When it comes to choosing a tabletop roleplaying game for high-octane adventures filled with danger, drama, and daring exploits, two indie RPG titles often come up in the conversation:Broken CompassandOutgunned. Both games tap into cinematic storytelling and action-heavy gameplay, but they differ significantly in style, mechanics, tone, and intended experience. For players looking to dive into adrenaline-fueled narratives, understanding the contrast between Broken Compass vs Outgunned can help you pick the right system for your gaming table. Whether you prefer globe-trotting treasure hunts or explosive action scenes inspired by action blockbusters, these two systems offer rich and distinct approaches to adventure gaming.
Core Themes and Inspirations
Broken Compass: Pulp Adventure and Exploration
Broken Compass is inspired by the thrilling atmosphere of 80s and 90s adventure films likeIndiana Jones,The Mummy, andTomb Raider. The game is centered around treasure hunters, explorers, and risk-takers who journey into forgotten temples, ancient ruins, or war-torn jungles in search of legendary artifacts. Themes of mystery, fortune, and misfortune are central, with a constant undercurrent of discovery.
Outgunned: Explosive Action and Cinematic Combat
Outgunned is built for cinematic chaos. Drawing on action movies likeDie Hard,John Wick,Mission Impossible, andFast & Furious, it focuses on characters who are outnumbered and outgunned but never outclassed. The tone is slick, fast, and full of bullets, explosions, and daring stunts. Outgunned thrives on over-the-top action, stylish sequences, and tactical showdowns where the odds are never fair.
Game Mechanics Overview
Broken Compass System
Broken Compass uses the ‘Fortune System,’ where players roll multiple six-sided dice (d6s) and aim to achieve matches rather than high numbers. For instance, rolling multiple 3s is considered a success. The more matches, the better. The game includes Luck Points and Fortune Points that players use to push their luck or reroll dice. Characters are built using archetypes and tags that define their skills and personality, encouraging storytelling based on cinematic tropes.
Outgunned System
Outgunned uses the ‘Director’s Cut System,’ another cinematic d6-based mechanic, but it focuses more on tactical positioning and escalation. Players roll pools of dice depending on their traits and gear, aiming to create combinations or sequences that succeed against increasing danger. It uses resource management through Heat and Style points, allowing players to unleash powerful moves or survive dire situations. Combat is more structured and mechanically focused than Broken Compass, with rules supporting cover, initiative, and positioning.
Character Creation
Broken Compass: Archetypes and Tags
Characters in Broken Compass are built with narrative archetypes like ‘Veteran,’ ‘Scholar,’ or ‘Rogue.’ Each archetype offers strengths and narrative prompts. Tags such as Cunning, Fearless, or Charming define specific talents and help players build personas suited for drama and exploration. Character development is flexible and highly focused on storytelling rather than numerical optimization.
Outgunned: Specialists and Style
Outgunned characters are called Specialists, and each has a unique combat or utility niche. Examples include The Sniper, The Hacker, or The Driver. The game emphasizes flair and coolness, with players gaining Style Points for doing something impressive or dramatic. Building a character involves choosing specialties, traits, weapons, and cinematic moves, which gives the system more tactical depth during scenes of intense action.
Setting and Narrative Structure
Broken Compass Settings
Each season of Broken Compass presents a unique time period and setting, such as Golden Age (1930s), Voyages Extraordinaires (steampunk exploration), or What If (alternate realities). These settings are modular and provide narrative frameworks rather than fixed worlds, allowing the GM and players to shape the tone and locations freely. The narrative often revolves around quests for powerful artifacts, moral dilemmas, ancient curses, and rival treasure hunters.
Outgunned Settings
Outgunned campaigns are built like movie scripts. The default setting is a high-stakes modern world of spies, mercenaries, and criminals. Adventures are structured like cinematic missions with acts and scenes, escalating through daring heists, last stands, or rooftop chases. Though the game supports custom settings, the emphasis remains on cinematic modern combat, covert ops, and sabotage missions in high-stress environments.
Combat and Conflict Resolution
Broken Compass Combat
Combat in Broken Compass is fast and cinematic, leaning heavily into player narration. Fights often include stunts, lucky escapes, and environmental interaction. While not as detailed or tactical as traditional RPGs, it encourages creativity and story-driven moments. Conflict is less about stats and more about narrative logic and dice luck.
Outgunned Combat
Outgunned’s combat is designed to resemble scenes from action blockbusters. It includes mechanics for enemies overwhelming the party, momentum building, and the tension of barely surviving a firefight. Players can perform dynamic actions like diving through windows, dual-wielding pistols, or hacking elevators mid-gunfight. It’s structured enough to feel intense, yet flexible enough to allow wild improvisation.
Game Mastering and Accessibility
GMing Broken Compass
Running Broken Compass is relatively light on preparation. The game favors spontaneous story development, especially since the rules support player-driven world exploration. GMs are encouraged to embrace chaos, use player backstories to drive subplots, and allow the dice to guide the story’s twists and turns.
GMing Outgunned
Outgunned requires a bit more structure due to its action sequence system. GMs need to plan scenes like a director designing encounters with strong visual cues, explosive moments, and rising tension. However, the game includes tools for scaling difficulty, tracking Heat levels, and building encounters that mirror movie scripts, making it accessible for new GMs with cinematic ambition.
Which One Should You Play?
Choosing between Broken Compass vs Outgunned depends largely on what kind of story your group wants to tell. Here’s a quick comparison:
- Choose Broken Compass if: you want pulpy exploration, mystery, and fast-paced storytelling with light mechanics and a focus on drama over tactics.
- Choose Outgunned if: you crave cinematic combat, intense action scenes, and a ruleset that rewards stylish play and tactical thinking.
Both games succeed at what they set out to do. Broken Compass delivers stories of danger and discovery. Outgunned offers explosive missions and high-adrenaline showdowns. Each game provides the tools to live out your favorite cinematic fantasies, whether you’re dodging traps in ancient tombs or crashing cars off bridges in a high-speed chase.
Broken Compass and Outgunned are both excellent RPG systems for action lovers, but their strengths lie in different flavors of adventure. One is about luck, charm, and exploration in dangerous lands. The other is about skill, firepower, and surviving impossible odds. Whichever you choose, both games guarantee unforgettable sessions, vivid storytelling, and moments that feel straight out of your favorite film.