Hillfolk

As some of you may know, I like Indie games. Something about creativity and innovation hold a special place in my heart when it comes to the games we play.

I mean really, how many games do we need that have a GM establish a difficulty, set the difficulty rating then have a player role some dice and add a modifier?

Hillfolk is an example of one those innovative and creative approaches to RPG's that just makes me smile.

In Hillfolk you use what is called The DramaSystem to establish scenes and resolve them in interesting and engaging ways.

The DramaSystem was created by Robin D. Laws and so far I have only played out the character creation, but if the rest of the game is only half as engaging as that then it will be twice as engaging as the norm for RPG's.

The reason? It's all about the connections. Sure you have some strong points, there are even attributes to choose from that resemble our favorites from games like D&D, but in the end the player gets engaged by connecting to other players and to the situations at hand.



Check it out for yourself HERE

On a whim I spent $30 to preorder this game, I got the PDF right away and so far I have not been disappointed.

Happy Hunting!

Adventure idea (Day Seven!!!)

The Twelfth Patrol
To conclude the adventure week (which took almost two weeks to finish :) lets take a patrol around the local villages.

There is an association amongst 12 villages that have pooled their resources in order to encourage able bodied individuals to step up and protect the lands against the resurgence of The Darkbreed by joining the Patrol. Kalmer Snavel is the chief organizer of the Patrol.

How are you involved with this association?

Who has a family member in one of the villages? How close are you to them? When was the last time you heard from them?

Which one of you has joined the Patrol? What rank have you been given? What did you do to earn that rank?

What disquieting rumors have you heard of Kalmer? What did Kalmer do for you that makes the rumors hard to believe?


In this straightforward adventure expect to fight a monstrous evil amongst the confines of small towns, dilapidated bridges, and harsh rocky terrain. In addition, be ready for the underlying tones of corruption and greed within a good cause.

Happy Hunting!

Adventure Idea (Day Five)

Seems like the questions first approach was well received. So here we go again:

How did the King of Abolone hear of your aptitude in mediation?
What was your last encounter with Hill Giants? How did it end?
In Abalone one can expect hot days and extremely cold nights, what makes you well suited for this climate?
What is it that made the Hill Giants so rich?

After the King calls for the aid of the character skilled in mediation, bonds to that character should be enough to have the characters traveling to Abalone to settle a dispute between the Hill Giants and the king. If not, the thought of riches held by the Hill Giants should be enough to get everybody on board.

Here's what to expect if this idea gets fleshed out.
-A more respectable name for "The Hill Giants" :)
-A journey through the hot hills that could well end in a struggle for survival against a hungry, tenacious, and cunning Stone Cougar
-A special "move" for surviving at night in Abalone
-Navigating "Rock Mirages" where one might have to battle themselves to survive.
-A strange "Court" in which Hill Giants and men convene under the same roof. Under the table politics, backstabbing, and positioning enough to make any Game of Thrones fan giggle.


So what do you think? Would you want to see this one fleshed out?

Three Nouns (Day Six)

So coming up with short descriptions for pictures has become a new favorite hobby of mine :) Here's a couple I found today:

Path of Forgiveness:

Artist: Four Heavenly Kings

Long ago an ancient evil known as The Destroyer was unleashed upon the world due to the arrogance and naiveté of the civilized races. The people closest to the portal were a peaceful tribe of elves known as the Elishani. No race, beast, or monster had ever dared to kill an Elishani because they were too beautiful and their intentions too pure. When The Destroyer walked through the tribe he slaughtered everything that drew breath. After The Destroyer was vanquished the people of the world set representatives to walk what was called "The Path of Forgivness." These representatives placed walked, wept, placed tombstones covered with sacred runes, and came back changed. Each representative lived a long and sorrowful life, no blade was drawn against them, and they refused to draw blood. Today people seek "The Path" in hopes to live longer, prepare themselves for hostile territory, and contemplate their purpose in life. But few ever find The Path.

Barristan's Hall:

Artist: whatyoumaydo

To many, it is unclear wether Barristan's Hall is a real location or an allegory for some heavenly afterlife. Though it is not so grand as the Hall of Kings, to be invited to Baristan's Hall is to be honored. Only the most noble of knights and servants of the king are invited here to tell tale of their exploits. With hot food, the smell of roast, and the taste of mead this room invites trust and companionship. Here the king asks you to call him by his first name and he calls you by yours. So much pride and honor is tempered by the house cat pawing at your food, and the mongrel laying on your foot. "Welcome to Barritan's Hall soldier, we've heard of your deeds. Take a seat and know that you have done well."

Darkseed:

"Beware woodcutter. You think you can hack down the forest and there won't be any consequences? You think the forrest is all light and squirrels and birds? What if you are wrong? What if the forrest is a fickle and hatful woman who can't wait for someone to fall in her trap? What if you are wrong?"
The Darkseed are a breed of evil dryads that spring from trees that have been cut down. They can see in all directions, eat by sucking blood through their long fingers and tentacle mouths, and they are without mercy.

New players

In the world of online tabletop roleplaying, new players are fairly easy to come by, but what makes a new player a keeper?

I've had the pleasure of running some games with new gamers recently. Here is what makes a player "stick".

1. They fit in with the banter of the group. I know this might seem obvious, but there is a lot to be said for chemistry. It is so nice to see a player come in and start to joke with the other players in the way the other players like to joke. This honors the current way the players are doing things and gives the new player the chance to add a bit of their own flavor to the conversation.

2. Interest in other characters. The best players I've had so far have come in and instantly wanted to know who they might be working with. They ask specific questions that can be as simple as, "what class are you" or as detailed as "what has been your favorite exploit so far?"

3. Jiving with the GM. In newer games like #DungeonWorld and #Fate the GM's role is a little different than traditional games. The GM must be able to ask questions of his players and then be able to use the answers provided. Due to this difference, when a new player pays attention to the questions being asked and answers them with enthusiasm, it goes a long way.

So there you have it. My big three. I was tempted to include something like "basic understanding of the rules" or "knowledge of how to play an RPG" but in my experience those haven't necessarily been helpful. In fact they are just as likely to hinder the experience. With so many awesome games being published and enjoyed by so many, it's almost impossible to say "this is how you role play." I mean if you just look at the differences between D&D 4th edition, games like Fate or Dungeon World, and a game like Fiasco you'll see, there is no right way. Each has their merits and benefit to the gaming community.

So what about you? What do you see in a new player that makes you want to invite them not only to your next game but also to your next campaign?

Happy Hunting!