Thank you for the fantastic days, ESGS 2019

Still recovering from four days of Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit (one for Business, and three for the public). Thank you so much for making these last few days so special. Tremendously grateful for the opportunity to reach out to the public once more and offer them my new released game, Cat's Dream. Ran so many demo games for my little solitaire game, including sessions for people who never even played an RPG in the past.

First of all, I want to thank Rocky, my partner and my heart, who was such an amazing trooper and made sure I stayed hydrated and had time to eat and use the bathroom. I love you so much.

Then, I want to thank Gwen, Flip, and Francis, who are the people who make Indie Fiesta happen every single year. Your dedication to helping others have a chance to showcase their work and feel welcome is simply priceless and empowering beyond belief. Thank you so much.

Then, I want to thank Urim for checking on me and keeping me company for some of the days as well. And I envy all the awesome swag you got at the event.

My love then goes out to my fellow creators. I was not able to meet you all, but I remain extremely impressed and humbled to see all your incredible works.

Nathan Briones and Project Tadhana's wacky Larp/Strategic Game, TYLZ.

Alexis Dela Cuesta's beekeeping inspired and educational game, Sting-A-Win.

Juan Rafael Escolar's tactical card game, No Savior's Day.

Thomas Regala of the The Epic Gaming Regiment working with Mirai Pyon of Hello, Mirai and their introspective and revealing game, Love's 5 Languages.

Maisie Tan and Crystal Tan of Play Platter's Space Dogs.

Fred Tay's cyberpunk card game, Manila 2076.

Tony Pena's suspenseful game, Espionage.

Yves Suiza's wacky cat inspired game, 9 Lives.

As well as other digital games such as:

Lawmage Academy by Gian Miko Arabejo.

The many emotive games by Artsybarrels by Jem Sarmiento.

Acadmia: School Simulator by Squeaky Wheel Studio Inc.

Yellow Boat Reimagined by Patri1e Adela and her team.

Unconditional by Mira Arguelles.

Good Knight by Alex and Zaid.

Deadline by Kismet Trails Studio and Team Theta.

Couch Fightato by Dan Liamco and Vaughn Pinpin.

Let' Eat Pare by Chikon Club.

...and many many more.

Thank you so much!
Hope to see you all again next year.

(Sadly, we had to leave before the picture taking happened. But yeah, so many new creators this year!)

2019's 12 New Games Challenge is Complete!

12 New Games Each Year

For those who have been following my blog updates, you are likely aware of my 12 New Games personal challenge which I started some time before 2014.  I actually finished the challenge quite prematurely this year, thanks to the many gamers who were willing to join me and explore a few new systems.

For 2019, the games have been the following:

1) Bubblegumshoe
2) Headspace
3) Cold Shadows
4) Praxis: King of Storms
5) Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game
6) The Sword, The Crown, and the Unspeakable Power

7) Alien the RPG

8) Exalted 3rd edition
9) Wraith: the Oblivion, 20th edition

10) Kult: Divinity Lost
11) Pendragon
12) Tiny Frontiers Revised
13) Lords of Gossamer and Shadow

I went over my usual target of 12 which was hard to maintain given so many awesome games came out in the last few months which just had to be tried.  Given it is only October, however, how I have the challenge of trying NOT to explore new games and save them for the later year!  HHAhaha which will definitely be a problem given we have new games such as Root, The Expanse, and so many more coming out.

We concluded our Changeling the Dreaming, 20th anniversary edition campaign with quite an awesome touch. The story had progressed beyond its tween angst storyarcs and was on the road to mature tales for young adults.  We felt that was a good ending point given it meant a shift in the genre as well.

And currently, Pendragon has been a shinning awesome experience for us. The game just hits all the right chords, with bouts of drama, magic, heroism, and tragedy. The Great Pendragon Campaign can seem daunting, but as we played through it now to the story of the Boy King, we're starting to get a far better feel for the game and how the fun can be found in its reasonable crunch.

Why not join me next year in your own 12 New Games journey?

#WeAreAllUs this 2019

Last October 19, 2019, we continued our Pendragon campaign using The Great Pendragon Campaign book, as we played through 510 and watched the young boy Arthur draw the sword from the stone.


Just had an awesome session of Pendragon today. #WeAreAllUs thank you Greg Stafford for writing so many awesome games. #TAGsessions — with Urim Hernandez, Adrian Martinez, Rocky Sunico and Flip Velez.

Wasn't able to slip in the adventure written for the celebration only because it would have felt like a rushed story if we did. But we still wanted to give our thanks and appreciation to the man who made this game possible.

As part of  WeAreAllUs, we remember you, Greg Stafford. And we say, THANK YOU!
https://www.chaosium.com/blogweareallus-remembering-greg-stafford-on-the-anniversary-of-his-passing/

Sins of the Father Companion now available!

Sins of the Father Companion offers more rules, more alternate settings and genres, and even rules for Angels to me in the game! Designed to add more options to Eloy Lasanta's ENnie nominated game, Sins of the Father, grab your copy of the book now and see how angels fit in this amazing setting.

Grab the book today at Drivethrurpg!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/289215/Sins-of-the-Father-Companion

Cat's Dream is coming to ESGS2019 Indie Fiesta!

Cat's Dream will be one of the many games being featured in this year's Indie Fiesta at the Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit 2019.

This year's Indie Fiesta is called the Underground Arcade and features more than 30+ new games and awesome works by local designers in both the mobile, pc, and tabletop industry. 

Do make time and visit us this October 25 to 27!

Speak to me. The voices are far too loud.

Prisoners both, you find strength in the act of communication. But one of you might be lying and the other might lead astray. 

This game was written as a statement against bullying and against hate. This game was inspired by a powerful scene from writing legend Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta. This game was also written as a protest and as a defiant stance against the hate which seems to currently fuel the world. We must embrace love. And this game hopes to allow opportunities to find that despite the bleakness the surround us.

This game might not be for everyone.

Now available on Drivethrurpg
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/288434/Speak-to-me-The-voices-are-far-too-loud

GMAnews features Cat's Dream - a Pinoy-made RPG

From the article:

Inspired by Studio Ghibli’s beloved films, “Cat’s Dream” is a single-player RPG that lets you create your own adventure with the help of a deck of cards, a six-sided die, and a few other things.

It was recently released through Abad’s TAG Sessions platform with the book of basic rules now available in PDF format on the DriveThruRPG online store. 

Your own Ghibli adventure

“Cat’s Dream” is designed to give you that Studio Ghibli-esque experience. While the events that follow your meeting with the cat will depend on your choices, you can expect magic, wonder, and everything in between. You can even have a game with an emotionally heavy and thematically complex story, or one that’s lighthearted and exciting yet moving.

Read the complete article here:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/708898/create-ghibli-style-adventures-in-cat-s-dream-a-pinoy-made-tabletop-rpg/story/


Thank you again so much for the feature! And for the support!

2019 October : TAGBites : Lords of Gossamer & Shadow

Inspired by Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber books, the Lords of Gossamer and Shadow is a diceless tabletop role-playing game that has players portray almost godlike entities who are involved in vast intertwined machinations and political maneuvering.

Learn more about Amber here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Amber

Cat's Dream featured on GoshDarkGeeky.com

Tremendously grateful for the article on my latest game, Cat's Dream.
The game was written by me and features fantastic artwork by Ivan Frani.


Freedom to dream
Cat’s Dream’s mechanics gives players an extraordinary amount of freedom to create any kind of story they desire.

“I love how the game unlocks creative ideas in its players and opens their eyes to the potential wealth of choices and narrative twists one can embrace in a tabletop role-playing game,” said Abad.

“I also love seeing players realize how many other kinds of entertaining stories can be told in role-playing games beyond the usual fight and tactic-focused scenes. I do hope it also inspires some players to check out Ghibli movies.”

What would eventually become Cat’s Dream was born in 2013, “when I opted to be part of the Creative Pay It Forward event and my dear friend Jovan asked if I could create a game inspired by the [Ghibli] films,” said Abad.

Link to full article here:
http://goshdarngeeky.com/pst_blogs/cats-dream-this-studio-ghibli-inspired-tabletop-rpg-lets-you-create-your-own-magical-adventures/

Coming this 2019 - Cat's Dream

From what started as just a Creative Pay it Forward challenge I embraced last 2013, the game is finally ready for release.  Cat's Dream is a solitaire tabletop rpg adventure that invites you to follow a cat and see where the story leads you.

This initial release is the Basic Journey Rules, with a small collection of optional rules you can use to enhance your game.   I am still looking at ways to have a limited run of the book printed and available for purchase.  But one thing is certain, this year the PDF shall be available for all of you interested in trying the game.

Thank you again to everyone who made this game possible, with special thanks to Jovan who requested for a game inspired by Studio Ghibli, and to my TAG TEAM SUPPORTERS (To my Tag Team Supporters: Rocky Sunico, Mina Sunico, Rob Abrazado, Lemuel Herman, David Korabell, and Tania Arpa, as well as the  other supporters who were there when I began this project; Ryan Schoon, Rob Deobald, Riverhouse Games , Karlo Licudine, David Harrison, Che de Leon, and James Lo.) who helped finance the creation of this game.