Date of Submission
8-2024
Type of Work
Dissertation
Keywords
Noir ghost story ; tabletop roleplaying game ; women ; game design
Audience
Restricted (R 18+) - high impact language/themes, includes vilification, extreme language/violence, restricted to adults
Abstract
Sydney of the late 20s was a world of dark, crisp shadows and flashing blades. The war has recently ended, and there is a hunger, a mania, to forget and bury the ghosts and spirits. But the dead, and things inhuman, do not like to be forgotten.
Razorblade Swing is a tabletop roleplaying game that seeks to explore this world through the eyes of street-level, everyday, vulnerable people, particularly women. The main conceit is that the Razor Wars were the product of the ghosts and spirits of war. Those who come back often deal with this through addiction, vice and sex work. It is stylized off Underbelly Razor meeting a Noir Victorian-era Ghost story.
Sensitive handling note
1. Indigenous/First Nations people should be aware that this output contains images, voices and/or names of deceased persons., 4. Readers should be aware that this output contains content related to any of the following: violence, family or domestic violence, self-harm, sexual assault, suicide, family child removal, refugee experiences, war survivor experiences or other traumatic experiences that may be distressing or harmful to some people.
Recommended Citation
Sparksman, M. (2024). Razorblade Swing: Sympathy for the Dead Game Design Document [Masters dissertation, SAE University College]. Creo.