# Tribe 8 tags: #game/rpg/tribe8 ![[Tribe 8 - Tribes in the Dark (cover).jpg]] Welcome to Vimary, also known as post-apocalyptic Montreal, though arguably it’s an improvement. _Tribes in the Dark_ is a reboot of the cult classic _Tribe 8_, shifting the focus from the tactical crunch of the 90s to the "fiction-first" narrative style of today. The premise remains delightfully bleak: humanity was enslaved by spiritual monstrosities called the **Z’bri**—beings of pure excess who wear human flesh like cheap suits. You play as the **Fallen**, outcasts banished from the Seven Tribes by their so-called saviors, the **Fatimas**. These "goddesses" are essentially giant, sentient scrapyard constructs who dictate every aspect of Tribal life. Having been kicked out of the only society you’ve ever known, you now live on an island of refuse called Hom. Your goal? Survive the Z’bri, dodge the Tribes who hate you, and perhaps fulfill a prophecy that says you are the future of humanity. No pressure, of course. ## Core Mechanics This edition runs on the **Forged in the Dark** engine, adapted from _Blades in the Dark_. It prioritizes narrative momentum over counting bullets. ### Action Rolls When things get dangerous (which is always), you roll a pool of **d6s** based on your **Action Rating** (e.g., Fight, Sway, Lurk). - **1-3:** You fail, and things get worse. - **4-5:** You succeed, but with a consequence. - **6:** You succeed cleanly. - **Critical (multiple 6s):** You succeed with style and extra benefits. ### Position and Effect Before you roll, the **Weaver** (GM) tells you how bad it will be if you fail (**Position**: Controlled, Risky, or Desperate) and how much you’ll accomplish if you succeed (**Effect**: Limited, Standard, or Great). ### Stress and Trauma You have a **Stress** track. You can burn stress to push yourself for extra dice or to resist consequences. However, fill that track up, and you take **Trauma**. Take four Traumas, and your character is retired—likely to a shallow grave or a Z'bri dinner plate. ### Synthesis This is the setting's dream magic. It allows you to reshape reality by channeling the **River of Dream**. It’s powerful, fickle, and uses a freeform system where you determine the **Magnitude** of the effect. Fail the roll, and you risk **Equilibrium Loss**, which ranges from "minor hallucinations" to "soul ripped from body." ## Edition Changes The file you provided is _Tribes in the Dark_, a modern reimagining using the **Forged in the Dark** system. This is a significant departure from the original _Tribe 8_ (1st and 2nd Editions), which used the **Silhouette** system. - **System Shift:** The original _Silhouette_ system was a simulationist "physics engine" with heavy crunch, modifiers, and tactical combat. _Tribes in the Dark_ abstracts all of that into narrative **Action Rolls** and **Clocks**. - **Metaplot Reset:** The original game had a dense, advancing metaplot that moved the timeline forward through published campaign books. This edition hits the reset button, placing the timeline back at the beginning in Vimary, removing the "canon" baggage and letting you ruin the world on your own terms. - **Focus:** The game mechanics now explicitly support the "Cell" (the party) and its growth, using **Focuses** (Community, Sanctuary, Supply, Vision) instead of the specific "Crew" types found in _Blades in the Dark_. ## References If you wish to acquire this simulation of suffering or read the ramblings of others who have engaged with it: - [Tribes in the Dark Playtest - DriveThruRPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/377688/Tribes-in-the-Dark--Playtest) - [Dream Pod 9 Official Store - Tribe 8 Section](https://store.dp9.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=84) - [Tribe 8 Wikipedia Entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_8_\(role-playing_game\))