Pulp

Pulp

Imagine a table filled with rapid exchanges and narrow escapes. A roaring biplane, a ticking idol, a rooftop chase as rain slicks the tiles. You trade quips, swing on cables, and kick open secret doors. Villains deliver monologues. Gadgets spark to life. Each scene concludes on a cliffhanger that makes you grab the dice, then you dive straight into the next. Pulp is a big-hearted, high-contrast adventure or crime, featuring bright heroes, dirty tricks, and bold choices. It’s all about momentum, gumption, and stylish trouble.

At the table, it thrives because turns are brief and objectives are clear. Stunts invite cheers, and failure often enhances the story. Beginners pick it up quickly. Families and mixed groups enjoy the serial rhythm and vibrant stakes. Company teams bond over teamwork, creative problem-solving, and the opportunity for every role. Veterans appreciate how punchy scenes reward decisive play and genre savvy. Our Game Masters highlight each player frequently, ensuring no one waits long for a daring move.

For rules, our Game Masters often opt for Savage Worlds, Fate Core, Spirit of the Century, Pulp Cthulhu, and Adventure!. We can also run many other systems in a pulpy style. Check out examples on our game systems page. The tone can range from matinee fun to gritty noir. Keep it globe-trotting or street-level. Add weird science, occult hints, or none at all. Combat-light or stunt-heavy, it’s your choice.

Common questions

How does pulp differ from noir or standard crime?

Pulp favours bold heroes, breakneck pacing, and cliffhangers. Noir relies on a bleak tone and slow-burn suspicion. In a pulp game, you swing on cables, trade quips, and take dramatic risks. Investigations are present, but they unfold through chases, brawls, and daring break-ins. Villains are flamboyant, equipped with gadgets and monologues, rather than being quiet masterminds. Moral lines are clearer, even if the city is grimy. A professional Game Master frames tight scenes and keeps the spotlight shifting, ensuring that momentum takes precedence over meticulous forensics.

Which RPG systems capture pulp the best?

Fast, stunt-friendly rules stand out. Popular choices include Savage Worlds Adventure Edition for bennies, quick chases, and mook rules. Fate Core or Spirit of the Century for aspects, stunts, and compels. Pulp Cthulhu for two-fisted mystery with Mythos flavour. Adventure! for cinematic talents and weird science. A professional Game Master can also adapt other systems for pulp beats. If you want to explore options and examples, visit our game systems page.

Is pulp suitable for beginners or children?

Yes. Pulp features clear goals, vibrant archetypes, and quick turns, allowing new players to dive in swiftly. Kids love the serial rhythm, chase scenes, and inventive gadgets. Our Game Masters can run a matinee version with PG action, no gore, and clear victories. For teens or adults, your Game Master can introduce tougher challenges and difficult choices. You establish content limits beforehand and utilise straightforward safety tools at the table. To align with tone and energy, you can also explore different GM styles on the playstyles page.

What can we expect in a pulp one-shot?

Expect a cold open in trouble, followed by a race through 2 to 3 set pieces, such as a rooftop chase or a booby-trapped vault, culminating in a finale featuring a ticking device or an escaping zeppelin. Pre-generated pulp archetypes are available, each with a signature move. Rules are taught as you progress. A professional Game Master moves swiftly between players, ensuring everyone has their moment to shine. Cliffhangers frame scenes, and failures lead to new opportunities. You’ll leave with a headline-style epilogue and a clear victory or a narrow escape.

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Game systems for Pulp

  • Savage Worlds

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

    Savage Worlds powers quick, cinematic adventures across any genre. Pursue cultists, duel desperados, blast aliens, or don a cape, all using one streamlined system. Imagine the excitement of Indiana Jones at the table, expertly tailored by a professional Game Master for your group.

    View system: Savage Worlds
  • Fate

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

    Fate is a quick, adaptable system where your character's traits influence every scene. Craft thrilling, high-octane stories from audacious heists to two-fisted heroics. Imagine the momentum of Indiana Jones, driven by aspects and fate points, all overseen by a professional Game Master.

    View system: Fate
  • Starfinder

    • Space Opera +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • In-depth rules

    Starfinder is Paizo’s science-fantasy setting filled with blaster battles, spell-casting technomancers, and starship confrontations. Imagine Mass Effect but with magic. Our Game Masters will lead you through bizarre worlds, thrilling heists, and alien enigmas that reward collaboration and daring decisions.

    View system: Starfinder
  • Dungeon Crawl Classics

    • Dark Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Dungeon Crawl Classics immerses you in a world of pulp fantasy where steel, spells, and luck determine your fate. Picture the gritty essence of Conan, bizarre magic, and deadly dungeons driven by unpredictable dice rolls and daring decisions. Ideal for groups seeking adventure, treasure, and well-deserved victories.

    View system: Dungeon Crawl Classics
  • 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
  • Genesys

    • High Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Genesys is a universal tabletop RPG that prioritises storytelling with custom symbol dice. With a professional Game Master, your group can dive into high fantasy quests, neon cyberpunk, or thrilling space opera, ranging from heists to heroics. Imagine sweeping adventures in the vein of The Lord of the Rings.

    View system: Genesys
  • Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Blast stormtroopers, race TIE fighters, and swashbuckle across the galaxy in West End Games' classic D6 Star Wars RPG. Fast-paced, pulpy, and cinematic, it captures the essence of the original trilogy. Ideal for daring heists, Rebel missions, and family-friendly adventures with 2 to 6 players.

    View system: Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
  • Eat the Reich

    • Vampire +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Simple rules

    Take on the role of vampire commandos in a thrilling heist set in Nazi-occupied Europe. Imagine Inglourious Basterds but with fangs. The rules are light and punchy, encouraging audacious stunts, dark humour, and a fast pace, making it ideal for a focused one-shot with 2 to 5 players.

    View system: Eat the Reich

What players have to say

  • Joran had 6 children aged 12 completely engaged for the full four hours. Most of them were playing for the first time. They were actively entertained from start to finish. At no point did anyone seem bored or irritated. Joran was also perfectly prepared and had excellent game materials.

    Haiko

  • Ruby was fantastic; this was our group’s first DnD experience, and she helped everyone grasp the rules and enjoy themselves.

    Adam

  • We had a fantastic time, the lads really enjoyed their campaign and Evan was excellent. I would definitely recommend Evan. Thank you!

    Cheidhia

  • Geert was great fun and full of enthusiasm! We were in stitches laughing :D

    Wessel

  • It was a brilliant experience for the girls! Thank you, Marie! You were incredibly well prepared, the girls were captivated by your every word, and it felt like you had been playing together for years! Looking forward to seeing you next time!

    Annick

  • 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

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