Edition, or already has characters there, please mention it when you book. A professional Game Master can run either version and adapt elements as needed. The feel remains the same, a mix of heart, friendship, and the uncanny. You only need a character idea and a willingness to collaborate.

How frightening does it become? We have children.

The tone is adaptable. Aim for warmth, humour, and a relaxed atmosphere, tailored to your group. Before starting, the GM checks everyone's comfort levels and establishes clear lines and veils. If you're after a Saturday-morning mystery vibe, keep threats off-screen and make victories feel uplifting. If your teens prefer more tension, the GM can increase the stakes thoughtfully. Safety tools are employed throughout. To find a GM whose style aligns with yours, explore GM playstyles.

What is the Powered Character, and who oversees it?

The Powered Character is an optional figure with unique abilities, such as a psychic child or an extraordinary stray. The table shares control. Players determine when it assists and what it can do, within agreed boundaries. The GM depicts how the world responds, maintains clarity on stakes, and ensures the focus remains on your characters. For very young players, the GM can simplify or omit this element, keeping the story centred on bikes and bravery.

What group size and session length are suitable for this game?

Kids on Bikes is best enjoyed with 3 to 5 players, although it can also work with 2 for a more personal experience. A one-shot typically lasts 2 to 3 hours, which is sufficient for setting up the town and solving a complete mystery. Campaign sessions fall within the same timeframe, allowing for revisits to locations and NPCs. While larger groups are feasible, the tone is more subdued compared to action-oriented games, so smaller tables often provide a better experience for everyone.

Can we play online? What tools do you use?

Online play is seamless. The game encourages conversation, so all you need is video chat and a dice roller. Your GM might include a simple map or handouts when necessary, but there’s no grid to worry about. Our Game Masters are familiar with popular tools and can adapt to what your group already uses. Discover typical setups and options on our online play platforms page.

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Genres you can play in Kids on Bikes

  • Mystery

    Follow the clues, construct timelines, and apprehend the culprit. Think Knives Out, but you are the detective, assembling alibis and…

    View genre: Mystery
  • Spooky

    Candlelight, creaking stairs, and a shadow that shifts when you look away. Imagine Goosebumps, filled with quick thrills, mischievous…

    View genre: Spooky
  • Rural

    Comfortable fields, muddy boots, local drama, and harvest festivals. Imagine Stardew Valley with mysteries at the hedgerow, family ties…

    View genre: Rural
  • Pirate

    Salt spray, creaking decks, and cutlass duels as you pursue treasure and rivals across treacherous seas. Swashbuckling adventure…

    View genre: Pirate

What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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