Vesta Mandate: A Competitive Political Thriller TTRPG Launches on Kickstarter

Storygames Chicago has launched Vesta Mandate, a hard sci-fi political intrigue tabletop roleplaying game, on Kickstarter. The campaign will conclude on March 22, offering backers the opportunity to secure the game in either digital or premium hardcover formats.

Set on Vesta Station, a critical hub between Earth and the Outer Rim of the solar system, Vesta Mandate immerses players in a tense political landscape. A century ago, revolutionaries overthrew the Corporation’s control of the station, but now the Vesta Accords are expiring, and the Corporation is returning with threats of force. As members of the Station’s interim government, players take on the roles of ambitious politicians, each with their own vision for the future. Through scheming, negotiation, and betrayal, they must navigate a web of alliances, secrets, and crises to shape the fate of the colony.

Vesta Mandate is a Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) storygame enhanced with mechanics and procedures that introduce competitive elements, transforming it into a political drama. Drawing inspiration from games like Pasión de las Pasiones, Carved from Brindlewood, Blades in the Dark, and The Last Caravan, as well as media such as The Expanse, Andor, Silo, and A Memory Called Empire, the game delivers a compelling mix of hard sci-fi and political intrigue.

Designed for 3-5 players, Vesta Mandate can be played as a one-shot or a long-term campaign. Players assume the roles of cunning politicians, each with a Hidden Agenda—a secret plan that evolves into a large-scale coup or power grab. Balancing cooperation and betrayal, players must navigate Secrets, Bonds, and Schisms while responding to escalating crises that threaten the station’s survival.

The game introduces several innovative mechanics to enhance its political drama. Hidden Agendas allow players to co-create secret schemes with the GM, which grow into game-changing power plays. Each character has a scandalous past, known as Secrets, created by other players, which can be used as blackmail. Relationships are central to the game, with Bonds representing alliances and Schisms reflecting conflicts that can escalate into full-blown disputes.

The game uses PbtA-style Moves to resolve tense moments. Players roll two six-sided dice (2d6) and add bonuses based on narrative questions, a mechanic inspired by Pasión de las Pasiones. High-stakes Machinations allow players to burn Bonds for dramatic, game-altering effects.

The game includes five ready-to-run modules, known as Crises, such as Neural Poisoning, Corporate Espionage, and Water Riots. These modules are designed for minimal GM preparation and can be played individually or as part of a larger campaign. Additional Crises are planned as stretch goals.

Backers can choose from a variety of reward tiers, starting at $7 for a digital PDF of the game. Higher tiers include a premium hardcover zine, illustrated by Tony Tran, and a discounted bundle with City of Blood and Plaster, Storygames Chicago’s previous ZineQuest project set in Gilded Age Chicago.