The Quiet Year

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.

A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
A detailed painted game miniature of a tabaxi character leaping with a knife, designed for role-playing game adventures.
Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen
Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen

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.

Booking Form


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Genres you can play in The Quiet Year

  • Survival

    Chilly nights, empty rations, and tough decisions. Survival stories challenge your resolve and teamwork as you manage supplies, outwit…

    View genre: Survival
  • Gritty

    Difficult decisions, limited resources, and lasting consequences. Imagine Game of Thrones, where trust is tenuous, debts must be repaid…

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  • Tragic

    Embrace delicate hopes and steep costs as characters confront their fatal flaws, grief, and the meaning that emerges from loss. Consider…

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  • Rural

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What players think

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His attitude was fantastic, and he made the game enjoyable for all. I particularly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was required from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a wonderful time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thank you!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I arranged a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very enthusiastic about it, and he was thoroughly pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • A very good GM, Baptiste adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. One issue was with the character sheets provided, which were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells (no healing spell) even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they'd ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach enabled the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by allowing them to control how they wanted their actions to be carried out. I would certainly work with her again.

    John

  • A pleasant and straightforward introduction to D&D. Amber was adept at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the rhythm and concentrate on the narrative. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack strategies was an enjoyable experience and provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a highly enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly brilliant as a DM! Cheerful, adaptable, and exceptionally experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in an enjoyable manner and engaged every player in the story, regardless of whether they were vocal or reserved. If you embark on an adventure with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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