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SIGMATA: This Signal Kills Fascists

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From the author of Cryptomancer comes SIGMATA: This Signal Kills Fascists, a cyberpunk tabletop role-playing game about ethical insurgency against a fascist regime, taking place in a dystopian vision of 1980's America.

Players assume the role of Receivers, the superheroic vanguard of the Resistance, who possess incredible powers when in range of FM radio towers emitting a mysterious number sequence called "The Signal." When the Signal is up, Receivers lead the charge against battalions of Regime infantry and armor or serve as the People's Shield, protecting mass demonstrations from the brutality of a militarized police force and neo-Nazi hooligans. When the Signal is down, however, Receivers are mere mortals, desperately fleeing from a powerful state that senses their weakness.

It's called the Sigmata, a Signal-induced stigmata, because it is a both a blessing and a curse. At least when you're marked by the state, you can’t sit on the sidelines anymore.

  • Construct your cybernetic revolutionary with a wide assortment of cybernetic implants, Signal-fueled superpowers, iconic equipment, and invokable story hooks.
  • Leverage strong teamwork mechanics to prevail in structured scenes of combat, evasion, and intrigue, each scene putting every player at the table in the spotlight.
  • Manage a fragile alliance of partisans from vastly different ideological backgrounds and steel the Resistance against sabotage, extremism, dwindling morale, and shocking betrayals.
  • Contend with the Regime in a constantly evolving political struggle powered by the game's built-in insurgency sandbox, which incorporates Resistance and Regime strategy, factional loyalty, and the sentiment of the people.

This Signal Kills Fascists. Repeat the Signal.

Content Warning: Explicit language and discussions/depictions of a political ideology centered around extreme bigotry.

Accessibility Warning: Unfortunately, this product is not well optimized for low-visibility customers at this time. We regret this misstep and encourage all game designers to incorporate accessibility into their designs.

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Reviews (13)
Discussions (33)
Customer avatar
Riley B September 04, 2021 12:09 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Incredibly dissapointing that the PDF doesn't have bookmarks. Makes referencing nearly impossible. Very poor layout in general - the table of contents really is not very helpful when it comes to looking for specifics.
Customer avatar
Philip S July 19, 2020 4:20 am UTC
Does it also work to adjust the setting to a authoritarian communist regime?
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Chad W July 30, 2020 12:07 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
No. Unfortunately, like all RPGs, this product literally explodes and sets you on fire if you make any changes to it whatsoever.
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Patrick B August 21, 2020 10:01 am UTC
PURCHASER
It's unfortunate that the publisher gave such a smart aleck response to the question. A real answer is yes, you could adjust the setting to a communist government. The regime's ideology is baked into the setting of the game, but not the rules. In the same way you can play D&D in a homebrew world and ditch the Forgotten Realms, you could use the rather interesting and original game mechanics of Sigmata to kill communist authoritarians rather than fascist authoritarians if you wanted.
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Customer avatar
Justin J September 01, 2020 7:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No- he deserves the snark. If he made it this far into the hobby he should know otherwise.
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Customer avatar
Saul M October 05, 2020 10:16 pm UTC
There is a lot of assumption on Craig B's part. "Taken over" come on we are playing games and having fun. Get over your 30 years in the hobby, I don't even know how "years" in the hobby is any consequence. But just so you know I have been "in" the hobby for 42 years.
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Customer avatar
Piotr P November 09, 2020 11:36 pm UTC
+1 So did you achive anything about it? Or found other system that is anti-communist from get go? I hope for such expansion, as communism was the worst plague that appeared on this planet so far... took hundreds of millions of human lives... would be perfect to have game designed to fight it + also as educational tool:)
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Customer avatar
John D June 09, 2021 1:56 pm UTC
Given how often rules interlock tightly with setting parameters in game designs these days, it was hardly a crazy question. I can easily imagine a designer creating a game engine that would only work in a fascist sociopolitical world, or that would at least seem odd if ported to a different sort of dystopia.

To repeat, this really does strike me as the kind of question a serious roleplayer might ask for precisely that reason: the more someone keeps up with trends in RPG design, the more likely they are to wonder about the fungibility of setting elements vis-à-vis the ruleset.

"He should know otherwise" is an unkind rule when applied to someone about whom you yourself know little to nothing. Don't make assumptions.

TL; DR: Why not just be a mensch and answer the question?
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Customer avatar
Aldrich W May 02, 2023 2:36 am UTC
PURCHASER
Suppose he's a newbie, and this is the first game he's trying out? It's unlikely but possible.

Besides, if I were him, my assumption would be that any questions (including questions about ambiguity in the rules, say) would be met with the same level of snark.

There are thousands of RPGs here on driveinrpg. If you want something to model fighting against the a corrupt and evil government may I suggest Comrades by WM Akers? I've never gotten any snark from him.
Customer avatar
Jasmine C December 06, 2019 9:26 am UTC
https://transfelinism.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/a-for-anarchy-this-game-is-banned-by-fascists-so-repeat-the-signal/
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Customer avatar
Kate P December 09, 2019 6:50 am UTC
Wow, it's already been banned by a game site? So much for free speech. Thanks for letting us know.
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Customer avatar
Bradley N January 10, 2020 4:38 am UTC
I read through the thread on the website that banned discussion if it and I have to say, you're being extremely inflammatory and misleading. That article you posted calls them "Subhuman chuds" for god sake.

For those who care about the truth of the situation, it got banned on some forum called "Myth-Weaver" because the forum has a rule against "Worldly Talk" ie any talk about politics, current events, religious beliefs, etc. Basically, a mod concluded that this game's hard political stance and message made it impossible to talk about it without inevitably getting into a political debate, and thus headed it off.

You may think thats a very harsh rule, but its apparently a universal rule and would be applied to anything of this nature regardless of the leaning.
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Customer avatar
Sean M August 23, 2023 8:56 am UTC
No politics rules tend to support "conservative" values as they tend to consider their values the default state and are thus allowed while any other viewpoint is considered political.

See often the silencing of LGBTQ+ voices by declaring anything related to them as inherently political or sexual.
Customer avatar
Marja E August 11, 2019 1:59 am UTC
PURCHASER
Do the rules only work for anti-fascist cyberpunk superhero campaigns, or can they work for other anti-oppression campaigns? Do the rules work for neurodivergent characters?

I see the discord link, but is there an accessible alternative source for the errata? I have a strobe sensitivity + visual motion sensitivity.
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Customer avatar
Chad W August 12, 2019 2:50 am UTC
PUBLISHER
The rules from the core book will support anti-fascist cyberpunk superhero adventures outside of the game's 1980's setting, but only with some work. The core rules are pretty universal, but the game's strategic/campaign rules are specific to a 1980's insurgency.

Honestly, if you want to play a similar anti-fascist cyberpunk struggle outside of the game's advertised setting, I would wait until the "Repeat the Signal" sourcebook comes out and wait for reviews about that product (hopefully on DriveThruRPG late 2019 / early 2020). It will better support alternative settings.
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Riccardo S February 08, 2020 3:35 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi! I know that the Italian version already has the "Repeat the Signal" supplement within. I was wondering if also the ENG version, printable from DriveThruRPG, has already included it as well, thanks!
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 08, 2020 3:57 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hello! No, the ENG version does not contain the Repeat the Signal materials. We're hoping to release Repeat the Signal ENG, in digital and print, very soon. As in weeks from now. Cheers!
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Riccardo S February 08, 2020 7:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you for your message Chad, I am really grateful. I was just wondering if you may link me some additional info (as a website) to understand what will be in the new release "Repeat the Signal" and how it will impact the current version of the game! :)
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Customer avatar
Riccardo S February 08, 2020 9:46 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Found!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2089483951/sigmata-this-signal-kills-fascists/posts/2713541
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 11, 2020 2:10 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Yup, and thanks for sharing that. BTW, while the Italian edition includes many of the core RTS improvements out of the game, the ENG market will actually be the first to experience stuff like playing as Partisans (instead of cyborgs), faction creation templates, the "block wars" campaign model (which is more about dirty urban combat instead of a grand strategic scale, etc.) when RTS comes out.
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Riccardo S February 11, 2020 7:38 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you for the info Chad. I was almost buying the Italian edition but, if not complete with all the supplements of RTS, I will just wait! Looking forward to it!

Thank you for your work and support.
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 16, 2020 8:00 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks Riccardo. If if you haven't bought the English version yet (and you know Italian), I'll be the first to say that the Italian edition of This Signal Kills Fascists is superior in all regards and contains much (but not all) of the RTS rules and enhancements. Further, I'm pretty sure MS Editioni will be releasing their own variant of RTS, featuring the additional rules and enhancements not part of their core product.
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Customer avatar
Riccardo S February 16, 2020 8:24 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks Chad. Sorry for my question, but just to be sure I understood: you are saying that part of the RTS rules (but not all) are already included in the Italian version, but the rest left outside of the Italian edition, but instead included in the RTS english version, may DIFFER ultimately between the Itlaian and English edition?

P.S.: I am Itlaian, I haven't bought the English version yet, but I wanted to buy both the COre and RTS supplement together when the latter will be released. Also because living abroad I play in English ;) Looking forward to RTS!
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 16, 2020 8:29 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hahaha, yes, it's complicated, but here's the best way to describe it.

SIGMATA Italian edition features all the changes to the core game mechanics found in RTS. That makes it a better overall product than the English edition.

RTS (English), however, updates the English version of the game to match the Italian edition's rules, but also features some new rules that aren't in the Italian edition (like playing as a human Partisan instead of a cybernetic Receiver, for example).
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 16, 2020 8:32 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Honestly, if you know Italian, you should buy the Italian edition from MS Editioni. It's just a better product overall. After that, if you can't wait to play a human Partisan, or get the new rules for Car Chases, urban combat, etc., buy RTS English when it comes out (soon, as in weeks), or wait for the Italian edition of RTS.
Customer avatar
Jacob B March 28, 2019 10:01 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I understand there is some errata and additional material for the game on some discord server. I have not been able to find that server. If someone could help it would be most appreciated.
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Customer avatar
Chad W April 05, 2019 2:21 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
SIGMATA_BBS: https://discord.gg/5C4fkZS
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Customer avatar
Jacob B May 27, 2019 5:37 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you
Customer avatar
Elliot C February 21, 2019 8:27 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I like the concept but I have a question about the system, could anyone please shed some light?

Given that stats influence maneuvers rather than approach (combat or stealth, aggressive maneuvers have a similar mindset), how common is it for players to fall into a set pattern? I realise narration can break this up but I play with some fairly minmaxy people and can see them falling into a statistically optimal pattern of maneuvers that would just be repeated ad-infinitum.

To use a completely different game as an admittedly poorly relatable example, in D&D you can vary enemy types, numbers etc to provide different tactical options and avoid players just optimising dps and healing to maths their way through a campaign. Are there any tools in the game for the GM to shake the players out of their "optimum dps" pattern? I realise they may have to adapt to failed rolls but is there anything that would encourage a varied gameplay approach from the outset of a scenario?
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 22, 2019 3:10 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
You have identified a legitimate player behavior pattern that the mechanics currently enforce. In the Discord channel, there is a new character sheet (and errata for balanced/tweeked powers and implants) that changes the game's calculus to avoid relying on a single methodology every scene. TL;DR, the character who is aggressive during a combat scene is no longer necessarily someone who will be aggressive during an intrigue/evasion scene. This will become "formal" in a forth coming sourcebook, but right now, the sheets and new rules are available.

There is a free full game and alternate-setting available at landofnop.com called "Bombs & Balaclavas," which was built on the "newer" rules.
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Customer avatar
Elliot C February 22, 2019 9:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks for the reply and the honest answer. Regarding the sourcebook you mentioned, is this planned as an expansion or a new edition?
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Customer avatar
Chad W February 23, 2019 8:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
An expansion, but the actual nuts-n-bolts errata and new character sheet will remain free on the Discord.
Customer avatar
Brett M January 12, 2019 3:32 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi everyone! I'm really interested in Sigmata, but there's one thing holding me back: The potential quality of the hardcover. I've gotten books from DTRPG before and have been left disappointed a couple times.

Is anyone out there will to send me a pic or two of how their Premium Heavyweight Hardcover came out? You can DM me on Reddit at /u/BMaack
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Customer avatar
Brett M January 13, 2019 7:09 am UTC
PURCHASER
Nevermind! I managed to find a picture online. The book looks *gorgeous*. I'll definitely be picking it up.

Here's the picture I found for others who might be interested.

https://twitter.com/Batjutsu/status/1045326406052401153
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Customer avatar
Chad W January 14, 2019 6:31 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I know that DriveThru's fantastic customer service has reshipped books or given store credit to at least one buyer who received a bad misprint (which is one of the many reasons I sell through them).
Customer avatar
Blake H October 19, 2018 5:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
How well does Sigmata handle one-GM one-player play?
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Customer avatar
Chad W October 19, 2018 11:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It depends. The player would have to play between 3-5 Receivers themselves. That can be done relatively easy and goes super fast (you get to decide how to distribute everyone's tactics and exposure). Solo play is also a strong possibility because how scenes are structured.

However, the game is really not suited for the story of a *single* Receiver.

I'd check out the tutorial links in the comments below... you'll see what I mean about requiring a team of Receivers, but also how easy it would be for a single player to manage them all.
Customer avatar
Chad W September 30, 2018 2:50 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
"SIGMATA FM", the official soundtrack for SIGMATA by Irving Force, can be listened to for free over at https://irvingforce.bandcamp.com/album/sigmata-fm
Customer avatar
Glen H September 25, 2018 12:28 pm UTC
Hi, I was wondering how well this game plays as a one-shot.
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Customer avatar
Chad W September 26, 2018 12:02 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Glen H!

I run 4 hour sessions at cons and people end up liking it enough to buy, but I thought it would be useful to ask a comrade in the game's official discord, and this was their response:

"Well, I streamed it for the EFF.
It’s... hard.
And it doesn’t do Sigmata justice.
You have to choose between getting in structured scenes and world-building.
Although if you’re clever you can get pieces of the world-building in
If you choose a single thing to focus on, you can absolutely do it though.
I’d suggest sticking to either one large or two small structured scenes (depending on time), and making sure that you hit the world-building HARD. Focus on a single goal — something as small as “hit a freedom fist convoy” or “save an informant.”"
Customer avatar
Chad W September 15, 2018 6:07 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Printable sheets and blank templates available at the SIGMATA_BBS Discord: https://discord.gg/5C4fkZS
Customer avatar
Will G September 13, 2018 3:11 pm UTC
I, and a few of my friends, are interested in this game. Is there a ruleset for being cops of a modern utopia plagued by spoiled brats who became radical terrorists because they didn't get their way? Or at least a ruleset for a group of civilian vigilantes who despise said radical terrorists who got them fired just for voting for Gary Johnson?
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Customer avatar
Chad W September 14, 2018 12:31 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for your support, comrade! These comments absolutely boost my sales.
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Customer avatar
Christopher L September 14, 2018 12:49 am UTC
PURCHASER
I like your first idea. We should call it "Robert Mueller Simulator".
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Customer avatar
Chad W September 19, 2018 1:59 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Your first set of questions were not asked in good faith, and got the appropriate response. Asking bad faith or snark questions, and then suggesting they were asked out of genuine curiosity is gas-lighting 101. I will answer this question because it might be helpful for others:

There are plans for additional settings, and rules/resources/blank templates to make your own setting, currently slated for early 2019. The game's FB page and discord has already provided teasers. The core game does feature Receivers who have thrown their lot in with the Regime, but they are powerful enemies, not playable characters. The game's strategic mechanics and rules for ethical insurgency were designed to emulate/dramatize the side of armed insurrectos fighting the state. They do *not* support a game about protecting the state, maintaining the status quo, or further punishing those already punished daily by oppressive systems.
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Customer avatar
Daniel S July 12, 2019 2:31 pm UTC
You're right. This does make me want to buy it more
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Customer avatar
Brandon J May 08, 2021 3:33 am UTC
PURCHASER
I got it while it was free and stripped out all the rules and scrapped the setting.
It was the only way to salvage it.
Customer avatar
Chad W September 06, 2018 11:41 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
SIGMATA now includes PowerPoint templates to create your own setting, factions, and struggle. Looking forward to exciting community content!
Customer avatar
Thomas G September 01, 2018 12:25 am UTC
PURCHASER
Not gonna lie. Part of my purchasing decision was based on the ridiculous comments people posted below.
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Product Information
Platinum seller
Author(s)
Pages
331
ISBN
978-0-9974802-1-4
Publisher Stock #
RFC002
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155.04 MB
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