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Game Artifact: In This World of Gardens and Music

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My last post covered artifacts of gaming and how I love them as evidence of an ephemeral experience.  True to my word, I will be posting any artifacts from my TTRPG sessions here on the blog for my enjoyment. Here are some quick descriptions of the worlds created in Ben Robbins' In This World based on the topic of gardening: Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash Audrey 2: Red Roots - A world in which a magical curse made it impossible for plants to grow from the soil. They grow from the people instead.  The Last Harvest - In a dying galaxy, a convoy of generational ships follow the one ship with the last surviving fauna. Daunting Terra - Rampant progress in terraforming science leads to plants with no weaknesses and they are now used as a weapon of war. Flora Nova - Sentient plant species grow their children. They must be protected from the ravages of nature. And now some worlds based on the topic of music: Big Conch - Songs cannot be written but rather must be recorded...
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In This World and the Artifacts of the Ephemeral

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This post is actually two different topics meshed into one post. The other day I got a chance to play In This World   (affiliate link) , a game by Ben Robbins. Ben is well known among indie game developers and players thanks to games like Microscope and Kingdom. In This World is on-brand for him as it is a game that focuses on collaborative world-building rather than characters. I would go as far to say that In This World feels more like brainstorming session rather than a game (I know definitions of the term "game" fluctuate and can be subjective so I won't delve any further here). As a quick take on this game I would say avoid it if you want to scratch the TTRPG itch that involves characters, scenes, combat, and/or story. However, definitely play this game if you want to get the creative brain juices flowing or enjoy worldbuilding games in general.  Unlike many other collaborative worldbuilding games, In This World focuses on a singular aspect of a world, like religi...
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The August 2024 Recap

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 August is over already? Goodbye summer. Well, I live in the southern portion of the US so I guess we still have some summer left. I'm actually ready for the heat to go away now. I read through quite a few TTRPG books in August but only got to play one game. That game was Apothecaria and I have a few playthrough fiction entries and a review up on the blog.  Photo by 2Photo Pots on Unsplash Games That I Read Summit - A solo game about a mountain climber ascending to the peak of the mountain while reflecting on their life. This was creative but the subject matter and setting didn't draw me into playing. High Above Them All - An "Alone Among The Stars" type game about an inhabitant on a floating island observing the world as they float in the sky. I am not a big fan of the "Alone" series of games but my hobby of reading RPG's will always draw me to them. Shelf Talker - This game fits on a bookmark. A micro-sized writing game in which you come up with s...
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Cyel's Journal: Week Three - An Apothecaria Playthrough

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 This weekend, I decided to heed the advice of the goblin I met on Moonbreaker Mountain and attempt The Calling Ritual to find a familiar. I felt a strong connection to the majestic peaks, so I made my way back to the Moonbreaker Range. I found a secluded spot, and carefully arranged a circle of stones and alpine flowers, then settled myself within the center. I closed my eyes and focused my mind to call out, asking the wild spirits of the mountain to send me a companion willing to aid a new witch with my duties in service of High Rannoc. At first, there was only silence, save for the gentle breeze rustling the nearby trees. But then, I heard the soft padding of paws approaching. Slowly opening my eyes, I was met with the piercing gaze of a magnificent snow leopard. It regarded me for a long moment before finally speaking. "I am Kaymitch and I am at your service." I was both surprised and delighted. Kaymitch's regal stance and intelligent eyes told me that he would be a f...
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Cyel's Journal: Week Two - An Apothecaria Playthrough

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 I stayed busy over the weekend by heading back up to the mountain cave to tinker around with the broken stone golem. I tried my best to reactivate it, trying multiple spells to cast into the runes carved into its surface, but it remained lifeless. I will need to consult my books again and spend more time studying this ancient being if I hope to bring it back to life. While I was in the mountains, I also took some more cuttings of cynic ivy and brought it back to plant in the garden plot behind the cottage. I'm hoping to cultivate my own supply rather than having to trek back up the Moonbreaker Range each time I need it. The soil here seems rich, so with some care and attention, I'm hopeful the ivy cuttings will take root. I still can't help but feel a bit like a stranger in this cottage. The previous witch's notes are helpful, but this place doesn't quite feel like home yet. I suppose it will just take some more time to get settled and accustomed to my new life her...
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Cyel's Journal: Week One - An Apothecaria Playthrough

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Cyel's Journal, Week 1 I've finally arrived at the cottage on the outskirts of High Rannoc. It's a quaint little place, surrounded by a weedy garden plot and nestled between the Glimmerwood Grove and Meltwater Loch, with a beautiful view of the Moonbreaker Range. I'm pleasantly surprised to find the cottage well-furnished and tidy. A cozy living room at the entry, with a fireplace, sofa and plush armchair. There is a kitchen, complete with a stove and wooden cabinets stocked with cooking supplies. A potion room with the basics; mortar and pestle, cauldron, and alembic for distillation. The bedroom is quite small with a comfy bed and small wardrobe. But what's most striking is the lack of personal effects. Not a single item belonging to the previous witch seems to remain. There was a note on the kitchen table that started with, "If you're reading this, I'm probably missing...or dead." A bit creepy. However, the note also mentioned that High Rannoc i...
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Apothecaria - The Solo Journaling Game That Wants to Keep You Playing

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The witch of High Rannoc has disappeared.  No one knows the exact reason she left, but most people don't dig too deeply into the business of witches. However, it is known is that High Rannoc now needs a new witch.  That witch is you.  Apothecaria is a cozy journaling game written by Anna Blackwell and published by Blackwell games. You play as a witch who has just taken over the position as the witch of High Rannoc. Your job is to tend to any villagers, adventurers or even monsters that come to you for help. To do so, you will need to venture out into wild to obtain reagents in order to brew potions to heal the ailments of the afflicted. If you are successful, you get paid and gain reputation. However, if you take too long wandering the wilds, you will not get paid and may lose your reputation. Use your hard earned money to buy upgrades for your cottage or other tools to make the collecting of reagents more efficient. But as your reputation grows, so will the difficulty of...
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