Fictions & Fragments

Invisible Sun is the game I'm looking forward to the most in 2018. Among the many features of the game I'm looking forward to is Development Mode. Development Mode is a simple system for narrative play that does not require the whole game group to be present. This is something that's been a part of role-playing games for a long time and in a lot of forms. The innovation is in a game considering this a standard mode of play. That means people who want to introduce development mode have the support built into the system. It means fewer outside books and source materials to have the thing happen. It also plays on the simple resolution system that Monte Cook Games has always been known for. Invisible Sun gives a great way to handle whole scenes with a single system. I'm excited about the idea of Development Mode because it  follows the concept we are seeing in other games such as Blades In The Dark, Mouse Guard and The One Ring of alternative modes of play. More than ju...

I recently got a copy of the Genesys Core Rulebook from Fantasy Flight Games. The Genesys system is the updated and revised system that has been used in the Star Wars RPG products Edge of the Empire, Age of Rebellion and Force & Destiny. I've been very pleased to read through the Genesys rulebook because it's a great update and clarification to the SW RPGs and also a fantastic sandbox for creating your own games. The Star Wars games have a really interesting engine revolving around narrative dice. Until recently I found this difficult to embrace because it violates my two preferred points in RPGs: 1. A free System Reference Document (SRD) or Quickplay that introduces the system and rules before you purchase it. RPG books get expensive and I like when companies believe in their product enough to share it and give people a chance to try before they buy. Fantasy Flight doesn't do this with their RPG products. To make things harder, the system requires specialized...

At this time of year, I always look around for cool games and projects. Here are a few things I've seen recently you could look at for gifts, provided you have a Role-Playing gamer in your household or network of friends. For Players Dice Everyone loves dice. Metal dice are an especially fancy option. Easy Roller dice are a proven favorite. They also have a lot of easy-to-read six-sided dice available in bulk. https://easyrollerdice.com/ Rolling Tray A rolling tray is a great addition to a gamer's arsenal. I've seen gain value for me as my young son starts playing games. Almost any board game or role-playing game would be made easier to play with a rolling tray. I went with a classy, durable hardwood tray for my recommendation. https://wyrmwoodgaming.com/product-category/products/dice-trays/ For Game Masters Dungeon World If you want ta fast, easy-to-play dungeon game, Dungeon World is well-written and a good take on the classic fantasy RPG. At $25 in print...