JACKPOT: The Roleplaying Game

JACKPOT is a tabletop roleplaying game about taking big gambles and making your own luck on a colossal casino space station. With the Earth decimated and humanity holding on in a noisy, chaotic, neon-drenched casino-city orbiting the planet, dwindling resources are hoarded by the haves and held just out of reach of the have-nots – at least, those have-nots who don’t have the guts and charm to take them.

THE GAME SYSTEM
Where most tabletop roleplaying games use the random doll of dice to resolve scenes and encounters, Jackpot uses hands drawn from a standard deck of 52 cards. When a player wants to attempt something and the result is in question, they draw a hand of 7 cards - which can be modified in numerous ways by their character’s skills, gear, and perks. Success, partial success or failure depends on the best poker hand the player can assemble.

Think Blades in the Dark meets Balatro.

THE SETTING
When capitalism finally outgrew Earth and reached its grasping fingers into space, a shadowy group known as The Syndicate built The House: the ultimate pleasure palace for the ultra-rich. Self-governed, self-sustaining, with mile after corrugated mile of luxury hotels, theaters, art galleries, restaurants and - of course - casino floors. When humans destroyed the Earth, the station became a refuge, utopia and prison - a sovereign city-state where the rich continue on like nothing has changed, the poor eke out a survival, and The House always wins. 

PLAYERS
As a player in Jackpot, you’ll create a character pushing back against the stratified power structures in The House. Maybe you’re an orphan from the Underdeck who’s ready to play your hand and get a piece of The Syndicate’s pie. Maybe you’re a gambler in over your head who needs a big score to get The House’s Jackals off your back. Maybe a station VIP took something from you, and you’ll stop at nothing to get it back - or get revenge. You can’t win if you don’t play.

Of course, you do have a few tricks up your sleeve. Each character has a set of skills to help them succeed, and a unique class that gives them special perks. Are you a Cardsharp, who can subtly tip the results in your favor? A Grifter, who can change the rules of the game? Or an Oracle, who can manipulate the odds to succeed? In the world of The House, you’re a wild card.

THE DEALER
The Dealer creates the world of The House, describing scenes, moderating outcomes, and embodying the many non-player denizens of the house. It’s not the Dealer’s job to play against the characters; you’re all working together to tell a story. Encourage interesting choices. Follow the game where the players take it. And most of all, be a fan of the players and their characters.