NessunDove

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more A GMless game for 3-4 players set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Think Pavese, Calvino, Buzzati. Or imagine the secrets buried beneath the stones of any village where...

Barbabianca is live on @backerkit.com for #zimo2026 and only 220€ away from the next stretch goal!

Chiara just had a great chat with @thirdkingdom.bsky.social to explore the themes behind Barbabianca! Come and listen.

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more A GMless game for 3-4 players set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Think Pavese, Calvino, Buzzati. Or imagine the secrets buried beneath the stones of any village where...

We have Barbabianca, a GMless, zero-prep game set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. It explores how hard times and easy answers can destroy a community, how treacherous memories and poisoned words can turn people against each other.

Barbabianca is a storytelling game about how hard times and easy answers can destroy a community <div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-purple"><div class="kg-callout-text"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">This is a community submitted press release. Our Announcements section is free to post to and free to submit too, please help us keep this valuable industry resource available by </em></i><a href="https://www.rascal.news/your-newest-d-d-stationery-set-is-now-on-kickstarter/#/portal/"><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">subscribing to Rascal</em></i></a><i><em class="italic" style="white-space:pre-wrap">.</em></i></div></div><p><em>Barbabianca </em>is a collaborative storytelling game about an old man and an angry mob. The designer debut of Cristian Sisto - with illustrations by Cecilia Ferri<em> (Brindlewood Bay, Lost Roads) </em>and Maria Guarneri <em>(Glitch, Crescendo Giocoso) - Barbabianca </em>will be released by NessunDove, an independent Italian publisher specialising in unconventional RPGs - including <em>The Magus </em>&amp;<em> The Oracle </em>by Ennie-nominated designer Momatoes, and <em>Crescendo Giocoso</em>: a collection of live action roleplaying games written by Oscar Biffi &amp; the Italian Chamber Orchestra.</p><p>Taking inspiration from Italian anti-fascist authors like Italo Calvino and Cesare Pavese, and Neorealist film directors Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica, <em>Barbabianca</em> is a rich exploration about the essential need for community, and how hard times and easy answers can turn people against each other - topics that are as relevant now, as they were 100 years ago.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.rascal.news/content/images/2026/02/barbabianca-crack-image.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1866" height="1232" srcset="https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/barbabianca-crack-image.jpg 600w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/barbabianca-crack-image.jpg 1000w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/barbabianca-crack-image.jpg 1600w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/2026/02/barbabianca-crack-image.jpg 1866w" /></figure><p>In <em>Barbabianca</em>, players take the role of villagers living in a quiet town set in the Italian countryside, at the turn of the 20th century. Over the years, this town has hoarded, hidden, and held onto a bounty of secrets and suspicions, many of which revolve around Barbabianca: an elderly mute who becomes a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the whole community. Many years ago, the village was forever changed by a cataclysmic event that threatened to reveal the truth about exactly behind the old man and the true soul of the village.<br /><br />Playing <em>Barbabianca</em> requires zero preparation. Almost everything players need is found within the game box, which contains both the rules and game materials as a collection of laminated sheets that can be used and reused across multiple playthroughs.  <br /><br />The game begins with players choosing from a selection of roles; such as the mayor; innkeeper; and local school teacher. The group then creates their own village by drawing out key buildings onto a laminated map, with each building set to be the site of an encounter with the titular Barbabianca. As their respective roles, players will take turns sharing their memories of Barbabianca, acting out various scenes where they might come across the old man, witness him doing something, or see someone else interacting with him - but never hearing him speak.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-embed-card"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4j9Ij0oxROA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen title="Barbabianca: English Game Trailer"></iframe></figure><p>Between tales, players will write down rumours about Barbabianca or another role on a sticky note, whether true or false, that can be shared or twisted by the rest of the group. Players are also tasked with writing down their characters’ most shameful secret, knowing they might be revealed along with Barbabianca’s own.</p><p>At the end of the game, each player decides whether to reveal their shameful secret or keep it hidden. Choosing to share a secret could save Barbabianca from mob justice, at the cost of forcing the village to confront the harsh truth about themselves. Refusing to confess has the players setting their secrets alight with a match or lighter, representing the burning of Barbabianca’s beard by the village mob, the erasure of the truth, and the refusal to do better.</p><p><em>Barbabianca </em>is unlike anything else - an entirely unique storytelling, map-making, roleplaying game created by a team of talented creatives who are keen to continue telling meaningful stories, whilst expanding beyond their passionate Italian-language fanbase.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.rascal.news/content/images/2026/02/barbabianca-barbabianca-image.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1866" height="1687" srcset="https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w600/2026/02/barbabianca-barbabianca-image.jpg 600w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w1000/2026/02/barbabianca-barbabianca-image.jpg 1000w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/barbabianca-barbabianca-image.jpg 1600w, https://www.rascal.news/content/images/2026/02/barbabianca-barbabianca-image.jpg 1866w" /></figure><p>A crowdfunding campaign for <a href="https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/2a33afd7-0d0e-45c3-bad5-f9790498432c/landing?ref=home-page"><em><u>Barbabianca</u></em></a> was launched on February 2nd as part of <strong>Zinetopia 2026</strong>, an event that highlights and celebrates smaller tabletop RPGs made by smaller creators. There will also be a seperate one-page game that's thematically tied to <em>Barbabianca</em>, called <em>Greetings From Anna</em>, available exclusively for backers to pick up during Zinetopia. Additionally, anyone who backs the campaign in the first 48 hours will receive a bonus enamel pin.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for Rascal News</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Rascal is a tabletop roleplaying game and culture outlet striving to sustainably publish voicey journalism that is compelling, deeply-reported, and fearlessly honest. We’re also a little cheeky.</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>

Barbabianca is an outcast. Barbabianca is dead. Everything is Barbabianca’s fault.

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more A GMless game for 3-4 players set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Think Pavese, Calvino, Buzzati. Or imagine the secrets buried beneath the stones of any village where...

Barbabianca: GMless, collaborative storytelling game for 3–4 players set in rural Italy, early 20th century, where gossip and memory can poison a whole village.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...
Zero-prep, table-built communities where the drama comes from relationships rather than combat. 2/6

Another amazing roundup. Thank you for including Barbabianca.

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more A GMless game for 3-4 players set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Think Pavese, Calvino, Buzzati. Or imagine the secrets buried beneath the stones of any village where...

Barbabianca is a a zero-prep role-playing game of rumour and silence in a town that is no more. It's a game about community, shame, and poisonous bigotry where players take the role of villagers living in a quiet town in the Italian countryside, somewhere at the turn of the last century.

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more A GMless game for 3-4 players set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Think Pavese, Calvino, Buzzati. Or imagine the secrets buried beneath the stones of any village where...

Barbabianca is live on @backerkit.com ! Happy #zimo2026 #zinetopia everyone.

Remember that Early Bird backers who pledge in the first 48 hours will get a bonus enamel pin. Now go support other cool projects!

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...

Oh wow I get the warm fuzziest reading this! Barbabianca is kind of a test: we've done well with catchier subjects, but now we want to put that weight behind a story that's more personal and closer to home (literally, haha)

Pins are something weird we discovered we really enjoy making. Chiara is obsessed with them. Maria likes the design challenge of a limited palette. And they're a nice piece of campaign memorabilia. This one makes for a weird set with the Our Queen Crumbles design, just like the game boxes will.

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more From NessunDove - Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more

Barbabianca is a collaborative storytelling game for 3-4 players about treacherous memories and poisoned words. About how hard times and easy answers can destroy a community. It's set in the deep Italian countryside at the turn of the Twentieth century.
Launching Feb 2 on @backerkit.com .

Less than 24h left 'till #zimo2026 and the crowdfunding for Barbabianca begins!

We have a token of appreciation ready for Early Bird backers: our exclusive Village Souvenir enamel pin, designed by Maria Guarneri, shipped free with all physical rewards pledged in the first 48 hours of the campaign.

Awesome pre-ZiMo roundup! Thank you for including Barbabianca, every single game in this list sounds rad as hell.

The ZiMo site is also up, though I'm not sure how many people have been submitting games for 2026.

iwanttoplay.games/zinemonth

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more From NessunDove - Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more

We're launching Barbabianca, a GMless storytelling ttrpg about community, scandal, shame and life in rural 20th century Italy!

www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...

Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more From NessunDove - Barbabianca - Rumour and silence in a town that is no more

Barbabianca is coming to @backerkit.com for #Zinetopia2026. After three wonderful collabs with @momatoes.com , @blooperly.bsky.social and Morgane, it's a strange and wonderful feeling to finally throw our hat in the ZiMo community with a project 100% made in Italy. It's a way to share a piece of us.

We've got a new game coming for #zimo2026. It's a GMless storytelling #ttrpg designed for one-shots. It's also an exploration of themes of scandal and shame, of the rumours that poison communities, of life in 20th-century rural Italy.

Come meet old Barbabianca. You remember him, right?

What better way to end a year? Can't wait to hear how it goes :)

ioGioco 42 - Covenant - IoGioco.it ioGioco 42 accompagna le vostre festività con un numero ricco di giochi a tema, notizie, recensioni e varianti dei giochi del momento

Want this in Italian? You'll find this Mission in Issue #42 of ioGioco magazine!

Snowing 'Round the Globe by NessunDove A festive mission for Triangle Agency by Oscar Biffi & Chiara Locatelli

Anomalies never go on holiday break, and neither can the Triangle Agency. This year's mandatory Christmas present is a trip to the Southern hemisphere. The last known location of Susanne Faden, a gold-star Agent gone MIA. Even in the middle of summer, Christmas down under is set on being White.

Happy Holidays, everyone! We got a chance to write a Triangle Agency Mission for the December issue of ioGioco magazine.

Snowing 'Round the Globe is a 4-page festive Mission. It's a homage to cheesy Christmas romcoms and the longing for a picture-perfect Holiday.

YouTube video by Nerds With Dice RPG Our Queen Crumbles | Raising money for DOTS!

We did a (very emotional, very gay) charity game of Our Queen Crumbles on @nerdswdice.bsky.social , if a one-shot fills the brief? It was my first time with the system, but it was so good I’ve been noodling on using it again ever since 😭

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjUu...

The Oracle deck by Momatoes. You can see two cards with the themes life/false and sleep/ritualistic. They look lovely.

I forgot. I also have The Oracle by @momatoes.com, who is possibly the best prompt writer making journaling games, and that inspired talent is present also in her card themes in this deck, which have a lot of energy from their dualities.

nessundove.it/en/shopping/...

Thanks again for reaching out. This is the first time we receive this kind of report regarding OQC, so if anyone else has had this issue, please get in touch. We're here to help.

YouTube video by NessunDove Our Queen Crumbles - Boxing

We can send you a flat box to assemble yourself, to minimize the risk of damage. Here's the process.

This is the second time we print the game like this, and the box hasn't changed since 2021. We think it's a good mix of affordable and practical.

youtu.be/IWsYFunNj5I

YouTube video by NessunDove Nostra Maestà Infranta: Hands on

Thanks for tagging us in and thanks @dmeggs.bsky.social for reaching out

I'm sorry about the damage to the box-- DM us and we'll work together to get you another one.

The box isn't meant to be completely disassembled each time, here's a video that shows how it can be opened.

youtu.be/i1KxrrppmH8

Only 2 copies of The Magus left at Dragonmeet! Come pick them up at booth 1B and check out cool games by @bodieh.bsky.social @fanterland.itch.io and @rolistespod.itch.io while you're at it.

An amazing discovery, yes! Though we're exhausting several rolls. Make sure you get it in bulk 😝

Also come find us at Dragonmeet! We'll be at booth 1B with Kalum @rolistespod.itch.io , Bodie @bodieh.bsky.social and Peter @fanterland.itch.io .