What's included
1 live meeting
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Masks: A New Generation, a tabletop roleplaying game from Magpie Games, allows players to portray super-powered teens. Set in Halcyon City, a fictional contemporary locale where superheroes are not a secret, but a part of everyday life, Masks provides a fun and engaging atmosphere for tabletop gamer of all experience levels. This easy-to-learn game uses the Powered by the Apocalypse system, which requires only two six-sided dice (d6) to play. Players choose a playbook—a template that represents a superhero archetype—and use it to design the hero they've always wanted to be. These heroes will learn to work together as a team through the League of Young Heroes, a special training program designed to give blossoming new metahumans a sense of purpose and control. Through a narrative in keeping with the Ongoing course format, young heroes may join, leave, and return to the League as they try to balance the demands of their life as a superpowered hero with that of their life of a regular teenage. Playbooks are available for download in the welcome post. The first week of each month will be devoted to character creation and team updates. Brand new players may prefer joining during the first week of the month if they need assistance developing their hero. New players are also welcome to submit their completed playbook prior to class and join during any other meeting. Submitting a playbook in advance is NOT required if a student joins during the first meeting of the month, as character creation will happen during class time. New players can work with returning players to develop compatible heroes for the team. We will discuss team goals, new threats to the city, and whether all players are happy with the tone and content of the game thus far. These meetings will focus primarily on roleplay. Weekly game content may include dealing with a new threat, finding hero-life balance (dealing with being both a superhero AND a teen!), or dealing with repercussions from previous actions. These meetings will involve combat and other active play (investigation scenes, questioning witnesses, etc.) alongside roleplaying character interaction. Some antagonists can be neutralized within a 90 minute game session, while others may continue to be a threat across several weeks or even months, with players able to join up and add their strength to a longterm fight or take a break from the action. Tabletop roleplaying games may contain age-appropriate and comics-typical violence, interpersonal tension, and romantic themes. Both player characters (PCs) and non-player characters (NPCs) may be put in peril or sustain injury. Game content will remain PG-13 and will never include graphic depictions of violence, plots/themes pertaining to sexual assault/violence, or player character death. Players must keep their roleplay within these parameters for everyone's safety and enjoyment!
Learning Goals
Tabletop roleplaying games teach cooperation, leadership, ethics, mental flexibility, creativity, and strategy. More importantly, they create a safe space for students to explore experiences and emotions without judgment. Along with learning the game system, students will learn to work together to build a narrative in a way that is balanced, respectful, and fun.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) are stories told together by a Game Master (GM) and players portraying characters (PCs) they have designed, using dice rolls to resolve game mechanics. Tabletop roleplaying games may contain age-appropriate and comics-typical violence, interpersonal tension, and romantic themes. Both player characters (PCs) and non-player characters (NPCs) may be put in peril or sustain injury. Game content will remain PG-13 and will never include graphic depictions of violence, plots/themes pertaining to sexual assault/violence, or player character death. Players must keep their roleplay within these parameters for everyone's safety and enjoyment!
In lieu of a "session zero" (a meeting prior to the beginning of game play where players can discuss their limitations, comfort levels, and no-go topics) students are encouraged to reach out with any content they wish to avoid during gameplay, such as specific phobias or types of conflict.
Supply List
•Two d6 dice or a virtual dice rolling program •A Playbook for your hero (blank templates provided; printed copies are strongly encouraged but not required) •A copy of the Masks core book (soft and hardcover available here: https://magpiegames.com/product/masks-a-new-generation-hardcoverpdf/ or PDF available here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/193258/Masks-A-New-Generation)
3 files available upon enrollment
Language of Instruction
English
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from Kennesaw State University
After working in the a tabletop roleplaying game industry as a writer and editor for over 18 years, I opened a small roleplaying game publishing company with my husband, producing materials for the investigative horror game, Chill 3rd Edition. I have regularly run Masks games for students age 8+ since the game's initial publication, including a three-part actual-play game session that aired on YouTube during Dragon Con Goes Virtual in 2020.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
90 min
Completed by 13 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-6 learners per class