Something Went Wrong – Gold Edition by Benjamin Gerber is a role playing game supplement published by Troll in the Corner. This is a complete RPG covered by the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
The supplement is available as a 24 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. One page is the front cover and front matter, one page the Contents and one a character sheet.
What is an RPG? briefly explains what one is and that this is intended to be a fun one-off game. This one you can win, by being the last person standing.
Character Creation explains that characters have four stats which are arranged using numbers, 1-4. These are strength, intelligence, dexterity and stamina. Each has different effects. It then explains that most games have a multitude of classes built on the same themes. This has four classes, fighter, cleric, wizard and thief. Call the class what you want; it makes no mechanical difference.
Alignments are next. There are six and they are given names like Neutral Greedy and descriptions of what they are like, and mechanical game effects. Equipment is, well, equipment, and characters are assumed to have the basics, plus some other material. Gold is important, but it weighs a lot and the character with the most always goes last. Spells, make up any name and description; it will still do the same effect.
Once the character is complete – hand it to the person on your left.
Playing the Game explains the game mechanics. There is a GM, but the player who is the GM rotates and also plays a character. Encounters are explained and how combat works, and finally how the experience is awarded. The current GM awards it every time, and it has to be handed out. Finally, there are misabilities, which the GM can activate every time a character does anything successfully. This costs the GM 1 XP. Misabilities cause spectacular failure after being successful.
There are a number of appendices. Appendix A is Misabilities Tables, a d12 table for each class plus one for everyone, twice.
Appendix 2 is monsters. They come in Small, Medium and Freaking Huge varieties; they can have different names, but the effects are the same. Examples are given. This is followed by two d12 encounter tables.
Appendix E – Loot explains that every character has a magic item and they effectively cancel each other out. There’s a d12 table of loot. There’s also an extra d12 table of random things.
Appendix VI (yes, the numbering style of these appendices isn’t logical) has another d12 table of random items of power.
Appendix N – NPCs has a d12 table of random NPCs.
Something Went Wrong – Gold Edition in Review
Although the PDF has bookmarks, they don’t do anything useful. The Contents is to a reasonable level of depth and is hyperlinked. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
This game is intended to be a light-hearted and fun one-shot RPG. The descriptions of items and abilities are not serious and the ability to make things go badly wrong after they’ve succeeded will make things different. This is rules-light; it contains pretty much the minimum needed, stripping back older games to their key elements. It’s also a competitive game, in that it is possible to win, largely by throwing the other characters under a bus whilst a player is the GM. If you fancy playing something a little different for a night, this game is recommended. Something Went Wrong – Gold Edition can be found by clicking here.
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