Stride By Stride is thematically inspired by media like Umamusume, Blue Lock, and Prince of Stride: Alternative. This game is intended to take about two hours to play and is designed more like a board game than an RPG, though the Bonds system and some of the event prompts make for good scene starters.

Stride By Stride is about footracing: Sprints, marathons, anything where you pound a surface with your feet to go fast. If you’re interested in auto racing, let me know down below and I’ll see what I can do.

You will need two six-sided dice, one eight-sided die, one token per player, something to write with, and a few pieces of paper.

Divide a piece of paper into eight sections and label them Rest, Relax, Speed, Stamina, Power, Tactics, Race, and Event. It doesn’t have to look pretty, and the order doesn’t matter. This is your board for showing which racer is going where in the Turn Sequence.

A half-sheet of paper per person should be sufficient for the character sheets, which you will make in the next section.

Making Your Racer

Naming Your Racer

A racer’s name is important! It’s how people know them, it’s what they shout from the stands. It can be something normal, like Billy Banks, or it can be longer and weirder, like A Worthy Lad or Awesome Again. Go nuts with it. If some or all of your campaign’s racers are from the same sponsor, stable, or house, they likely share some component of their names. You don’t have to pick your name just yet, but keep it in mind as you work out your racer’s stats.

Just don’t forget to write it on your sheet before the first race, otherwise, you’ll be registered as No Name!

And while you’re at it, why not go take a look at our huge selection of editable tokens and find one to represent your racer?

Pick Your Stats

There are four racing stats in Stride By Stride:

Speed: Go really fast. This is important in shorter races, where stamina isn’t a concern.

Stamina: Keep going fast. This is important for the longer races, where the ability to maintain a consistent pace is more important than a hot top speed.

Power: Get up to top speed quickly, make passes. Important for Sprint and Medium races.

Tactics: This stat is how big your brain is, at least when it comes to racing. Knowing when to make a pass is Tactics, recognizing when your opponent is about to run out of stamina is Tactics. Tactics is most important for Sprint and Long, where good decisions are king.

Every racer starts with the same stat spread: 2 3 3 4. Distribute them as you see fit.

You also have one non-racing stat:

Exhaustion: Exhaustion tracks how long it’s been since you’ve taken time for yourself. Racing and Training increase your exhaustion by 1, and resting at the Dorms clears it entirely.

And that’s it! You’re ready to start your season.

The Turn Structure

Each player picks where they’re spending the turn by placing tokens on a location board. Use whatever you like for tokens, as long as everybody is clear on which token is which racer. After everybody has decided where they’re going

Every turn covers roughly two weeks, in which each player can either Rest, Race, or Train.

Rest: Hang out at the Dorms and let your muscles and mind recover. Clear all of your Exhaustion.

Race: Check the current week’s race and roll a d8 for each stat! If you rolled lower than a stat, note down the difference between the roll and the stat. If you rolled equal to or higher than your stat, write down 0.

Multiply the results appropriate for the race type and add them up! Compare your results against the other players and then against the Results Chart for the appropriate race grade. If you win, you get the appropriate amount of VP!

Sprint: 2x Speed, 2x Power

Mile: 2x Speed, 2x Tactics

Medium: 2x Power 2x Stamina,

Long: 2x Stamina, 2x Tactics

G3 races have a threshold of 6 to beat to get first place, and award 1 VP.

G2 races have a threshold of 8 and award 3 VP.

G1 races have a threshold of 10 and award 7 VP.

Additional VP can be earned by completing a specific series of races, as seen in the Season Charts.

Train: Pick one of the four facilities (Power, Speed, Stamina, Tactics) and roll 2d6. If you have a Bond with another racer doing the same kind of training, add one point to the roll. On a 7-9, your stat goes up by 1 point. On a 10 or higher, your stat goes up by two points. If you rolled lower than your current Exhaustion, you suffer an injury and must spend the next turn at the Dorms recovering. If your exhaustion is high enough, you can both improve your stats and take an injury at the same time.

Bonds

If you’ve trained or raced alongside another racer, you and their player can decide to take a Bond with each other. Bonds must be statistically symmetrical, but they do not have to be motivationally symmetrical. That is to say, if Snake Stomper has a bond point with Sand Shark, Sand Shark must have a bond point with Snake Stomper, but if Snake Stomper views Sand Shark as a friend, Sand Shark can view Snake Stomper as a friend, a rival, a love interest or whatever else, as long as their relationship lets them feed off each other and grow.

The Pre-Season

Before you start your racing career proper, each player spends five turns training. Exhaustion is not tracked for these turns, and event cards are not drawn. After those five turns, you’re ready to make your debut and begin your legendary career!

Events

Draw one card from a standard 52-card deck with the Jokers removed. If you pull a black card (clubs or spades), nothing happens. If you pull a red card (hearts or diamonds), consult the chart below.

The same events table is used for each setting, and I’ve done my best to make the events reasonably generic, but you may have to make some slight adjustments for the sake of Immersion.

Hearts
♥Ace Visiting Racer: Legendary racer Blazing Hymn is visiting the academy and giving a lecture on Tactics. Any racer who spends the turn listening to the lecture increases their Tactics by 2.
♥2 A new cafe has opened! There is no mechanical effect.
♥3 Mystery Snacks! A snack food company has given the cafeteria samples of their newest product. Anybody who decides to try it gets +2 Stamina and rolls 1d6. On a 1, they take a point of Exhaustion from dealing with the spiciness of the product.
♥4 Cultural Festival: All training is cancelled this week, in favor of fun and festivities. Those who partakes clears their Exhaustion and can take bonds with the other racers.
♥5 Fire drill! Exhaustion can’t be cleared at the Dorms this turn.
♥6 Track Maintenance: The main running track is being resurfaced. Speed training cannot be done on this turn. Any racers attempting speed training must move somewhere else and take that action instead.
♥7 Instructor Called In Sick: Professor Fang has called in sick. Tactics training cannot be done this turn. Any racers attempting tactics training must move somewhere else and take that action instead.
♥8 Pool Cleaning Day: Stamina training is unavailable for this turn, any racers attempting stamina training must move somewhere else and take that action instead.
♥9 Course Maintenance: The speed training course is undergoing maintenance. Speed training cannot be done this turn. Any racers attempting speed training must move somewhere else and take that action instead.
♥10 Cultural Festival: All training is cancelled this week, in favor of fun and festivities. Those who partake clear their Exhaustion and can take bonds with the other racers.
♥Jack Documentary! A camera crew from a ViewTube channel has been granted access to the campus for a week. Training and racing occur as normal, but resting in the dorms only clears 1d3 Exhaustion. Due to pestering from the ViewTubers. (In the context of Patrons & Podiums, these are likely scribes and newsies)
♥Queen Blackout: A power disruption has left most of the city in the dark. Anyone who isn’t racing can either spend the turn helping out townsfolk and gain one point in their lowest stat, or spend the turn in the Dorms and clear their Exhaustion as normal.
♥King Visiting Racer: Legendary racer Super Idol is visiting the campus and giving Speed lessons. Anyone who attends her lecture increases their Speed by 2.

Diamonds
♦Ace Visiting Racer: Legendary racer Nine Potatoes is visiting the campus and teaching his secret techniques for speed. Anyone who attends his lecture increases their Stamina by 2.
♦2 Injury on the track: One of the non-player racers, Movable Frame, has suffered a pretty bad injury on the Speed Track, and had to be taken to the hospital by paramedics. Speed training is unavailable for this turn.
♦3 Sports Day: Throw javelins to get 1 point of Power or take on a complex obstacle course for 1 point of Tactics. Other training is available as normal.
♦4 Regionally Significant Holiday: Today’s race awards an extra two Victory Points.
♦5 Sports Tournament: An impromptu tournament has been put together by the other racers. Play Offense to get 1 point of Stamina or Defense to get 1 point of Speed.
♦6 Chess Competition: Tactics training is unavailable this turn, but interested racers can compete for a 1 VP prize. Roll Tactics as you would for a race, the highest score over 3 wins. If no one scores over 3, non-player racer Papillon wins the competition.
♦7 Endurance Challenge: Stamina training is unavailable this turn, but interested racers can compete for a 1 VP prize. Roll Stamina as you would for a race, highest score over 3 wins. If no one scores over 3, non-player racer Shadow Facts wins this competition.
♦8 Caber Toss: Power training is unavailable this turn, but anyone interested in throwing a really big log really far can compete for a 1 VP prize. Roll Power as you would for a race, highest score over 3 wins. If no one scores over 3, non-player racer Mad Jack wins the competition.
♦9 The Joust: Speed training is unavailable this turn, but interested racers can partake in a series of 1v1 heats to compete for a 1 VP prize. Roll Speed as you would for a race, the highest score over 3 wins, If no one scores over 3, non-player racer Screaming Moth wins the competition.
♦10: Bravery Challenge: A rumor has been spreading among the racers that one of the outbuildings is haunted. If you go to investigate with other racers, take a bond point with each of them.
♦Jack Promotional event! Anyone who isn’t racing this turn is roped into a promotional photo shoot for the academy. Training and Rest are disabled for this turn. You still take a point of Exhaustion.
♦Queen Solar eclipse! It’s pretty cool but has no mechanical effect.
♦King Visiting Racer: Veteran racer Second Impact is visiting the campus and helping racers with their running techniques. Anyone who attends her lecture gains 2 Power.

Settings

Cyber Athletes 2086

In the dark future of 2086, automation has replaced all entry-level jobs, and the only way to get money is to be born into a wealthy family or put your body on the line in the Augracing League.

Tune up your legs, clean off your sponsor logos, and chug back that Adrenajuice™, it’s time to put the metal to the dirt!

The key location of this setting is the Hyperdome, a reconfigurable racing facility in the middle of Neo-Lincoln, USA. Cyberathletes live in dorms near the Hyperdome, in rooms whose amenities are unlocked by winning races. If you want hot water, win a race. If you want cold water, win a race. Even cafeteria food options are locked behind races.

Race Schedule
Early January: Gibson Stakes (Sprint) (G3)
Late January: Ōtomo Sho (Mile) (G3)
Early February: Wachowski Plate (Sprint) (G3)
Late February: Pondsmith Cyber-K (Mile) (G3)
Early March: New Rose Plate (Medium) (G3) [Neon Dawn Qualifier 1]
Late March: Philip K. Mile (Mile) (G3)
Early April: Stephenson Stakes (Long) (G2)
Late April: Doctorow Standard (Medium) (G3)
Early May: Shirow Sho (Long) (G3) [Neon Dawn Qualifier 2]
Late May: Medtechlabs Prize (Mile) (G3) [Sponsor Series 1]
Early June: Effinger Enduro (Long) (G3)
Late June: Barry Stakes (Sprint) (G3)
Early July: Last Chance Run (Medium) (G2) (Neon Dawn Qualifier 3)
Late July: Okungbowa Stakes (Mile) (G3)
Early August: Mirage Mile (Mile) (G2) [Sponsor Series 2]
Late August: Watanabe Enduro (Long) (G3)
Early September: Neon Dawn Invitational (Medium) (G1)
Late September: Tezuka Tokubetsu (Medium) (G2)
Early October: Black Iron Blitz (Sprint) (G1) [Sponsor Series 3]
Late October: Kishiro Plate (Sprint) (G3)
Early November: Yukimura Enduro (Long) (G1)
Late November: Ueda Mile (Mile) (G2)
Early December: Suzuki Sprint (Sprint) (G3)
Late December: Tiro Finale! (Medium) (G1)

Any racer entering the Neon Dawn Invitational must have won one of the Neon Dawn Qualifier events.

Winning two of the Sponsor Series races awards an extra 2 VP, winning all three awards 5 VP.

Horses in the Big City

In this world, the horses we know don’t exist. What does exist is a unique variety of human known as a Horse, humans born with animal-like ears and tails, gifted with superhuman speed and endurance.

Many horses take up careers in racing, using their natural gifts to wow crowds. The most talented of these horses go to racing academies, where they train, race, and strive for glory. Not all horses follow this path, but those who do are the focus of this game.

The central location of this setting is the East Coast Racing School, the “Harvard of Horses.” Students here learn about kinesiology, sports science, and of course, racing. The small town around the school has all the usual amenities: Arcades, a shopping mall, and plenty of trails for horses and normal humans to run on.

Race Schedule
Early January: Howells Sprint [Sprint] (G3)
Late January: Stent Plate [Sprint] (G3)
Early February: Forrester Mile [Mile] (G3)
Late February: Baynton Guinea [Mile] (G3)
Early March: Williams Trophy [Medium] (G2)
Late March: Martin Mile [Mile] (G3)
Early April: El-Ghorri Plate [Medium] (G3)
Late April: Wells Trophy [Sprint] (G1)
Early May: O’Leary Stakes [Long] (G3)
Late May: Horne Plate [Medium] (G2) [Gemini Crown 1]
Early June: Davies Derby [Medium] (G1) [Gemini Crown 2]
Late June: Sainsbury Stakes [Long] (G3)
Early July: Correos Cup [Mile] (G3) [Summer Series 1]
Late July: Parker Plate [Mile] (G3) [Summer Series 2]
Early August: Sami Purse [Mile] (G2) [Summer Series 3]
Late August: Gamble Stakes [Medium] (G1) [Summer Series 4]
Early September: Oyama Sprint [Sprint] (G3)
Late September: Perkins Trophy [Long] (G1)
Early October: Graham Mile [Mile] (G3)
Late October: Wozniak Cup [Long] (G2)
Early November: Cashman Oaks [Medium] (G2)
Late November: Montgomery Mile [Mile] (G3)
Early December: Sidi Stakes [Long] (G3)
Late December: Matafeo Derby [Medium] (G1)

Winning both races of the Gemini Crown awards an extra 3 VP, and winning all four races of the Summer Series awards an extra 5 VP.

Patrons & Podiums

The world of Athletaria was once a land ripped asunder by war between its noble families. The Goddess of Spirit stepped in and declared an end to the violence of her blessed children. War is now forbidden, but the noble houses still feud with each other and jockey for glory and reputation. Instead of soldiers, they now use talented foot racers who they sponsor, train, and guide.

Each Racer represents a House, and they race for both their own glory and that of their patrons.

The key location of this setting is Crown Academy, the central racing institution. Racers here undergo a gruelling curriculum of exercise, theory, and history. Some say there’s a prominent underground gambling scene among the racers.

Race Schedule
Early January: Selector Stakes [Sprint] (G3)
Late January: Prodigy Cup [Mile] (G3)
Early February: Rookie Run [Medium] (G3)
Late February: Hammerdrop Heat [Long] (G3)
Early March: Fairy Stakes [Sprint] (G3)
Late March: Storm Mile [Mile] (G3) [Thunder Crown 1]
Early April: Prince Albert’s Challenge [Medium] (G2)
Late April: Centaur Cup [Long] (G3)
Early May: Lightning Bolt [Sprint] (G3) [Thunder Crown 2]
Late May: Lancer’s Derby [Medium] (G1)
Early June: Wizard’s Dash [Sprint] (G3)
Late June: Fighter’s Plate [Mile] (G3)
Early July: Lazaryn Memorial Cup [Mile] (G2) [Blaze Crown 1]
Late July: Red Oaks [Long] (G2)
Early August: Black Flame Prize [Medium] (G2) [Blaze Crown 2]
Late August: Cleric’s Rally [Sprint] (G3)
Early September: Scribe’s Endurance [Long] (G2)
Late September: Harvest Derby [Medium] (G3)
Early October: Smith’s Iron Cup [Sprint] (G3)
Late October: Dragon’s Enduro Cup [Long] (G1)
Early November: Umbral Cup [Medium] (G1) [Frost Crown 1]
Late November: Paragon’s Hunt [Mile] (G3)
Early December: Crystal Cup [Long] (G1) [Frost Crown 2]
Late December: The Gauntlet [Long] (G1)

Winning both races of the Blaze Crown, Frost Crown, or Thunder Crown awards an extra 3 VP.

Afterword

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article! It’s a little different than our usual offerings, but I think it makes a great backup option for when a few players can’t make it, or when you want to run something lower stakes.

Designing this was an interesting experience, since I had to slim down the mechanics of the source material to fit my intended time frame. Let me know if you’d be interested in more settings and race schedules, optional “advanced” mechanics, or anything else.

Special shout out to the two people who got me into Umamusume, ErynCerise of SuperIdols! and Leon Richardson, writer of Blazing Hymn and a dozen other wicked things. Special thanks as well to my friend Gazzien, who helped check the math for training and race thresholds.

-Garm

Map & Asset Downloads

We recommend these maps and assets…