{"product_id":"i-have-the-high-ground-premium-set","title":"I Have the High Ground Premium Set","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cem\u003eLet’s face it:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003edueling is sexy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut do you know what’s sexier than combat? That slower, higher tension duel that occurs before any damage is done—before any blow is even struck. The duel of word and wit, of melodramatic motion and threatening maneuvers.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis a short collaborative roleplaying and storytelling game for 2 players about\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ethat\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ekind of duel.  It's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGM-less\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003egenre-neutral\u003c\/strong\u003e, and takes 1-2 hours to play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing game\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emechanics inspired by competitive fencing\u003c\/strong\u003e, players choose moves in secret. After their choices are revealed, the winner takes the opportunity to flaunt their bravado or to perform subtle acts that leave a dramatic and imposing quiet in their wake. Your game is not an action-packed fight to the death but rather a portrayal of the slow, smoldering tension between two people about to risk their pride, their reputation, or even their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ealso encourages players to ask: what exactly is a duel? You might be knights or fencers with your blades crossed for sport or mortal combat. But what if you were hackers vying for control of a contested server? A murderer and the aggrieved loved one avenging their victim? What if you’re assassins\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eex-girlfriends, or in a boxing match, or bar fight, or even just a school talent show? So, who will you be? What will you do? There’s only one way to find out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePick your weapons, push the limits, and whenever justifiable: flourish your capes.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePremium Set\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis premium set of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eincludes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 5.5x8.5\" 28 page riso-print B\u0026amp;W rulebook zine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 custom d6 dice with crossed rapier 6-faces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e9 printed fiberboard tokens for tracking moves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA burlap bag for storage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA descriptive tag for retail use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously only available to crowdfunder backers, premium sets are the best way to play\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003c\/em\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Game\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis mechanically light, with a rulebook totaling to only 24 pages. It's GM-less and intended for one-shot play. It can be played in any genre, and even adapted to use characters from an existing campaign—it's a great way to zoom in on a tense, pre-battle scene from a game in another system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mechanics in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare inspired by competitive fencing, and each round, players choose in secret to thrust, feint, or parry. The moves are arranged in a rock-paper-scissors triangle, where thrust beats feint, feint beats parry, and parry beats thrust, scoring one point for the victor. These moves do not, however, translate to the bloody jabs of a sword. Instead, they help structure the narration that follows: thrusts resolve to vicious insults or imperious gestures, feints into provocative bait that incites opponents into emotional vulnerability, while parries resolve as cunning repartees. When one player reaches 9 points, their opponent is defeated, and the loser is forced—in a shameful outburst of emotion—to use their weapon and strike the blow that begins the ensuing battle!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStorytelling\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mechanical victory provides inspiration and structure for the narration that follows, shaping the story players tell about the exchange. The rules establish who gets the narrative \"last word\" and how players negotiate their actions so that the loser gives the victor a satisfying chance to demonstrate their victory. In the end,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Have the High Ground\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ecollaborative\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003egame. Players are expected to help each other tell the stories they want to tell, treating losses as an opportunity to show their characters weaknesses and demonstrate their opponent's strengths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCharacter and Setting Creation\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn its unique setting and character creation system, players proceed through a combination of open-ended prompts and pre-written options designed to ensure that each character develops into a dramatic foil of their opponent. Players establish a history between their characters, whether that be “rivals”, “ex-lovers”, or\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eboth\u003c\/em\u003e, and select narrative advantages—like the “the high ground”, “superior fashion” or “to be your opponent’s exact type.” Which player selects first depends directly on the most important mechanic:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ethe cape rubric\u003c\/strong\u003e. The player with the finest cape chooses the section of character creation in which they will receive first pick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTestimonials\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I don't know the last time I've played a game as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eelectric\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eas I Have the High Ground. Every roll, every turn, every action came dripping with drama, panache, excitement and energy. It was thrilling, beginning to end. I can't wait to play again.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e— Jeff Stormer, of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.partyofonepodcast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eParty of One Actual Play Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Jess is a game designer after a feeling—what might be a fleeting taste, a cloying fragment, a single thread that becomes her art’s raison d'etre. I Have the High Ground is exactly this, the expertly observed, distilled, and supercharged work that makes you feel the cape on your back and the rapier in your sheathe. It is taut, fast, and fucky, demanding to be played. So. Play it.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e— Will Jobst, creator of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/willjobst.itch.io\/ghosts\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThis Discord Has Ghosts In It\u003c\/a\u003e, cohost of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/brain-trust\/id1473715893\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrain Trust\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epodcast, editor of I Have the High Ground\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"We had a ton of fun [playtesting]! The major thing we got from the game was that it is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eextremely\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eromantic.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e— Kathleen Hyslop, of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/chickswithdice.soses.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eChicks with Dice Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jess Levine Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40606190895183,"sku":"JLG002","price":36.66,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1380\/9101\/products\/highground.jpg?v=1680175928","url":"https:\/\/zodiakhairteam.se\/products\/i-have-the-high-ground-premium-set","provider":"Flexsoft solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}