Masks is a game by Brendan Conway using the Powered by the Apocalypse engine. For those unfamiliar with the term, Powered by the Apocalypse is a category of game systems that are based on the overall structure of the Apocalypse World system by Vincent and Meguey Baker. The core concept behind this system is to encourage collaborate and improvisational story-telling by streamlining the mechanics. This is in sharp contrast to traditional TRPGs that have very granular rules and hierarchical authority between a Game Master and the players.
If you imagine all table-top role-playing games to exist on a spectrum between chess and improv theatre with D&D fifth edition right in the middle, PbtA games are much closes to the improv theatre side of the axis, whereas traditional games, while fourth edition D&D would be closer to chess because of its wargame heritage.
Masks is without a doubt my favourite role-playing game system, and I would strongly recommend trying it to anyone who hasn't played TRPGs before, or hasn't played Masks before. What I like most about Masks is its concept of playing teenage superheroes, and all the emotional drama and angst that that entails. For me, it has been so much fun to revisit a difficult age but from a perspective of greater maturity and in a setting where the very differences that I had been victimised for are framed not as liabilities but as superpowers: things that made characters special. This was an age when I really loved reading comic books, and that is why revisiting it with this zany aesthetic is such a delight.
The names of the playbooks, as well as their associated flavour text, are by Brendan Conway, taken from the player sheets that are part of the game documents made freely-available on-line.
Special thanks to the members of the Masks Discord for their advice, feedback, and patience with the original quirks of the web hosting.
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