DayTrippers vs Mothership
Compare DayTrippers and Mothership side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| DayTrippers | Mothership | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi, Horror |
| Play Style | Rules-Light, Skill-Based, Narrative, Exploration, Weird, Collaborative, Ship-Based, Character-Driven, Improvisation, Open Source, One-Shot Friendly | Rules-Light, Deadly, One-Shot Friendly, Survival, Atmospheric, Low-Prep, Cinematic, Fast-Paced |
| Core Mechanic | Roll a number of d6s equal to the relevant Stat score (1–6), keep the highest, and add any Skill and Item bonuses. Compare to a Difficulty Level (1–10) or an opposed roll. Results are interpreted narratively on a five-tier table: miss by more than 1 (No, And), miss by 1 (No, But), hit exactly (Yes, But), exceed by 1 (Yes), exceed by more than 1 (Yes, And). Progressive Character Generation lets players spend character points during play rather than all at creation. | Roll d100 under stat/skill. Stress and panic mechanics escalate tension. |
| Dice | d6 | d100 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Accessibility | High | High |
| Runnability | Low | Very High |
| License | CC BY-NC 3.0 | 3rd Party License |
| Cost | $ | $ |
| Publisher | As If Productions | Tuesday Knight Games |
| Year | 2015 | 2022 |
| Best For | Groups who want episodic surreal sci-fi adventures exploring dream worlds, alternate Earths, and pocket universes, with a fiction-first resolution system that rewards creative narration. | Terrifying sci-fi horror one-shots and short campaigns. Panic table creates unforgettable moments. |
| Highlights | Five slip types (Cartesian, Paraterran, Temporal, Subjective, Compound) create wildly different mission structures from space travel to dream worlds. Progressive Character Generation reveals character details through play rather than front-loading backstory. LifeShaping system ties character motivations (beliefs, goals, relationships) directly into mechanical bonuses. SlipShip construction rules let players design their own interdimensional vehicles. | Rules-light, well-regarded module library, panic system creates mechanical tension |
| Considerations | 44-page core rulebook covers the essentials but leaves significant rulings to GM interpretation. Combat system is lightweight with limited tactical options. Surreal tone assumes GM comfort with improvising bizarre interdimensional encounters on the fly. GameMasters Guide sold separately for expanded tools and adventure generation. | Panic table can cascade and end sessions abruptly, limited long-campaign support in core rules, stress mechanics can feel repetitive over extended play |