Death of the Author

Physical copies are available at: Blinking Birch Games (US) Indie Press Revolution (US) Knave of Cups (US) Heart of the Deernicorn (US) Tabletop Bookshelf (US) ratti incantati (Canada) The Lost Bay (UK, EU) Discounted damaged copies are available on the Blinking Birch Games website . ---------- What would a character do upon confronting their author? Death of the Author is a 1-2 player tarot TTRPG about a character fighting for agency within their own story . Over the course of five chapters, the character attempts to shape the narrative by twisting the scenes written by their author . With a deck of tarot cards, tell a story of character autonomy and authorial intent. What messages does the author send throughout the character’s story? What happens when the character finally confronts their author? Won the CRIT Award (2025) for Best GMless TTRPG! Featured on Polygon! ---------- About Death of the Author can be played either solo or with a friend, over the course of 2-4 hours. All that is needed to play is a deck of tarot cards and a way to record your story. You do not need to be familiar with tarot to play. Gameplay involves drawing cards for Scene Prompts, which describe scenes written by the Author. The Character then has a chance to modify the scene prompts , changing the story in the process. Each Chapter, the Character can use one Reversal and one Defiance: Reversal - Flip the card to receive a different Scene Prompt Defiance - Completely rewrite the underlined part of the Scene Prompt However, changing the narrative brings the attention of the Author, who might choose to retaliate as they rewrite the Scene. Death of the Author is a hack of Anamnesis , twisting the original mechanics in new and surprising ways. The game is 44 pages, including covers. The digital downloads also include a designer's commentary version, an audiobook, and a gameplay tracking sheet. ---------- 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 ---------- Actual Plays Party of One - Host Jeff Stormer plays Death of the Author with author Isabel J. Kim ( Sublimation ) to tell the story of a superhero fighting against the narrative. Monster Hour - Host Quinn Majeski and guest Kendo ( Tales Yet Told ) play Death of the Author as a ship captain on a perilous journey and the author who created them. Game Master Monday - JienBirb and Rosalie Mullican, guided by Grant Nordine, play as a romantasy author and their character. A Game of One's Own - Maddy Searle of the podcast A Game of One's Own released an entire actual play of Death of the Author in two parts, telling the story of a young vampire hunter trying to save her girlfriend from a deadlyfoe. Both parts combined are under an hour. Roll by Myself - Shaghik Mané plays Death of the Author as two sides of the same coin: both character and author are Shaghik herself. Tales from the Foxhole - TrooperSJP and ProducerMarkus tell a modern drama about a man struggling with family trauma, and his fight against his author. Tales from the Foxhole - TrooperSJP returns to Death of the Author with LaughLoveLindy, playing a YA author and his fan who got Isekai'd into the author's post-apocalyptic story. Indie RPG Stream with the Kurt! - A VOD of Amanda McKnight and Kurt Refling playing the entirety of Death of the Author (playtest draft). The Author is producing a radio show, and the Character is the main antagonist. ---------- Interviews Death of the Author: An Interview with Sam Leigh - Episode 140 on Undercommon Taste Bonus: Q&A with Sam Leigh and Death of The Author! on What Am I Rolling? Not DnD | Death of the Author with Jessica Hancock from EN World ---------- The Team Author - Samantha Leigh Artist - Victor Winter Layout artist - James Hanna Editor - Marx Shepherd NO Generative AI was used in the making of this game. Death of the Author was crowdfunded on Backerkit . Thank you to the 427 backers who helped make this game a reality! ---------- Physical copies are available at: Blinking Birch Games (US) Indie Press Revolution (US) Knave of Cups (US) Heart of the Deernicorn (US) Tabletop Bookshelf (US) ratti incantati (Canada) The Lost Bay (UK, EU) Discounted damaged copies are available on the Blinking Birch Games website .