This is the two hundred twenty-sixth entry in the Scratching That Itch series, wherein I randomly select and write about one of the 1741 games and game-related things included in the itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality. The Bundle raised $8,149,829.66 split evenly between the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and Community Bail Fund, but don’t worry if you missed it. There are plenty of ways you can help support the vital cause of racial justice; try here for a start. Lastly, as always, you may click on images to view larger versions.

Our two hundred twenty-sixth random selection from the itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality is asking us why we never call. It’s Obachan Panic!, by flyaturtle, and its tagline in the bundle reads:

The TTRPG where grandmas and aunties save the world!

They came to gossip and save the world, and they’re all out of gossip… wait, out of gossip!? Time to panic!

The “TTRPG” in that tagline stands for tabletop role-playing game, and as usual when such games come up in Scratching That Itch, I lack the time or inclination to organize a group of players to actually try it. So I’ve just read through the book and offer my thoughts here. Like many other tabletop entries so far, Obachan Panic! is a Powered by the Apocalypse game, borrowing rules from the original Apocalypse World for “moves” that players can take which either fully succeed, succeed with some sort of complication, or fail badly. No matter the outcome, the story moves forwards: collaborative storytelling among the group is the focus of such games, with every triumph or setback flowing into a compelling cooperative narrative.

Powered by the Apocalypse games tend to be flexible with their simple rulesets, but Obachan Panic! seems especially so. Where most such games encourage roleplaying by listing specific moves that different types of characters can use, Obachan Panic!’s main move is “Do Whatever”. But there’s also “Gossip” and “Panic!”, because Obachan Panic! is, in fact, very focused on roleplaying as aunties and grandmas (although any gender is welcomed). It’s just very relaxed about it. The GM (Grandma Master, naturally) is instructed to always be in character, from the moment other players arrive. Serve tea or mimosas. Light some scented candles. Gossip! Feeding players rumors and secrets is part of the game; the GM can signal them to reveal their secret knowledge at appropriate times. Coloring and decorating each player’s character sheet is also part of the game. In fact, flyaturtle mentions that sometimes the group spent a whole session just hanging out, decorating character sheets, and chatting. That is a totally acceptable play session.

If players do want to get into some story-driven roleplaying, however, the obachan theme remains strong. Each player has three stats that can influence their moves: Guilt, Glamour, and Purse. There are also random tables given for what they might have in their purse, with hilarious entries like “signed photo of Sinatra/Julio Iglesias/Bowie” and “coupons, infinite”. Players can also roll for how many kids and cats they have. As they play, they are encouraged to panic often, based on some pre-set triggers assigned during character creation. Obachans always mean well, you see, but sometimes they can’t help themselves. Panicking interferes with players’ attempts to do things, but it earns “YASS points” which are needed to unleash their hidden superpowers. That’s right: these aunties are actually superheroes. There aren’t many examples of superpowers given in the book, actually, but a lot of references to transformations into super forms, inspired by anime shows. Players will have to use their imaginations to come up with their supernatural abilities.

The book includes a lot of advice for the GM, and two examples of playable scenarios, but Obachan Panic! still strikes me as a game suited to experienced players. It will require a group that’s comfortable getting into character as some badass aunties, and creating a ridiculous story together. The book is mostly concerned with maintaining the theme, with a lot of guidance for how to act in character as an obachan, and high-level discussions about how to keep the story flowing. There aren’t many examples of moves being used, or how a player’s “Panic!” move might interfere with another player in a way that’s entertaining instead of annoying. Those might have been helpful to newer players.

But the theme is fabulous. I love the pairing of mundane auntie stuff, like shopping and baking, with supernatural world-threatening events, and I love all the illustrations of obachans gripping their magical weapons while they call their grandkids. There’s a section near the end of the book about “New Classes and Powers” that includes brief but passionate appeal to celebrate overlooked groups in society who are rarely represented as heroes. Apparently, flyaturtle is already working on classes for ojichan (uncles), divorcé “soccer mom/dad” spouses, hikikimori, and night shift workers, among others. Key to the design, however, is that everyone plays the same class. It’s all about that specific social group, and how they rise to the occasion and save the world.

This one sounds like great fun, as long as players are comfortable winging it. The rules for moves are intentionally left up to the discretion of the GM and the other players, which could lead to a haphazard session, but the emphasis on scene-setting and getting into character up front should help a lot with this. I fear I have not adequately expressed how funny this book is. From the wonderful juxtapositions in the artwork to the absurd random table entries, it’s a hilarious read, and that alone should help players improvise some appropriately ridiculous scenarios. As flyaturtle says, players should go a bit overboard. Obachans always give it their all.

If playing as a world-saving auntie sounds fun to you, definitely give Obachan Panic! a look. If you missed it in the bundle, it’s sold for a minimum price of $9, which includes PDFs in booklet or page formats, or in a limited risograph print edition for a minimum price of $17.

That’s 226 down, and only 1515 to go!