Showrunner RPG Quickstart

Welcome to the studio. In Showrunner, you and your friends create your own TV series, from a gritty cyberpunk thriller to a sprawling fantasy epic. But you're not just playing the heroes of the story—you're playing the ambitious Stars in the lead roles. You'll have to survive the notes from your producers, the demanding Karen and the chaotic Larry, who issue "Producer's Beat Sheets" that act as your script for each session.

Your job is twofold: portray a compelling character on-screen and play the ambitious actor off-screen. Wield your Influence to steal the spotlight, demand a retake on a flubbed line, and ensure your character shines, even when the story goes off the rails.

This Quickstart contains the first four 'Episodes' of your show, designed to teach you the game as you play.

• Simple & Dramatic Core: A fast and intuitive 2d10 system keeps the focus on the story.
• Take Control of the Narrative: Spend Influence to modify your rolls, demand a 'retake' on a failure, or seize the 'spotlight' to guarantee your character shines. 
• High-Stakes Resource Management: Pushing for constant success will drain your Influence, leaving you vulnerable to disastrous outcomes when your luck finally runs out. Every choice has a cost.

The full Showrunner RPG will be available 12/24/25 containing:

• 20-Episode Show One Beat Sheet
• Production Bible core rulebook
• Full Supporting Cast List
• Director's Callsheet quick-reference
• Character Profile, Ensemble Profile, and Flagship Asset sheets

A Note on Craft: The core mechanics of Showrunner are the product of five years of passionate design and rigorous play-testing. After the system was complete, I used AI as a production tool to assist with layout, editing, and graphic design to give this project the professional presentation it deserves. The engine is human-built; the chassis was polished with a little help.