Good Society is an RPG that transports players to the Regency era, immersing them in a world of Jane Austen-like social dramas. I previously wrote about this game in a post about inclusivity in roleplaying games.
This game offers opportunities for players to explore different backgrounds, social statuses, and identities in the period. Good Society embraces themes of love, scandal, and societal expectations, highlighting the nuances of interpersonal relationships and the challenges thereof.
It also acknowledges, as it should, the time period, particularly in relation to gender, which is considered by the writers, but also left to the discretion of individual groups. I’ve written before about the importance of establishing the boundaries that are required by your individual group. Even sticking to the historic gender dynamic, there’s a lot of opportunity here to explore the issue, whether that is played straight or subverted.
What’s not addressed is the issue of race in the regency. I understand their stance on this; that of essentially ignoring it. This is a game with a really specific focus; the work of Jane Austen. I imagine there are some who might see this as a cop-out or a missed opportunity, but not every game needs to be everything to everyone, I suppose.
By showcasing diverse experiences within a period setting, Good Society expands the boundaries of representation in RPGs.
Now, it’s on offer over at Bundle of Holding. This is one of Bundle of Holding’s smaller bundles, It contains just three items at a cost of just $17.95.
The most important item, as always, is the core rulebook. This gives you all the information required to play the game. I really like the structure of the game, with the game starting with some collaborative setup before launching to cycles consisting of a number of phases:
- Novel Chapter
- Reputation
- Rumour and Scandal
- Epistolary
- Upkeep
Each cycle is usually one session of play, with the sequence repeating until your campaign (or novel) is complete. I really like this structure. The game also relies on cards that are included and can be printed for use in the game.
The remaining items expand on the game. Love and Longing gives playsets for you to use in your games, in much the same way that you might employ a Fiasco playset. Expanded Acquaintance is a compilation of several extra rules, allowing you to open your games up to new themes and elements; often more fantastical than the standard game. Want some magic? It’s here. Swashbuckling and swordsmanship? Yep, got it. The idea of turning your game from Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion to something like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a really cool prospect.
This is a fantastic little bundle. Emphasis is on the “little“, as there’s not a huge amount of content here, but what’s there seems really good. This seems a solid deal.
You can click here to visit the bundle page over at Bundle of Holding.
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