Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

credits coyote
words and graphics by jim pinto Coyote is a story roleplaying game about immigrants being smuggled
into a new nation of opportunity. This game deals with themes of
artwork by Felipe Gaona
prejudice and segregation, while shining a light on work ethics and
proofing and assistance by James Glover and Martijn Tolsma cultural division. Though the game is designed to take place in an
Coyote is Game 8 in the Protocol game series. Inspired by GMZero. industrialized society, it also has flexibility for fantasy or science fiction
settings.
The Protocol game series uses vignettes, interrogations, interludes,
and ensembles to tell a story. Each story explores disparate characters
contents dealing with adversity and isolation in a dramatic fashion.
introduction........................................................................................... 2 Coyote is a zero-prep game for 3 or more players. The game length
getting started...................................................................................... 3 is exponentially long, so games with more players take more time to
gameplay................................................................................................... 4 complete. The Protocol Series requires a deck of poker cards as well as
scenes tokens to track drama points.
vignettes................................................................................................ 4
interrogations..................................................................................... 4 This series presumes some understanding of GMless game protocol:
interludes.............................................................................................. 4 scene-framing, shared authority, and so on. If you’ve never played a
ensembles............................................................................................... 4 GMless game, try one of the GMZero games such as Dying Memoryes,
npcs............................................................................................................ 4 or George’s Children.
resolving conflict................................................................................. 5
opening scene.......................................................................................... 5 introduction
optional rules........................................................................................ 5 Coyote is the eighth game utilizing the Protocol game mechanic.
charts Light and quick, the system gives players everything they need to start
motivations........................................................................................... 6 playing immediately, doing away with over-explanation and getting
relationships........................................................................................ 6 right to the tools.
scenes...................................................................................................... 7
locations................................................................................................ 7 In Coyote, players take on the roles of directors outside the action and
backgrounds......................................................................................... 8 characters inside the action, using the ebb and flow of four different
advanced roles..................................................................................... 8 scene-framing styles to tell meaningful stories about characters in
names....................................................................................................... 9 crisis. Specifically, they are immigrants with no legal status or rights,
overview................................................................................................. 10 living beneath the poverty line and staying hidden from authorities.
scenes...................................................................................................... 10 disclaimer
quick-reference game board............................................................. 11 Coyote is not an attempt to editorialize or mock any specific
character sheet.................................................................................... 12 government’s immigration policies. It is, instead, an exploration of
kickstarter backers............................................................................ 13 poverty and opportunity with fictional names and locations. There is no
reference anywhere to any specific people, places, or ideals.
Copyright 2014 © post world games and jim pinto.
All rights reserved.

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getting started motivations

Motivations are determined by drawing one random poker card from
Each character is a part of a cadre of immigrants who snuck across a
the deck for each character. The motivation descriptions are vague —
national border together. They have paid a coyote a large sum of money
specificity is your job. For instance, the ♠10 is a motivation of family,
for transportation and a temporary safe haven once they reach their
impulsively. The player may define this motivation as doing whatever it
new home. Living together, they must find work and protect themselves
takes to protect her family.
from those who would prey upon their desperation. The characters
need names, roles, motivations, and relationships, as well as an A list of motivations is on page 6.
understanding of their new home. Once each player has completed the
relationships
following steps, you are ready.
Relationships are determined by choosing (any) two characters and
• Name your character drawing one random poker card from the deck. The pair of characters
• Select one role for your character — this has no mechanical benefit share this relationship. The relationship descriptions are vague.
Specificity is your job. For instance, the ♣10 is a relationship of
• Determine a character's motivation by drawing a card burdensome trust. The players sharing this relationship may define it as
• Determine a relationship between two characters by drawing a card an ongoing issue of trust between two brothers who have lied to each
other since childhood.
• Determine elements about the game world
A list of relationships is on page 6.
deck shuffling
The deck is shuffled at the beginning of the game and again if the deck world building
runs out of cards. Used cards are discarded. Do not return motivations Each player selects one ingredient from the list below. If you are playing
or relationships to the deck. The same goes for scenes and locations a 3-player game, then each player selects two. Now is a good time to
during play. name the nations you are emigrating from/immigrating to.

roles • Who else is traveling with you? What kind of transport does the
Roles provide flavor and context, but no mechanical benefit. coyote use? Where will you stay for your first week?

• Criminal. Hiding from the law, obviously. Transportation most • Who is forcing you to work in this new country?
likely includes a new identity. What are they holding against you?

• Daughter. Sold to the coyotes by her parents, a young woman is at • Who most needs the money you will earn in this new country?
the greatest risk in the new world. • How long will you have to live here before returning home?
• Doctor. Perhaps something went wrong in the doctor’s home Can you return home?
country and a new life is the only option left. • How much money do you still owe your coyote? How soon do you
• Intellectual. Clearly trying to avoid persecution for being educated. have to pay? What happens if you do not pay up?

• Matriarch/Patriarch. The family has sponsored transportation to • Name and describe your coyote.
the new nation so that monies earned can be sent home. • Name and describe the village (and family) you left behind.
• Orphan. With so many children living in poverty where the orphan • Describe the factory/processing plant where everyone will work.
comes from, he must look for opportunities elsewhere.
drama points
• Unskilled Laborer. A lack of work drives many to look elsewhere. Each player starts the game with one drama point and only gains
• Vocational Craftsman. Like a bricklayer or carpenter. additional points during interludes and interrogations. See page 4.

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game play interludes (hearts ♥)

While creating a story of their characters’ new lives as illegal Interludes involve two (and only two) characters with a pre-existing
immigrants, the players take turns directing scenes. Although this relationship. Neither of these characters needs to be the director’s
document provides the tools for framing the action, map-making and character. The director determines the location and sets the scene based
location naming are left to the players. A chart of scenes is on page 7. on the cards drawn. The scene runs as long as the director likes, without
being self-indulgent, calling “scene” when the characters have said or
Each turn the active player (director) draws two cards, which determine done enough. An interludes involves only one location. Should the
the scene type — vignette, interrogation, interlude, or ensemble — as characters leave the location, the scene ends.
well as the location. The scene’s type (suit) and atmosphere (value) are
determined by the first card, while the location is determined by the All players not involved in the scene gain one drama point at the end of
second card. For instance, the director draws a ♦6 and a ♣7 indicating an the interlude.
interrogation (♦) about authorities at an ethnic (♣) food-related location. The director has drawn the ♥5 for scene — Interlude about Boundaries —
and the ♣8 for location — Ethnic Medical. The director decides that Mrs.
vignettes (clubs ♣)
Uwaga and her daughter have gone to a free clinic for an examination. They
Vignettes involve no actual dialog, merely setting the atmosphere for
do not have legal identification and have travelled to a clinic in a far away
the story. The director determines the location from the card drawn and
neighborhood in case of problems. It turns out that Mrs. Uwaga’s daughter
narrates a brief scene. A vignette shouldn’t take more than a minute or
has a rare blood disease that the clinic does not know how to treat.
two to narrate.
The director draws a ♣10 for scene — Vignette about Safety in Numbers ensembles (spades ♠)
— and a ♦Q — Public School. “A young boy was recently killed by a drunk Ensembles involve all of the characters. Like an interlude, the director
driver. Since the boy was an illegal immigrant, the government has been slow determines the plot of the scene, as well as the location. The director
to respond to criminal allegations. Knowing they won’t arrest and deport 300 may preempt the scene as much as he likes, but once the ensemble
families, we’ve all gathered at the school for a candlelight vigil.” starts, the players should let things develop organically. The director
still has the right to call “scene” at any moment, but any player may
interrogations (diamonds ♦) override the director by spending one drama point to end a scene early,
Interrogations involve the director asking questions to one character. or to extend a scene longer.
The director selects a player and steals one drama point from him. Then
The director has drawn the ♠3 for scene — Ensemble about Food/Resources
the director asks five questions — in or out of character — which must
— and the ♥6 for location — Private Junkyard/Landfill. The director
be answered by that player in character.
decides the entire family is spending their Sunday scrounging for canned
If the interrogation is in character, the director may ask the questions goods and leftover food at a nearby landfill. While there, they find other
from the point of view of an NPC or his own character. This process things they can use, like clothing, furniture, and a mattress. Despite the
should feel organic. If the interrogation is out of character, the director conditions, the family is together for the first in a week. The father decides to
asks the questions in an abstract fashion, as though going down a list. use this time to catch up with his family and friends.
The questions can be anything fitting the theme.
npcs
The director draws a ♦4 for scene — Interrogation about Bureaucracy — The director may add one NPC to an interlude or interrogation, but
and a ♠7 — Food-Related Work. The director decides that Mrs. Uwaga has the characters remain the focus of the scene. Vignettes do not have
been called in for an job interview at the Food Emporium, a local grocery dialogue, but any number of NPCs may color the story background.
store with questionable work practices, including unpaid overtime. The Ensembles may have NPCs, but they are controlled/run by the director.
questions are complicated and seem to not involve the job at all. Despite the Other players may introduce one NPC by spending one drama point.
fact that Mrs. Uwaga is undocumented, the manager is willing to hire her, so
long as she passes the interview and is willing to work for only $40 a day…

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resolving conflict optional rules
In Coyote, whenever two or more characters reach a moment of
• The director may spend one drama point to discard a scene/location
unresolvable conflict one of the following things happens:
card and draw a new one.
• In an interlude, the director decides who wins the conflict, narrates
• If the same suit is drawn three times in a row for a scene or location,
the conclusion, and ends the scene.
discard the card and draw a new one until a new suit appears.
• In an ensemble, the scene ends, which leaves the conflict dangling.
• Add one or two jokers to the deck. When drawn, the director gains
• Should the players wish to override any of these rules, they must one drama point and delivers a short monologue (in character).
spend one drama point, or in the case of a tie, more drama points
• At the beginning of the game, shuffle the deck and remove 10 cards
than anyone else. The winner narrates the conclusion.
at random. Do not look at them. Remove them from play and never
• Should a scene end unresolved, this creates a cliffhanger effect. shuffle them back into the deck.
Players may wish to resolve this in the following scene. But this
• During an interrogation, the player being interrogated may spend
isn’t always necessary. Use your best judgment. Sometimes the best
one drama point to avoid answering one question.
things are left unsaid.
• Should a player ever run out of drama points, the director may give
Vignettes and interrogations have no conflict.
him one of his, regardless of the scene type.
opening scene • If a scene ends with unresolved conflict, any player may spend one
The opening scene of the game is always a vignette that takes place after drama point to shift the conflict to an NPC who has already made
the immigrants have crossed the border and made it to a safehouse. an appearance in the story, or two drama points to shift the conflict
The vignette focus is either Desperation or Boundaries. Determine to a new NPC.
randomly which player narrates this vignette, but do not draw any
cards. Afterwards, take turns until every player has directed four scenes. • On page 8 is a list of backgrounds. Backgrounds are not necessary
to play the game, but add additional color and flavor. No character
the price of freedom has more than one. When using backgrounds, these are selected
Each player takes one turn directing a scene. The order is not important. before roles.
Players may decide to take turns in a random order, clockwise order, or
even bid to be the next director. Just make sure everyone is involved • On page 8 is a list of advanced roles. Advanced roles are not
and no one directs two times in a row. necessary to the game, but add additional color and flavor.
No character has more than one. When using advanced roles, these
Once everyone has directed four times, the characters face the rigors of replace standard roles.
capture and possible deportation. The players may also decide to have
the game end only after all of the face cards have been revealed (during • Once per game, the players may decide to award one drama point to
character creation and game play) for a longer game, or all the aces are a director who has framed a particularly good scene.
revealed for a shorter game. • Since all of the games in the Protocol game series use the same
Once the characters begin their new chapters, each player narrates his rules, consider mixing and matching the charts for a universe-
character’s future as an immigrant. For each drama point a player still bending story.
possesses, he narrates (in turn) a vignette about his character’s final • Select a permanent director who does not play a character, but
days with the old group, his deportation, or his continued wanderlust. instead runs the game like a traditional RPG. Cards are still drawn
Once everyone has spent their drama points, each player determines for scenes. The game lasts for a number of scenes equal to four
if his character stays in the new country, returns home, or something times the number of players, or as long as the director chooses.
more ominous happens.

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motivations relationships
Suit Suit
♣ Ignorantly ♣ Burden
♦ Responsibly ♦ Complex
♥ Passionately ♥ Fortune
♠ Impulsively ♠ Ominous

value value
A Discovery/Exploration A Survival
2 Freedom 2 Abusive
3 Pride 3 Loss/Reconciliation
4 Work 4 Codependent
5 Desperation/Fear 5 Reliable
6 Wanderlust 6 Generous
7 Fresh Start 7 Jealousy
8 Wealth 8 Disrespectful
9 Distance/Time 9 Family
10 Family 10 Trust
J Retribution J Rivalry
Q Love Q Loving/Supportive
K Respect K Loyal

The Coyote had a specific friend in customs who made sure the
cargo container was never inspected. He had a specific friend
in logistics who knew exactly when the highways would be
clear. He had a specific friend at a Motel 9 on Route 5 where
the “illegals” could hold up for a couple weeks until they
earned their first dollars.
And He had a specific friend in the INS he would call twice a
year to make sure there were huge immigration busts.

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scenes locations
Suit Suit
♣ Vignette ♣ Ethnic
♦ Interrogation ♦ Public
♥ Interlude ♥ Private
♠ Ensemble ♠ Work

Value Value
A Desperation A Slums
2 Broken Promises 2 Neighbor’s Home
3 Food/Resources 3 Parking Lot
4 Bureaucracy 4 Worksite
5 Boundaries 5 Swap Meet
6 Authorities 6 Junkyard/Landfill
7 Day Labor 7 Food-Related
8 Illness/Injury 8 Medical
9 Movement/Transportation 9 Park
10 Safety in Numbers 10 School
J Chaos J Crime-Related
Q Internal Conflict Q Social Gathering
K External Conflict K Government Office

“Where are you headed, sir?” The state trooper had pulled over
Mr. Ka and his family on route to the strawberry farm, even
before the sun rose. “Little early for dirt farming, ain’t it?”
Mr. Ka grew nervous. The car was uninsured. He had no license.
Between he and his wife, they had $27 and some loose change.
Hardly enough for a bribe.
The trooper grew impatient in the cold air. “Why don’t you step
out of the car, sir… and could you open the trunk?”

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Backgrounds advanced roles

Suit Suit
♣ Outcast/Convict ♣ Fleeing…
♦ Working Class ♦ Starving…
♥ Academia ♥ Desperate…
♠ Orphaned ♠ Callow…

value value
A Indentured A Artist
2 Stranger in Strange Land 2 Craftsman
3 Alone 3 Corrupt Police/Criminal
4 Overshadowed 4 Dissident
5 Exiled/Wrongly Accused 5 Farmer
6 Jilted/Scorned 6 Homemaker
7 Well-Known 7 Industry-Related
8 Sycophant/Bully 8 Janitorial
9 Regarded/Respected 9 Peddler
10 Talented 10 Prostitute
J Uneducated J Student
Q Widowed Q Unskilled/Unwanted Tasks
K Diseased K Unwashed (black market baby ring, etc.)

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character names location names

Aleia Amalia 5 for $10
Annette Armon Ace Temporary Staffing
Avea Beatriz Azteca Taqueria
Benjamin Bianca Boot Barn and Dress Attic
Celina Cruz Boulevard Cleaners
Darion Devra Chex 4 Cash
Dite Dmitri Cinema 7
Edgar Elan Debbie’s Dickies
Ernesto Ethan Dollar Captain
Finn Francesca Double Ace Shoe Factory
Gabriel Gia Efram’s Towing
Giovanni Guy Fourth Street Car Wash
Hamish Hua The Golden Dragon
Hugo Ibrahim International Fish Market
Ignacius Iris Junior Speddy’s Liquor
Jamal Jana Juniper Farms
Jun Kai Lee’s Grocery
Kristof Lang Lou’s Transmissions and Body Work
Laszlo Leif King Street Terminal Bus Station
Lexi Li Mr. Rivera’s Mercado
Manon Marika Mulberry School
Micha Min New Market
Nasr Nava Olvera Street Barrio
Niko Omar Peter and Son’s Landscaping
Rafi Rishi Pelican’s Swap Meet
Rolando Salvator Pine Street Outlet
Saskia Sawyer Special Occasions Suit Emporium
Stone Sydni St. Augustus Church
Syri Tahlia Sunshine Laundromat
Tai Taya Thompson’s Strawberry Fields
Tibor Xavier Trident Physical Therapy
Yessenia Yun Tyler Street Mall
Zaire Zoren Vicki’s Hair & Nails

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scenes
overview vignettes (clubs ♣)
Vignettes involve no actual dialog, merely setting the atmosphere for
create characters the story. The director determines the location from the card drawn and
• Shuffle a deck of poker cards narrates a brief scene. A vignette shouldn’t take more than a minute or
• Name characters two to narrate.

• Determine backgrounds (optional) interrogations (diamonds ♦)

Interrogations involve the director asking questions to one character.
• Select roles The director selects a player and steals one drama point from him. Then
• Determine motivations the director asks five questions — in or out of character — which must
be answered by that player in character.
• Determine relationships
If the interrogation is in character, the director may ask the questions
• Give each player one drama point
from the point of view of an NPC or his own character. This process
opening scene should feel organic. If the interrogation is out of character, the director
• Vignette (Desperation or Boundaries) asks the questions in an abstract fashion, as though going down a list.
The questions can be anything fitting the theme.
scenes
• Take turns directing scenes interludes (hearts ♥)
Interludes involve two (and only two) characters with a pre-existing
• Draw two cards: one scene type, one location
relationship. Neither of these characters needs to be the director’s
• Gain drama points during interrogations character. The director determines the location and sets the scene based
and other players’ interludes on the cards drawn. The scene runs as long as the director likes, without
being self-indulgent, calling “scene” when the characters have said or
• Charts are on page 11
done enough. An interludes involves only one location. Should the
the price of freedom characters leave the location, the scene ends.
• Take turns narrating vignettes about the next chapter of the
All players not involved in the scene gain one drama point at the end of
immigrants lives
the interlude.
end game ensembles (spades ♠)
• Who stays in the new country? Who returns home? Does
Ensembles involve all of the characters. Like an interlude, the director
something more ominous happen?
determines the plot of the scene, as well as the location. The director
may preempt the scene as much as he likes, but once the ensemble
starts, the players should let things develop organically. The director
still has the right to call “scene” at any moment, but any player may
override the director by spending one drama point to end a scene early,
or to extend a scene longer.

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

 Motivations Relationships Scenes Locations
Suit Suit Suit Suit
♣ Ignorantly ♣ Burden ♣ Vignette ♣ Ethnic
♦ Responsibly ♦ Complex ♦ Interrogation ♦ Public
♥ Passionately ♥ Fortune ♥ Interlude ♥ Private
♠ Impulsively ♠ Ominous ♠ Ensemble ♠ Work

Value Value Value Value

A Discovery/Exploration A Survival A Desperation A Slums
2 Freedom 2 Abusive 2 Broken Promises 2 Neighbor’s Home
3 Pride 3 Loss/Reconciliation 3 Food/Resources 3 Parking Lot
4 Work 4 Codependent 4 Bureaucracy 4 Worksite
5 Desperation/Fear 5 Reliable 5 Boundaries 5 Swap Meet
6 Wanderlust 6 Generous 6 Authorities 6 Junkyard/Landfill
7 Fresh Start 7 Jealousy 7 Day Labor 7 Food-Related
8 Wealth 8 Disrespectful 8 Illness/Injury 8 Medical
9 Distance/Time 9 Family 9 Movement/Transportation 9 Park
10 Family 10 Trust 10 Safety in Numbers 10 School
J Retribution J Rivalry J Chaos J Crime-Related
Q Love Q Loving/Supportive Q Internal Conflict Q Social Gathering
K Respect K Loyal K External Conflict K Government Office

game overview roles drama scene types

Create Characters Criminal Gain 1 Drama Point Vignette. Narration.
Opening Scene/Vignette Daughter During an Interlude Interrogation. One character.
Scenes Doctor Steal 1 Drama Interlude. Two characters.
During an Interrogation
The Price of Freedom/Vignettes Intellectual Ensemble. All characters.
End Game Matriarch/Patriarch
Orphan
Unskilled Laborer
Vocational Craftsman

quick reference

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

 optional rules name/role
• The director may spend one drama point to discard a scene/
location card and draw a new one.
• If the same suit is drawn three times in a row for a scene or location,
background
discard the card and draw a new one until a new suit appears.
• Add one or two jokers to the deck. When drawn, the director gains
one drama point and delivers a short monologue (in character).
• At the beginning of the game, shuffle the deck and remove 10 cards motivation
at random. Do not look at them. Remove them from play and never
shuffle them back into the deck.
• During an interrogation, the player being interrogated may spend
one drama point to avoid answering one question. relationship
• Should a player ever run out of drama points, the director may give
him one of his, regardless of the scene type.
• If a scene ends with unresolved conflict, any player may spend notes
one drama point to shift the conflict to an NPC who has already
made an appearance in the story, or two drama points to shift the
conflict to a new NPC.
• On page 8 is a list of backgrounds. Backgrounds are not necessary scenes
to play the game, but add additional color and flavor. No character
has more than one. When using backgrounds, these are selected
before roles.
• On page 8 is a list of advanced roles. Advanced roles are not drama points
necessary to the game, but add additional color and flavor. Spend to end or extend an ensemble
No character has more than one. When using advanced roles, these Spend to resolve conflict
replace standard roles.
Spend during final narration
• Once per game, the players may decide to award one drama point
to a director who has framed a particularly good scene.
• Since all of the games in the Protocol game series use the same
rules, consider mixing and matching the charts for a universe-
bending story.
• Select a permanent director who does not play a character, but
instead runs the game like a traditional RPG. Cards are still drawn
for scenes. The game lasts for a number of scenes equal to four
times the number of players, or as long as the director chooses.

character sheet

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

 helper monkey Clayton Falconpunch Laura Scott Sophia Brandt
Diana Kwolkoski Stoll Daniel C Leslie Weatherstone Scott Jamieson
David Margowsky Lin Liren Sean Cameron Crane
regular backers David McGuire Malk sehmerus
Catherine
David Terhune Marc Majcher Seth Harris
Dale Murchie
Derek Guder Marcus Johnson Seth Johnson
Daniel Boles
Descendingform Mark Kilfoil Shane Hensley
Ed Pegg
Diana Stoll Mark Nau Solid Art Labs
Fernando
DivNull Productions Martijn Tolsma Stephen Kilpatrick
Hana Kucharova
Ed Possing Martin Blake Steve Bean
James Wood
Felix Girke Michael Bergh Hansen Steve Dulson
José Luis Porfirio
FelTK Michael Leader Steven Lord
Julian G Hicks
Filthy Monkey Michael McNeal Steven Watkins
Keith Brake
flashbytes Michael Wight Stew Wilson
Stras Acimovic
George Panopoulos Morten Berg Svend Andersen
George VanMeter Natalya Alyssa Faden T. Anthony Moore
irregular
George Vasilakos Nate Miller Teppo Pennanen
supporters
Alejandro Albert Garcia Glazius Nathan Hillen Tijn Rams
Alex W Glen Conolly Nathan Lax Tim Clouse
anderland Greg Chapin Nathanael Cole Timothy Hidalgo
Andrew Wells Happion Laboratories Nathaniel Brengle Tobie Abad
Ben Woerner irrion Nils Kullberg Tom Pleasant
Benjamin Tham Jack Gulick Owlglass Tomer Gurantz
Bernard Gravel Jake McGrath Pablo Martinez Trevor Smith
Black-Thing James Glover Paco Garcia Jaen Tristan Zimmerman
BlackWyrm Publishing James Stuart Pete Vic Smith
Brett Easterbrook Johan Kristian Milde Philip Espi Volker Jacobsen
CP John A W Phillips Philip Reed
Caoimhe Ora Snow John Diffley Richard Carter
Charley Brandum Judd M. Goswick Robert Carnel
Chris Carlson Kairam Ahmed Hamdan Robert Mull
Chris Schoenthal Ketwyld Robert Posada
Chris Shorb Khyron Ross Isaacs
Christian Nord Lars Erik Larsen Ruth Phillips

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)