Killer Ratings Press Kit

Fact Sheet

• Developer: Bannerless Games
• Launch: April 16, 2022
• Platform: Tabletop Role-Playing Game
• Price: $10 Digital, $20 Print
• Available at itch.io, Indie Press Revolution, DriveThruRPG, Exalted Funeral, Knave of Cups

Game Description

You 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 it may well be your key to survival once the haunting goes sideways. After all, you're not here to make friends.

KILLER RATINGS is a one-shot, zero-prep, rules-light tabletop roleplaying game for 3 to 5 players and a Director. It's a perfect vehicle for longtime groups and first-time players alike to get loud and tacky with each other, creating high concept characters who are compelling to watch and hilarious to kill off.

TargMargs

After successfully crowdfunding in March 2022, KILLER RATINGS launched in April along with the stretch goal rules hack TARGMARGS. 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.

Key Features

• A completely original rules-light, zero-prep system designed to get your Crew up and running in a matter of minutes. 
• Tables to generate the Ghost, the Haunt, Rooms in the Haunt, Features in those Rooms, and even your Show Name.
• 15 sample characters to get up and running even faster.
• Beautiful original art by comic artist Benjamin Hall and designer Kelsea Zwerneman

The print version of KILLER RATINGS comes in a 32-page staple-bound comic book-sized zine, printed in full color. As its spiritual sibling, TARGMARGS is the flipbook in the back half. Just turn KILLER RATINGS over and there you are. PDFs containing both games are also available.

Developer

Bannerless Games is Ken  Lowery, a writer based in Dallas, Texas. Though he has been playing tabletop games for nearly 30 years, KILLER RATINGS is his first original published game. His aim is to make games that are approachable, strange, and memorable.

Press Quotes

"It all started with the dice tables. I wanted to break down what I loved about reality TV ghost hunting shows and found footage horror movies into a fun toy, and the rest of the game spun out of that one silly impulse. KILLER RATINGS puts a lot of creative control into the hands of players, so it was important to me that it be approachable. The system is simple and the tropes are familiar. But with this basic framework, every player group has room to improvise and reason to keep the story moving. I’ll be honest: when I started out, I thought the storytelling possibilities of KILLER RATINGS would be limited. But in every single playtest, the players have surprised me with their characters, their concepts, and their catty one-liners. It’s incredibly gratifying to see.

"As for TARGMARGS, well, what can I say? It’s based on a true story. Walking my tipsy wife around a Super Target while she sips on a flask of margaritas is one of our favorite date night activities, and now it’s a game you can play."

- Ken Lowery

Actual Plays and Interviews

• Interview on EN Live's Not DnD Show
• Do You Validate's three-part Avarice HotelActual Play
•  Ken-hosted Actual Play on Plus One Exp
• Actual Play on Roll Plus Heart Part 1 + Part 2
• TargMargs Actual Play on Jem Jammers

Links to Download Assets

Grab these assets below or on Dropbox.

Contact Information

Got questions? Want to set up an interview or play a game? Just want to say hi? Drop me a DM on Twitter or email me below - I'd love to hear from you.

• Twitter: @bannerlessgames
• Email: bannerlessgames@gmail.com