How to play?

Introductory precisions

Zebra Island RPG is a game where the pleasure to play is the priority. The « fair-play » and « bon esprit » of most of Pirates never made a doubt, at least in what concerns those of the Know World, whatever one might like to say… I didn't hear an objection, did I? No? Very well then! Thus, contrary to what happens in some other games, death is a rare event and hence rare are the mortal fightings.

In terms of story-telling during the game one is knocked out and left as dead at the corner of the street or behind a bush rather than seasoned and cleaned out white by bloodthirsty ennemies. But on the other hand ennemies also manage to escape or do not die for real - the Game Master having the (sometimes difficult, we recognise) task to manage these situations.

The inhabitants of the Known World are of course no immortals but in that world, at least in a Scenario or a Campaign of Zebra Island RPG, death has a meaning within the story, as much as in a movie or a novel actually. Hence one does not kill whoever comes first nor risks to be killed right in the middle of the story just like that. But everybody still acts as if it were so anyway…

Be careful though! To lose a fight is not a light affair for that! If one comes out of it, it is surely not without injury… and shame upon that! It is here again not always the case (Cf. the chapter regarding the management of Fame) but defeat in a fight can lead to losing Fame, particularly if it is a Pirates' Duel.

That last remark brings us to listing the possible types of encounters before we describe how to manage them in Zebra Island RPG…

• There are first of all the Duels between Pirates, that is between two opponents with the assistance of their witnesses and according to a protocole and some « well defined » rules… Did you ever hear of the Pirate Code? Well in the worst case you won't wait much longer!
• Out of Duels, there are in the first place situations of conflict which occur when encountering people, creatures or animals who or which do not follow the Pirate Code – well that would not include the unfortunate boy or girl who would have a quarrel with the parrot of the Captain Lamarck, renowned and talented Duellist! –
• There are then group fights or brawls, such as Boardings: these two categories will be described separately.
• For encounters which occur, not anymore between Pirates or Crews but between Ships, one will check out the section regarding Naval Battles.
• At last, one may not forget a last type of « encounter », related to the practice of Voodoo…

All what remains to do, Dear Game Master, is to click on the below links and you'll be able to manage (almost) any potential conflict occurring during the game - well, let's hope that!