Orbital Blues

Orbital Blues TTRPG · Orbital Blues Roleplaying Game

Orbital Blues

Orbital Blues is a space western about drifters trying to keep their ship flying and their past at bay. You play outlaws with big hearts and even bigger problems, scraping by on small-time hustles between dusty colonies and neon bars. People love it for the atmosphere, the music at the table, and the way character choices carry weight. Sessions feel like a TV episode, full of snappy scenes, tough luck, and sudden tenderness.

It's great for newcomers and veterans who want quick rules and rich roleplay. Perfect for adult friend groups, birthday one-shots, or team offsites that want story-first play with a gritty edge. A professional Game Master will tailor your crew’s ship, debts, and rivals to your preferences. Ready to set a course? Browse and book a professional Game Master to get your first job lined up.

How to play Orbital Blues

When the outcome is uncertain, you describe what you do and how you do it. The Game Master sets the stakes and any complications. You roll a small handful of dice to determine if you succeed cleanly, succeed with trouble, or take a hard hit. You can push your luck for better odds by taking on more Blues, which keeps you flying but risks revealing cracks at the worst moment. Turns move quickly, so the table stays engaged in the scene.

You bring a drifter with a few defining strengths, a painful history, and connections to the crew and ship. The Game Master introduces jobs, heat, and characters with their own agendas, then frames scenes and maintains a tight pace. A one-shot focuses on a single score and one difficult choice, ideal for 2 to 5 players over 2 to 3 hours. A campaign links scores and fallout into a season of consequences. Not sure about the tone? See GM playstyles.

A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
Close-up of painted fantasy miniatures on a blue battle map during a tabletop RPG encounter.
Close-up of painted fantasy miniatures on a blue battle map during a tabletop RPG encounter.

Common questions

Do I need to know any rules to play Orbital Blues?

No. A professional Game Master will guide you as you progress. You describe what your drifter attempts, the GM outlines the risks, and then you roll a few dice to determine if it goes well, comes with complications, or goes awry. Your character has a few strengths and a personal Blues track that influences your decisions. You'll pick it up quickly. The emphasis is on story, consequences, and character moments, rather than memorising mechanics.

How does Orbital Blues differ from D&D?

It has fewer rules and plays at a quicker pace. There are no classes, levels, or grid movement. Scenes unfold like a TV episode, focusing on risk, cost, and emotions. Fights are swift and perilous, making planning, improvisation, and tough negotiations more important than tactical combos. Jobs, debts, and relationships propel the action. If you're after Cowboy Bebop vibes, heists, narrow escapes, and a sense of found family rather than dungeon crawling, Orbital Blues suits that style.

What group size and session length are most effective?

The ideal number of players is between 2 and 5. A session lasting 2 to 3 hours allows you to take on a job, experience a few intense scenes, and develop a character moment before the credits roll. With four players, everyone gets ample attention. Two or three players creates a more intimate and atmospheric experience. Five players is manageable, but turns will take longer, so if you prefer more downtime or an additional twist, consider scheduling a longer session.

What tone should we aim for, gritty or hopeful?

Orbital Blues combines melancholy, humour, and grit. You can opt for dusty Western, neon noir, or a soft-hearted road movie. A professional Game Master will establish boundaries with you, adjust the intensity of the challenges, and craft NPCs to suit the tone. Prefer pulpy capers over bleak tragedy, or vice versa? Explore styles and choose a fit on GM playstyles.

Is Orbital Blues appropriate for children or teenagers?

It is intended for adults. Themes often encompass crime, debt, addiction, and heartbreak. For older teens, it depends on their comfort levels and content boundaries. A Game Master can reduce on-screen violence, use fade to black for intimate scenes, and steer clear of sensitive topics after a safety discussion. If you're looking for something specifically family-friendly, this may not be the best choice.

Is it better as a one-off or a campaign?

It does both effectively. In a one-shot, you take a score from initial lead to fallout, with at least one tough decision that uncovers who your drifters are. In a campaign, debts accumulate, rivals resurface, the ship evolves, and relationships develop. A professional Game Master will carry consequences across sessions, ensuring that victories feel deserved and failures resonate.

Does it work well online, including music?

Yes. The game employs minimal maps and clear stakes, ensuring it runs smoothly on voice or video. A Game Master can opt for theatre of the mind or use a simple board for clocks and handouts. Music can be easily added with shared playlists or integrated audio, kept at a low volume so table talk remains clear. See supported tools on online play platforms.

Booking Form


Click to select dates

0/1500
Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Sent!

Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Nat 1, give it another go!

Please try again or email info@storyforgers.ie

Genres you can play in Orbital Blues

  • Western

    Dusty trails, tense standoffs, and tough decisions on the frontier. Imagine Red Dead Redemption at the table as you journey with cowboys…

    View genre: Western
  • Gritty

    Difficult decisions, limited resources, and lasting consequences. Picture Game of Thrones, where trust is tenuous, debts must be repaid…

    View genre: Gritty
  • Crime

    Pull off a clever heist, track down a killer, or navigate the mob's code. Crime games balance strategy, pressure, and morally ambiguous…

    View genre: Crime
  • Heist

    Gather the team, scout the target, and execute the heist. Picture Ocean's Eleven, complete with ingenious strategies, skilled roles, narrow…

    View genre: Heist
  • Noir

    Neon, rain, and poor choices. Noir places you in the role of a weary detective or a doomed con artist in a city that conceals its decay…

    View genre: Noir
  • Tragic

    Embrace delicate hopes and steep costs as characters confront their fatal flaws, grief, and the meaning forged from loss. Consider Romeo…

    View genre: Tragic

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.

Similar gaming systems

  • Fiasco

    • Crime +6
    • 3 – 5 players
    • Simple rules

    Fiasco is a quick, GMless storytelling game about small-time capers that go horribly wrong. Imagine a blend of crime, comedy, and disaster like in Fargo. You and your friends create tangled relationships, set the scenes, and witness ambitious plans unravel into amusing, and at times, heart-wrenching outcomes.

    View system: Fiasco
  • Blades in the Dark

    • Heist +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Execute audacious jobs as a band of rogues in a haunted industrial city. Blades in the Dark combines high-stakes heists, harsh repercussions, and crew development, utilising flashbacks and stress to maintain a quick pace. Imagine Dishonoured, but you and your mates are the ones pulling the strings.

    View system: Blades in the Dark
  • Cyberpunk

    • Cyberpunk +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Take control of the neon sprawl with Cyberpunk RED, the near-future game featuring mercs, megacorps, and tough decisions from R. Talsorian Games. Experience fast, lethal action, cutting-edge technology, and high-stakes heists. If you're familiar with Cyberpunk 2077, you'll recognise the grit and flair.

    View system: Cyberpunk
  • Shadowrun

    • Cyberpunk +7
    • 3 – 6 players
    • In-depth rules

    Neon streets, ruthless megacorps, and awakened magic collide. In Shadowrun, you play as professional criminals executing heists, hacking systems, and negotiating with spirits. Imagine Blade Runner with elves and spells, all guided by a skilled Game Master who ensures the chaos remains thrilling and enjoyable.

    View system: Shadowrun
  • Alice Is Missing

    • Mystery +6
    • 3 – 5 players
    • Simple rules

    Explore a small town to find a missing teenager in a GM-less, silent roleplaying game conveyed entirely through text messages. If you enjoy Veronica Mars, this personal mystery offers intense emotions, quick gameplay, and a compelling story for 3 to 5 players lasting 90 to 150 minutes.

    View system: Alice Is Missing
  • Mistborn Adventure Game

    • Heist +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Plan audacious heists in the ash-laden world of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn. You take on the role of a crew of thieves or rebels, wielding metal-fuelled powers to outsmart nobles and fearsome enforcers. A professional Game Master designs intricate heists, intense political intrigue, and difficult decisions.

    View system: Mistborn Adventure Game
  • Scum and Villainy

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Scum and Villainy is a quick, cinematic space-opera heist game where your crew undertakes daring jobs, evades syndicates and the Hegemony, and keeps the ship in the air. Imagine Firefly with effective tools for teamwork and chaos. Ideal for one-shots or ongoing crews.

    View system: Scum and Villainy
  • Ten Candles

    • Tragic +7
    • 3 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Ten Candles is a one-shot, tragic horror tale set in a room illuminated by candles. With each scene, another light extinguishes and the darkness encroaches. Imagine The Mist, but everyone is aware it concludes poorly, and that is what makes the experience compelling.

    View system: Ten Candles
  • A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying

    • Political Intrigue +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying immerses you in the courts and battlefields of Westeros. If you enjoyed HBO’s Game of Thrones, prepare for intrigue, betrayals, and tough decisions. Create a noble House, exchange favours, and confront gritty duels in a harsh, low magic world.

    View system: A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying
Black diagonal cross icon, commonly used to close popups or dismiss notifications on websites.

We’re Looking for Dungeon Masters!

StoryForgers is seeking enthusiastic and imaginative Dungeon Masters to become part of our team.
Are you interested?