INTRODUCTION

Nanus is a minimal TRPG framework for expedition play.

Expedition Play in Nanus

Each mission follows a pressure loop:

1. Plan target, route, loadout, and fallback.
2. Enter danger, spend time, and manage exposure.
3. Recover value under risk.
4. Extract alive before losses erase gains.

Nanus supports this loop with:

• Watch/turn/round time pressure.
• Slot-first inventory and load penalties.
• Encounter and combat procedures that resolve quickly.
• Coin-based advancement tied to successful extraction.
• Non-combat viable progress paths.

Design Goals of Nanus

• Classless, human-only core.
• Character identity comes from abilities, equipment, and advancement.
• Core loop is extraction: recover value and return alive.
• Advancement draws from recovered value during downtime.
• Checks, attacks, saves, and logistics are the primary procedures.
• Encumbrance is slot-first with coin-weight pressure.
• Nanus is setting-agnostic; setting overlays are added downstream.

CC0: Nanus has been dedicated to the public domain.