Half Minotaur Farmer

So it's recently announced that there will be a Troika Backgrounds Jam in itch, hosted by Jared and Cartwheel . Aiming to post at least 6 backgrounds, here's a draft of one of the backgrounds I plan to submit. Another H2G2 character, this time it's the savvy drunk journalist that got stuck in an utterly insignificant little blue green planet for quite some time. = = = a really amazing together guy. image source unknown Marooned Field Researcher You were investigating a remote little blue green planet as a submission for a galactic space guide, but you ended up getting stuck there for more than you've intended. You coped by drinking and partying with the locals to subside your existential dread. Eventually, you were able to hitch a ride from a bypassing spaceship and escape, but you realize the galaxy has changed since you last ventured it. Possessions  a satchel a large bath towel an electronic guide to space commuters a portable spaceship detecto...

Because of a friend's influence, I decided to watch Gurren Lagann's momentous scenes last weekend as a hype-feel watch for the incoming Session Zero event. I've finished one of my games, "May Project na Naman si Kapitan?" (see previous blogpost), and cut losses on my other game that is not going well, development-wise. This feels-trip watch inspired me to do Troika backgrounds for 2 notable characters, Simon and Viral. Check them out below. - - -  source . used without permission Spiral Digger of Heavens You were once a mech pilot and warrior, wielder of a metaphysical energy called Spiral, who helped liberate your world against a universe-threatening force. Along the way you have lost many of your comrades, your mentor, and your lover. Now that life and growth have been restored in your world, you understand that you are no longer needed there. You wander around the cosmos helping those who have need help drilling through the walls and ceilings tha...

I've made a micro-rpg based from John Harper's Laser+Feelings contained universe format and Blades in the Dark's fortune roll and vice-stress system. Posted it as my entry for the DREAMJAM in itch.io.  It's a one-shot investigation of concerned citizens about a dubious local project. You can check and download it here  as a PWYW product. UPDATE (Aug 29, 2019): I have updated the product to its release version, and now costs $2.50. You can still download the demo version, which is the same game in text form, without any layout nor image. It's in Tagalog-English though, as a good part of its humor and style is based on the language. Not sure if I'll make a full English version.  This is just a playtest document, so no guarantee that everything will be the same. Will showcase the final version in the upcoming Session Zero rpg event . UPDATE (Aug 29, 2019): I have released the game in the said event! It was mildly successful, and final versio...

Rolling for initiative is such an iconic part of RPG. Almost every RPG has one, or at least a version of it to know who's acting first in the situation or encounter. With the various initiative systems out there, I think... A quick google search tells you what I'm talking about. Be kind to yourself and do it.  1)...we should scrap it and let fiction decide whose turn is it.  Unlike turn-based video games, we don't need an indicator when a risky encounter is about to happen. The fact that we use a "roll for initiative when we encounter something" system in our games like a Pokemon trainer who just encountered a wild pokemon puts people into the notion that combat has to happen. At the very least, the other side is hostile or not on the same side as the players, so our actions has to become turn-like to facilitate the exchange of blows or actions. But most of the time, the group knows who should really act first due to how the situation played out. Someti...

I've had a few games of Troika and I've absolutely enjoyed weird space-fantasy because of it. BJ/Nosfecatu , our GM, added some Spelljammer ship rules here and there, but that funky space travel with a bunch of really specific people gave that Seinfield in space adventure-kinda vibe. I've liked it more than I expected, to the point I'm creating a game of my own. I'll update you guys on that another time. I've been seeing some people doing their own Troika backgrounds, and I wanted to give it a go. If you've read the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, you'd probably be familiar with this thing. = = = Arthur Dent by Michele Rosenthal , used without permission Frequent Flyer   You've lost your home planet because it was demolished as part of a hyperspatial express route being built on your star system. No one really knew about your planet aside from it being mostly harmless. Now you're wandering the void for a ne...

I’ve made a resolution framework, not a system. It’s not a full system as I won’t prescribe any dice or mechanic, but it will discuss how to frame a player’s intended action and how a GM/Referee should handle it. I could discuss at length why I did this, but the gist of this is most games don't address how difficult or risky an action can be, often relying on the GM or referee. Now this is fine, since most GMs and players know how to discuss and resolve it, but often times they are coming from different perspectives, which creates inconsistency in how to adjust DCs or Target Numbers, or if the situation gives a bonus or advantage to the players' roll.  I can think of two games and one article who best handled and described their resolution framework. There is The Nightmare Underneath ’s training and tools requirement for skills, Blade inthe Dark’s conversational core system , and Chris McDowall’s Information-Choice-Impact Doctrine . I recommend reading at least Chris’ bl...

So a while back I've played a few games of Ironsworn. If you haven't played it, it's a game of quest-driven characters seeing their stories unfold in a perilous land . Nothing grand about the setting, but I did like some of its subsystems and the way it frames usual gaming constants like initiative and supply. But for now I'd like to toy with its momentum subsystem, which is a core part of the game. It gives the play a heroic and dramatic feel: accumulated successes lead to point where you can grab control a crucial moment in your journey. At the same time, continuous failures will make your usual strong moments a bit more risky. It won't make the game swingy, like how usual meta-currency subsystems work. So I tried converting it for d20 games. Usable in D&D 5E, D&D 4E, Knave, or any d20 game that has a roll over DC/TN resolution system. - - - image from Ironsworn book. used without permission Momentum Score Momentum is a mechanic that repres...