What I'm doing: Turkeys, space, old indie games
Hello to all the new people! Before I start, tell me what to write about next.
What I’m doing
I unpacked a box of old indie games, from around 2003-2013. They’re so creative: they experiment with mechanics in a way that’s been almost lost today. I loved seeing how they develop over time, sometimes getting themselves into ruts: there’s a particular period around 2005 where everything is stakes and scene framing1.
I’d love to write more about them. Maybe, in January, I’ll discuss an indie game each day.
I’ve also streamed an hour-long, improvised horror scenario with Scott Dorward and Bridgett Jeffries. It’s one of the favourite things I’ve done. Have a look. Oh, and I also wrote the music you hear at the start.
What I’m writing
This month on my Patreon, I’ll release a chapter on how to write your own scenarios for Cosmic Dark, my game of weird space horror. It’s a big chapter and I need your help to decide what should go in it!
I’m excited about Day of the Turkey, my gory Christmas horror scenario, which I’ll also release on my Patreon before Christmas.
And I’ve recorded the parallel scenario, The Bread Is Rising, with Ain’t Slayed Nobody. It replaces the turkeys with bread. This will make sense when you hear the scenario, trust me.
And there are so many other things kicking around! I’d like to release my Guide To Writing Roleplaying Games shortly. I’m still playtesting Murder Cards. And so on.
What I’m playing
Our home group is still playing Public Access. It’s an interesting game: I like it best when it steers towards David Lynch-inspired small town weirdness, rather than nostalgic Americana. I prepared for the last session by watching Mulholland Drive.
On the Switch, I’m back to Dredge. I’m astonished by its handling of horror: it has genuinely creepy, unsettling moments without constantly attacking the player. I also like that, unlike games such as Sinking City, there’s no direct reference to Lovecraft: I find the tension collapses once you realise it’s Deep Ones.
What’s coming up
I mentioned, this but anyway…later this month, I’ll release Cosmic Dark’s scenario-creation instructions on my Patreon, together with an early view of the interior art. And then I’ll release Day of the Turkey and my guide to writing RPGs.
And I’m streaming a very funny, very horrible scenarios close to Christmas. More details when I know them.
If you don’t understand this, then a. I’ll explain one day and b. be thankful.