Day 9: The Black Monk - Praxis

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 9: The Black Monk - Praxis

This game was an incredible game changer. jim pinto's approach to this game system was just incredible. It gave me quite a rush that was very much similar to when I first played a White Wolf game. It was a realization that I was looking at something that was quite new, and had a potent punch in delivering a new experience.

AUTHOR(ities): The 9th Philippine International Literary Festival Day One

Had a fantastic day at the AUTHOR(ities): The 9th Philippine International Literary Festival! I was so excited about the whole day that I totally forgot to take photos of the my table. But it was an opportunity to showcase Itras By, Itras B: Menagerie, Heroine, Girls Elsewhere, Dangers Untold, Sickening Queens, Bad Timing, That Night Out, and A Single Moment!

I loved being able to run games for so many people. Some of them were completely first time gamers, having never tried a game in their entire lives. Others had some tabletop rpg history but were happy to try something new.

I felt tremendously honored to be able to share my passion for gaming with more people. In the Itras By demo session, a man named Alvin Shoppe who owned a Shop that had become a personality had no memory of how long he had been in Itras By. The day was another festival, Fiesta ng Masayang Tuldok (Festival of the Happy Period) with the Manananggal Titas once more showing off their best dresses. After having a few drinks with Mang Tonio, the policeman at a cafe where a Corgi and some invisible companion asked for the toll, Alvin finds a golden key in his pocket and soon learns that Inang Bai had cursed him with forgetfulness. But when she saw how much Shop had fallen in love with Alvin, she gave her a challenge: If Alvin chose to stay rather than return home, then they were meant to be.  Alvin choose to stay and the two renamed their bookstore, Alvin and Shop.

One A Single Moment game was about a couple of gay Samurai who did not have the Honesty to admit their truth to one another. Their secrets lead to deaths and a sorrowful end.   Another ASM game had two close friends who were soon to be brothers from a Clan marriage becoming the direst of foes when one mistakes the other's friendship as a man without any Honor in treating his wife well. Death was a common thread in the games.

I was also able to connect with a number of educators, professionals, and other teachers who were eager to explore role-playing games as teaching tools or creative writing prompts. I offered my time to give talks if any of them needed a speaker to get their students more curious to role-playing games. For many, I gave them the links to DriveThruRpg.com so they can grab the PDFs if they're interested in checking out more games.

Finally, the night was filled with cool reunions. Was able to hang out once more with the fantastic people of Project Tadhana, the brains behind Darna (and the upcoming Lastikman and Bagani) game, and the creative minds who crafted the Talinghaga and Tala games.  Got to see Talecraft people as well and had a lovely hug from Carlo Vergara as well.  So that was the fun first day!  See you all tomorrow!

TAG Sessions features Itras By Menagerie at the 9th Philippine International Literary Festival

We are very honored to have been invited to take part in the 9th Philippine International Literary Festival!  The event is called (AUTHOR)ities and is a two-day event with talks, workshops, demos, and film-screenings. 

We will be attending to feature Itras By: Menagerie to introduce people and give them a chance to try the freeform surreal tabletop role-playing game.  I will admit, it feels fantastic to know that tabletop role-playing games is getting a bit more visibility. Even more awesome, I'm not alone in doing so! 

The mythical Tadhana role-playing game will be running demos as well!

As will the Talinhaga word game which throws a fantastic spin on the word game genre.

And of course, Darna at ang Nawawalang Bato will also be there, ready to challenge players to find the missing stone.

I'm curious to learn more about the two-player Tala Offline game which I shall admit is the first time I've heard of it. It is a card game spin-off of the Janus Silang comics. 

In addition, I've been tapped to moderate two talks as well. 

The first is all about Book-To-Game Adaptations.
The speakers for this are Ria Lu, Alvin Juban, and Shelly Kero
This is on April 20, 2018 at 1:15pm to 2:30pm at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute  (1st Floor)

The second talk will be about Multimedia Storybooks
The speaker will be James Palabay
This is on April 20, 2018 at 2:35pm to 3:35pm at the Tanghalang Amado Hernanez (Ground Floor)

Hope you all can attend!
For more information, visit their facebook page today!

Day 8: Lacuna - The Birth of Mystery and the Girl from Blue City

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 8: Lacuna - The Birth of Mystery and the Girl from Blue City

Memory loss is common in the Blue City.
This game is life changing.
I'd say more but that is beyond your clearance level.

Abort.
Abort.

There is static in the line.
3.

2.

1.

Eject.

Sunday, April 16, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 16: Any Design Partners?

April 16, 2018

#16: Any Design Partners?

While I pretty much design my games by myself, I do have a fantastic support group that helps me silence the Imposter Syndrome voices and anchors me to the ground. Writing a game can be exciting, terrifying, incredible, fantastic, and horrifying. So it really helps to know there are people who constantly cheer me on and support me.

Thank you to the Gallants. You all are generously kind and wonderful. If only physical distances did not exist.

Thank you to my partner, Rocky, who always reassures me and reminds me to keep writing. To keep creating. To have fun. I hear the stories of so many others whose significant others are not as passionate or as supportive of their gaming and it just reminds me of how fortunate and lucky I am to have found you.

I will admit, the last secret partner would be the one my partner calls Archer. The me when I'm not consciously me. The me when I'm asleep. Or drunk. Or somewhere between the two. Archer has fantastic dreams, wacky moments, and yes even conversations which I never hear about. But I suspect given how overwhelmingly intense the creative urges can get, Archer is probably the embodiment of that inner child that fuels my creative work.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 7: Changeling the Dreaming

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 7: Changeling the Dreaming

As you can see, there's a pattern here.  A lot of my years growing up as a Game Master was playing various World of Darkness games.  Vampire opened my eyes to possibilities.  Wraith opened my eyes to the darkness and its richness.  Changeling reminded me that no matter how dark and dismal things can get, there can always be something far brighter: hope.

This game remains a beautiful game despite the years that have passed. It has aged spectacularly well and remains one my friends and I often long to return to and explore. The concepts of chimerical things, of Cantrips and Bunks, of the rarity of Glamour, of alternate worlds in the Dreaming, all these have long resonated and inspired me in many other games.  In the end, it is because this game dares to dream. It attempted to mere cards and roleplaying games long before the Invisible Sun ever thought to. Perhaps cause one can see how it drew inspiration from the same well Everway did in the past. Dreams and alien landscapes. Adventure and fear.

I choose to believe.

Sunday, April 15, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 15: Do You Design in Private or Public?

April 15, 2018

#15: Do You Design in Private or Public?

When designing games, I focus on designing privately for the first phase. I try to find that specific unique experience or selling point I want to accomplish, then work on finding ways on making that experience more tangible for the player. I only start bringing in other people in when I start doing two things: blind playtesting (where I have people read what I've written and see if they grasped it on their own) and actual playtesting (when I have other people try the game).

More often than not, when people playtest, they are under the assumption that I'm looking for advice on how to make it better. What they don't realize is I'm more looking to see if they grasped certain things, or if they felt a certain way towards certain design choices I made. I'm not asking for people to co-write the game. I'm asking for people to share what they felt or experienced while trying it, and from there, discern what I need to fix to better hit what I would have preferred.

And that's why I don't open design choices too early. I don't like shooting other people's ideas down, but at the same time a playtest is not about asking for fixes. It is about identifying problem areas. If I anted a brainstorm, I could have asked for that instead directly.

They say good designers know when to edit. When to cut off something they love to make the design work better.  I say, in addition to that good designers know also when to edit who gets to respond to their work. Not everyone's input is useful at the time it is given. But the reasons behind their input are always worth investigating.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Staying Active, Running Games - First Quarter Report

Had another successful TAG Bites session with Rocky, Micko, and Seven getting a chance to try Gallant Knight Games' Tiny Dungeons second edition! There were two more players who were expected to join up but one suddenly had an unexpected onset of shingles while the other found real-life work blocking up his day.

Still, we made the most of it and were able to play a quick four-hour game session. In this story, a Treefolk alchemist named Maximus Prime, a Noble Polar Karhu named Aex, and a Spell-touched Salimar named Kasai accompanied the Goblin loremaster Kotku in uncovering the hidden secret of how the Ferrex have gained control of the Goletia. In the end, they defeated the massive terror by liberating it from its horrible dominating parasite.

Some weeks back, on the 7th of April, the first RetroCon 2018 was held! What started out as a forum thread where a group of us old timers were reminiscing about old 80s-90s rpgs lead to an improptu planning of a minor gaming event. Suddenly, we had six GMs ready to rock out and run classic rpgs. I offered to run an old favorite, Marvel Superheroes FASERIP system.

Had a good group of five players to join me in this retrospective journey. Was hoping Rocky could try playing too but he had to man the registration booth. God bless him, he helped a lot of the first timers feel more at home in trying games.

 

Mon even raffled off some awesome stuff from Abubot.ph for all the attendees! I suddenly wish I had thought to offer a free copy of A Single Moment to offer out as well. But alas, that didn't cross my mind in time.

But yeah, here's to another min-convention from this group of awesome people again soon (sorry, Karl, you had left before we took the picture! But rest assured you're part of the awesome people).

Then there was the previous TAG Bites session where we played a horror game called Dead Things in the Walls, which is a Protocol game by jim pinto. Had Seven and Raf and for that game (plus Rocky, of course) and we had a great time scaring ourselves silly.

It has been a busy first quarter, but all in all things have been going very well. Writing my ass off to finish the upcoming wuxia PbtA game, Once Upon a Time in Jianghu and to release the Studio Ghibli inspired game, Neko no Yume.

For the 12 New Games Each Year, for the 2018 challenge, we're doing pretty okay.

1) Pasion de las Pasiones
2) Protocol: Virtuax
3) Protocol: Dead Things in the Walls
4) Tiny Dungeon 2e - Legacy: War of the Widows

The gaming journey continues!

April 14, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 14: What are your Dreams and Plans?

April 14, 2018

#14: What are your Dreams and Plans?

Among my dreams are the following:
a) Help bring tabletop role-playing games to the forefront in the Philippine tabletop scene.
I dream of a day when tabletop rpgs would be as widespread and as common as say basketball or esports gaming.  Where more and more local game designers take the terrifying leap and release their work out there in the wild for more people to experience and find inspiration from. 

I dream of a day when a tabletop RPG convention happens and celebrates tabletop RPGs as its primary focus and joy.Where it isn't maligned or misused to gatekeep or push bigotry and homophobic agendas. Where it isn't used as a weapon by political forces to infiltrate the geek community and spread fake news. I dream of helping bring my hobby up to a level of familiarity where more of the fun can be shared not just with friends, but with family members and significant others.

b) I want to win an ENnie.
I want to be able to show my parents the award and make them proud.

c) I want to truly recover from it all.
After nearly giving up on role-playing games altogether because of events in the past, I know I am still on the gradual journey out of the fear and trauma, but it has helped big time to be surrounded by people who have been extremely supportive and inspiring. I still am working on being back in more public events. Admittedly, stuff as simple as watching plays or musicals at the theater, or joining boardgame or rpg events, still takes some getting used to. Some time back, a very kind group called the Greasy Snitches invited me to give a talk on rpgs. I nearly had a panic attack out of the sheer fear of bumping into certain people. But I'm getting better. When we took part in the Retrocon, it felt very good reconnecting with the community and being able to share my talents with them.

I've wasted too much time hoping for reparations. I have only hurt myself more by hoping things could still be repaired and I've definitely come to the realization it is time to just move forward, learn from the past, forgive them for what they've done to me, and never forget that they can always do it again. If I see them then so be it. I just have to accept the fact life goes on and while some injustices will never be settled fairly, the most we can do is just know better next time.

d) Write for Houses of the Blooded, officially.
I would LOVE to be given a chance to bring this game to a new level. I would love to be part of an official project under this title.  Who knows, it may happen?  Some years ago, I just wanted to get a chance to write a game and share it.  Barely two years in, I find myself writing for 7th freaking Sea and the book I'm part of actually gets a Silver Ennie.  So yeah, who knows what other miracles may happen?

e) Write for the World of Darkness, officially.
Gotta admit, I still have a lot of love for this game world. It would be a dream come true to also be given a chance to work on some official book for the World of Darkness. I don't know though if I have the knowledge and historical know to write a good one. Admittedly, that's also why I haven't gotten around to writing a Manila by Night sort of book, even for the Community Creator's thing.

My plans?
Lin-Manuel Miranda put it best when he wrote Non-Stop in Alexander Hamilton. "Why do you write like you’re running out of time?" I'm gonna keep active, keep writing, and keep creating. I'm gonna make a mark in the industry, even if it means to just serve as stepping stones for future creators.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 6: Fiasco

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 6: Fiasco

Oh my god. This game. The way this game made me realize how GMless games can be insanely fun and funny without being nonsensical and absurd. This game even showed me they can be serious and deep and were so system-lite, there were new paradigms being born in my head. I sincerely believe people should try Fiasco at least one in their entire gaming lives, just to shake up what they thought was the one true way to play rpgs.

April 13, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 13: Biggest Influences?

April 13, 2018

#13: Biggest Influences?

Among my biggest influences are the following:

a) That horrible first game
My first game ever was such a powerful moment that it had a profound effect on me for the rest of my life. First, it made me realize roleplaying games were awesome and fun. It allowed me to have a world to explore and adventure in that was magical and yet felt real. Secondly, it reminded me to never treat my players like shit. Even today at 2018, I am aware of some groups with GMs who are still as spiteful and as exploitative as that first one I played under. But I've at most promised myself to just be a better example of what GMs can be for those who opt to see it. In the end, I have to just respect boundaries and leave them to play how they want to.

b) Houses of the Blooded
This game opened my eyes to so many new paradigms in gaming, with the biggest being shared narrative control and open secrets. Many fault the game for its seemingly "incomplete" system or complicated crunch, but I personally feel they're just too set in the games they prefer to see the gems this game offers.

c) Everyday Life

I am thankful that my life is surrounded by people of different backgrounds, lifestyles, and stories who inspire me in various directions. I have people who encourage me to reach for new horizons, to spread my wings and be less afraid to share what I have to share with the gaming industry. From my parents who give constant support and faith in my abilities, despite not quite grasping what gaming is like, to my partner, Rocky, who has always been my anchor and my creative compass. He gives me just enough room to go crazy, then reels me back in when I teeter to close to the edge. And so many other people, it would probably take a short book to thank them all.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 5: Wraith the Oblivion

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 5: Wraith the Oblivion

Wraith taught me to see role-playing games as more than just a game. It was a medium of exploring anything. Fun stories. Dark stories. Introspective thoughts of an existential nature. It taught me to see players as people who can also offer options as antagonists in a game. It was a dark and dreary game that enthrals, inspires, seduces, and terrifies.

And I still seek for the day I can run this with a group that is willing to dive into the darkness with me. A group that absolutely trusts in me and in each other. A group mature enough to explore disturbing topics without using it for cheap self-fulfilling gains at the cost of other player's comfort.

April 12, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 12: How do you get your work out there?

April 12, 2018

#12: How do you get your work out there?

Currently, TAG Sessions stuff are available via DrivethruRpg. The site has been quite a resource in reaching an audience and finding new readers and gamers.  I've also signed up with Gallant Knight Games and through them, books like A Single Moment continue to gain traction and find a fanbase of its own. Then, there are the Community Creators stuff for 7th Sea and the World of Darkness.

These, of course, are for stuff I try to release on my own. Thankfully, I've been fortunate enough to be invited or contracted to be part of other projects.  And so Kickstarter has been another way that my work has found itself in the hands of other people. Locally, Abubot.ph has also made my book available.

I also have a Patreon, a Blog, a Twitter feed, a Google Plus page, a and a Facebook Page.

Finally, for my fiction work and non-directly RPG related stuff, I've got some stuff appearing on Amazon.com as well as locally via Talecraft Publishing, which releases stuff both in Amazon, Buqo Bookstore, and through Komikasi's tie in with Cherry Mobile via Sachet Novels..

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 4: Psychosis

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 4: Psychosis

Tremendously few are even aware of this game. It is a role-playing game where your character starts with barely any knowledge of who you are. The game uses Tarot cards instead of dice, and even more interestingly, has no character sheet.  The game has been out of print for a while, with a few modules still available, such as Ship of Fools and Solitary Confinement available.

April 11, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 11: What's yer brand

April 11, 2018

#11: What's yer brand

Currently, I don't think TAG Sessions has a brand, per se. At most, I can say it is a brand that tries to be innovative and emotionally true. I'm not too keen on writing supplements or games that just do more of the same thing that's already out there. I like creating stuff that offers a new way to try something or explores a new mechanics that does something familiar in a different way.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Red Sickening Lights, Manila - Now Available

Red Sickening Lights, Manila is the first book of the Reconquista saga, a story that explores the Camarilla’s attempt to regain control of the Philippines, a Ventrue Justicar’s search for an old enemy, and the unexpected bonds that form between two people. It is an insidious tale of revenge, obsession, and love.

This is a Vampire: The Masquerade novelette series by Tobie Abad.
Get the book here: http://www.storytellersvault.com/product/239493/Red-Sickening-Lights-Manila

Day 3: Houses of the Blooded

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 3: Houses of the Blooded

Houses of the Blooded was the game that opened my eyes to multiple new concepts and mechanics. The ideas of Sharing Narrative Control, of Failing Forward, of trusting players to handle the story well, of having Open Secrets, and of letting players have ANY power they want, because having it is not as important as giving them the challenging scenes of not wanting to use it. This game was a game-changer in so many ways. I feel sad when I read other people's reviews of this game and see how much they don't actually get the point.

Houses of the Blooded was the game I wish I can someday write for.

April 10, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 10: Favorite game to relax with.

April 10, 2018

#10: Favorite Game to Relax with.

I definitely found this to be an interesting question. People who game under me can attest how my games are usually powerfully emotional or suitably pathos releasing moments. I don't usually run games that are meant to be just relaxing ones. Many people play games for the laughs and the hilarity. I'm more in it for the drama and the unfolding narrative.

Oddly, I find such games relaxing though. I like the release and comfort that follows a lot of screaming and tears. And gratefully, my players feel the same way.  At best, the closest thing to a really relaxing game that I can mention would have to be Changeling the Dreaming only because we have lots of fun with the bunks. Alternately, there's games powered by the Apocalypse like Monsterhearts and Pasion de las Pasiones. We tend to enjoy the unpredictable insanity of those stories.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 9, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 09: Describe your Process

April 09, 2018

#09: Describe Your Process

It always begins with an idea.  The idea can be a new experience I want to explore, or a new mechanic I want to evolve. A Single Moment had me thinking of the dramatic moments in film and wanting to translate it into a gameified experience. Sickening Queens was about finding a way to celebrate the joy of drag. 

From there, I start writing stuff down. Ideas on what I want to capture. References I want to explore. I might consider looking at what game system to use, but more often than not, that comes a bit later.  What I instead explore are the three questions Jared Sorensen had established:

What is the game about? How is it about that? How you do encourage it?

John Wick added a fourth: How do you make it fun? although I admit I feel that fourth question should actually already exist as early as the idea phase. After all, if I cannot conceive how it will be fun at that stage, it probably didn't look into exploring it further.

I write. I don't edit. I just write. I play music that gets me in the mood of the game. I probably even re-reference inspirations and resources to keep the brain tank full. After, I reach out to friends and strangers for playtesting and to see if they "get it". If they don't get it, there's a huge chance a majority of others won't either once you release it.

Then, I release it in the wild. I hope for the best. I enjoy hearing from the rare few who make it a point to be thankful and express it. And I start anew.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 8, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 08: Describe your Routine

April 08, 2018

#08: Describe your Routine

Hmm I don't quite have a Routine when I work on RPGs.  I can say I try to sneak in some hours to write each day, although I do admit it isn't as regular as I hoped. I still have sporadic days of writing tons of pages one day, then barely a paragraph the next.  

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi
I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 2: Vampire the Masquerade

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 2: Vampire the Masquerade

Vampire the Masquerade was my first touch with horror in a role-playing game. While previous games such as Chill, Palladium, and the like had horror elements, being able to play the monster was such a ground-breaking moment for me, it was life-changing. Add to that the idea of experience points no longer being tied to kills and you got a game that was destined to make one rethink their paradigm on role-playing games.

April 7, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 07: Your Workspace.

April 07, 2018

#07: Your Workspace

I don't actually have a workspace. I have a laptop which I use to write stuff on, but otherwise I write and work anywhere I have to. I've actually worked on some games while in other countries because I was there for either events or for family stuff and inspiration happened to strike.

But yeah, I definitely have a virtual workspace. This is basically a Word, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Notepad, any web browser for research needs, and a great selection of music to give me writing vibes. I tend to have a drink or two nearby, not necessarily coffee but I do spoil myself at times and have a pint of ice cream or some sashimi to congratulate myself for finishing a writing milestone.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

Day 1: Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rules Set 1

There are RPGs and settings that have had a lasting impact on us all. Over 10 days share 10 covers of games. Takes us all on a journey from earliest gaming through to where you are now. Tell us why it made a lasting impression.

Tagged by Alan Bahr of Gallant Knight Games.

Day 1: Dungeons and Dragons

It was the game that gave me my horrific first game ever. But thankfully, that was not enough to destroy the fantastic experience of living in a world created by your imagination with the help of other people. And it has lead to becoming a HUGE passion of mine now, if not the ikigai of my life.

April 06, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 06: Favorite Game Mechanic?

April 06, 2018

#05: Favorite Game Mechanic

Currently, there are three game mechanics I really love from the many games I've played so far. In no particular order, the first one would be Stunting/Flair.  Giving players extra dice as a reward for describing things better or making the scene more awesome is always a good thing.

The second would have to be the Heart Rate Mechanic of Lacuna. It was such an ingenious method of ramping up tension and giving the players a clear view of how much they were risking their lives with each passing moment while handling a mission. It was just elegantly perfect.

The last would be the use of flashbacks to further develop a story. I generously used this in my game, A Single Moment, and I really loved how it was capitalized on to capture the feel of the show, Leverage, in the Leverage RPG. It also makes a delicious appearance as Preparedness in Gumshoe and as the Stress spending actions in Blades in the Dark. 

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 05, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 05: Favorite Game You've Worked On

April 05, 2018

#05: Favorite Game You've Worked On

Having worked on a number of projects so far, I will have to admit that the favorite game I've work on as of now would have to be my experience working with Ole Peder Giæver and the gang for Itras By: Menagerie. While I had a fantastic time writing for other projects as well, such as for Ben Woerner's Blood and Honor, for Josh Jordan's Heroine, Alan Bahr's Cold Shadows (and more), Elizabeth Chaipraditkul's Witch: Fated Souls, John Wick's 7th Sea, and many others, writing up Imperia Manila was quite an experience. It was a heady mix of creative and editorial responsibility, with the opportunity to go crazy and find a way to make the Manila experience resonate with the surreal quality of Itras By. I loved being able to inject various mythological references, as well as have some shout-outs to other stuff such as Carlo Vergara's Zsazsa Zaturnnah to give it an old-meets-new feel. Thankfully, the reception to it has been quite remarkable.

On a related note, I've been invited locally to take part in an upcoming event called (AUTHOR)ities http://booksphilippines.gov.ph/9thpilfprogram/ to run demo games of Itras By: Menagerie to showcase the Manila Imperia setting. This feels like a huge thing for me cause it means a government-related event has just thought to feature tabletop RPGs as part of their event.  That is unheard of here in Manila!

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 04, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 04: Describe Your Work

April 04, 2018

#04:  Describe Your Work

My work is a celebration of new experiences.  Whenever I create a game, I try to imagine what new experience I can offer the gaming industry. I try to think of what new feeling I can evoke with the way the game flows. Or what new aspect of life the game can help others explore.

I'm no fan of games that just try to be some kind of derivative of a more popular existing game. Nor am I a designer who makes games have a cultural touchstone just for making it feel more local/unique. I design with intention and with empathetic attention.

That said, my games are designed to be fun and evocative without over-complicating things with crunch. My games are not meant for everyone, as there are certain types of play that I do not and probably will not ever see as fun (I'm looking at you, TPK games and games where the GM is the antagonist). My games bring something new to the table, and leave something memorable when it is done.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 03, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 03: How did you start creating TTRPGs?

April 03, 2018

#03: How did you start creating TTRPGs?

My first stab at creating my own role-playing game was waaaaay back when my friends and I were anxious to try Vampire: the Masquerade but we had no idea where to buy the book. Given it was an era when online purchases were unheard of, and there were very few stores that sold anything rpg related, we ended up homebrewing our own version of the game.


We had Jyhad cards (those cards which eventually would be renamed Vampire: the Eternal Struggle) and drew inspiration from those cards to create what we thought would be the Vampire Disciplines. We then used Palladium as the game system of choice, and soon ended up with a game where you can roll 70% to Throw a Gate, or try to do Alacrity with 56% chance of success. It was cooky, but it worked!

Fast foward to 2014, when I start offering to help copy write or do supplements for various Kickstarters I supported. Among the first few were stuff for Vas Quas Editrice and for Ginger Goat's Heroine RPG. Soon enough, it lead to finally publishing A Single Moment, which has been the first of many self-published games that I've released.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi

I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 02, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMaker 02: Where ya at?

April 02, 2018

#02: Where ya at?

I'm based here in Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila, Philippines.  It is a pleasant place where the streets are safe for walking, dogs are welcome, and most of the places are within walking distance. It is also sorta in the center of the main metropolis area, being the nice hub for people from Quezon City up north and Paranaque down South. 

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi
I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker

April 01, 2018 #AprilTTRPGMAker 01: Who are you?

April 01, 2018

#01: Who are you?

I am Tobie Abad, game designer, storyteller, and the brains behind TAG Sessions.
I am the lifetime partner of Rocky and we celebrate BaduyPride.
I am the son of Lito and Dulce, the brother of Mike and Tracy.

I have once even been called the Table Top Evangelist.
I am me.

From https://twitter.com/Kiranansi I challenge ye, my dear fellow game makers, to answer my questions, on the corresponding day, this burgeoning April, and verily it shall be that ye shall be inspired by all makers around you and in this beautiful world henceforth. #AprilTTRPGMaker