Der PigDog's PigBlog

I'm ready to start playtesting my newest game, Gathering of the Tunnelmasters, or GotTM, pronounced "got 'em!". (I say "start"; I've been playing through aspects of it for 3 years or more. This is the first time I've assembled every aspect of the game.) Like any functional role-playing game, it does not provide an experience in a box. It is an instrument with which a group of skilled players, black metal samurai, can make their music.  Games as instruments  You can sell somebody an instrument, but you can't sell them its music. They do that on their own.  Some instruments are easier to learn and use than others. Some instruments are very obviously difficult to use. Some instruments have a limited range of expression. Some instruments have a vast range of expression. Zombie Cinema is a gem of a game, which is fantastically easy to learn and use, and will nearly always make something decent, but which respects the players' skill and allow...

"You've ruined everything. I will hate you forever." A game for three players, A, B, and C, shifting roles. Brief definition of a human being for play purposes "Human being" is a keyword I've found useful in playing several narrativist games. When I say so-and-so is a human being, I mean that they are not a structural literary type (pro- or antagonist), a cardboard cutout, a stereotype, a pawn, a monster, a simple player stand-in, or a political or moral idea given fictional flesh. Most human beings have all of the following  Name Age Ethnicity Social class Income (or none!) Hometown Current city A job, and previous work experience (or none!) Sexual and romantic relationships (or none!) Friends (or none!) Family (or none!) Hobbies and interests Material resources  It isn't necessary to fill out every detail, just enough for our current play. You can always add more later. Scenario creation I Player A creates the main girl, a human being between the ages ...