NEST v1.1.0 includes two tweaks that will either improve your game or drastically change the way it’s played. There’s also the usual formatting and typo corrections, but any key mechanical changes are detailed below.

New Section: Running the Scenario

Progress Clocks

The Suspicion Clock tracks how much the Russian Soldier believes the FIST ops are actually children. I hope GMs have fun roleplaying the Russian Soldier’s initial trusting nature and mounting distrust with every “kid” slip-up. I’m still considering adding more wedges in the first quarter, representing the early trusting period, but I’m awaiting feedback to be sure.

There’s also… well, another Clock. Let’s just say, the time pressure is on.

Fighting the Russian Soldier

I’ve added a much needed section on how to deal with combat against the Russian Soldier. In the first release, his stats were jacked, with no sane way to engage him in combat. That’s changed, and you’ll see why in the PDF. But I should note it’s still a bad idea for FIST ops to try and attack him right out the gate.

Speaking of: I changed the mission statement from:

Use whatever training and resources are at your disposal. But under no circumstances are you to let the Russian Soldier suspect you are anything other than average 80s kids.

to

Use whatever training and resources are at your disposal. But until you’re ready to battle the Russian Soldier directly, do NOT let him suspect you are anything other than average 80s kids.

This should encourage players to apply more direct solutions – even if the Soldier suspects nothing at the time – but only after they collect enough intel.

New Option: Big Kids

Last but not least, I added a fun new optional rule suggested by R.: “Big Kids”. Instead of holographic projectors, the FIST ops are actually reverted to Kid-form for 72 hours.

I really struggled with the name. Tom Hanks’ Big is a perfect reference, but alas it’s one-word title seemed too vague, so I tacked Kids on. Alternate title: “(Actual) Kids on Bikes”.

This one tweak should drastically change the scenario, from “Mercenaries trying to keep their cool and not reveal themselves” to “Mercenaries who lose their powers and genuinely have to deal with things like school bullies”. There are even replacement Traits to cover the new form, and in a future release I’d like to design five or six Traits based on classic 80s archetypes. (The Nerd, The Jock, The Freak, etc.) All this will remain optional, but I’m sure some groups will enjoy it.

To Be Continued…

More updates are on the way sometime next week, (hopefully) including an example scenario. Stay tuned!