Underbrush

Introduction 

Underbrush is a game about the hidden world of magic that exists just out of sight.
It’s a game where the smallest creatures embark on the biggest adventures.
Magic and mischief abound, but so do hidden tunnels, cozy homes beneath overgrown staircases, and secret communities dwelling right under human noses. 

How this mysterious world came to be, or if it has always existed,  is unclear, but many types of creatures, called Dwellers, live their own small lives within it.  
Step into this world, in the teeny-tiny feet of one of these Dwellers, for this world can always use more bravery, curiosity, and adventure! 

This game is easy enough to understand for ttrpg newcomers and younger players as well, but it also has been tested and heavily approved by seasoned ttrpg players!

The game thrives when the tone of the game is set somewhere between whimsical fairy-tale mystery and mystical folklore of old.
Any flavour and setting is possible and playing groups are encouraged to decide together beforehand what they expect from the game.

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The Basics

The game mechanics are based on four-sided dice, referred to as d4. Two four-sided dice, for example, would be written as 2d4, while only one such die is referred to as 1d4.

The game is all about improvising and making things up as you go along, so if you want your character to do something, simply say out loud to the table what your character is planning to do, and if it is a task your character is able to achieve, it just happens! Sometimes however, the game master will ask the player to roll some dice to achieve what they want to do. Usually this happens when the task at hand requires some skill, or if the character is in a stressful situation. 

To complete a challenge requiring a dice roll, the player rolls a d4. They can add more d4s for skills they excel at and have passive modifiers based on their upbringing and magical abilities. Passive modifiers are always added at the end, after all d4 have been rolled. These checks are usually based on the following main attributes: 

Magic - Describes the character’s affinity with and control over fae magic. 

Humans - Reflects the character’s experience with and knowledge of humans. 

Grit - Represents the character’s endurance and ability to tough it out.

Brawn -  Reflects the character’s physical strength and agility.

Clever - Describes the character’s intelligence and ability to discern, investigate, or tinker. 

Charm - Represents the character’s allure, confidence, and ability to persuade or distract.

As always: If you're having fun, you're doing it right!

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Play as a Dweller

Dwellers are tiny creatures of fae magic that live hidden, right under human noses. Players can choose between six different dweller types and decide in what region they have grown up. 

Are you a fairy, a sprite, thumbling or a gnome? Or maybe you'd rather play as an insect-like bugfolk, or a snail-like slugfolk? 

They can also freely choose a title, which acts almost like a class in other games and gives them additional talents.

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The Document

The full Underbrush document is 24 pages long and packed full of lovingly created artwork by three different artists that depicts the magical world and creatures of the game. The game also includes a copy & print page for character sheets, a few different example adventure hooks, as well as an example of play section.

There is also a free, printer-friendly and text-only version available for download.

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What You Will Need

Besides the game itself, you will need a pencil, some place to take notes, and a handful of four-sided dice to play this game. Each character will usually roll with dice pools of around one to five dice. The game is playable with a single d4, or by using digital dice available online, but the spirit of the game comes alive best with a small set of physical d4s for every player.

The game is designed for 2 - 6 players, but as with any TTRPG, the best group is the one you have fun playing with.

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Credits

Janosch Büchi - akandamador.com
Game Design, Text and Main Art

Lea Bischoff - leabischoff.com
Homestead Art

Elena Walther - nerdynene
Example Character Art