Risk, rise, fail, repeat.
Not the End, a role-playing game designed by Claudio Pustorino, Fabio Airoldi, and Claudio Serena, illustrated by Pietro Bastas and published in English by Mana Project Studio and Fumble GDR, has been nominated for several ENnies Awards this year. The nominations include:
- Best Game
- Product of the Year
- Best Rules
- Best Supplement – “Not The End: Stories,” a supplement for Not The End
- Best Layout and Design
- Best Art, Cover
ENnies voting is open from Friday, July 12 to July 21. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Gen Con on August 2. The complete list of nominees can be found at ennie-awards.com/2024-nominees.
About Not the End
In Not the End, Heroes are described by keywords placed in a hive of hexagons, each representing one of their distinctive traits. How the words relate to each other within the hive creates bonds that make each Hero unique. For example, reading the term “Criminal Mind” next to “Investigator” has a very different meaning than reading “Criminal Mind” next to “Sadist.”
Gameplay revolves around the HexSys system, designed specifically for Not the End, which uses tokens of different colors instead of dice to represent successes and complications. Each trial the Heroes face adds something to the story and the game world, making the outcome of every trial meaningful.
The stories in Not the End are set anywhere one can imagine: a distant realm populated by dragons and powerful sorcerers, a futuristic dystopia dominated by a ruthless artificial intelligence, the dark and infinite depths of space, or the real world. What defines Not the End is its narrative tone, summarized by three core pillars:
- Risk for What You Hold Dear: The complications experienced by the Heroes are part of the core of the game experience and should be seen as an opportunity to explore their personalities, motives, and values.
- Let the Story Change Your Hero: The Heroes of Not the End evolve when they experience the consequences of their actions. Players can decide which trials are crucial to the evolution of their Heroes, but they must decide before knowing the outcome.
- Experience Each Ending as a New Beginning: Throughout the story, every Hero in Not the End confronts the end. Sometimes, it is their own end, and sometimes, it is the end of something important to them, such as a journey, a friendship, an oath, or an old grudge.
To stay up to date with Not the End, follow Mana Project Studio on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and the official website at www.manaprojectstudio.com.