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INTRO/RULES
BATMAN HITS THE RED HOOD WITH HIS BATARANG is a game for one or two players. If there are two of you, one of you will be Batman, and the other will be Red Hood. If you are alone, play both parts.
You will need four dice in each of six colors: red dice of BLOOD, black dice of IRON, gold dice of AMBITION, blue dice of SORROW, green dice of FUTILITY, and white dice of DEATH. Alternatively, you can use a dice roller and simply keep track of which dice are which.
At the beginning of the game, the dice pool is empty. As you read through the text of the game, you will be prompted to make choices, each of which is associated with a different color die, and add one corresponding die to the pool. You may find it enjoyable to elaborate aloud on the choices you make, imagining what each character might say to the other, but you don't have to. At the end, you will roll all the dice in the pool together to determine the conclusion to the game.
THE CONFLICT
Batman hears whispers of a new crime lord in Gotham, trailing blood and carnage in his wake. The Red Hood is skilled and ruthless, and quickly seizes control of the drug trade, seemingly for his own ends.
Red Hood, after years of planning, your moment has finally arrived. Why have you come?
- You come for revenge. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- You come to deliver justice. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- You seek to remake Gotham in your image. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- You come to demand answers. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- You’re here to expose Batman’s hypocrisy. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- You come bringing death. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
Elaborate briefly on your motivations if you wish.
Batman, you feel called to stop Red Hood as the protector of Gotham. What is your nature? What fuels you?
- You are Wrath – anger at the evil that men do, and the suffering they cause. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- You are Justice, and you will ensure that justice is done. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- You are Control – all of Gotham is yours to protect. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- You are Grief – you fight so no one will have to suffer the way you suffered. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- You are but a piece on the board, the same as any other. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- You are your purpose – nothing else matters. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
Speak briefly on your nature and how it defines your role in Gotham.
THE CLASH
In this phase, no player is allowed to select the same option twice – that is, if Batman chooses the BLOOD die in his first exchange, he is prevented from choosing BLOOD options in future exchanges.
Batman encounters the Red Hood on the streets of Gotham. The Red Hood taunts Batman, guns ablaze, and Batman pursues with implacable, silent resolve. They leap across the rooftops and alleys of Gotham, exchanging words and blows.
Batman, confront the Red Hood about his previous actions, choosing one of the following options:
- Threaten the Red Hood with the wrath of Batman. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Denounce the carnage Red Hood has created. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Tell Red Hood how you will defeat him. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Attempt to convince the Red Hood that his goals are wrong. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Mock Red Hood’s delusions of grandeur. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Do not speak. You have nothing to say to him. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
Red Hood, counter his words and strike back, using one of the following options:
- Tell Batman about the pain you’re about to unleash on him. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Speak of the evil of the men you killed, and their deserved punishment. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Explain how you’re better than Batman ever was. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Confront Batman with the suffering he left unanswered. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Taunt Batman about his inability to truly protect Gotham. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Don’t speak. You have nothing to say to him. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
The fight continues. The Red Hood believes that Batman should and must kill; the Batman has contempt for killing and those who practice it. The two are at an impasse.
Red Hood, the time has come to reveal yourself. Show the Batman who he’s been fighting, and choose one of the following options:
- Vent your fury about the pain he’s caused you. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Expose the limitations of his moral code. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Tell Batman how you’ve outgrown him. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Demand to know if you ever mattered to him. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Explain how you’ve come to understand his weakness. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Make yourself into his worst nightmare. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
The Red Hood removes his helmet, revealing that he is Jason Todd. Batman, what do you see as you look into the face of your lost son? Choose one of the following options:
- React with disbelief and anger. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Insist that this changes nothing. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Fall back on your duty to Gotham. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Express your sorrow and grief. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Recoil with horror at what he’s become. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Don’t say anything. You have no words. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
This changes everything and nothing. The impasse remains the same. The Red Hood taunts Batman, and Batman gives chase. Batman, what do you say as you pursue the Red Hood? Choose one of the following options.
- Threaten the Red Hood with the wrath of Batman. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Insist that nothing can justify his actions. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Tell the Red Hood how you must defeat him. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Explain why you can’t give him what he wants. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Accuse the Red Hood of becoming as bad as the enemies you fight. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Do not speak. You have nothing to say to him. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
At last, we reach our destination. The Joker. The gun. The crossroads.
Red Hood, respond to Batman one final time, choosing one of the following options:
- Tell Batman you can hurt him more than he could ever hurt you. Add one red die of BLOOD to the pool.
- Speak of the evil of the Joker, and the death he deserves. Add one black die of IRON to the pool.
- Explain how you’re better than Batman ever was. Add one gold die of AMBITION to the pool.
- Confront Batman with the suffering he's left unanswered. Add one blue die of SORROW to the pool.
- Proclaim that Batman’s justice will never be enough. Add one green die of FUTILITY to the pool.
- Don’t speak. The time for words is over. Add one white die of DEATH to the pool.
THE CHOICE
The Red Hood presents an ultimatum.
The Batman makes his choice.
This part is always the same. Neither player has any power to change the outcome. This is not that kind of story.
We do not roll the dice to decide what happened. We know what happened. We can only try to understand what it means, and where we can possibly go from here.
THE AFTERMATH
At this point, roll all the dice in the pool together, and find the dominant color -- the color with the single highest die. If multiple colors are tied, discard all dice showing the highest result and compare again, unless this would empty the dice pool. In that case, reroll the dice remaining in the pool and repeat the process.
If BLOOD dominates,
we understand that Batman has become the true monster of the story. Batman, speak of the horror you’ve become. Red Hood, speak of the lessons you’ll take from this experience.
If IRON dominates,
we understand that morality is a knife. Batman, speak of how justice does not bend. Red Hood, speak of the casualties created by this philosophy.
If AMBITION dominates,
we understand that all Batman’s victories are hollow. Batman, speak of the work that remains in Gotham. Red Hood, speak of why it will never be complete.
If SORROW dominates,
we understand that Batman is a broken man. Batman, speak of your suffering and wretchedness. Red Hood, speak of why his pain is meaningless.
If FUTILITY dominates,
we understand that nothing was accomplished here. Batman, speak of how violence only begets more violence. Red Hood, speak of how Batman has perpetuated that cycle.
If DEATH dominates,
we understand that some things are irrecoverable. Batman, speak of how Jason Todd is remembered. Red Hood, speak of how those remembrances are wrong.