Andrew Haufe (order #8650040)
the furnace is a story roleplaying game about WWI soldiers fighting in the trenches. There is
no gamemaster. Players take turn framing scenes. All the rules you need are right here (you also
need a deck of cards and two six-sided dice). Each character is a soldier on the Western Front,
with someone waiting for them at home. Players take turns directing one of three scene types:
vignettes, interludes, and ensembles.
Vignettes are simple descriptions of the action. They lack interaction and focus on mood.
Interludes are scenes involving any two characters.
Ensembles include all the characters.
Player take turns as directors, choosing one of each scene type to direct. Once all of the players
direct all of the scene types, the finale begins (i.e. a three-player game is nine scenes long). The
finale is the characters’ final charge at the enemy.
Setup: Name your characters. Name your squad leader. Define the person waiting for you at
home. Define the relationship you have with the character to your left. Describe the reason you
need to survive the war.
Play: When it is time to direct a scene choose one of the three scene types and draw one card.
If the card is red, the scene is violent. If the card is black, the scene is dramatic. The value of the
card indicates the severity of the scene, i.e. the number which must be rolled to overcome any
conflict/obstacles the director creates. Face cards = 10. Scene framing is simple — choose who
is in the scene and end the scene whenever you like or when conflict is overcome. The director
always narrates action and conflict resolution. Characters cannot die until the story is over, but
they can be wounded or suffer greatly in the mean time.
Finale: Each player narrates one vignette about their character’s fate during the final charge at
the enemy front line.
words and graphics by jim pinto. the furnance is © 2014 jim pinto and Post World Games.
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Andrew Haufe (order #8650040)
