
Quiet Year · The Quiet Year TTRPG
The Quiet Year
The Quiet Year is a tabletop story game about a community rebuilding after a collapse. Together, you create a shared map, define landmarks, and observe the changing seasons. Each scene poses human questions about scarcity, trust, and hope, crafting a town that feels authentic. Players appreciate its calm rhythm, the bittersweet conclusion, and how every choice leaves a mark on the page. If you enjoy grounded Post-Apocalyptic narratives that focus on people rather than combat, this will resonate.
A session feels reflective and interactive. You converse, sketch, and uncover surprises, with a sense of quiet tension rather than conflict. A professional Game Master serves as facilitator, teaching the structure, maintaining the pace, and ensuring every voice is heard. It is welcoming to newcomers, ideal for mixed groups, writers, and teams who prefer collaboration over complex rules. Perfect for one-off sessions at parties or retreats, whether in person on butcher paper or online with a shared whiteboard. Suitable for 2 to 4 players, lasting 2 to 4 hours.
How to play The Quiet Year
The Quiet Year uses a standard deck of cards, not dice. Each turn, a player draws a card that represents a week and reads a prompt. You add to the map, start or advance projects, hold brief discussions, or discover something new. As the weeks progress, tokens and notes track resources, tensions, and ongoing work. The year concludes when a specific card appears, making decisions significant and time crucial.
Players bring curiosity, questions, and a willingness to sketch simple shapes. You do not need to be an artist. Our Game Masters provide the deck, large paper or a shared online board (see online options), markers, and tokens, explain the phases, manage timing, and keep everyone engaged with the game’s conversation tools. They also establish tone and safety so the table feels supported, whether you prefer hopeful rebuilding, political debate, or grittier stakes.
It works best as a single sitting, typically lasting 2 to 4 hours. For longer bookings, your facilitator can spread the year over two sessions or host a short series of standalone communities set in the same region. Each session is self-contained, allowing people to drop in without feeling lost, while returning groups enjoy seeing themes resonate across maps.




Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need to know the rules or be good at drawing?
No rulebook study is required. A professional Game Master will explain the flow in just a few minutes and ensure turns are clear and fair. You will make simple marks and symbols on a shared map. Stick figures and boxes work perfectly. There are no character sheets, stats, or dice involved. Each card provides a prompt, after which you can add to the map, start a project, or engage in a brief discussion. The emphasis is on ideas and conversation, not artistic skills. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.
How does The Quiet Year differ from D&D?
You are building a community together, rather than managing individual heroes. There is no combat system or tactical grid. The deck establishes the rhythm of weeks and seasons, and the map expands as you play. Decisions are made through brief discussions at the table and projects on the map, rather than through skill checks. Our Game Master facilitates and maintains the tone, but the group determines the actions of the community. It feels reflective and collaborative, with gentle tension rather than battles and treasure hunts.
What materials do we need, and how do you conduct it online?
In person, our Game Master brings a standard deck of cards, large paper, markers, and tokens for projects and notes. Online, you will use a shared whiteboard for drawing, digital tokens, and a virtual card deck. No special software is required beyond a voice or video call and a browser. The facilitator manages setup and teaches quick drawing conventions to ensure the map remains clear. If you prefer online tools, see options here: online play platforms.
What group size is most suitable and how long does a session last?
It is designed for 2 to 4 players. The ideal number is often 3 or 4, allowing ideas to flow without anyone waiting too long. Most groups finish in about 2 to 4 hours, depending on how much discussion you prefer. For a longer session, our Game Master can divide the year across two sittings. Each session is self-contained, so a guest can join without prior preparation. The deck determines when the year ends, ensuring a natural pace.
Is it suitable for children? What age groups are best for it?
Yes, with the right tone. The themes revolve around scarcity, choices, and collaboration after hardship. There is no gore or tactical violence in the rules. With guidance, ages 10 and above usually do well, and teenagers often excel. Our Game Master assesses comfort levels and establishes boundaries before play, then tailors prompts to suit your group. You can maintain a hopeful and constructive atmosphere, or cautiously delve into more challenging questions. Families and classrooms often appreciate its gentle pace.
Can we play it again or use it as a short series?
Absolutely. New maps, different starting assumptions, and shuffled cards create fresh outcomes each time. You can change the atmosphere, from cosy rebuilding to more complex politics, and watch entirely new landmarks and projects emerge. For a short series, your facilitator can run several standalone communities set in related locations. You will notice echoes and contrasts without needing strict continuity. It is satisfying as a one-off, and just as rewarding to revisit with a new perspective.
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