Midnight Melodies
THE GAME
Midnight Melodies is a solo RPG in which you play as a jazz pianist who discovers they’re immune to the touch of the Grim Reaper. Instead of claiming your life, the Reaper recruits you for the Department of Unauthorized Deaths. Each night, after your performance at the club, you find a scrap of paper in your tip jar – the name of someone taken without consent. You must unravel the mystery of these unauthorized deaths, using your newfound supernatural talents, and perform an eerie harmony to report your findings to the Reaper before sunrise.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Rules-light. A single d6 roll for all your actions. Character creation takes no more than two minutes.
- Pick-up and play. No need to set up a story beforehand. An assortment of tables helps you create people, challenges, and entities you will face.
- A peculiar experience. Craft a mystery as you play it, and capture musical tones to form chords and play them to the Grim Reaper.
THE SYSTEM
The game follows a clear structure: You’ve just finished a set at your jazz club. As you sift through your tips, a familiar sight catches your eye: a crumpled piece of paper bearing just a name. Another soul taken without the Reaper’s approval.
This isn’t the handiwork of your typical criminal. Even planned assassinations fall under the watchful gaze of the Grim Reaper. No, these deeds are the mark of supernatural entities, unseen by most, who flit between life and death.
But you’ve got a special knack: they leave a distinctive tone in their wake — a tone your perfect pitch can pick up. By following this ethereal resonance, you’ll unravel the enigma surrounding this untimely end. Gather 9 of these unique tones, forming 3 Chords with 3 Tones each. Send these Chords to the Reaper, and your job is done.
