This dark fantasy game from France is pure metal - RPG Preview

Summary

Miror is a dark fantasy tabletop RPG set in a post-apocalyptic Europe, where players take on the roles of agents hunting supernatural remnants called Echoes. With a focus on psychological horror, the game features a unique blend of combat and social intrigue, where actions impact a character’s mental and spiritual health through a system of 'Dissonance'. Each of the seven nations in the game brings its own culture, curses, and supernatural abilities. Rich in lore, striking artwork, and a captivating setting, *Miror* offers an immersive RPG experience with deep narrative and character-driven mechanics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Miror is a dark fantasy tabletop RPG focusing on horror, psychological themes, intrigue, and investigation.
• 😀 The game's physical presentation is striking, with a high production value, including a thick, gold-foiled Discovery Book.
• 😀 The setting of the game takes place in a Europe devastated by an ancient event called 'the ruin,' with seven distinct nations still existing.
• 😀 Players assume the roles of agents in the secret organization 'Miror,' tasked with hunting down 'Echoes'—remnants of the ruin.
• 😀 The game is inspired by a certain style of heavy metal music, with a soundtrack provided by metal artists.
• 😀 The mechanics of the game include a D12 dice pool system, where successes are determined by rolling a 7 or higher, and a 12 counts as two successes.
• 😀 Social encounters are resolved using 'Intrigue' mechanics, focusing on relationships, favors, and secrets to drive interactions.
• 😀 Each nation in the game has its own unique culture, stigma, and curse (Stigmata) linked to the ruin, affecting the behaviors and conditions of their citizens.
• 😀 The game uses five different 'Arts' (such as warrior arts, diplomacy, magic) that have costs and consequences, affecting the character's development and abilities.
• 😀 The concept of dissonance plays a key role in character mechanics, reflecting spiritual damage caused by actions and behavior that violate cultural taboos.
• 😀 While the setting is original, there are some areas, like daily life and governance in the seven nations, that could benefit from further explanation for a clearer worldbuilding experience.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the *Miror* tabletop RPG?

*Miror* is a dark fantasy RPG focused on psychological horror, intrigue, and investigation. It explores a post-apocalyptic world where players take on the role of agents hunting down Echoes, which are traumatic remnants of an ancient catastrophe known as 'the ruin.'

How does *Miror* differ from other RPGs in terms of its setting?

Unlike many fantasy RPGs that draw from medieval European tropes, *Miror* is set in a decimated world, with seven distinct nations each suffering from unique curses caused by the ruin. The setting emphasizes psychological and metaphysical horror over typical high fantasy elements.

What is the role of the Miror organization in the game?

The Miror organization is a secret society tasked with hunting down Echoes, entities born from the trauma of the ruin. These Echoes manifest in different forms, and agents of Miror are trained to confront and neutralize them using supernatural abilities.

What are Echoes, and how do they function in the game?

Echoes are manifestations of trauma from the ruin, often appearing as corruptions of people, animals, or places. They come in three stages: Echo Layers (which corrupt areas), Echo Fiends (which have partially merged with their physical forms), and True Echoes (which fully assume the identity of their hosts).

How does the game's dissonance system work?

Dissonance represents a character's spiritual corruption, accumulated through actions that defy cultural norms or taboos. Temporary dissonance can be removed through minor actions, while permanent dissonance has more severe effects, potentially leading to a character's downfall.

Can you describe the mechanics for social encounters in *Miror*?

In *Miror*, social encounters are governed by the Intrigue system, where characters' relationships with NPCs influence the outcomes of interactions. Players can leverage secrets, favors, and motivations to gain advantages in these encounters, with relationship levels impacting the success of requests or confrontations.

What kind of cultural influence do the Stigmata have on gameplay?

Each nation in *Miror* has a unique stigma, a cultural curse linked to the ruin. These Stigmata affect characters' behavior and mechanics, such as the *Sister and Empire's* fate-driven society or the *Ryad Darn Confederacy's* sensitivity to light. Failing to adhere to cultural expectations can lead to penalties or dissonance.

How does *Miror* handle character progression and abilities?

Characters in *Miror* progress by gaining new abilities from one of five schools of power, such as Warriors, Diplomats, or Mages. These abilities come with costs, and characters must balance their power against the potential spiritual consequences, such as accumulating dissonance or violating taboos.

What is the significance of the game's soundtrack?

The soundtrack, created by metal artists, serves to enhance the immersive atmosphere of the game. While not required for gameplay, it offers players insight into the creators' vision for the game and provides an additional layer of thematic depth, particularly for those who enjoy the metal genre.

What are the core attributes and skills in *Miror*?

In *Miror*, characters have core attributes ranging from 1 to 6, which govern various aspects of their abilities. Skills, also rated from 1 to 6, allow characters to perform specific actions, with 30 skills in total spread across the six attributes. These attributes and skills determine how many dice players roll for success in different tasks.