Death Valley - A horror/western TTRPG


 

Deaths overworked, so when you died, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, Death missed picking you up. Now your rotting, changing waking back up. Your bloods gone cold, you are no longer mortal. . .

Death Valley is a TTRPG for you and your friends who might like to play the dead folk, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies. You died at the wrong time and now your are cursed to walk the earth, don't worry though Deaths looking to make that mistake right, on top of that mortals, and other undead might get to you first. Its one hell of an unlife. 

 

Death Valley is currently being developed by Aaron Bryant, building on the foundations of the original game created by Tim Roberts. This collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting mentorship initiative, with Aaron proudly taking the role as the first of what we hope will be many talented developers mentored by Tim. With a shared love of western films, their collaboration sings truth to those dustblown tales of a bygone era.

In addition to its rich narrative and game design, Death Valley will also showcase original artwork by Vincenzo, harkening to the spaghetti western posters of the 1950s. This art style brings a sense of isolation, and grit to a world where the dead are still walking among us. 

This creative team seeks to evoke the spirit of the west in every page, and in every rattling bone. Come out to Death Valley, were all dying to meet you.


COMING TO BACKERKIT 14th OCTOBER 2025!

 

 

Year Zero Engine

 

The Year Zero Engine (YZE) is a modular and rules-light RPG system known for emphasising story-driven, gritty, and cinematic gameplay. It was first introduced in the post-apocalyptic RPG Mutant: Year Zero and has since powered several award-winning games.

📦 Open License

In 2023, Free League released the Year Zero Engine Open Gaming License (YZE OGL), allowing independent creators to build their own games using a version of the system.

⚙️ Core Mechanics

1. Dice Pools:

Players roll a pool of D6s, usually grouped into attribute dice, skill dice, and gear dice.

A roll of 6 is a success. More successes = better outcomes.

No success? You can push the roll, re-roll the non-success dice to try again, at a cost (e.g., stress or damage).

2. Attributes & Skills:

Characters have a small set of core attributes (e.g., Strength, Agility, Wits, Empathy).

Each attribute is linked to a few broad skills.

3. Push Mechanic:

Encourages taking risks by allowing a re-roll of failed dice.

Adds consequences like damage, stress, or other narrative setbacks.

Mechanically simple, but adds tension and drama.

4. Resource Management:

Many YZE games use mechanics like degrading gear, limited ammo, or encumbrance to add survival pressure.

5. Modular Systems:

The engine is customized per game, with add-ons like:

  • Stress & Panic (e.g., ALIEN RPG)

  • Mutations (e.g., Mutant: Year Zero)

  • Survival & Exploration (e.g., Forbidden Lands)

  • Time Loops (e.g., Tales From the Loop)

 

MEET THE TEAM


  • Aaron Bryant

    Lead Creator

  • Tim Roberts

    Solo creator, layout and production

  • Vincenzo Ingenito

    Artist

    Let me introduce myself, my name is Vincenzo Ingenito and I am a digital illustrator, specialized in the Art Nouveau style.

    It was while I was at school, when I glimpsed a small paragraph in an art history textbook, that I discovered the Art Nouveau style, and it was love at first sight. The artist who most influenced me was Alphonse Mucha , whose works made me understand what my creative path would be, the style I so longed to explore: elegant, sinuous, and, in its simplicity, dauntingly difficult.

  • Chrissy McMorris

    Chrissy McMorris is an editor by day and an avid tabletop gamer by night (and also by day). She has copyedited and proofread hundreds of books and zines over the last fifteen years, including Don't Play This Game (Parable Games), Be Like a Cat and the ENNIE award-winning Punk is Dead (both Critical Kit).

  • Rowan Asbel

    Video production and social media marketing.
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