The Lore
Welcome to the Reach
Welcome to the Reach
Welcome to the the space among stars, planets, moons, event horizons. The orbital stations are overcrowded. Fuel is dear. Merchant guilds dominate trade. Galactic nobility command the taxes. Tech prophets transmit word of new discoveries over the lattice to feed our false hopes.
Much of a once-great civilization is now cracked and broken, its worlds adrift in blight and silence. Home and hearth are a distant memory — the void is untamed, cold, and we struggle to endure within it. Travel between the derelict reaches is a greatly feared and dangerous undertaking. Only the daring ride through the old gates, chasing myths of lost riches and forsaken power.
Our predecessors had discovered a way to harness the RIP — gravitational waves extruded from the collision of galaxies. They rode it like surf and sowed their seeds, managing to establish secure outposts, stations, colonies, worlds, sectors — many sparks out there in the vastness of space.
Their arrogance made them believe they had triumphed, that dominance was within reach. But they were wrong.
"Some say that entities emerged from the void and alien worlds; the cosmos responding to our forebears' colonization. Or was it a collapse — rebellion from within? Regardless, this sudden regression came like a relentless cosmic tide, steadily pushing us back. Making us small once more."
All is now eerily quiet as we huddle in our corners among the galaxies. Most of us cram into our meager colonies and make do with the hand we've been dealt. Though a few rugged pioneers do still endure the eternal nights far away from us, and, far beyond our patrols, mine exotic elements at the dawn of alien sunrises.
Some of us — those with nothing left — gear up in hacked together ships and venture into the hostile unknown. We are known only as Spacers.
Far out there are layers of doomed civilizations crumbling atop one another — fleets of abandoned starships caught in an inexorable orbit. Each thought they could conquer space. Each failed.
But we Spacers point toward them, for in failure, they left us hope. They left us relics, artifacts, mysteries, knowledge, unshared discoveries. Those brave or foolhardy enough to reclaim these treasures are richly rewarded. Those successful enough can even rise above their station.
And thus, we can find victory, however small... if we survive.
What is Spacefarer About?
In Spacefarer, you become a fortune-seeking Spacer. To earn your fortune, you must search lost wreckage, hidden planets, and unknown corners of the galaxies in order to reclaim that which has been forgotten. To do so, you must face those threats that roam the asteroid belts, lurk beneath the surfaces of moons, or reside in the husks of abandoned outposts.
Spacefarer's foundation is a game of exploration and survival. It is a cold and unforgiving place out there. You'll spend a lot of your time off-world, isolated, in some ruins of a long lost empire or in the derelict reaches of space — wrestling treasures from the immortal expanse.
However, you'll soon realize there is more to life than blood and treasure, spent and earned. As the game progresses, Spacers will engage with Leagues, taking up projects on their behalf and even founding their own. Leagues give the Spacers the opportunity to rise above and leave their mark on the world — and to pursue those ambitions reserved for the brave and the foolhardy alike.
Explore
Search lost wreckage, hidden planets, and unknown corners of the galaxies.
Survive
Face threats roaming the asteroid belts, lurking in the husks of abandoned outposts.
Rise Above
Join Leagues, take on projects, and leave your mark on the cosmos.
Roleplaying
Spacefarer is a roleplaying game. That means it thrives on your imagination and collaboration. You don't just roll dice and collect loot — you become someone else in the reach: a Spacer with scars, skills, and secrets.
You act, speak, and make decisions as if you were that character. You see the dying planets, the crumbling gates, the struggling stations, the forever-wars, and the derelict ships through their eyes. That's the game.
Players take on the role of a Spacer. One player takes on the duties of Game Master (GM) who portrays everything else — contacts, hazards, rivals, the environment, and threats. The GM challenges the crew of Spacers with pressure, dilemmas, and opportunity.
In turn, you respond as your Spacer would — improvising in character, rolling dice when the outcome is uncertain, and shaping your story together.
The Spacers
Each player controls a single Spacer — their character in the reach. You decide what they do, how they feel, and what they risk. You speak in first person: "I seal the hatch and motion the others to brace."
The Game Master
One player becomes the GM — portraying the world, its hazards, and its inhabitants. The GM's task is to forge the players' characters into heroes by posing challenges and obstacles in their path.
Rolls & Tests
When the outcome is in doubt, you roll dice. This is called a Test.
If you succeed, your intent becomes reality. If you fail, the GM complicates things — with a Twist or a Condition. Dice rolls make the story dynamic and unpredictable. They're the heartbeat of survival in Spacefarer.
The Good Idea
If the GM deems your action doable and without significant risk, they'll acknowledge your cleverness and describe the results without a roll. You get what you wanted. The story moves on.
Control & Consequence
Most of the time, you control your Spacer. But when you fail a Test, the GM steps in — your Spacer stumbles, says the wrong thing, or triggers a larger danger. That momentary loss of control is part of the drama.
First Person Play
Describe what you do — not what system you're invoking. Say "I seal the hatch", not "I use my Pilot skill." The system will follow. The more you inhabit the character, the more the game comes alive.
Unscripted Storytelling
Spacefarer doesn't follow a script. Nobody knows where it's going — not even the GM. Every choice, roll, and ripple of consequence shapes the tale. You make the story.
Be Polite, Be Generous
Support your table. Share the spotlight. When someone else is speaking or rolling, listen and react. If your character is cruel, be kind as a player. Play with each other, not against.
The GM keeps things moving, but players can help by bringing others in: "What do you think, Myra?" / "Let's let Sol handle this one."
Table chatter — discussing the game as players, not Spacers — is fine and expected. Do it respectfully: don't talk over others, don't force advice, and know when to take a step back. Sometimes, the best choice isn't the most optimal — it's the most in-character.
Ready to venture out?
Join the waitlist. Be the first to know when Spacefarer launches into the reach.
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