''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG'' or ''Zweihänder'' is a 2017

dark fantasy Dark fantasy, also called fantasy horror, is a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporates disturbing and frightening themes. The term is ambiguously used to describe stories that combine horror fiction, horror ...

tabletop role-playing game A tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG or TRPG), also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a kind of role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech and sometimes movements. Participants d ...

ENNIE Awards The ENNIE Awards (previously stylized as ENnie Awards) are awards for role-playing game (RPG) products (including game-related accessories, publications, and art) and their creators. The awards were created in 2001 by Russ Morrissey of EN World ...

. ''Zweihänder'' was designed for unusually punishing combat.

Publication history

''Zweihänder'' was first published by Grim & Perilous Studios in 2017 following a

Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

project that raised $61,743. In 2019,

Andrews McMeel Publishing Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (formerly Andrews, McMeel and Parker (1975–1986) and Andrews and McMeel (1986–1997)) is a company that publishes books, calendars, and related toys. It is a part of Andrews McMeel Universal, which comprises A ...

took over publication. However, this partnership ended during the

COVID-19 lockdowns During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of Non-pharmaceutical intervention (epidemiology), non-pharmaceutical interventions, particularly lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, and similar socie ...

due to increased printing costs. The game was acquired by World of Game Design, who raised $166,813 on Kickstarter in 2024 for the ''Zweihander Reforged Edition''.

System

Zweihänder uses

percentile dice Dice notation (also known as dice algebra, common dice notation, RPG dice notation, and several other titles) is a system to represent different combinations of dice in wargames and tabletop role-playing games using simple algebra-like notation suc ...

to resolve players' and gamemasters' choices. In its combat system, most human-level creatures and characters can suffer only two or three successful attacks before receiving an injury that can instantly maim or kill. ''Zweihänder'' has no powers for regeneration or resurrection, and it offers limited options for healing to players. "Fate Points" represent the fate or destiny of a character, and provide a some limited opportunities to avoid deadly outcomes. "Fortune Points" help a character avoid certain perilous situations. In an article for The Escapist, Fox explained:

In ''Zweihander'' there are real consequences for failing dice rolls, and we often like to joke that “naps don’t heal stab wounds.” The choices you make for your character...will change your character in a way that alters their psyche, outlook, and values, both mechanically and narratively.

Professions

Characters advance by entering a series of professions that provide access to a series of new or improved skills and bonuses to primary attributes. The profession system reflects the late medieval/early Renaissance setting of the game and gives an idea of what a character might have been doing either before or during their adventures (such as a preacher, coachman, courtier, inquisitor, merchant lord, rat catcher or sellsword).

Awards

In 2018, Zweihänder won the Gold

ENnies The ENNIE Awards (previously stylized as ENnie Awards) are awards for role-playing game (RPG) products (including game-related accessories, publications, and art) and their creators. The awards were created in 2001 by Russ Morrissey of EN Worl ...

awards for Best Game and Product of the Year at

Gen Con Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing ...

Supplements

* ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Revised Core Rulebook'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2019. * ''Main Gauche, Grim & Perilous Supplement'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2019. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Player's Handbook'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2019. * ''Flames of Freedom, Grim & Perilous RPG'' by Richard Iorio, Daniel Fox, Dejan Mandic, Ken Duquet, Anna Goldberg, Adam Rose, Elijah Forbes, Gabe Hicks, James Introcaso, Kate Bullock, Sean Van Damme, Tanya DePass, Tanner Yea, TK Johnson, Walt Ciechanowski, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021. * ''Dark Astral, Grim & Perilous Chapbook'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2020. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Character's Folio'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2020. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Gamemaster's Folio'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2019. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Arcane Magick Cards'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2018. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Covenant Magick Cards'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Divine Magick Cards'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2018. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Gamemaster Screen'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Injury & Mishap Cards'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2018. * ''Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG, Monster Cards'' by Daniel Fox, Andrews McMeel Publishing 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zweihänder (role-playing game) Dark fantasy role-playing games ENnies winners Kickstarter-funded tabletop games Role-playing games introduced in 2017