itch.io

I also forgot to share the little playlist I made while I was playing

Cast Out

Thank you again for your creation

This RPG is absolutely ethereal and haunting; there's such a strong sense of loss and longing in the construction of the gameplay loop--starting with an acknowledgement of death or passing, and progressing through a pathway to redemption, rebirth or renewal. The ruleset feels right in the realm of a gothic-style card game, or even gameplay relying heavily on trading narratives instead of typical battles.

Going through a few iterations on my own, I felt inspired by the atmosphere, and felt the need to read and play to a playlist. This stands in spite of the brevity of the foundational material--and that feels to its benefit. It isn't overburdened with examples or non-diegetic instructions, and trusts in the player to take time with the material, to not just understand it, but to feel inspired by it, as well; the immersion is something I often seek in similar games.

The mechanics feel intentional, an example of easy-to-understand, takes-time-to-master. Honestly, it has the feel of a game that could've been played across time, with an element of mysticism that leaves it feeling like a rediscovered, ancient game. The ritual nature of the narrative strengthens the ritual of the game loop, without applying so many mechanics that a beginner feels overwhelmed.

Any suggestions for improvement rely solely on my own learning style, ie, diegetic examples of visual instructions (A page from a grimoire narrating the lore of a battle, which acts as an example of a player's turn). I would even lean into the narrative atmosphere of the text and add in your own narrative to represent the archetype of each type of character, acting as a soft-guide for new players. Overall, I'm deeply inspired by the unique nature of the game, and the possible narratives it inspires. - jj