Follow the story of Tomorrow, a blue-haired, Raven-mentored magician, as she navigates more wars and intrigues than anybody should have on their plate in this playtest of strategy tabletop roleplaying game, Project Aphelion, using the world of 2050s Shadowrun.
- Patreon in July!
See what’s happening on the Double Proficiency Patreon in July! The Aphelion RPG setting, new Wayfarer’s Deck, and shiny magic rocks! - Aphelion Toolkit Playtest #02: Folas’ Escape
With no time to lose and guards right on his tail, Folas struggles to escape the magic guild’s dungeons in the second part of the playtest. - Aphelion Toolkit Core Beta Tests Are On!
Follow Folas, the sneaky spellsword, as he tries to defeat his nemesis in this solo playtest of Aphelion Toolkit RPG! - Aphelion Toolkit: Project Update #1
Our upcoming TTRPG ruleset is still in development, but getting closer each day. Check out Aphelion Toolkit’s scenario-generating goodness! - Aphelion Solo Playtest 01: Character Generation of a Village Witch
Welcome to the new playtest series of Aphelion, in which I take Jakub’s brilliant system and try to break it. This time, with a village witch and alchemist. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #049: The Epilogue
I think it’ll come as no surprise that it’s time to wrap up this playtest. Tomorrow’s quest of finding her sister was successful, she has sorted out her life despite many curveballs she’s been thrown, and there’s nothing… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #048: Matters of Heart and Soul
As the battle for independence comes to a close, it’s time to close a couple of threads we’ve been running for months now. There can’t be a real happily ever after with the emergent gameplay – but it’s… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #047: Step by Step
In this episode we’re continuing our long-ass Scenario of ensuring the independence of the main characters of this story. It’s going reasonably well so far, but we’re just about to get to the hardest part: a Payout 15… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #046: Best Friends Forever
It’s high time to sort out the situation in the Warrens and restore the natural order of the Universe: with Tomorrow being on top of any pile, Wheeler at her side. At least she considers it the natural… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #045: Stoking the Flames
We have the Insecticide War to finish. We have the consequences of it to consider. We have some hard personal decisions to make. We also have bills to pay and living world to update. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #044: In Ants’ Plans
Bored Tomorrow is not a good sign. Tomorrow, whose life was more or less thrown upside-down by learning that her lover was lying to her for almost a year (even if not entirely on his own volition), is… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #043: Peace and Quiet
After the developments of the last episode, we need to make sure that the timelines align and that the characters’ goals make sense. Project Aphelion is a game about player agency, and while there are tools to just… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #042: The New Normal
Our campaign against d’Venescu is over. Chloe and Fayette are safe, and Tomorrow can finally live her life the way she wants. But does she even know what it is? We’re getting back in time to the beginning… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #041: Finally, at Peace
This is it! This is what we were waiting for! The resolution to the Great War with the blood mage Anton d’Venescu and his friendly dragon Dzitbalchen. Things happen here, although some people are suspiciously absent. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #040: Pocket Money
Is this the final blow we’ll going to deal d’Venescu? No. Does it have the potential to be the most fun? Yes. In case this is not yet obvious, the protagonist of this story is basically a chaotic… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #039: Girls, Reunited
Who’s up for a treat? The brand new and reworked scenario generation system? I am! It was literally just put together, and we’re taking it on the maiden journey. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #038: The War Council
As we’re working our way up the campaign finale, there’s a lot of scheming, planning, plotting, and strategizing. On all sides. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #037: Reason and Responsibility
Things are heating up in the Warrens as we take a short break from the main campaign and make sure that our protagonist’s life goes on outside of her current quest. You can’t wage a war 24/7 –… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #036: Return to the Sender
In this episode, we’re returning d’Venescu’s spell back to the sender (with some freebies attached!). He, unlike us, will not enjoy it. Also, there’s a lovely surprise at the end. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #035: So You Want to Be a Researcher
Remember that our protagonist is supposed to be a scientist? The academic type, not the ‘overpowered witch on an obvious corruption arc’? Well, there are times in each researcher’s life when they actually have to do that research…. Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #034: Raul in Distress
Here’s what we were waiting for: more playtests! This time, a Faction Interference Scenario, so we get to mess with other people’s plans and still get paid. Sounds like paradise? That’s because it’s just a game. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #033: This Means War
This episode is about as full of plotting and scheming as one can expect. We have unresolved consequences, lots of unresolved tension, stuff happening all around us, a raging war, a plot to kill one of our contacts,… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #032: Divide et Impera
Hey-ho, let’s punch the blood mage-o! We’ve been really looking forward to it. And by we, I mean mostly myself. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #031: Where Two Are Fighting
After the big OOF of the previous episode, it’s time to get back to strategizing. We’ve made a lot of progress in several areas lately, we have some unfinished threads, and it’s high time to bring it all… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #030: Operation Honeypot, part II
It’s time to build and play the Scenario. Due to unforeseen circumstances and Scenario complications, let me just put a content warning in here. It goes dark and nasty. Not graphic and I suppose it counts under ‘fantasy… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #029: Operation Honeypot, part I
There’s just so much in here. A new month, three scenarios, a ton of consequences, preparing a massive Tower Defense Scenario, family drama… A lot. Welcome to Operation Honeypot. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #028: Ghosts and the Machine
This time, we’re hitting d’Venescu where it hurts! Or at least, where we hope it will hurt him. Some data stealing, some secondary objectives, and a hell of a lot of planning and scheming. Strategy game, y’all. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #027: Who Plays with Fire
After the grueling scenario played last time, it’s time to slow down, re-assess, reconsider… Or just accept the consequences and throw ourselves into the spiral of retaliation and vengeance. Yes, that sounds more plausible in this case. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #026: Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Welcome to the new episode! This time: mass murder, grand larceny, and arson. And a fair warning about lots of blood, death, and mental and physical trauma. Mentions of self-harm, suicide, and several other nasty things. This is… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #025: Meanwhile, the Villain
The Villain gets his turn! Oh, what a delightful turn he took. Come and see how Aphelion’s mechanics procedurally steer the opposition in solo play. It’s a doozy. We also buy real estate, because roleplaying is all about… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #024: The Writing on the Wall
Time to get back to the main story! This time, we’re quickly rolling into the new month, checking what’s new in the world, and starting our offensive against the blood mage. Gotta get Chloe’s girlfriend back, after all! - Project Aphelion Solo Play #023: The Gig Economy
We’re jumping straight into the next Scenario, hoping to catch some more cash and clean out the plate before we move to the next month and the main plot. As a freebie, some more of Tomorrow’s I really… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #022: Freelancer’s Life
We’re going on a side quest! The time has come for Tomorrow to start preparing for her life after the whole Chloe business, even if it’s very, very far away from her current interests. We also get to… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #021: We Require More Minerals
It’s time to start the offensive! We have a lot of cash getting dusty on the bank account, and I look forward to spending it before some other Faction decides I have a nice trove of cash and… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #020: One Step Forward…
After the absolutely self-indulgent episode 19.5, which was completely unnecessary for everybody but myself, it’s high time to get back to the playtest. We have projects to pick up, scenarios to plan, contacts to contact – and, I… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #019.5: Together, At Last
This is not an episode of the playtest. It’s two people talking. But it’s been two years since I created a PC with a single backstory hook of finding her missing sister, and this meeting was imagined a… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #019: The Best Kind of Defense
Remember when the Scenario Consequences have told me that ALOHA is about to blow up Cutters’ operations in Hawai’i? Let’s deal with this, because Tomorrow is not going to so easily resign from her most convenient way of… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #018: A Familiar Face
Hoi! Welcome to another episode of… Yeah, never mind all that. Do you remember what happened in the last episode? Do you? Do you?!I need to resolve this thing. Right now. Yes, for me it’s the same day…. Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #017: The Shallow Waters
Welcome to Project Aphelion‘s solo playtest, in which I have an exorbitant amount of fun stretching, twisting, and adjusting the mechanics (they still hold) – and making my PC miserable (she also holds quite well). In this episode,… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #016: Take a Break
Life hasn’t been particularly fun for Tomorrow lately – it’s high time to take a break and zoom out, think strategically, plan alliances, and see what’s new in the world as we move to another month! Project Aphelion… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #015: Blood for the Bloodhound
Hi there! Happy Yule! I have a bunch of not-at-all-holiday-connected things in this episode. You get a good look at the idea of balancing and quid-pro-quo in Project Aphelion rules, there’s blood spilled, and important things happening in… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #014: The Brewing Storm
In this episode, you get so see one of the coolest solo tools in action and the emergent gameplay they create in Project Aphelion. The mysteries are solved, the investigations finished – and there’s nothing left for us… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #013: Just Cut the Deal
This is me, making sure my PC is miserable and struggling as I’m testing Project Aphelion‘s mechanics in the solo mode. If we were to apply a standard story structure, I believe we have just reached Act 2…. Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #012: With Friends Like These
Welcome to another episode of my Project Aphelion solo playtest! This time, there’s nothing but fun, joy, intrigue, backstabbing, trade negotiations, increased sense of paranoia, and a pile of cool things. I assume – I’m writing this entry… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #011: Ants in our Plans
Hi and welcome to the Project Aphelion solo playtest! This time we’re getting prepared for the first heist of the campaign, we’re making a second character, introducing new mechanics, and showing off how teamwork works! You wanted a… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #010: Gods of Emergent Gameplay
Welcome to another episode of Project Aphelion‘s playtest, in which I’m making sure the mechanics work regardless of the world and play style. In the last post, my PC Tomorrow went for a holiday break for a couple… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #009: The Winter Break
Family drama, Christmas miracles, gods of emergent gameplay, and a strong vibe of ‘I should be writing a book.’ But there’s also a detailed playtest of the combat system! Somehow. - Project Aphelion Solo Play #008: The Lovely Wintertime
Welcome back to the solo game of Project Aphelion, in which I take this lovely engine and do weird things with it – and it still works! Now, this episode is mostly a matter of downtime, comes with… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #007: A Dinner with a Dragon
Strategy Layer: December 10, 2055 Picking where we left off! It’s now only a week until Tomorrow’s meeting with Henequen and there’s research to be done, skills to be learnt, main quest to be progressed, spell research to… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #006: Strategy Layer and Scenario 2: The Chaos World
Welcome to the Grand Strategy, version Lite. I’m sure Jakub will one day introduce you to Grand Strategy, version Full Aphelion Rules, but that’s not my thing. As always, if you’re new here, I suggest you start at… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #005: The Proper Channels
In the last post, I’ve generated the Scenario I’m going to be playing today. If you’ve missed it, it’s here. If you’ve missed the whole joy so far, it’s best if you start at the beginning and character… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #004: Scenario Generation
By Anna Urbanek Art deals! Artifacts! Lore drops! Getting through the PAs and PR specialists, trying to get a private meeting with Henequen – an art-dealing dragon who possesses more information about Tomorrow’s sister. Welcome to the first… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #003: Campaign Generation
By Anna Urbanek Welcome back to the cycle in which I take Jakub’s perfectly good hard sci-fi RPG Project Aphelion and cram Shadowrun into it, using a lot of duct tape and hoping it will all hold. This… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #002: Career Magician
By Anna Urbanek Welcome back to my self-indulging project of changing Shadowrun into a strategy RPG, using the engine of our upcoming RPG, Project Aphelion. If you’ve missed it, in the previous post I went through some conversion… Read More - Project Aphelion Solo Play #001: Hacking the Cyberpunk
About a year ago, we played a campaign of Shadowrun. It was delightful, even if the rules did what they could to make it annoying. The campaign came to an end of season one and we’ve never picked… Read More