Skies Above, a Love Letter to JRPGs

Skies Above is a TTRPG that draws heavy inspiration from the enchanting world of Japanese Role Playing Games (JRPG). It channels the spirit of classic titles like those in the Final Fantasy series—especially the beloved entries from the Super Nintendo/Famicom era—as well as iconic games such as Dragon Quest, Secret of Mana, Grandia, and Lunar, with a sprinkle of Legend of Zelda magic.

Set against a backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world, Skies Above defies the typical dark and dreary connotations of such settings. Instead, it presents a lively realm brimming with vitality, intrigue, growth, and abundance. This is a land infused with magic, ancient technologies, and forgotten locales, where vast skies stretch above, concealing countless secrets behind the clouds.

To play you'll need some a couple of d8s and of course, you also need some players. Skies Above can theoretically be played with any number of players, plus one who acts as the Chronicler (GM) for the adventure or campaign, although the recommended number is between 3 and 5. Groups with more or less than this may find the game challenging or hard to balance, particularly for first time players and Chroniclers.

When it comes to character creation, there’s an abundance of choices available, including various Job Roles, Skyfolk species, skills, and throughout the game, equipment, crafting, and multiclassing. The Chronicler has a diverse selection of monsters and villains that can be adjusted to match the party's level, along with guidelines for collaborative world-building and a wealth of lore to enhance their campaigns.

The Ashcan version of the game is available now, with the creator Andy from Lost Haven Art more than happy to take on board suggestions and feedback. The Kickstarter campaign is planned to be launched in June with the prelaunch page already live. You can sign up for the campaign and find the link to the Ashcan here!