Pirate Borg vs Rapscallion
Compare Pirate Borg and Rapscallion side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Pirate Borg | Rapscallion | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy, Horror | Fantasy |
| Tags | Deadly, Rules-Light, Gonzo, Pirates, Fast-Paced, Random Tables | Narrative, Pirates |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + ability modifier vs. a Difficulty Rating (DR). Players roll both attack and defense. Five abilities (STR, AGI, PRE, TOU, SPI). Classes include Brute, Rapscallion, Buccaneer, and Swashbuckler. Devil's Luck points provide clutch rerolls. Ship combat uses broadside volleys and boarding actions. Fully compatible with Mörk Borg content. | Roll 2d6 + trait (Blood, Vinegar, Polish, or Spitfire). On 10+ you succeed cleanly, 7–9 with a cost, 6– and things go wrong. Players choose from 6 character playbooks and 2 ship playbooks. Luck can be spent to Twist Fate (reroll), and the Ante system tracks escalating combat advantage. The Fates (GM) use worldbuilding moves to create a living fantasy pirate setting with magic rooted in Death, Demons, the Sea, and Books. |
| Dice | d20 | 2d6 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Availability | Free quickstart | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | 3 of 5 book tools | Book tools not listed |
| License | Mörk Borg Third Party License | Proprietary |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Limithron LLC / Free League Publishing | Magpie Games |
| Year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Languages | English, Swedish | English |
| Best For | Groups who want fast, brutal pirate adventures with a doom-metal aesthetic: ship combat, cursed treasure, and a world spiraling toward annihilation. | Groups who want a narrative pirate RPG with dramatic character relationships: where your ship has its own playbook, magic comes from dark pacts, and the dice swing between daring success and messy complication. |
| Highlights | Simple rules, ship combat is fast-paced, Devil's Luck creates drama, fully Mörk Borg compatible, extensive random tables for pirate adventures | Ship-as-character with its own playbook adds group dynamics, Ante system makes combat escalation feel cinematic, worldbuilding tools (World With Laws vs World Without Laws), Magpie Games pedigree, free quickstart to try before buying |
| Considerations | Class balance varies significantly, core book layout prioritizes style over reference usability, ship combat rules are lighter than expected, random character generation limits player investment | Only a quickstart: full game not yet released, limited to 6 playbooks, pirate fantasy genre is narrow, requires buy-in from the whole table for PbtA-style play, light on crunch |