Tarot Thief

Tarot Thief is a solo fantasy tabletop role-playing game that uses a tarot deck to help guide the player’s adventures. Players take on the role of a thief as they explore locations and steal magical artifacts, while facing obstacles and danger. Through prompts and phrases, Tarot Thief helps players create a location, encounter its residents, expand the lore of the world, and create and use powerful artifacts.

Modules

Tarot Thief modules are large expansions on the core game and can be added or removed at any time without needing to start a new game. Modules will be available on this page as additional downloads once they are released, free for all who own the core game.

• “Tarot Thief: Companions” (RELEASED): Create fictional companions to take with you on your adventures, each with their own personality and motivations. Companion quests (and rewards) will be available.

• “Tarot Thief: Hideout” (IN DEVELOPMENT): A lore-focused module. Create a hideout that you can enter in a new HIDEOUT phase, where you will be able to relax, explore, make changes to past locations, and more.

• "Tarot Thief: Factions" (NOT STARTED): If Tarot Thief gets enough support, development will start on this module to give a more challenging experience. No details yet, but it will focus on raising the difficulty of Hunter encounters.

Features

• Solo fantasy adventures and heists, with loot you can steal and use.
• Narrative driven storytelling, player creates their own story.
• World building elements.
• Prompts and phrases to direct the player’s imagination, but often kept vague so players can get creative in their own way.
• Many examples and tips.
• Continuous gameplay, ends when you want.
• No combat system, no rolling for skill checks. The player decides what happens when in danger.
• No character death, though characters can endure injuries.

Requirements

• Tarot deck (Major and Minor Arcana)
  • printable decks are available
• 2 six-sided dice, or roll one twice
• 5 tokens or coins
• Pen and paper for journaling

Content Warnings

Some of the prompts may result in uncomfortable situations, locations, or artifact powers. Alternative options are often given, but you are always welcome to redraw or reroll.

• Death, violence, being stalked/hunted
• Imprisonment
• Illness, mental illness
• Some sexual content (mentions a brothel)
• Possible self-harm or loss of agency (when using artifacts)

Downloads

• TarotThief.pdf - Tarot Thief core game (34 pages total):
  • Instructions & Tips (12 pages)
  • Charts (10 pages)
  • Quick Reference Sheets (2 pages)
  • Example of a Full Playthrough (4 pages)
  • Worksheets (3 pages)

• TarotThief-Extras.zip - Includes all of the following files for the core game:
  • Printable Decks: Printable decks with all card prompts, useful for those who do not own a tarot deck. Printer-friendly card backs are available.
  • QuickRefs Only: Includes all quick reference sheets for the core game.
  • Worksheets Only: Includes all worksheets for the core game.

• TarotThief-Companions.pdf - The Companions module for Tarot Thief (20 pages total):
  • Instructions & Tips (11 pages)
    
  • Charts (4 pages)
  • Quick Reference Sheets (1 page)
  • Worksheets (2 pages)

• TarotThief-Companions-Extras.zip - Includes all of the following files for the Companions module:
  • Printable Decks: Printable decks for the Companions module with all card prompts, useful for those who do not own a tarot deck. Printer-friendly card backs are available.
  • QuickRefs Only: Includes all quick reference sheets for the Companions module.
  • Worksheets Only: Includes all worksheets for the Companions module.

License

Tarot Thief is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.