Starting 2026 with a bang~!

 

2025 was quite a year.  We were able to cover a lot of new systems again, which was quite a wonderful jaunt of different experiences. We failed, however, to complete the 6x6 Challenge that @Jod sets every year.

Hopefully, this year we can complete it properly.

For 2026, we're taking another stab at Jod Gulle's 6x6 challenge. This year, we are looking at a few mini-campaigns - some ongoing and some new. We have our ongoing The Great Pendragon Campaign which we started back in 2017 and the players are now on their third generation of characters. We have the ongoing Horror on the Orient Express campaign for Call of Cthulhu which might actually open up to allow guest players to join the investigations We have an ongoing two-player Vampire the Masquerade campaign. But also planned are new stuff such as a Paladin: Warriors of Charlemagne to be a livestreamed mini-campaign for Denmother Plays, a short saga of Legends of the Wulin which we love because it was first inspired by the amazing Weapons of the Gods. Some players who requested to try the system (and it really shines in games that go beyond one shots), and lastly an exploration of The WildSea perhaps depending if we can find players willing to try it.

Of those campaigns, however, only The Wildsea and Paladin will be among my 12 New Games for 2026.  Will have ten more games to try.   Among them, I've been eyeing at the following:

The ELFQUEST rpg, of course, has a hopeful slot.  I have no idea how to make this work as I don't really know anyone else who appreciated and enjoyed that comic.  But I would love to explore that game.

Legend in the Mist has been interesting me too. The game system reminds me of what I liked about the Cortex RPG system and seems to have elements similar to Houses of the Blooded.  So curious to see how that will go.

I've also heard alot about CAIN which seems to be something that might be up my alley.   Narrative first games are always interesting for me.

Sword of the Serpentine excites me.  It seems to be a combination of what I loved about Night's Black Agents placed in a more fantasy setting sort of experience. 

Maybe I even get a chance to explore some horror games like The Silt Verses or even Ten Candles or, if the geek gods are kind, The Farm.  So yes, let's hit 2026 with an awesome new set of gaming experiences! 

6x6 TRPG challenge!

Being part of a community of table top RPG gms in the Philippines, it is nice seeing different initiatives that emerge to encourage others to play more as well as share their gaming knowhow.  I doubt anyone would take a stab at my personal goal of hitting 12 New Games Each Year, but it was fun seeing @JodTheCod start a 6x6 TRPG challenge.

My first encounter of this kind of challenge was actually from boardgames, with an annual 10x10 boardgame challenge showing up online where people were to play ten different boardgames ten times, tracking who won the most by the end of the year.  

For the tabletop RPG one, I'm still in the process of mapping out the sixth game, but this is what I have so far:

That is composed of three currently ongoing campaigns:
The Great Pendragon Campaign is a game we started way back in 2017.  We have Rocky, Adrian, Flip, and Urim in that game, and we're currently on our third generation of knights as we play through the Romantic Era and learn the unfolding story of Tristam and Isolde.

Horror on the Orient Express, Call of Cthulhu, started back in April, 2022, with Rocky, Adrian, Jonette, and Lanz in the game.  I foolishly opted to skip NOTHING in the campaign, so we're taking our sweet time indulging in the horror.  We even played through Reign of Terror, and for those who are familiar with both books, you know why.

A Door Opens, The Invisible Sun started more recently.  Started last Sept, 2023, this game has Rocky, Lanz, and Deano, play Vislae who have just returned from Shadow and are realizing they are in the heart of a massive scheme which they themselves may have created and forgotten. 

Of the new mini-campaigns, we have:

Changeling the Dreaming will be the next mini-campaign. As a request by @denmotherplays, the game is intended for them to try my take on the game system.  

Mythic Japan: Ukiyo-E is the fan supplement for VAESEN set in a mythic period of Japan.  For this one, Lanz and Emman are the main players, with a rotating guest list for the six sessions.  This will allow more people to try the game system, and since its a mini-campaign mode, allow us to even try using the Upgrades system for the game.

Still need to think of one last mini-campaign. Hmm!