What you’re about to read is technically a secret… but we trust you, right? 👀
We're launching a playtest for our upcoming tactical RPG, Happy Bastards!
If you’re part of the Happy Bastards Discord, you can get exclusive access to our very first Combat Playtest! An early look at the tactical chaos we’re building into the full game!
When we said we wanted you bastards to help shape development, we meant it. We want you to play, poke at the seams, and tell us what you think, the good, the bad, and the gloriously ugly.
This first playtest focuses on combat mechanics, giving you a taste of how a dungeon run might play out. It’s just one slice of what’s to come, but it’s packed with personality (and plenty of ways to die in style).
You (Kev) are the boss! Commanding your crew of mercs from the sidelines:
Select which Bastards go in and tag out.
Issue orders and special commands.
Manage Kev Points (3 per round!) to control the fight, tag in new Bastards, or boost morale.
Tag-Team Tactics: You have 5 Bastards, but only 3 on the field at once. Swap strategically!
Straight-Line Combat: No diagonals here. Positioning and movement are everything.
Zones & Overwatch: Step into a fighter’s control zone or sniper’s overwatch, and expect pain.
Morale Matters: Keep your Bastards happy or they could make a mad dash for anywhere but combat.
Terrain Tricks: Elevation, traps, and line-of-sight all matter. Get clever or get clobbered.
Positional Bonuses: From Blindside to High Ground to Point-Blank, gain bonuses from your position to optimize your Bastards’ hit chance and damage.
This playtest is just the beginning. We’re experimenting, refining, and want your feedback to help make Happy Bastards the best (and most bastardly) tactical RPG it can be.
If you’re already in our Discord, head there now to sign up for the build and start testing. If not… what are you waiting for?
👉 Join the Happy Bastards Discord and get your invite to the Combat Playtest today!
Not sure what you’re missing? Check out our earlier blog posts to learn more about the Happy Bastards Insiders program:
📘 Blog Post 1 | 📗 Blog Post 2