Complete guide to Borg of Pripyat – Everything you need to know [For Beginners]

Pubblicato il 17/12/2025

But what is Borg of Pripyat?

Borg of Pripyat is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game set in an alternate Soviet Union where:

• 1986: fragments of the asteroid Eridu crash down to Earth
• Consequence: a new alien material is discovered, called Eridite
• The twist: the USSR uses it as nuclear fuel, becoming a superpower
• The price: mutants, paranormal phenomena, and strange weather events called FEAL ravage the contaminated zones

The players portray ordinary (or extraordinary) people who venture into extremely dangerous Soviet territories, among mutants, government conspiracies, unnatural powers, and the constant threat of radiation and Eridite.

Atmosphere
Imagine: The Last of Us + S.T.A.L.K.E.R. + Soviet paranoia + horror.
It is bleak. It is tense. It is ruthless.

What you need to play

Minimum setup

• Rulebook (PDF or physical)
• 1 GM + 2–4 players
• Dice: d6, d8, d10, d12, d20
• Paper and pencil (or character sheet)
• 2–3 hours of time

All products are created by Collettivo Antracite, an Italian indie role-playing game studio.

Character creation – step by step

Character creation takes about 15–30 minutes.

Step 1: choose your class

There are 10 archetypes available. Some examples:

Fighter
Trained in violence, born in conflict

• Starting money: 3d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d10

Criminal
Street-smart, master of the shadows

• Starting money: 2d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d8

Scout
Expert in wild and hostile areas

• Starting money: 4d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d8

Medic
Healer, expert in biology

• Starting money: 2d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d6

Scientist
Researcher hungry for knowledge

• Starting money: 4d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d8

Skelet
Mutated human (special rules)

• Starting money: 2d6 × 10 rubles
• Hit Points: d6

Step 2: roll your abilities

Roll 3d6 for each ability and check the table.

Roll result → Modifier

• 1–4 → –3
• 5–6 → –2
• 7–8 → –1
• 9–12 → 0
• 13–14 → +1
• 15–16 → +2
• 17–20 → +3

The 5 core abilities include Endurance, which directly affects your Hit Points.

Step 3: Hit Points

Roll the die indicated by your class and add your Endurance modifier.

Example
Fighter with Endurance +1 → roll d10 + 1

Step 4: equipment

• Normal items: 3–6 (rope, radio, binoculars, gas mask, medkit)
• Small items: 1–3 (lighter, cigarettes, compass, pills)
• Special items: 0–3 (Geiger counter, night vision, repair kit)
• Weapons and armor: choose or roll
• Food and water: 4 days of rations

Step 5: character name

Give your character a name.
You are ready to play.

Basic mechanics – how tests work

Main mechanic: the d20 test

When you attempt a risky action:

1. Roll 1d20
2. Add the relevant ability modifier (from –3 to +3)
3. Compare the result to the Difficulty (dR)
4. You succeed if d20 + modifier ≥ dR

Example
Sneaking past a guard

• Agility: +1
• Difficulty: dR 12
• Roll: 14 → 14 + 1 = 15 → Success

Difficulty classes

• dR 6 → Trivial
• dR 8 → Easy
• dR 10 → Simple
• dR 12 → Normal
• dR 14 → Hard
• dR 16 → Very hard
• dR 18+ → Almost impossible

Radiation and eridation – the real threat

Radiation Points

You accumulate them by walking through contaminated zones, suffering mutant attacks, or facing environmental hazards.

Effects

• Every 3 points: you lose 1 HP
• At 9 points: final death
• Iodine pills: –1 radiation each

Eridation Points – the true horror

You gain them by using paranormal powers, touching Eridite, or suffering special attacks.

Effects

• 3 points: 1 mutation + 1 paranormal power
• 6 points: another mutation + another power
• 9 points: total madness and transformation into a mutant (game over)

Eridation does not heal naturally, except for the Skelet.

Main factions – who really holds power?

KRAE – Nuclear Agency (Government)
Controls the nuclear plants. Infiltrated by a religious cult that worships Eridite.

Lysenko Division – Military Response
Elite unit tasked with containing and exterminating mutants.

Rassvet – Underground Resistance
Former humanitarian organization, now revolutionary. Wants to stop KRAE and expose the truth.

Organizacija – Criminal Empire
Black market for Eridite. No ideology, only profit.

Skelet – Mutant Nation (playable)
Meta-mutants adapted to the Zone. Resistant to Eridite, spiritually opposed to its use.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to learn?
Not very. If you have played Mörk Borg, you are already at home.

Is it a lethal game?
Yes. Death is part of the experience.

Can you play as the Skelet?
Yes, with special rules.

Are there ready-to-play adventures?
Yes, available on the website and in bundles.

Borg of Pripyat is perfect if:

• You love bleak post-apocalyptic atmospheres
• You want a tense and punishing game
• You are fascinated by the USSR and its aesthetic
• You want characters that change over time
• You prefer fast and brutal combat

Ready to start playing?
Download the full rulebook from our shop and venture into the contaminated territories of the USSR.

Any questions? Leave a comment!

Blog character creation, game design, game mechanics, indie games, post-apocalyptic, tabletop RPG, TTRPG