The milky light from the ceiling panels woke you up on schedule, with no regard for dreams, nightmares, or fatigue. Your sleep capsules opened one after another with a mechanical sigh, and the calm, toneless voice of the BBAI already reminded you that today is the 43rd Day of the Harmony Trimester, and that your presence at the work station is expected within 14 minutes and 30 seconds.

The implants behind your ear already show you the news feed from the Unoverse: “Productivity increases in Sector D-12”, “Conglomerate Trust Rises”, “A Deviant Thought Cell Discovered in Block 8—all vaporized.” You notice one of the names looks familiar, but the algorithm doesn’t allow you to dwell on it. A red flash warns you it’s time to leave.

You dress in identical grey suits, access your Morning Nutrient, and join the line of citizens descending to the lower levels of the City. There’s no time to speak openly, but glances say enough. Some of you are still thinking about the note passed in secret last night, a handwritten “Note”—a severe crime. Others still feel the tension from the last time Big Brother conducted an interrogation in Dormitory Kappa.

Video Introduction

Hello Knight, welcome back to MERL INN. I’m Giuliano, and today I’ll take you into an Orwellian world, a dystopia of control, a place where your every action is watched by the system’s unblinking eye—Big Brother has reviewed this episode and considers it safe for public broadcast.

Welcome to MERL INN: the innkeeper revealing the secrets of RPGs!

Introduction

OCEANIA 2084 throws you into a dystopian future, an unsettling echo of our present, where power lies in the hands of the Conglomerate—an omnipotent network of corporations. Society is shaped by the Post-LibDem policy, a grim evolution of liberal democracies where your freedom depends entirely on how much trust the Conglomerate places in you.

There are no clear laws here, only vague and all-encompassing accusations by the System, punishing any thought or action perceived as disloyalty. Your life is ruled by an oppressive routine, where everything from work to leisure is strictly regulated and constantly monitored.

Big Brother, a pervasive artificial intelligence, is the eyes and ears of the Conglomerate—ever-present and ready to crush any deviation. Fear is tangible, truth is twisted, and hope seems like a forbidden luxury.

And yet, even in such bleakness, the spark of rebellion has not been entirely extinguished.

Rules of the Game

If you’re stepping into OCEANIA 2084, prepare for an experience that departs from traditional roleplaying conventions. Here, the rules are not mere mechanics but narrative tools that push players to explore the oppressive dynamics of a dystopian reality. Every choice carries weight, and every action can lead to unexpected consequences.

A key element is the unique narrative structure, “A Day in the Dystopia.” This framework, divided into six distinct yet interconnected phases, shapes the daily routine of Oceania’s citizens. These phases—morning awakening, work sessions (punctuated by the infamous Two Minutes of Hate), lunch break, free time, and nightly sleep—immerse players in the monotony of regime life. Each phase ends only when Resistance characters have completed all their available actions.

Players can perform various ACTIONS in each phase, split into two categories: Free Acts and HOPE-costing actions. Free Acts represent seemingly harmless daily interactions that may hide subversive intent, such as “Make a Friend,” “Forge a Deep Connection,” or “Hide Something.” These do not cost HOPE points but expose characters to the risk of being discovered.

More impactful actions cost HOPE points and represent deliberate defiance, like “Steal Important Documents” or “Tamper with Surveillance.” For instance, infiltrating a government office to retrieve classified data or sabotaging a camera might reveal a character’s courage—but at the cost of their emotional and psychological balance, represented by HOPE.

Players must manage the risk of committing THOUGHTCRIME. Any suspicious or disloyal act triggers a hidden THOUGHTCRIME ROLL by the GM (Big Brother). These generate Suspicion Points, used later to introduce narrative complications: unexpected interrogations, arrests, or disappearances that heighten the story’s tension.

The Two Minutes of Hate is another vital moment. Led by Big Brother, these mandatory sessions force citizens to express rage against regime-designated enemies. Players face VALUE TESTS to gauge how well they mask or manage emotions. Failure can cause genuine emotional outbursts, exposing them.

VALUE TESTS compare dice results to the intensity of a character’s Emotion: succeed by rolling higher than a positive emotion, or lower than a negative one. This deepens characters’ emotional complexity, making them human, flawed, and relatable.

In high-stress moments, STRESS ROLLS come into play. These special rolls use different dice based on current pressure levels. A result of “1” means success, but introduces immediate narrative complications decided by Big Brother. The mechanic heightens unpredictability and drama.

Characters in OCEANIA 2084 are richly defined. Beyond their class (proletarian, bureaucrat, executive), they have core Emotions, significant Memories (joyful or traumatic), and personal Values. Emotional Bonds, strengths, and vulnerabilities shape their decisions, making each protagonist deeply human and memorable.

Setting

The setting of OCEANIA 2084 strongly evokes Orwell’s 1984, but updates its themes to reflect the present. The world is ruled by the Conglomerate—an authoritarian network of massive corporations with no national identity. Earth is divided into Local Market Systems, shifting territories based on corporate negotiations.

Among five major corporations, Oceania stands out. Once a 20th-century book distributor, it has become a dominant global power, playing a key role in the Conglomerate’s creation. The game’s setting is “the City,” a vast, nameless metropolis under Oceania’s control, overshadowed by dark pyramids housing the four Ministries: Peace (MiniPax), Plenty (MiniPlenty), Love (MiniLuv), and Truth (MiniTrue).

Each Ministry does the opposite of its name: Peace wages endless war, Plenty enforces scarcity, Love runs fear and torture through the Thought Police and BBAI, and Truth spreads propaganda, rewriting history with mandatory digitization.

Big Brother is everywhere. This AI watches everyone via invasive tech, ensuring conformity. “Big Brother is watching you” is not a warning—it’s a lived reality.

Society is divided into Proles (poorly monitored but disregarded), Bureaucrats (administrative roles, with privileges), and Executives (trusted regime officials with high expectations).

Each citizen has an implanted Device granting access to the Unoverse—a virtual, augmented world controlling information, services, and entertainment—all under BBAI control.

There are no clear laws. The main crime is Thoughtcrime: any gesture, emotion, or idea that seems disloyal. Even a misplaced smile or a frown at someone’s “vaporization” can lead to interrogation or worse.

Despite the regime’s grip, resistance exists. Scattered, secretive cells carry out symbolic acts, with no hope of overthrowing the Conglomerate. Hope survives in bonds, memories, and the fight to remain human.

A Trust System, like social credit, governs access to basic goods and freedoms. Suspicion leads to vaporization—erased entirely. The Ministry of Love’s interrogations loom over all.

This vivid, detailed world makes OCEANIA 2084 both haunting and thought-provoking—a mirror of our fears and a reminder of the value of truth, memory, and human connection.

Conclusions

At the end of this exploration, I must say OCEANIA 2084 impressed me deeply for how it immerses players in the heart of a stifling, dystopian society. It expertly taps into emotion, making the fear of Big Brother tangible. I found the consequences of player choices particularly powerful: when you’re forced to switch characters and pick one of your emotional Bonds, it’s a cathartic and intimate moment.

Another brilliant aspect is the adversarial dynamic between Big Brother (the GM) and the players. It fuels dramatic tension, with Thoughtcrimes, HOPE spending, and interrogations that challenge players’ emotional resilience. This opposition brings out genuine human reactions—raw, vulnerable, and real.

However, due to its emotional weight, OCEANIA 2084 requires care and mutual understanding from the group. Themes can be intense, so safety tools and a respectful table environment are essential. The GM must navigate these depths with sensitivity.

Ultimately, OCEANIA 2084 is a bold and powerful game—offering unforgettable emotional experiences for those ready to face its challenges with maturity and empathy.

Outro

Thanks for joining me for this deep dive into OCEANIA 2084.

This was MERL INN, a podcast from AVALON-AIR by La Tavola Rotonda. Voice and narration by Giuliano Gianfriglia. You can find MERL INN and our other shows on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. For more info, follow La Tavola Rotonda on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.

Opening theme in collaboration with SONOR VILLAGE.

And remember: every story deserves to be told…