01/
AT THE TABLE
Get the current beta player rulebook. Make your character, learn the Covenant Dice System and bring a set of polyhedral dice. The rules may change during testing.
TABLETOP FIRSTSTART WITH THE RULESGET PLAYING / 005
YOUR CITY.
YOUR RULES.
YOUR CALL.
The Smoke is currently in beta testing. Bring the book to the table, or explore the developing Foundry VTT build; some rules and features will change as the game evolves.
125 JOBS · 12 FACTIONS · ONE CITYNORTH & EAST LONDON / THE SMOKE
CHOOSE YOUR WAY IN
THREE WAYS
TO GET STUCK IN.
The rules are tabletop-first. The Foundry system helps automate the moving parts, but the people and decisions are still yours.
ACTIVE BETA / NOT FINAL
We're still putting The Smoke through its paces. The tabletop rules, missions and Foundry features are currently in beta testing and may change between builds. The published releases page is the place to check which version is actually available.
SEE RELEASES AND CHANGELOGS ↗02/
ON FOUNDRY VTT
The Smoke is currently in beta testing on Foundry VTT v14, with connected maps, character sheets, the Blower, a Mission Board and vehicle play. Some features still need testing and refinement.
BETA BUILD · ONLINE GM CLIENT REQUIREDCHECK PUBLISHED BETA BUILDS03/
GO BEYOND HACKNEY
Once the opening jobs are done, London opens up: twelve faction careers, local cases and an unfolding mystery for the GM to run.
THE CAMPAIGN / ON YOUR BIKEEXPLORE THE CAMPAIGNPLAYERS & GM / V0.5.0 SOURCE
THE
SMOKE
THE RULEBOOK
NICK A BIKE. WORK A SHIFT.
KEEP YOUR BOTTLE. BUILD A NAME.
THE SOURCEBOOK
READ UP.
THEN GET OUT
THERE.
The current beta player-readable Homebrewery V3 source is included with this website. It covers character creation, the roll, Hustle, combat, driving, Heat, shops, progression, equipment, vehicles and four ready-to-play characters.
This is the original, editable Homebrewery source text, not a PDF. Paste it into Homebrewery V3 if you want a typeset book. The GM-only campaign book is deliberately not published here.
The bundled player book describes the v0.5.0 rules. The separate Foundry development package has since evolved; consult its changelog for implementation changes.
THE BLOWER / YOUR CITY IN YOUR POCKET
ONE PHONE.
A THOUSAND
FAVOURS.
The Blower is your crew's window onto London: the next job, the people in your pocket, sat-nav directions and live pirate radio. This website includes a small interactive preview of that handset.
Website demonstration only. The full Blower works inside The Smoke on Foundry VTT.
FOUNDRY UI / RECREATED AS WEB ASSETS
SEE THE
SCREENS
IN ACTION.
These recreated assets are based on the supplied Blower and watch screenshots, giving the website a cleaner, more intentional look at the in-play interface.
THE BLOWER / GAME CLIENT
THE POCKET TOOL
THAT HOLDS THE CITY.
The Blower can surface contacts, money, stations, travel cues and mission prompts in a single screen. It helps the crew feel embedded in a living London rather than reading static menu text.
Shown here as a website illustration. The deeper interactive version lives in the Foundry build.
COMPANION DISPLAY / WATCH FACE
A LITTLE CLOCK.
A LOT OF MOOD.
The watch face reinforces The Smoke's day-and-night London identity and works as a useful supporting visual for timing, shifts, scene pressure or simply the feel of being out on the road.
FOR THE VIRTUAL TABLETOP
BRING
LONDON
TO LIFE.
The Foundry VTT v14 integration is in beta testing. Updates and fixes are still being worked through.
QUICK ANSWERS
BEFORE YOU
GET ON THE BUS.
Is The Smoke finished?
Not yet. The Smoke is currently in beta testing. The rules, mission content and Foundry VTT tools are being playtested, so you may see changes and occasional rough edges. Check the published releases for the latest available build.
Can I play without Foundry VTT?
Yes. The player book presents the tabletop dice and character procedures, and the campaign is run by a GM. Foundry simply adds digital automation, linked maps and tools.
Is The Smoke set in real London?
The streets are based on real geography in North and East London. Characters, factions, interiors, criminal plots and game-world services are fictional.
Can players run the Foundry campaign without a narrator?
Self-play mode offers automated mission progression, but the current build still requires an online GM client to make authoritative world updates. Some social and contested outcomes need judgement.
Are the full campaign answers on this website?
No. The public site intentionally excludes the GM-only mystery, detailed mission objectives, keyed interiors and hidden campaign outcomes.
Who created The Smoke?
The Smoke is created by Pacts & Polyhedrals, with game design by Benjamin Vale. It uses the Covenant Dice System, whose separate rights holders are credited below.
A London crime roleplaying game
THE STREET
IS YOURS.
THE TROUBLE TOO.
Get the rules. Find your crew. Start with one little job and see how far the city lets you go.