Look at it. I mean LOOK at it! The Paroxysm by Design website is growing up. I suppose I should too…someday…
1. Saints Walk Among Us
For those of you who have been following along my rpg journey you know I have a pantheon graced by a single angelic figure. Saint Mary, master of soundboards and editing to help the first edition of Goblyn Market make it to YouTube. (Buy the up to date version here!)
Truth of the matter is I am spoiled with supporters that don’t get enough shout outs. Eric and Rachel have hosted several games, been instrumental for technical recordings, much less countless hours of playtesting.
Just the work all the playtesters have put in with me over the years alone deserves some sort of entry into the halls of eternal thanks! With a special heyo! for an out of stater who has been there since the beginning. (Check out my upcoming article in Raspy Raven Annual 2027 all about playtesting!)
However, the time has come to allow entry into the hallowed halls for a new initiate. Saint Graham of I.T. websites and design! If you are here reading this you may notice the spiffy new design AND something I have been trying to do for three years. An email subscription button!!!
What To Expect If You Join
I will only send one update a month. I am experimenting with a couple format ideas but I think I want it to be broken down into three sections:
- 1. Brief thought I’ve had about the gaming world, systems, or design
- 2. Updates on my current work and conventions
- 3. A snippet on what I’m personally doing, reading, or watching for inspiration or fun!
The idea is to keep it short, punchy, and an easy read. With any conversation starters carried out on my bluesky account.
2. How I Learned to Love the Frills
Most saints have a couple attributes hung on them. Saint Graham is no different. If you have attended any of my face-to-face games lately you will notice something different. Cards, index notes, and a small trove of trinkets galore!
It all started with an image Graham sent me. He took my excel table that represented the Goblyn Market and just made it look nicer. But then I noticed the rest of the game looked lazy…
FINE. I bought the ‘pirate coins’ online, found the wand at Spirit Halloween, and wrote out all of the items one can get at the market onto playing cards.
Not only did the game play smoother but it cut the introductory time down by 10-15 minutes. A lifetime at a convention! I loved it so much I made cards for Honorbound and THAT went over even better!
All of this is to say I am now working on how to make these cards a reality. I have two affairs for Goblyn Market that I’d love to have them available before I release them. However, I don’t have a good idea how yet. If someone has any ideas, let me know on bluesky!
Legends of the Khurst Riders playtesting gets back on track early next month. I am debating whether to record these sessions since it is for a fixed campaign book.
The game has taken leaps and bounds over the course of three months. I finally have a solid campaign ruleset. Just need to playtest the adventures to make sure they are fun! (Hmmm, how can I add cards to this one…)
Here is a behind the scenes sketch by the absolute amazing artist David Venegas. Hint: if you go to his instagram you might see more…
3. The Unloved and Unrun
We all have them. Forlorn books wilting away on our shelves. Some I will never play again. Some I bought strictly to dissect their systems. Then there are the games I bought with the best of intentions of grand campaigns or epic one-shots in mind. Gathering dust, unloved, and unrun.
Under threat of becoming the gaming stereotype I have bonded with a small group with a mission. At least once every 6 months you must run one of your Unrun games. We are fully embracing campaign play as well that we can abandon at the drop of a hat.
It is still in its infancy stages so no unrun game has been played yet. HOWEVER, we have a mini-campaign for both Mythic Bastionland* AND Heart: The City Beneath. *Not mine but it was on my list!
My first offering is going to be the first rpg I bought when I was getting back into the scene. I want to run the Escape from Paradise campaign from the Mutant Year Zero Genlab Alpha rulebook. My second (more manageable choice) is Bluebeard. THE game i bought immediately after playing once. I love it so. And I can’t wait for others to enjoy it too!
Now get out there and dust off your Unrun today! You can find me on bluesky.