TO BE AN EARTHLING

Design
Dale Blackburn & Peter Graham

Cover Art
Alfred Valley

Acknowledgement

To be an Earthling was built on the foundations

of the game Anamnesis by Sam Leigh (Blinking
Birch Games). It is not affiliated with or
endorsed by Blinking Birch Games.

Both this game and Anamnesis are licensed

under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International Licence.

We are incredibly grateful to Alfred Valley for

creating the cover for this game. Go check out
their own fantastic games at alfredvalley.itch.io.

Fonts

The Jost and Space Grotesk fonts has been used

under an Open Font Licence.

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INTRODUCTION
To be an Earthling is a solo journaling game
about observing the world around you,
reflecting on what it means to be part of it, and
thinking about the direction of humankind.
You play as a visitor sent to live among and
evaluate humanity. Each year you will report to
your superiors what it means to be human.
After four years, a fleet of ships will arrive from
your homeworld and you will be asked to
decide the fate of the Earthlings.
As you draw tarot cards, you make observations
about life on earth and reflect on the
experiences that you have along the way.
To play, you need a deck of tarot cards, and
your preferred tools to record a solo game
(pen and paper, word processor etc.).
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TAROT CARDS
This game assumes some basic knowledge of
Tarot Cards. In a standard deck, you will find:
The Minor Arcana
Similar to classic playing cards, these cards are
broken into four suits: Pentacles, Swords,
Cups, and Wands. Each suit includes ten
number cards, as well as five Court Cards - the
King, Queen, Knight, and Page cards.
The Major Arcana
A set of 22 unique cards depicting various
themes, names, and imagery. These include
cards like The Moon, The Magician, The
Chariot, Judgement, Death, etc.
Throughout the game you can interpret the
cards using their traditional meaning, or simply
draw inspiration from its name or imagery.
HOW TO PLAY
Make a deck from the Major Arcana. These will
be used for your yearly reports.
Separate the cards of the Minor Arcana into 4
suit decks: Pentacles, Swords, Cups, and
Wands. Each year, you will draw from these
decks to generate events that your character
experiences.
Make your first report
Draw or choose from the Major Arcana. This
will represent your character’s thoughts when
they first arrive on Earth. What are their initial
impressions? Does it meet their expectations?
Years 1 to 4
Check the suit you need for the year:
Year 1: Pentacles (pages 11 to 13)
Year 2: Swords (pages 14 to 16)
Year 3: Cups (pages 17 to 19)
Year 4: Wands (pages 20 to 22)
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Draw 3 cards from the deck of the relevant suit
and lay them face down in a line.
Turn over the 1st card, and look up its prompt
in the list for that year. Write a journal entry to
answer the prompt, using your latest report for
inspiration.
Repeat for the remaining 2 cards.
Finish the year by making your report. Choose
the Major Arcana that best summarises your
character’s current feelings about humans.
Place this card face-up on top of the previous
year's report. Use this card to summarise your
characters thoughts on the year in a journal
entry. Consider how your character’s thoughts
have changed since your last report.
Repeat for the remaining years, then move on
to year 5.
Year 5
After your 4 years on Earth, the time has come
to make your final report. Turn to page 23.
EXAMPLE PROMPT SAFETY
The player draws the 2 of Cups and reads the The prompts in this game are not intended to
following prompt: be frightening, but may lead you to journal
about some serious themes - in particular you
“You have found yourself falling into a might encounter changing bodies, social
routine in your life. Who and what are injustice, isolation, and a sense of loss.
part of it? Do you resent it? or find
comfort in it?” Always prioritise your mental health over this
game. Take a break whenever you need to and
Using their report card, The Moon, they write: use a different prompt or card whenever you
feel like doing so.
“Seeking to get closer to nature, I have
started to take night-time walks. I have
encountered regular faces, a man asleep
on a bench and a fox optimistically
exploring a bin. I wonder why some seem
to have so much when others have so little
on this world.”

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YEAR 1: PENTACLES
You have arrived. This strange new world will
be your home for the next four years, whilst you
observe the humans and their existence.
Your cover has been established and your
human form has taken shape. Will you really be
able to make a life here among them?
Draw three cards from the Deck of Pentacles.
A: For a moment your cover slips, revealing an
aspect of your true self to somebody. What
caused this? How did maintain you cover?
2: Human language can often convey hidden
meanings. What did you misinterpret? How did
you learn its true meaning?
3: On the surface, humans appear very similar.
What unique thing do you notice about
somebody? What does this teach you?
4: Humans take pleasure in the constant
fuelling of their bodies. What strange food do
you experience? Do you enjoy it?
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5: Your new body feels ill-fitting and awkward.
When does it let you down? What do you see
others doing that you cannot?
6: Humans have strange customs. What do you
do to fit in that you still do not understand?
What is your current theory for why they do it?
7: For such social creatures humans appear
quite lonely. How do you observe their
solitude? What do you do when you are alone?
8: Our beliefs about humans were not entirely
correct. What were you surprised by? Is it to
their favour or detriment?
9: Humans hate boredom, and constantly seek
entertainment. What do you pretend to know
about to fit in with somebody? How do they
react?
10: You observe that human lives are short.
How does this compare to your species? How
do you feel observing a funeral?
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Page: Humans seek to surround themselves
with other beings. What person or animal do
you form a friendship with? How do you feel
about it?
Knight: Human society requires them to work
to survive. What job do you apply for in order
to maintain your cover? What is your greatest
weakness?
Queen: You overhear someone say they miss
their hometown. What did you give up to come
here? Was taking the mission the right choice?
King: Somebody recognises that you are new
here and makes you feel welcome. What did
they do? How did you respond?
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YEAR 2: SWORDS
After a year of observation, you are beginning
to understand some of their flaws. Although
you have seen their capacity for good, humans
will often prioritise themselves to the detriment
of others.
What kind of person will you be?
Draw three cards from the Deck of Swords.
A: You are compelled to act in defence of
something, revealing an aspect of yourself.
What forced you into this position? How do
you hide the consequences of your actions?
2: You witness a conflict emerging between
two nations in the media. What is the basis of
their war? Has your own species ever been in
conflict with itself?
3: Your research uncovers some horrific events
in history. What event stands out amongst
them? Is there something in your past that you
regret?
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4: Some humans protect this planet, while
others are careless with its future. What do you
see that highlights these differences? Do you
protect it or are you careless with it?
5: You overhear a disagreement between two
humans. Does it seem proportional to the issue
at hand? How does it resolve?
6: You suffer an injury, limiting the body you’re
just getting used to. How do you work around it
during the healing process? Who supports
you?
7: You observe someone overcoming hardship.
How do they persevere? What do you learn
from their resilience?
8: Someone you have come to know leaves
your life. Why did they leave? How do you
remember your time together?
9: Someone has something that you find
yourself wanting. Why can you not have that
thing? Is jealousy a new emotion for you?
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10: You notice someone is following you. What
made them stand out? Why do you think they
are watching you?
Page: Something bad happens to someone
you care about. Could you have done
something if you were there? How do you
support them through the aftermath?
Knight: You hurt someone. Were you surprised
by how easy it was? Do you have a chance to
correct it?
Queen: You fail to act in a situation where
somebody comes to harm. Were you at fault?
Isn’t your mission just to observe?
King: Someone causes you harm. How do they
hurt you? Do you seek revenge?
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YEAR 3: CUPS
After the trials of last year you begin to feel
strength in their resolve. You can see that
underneath the hardship, or perhaps because
of it, there is beauty to be found within them.
What do you hope to see this year?
Draw three cards from the Deck of Cups.
A: You have forgotten part of your alien self.
What was it? What aspect of humanity has
replaced it?
2: You have found a routine in your life. Who
and what are part of it? Do you resent or find
comfort in it?
3: Your research uncovers interesting ideas
from historical thinkers. How do they inspire
you? What quote do you share with others?
4: You feel comfortable in your body and enjoy
its versatility. What part of its design feels
good? What activity makes you feel strong?
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5: You find beauty in the environment. Where
do you visit? How do you describe it to others?
6: Somebody inspires you to learn something
new. How did you encounter them? Where
does your curiosity lead you?
7: Someone expresses appreciation of you.
What did you do for them? What memento do
they give you?
8: You set yourself a goal to improve on
something. How do you fail? Do you work to
overcome it?
9: You experience a random act of kindness.
How was somebody kind to you? Do you have
a chance to thank them?
10: A man in a suit and dark glasses starts to
ask you a lot of questions. Who vouches for
your cover unexpectedly? What steps do you
take to protect your cover in future?
Page: Humans express their creativity in
countless ways. What do you learn to make?
Who do you choose to share it with?
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Knight: You fall in love with someone or
something. What part of your life do they take?
What does this mean for your mission?
Queen: You experience something incredibly
moving. What emotion are you overwhelmed
by? What similarities do you see with your own
species?
King: You become part of a bigger cause or
community. What is it? How does it connect
you more deeply to humanity?
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YEAR 4: WANDS
Your remaining time here grows limited, and
the moment of your judgement looms. Now
you are fully embedded in this world you see
the good, the bad and everything in between.
How will you make the most of your final year?
Draw three cards from the Deck of Wands.
A: You catch yourself being so human you
don’t recognise yourself. What did you do?
How has your time here changed you?
2: You see a festival or celebration. What is
your connection to it? How does it make you
feel hopeful?
3: You think back to an event in your human life
that you regret. What would you do differently?
Have you learnt from it?
4: You find a photo from your first year on
earth. How has your body changed in that
time? What do you like about the change?
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5: You catch up with an old friend and talk
about the past. What do they remind you of?
What do you talk about?
6: Someone has come to rely on you for
something. Who are you to them? Had you
meant this much to someone before you came
to earth?
7: You take part in a tradition that you have
established over the last few years. How did it
start? Knowing that this might be the last time,
how do you feel during it?
8: Someone asks you to take on an important
role at a personal event. How do you prepare
for it? What impact did you have on their life?
9: Your time is running out. What do you
choose to do for yourself with your remaining
resources? Do you regret not doing it earlier?
10: Agents raid your home, but you have
already moved on. Who tipped you off in time
to get away? What changes do you make to
your cover for the rest of the year?
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Page: You choose to share the truth with
someone you care about. Why did you choose
them? What does their reaction reveal about
humanity?
Knight: You experience something that sparks
a memory - a song, picture or smell. What does
it remind you of? Do you recall it fondly or with
regret?
Queen: The mission will soon end. What will
you miss when it is over? What is the most
significant thing you have learned?
King: Someone asks you what your plans are
for next year. What do you say? Do you think
they know that you are lying?
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YEAR 5: FINAL REPORT
The time has come. You rendezvous with one of
your superiors at a small restaurant to tell them
all that you have learned. The insights that you
share now will shape the actions of your people
and the fate of the earthlings now hangs on
your judgement.

Shuffle the stack of report cards that you’ve

accumulated over the last four years and lay
them face down in a line.

For each of the 5 questions below, flip a card

from this spread and use it to inform your
answer. Make sure to reflect on how you felt
during your time on earth, what you’ve
observed, and how your thoughts and feelings
might have changed.

- What is it like to live as a human?

- What is their greatest weakness?
- What is their greatest strength?
- What judgement do you suggest?
- What will you do now?

Describe the fate of humanity.

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ARCANE ATLAS
GAMES