5 Perilous Choices You'll Face in the Wendy's Role-Playing Game

Branded content just got a lot meatier. Wendy's this week released an entire tabletop role-playing game—including a custom gameplay system and fully developed campaign—built around its ongoing opposition to frozen meat. The burger chain has been wielding its never-frozen brand promise as a marketing morning star for years, ruthlessly mocking McDonald's on Twitter and even invading Fortnite just to smash freezers (a stunt that won a Cannes Lions Grand Prix for the brand and agency VMLY&R). Just as KFC was getting headlines for creating a virtual dating simulator that lets you romance Colonel Sanders, Wendy's and VMLY&R pulled off an impressive feat of strength in unveiling their RPG, Feast of Legends. Even among those who don't gather with friends for a regular game of D&D, the unexpected marketing move—revealed at New York Comic Con in partnership with Fandom and Critical Role—sparked a lot of discussion and coverage for the chain. Obviously, when there's an epic quest of branded nonsense to explore, we want to be first through the breach. So we dug into the 90-page guidebook created for players and game masters. If you decide to answer the call, here are just a few of the many decisions you'll face as you set out on your journey: 1. What will be your weapon of choice? Unlike the usual sword/mace/halberd type weapon options fantasy RPG players have come to expect, Wendy's prefers you arm yourself with something that has more utensil strength. Spoon (1D4 damage)? Spork (1D6)? Ladle (1D10)? Or maybe blow all your starting cash and go for the cast-iron skillet (3D6)? Given that lighter weapons are quicker and can be thrown, there's really no wrong choice—except in Wendy's misspelling of "paring knife." Tsk-tsk, my liege. 2. What will you eat during gameplay? Normally this is just a matter of junk-food preference, but in Feast of Legends there are actually game implications for what your party eats IRL. Chow down on a Wendy's menu item while you play, and you'll be rewarded with enhanced abilities in-game. Eat just about anything else, and expect to be hobbled by a debuff. Before you're tempted to complain...come on, we all know what this game is. Welcome to tabletop sponcon. 3. Which mystical marketing-oriented order will you join? Here's where your decisions really start to matter. Each player picks an order to join, a la Dragonlance's Knights of the Sword, Knights of the Rose and Knights of the Crown. But, of course, this time they're all themed around the Wendy's menu. So will you join the Order of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and scorch your enemies, or go with the Order of the Homestyle Chicken Sandwich and simply bore every monster to death? You can also choose from the Order of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Order of the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club or Order of the Chicken Nuggets. Then there are beef-centric options like Order of the Baconator or Order of the Dave's Double. Finally there are those dedicated to sides, like the Order of the Frosty and Order of the Chili. Honestly, it's all a lot to digest. We'd recommend that if you really care about the pros and cons of each, you read the Feast of Legends manual in full. 4. Where will you journey first in the kingdom of Freshtovia? You've selected your spork, unwrapped your Baconator and joined the Order of the Baked Potato. You know, honestly, take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Great job today. But now the time for swashburgering has arrived, and the game is on. You'll begin in Queen Wendy's lush and wholesome Kingdom of Freshtovia, specifically in the capital city of...oh apparently that's also called Freshtovia. Where shall your party venture first? The local restaurant and inn (hey guess what it's a Wendy's, but this one's GOT BEDS), the S'awesome Fountain or the Statue of Emperor Dave? (Why didn't Wendy inherit the imperial title? Intrigue!) 5. Can you evade the fry fiends, navigate the ball pit and defeat the Icy Jester? In the impressive number of hours of gameplay between beginning and end of this campaign, you'll face a lot of decisions on how to develop your character, enhance your team and carry the banner of Queen Wendy to new heights. But it is in the depths where your mettle shall truly be tested, with the Icy Jester awaiting in the land of the Deep Freeze. Hmm, a clown who keeps things frozen, in a game designed by Wendy's? Not sure who that could be a reference to, but we're going to guess it's not Burger King. All in all, there's a lot to admire about Feast of Legends. As a marketing stunt, it's fantastically well executed. But even as a standalone RPG, it's got a lot going on. Many of the decisions you'll make in the game are surprisingly challenging and well thought out. (What will you sacrifice at the stone door found at the bottom of The Well? And what gifts or punishments will your choice initiate? Choose wisely!) If you give Feast of Legends: Rise From the Deep Freeze a try, be sure to let me know how it goes for you. You can find me on Twitter at @Griner, or in the world of Freshtovia as Lord Chilibucket Spatulafeet of the Order of the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger. It's nice to finally have a place where I can just be myself.

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5 Perilous Choices You'll Face in the Wendy's Role-Playing Game

Can you conquer Feast of Legends: Rise from the Deep Freeze?

David Griner

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David Griner