SOLVE CASES JUST LIKE IN YOUR FAVORITE CRIME SHOWS!

PROCEDURAL! is the new tabletop role-playing game from Occupied Hex Games, designed by Andrew Orvedahl and Rob Kerkovich. Up to four players take on roles as investigators and work together to solve cases in a game experience that feels right our of your favorite crime procedurals. Which is why we named it– ok you get it.

Every aspect of character creation is roll-to-play, so there isn’t any prep needed on the part of the players. You can sit down, chuck some dice on some roll tables to determine your details, and have a character ready to rock in moments. Most of these details can also be created, so in the unlikely event you’ve worn the roll tables out, you can start making up your own options. You can also roll for your group's unique HQ as well as the fictional investigative agencys you work for, with fun options like "Department of Murder Department", and "Bureau of Criminal Science Force". 

Unlike most TTRPGs that have an open-ended structure, PROCEDURAL! is played out over three acts, each containing four scenes. Players take turns setting up their scene in each act, and defining what they want to do in the scene, such as “I want to go to the widow’s house and question her.” or “I want to go to the lab and run more tests on this rusty sword.” They can also decide to bring another player along as their partner in the scene. This format adds tension while also making players consider what important action they want to take in their scene. It also helps to contain the runtime of the game session. Most cases should be playable in around three hours.

PROCEDURAL! isn’t just about figuring out whodunit it’s also about figuring out whytheydidit and also whattheymighthaveleftbehind. Finding the culprit is only one aspect of working the case. Gathering quality evidence is crucial for a conviction. You might correctly identify the suspect, but with bad evidence, they could walk!

If you’ve ever watched any crime procedural, you know it isn’t all about working the case. These characters have B-stories, too! We wanted to capture that side drama in our game as well, so every player character has a B-story they may have to deal with. There is a roll table for dramatic B-stories such as “Your teenager was caught with some drugs at school.” or “Your new puppy is destroying your house while you are working”. When it’s a player’s turn to work on their B-story, it’s a single short scene that usually injects a bit of levity into the game’s story. Working your B-story isn’t just for the drama, though. If you successfully resolve it, you gain a Rerun point that can be used to re-roll any roll in the game! 

There are two modes players can choose from: single case or season mode. A single case is like any “one shot” where players create their characters and work a case in a single game session. The outcome does not affect future games, nor is character progress recorded. In season mode, players solve a season of cases, culminating in a finale. Case outcomes actually affect future games, and characters can improve over time. Suspects who get away could become an arch enemy and show up in future cases to cause problems. The core game contains two seasons to play through!

RATED PG-13 FOR MURDER, MURDER AND MORE MURDER.