Yeah, it’s based on experience—
the experience of being bad at pinball.
I stand in front of the Junji Ito pinball machine.
The coin slot is crusted shut.
I force the quarters in anyway.
Nothing happens.
I hit the side.
The ball launches.
It doesn’t roll so much as surrender.
I lose it down the drain.
I lose another.
I hit the flippers again.
They move half an inch and then give up.
The score counter creeps up in little bloody numbers.
I think it’s trying to say hi.
I keep playing.
The machine is really good at making me feel like a slice of pizza left on the sidewalk.
I like it.
I will come back tomorrow.
The machine will not win.
I thought of these playable characters as sad and lonely but not afraid, not weak, who instead of withdrawing into themselves go places and be 'strong', 'independent', and aren't 'nervous'. I feel really connected to these characters outside of the normal connection you feel from rpgs such as 'I like this character because I made them', 'based them on myself' or a character you already have an 'attachment' to from a video game, movie, or book.
After reading it I thought about it and felt good. I like the ideas in here a lot. For example there are no backgrounds provided (playable classes). Instead players choose between different skill load-outs and specials (no players may choose the same thing). This is something that I'd like to see more of in Troika. I want to live in this setting.
This jam was so fun to host.
You're all awesome people and this community is great to be a part of.
I just typed in everyone's name into 'wheelofnamesdotcom' and spun it twice.
Diredead you have won a copy of the Numinous Edition of Troika! with Permian Nations!
Paul Van Keuren Jr you have won a gift card to the Spear Witch online store!
We've sent you both messages on Discord :)
a blog series on making zines, using public domain art, etc
https://www.technicalgrimoire.com/david/2019/11/jalopyzine https://www.technicalgrimoire.com/david/2021/09/jalopyfreeart https://www.technicalgrimoire.com/david/2021/11/jalopyitchgdocs
A few more links for templates...
https://keganexe.itch.io/layout-exe
https://wizardthieffighter.itch.io/standardcat-template-pack
Here's a template I found!
https://mr-matthew.itch.io/troika-zine-template
From the core book:
Anyone may publish free or commercial material based upon and/or declaring compatibility with “Troika!” without express written permission from the publisher, the Melsonian Arts Council, as long as they adhere to the following terms:
If your product declares compatibility with Troika! you must state the following in your legal text and on any websites from which a commercial product is sold: “[product name] is an independent production by [publisher name] and is not affiliated with the Melsonian Arts Council.”
Feel free to use/remix/discuss/ignore any of the following entries for inspiration.
You can download a fancy PDF of this table here.