Hardcover Rulebook for Our Brilliant Ruin TTRPG Coming Soon

What if the world of Downton Abbey was gradually being overtaken by an unfathomable cosmic force, and you could experience the downfall firsthand? That’s the essence of Our Brilliant Ruin, a tabletop RPG from Studio Hermitage that first hit Kickstarter in 2024. Following the success of a comic series titled Our Brilliant Ruin: Horror at Crane Mansion, a 296-page hardcover edition of the Our Brilliant Ruin Rulebook is now set to be released.

Set in the Dramark, a realm where the last remnants of civilization are engulfed in excess and intrigue against the backdrop of a dying world, the game immerses players in a narrative where “the Ruin,” a supernatural force tainting everything it encounters, has devastated both geography and culture. This dark influence transforms people and animals into grotesque forms, leaving the world shrouded in despair. Players are challenged to decide how to spend their remaining time in this bleak setting.

Dramark is nestled in a remote mountain valley, one of the few areas untouched by the Ruin—the ominous glow of a dying star. Its corrupting power twists individuals into monsters and even warps the land itself. Most inhabitants have accepted the futility of resisting the impending cosmic doom, choosing instead to indulge in revelry as if there’s no tomorrow.

Players can take on the roles of an Aristocrat, a Truefolk laborer, or an Unbonded pioneer who rejects the established class system. The interplay of social dynamics, reminiscent of upstairs-downstairs drama, is as crucial to the gameplay as the looming threat of the Ruin. An intriguing aspect of the game is the inclusion of syllokinetics, described as “machines built by the previous Royal families whose secrets are lost to time.”

The comic series, Horror at Crane Mansion, follows private investigators Elizabeth Ranseur and Arielle Wren as they evaluate potential suitors for a wealthy heiress. Additionally, an audio drama titled Clawmoor Heights features historian Agatha Quinn becoming embroiled in the chaotic affairs of a dying baron striving to uphold his family’s legacy. There’s even a video game adaptation in the works, where players will take on the role of human resistance fighters battling against a vampire queen and her minions. But it all began with the TTRPG.

The Our Brilliant Ruin Rulebook will provide systems for character creation, gameplay mechanics, a regional gazetteer, a roster of allies and foes, and an introductory scenario. One of the game’s standout features is its dice pool system, which is influenced by a character’s emotions and motivations rather than relying solely on traditional stats.

The Our Brilliant Ruin Rulebook is set to launch on September 26, 2026, bringing its decaying high-society horror to life in a premium print format.