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Tridodranial Update #2

Illustration for Tridodranial Update #2

Welcome to the second tridodranial (quarterly) update. Last time, I told you a bit of my history with RPGs, so this time I thought I’d launch right into last quarter and the next.

Last Quarter

I will start with the goals that I completed, then ones I partially completed, then ones I didn’t even touch. Before I get to my goals and how I did with those though, a quick run down of what I played this quarter.

  • Cities Without Number: We’re continuing the campaign we started in last quarter. We’ve hit sort of mid-level power and we’re beginning to settle into roles and roleplay and overall the system is meshing well with our group (I think anyway). I am enjoying the game, but I’m not doing the best job ever actually roleplaying my character. She’s a bit of a blank slate even after several sessions now. Mechanically she’s nice, but I could do with sitting down and settling on character traits and motivations. This is a recurring problem I have, that I try to correct each time and fail. One day!
  • Old Gods of Appalachia: This bills itself as a horror game and, I mean its not not a horror game. There’s no sanity level or attrition mechanic, all the horror has to come from the way the GM runs the game. Since I was the GM I have mostly myself to blame for the game I ran falling a bit flat. I believe the system is still good, I just didn’t have a great first showing.
  • The Adventurer: This is a tiny solo system that has just enough prompt to get me going, but not so much its stifling. I’ve done a several entries in my journal for this and they’ve all been a fun way to spend a few minutes.

Run a Halloween Spooktacular in the Old Gods of Appalachia system

I did this! It was just after Halloween but it was still run. It was a mild success from my view. I could have planned better and while the system didn’t hurt my presentation, it didn’t help it either. I think the system has legs, I’m still going to try and run something bigger in it, but it wasn’t a home run on the first outing. I believe the major issue with this one-shot was planning, but I think everyone still had a fun time. I did struggle to get three players for it though, which prompted a few issues with other goals.

Contemplate/Plan an investigative horror genre game

I did this! I’m still working on it, but I have the broad strokes for the game and the way the open table will work set up for myself. I have a lot of content to prepare before hand and some maps to make for everyone, but the core is set. I also need to figure out a way to hold files and and information for the game, but that can be handled closer to the game starting. It’ll be run in Old Gods and set in Mississippi and Louisiana at in the 1930’s to 40’s, focusing on the eerie and strange occurrences on the rivers and bayous of the south.

I’ve even bought Foundry and started working on getting that working for the game. I’m also going to attempt #Lore24 to worldbuild the setting, factions, npcs, and such.

Complete entries for the Tabletop Game Tool Jam and the Solo Game Chef Jam

I partially did this! I completed an entry for the Tabletop Game Tool Jam, Haunted Trappings, which actually placed and I received prizes for Haunted Trappings. I did my best to build a tool to make a haunted location, or add a haunting to your own location. Its a new spin on the old Trappings system to generate locations with dice and while its nothing particularly new for the internet, I feel its a pretty decent little generator. I didn’t finish my game for the Solo Game Chef Jam, it was just too quick a turn around on the heels of the other jam and some life things that got in the way.

Finish and Release Pretender to the Flame

I partially did this. I finished the adventure, but I need to edit it still. This stalled because initially I wanted to playtest the adventure before I released it, however I struggled to find players this quarter so, I’ve not been able to schedule this. I’ve decided to move ahead without playtesting. Since this is written as a collection of factions and locations, without specific encounters or plot lines, I feel this adventure kit will be alright without playtesting. It would be better if I could, but I’m opting for finished not perfect.

I did do several art pieces for the future book though. I’m making progress, just not as much as I would have liked.

Read More TTRPG Systems and Adventures

I did read a few games, mostly small Solo games like the Adventurer. But all in all, not enough to count this as completed. I have failed! I didn’t even finish the book for my book club so not a great reading time.

Run a Christmas Special

I’ve failed! I’m not going to have time for this, plain and simple.

Goals for Next Quarter

  • Finish and Release Pretender to the Flame
    • Edit the adventure kit and do the layout
    • I will not be sending out press kits as I will not be playtesting and that seems rude to me
    • Reach 50 downloads
  • Further plan and prepare for the investigative horror game
    • I will need to set up a good digital notebook for the game world
    • I will need to plan a lot of content to have an open table each week
  • Read more TTRPG systems and adventures
    • I want to read 1 new system and 2 adventures
    • This gives me one thing to read each month.
    • When in doubt I will grab something free and recommended on DriveThru
  • Be a better player
    • Play my characters better
    • Listen to the other players more
    • Maybe buy one of those “Improve for Roleplayers” books*
    • (To be clear I don’t think I’m bad I just know I could be better)

*- I actually bought one of these books from Evil Hat, I did not find much useful to me. I should perhaps get the DM book from The Alexandrian…