Titan World

Districts

Before creating characters the group must define the districts their characters come from.  This should include its districts, anchors, and threats.

Playbooks

After that (as with any PbtA system) Titan World requires players to select a "playbook" for their character (essentially a combination character sheet and class, with all of the character's unique moves included on it).  They are:

• The Natural (excels at using mobility gear)
• The Warrior (excels at martial combat)
• The Tactician (excels at tactics)
• The Leader (excels at motivating others)
• The Survivor (excels at mental fortitude)
• The Shifter (is able to turn into a titan)
• (The Beserker is also available as an optional playbook, provided separately)

Playbook Moves

Each playbook gets two basic moves that the character gets, as well as several advanced moves that they can gain through leveling.  For instance The Leader gets base moves that let them make a Heroic Rescue and deliver an inspirational speech (Stand as One), and also gets advanced moves such as Pull Yourself Together (to assist a panicked ally) or Combat Medic.

Stats

Titan World characters have five stats, which they can assign to +2, +1, +1, 0, and -1.  Each playbook has a particular stat that is key for it.  The stats are Agility, Execution (skill at dispatching enemies), Awareness, Discipline, and Rage.

There's also a sixth stat, which always starts at 2, called Luck.  Luck can be spent to gain an automatic success on a roll, but doesn't replenish until the end of a mission.

Names and Gear

The game provides a list of setting-appropriate male, female, and family names.  All characters receive the same standard issue gear (maneuvering gear, two Titan-killing swords, etc.).

Rookies

The above rules are actually for creating "advanced" characters.  To create a rookie character, the player  selects only stats: they don't get any playbook at all.  Also their Luck starts at 0, they count as "Marked for Death", and they don't even get a last name!

As with most PbtA systems, when a player wants to accomplish something they describe their intent first, and then the GM decides which of the character's "moves" would be appropriate for it.  To determine whether a move succeeds, the player rolls 2d6 and adds their character's appropriate stat (each move has an associated stat).

If the total is a 10 or higher, the move succeeds completely.  If it instead is between 7-9 it succeed ... but with a complication of some sort chosen by the GM.  On a 6 or less, the action fails.

As the book itself states "There’s no initiative order, no hit points - everything is total chaos."  Or, to put it another way, everything is focused on the story.  For instance, there's no initiative because the GM decides who goes first, based on the story and who acted first in it.

In combat actions are handled the same was as they are outside of combat: with moves.  For instance, to maneuver into attack range of a Titan (ie. to "mark" it) you'd make a Get Into Position move (on a 7-9 you'd succeed, but the Titan might notice you and mark you as its next target).  Then you'd have to make a Strike to Kill to move to injure it ... and then repeat the process (marking again and striking again) to finally kill it.

Meanwhile anytime anyone rolled a 6 or below, or when the GM decides to for the story, they could make a "GM move" to have the titan attack back ... or have a nearby titan pose a threat ... or have their equipment break, etc.  The most serious move, "Throw them into the jaws of death", will actually kill a character unless they successfully make a Defy Death move, and the game's creator encourages GMs (in true Attack on Titan spirit) not to be shy with this move.