21 Quickdraw

21 Quickdraw is a free to download TTRPG that uses quick rounds of the card game Blackjack (also called 21), instead of dice. Whenever a player character attempts something, they play a single, rapid-fire blackjack round against the DM (dealer man) to determine the outcome of their attempted action. 

In place of numerical bonuses for skills/stats, players choose between different kinds of "draws" that make winning hands easier or harder. A character who's good at 'Shootin' for example, might be able to throw away a card during a draw so they don't go over 21 when attempting to shoot a Molotov cocktail out of a foe's hand. Likewise, a character who's bad at 'Machine Fixin'  and is attempting to defuse a bomb might not be able to look at one of their cards before deciding whether to 'hit' or 'pass'.

Players all pick a playbook that gives them special abilities, unique card-game-inspired powers, and stipulations for what kind of things they're good and bad at. This is not a game about progression; an adventure or mission should only take a single 2-3 hour session. This game is made for action-packed one-shots or episodic adventures... not long, complex campaigns or stories.

There are two versions of the 21 Quickdraw Rules: the Full Version and the Simplified Version, and likewise there are full rules playbooks and simplified rules playbooks. We recommend playing the Full Version and the Full Playbooks, as they aren't that much more confusing than the simple version and add a lot of substance and neat mechanics. We tested both versions on TTRPG newbies and veterens alike, and both kinds of players enjoyed the full versions and playbooks more (with only a few exceptions). 

DMs should read the version of the Rules (simple or full) that they plan on running. Players don't really need to read anything  besides their playbook, but if they want to know  more about how the DM is making the calls they're making, they are more than welcome to read the rules as well.

There is a rules cheat-sheet we recommend printing out so every player has. 

This is a passion project, created, tested, and edited over the course of 2024. It is completely free (though we won't say no to donations). We welcome any ideas, feedback, or stories from play that you might have. Our goal and hope for this project is that even just one person would find this, run it from their friends, and have a good time, so leave a comment if you end up trying out this game telling us your thoughts, experience, and ideas :)