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After months of anticipation, I am thrilled to unveil the fully illustrated edition of Oceania 2084 - Surplus Edition. Building on the text-only Austere Edition, this new release promises to immerse you even deeper into the dystopian world.

Inspired by George Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four,’ Oceania 2084 delves into human nature under totalitarian rule. This unconventional game challenges players with a meticulously crafted rule system that encourages co-creation of the game world and narrative, offering a dark and immersive experience unlike any other tabletop RPG.

Starting with the text-only Austere Edition, my five-year journey has been a labor of love. After extensive testing and invaluable community feedback, I’m excited to present the visually stunning Surplus Edition.

The Surplus Edition features:

• Evocative illustrations: These visuals helps bring the dystopian world to life, enhancing immersion.
• Enhanced gameplay mechanics: Improved rules for a smoother and more engaging experience.
• Additional content and solo rules: New scenarios and solo play options for diverse gameplay.
• Updated and improved play sheets: Streamlined sheets for easier tracking and reference.
• A comprehensive Cheat Sheet: All core rules on one A4 page for quick reference during play.

To bring you the Surplus Edition I've collaborated with the illustrator Mika Edstrom. Mika’s unique art style captures the bleak essence of the dystopian world while still managing to evoke hope. Here are some sneak peeks of their incredible work.

The discord community and amazing Kickstarter backers have been instrumental in shaping this edition. Your feedback on gameplay mechanics and narrative elements has been invaluable. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the new book.

I am very happy to announce that today I release the 2nd Edition of "Oceania 2084 - Austere Edition".

The Austere Edition of the game is the completely free and text-only version of the game.

This version has come about because of the successful Kickstarter campaign that I ran spring 2024. For those of you already familiar with the game the changes are quality of life changes , some minor rule tweaks to make the play experience smoother and a revised lore chapter. 

For those of you NOT familiar with the game yet let me introduce it.

Oceania 2084 is a table top roleplaying game heavily inspired by the book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" written by George Orwell.

In gamer-lingo, the game is an asymmetric, adversarial storytelling game with a heavy focus on social game-play and stealth. The game is designed for 3-8 players. It is a game about resistance despite unimaginably bad odds and finding small glimmers of hope even when things seem impossibly bleak.

It is an unconventional take on collaborative storytelling.  Oceania 2084 is an asymmetrical adversarial game, with a group of players on one side of the conflict and one player taking the role of "Big Brother" effectively being the antagonist.  The actions of one side enable actions from the other side, according to a rule-based point system. There is no traditional conflict resolution system, where you roll a die to achieve something. Instead, the game is balanced through a system of risk and reward and strategic usage of resources.  This doesn't mean that you will not be rolling dice, there are a lot of situations and rules that use and rely on die rolling. 

The game is inspired by rogue-likes, Red Carnations on a black grave, Lasers & Feelings, Vampire the Masquerade, PbtA, A Thousand Year Old Vampire, and Paranoia among other things.

Get your copy of the Austere Edition here: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084-austere-edition

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If you like the game you can support me by buying Oceania 2084 - Surplus Edition (the graphically designed PDF and Hardback Book). It was funded through Kickstarter in spring 2024!

Order your copy of the hardback book here: place your order.

Get the Surplus PDF here: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Join the discord: https://discord.gg/aGaF4hW

Rate the game and share it with all your friends!

/Johan Eriksson

Thank you for a cool addition to my table!

Thank you so much!

Hello! Thank you! To start with i had already written the game when I started my master's. The thesis was written as a kind of process documentation. I attended a master's at a university that has a full game design program and that is very focused on the creative and humanities parts of games. I wrote a thesis proposal before i wrote the actual thesis in order to get it approved.

Thank you for you kind words! It means a lot to me.

Hello everybody! I am Johan Eriksson, an anarchist from so-called Sweden. I have been developing games for a long time but I have never tried self-publishing before. It is very scary and stressful, but it would be sooo cool to be able to be able to sell the game as an actual physical book.

Oceania 2084 is now on Kickstarter! Pledge to secure your copy of the exclusive hardcover print of the "Surplus Edition", beautifully illustrated by Mika Edström (https://www.artstation.com/mikaedstrom).

👉 Support the game on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jochergames/oceania-2084-the-orwellian-ttrp...

Oceania 2084 is an anti-authoritarian game about resistance against a totalitarian world, ushered in by ecological collapse and authoritarian populism. Inspired by a blend of rogue-likes, classic literature, and renowned tabletop RPGs, Oceania 2084 offers an adversarial storytelling experience focusing on social gameplay and stealth. Designed for 3-8 players, it's a game of resistance against insurmountable odds, where hope shines through even in the darkest moments.

Mood trailer:

The game is at the time of posting this 27% funded on the Kickstarter. This is far from enough to get the game self-published.  The text below is like a marketing blurb, but I think it captures the essence of the game fairly well. I hope you will consider backing it.

Be part of making the limited "Surplus Edition" of Oceania 2084 – a spiritual successor to George Orwell's classic, 1984, a reality. Experience the dark and tense gameplay, where player agency reigns supreme. Join the resistance against Big Brother's oppressive regime, weaving intricate tales of hope and defiance.

Here is an interview that I recently gave discussing the politics and the intended gaming experience of Oceania 2084:

Oceania 2084 is now on Kickstarter! Pledge to secure your copy of the exclusive hardcover print of the "Surplus Edition", beautifully illustrated by Mika Edström (https://www.artstation.com/mikaedstrom).

👉 Support the game on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jochergames/oceania-2084-the-orwellian-ttrp...

The already released version, "Austere Edition" is yours for free – complete with rules but sans fancy formatting or illustrations. Download it now as a pay-what-you-want PDF and dive into the intrigue of Oceania 2084!

👉 Check out the free version today: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Join the resistance. Rewrite history. Explore Oceania 2084 now!

#orwell #ttrpg #roleplaying #indiegame #jocher #dystopian #roguelike #kickstarter #rpg #tabletop #exclusive #limitededition

I just realized I never wrote an update here when I released Oceania 2084 in December. So better late, than never!

Oceania 2084 is a tabletop roleplaying game heavily inspired by the book 1984 by George Orwell. It is designed around the question "How can I make a dystopia engaging?". It is an original system that finds its strength in asymmetrical and adversarial gameplay, where a group of players play as resistance characters and one player embodies Big Brother, that is the state, the surveillance, and the Thought Police. 

The game can be described as a tug-of-war over narrative control and the way that the world is imagined. It can be described as a social stealth game, or even a heist game. It is inspired by rogue likes in that Resistance players will play as a series of characters throughout a campaign, continuing the story of resistance even though their initial character dies. It is ultimately a game about hope, struggle, and finding meaning in the small victories. 

The game version that was released in December 2023 is called the Austere Edition and features a text-only, pay-what-you-want PDF download. You can find the free Austere Edition here: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Right now I am in the middle of the process of trying to get the Surplus Edition released. The Surplus Edition is the limited edition, hardback book edition. Illustrated and meticulously crafted into an A5 format. The Surplus Edition is also receiving minor updates to the text, primarily tone adjustments and grammar corrections. I am so proud of Oceania 2084 - The Surplus Edition and I hope that you will consider backing it so that the dream of a hardback book can come true. It hit Kickstarter yesterday!
Check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jochergames/oceania-2084-the-orwellian-ttrp...

#ttrpg #dystopian #orwellian #indiegame #kickstarter #LimitedEdition

Oceania 2084 - the Orwellian TTRPG

Core rules: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Solo expansion: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084-solo-rules

What is Oceania 2084? 

In gamer-lingo, the game is an asymmetric, adversarial storytelling game with a heavy focus on social gameplay and stealth. The game is designed for 3-8 players. It is a game about resistance despite unimaginably bad odds and finding small glimmers of hope even when things seem impossibly bleak.

The Setting

The game is heavily inspired by the book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1949) by George Orwell, which is a dystopian illustration of the life of Winston Smith under totalitarian bureaucracy and a world that does not allow for individualism. It also takes some inspiration from "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin. Instead of trying to make a game that is an imitation of Orwell's vision the game takes place in The City which is left unnamed and largely undefined. The City will be yours to create, collectively imagine, and explore. What is defined are what types of areas exist in all versions of The City, and a way to determine the personality of the city. Directly inspired by Orwell are the existing state structures: the Ministries, Big Brother,  and the Party. These will play a big part in all sessions of the game as they are integral parts of the rules for the Big Brother player.  

Mechanics and systems

An unconventional take on collaborative storytelling.  The game is an asymmetrical adversarial game, with player characters on one side of the conflict and one player taking the role of "Big Brother" effectively being the antagonist of the game.  The actions of one side enable actions from the other side, according to a rule-based point system. There is no traditional conflict resolution system, where you roll a die to achieve something. Instead, the game is balanced through a system of risk and reward and strategic usage of resources.  This doesn't mean that you will not be rolling dice, there are a lot of situations and rules that use and rely on die rolling. 

The game is inspired by rogue-likes, Red Carnations on a black grave, Lasers & Feelings, Vampire the Masquerade, PbtA, A Thousand Year Old Vampire, and Paranoia among other things.

I am very happy to announce the release of the first supplement to the dystopian tabletop roleplaying game Oceania 2084! 

You can download the supplement here: Oceania 2084 - MiniTrue Solo Edition

Let me introduce you to the MiniTrue Solo Edition ruleset, a version of the core game that allows you to play the game as a solo tabletop roleplaying game. In this desolate extension, the perspective shifts from living the life of regular citizens to the insidious role of a lone thought police agent. Unravel the paradox of control as you immerse yourself in a shadowy realm of surveillance protocols, where your every move is a calculated step in the pursuit of vaporizing dissidents. Amidst the oppressive solitude, explore the fine line between oppressor and oppressed. Brace yourself for a harrowing journey into the abyss, where the solitary echo of your actions reverberates through the cold corridors of power. 

Welcome to the grim and solitary struggle within the heart of Oceania.

Thank you for checking it out!

Thank you! If you read it/play it please consider rating it!

The solo rule set will be published at a later date. They will work as a type of expansion.

FINALLY! Today I release my game Oceania 2084 into the great unknown. I have developed the game over a little more than three years. It has resulted in me getting my master's degree and I have met a lot of very inspiring people along the road. The game is released as a text-only version called Oceania 2084 - The Austere Edition. It is under a Creative Commons license and at a pay-what-you-want fee. Bot ok, so what is the game about, you wonder? Let me introduce you to "Oceania 2084" - a tabletop role-playing game that immerses you in a chilling dystopia set a century after George Orwell's renowned work, 1984. Prepare to embark on a daring adventure where hope flickers in the face of totalitarian control.

In this game, players must confront the harsh reality that victory over Big Brother, the embodiment of oppression, is an unattainable dream. As the Resistance Characters, you'll band together, not to overthrow the regime, but to resist and defy its suffocating grasp. Oceania 2084 embraces the complex nature of political struggle and challenges players to find solace in smaller victories, to cherish the moments of defiance amidst an unforgiving world.

Created by an author who has been active in the anarchist movement since the early 2000s, Oceania 2084 breaks free from traditional gaming conventions. It delves into the depths of human resilience, where hope thrives even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. This game dares you to explore the intricacies of resistance, to forge meaningful connections with others who refuse to surrender.

As a Resistance Character, you'll navigate the treacherous path of clandestine operations, cunningly subvert surveillance, and unravel the layers of propaganda that shroud the truth. Each decision you make carries weight, influencing the lives of those around you, and the future generations. The mechanics of Oceania 2084 encourage collaborative storytelling, strategy, and introspection, as you strive to create moments of hope amidst the unyielding darkness.

However, be warned - Big Brother's watchful gaze is unrelenting. The regime's power appears insurmountable, and victory over it is not the ultimate goal. Instead, Oceania 2084 invites you to embrace the spirit of resistance, to nurture the flickering flame of hope, even in the face of inevitable defeat. It's about defying the system, asserting your autonomy, and finding strength in acts of defiance, no matter how small.

This game is an emotional journey, a poignant exploration of the human spirit. Oceania 2084 challenges players to confront the harsh reality that the battle against tyranny cannot always be won, but that the pursuit of hope, the refusal to surrender, and the resilience of the human soul are victories in their own right.

Will you answer the call to join the Resistance, to stand united against the omnipotent force of Big Brother? In Oceania 2084, immerse yourself in a world of dark secrets, clandestine operations, and bittersweet triumphs. It's time to embrace the struggle, to keep the flame of hope alive, even in a world where victory is not guaranteed.

Get it here: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/aGaF4hW

This is still the case, but I have moved on from an initial idea of how to make it a reality onto a new idea. The release of that will not be synchronous to the first release though. 

Very happy that you found it useful! Let me know if you do something that you like with any of it! May write a short reflection on the ideas or something, then we can put it into another zine!

Thank you so much! I shared and looked at your video! Such a nice thing you have made. 

Woohoo! Mission accomplished! Glad you found it interesting and useful. Keep your eyes peeled for future zines. I am thinking we will do a series of them, covering each category in more detail.

Indeed it needs expansion! The same people are working on a boardgame to try out various ideas already! 

Finally, it is here! No one has been waiting and few know its name, but Soapboxer - 2nd Edition has now hit the digital streets.

The game was originally developed for the 1st of May during covid lockdowns so that we could still at least play as if we were parts of a demonstration or a political gathering. It is built around the concept of soapboxing, where a speaker steps onto a literal box to speak their mind in a public space.

https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/soapboxer

It is a very silly and simple party game that rewards fiery speeches and finding radical new solutions to age-old problems. The release is a print-and-play release, and it is released under a creative commons license. 

All illustrations were drawn by Ray Whitcher and the rules were written by Johan C. Eriksson.

I hope you all have a grandiose 1st of May. 

/Johan

Coool! Have you seen my card game Zombitaire? There are some really cool similarities and a lot of things that are very different! But Great work!

https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/zombitaire

Orwellian TTRPG - Oceania 2084 - Visual Aesthetic first draft

Hi everyone! I've spent 2 days working on a mockup of the visual aesthetic that I've imagined for a while now. The design has been applied to the first chapter of the rules. There are still some minor changes I need to do before this could be considered a final version of the first chapter but at least it captures the vibe I'm after. Kind of a high-fashion, dystopic collection of redacted government documents.

Page 1. Title page: The concrete texture will be changed to something similar but with a little more intentionality behind contrast and dynamics.

Page 2-3: A mood setting spread, with a diegetic text. This is a collage of heavily edited found images.

Page 4-5: This spread is the first spread of the book where rules are starting to get introduced. It is still mostly designed to give off a mood. I think it is a bit busy in places, to the degree that it affects legibility, but no major changes are to be expected.

Page 6-7: Toning down the visuals a bit, making the text step even more into the spotlight. Very happy with the random table.

Page 8-9: I might decrease the tilt angle on the table on the right page.

Page 10-11: I designed logos for each of the ministries to bring them into the "free market, liberal democracy" dystopia. I'm especially happy with MiniPax and MiniPlenty. I increased the number of scribbles in this one for the sake of the rhythm of the pages.

Page 12-13: This spread is intentionally left clean, it is both a reflection on what happens after MiniTrue has been engaged to clean up reality and as a transition to the final spread.

Page 14-15: Final spread of the chapter. I took the photo during a visit to Denmark, it is a stair in a subway station. It is in essence a metaphor for "The Hope", a stair upwards, hard to climb, but leading to better places.

So, that's all, I'd love to hear what you think. What vibes does this give you? How does it make you feel?

The itchpage for the game: https://jocher-symbolic-systems.itch.io/oceania-2084

Thank you! What tables tickled your fancy?

Why, thank you so much! Happy to make you happy!

So looking forward to playing this. Love The character sheet available as a demo download!

Awesome! Cowabunga dude! Love it. Simple and sweet.

There will definitely be a way of playing solo!

Thank you! Yes, I have already thought about that very prejudiced and unfortunate clumping together, but I haven't got enough of a reason yet to put together a 3rd edition. In a possible update I will make sure to amend this. :)

It's been my pleasure! It has been a super fun challenge to combine the contributions into a nice compilation! Thank you for all your nice tables!

Nice work! Well written, well thought out, nice design. Thanks a bunch!

Love this! Think it is a very good take on LeGuin.

Really nicely done! Your last week of development really tied everything together! /Johan

Very well done. Nice level of complexity and that last week really tied it all together, good job! /Johan

Nicely done! Well polished and nice design. /Johan

Very nicely wrapped up this last week! Impressive! Very nice game feel. I had some issues with getting a hang of some of the controls but after a few trial and errors I worked out well. /Johan

I truly enjoy this game. One could say it is my cup of tea! There is however a distant feeling of "aimlessness" in the beginning, I believe as part of your games onboarding it would be very good to immediately allow the player to solve a small problem, leading to the discovery of a trail or something like that meaning I feel like I do something and then I get on with the walking and discovery. Freedom to roam is a thing that makes your game harder, not easier. Visually stunning, once I get to the puzzle elements I love them.

Nice little concept of a game! I think this is a good start and as Bartle mentioned, the controls felt pretty solid!

Like this so much, a little rough around the edges but a game mechanic gem. 

Nice game. I had fun playing it, but I had some minor issues with finding my way, mainly due to some "odd" starting positions of the camera (both at the initial starting position and after death). I felt like the instructions on the stones were at times a bit cryptic, and that the iconography above the head of the snakes when I got close to them was quite hard to understand. There is a lot of character to your character, and the level design felt varied but not chaotic.

Found a bug! After mining the interface for the asteroids still had the button, clicking it again set the drain on my fuel to an infinite minus loop. Had -600 fuel when I restarted. :) (I might be wrong about why the bug occurred but it was the only interaction I did that I think could have triggered it). 

Besides that, I like your creation. It seems nice, and I could easily see the potential.

/Johan Eriksson