Death of the Author: A solo tarot game of character autonomy

Fight for narrative control in this new TTRPG by the designer of Anamnesis.

To all my characters who deserved better.

Death of the Author

Death of the Author is a solo tarot journaling game about a Character fighting for agency in their story, against the wishes of their Author. Play as the Character, who tries to wrest narrative control from the Author. At the end, no matter the story, the Character will confront their Author.

Death of the Author is crowdfunding on Backerkit from May 14 to May 28. If funded, it will be released as a physical stapled zine of approximately 28-32 pages.

The team for Death of the Author is Samantha Leigh (author), Victor Winter (artist), James Hanna (layout artist), and Marx Shepherd (editor)

Gameplay

Death of the Author is a hack of Samantha Leigh’s ENnie-nominated Anamnesis, with new twists on the original formula.

Gameplay takes place over five Chapters. In each Chapter, the player draws tarot cards for Scene Prompts, events written by the Author. The Character then edits Scene Prompts to shape the story to their will.

Use caution - tampering with the narrative draws the attention of the Author, who might retaliate by using the Character’s own words against them.

Testimonials from Playtesters

A thought-provoking examination of the relationship between character and author, and what it takes to wrest control of one's own story away from the confines imposed upon it. Every writer has had the experience of characters who don't want to cooperate with your story. Death of the Author gives you insight into why. - S. Kaiya J.

Death of the Author is a mindfuck in the best way. By the end of my playthrough I felt a little like Charlie Kaufman and a little like a character in a Charlie Kaufman movie. - Taylor Felicity

Have you ever seen yourself in a story you wrote? In a character? What if they looked back? Fight for freedom as a character in your own tale, against its Author. Struggle with them, understand them, confront them and find out what's waiting for you beyond your ending. - Danny R. R. Travis

A very meta experience that got me thinking about my real life story, who writes it for me, and how much control I'd want to take back. - Leam

Death of the Author launches on Backerkit on May 14th, 2024. Follow the page to be notified when the project launches.