The Slow Knife is inspired by stories like The Count of Monte Cristo, where a simple death is too good for all those years the villains took from their victim. You’ll establish a promising young soul whose life is ruined by a handful of grasping scoundrels, then you’ll tell the decades-long story of the victim’s overdue and inevitable vengeance. You’ll tell this story from the perspective of the villains, with the protagonist – The Knife – moving in the shadows or behind disguises. You’ll answer card prompts about your villain’s life as you add notes and connections to a pinboard of sin and scandal. By the end of the game you’ll have constructed the conspiracy that destroys your wretched character as they find themselves broken and utterly ruined, face-to-face with The Knife for one last reckoning. Then, as the sun rises on a land free of those avaricious scoundrels, you’ll consider what solace – if any – The Knife might find for the rest of their days.

You’ll also find three playsets, story starters that provide an original, pre-written setting and define all the major characters of your story—the Knife, your villains and the setting itself. These playsets are designed to be a quicker experience than the ‘from scratch’ approach, and they will fill your board with people and possibilities to propel you into your story.

The three playsets, each illustrated by a different artist, are:

• The Count of Saint-Lazare—inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo of course.
• Arcadia Prime—a near-future, neocapitalist nightmare on an orbital station.
• The Lament of Broken Glass—a fantasy tale of elves, fashion and weird magic.