A Fool's Errand is Kickstarting in October 2024! 

Pre-save the campaign here to make sure you don't miss it!

A Fool’s Errand uses tarot cards to tell an expansive science fantasy story over several phases.

First, the group collaborates on the Big Oops - the biggest calamity in this world’s history. Players pinpoint what the world lost when the previous Fools reached their journey’s zenith, and which Major Arcana consorted or clashed with each other along the way.

Then, players create their Fools - Android or Human characters who become intertwined with the Major Arcana gods (including those who had a hand in the Big Oops), and whose journeys are led by unique tarot decks built with choices made in character creation.

Finally, the player’s characters play in the post-calamity, exploring both the waking world, and the Dream & Digital Networks - the surrealistic subconscious realm of Humans & Androids, respectively. Both are places of heightened power and quantum knowledge accessible to the Fools.

Players’ unique decks determine success, failure, and when a Major Arcana can’t help itself but to intervene in the adventure. Characters always have the option to accept the obligations from the Gods, or deny them.

Can they keep the Gods in check, contend with calamity, and spare the world another Big Oops?

Character Creation

Players build their Fools by selecting three motivations, each tied to a different Major Arcana. Included among these choices are the key Major Arcana who involved themselves in the previous Big Oops.

Each Major Arcana has a list of motivations to choose from. These three selected motivations provide a springboard for players to conceptualize their character. The three chosen Major Arcana are then inserted into the player’s play decks.

Players then expand upon their character builds by selecting their Lineage (Human or Android), Archetypes (Influencer, Inquirer, Operator, Outlaw, Protector, and/or Virtuoso), Skills, and Power Trees (a list of abilities themed after the Minor Arcana and branching into either Magic or Tech).

Characters pursue their motivations by exploring both the post-calamitous waking world and the Dream and Digital Networks.

All the while, the Major Arcana intervene, planting seeds for players to clarify and satisfy their requests, or “Obligations”.

As the Obligation Tracks fill up, the Fools flirt with godhood and draw closer to the advent of their own Big Oops.

Team

• Lead Designer: J Strautman (Contact, Insatiable Cravings)
• Designer & Art Director: B Marsollier (100% Modern Ghosts)
• Additional Development: Peter Marsollier (Planet Arcana)
• Editor: Samantha Leigh (Outliers, Anamnesis)
• Guest Writers & Additional Artists TBD

All art on this page done by B Marsollier.

Get this game!

Help us make this game by pre-saving the Kickstarter - funding for a physical print run begins in October.

Don't miss it!

At a glance...

• For 4-6 players, including GM(s)
• Session 0 mechanics included to facilitate worldbuilding
• ~2-4 hours per session