What is Enigma?
Enigma is a cinematic tabletop role-playing game set in a mysterious arcanepunk universe filled with lost ruins, rebellious factions, and forbidden arcanotech waiting to be discovered. The game offers classless character creation, a dynamic combat system, and a sandbox world that supports fast-paced adventures, deep storytelling, and creative freedom—without requiring players to memorize hundreds of pages of rules. Whether you’re an experienced player or new to the genre, Enigma allows you to create bold characters, make meaningful choices, and tell unforgettable stories.
Why Play Enigma?
Enigma eliminates common TTRPG headaches—overwhelming math, gear tracking, and rigid rules—favoring a sleek, high-energy experience. Here’s what makes Enigma stand out:
Classless Character Creation: Combine powers from 24 archetypes to create your ideal character. Become a gravity sniper, stealth illusionist, healing brawler, or invent something unique.
Escalating Combat System: Every battle increases in intensity. Enigma’s two-action system and escalation mechanics foster fast, tactical, and cinematic combat encounters.
Balanced for All Players: Soft stat caps allow new players to be impactful from day one—eliminating slow power curves or weak early levels.
Arcanepunk Sandbox: Discover ancient relics, manipulate reality through magic, clash with underground factions, or change the fate of Nexus City. The world is filled with narrative possibilities.
Simplified Gear & Wealth: Playing does not require complex economies or spreadsheet inventory management. Enigma’s Wealth and Party Supplies systems focus on storytelling and decision-making.
Supports All Play Styles: Enigma is adaptable to suit various interests, including deep character roleplay, tactical encounters, or open-world exploration.
100% Free: All rules, tools, and content are entirely available online—there are no paywalls, locked PDFs, or books for sale. Enigma is free to play and will always remain so. If you enjoy Enigma and wish to support future content, you can do so!
Navigating the rules
This website is structured like a digital guidebook. Each section works like a chapter you can jump into at any time. While navigating this “guidebook,” keep these things in mind:
Click Enigma at the top of any page to return to the homepage.
To quickly return to the homepage, use the “Click Here to go back to the Home Page” button at the bottom of any page.
On the home page, you can click the “New to Enigma? Click Here” button to return to this introduction to Enigma.
All gold-colored text are links that take you directly to related content.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're excited to explore, click any of the links below to start your journey. For more details about why Game Masters should run Enigma, information about the creator, the development process of Enigma, or insights into the Art of Enigma, please scroll down to those sections.
Capacities: Learn about your character's core stats and how they interact with the world.
Lore: Define your origin, key events, and choices that define your character. Similarly, learn about the factions and lineages of Enigma.
Combat: Learn how to manage battles, take appropriate actions, monitor health, and deal with the consequences of death.
Powers: Explore archetypes and the distinct ways your character can influence the world.
Gear: Browse armor, magical runes, consumables, supplies, and how the Wealth system works.
Characters: Follow this step-by-step guide to create a player character.
Foes: Discover how to run monsters, NPCs, and encounters in Enigma.
Support Enigma: Look for opportunities to contribute to the game's development and engage with the community.
Why should Game Masters run Enigma?
Enigma is designed to assist GMs without overwhelming them. Whether you're preparing for a long-term campaign or a one-shot session, you'll find it quick to learn, easy to manage, and rewarding to experience.
Quick Prep: Create NPCs and encounters in just minutes—without the need for spreadsheets or complicated stat blocks.
Dynamic Mechanics: The action economy, dynamic dice, escalation system, and improvised actions create a more natural flow during sessions.
Balanced Combat Without Crunch: The combat system is designed to adapt to the players rather than require them to adjust.
Creative Freedom: You can use the existing setting or create your own—there are no strict rules regarding canon.
Lightweight Logistics: Wealth and party supplies replace micromanagement while preserving narrative impact.
Built-in Plot Hooks: Factions, injury systems, and character abilities each independently contribute to the story's progression.
Meet the Creator
Hi! I’m David, and I’ve been running TTRPGs since 2018. In 2020, I became a full-time professional Game Master, leading campaigns over the past four years. In 2022, I began designing homebrew content. But after the OGL crisis, I realized I needed something new—something I could control and grow. That realization led to Enigma: a system designed from the ground up for creativity, speed, narrative depth, and long-term play.
I built Enigma to be:
- Easy to learn
- Rewarding to run
- Creative and flexible
- Something I’d want to play every week
I hope it becomes that for you as well!
Ongoing Development
Enigma will continue to evolve based on feedback from players, Game Masters (GMs), and supporters. You may notice changes in rules, adaptations in systems, and the introduction of new content. However, remember that your gaming table is the ultimate authority. Use what works. Ignore what doesn’t. Enigma is yours to shape as you see fit.
The Art of Enigma
All art in Enigma is created ethically using Mythweaver—a licensed platform that pays royalties to the artists whose work contributes to the AI’s training data. This approach ensures that every image used in Enigma supports real creators. If Enigma becomes profitable, I plan to commission original artwork from independent artists to further enhance the game’s visual identity.
Learn more about Mythweaver and their artist: https://www.mythweaver.co/ethical-ai