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 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?

Adventure Idea (Day Four)

When writing this adventure idea, I thought I'd start with the questions. What do you think?


"The Road through Winter"
How did you get involved with the Black-Eye Caravan?
What were you given to protect the man named Damian who claims to be a wizard?
What is the most dangerous predatory monster known to patrol the road from Greatwall to Redveil?
Who is the one person on the caravan that you care most about?

While escorting Damian expect for the season to be hostile, winter is seldom kind. There is a reward for the carcass of the predatory monster, so treasure seekers be alert. Finally, be sure that your most beloved person will need your protecting along this road.

Some fun things I would expect to include in this adventure are:
-Crossing the frozen Dark Lake with a "wizard" to protect.
-Convincing the wizard to complete the journey despite harsh weather (players don't get paid otherwise).
-Hunting(?) a predatory monster in the snow covered hills of Abalone in the middle of a storm.
-Saving a member of the caravan (the wizard, your beloved, a PC?) who got separated from the rest of the caravan.


Two things:
What do you think of the style in which this adventure was written?
What do you think of the adventure idea itself?

Thanks guys!

Happy hunting!
Matt

Adventure Idea (Day One, but kinda late)

The first day of the Adventure a Day series snuck up on me. Here it is, even if it is a little late.

The Cult of Queensbury

The small town of Queensbury wouldn't be on the map were it not for their apple pie. This small town is quaint, welcoming...and dangerous. Ten years ago all manner of threats to the town; monsters, wizards, war, and even weather began to avoid this area like the plague. A cult comprised of the leaders of this community have banded together under the singular purpose of enslaving any threats to their god. Under the town runs a labyrinth filled with the creatures, mad wizards, bottled weather, and sleeping battlefields. There's no harm in a town doing what is needed against threats, is there? That all depends on how loosely you define a threat...
Questions for the players:
-Who is originally from Queensbury, when did you leave? What brought you back?
-One of your mentors has gone missing, who was he and what was his business in Queensbury?
- What did your Order send you to investigate in Queensbury?


+1 if you would like to see this made into a full adventure!

-Happy Hunting!