Welcome back to the weekly Tabletop Games thread! This thread is where we can talk about all kinds of RPGs, card games, board games, etc. Whether you gather around a physical table in the real world, or use a virtual space to play with friends who may live far away from you, this is where you can discuss your favorites, ask for and/or receive recommendations, recap your recent adventures, or even find some people to play games with!

This week’s prompt: Handsome Young Dugong brings us another game overview!

Hey everybody, today we’ll be looking at a system where you simulate the best kind of government work, the kind with supernatural, extraterrestrial, or crypto-zoological origins. The name of the game is Agents of the O.D.D., but if anyone asks the bureau will deny it.

What is it?
Agents of the ODD is an adaption or hack of a game called Into the Odd, which has inspired a number of other adaptions including Cairn and Mausritter. Agents takes what was originally a sort of new-wave OSR approach to gaming and adapts it into a pulpy, X-files inspired setting. Think of it as a slightly more technical Monster of the Week, but where the hunters all work for the same spooky government organization.

What are the mechanics?
Like its sister games, Agents of the ODD puts its mechanics into a few separate lanes: saves are distinct from combat which is distinct from interaction with the setting and NPCs. Saves/avoiding danger are done with a roll-under roll pertaining to three different stats, Strength, Dexterity, and Willpower. Attacks, whether by or against the player always hit, with the only roll being done to determine damage (as reduced by armor). Persuasion, observation, and problem solving are done through the narrative rather than through rolls; you’ll need to ask the GM questions about the surroundings to get the minute details.

What does the gameplay look like?
John Mothman and Carol, Harbinger of the End of Days, have tracked a faintly glowing trail of slime and copies of Atlas Shrugged into a cave. The GM narrates the horrible scuttling sound behind them and asks the team to roll Dexterity saves to see if they can avoid being taken unawares. Only John rolls below his Dexterity; he spins around and unloads his service pistol at the free-market abomination approaching. John rolls a 2 on his damage die, and the GM describes the only slight crack in the monster’s exoskeleton. Carol dodges back from the swipe of a pincer, reducing her HP. The team prepares for the worst as the Lobstertarian chitters something about private health insurance and scuttles forward.

Niche
I’m not sure what exactly the group in the center of a Venn diagram of “Likes OSR” and “Likes Hellboy” is called, but this is the game for that group. Also good for folks looking for a breath of fresh air from Medieval fantasy settings without having to go too far out of their mechanical comfort zone.

Pluses
-Both in and out of narrative, the creator makes it a point to distance the game from real-life conspiracies as perpetuated by “bigoted jackasses.”
-A full d100 of unusual but on-theme profiles for characters. Ever wanted to play as a removable brass head or a cloud of ectoplasmic snot? Now’s your chance.

Minuses
-High character lethality, as is the case for most of the Odd-inspired games.
-While it does give advice on creating monsters and a few examples in the sample mission, there isn’t a significant bestiary.

Dugong’s advice
-If you’re GMing, be sure to make the O.D.D. organization itself extra weird. The manual gives a good place to start with the senior agents’ response to being asked about the Men in Black, so keep that ball rolling.
-Take a cue from Monster of the Week and think of (or allow for) ways to weaken or defeat your antagonist monster out of combat. Got a sinister marionette controlling people? Put a log with some termites in it nearby for someone to discover.

Where can I find it?
Available exclusively at itch.io, as far as I can tell. If you purchased the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equity back in 2020, you already own a copy.

Thanks again to Handsome Young Dugong for providing this write-up! If you would like to suggest a prompt or contribute a write-up or discussion topic of your own, let me know in the comments!