Hey, folks!
I made a small list of the games I really hope to be able to play anytime soon this year, and why (this is by no means a review of each game, just a small description of each). If you haven’t checked out these games yet, maybe you should, since I think they are awesome.
Dungeon World
Based on the amazing system of Vincent Baker’s Apocalypse World, Dungeon World is one of the most interesting games I've seen in a while. It takes dungeon-crawling to a whole new level, creating an experience that is both similar and very different from D&D, where everything you do from the system has a direct impact in the fiction, regardless of the character failing or succeeding at the roll.
What I like about this game is that when your character advances to a new level, it’s not something you do to just be able to hit the monsters better (you pretty much have the same chances to do that from Lv1 to Lv10), but that you gain more interesting things to do with your character. So, leveling up it’s not about being a more competent character as it is to be a more interesting character. I just love that.
Eternity
Currently in open playtest, Eternity is a GM-less game where players take the role of the Vast (gods) and their Pantheons (followers, scions, anointed priests, etc). It proposes an interesting dynamic where players have to bid with Story Points and bride each other in order to make the story advance the way they want, with rolls only entering the picture when there is no possible agreement between players.
Fortunately, I already have a group of friends to try this one out, so I’ll probably make a more detailed post in the coming weeks.
Monsterhearts
One of the most original ideas I've seen in a while for a roleplaying game, Monsterhearts is based on the already mentioned Apocalypse World. As the author describes it, it’s teen sex horror story, inspired by series and movies such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Jennifer’s Body, The Secret Circle, True Blood and the like. But, unlike Buffy, it’s not so much about fighting the supernatural (after all, Buffy has its own game for that) as it is about building relationships among the characters: they may love or hate each other (probably both), but what matters is how they interact with each other and other NPCs. And, on top of that, there is supernatural horror awesomeness to sweeten the pot.
While I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the genre (but I do like True Blood, and watched The Secret Circle until it was canceled), I love this game because it proposes something different for a change, a chance to return the clock a little bit and explore adolescence and sexuality in a new light (a very, very dark light).
It has been a while since I don’t see a game offering me such a new experience, rather than a remake of the same genres over and over again. And just for that, Monsterhearts is the game I want to try out most from the list.
Tenra Bansho Zero
A game of hyper-Asian fantasy (as described by its own author), Tenra Bansho Zero is the second Japanese tabletop RPG translated to English mixing a classic system with some interesting indie innovations (the amazing thing about this game is that while it was written over a decade ago, it feels fresh and modern by today standards). The setting features the war torn land of Tenra, based on the Sengoku period of Japanese history.
What I love most about this game, it’s the so called Karma System, which is inspired by Buddhism. Every character has certain number of Fates, which represent things he cares about (“Loyalty to my Lord”, “Death of my father”, “In love with my Lord’s daughter”, “Avenge my brother”, “Find my lost sister”, etc). As the game moves on, character gain Karma (remember that in Buddhism, all Karma is bad; good/bad Karma is Hindu). If you ever reach 109 or more Karma, your character becomes an NPC Asura (in a nutshell, a dangerous sociopath). In order to lower their Karma, characters have to change or remove their Fates. Basically, more you attach to things in the world, closer dangerous it gets.
Now, I must confess I’m cheating a little bit on my own list, since I've already played this game. I had one of the most rewarding experiences in my gaming life while storytelling a 4-session scenario to a group of friends (that adventure had everything: redemption, vengeance, damnation as one of the characters had to become an Asura in order to defeat the final boss, high packed drama… everything). I had so much fun that I hope to be able to run another game of Tenra Bansho Zero soon.
Weapons of the Gods
A fantasy wuxia game set in a mythical version of ancient China, based on the manhua of the same name by Tony Wong. It has a very innovative system with some very interesting concepts, not all of them related to kung fu (for example, Loresheets, which represent how your character’s story entangles with the rest of the world).
All I know about this game is from online reviews, but the copy I ordered should arrive next week, so maybe a do a full review at some later point.
What people who know about the game may be wondering is why I purchased Weapons of the Gods when there is a new version, Legends of the Wulin (with another setting, since they couldn't keep the license). I've played Legends of the Wulin, and while it’s an interesting game and I have lot of fun with it, there are several things about it that didn't click on me. It’s not a game I could run as a GM, but I think Weapons of the Gods is.
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