ImproVeto
A fun mini storygame to tell absurd stories and practice improvisation and the use of the X-Card.
The Game
Title image (Illustration: Andrea Rick)
ImproVeto is a story game for 2-6 players (no GM). It needs zero prep and has a flexible play time of 10-90 minutes. You can play it as a short warm-up during a Session Zero or before a regular TTRPG session. Or it can be played on its own for a quick one-shot gaming session of up to an hour or two. You could even play it over real-time text message or over the phone if you like! If you're looking for a absurdly funny game for both adults and kids, you've come to the right place!
While you use freely chosen vetos in play, you also practice using safety tools like the X-Card. And (hopefully) you realize that using a veto isn't actually terrible – and it's not that hard to change aspects of your story on the spot to adapt it to the veto. This makes it easier for you to use the X-Card and similar safety tools in other TTRPGs if you need them.
The game is only available as a PDF, in both English and German.
The Rules
Roll up a starter scenario (for example, "an octopus in a shopping mall wants to find a magic item but is hindered by tribbles") and start telling a fun story that will be interrupted by your fellow players' random vetos and make you change direction after a few sentences, after which the next player continues.
If you want even more of a challenge, throw in one or more of the veto variations and change locations, moods, or add new items or characters to the story with every veto! Great for imaginative people and those who'd like to become them.
The game (in English)
Das PDF
The core game contains everything you need to play.
Format:
- 2 Seiten im DIN A5 Format (148 x 210 mm)
- Full color
- PDF: Screenreader-ready with image descriptions, PDF tags, and external links
Contents:
- Instructions for play
- Random-roll tables for starter scenarios and veto variations
- Some ideas for improvised storytelling
- A drawing of an octopus in a shopping cart and a bunch of tribbles
You also need:
- 1 six-sided die (D6)
- Appropriate consent and safety tools
Links & Downloads
Designer Diary about the game by Andrea Rick
If you already bought the game here, you can find your own downloads in your account.
Our blog entries about ImproVeto
Credits
- Game Design: Andrea Rick
- Illustrations and Layout: Andrea Rick
- Translation into German: Andrea Rick
- Translation into Japanese: Sabaki Mujihina (六児雛さばき)
Printed in Tiny Tome (published by Long Tail Games, Australia 2022).
Media
Actual Plays / Let’s Plays
Articles / Reviews
„Small Book Bursting With Creativity: A (P)review of Tiny Tome“ by Dimitri, Dr. Givaca:
„ImproVeto [is the] best game I’ve ever read to introduce people both to improvisation and safety tools“
„ImproVeto: Geschichten erzählen und dabei Improvisation üben“ (Archivversion) von Thorsten Panknin:
„ImproVeto kommt für mich genau zur rechten Zeit, um Hindernisse beim Improspiel abzubauen und den Weg für solides Geschichtenerzählen zu ebnen.“
„Spotlight: Tiny Tome“ by The Lore Mistress:
„When playing TTRPGs, improvisation is a skill that is often required and all doesn’t necessarily come easily or naturally to all. A game like this is a great idea because it gives a fun way to practice those skills. I also really loved its focus on the X-Card […] this offers a fun way to practice the use of such tools also, and is GMless!“
