Only a few months back, I knew nothing about indie games and story games.

Only a few months back, I knew nothing about indie games and story games.

Only a few months back, I knew nothing about indie games and story games.

I was browsing on DriveThruRPG and falled upon Dungeon World. Then by luck, I dicovered the Discern Realities Podcast. This fired a series of dicoveries.

DW was based on the Apocalypse World engine. Apocalypse World had several game based on it. These games where all part of a big family of games in the indie scene.

Then I started to follow The Gauntlet Podcast from episode 0. (I’m at episode 28 now when Jason is about to move away from Houston). That’s when I realized there was a huge slice of rpgs I knew nothing about.

After years a trad. gaming my gaming flame had died out. I thought it was because I had less time because of adult and fatherly concerns. But in reality it was because trad. games wherent given me any satisfaction as a grown adult who had seen it all and played it all.

Indie and story games fascinate me now.

Yes in part because it’s all new and new is sexy. But more importantly it’s because they are not products of consommation but products of people. Real people that love gaming.

These games are works of art. The rules. The settings. The themes addressed.

I wanted to take a few minutes to say thanks in the best way I could to all of you for making my life a bit more magical. The rpg flame is burning bright again!

Happy Holidays to all of you! šŸ’œāœŒ

48 thoughts on “Only a few months back, I knew nothing about indie games and story games.”

  3. It kinda went the same way for me, but I’d also include gaming online in there as being responsible for rekindling the spirit. With all my close friends living all over the country, I assumed I’d never have regular gaming again

  4. It kinda went the same way for me, but I’d also include gaming online in there as being responsible for rekindling the spirit. With all my close friends living all over the country, I assumed I’d never have regular gaming again

  9. Love!

    I’d also say as an adult and parent that I don’t have the same time I used to for preparing lengthy campaigns with lots of detail. One of the reasons I love Indie games is so many can be played in a satisfying way without so much prep:)

  10. Love!

    I’d also say as an adult and parent that I don’t have the same time I used to for preparing lengthy campaigns with lots of detail. One of the reasons I love Indie games is so many can be played in a satisfying way without so much prep:)

  11. I had a similar experience, but years ago. I had played the games for years, written gaming material for RPG publishers in the 80s, and then stopped out of frustration with railroaded adventure modules and countless sourcebooks that never seemed to add that much to play. I felt that the publishers were making things that didn’t help me have the fun I’d had with my old AD&D game when I’d made everything up myself off of a couple of core books.

    After years away from the hobby, I came across the RPG Sorcerer in about 2000. It was as much a revelation to me as DW was to you.

    I went to a game design site called The Forge, right when I ton of new games began development. I started buying and playing games again. It’s been a fun decade and a half.

    Strangely, I now am running a terrific campaign of Lamentations of the Flame Princess game. The rules are based off of Basic D&D. It’s all novel again, and I’ve learned things (and unlearned things) that have brought be back to tons of fun.

  12. I had a similar experience, but years ago. I had played the games for years, written gaming material for RPG publishers in the 80s, and then stopped out of frustration with railroaded adventure modules and countless sourcebooks that never seemed to add that much to play. I felt that the publishers were making things that didn’t help me have the fun I’d had with my old AD&D game when I’d made everything up myself off of a couple of core books.

    After years away from the hobby, I came across the RPG Sorcerer in about 2000. It was as much a revelation to me as DW was to you.

    I went to a game design site called The Forge, right when I ton of new games began development. I started buying and playing games again. It’s been a fun decade and a half.

    Strangely, I now am running a terrific campaign of Lamentations of the Flame Princess game. The rules are based off of Basic D&D. It’s all novel again, and I’ve learned things (and unlearned things) that have brought be back to tons of fun.

  13. William Nicholsā€‹ Dungeon World is probably it right now because its so close to what I know but I’m very open-minded and would like to try all of them given time.

  14. William Nicholsā€‹ Dungeon World is probably it right now because its so close to what I know but I’m very open-minded and would like to try all of them given time.

  15. Maxime LacosteĀ Cool. DW does the D&D-style fantasy really well. Its, like, the best that.

    What’re some genres you’d like to experiment with? There’s some people on this thread who know everything.

  16. Maxime LacosteĀ Cool. DW does the D&D-style fantasy really well. Its, like, the best that.

    What’re some genres you’d like to experiment with? There’s some people on this thread who know everything.

  23. Urban Shadows has some of my favorite gaming tech, especially the corruption mechanic. That’s one of the best elements from a fantastic game.

    Uncharted Worlds I want to love, but I can’t. So, I’m writing my own pbta space pirates hack.

    Blades, yeah, the setting sure is cool. I’ve found the game hard to dig into, but man if it ain’t cool.

    You should look at Headspace, which is cyberpunk and the current hotness. Its pbta, but a decent stretch away.

  24. Urban Shadows has some of my favorite gaming tech, especially the corruption mechanic. That’s one of the best elements from a fantastic game.

    Uncharted Worlds I want to love, but I can’t. So, I’m writing my own pbta space pirates hack.

    Blades, yeah, the setting sure is cool. I’ve found the game hard to dig into, but man if it ain’t cool.

    You should look at Headspace, which is cyberpunk and the current hotness. Its pbta, but a decent stretch away.

  31. Ah gee William Nichols now I’m blushing thanks a lot. Headspace is pretty big drift, it’s all about Emotions and Shared Consciousness you can learn more on my site http://www.headspacerpg.com the digital is up on DriveThru and print at Indie Press Revolutions.

    Beyond my game, other PbtA things you may wish to investigate in no particular order:

    The Sprawl by Hamish CameronĀ  (also Cyberpunk, more mission focused and classic ops).

    The Warren by Marshall Miller a big favourite of mine, you play prey (rabbits) trying to survive when your the lowest on the food chain.

    Night Witches by Jason Morningstar WW2Ā  russian woman pilots kicking nazi ass.

    Epylion by Marissa Kelly It’s Dragons meet my little pony, on my immediate to play list.

    Other great games that aren’t PbtA but are easy to learn and lots of fun for a night are:

    Dread by Epidiah Ravachol it’s horror rpg using a jenga tower that works so well it’s creepy.

    A Quiet Year by Avery Alder one of my personal favourites, zero prep role play/community design game with maps.

    Lots of amazing games out there!

  32. Ah gee William Nichols now I’m blushing thanks a lot. Headspace is pretty big drift, it’s all about Emotions and Shared Consciousness you can learn more on my site http://www.headspacerpg.com the digital is up on DriveThru and print at Indie Press Revolutions.

    Beyond my game, other PbtA things you may wish to investigate in no particular order:

    The Sprawl by Hamish CameronĀ  (also Cyberpunk, more mission focused and classic ops).

    The Warren by Marshall Miller a big favourite of mine, you play prey (rabbits) trying to survive when your the lowest on the food chain.

    Night Witches by Jason Morningstar WW2Ā  russian woman pilots kicking nazi ass.

    Epylion by Marissa Kelly It’s Dragons meet my little pony, on my immediate to play list.

    Other great games that aren’t PbtA but are easy to learn and lots of fun for a night are:

    Dread by Epidiah Ravachol it’s horror rpg using a jenga tower that works so well it’s creepy.

    A Quiet Year by Avery Alder one of my personal favourites, zero prep role play/community design game with maps.

    Lots of amazing games out there!

  35. Jeez, Mark RichardsonĀ , I didn’t even see you there. Sorry to make your ears burn!

    Also, Maxime LacosteĀ , for real and for true? Check out Monster Hearts. The kickstarter for the second version just finished, and it probably the pbta game where I’ve had the most intense experiences.

  36. Jeez, Mark RichardsonĀ , I didn’t even see you there. Sorry to make your ears burn!

    Also, Maxime LacosteĀ , for real and for true? Check out Monster Hearts. The kickstarter for the second version just finished, and it probably the pbta game where I’ve had the most intense experiences.

  45. IMHO, newcomers could do more interesting things than trying all the different flavors of pbta games that are out there. (And there are many flavors. Many.)

    Played one? Neat! Now go and try some other things.

    I haven’t really kept up with the latest developments, but by my count some of the more interesting classics are:

    Polaris

    Montsegur 1244

    Zombie Cinema

  46. IMHO, newcomers could do more interesting things than trying all the different flavors of pbta games that are out there. (And there are many flavors. Many.)

    Played one? Neat! Now go and try some other things.

    I haven’t really kept up with the latest developments, but by my count some of the more interesting classics are:

    Polaris

    Montsegur 1244

    Zombie Cinema

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