A downloadable game

Buy Now$10.00 USD or more

Pick up physical copies at Indie Press Revolution, Knave of Cups and Exalted Funeral.

KILLER RATINGS is a one-shot, zero-prep, rules-light tabletop roleplaying game for 3 to 5 players and a Director. The players are the cast and crew of a terrible paranormal investigation show on the verge of cancellation. The good news is you’ve secured the rights to film the season finale in “the most haunted location in America.” The bad news is the place is actually really haunted, and you may well be completely boned.

As loud, campy reality TV stars, your gift for melodrama will be all you need to wake the dead – and may well be your key to survival once the haunting goes sideways. If it doesn’t get you killed first.

In short, you play some of the worst people on earth as they blithely walk into one of the worst places on earth, and most of you won't survive. But however it shakes out, it should make for great TV.


What You'll Need to Play

3-5 players and a Director, a few d6's apiece, and some notecards or the text tool in your VTT of choice. You'll need a handful of d20s and d10s up front to generate your show's name and aspects of the Haunt, but after that d6's will see you through.

How It Works

KILLER RATINGS proceeds in three Acts and a Finale. In Acts I and II, the Crew will navigate the Haunt with the Director prodding them along, working together to create the atmosphere and backstory of the place -- as well as what is known and rumored about the Ghost.

More than that, the Crew will preen, fight, flatter, cajole and hog the spotlight; generally speaking, the worse the behavior the better, and the more likely to anger the ghost to action.

In Act III, after definitive proof of the Ghost has been caught on camera, the Crew will create one final provocation: a summoning ritual, a grand  insult, or some other suitably theatrical way to bring the Ghost into this world...  so it can drag some of the Crew kicking and screaming back to the other side.

In the Finale, the Crew will attempt to escape back through the Haunt they've created as the Ghost hunts them. All those ghastly Features of the Haunt will come to life and work against them, and as the Ghost picks its targets, the Crew can decide to take the hit -- or throw someone else under the bus.

After all, you're not here to make friends.

Killer Ratings cover art by Benjamin Hall. Cover design by Josh Krach.


TARGMARGS: The  Game About Being Drunk In Target

TARGMARGS is the official  hack for KILLER RATINGS, funded by the generous backers at Indiegogo. Rather than playing reality TV ghost hunters investigating a Haunt for signs  of a Ghost, you are tipsy friends wandering a superstore late at night. Instead of Provoking the Ghost into hunting you, you're causing Shenanigans until Security is alerted. 

In the meantime you might engage in shopping cart destruction derbies, take to the PA for some light yodeling, or build a fort out of merchandise. But when the time comes to flee, you'd better boot and rally -- or Security might confiscate all your cool stuff.

TargMargs art by Kelsea Zwerneman.

Interviews, Actual Plays and More

Check out my interview about Killer Ratings and TargMargs on EN Live's Not DnD show!

Watch me run an Actual Play on Plus One EXP!

Listen to the two-part Actual Play on Roll Plus Heart!

Listen to a TargMargs one-shot on JemJammer!


StatusReleased
CategoryPhysical game
Rating
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
(4 total ratings)
AuthorBannerless Games
GenreRole Playing
TagsComedy, Horror, Tabletop role-playing game

Purchase

Buy Now$10.00 USD or more

In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $10 USD. You will get access to the following files:

Killer Ratings + TargMargs v1.4 (Pages).pdf 5 MB
Killer Ratings + TargMargs v1.4 (Spreads).pdf 5 MB

Exclusive content

Support this game at or above a special price point to receive something exclusive.

Thanksgiving Community Copies

You've all given Killer Ratings a warm welcome this year, so here's a little Thanksgiving gift back to you. If you'd like a copy of Killer Ratings + Targ Margs but cannot afford it, please claim a PDF and enjoy.

Print Edition + PDF

At this level, you'll receive the 32-page full color FLIP BOOK(!) print edition of Killer Ratings and TargMargs, in addition to the PDF. It flips! It's neat! 

This reward only applies to U.S. addresses. Please do not forget to enter your address so you can receive your copy in a timely manner!

Download demo

Download
TargMargs Wallpaper.png 1 MB

Development log

Comments

Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.

(+1)

Great game. Will definitely play it again. Somewhat lengthier review here: https://hill-kleerup.org/blog/heroes/2022/10/game-review-killer-ratings.html

yo, thanks so much, this was lovely to read! Glad your group got the wiggins. That's what I like to hear.

(1 edit) (+1)

I'm not sure if you meant to, but you have this listed as a book, so it doesn't show up if you are doing a search for physical games, where most of the ttrpg stuff is

That's a good note -- I'm never quite sure where to list this stuff. I'll update! Thank you!