Queenless - Thimble the Bee
Welcome to Queenless! A solo-RPG game based on Firelights where you play as a bee trying to save your hive. The special thing about this game is that I made it. Be sure to check it out on my itch page, and if you buy it, reviews are much appreciated.
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Alright, let’s start with Bee creation.
My bee will be named Thimble. There are three stats in Queenless: Forceful, Patient, and Quick, which are pretty self-explanatory. I feel that Thimble is headstrong and impatient, so I’ll give her a +2 to Quick, a +1 to Forceful, and +0 to Patient. Great! We are ready to take Thimble into the world.
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Our Queen is dead! What a terrible day for our hive. My sisters are frantic and distressed. In the midst of it, one of the oldest bees, Stitch, approaches me. “Thimble, you are a young and headstrong bee. You may not be ready to fly into the outside world alone, but today we need your help. Go out and try to find the six jars of royal jelly. With those, we can raise a new Queen. Be safe, little bee, but be careful! Start with our allies, the Ants. They have a jar gifted in friendship.”
“I won’t let you or the hive down!” I announce as I fly out of the hive and into the greater valley we live in.
The goal of Queenless is to recover six jars of Royal Jelly. Different insects have a jar, but you start with the ants. Let’s explore!
I fly out of our hive that I’ve called home all my life. Will I ever come back? I do hope so. I’m afraid, but I’m a brave bee, and I pledge to save my sister bees. I speed out of the Hive at great speed; there is no time to waste.
Queenless uses a simple card and dice mechanic. You flip two cards and then roll two D6s + any modifiers based on how you are doing it. If you beat both, you are in Bloom, which is a strong hit. If you beat one card, you are Budding, not a complete success. If you beat none, you are Withering and failed.
Discover a Region +2 with Quick
6, Queen (12) Vs 6+6+2=14, In Bloom, I’ve beaten both cards and add both to the map.
The good news is the queen card becomes the location of the Ants, as any face card (King, Queen, Jack) added to the map becomes a quest location. Rolling on the tables, I see it is a stream. What are the ants up to there?
Flying to the north, I look down and see the busy ants below. At this height, they look to be attempting to build a bridge across the stream. The industrious ants are always building and expanding.
I fly down like a bullet to speak with them. Perhaps I can convince them to give me the Jelly.
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| The Ants are always busy. Almost as busy as bees. |
This is a Confront Risk roll, as I am facing physical, emotional, or social adversity. What if the ants don’t see it my way?
Confront Risk +1 Forceful
8,2 Vs 1+5+1=7, Budding (weak hit)
The ants are not fully convinced by my plea. What do they want or need?
A large ant steps forward, with scars across his face and a broken mandible. “Comrade, we have heard of the death of your queen, and we always stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends the bees. However, I cannot return the jar of royal jelly gifted to us. Not yet. We must complete this bridge, for our forever enemy, the rolly-polys, are on the move and know no mercy.”
I let out a sigh. The ants and the rolly-pollys have been warring for generations and will not stop at any point. “Friend, what can I do to help this situation?”
Let’s roll on some of the tables to see what the ant will ask for. I roll on Event and Theme and get Observe Abandon. I know what they want…
“We appreciate your help, comrade. You cannot lift the heavy sticks into place, but your wings give us other advantages. Fly up high and give us a warning of the enemy. If they come, warn us.”
I gulp. I do not want to get involved in this conflict, but I have no choice. I fly up high and look for the ant’s enemy.
Confront Risk +0 Patient
Jack (11), 10 vs 5+6=11, Budding (weak hit)
I peer down from my high point and quickly see them, a long line of the rolys, marching straight to the ants. The ants won’t finish in time. I sprint down to the soldier ant and tell him.
“By our Queen! We cannot hold off such large numbers!” The soldier says to me. “I hate to ask for your help yet again, but can you do anything to buy us some time? Speak with them or distract them!”
I nod and fly off, not knowing what I’ll do. I figure the best thing I can do is to buzz around the column, maybe that will distract them. Of course, it won’t be safe…
Evade Danger +2 with Quick
9,3 vs 3+1+2=6, Budding 1 Fatigue (now 1)
Fatigue is the health in this game. If you get to your max of 5, you are at risk of being seriously hurt or even dying! If you ever get a lot of fatigue, best get back to the Hive and rest.
I buzz back and forth around the rollys. They are annoyed, seriously so. I get too close, and one reaches up and hits me. I go flying into the tall grass, but I’m not seriously hurt.
I return to the ants and find their bridge complete and their force marching across. The soldier approaches with a Jar. It's the royal jelly! “Here you are, little bee. We are grateful for your help. Be safe out there. Not all of us are friends to the bees.”
Taking the jar, I nod thanks and fly off. No time to waste, but five more jars to find.
Discover a Region +2 with Quick
Queen (12), 5 vs 1+1+2=4, Wither add 1 Fatigue (now 2)
Well, that isn’t good. The path is blocked for me for some reason. I’ll say it's because of a gust of wind. I’ll need to risk it to find out where I’m going.
A gust of wind blows me back. This has come from nowhere! I fly harder and harder but can’t seem to make any progress. My only thin chance is to dive to the ground, hoping to break out of the wind. But if I calculate it wrong, I’ll be harmed.
Confront Risk +2 with Quick
6,7 Vs 4+3+2=9, In Bloom!
I dive hard down to the ground, and only when I’m a few inches from the dirt do I feel I have broken through the gusts. I pull up and fly; I have made it!
Now revealing this new region, I see it is filled with Dandelions, and because it is a face card, I know a Jar of Royal Jelly is here. Next on the list is Lady Bird, the vain and beautiful insect.
Flying through the beautiful field of dandelions, I spot red. Red is a mixed blessing in the valley. On one hand, it is the color of roses and strawberries. On the other, the color of spiders and other nasties.
I fly to the red carefully. There is no telling what it is.
Approaching, I see a vision of beauty! Lady Bird, sunning herself and lazily munching on aphids. Lady Bird was gifted a jar of Royal Jelly, a mistake for sure. She cares about nothing but herself.
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| Vain and beautiful, that is Lady Bird. |
“Lady Bird! Oh, Lady Bird! Please help our colony by giving us the jar of Royal Jelly you have!”
I can see Lady Bird considering my request for a while, “No! I will not give this jar back to you silly bees.”
“But why not? You have no use for it, and we need it so much.”
“A gift is a gift, silly bee, and it is not to be given back, you see.”
“What if I trade you, oh beautiful Lady Bird?”
“A trade? But of what?”
Thinking, I realize I have nothing of value to trade, at least not yet.
“Lady Bird, I will find something of value and bring it back to you. Just wait here.”
I look quickly around the Dandelions for treasure.
Search for Treasure +2 with Quick
6,8 Vs 5+4+2=11, In Bloom, Mark 2 Treasure.
Quickly searching, I find two shiny pebbles. Knowing Lady Bird loves shiny things above all else, I pray they are enough to convince her. I rush back to her and present them.
Barter +2 Treasure
3,2 Vs 5+1+2=8 Remove 2 Treasure, add a Second Jar of Royal Jelly.
She looks at the pebbles, “I guess they will do. I don’t eat your silly Jelly anyway.” Lady Bird hands over the Jelly. I’ve got two and now need four more!
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That's two jars of Royal Jelly found by Thimble, she needs four more to save her hive. Will she be able to do it!
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| Current map building. |
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Check out Queenless today - Bee the hero you always were meant to be.
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