The world of tabletop game development has expanded in recent years. In addition to board games based on officially licensed multimedia properties from video games to sci-fi novels to horror anthology podcasts, indie projects have reached new audiences. These include TTRPG adaptations super sentai-themed, LGBTQ+ positive superhero indie manga, Queerz, and even revisions of older TTRPG systems such as the recently concluded crowdfunding campaign for Everyday Heroes. Now this month, the dueling TTRPG I Have The High Ground, will be released after its own successful crowdfunding campaign.
What Is I Have The High Ground?
I Have The High Ground is a two-player dueling TTRPG. It is a GM-less experience where you and your opponent create characters and duel it out with your wits before almost getting into a heated sword fight. In game terms, you and your opponent pick one of four moves during an exchange and, much like a game of rock-paper-scissors, the correct move scores a point. But the duel is a lot more than just swordplay. This TTRPG encourages showmanship and banter, including verbal jabs, magnificent capes, as well as barely concealed romantic tension. Furthermore, while the game uses terms found in fencing matches, these duels can be framed as anything between two hackers trying to one-up each other, a heated boxing match, an intense encounter between exes during a high-stakes spy operation, and anything in between. This is because the system is all about the drama, the pageantry, and the posturing more than the actual fight itself. I Have The High Ground plays in the same space as the homoerotic Our Swords Touch Where Our Lips Cannot and Evil Hat Productions' Thirsty Sword Lesbians, so if you're a fan of those this might be worth looking into.
I Have The High Ground was developed by Jess Levine. Her experience in tabletop RPGs includes Going Rogue, an expansion for Galactic 2E heavily inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as well as the satirical Game User Experience Manager Simulator. Her non-fiction work can also be found in Blood Knife and Seize The Press magazine.
Where Can I Buy I Have The High Ground?
The crowdfunding campaign for I Have The High Ground is currently in its final hours on Game On Tabletop. Backer tiers include getting a PDF for $5, a physical copy for $10, and a $30 premium set which will include a physical copy of the game as well as custom dice and coins.
If you miss out on the crowdfunding campaign, I Have The High Ground will also be available in PDF format for $8 on July 26.