An interesting beginning of a game that needs some fleshing out or prep to go the distance but I keep wanting to come back to playing. I hope to see more.

Yesterday, I read a 210 page pdf on magic systems. This did a better job in under 2. A great addition to character creation for any would-be magical adventure!

A skill based storygame in which players solve math problems in order to perform their character’s magic. The game is intentionally played for silliness and is designed to be played in a relatively open space on a college campus by college students. Given those constraints, the game succeeds in creating a space of play that is both enjoyable and studious. Players are encouraged to demonstrate and practice their mathematical knowledge while doing so in a way that encourages light fun and humor. While I have aged out of the target demographic of the game, I can see its value to a group of friends in college who game together and need a little encouragement to start studying.

A simple single player larp in which the player creates a potion by gathering nearby objects. The rules of the game describe what the basic effect of the potion would be depending of what materials are gathered and then gives the player freedom to determine the exact effect, with a note to record the result for future reference. A simple game, all in all, and one I think I would have rather seen make use of edible components out of a kitchen, but still a fun mental exercise nevertheless.

A light, PbtA-like game based around teen femmes engaging in their subculture and embracing their witchiness in declare their identity in a world that is often hostile to it. Character creation and setting creation both occur by rolling 3d6 and referencing the results on a table, allowing for the game to easily establish tone and move into the crux of the game. The math is a little busted, a complete failure is only possible when rolling with one’s weakest stat, and there is a mechanic based around dealing with critical failures that is unlikely to come. The middle result is either failure or succeed at a cost, and I feel like offering that choice to the GM would only serve to complicate and slow action resolution.

Still, the game delivers on its thematics. It’s light, stripped down aesthetic still calls to mind those days of youthful, queer rebellion, and the flavor text strongly positions the characters as sub-culture icons that are still allowed to move with grace and power through the setting. I can easily see the game being an example of healthy and positive wish fulfillment for femmes of all ages, and a change to rejoice in that nostalgic feeling of youth.

A card-based storygame based around the interactions between wizard and familiar. In this game, the wizard sets out to accomplish a task and is tempted by the familiar with ways that magic can help move forward. Depending on whether or not the magical aid is accepted, different consequences ensue and different cards are exchanged between characters. At the end of the game, the cards that each player has determines who gets to narrate the epilogue.

The setup of the game is clearly illustrated with in-document images as well as the text, and that setup drives the narrative choices of the game. The comparative knowledge and hidden information of the wizard would inherently lead them to make some choices in one way and others in another, leading ultimately to a more rich narrative. Overall, the guidance is a bit minimal for players newer to storygames, but for veterans, it can provide a smooth, enjoyable experience.

A minigame based around the destruction and reconstruction of magical items. It’s a simple system, wherein the original traits are determined by referencing charts with the aid of die rolls and then the player chooses new, more metaphoric ways to interpret those traits for the new object. While not much of a game in and of itself, it could be quite valuable as a boost to another game, as a minigame to guide and direct the crafting process to give it a bit more life. For all of its simplicity, the idea has a brightness to it that gives it staying power. The layout is well constructed, and the zine version allows for an easy pocket reference once folded and cut appropriately.