Monday Musings #71 🤬
Spooky Orktober?!
Good Monday, Gamer!
"When you come at the King, you best roll a crit." – King Omar
I've been diving deep into Cold City and Hot War, following the seven report updates from Handiwork Games as they prepare to reboot these classics. I have some fond memories of playing Cold City, though not nearly enough of it, and I’m on a mission to track down a copy of Hot War to play before the new editions drop. Both games live in the tense, paranoid shadows of the Cold War, with a healthy dose of the supernatural stirred in. Handiwork has been releasing reports that connect the historical backdrop with the themes of these games, and it’s been a treat to read. If I’m remembering correctly, I also really liked the dice mechanics—a close cousin to the Sorcerer RPG system, if memory serves.
For Spooky October, I dipped my toe into the Quietus RPG this week with a mix of old friends and new faces. This one's a game of melancholy horror designed for one-shot, low-prep sessions and perfect for a small group. It’s a light build of the Forge in the Dark engine. The setup? A tragic circle of friends haunted by their own backstories and trying to survive a horror movie. Spoiler: I didn’t make it. I played Robbie, a lanky, top-knot-wearing kid with a trench coat and an unhealthy obsession with Highlander. He had a rough home life, especially after telling his mom about his dad's "activities"—she didn’t believe him. We had a whole 80s Stranger Things vibe going, and it was creepy 😱
52 Minis just dropped a video on painting Orcs, which is perfect timing as I prep for my Moria Expeditions using The One Ring. As the year winds down, I owe a few game sessions to some of you. Pretty certain you’ll be joining me for a trip into the depths of Moria. Get ready to face goblins, orcs, and maybe worse... In my solo One Ring Moria campaign, Vefar and his ragtag group of five dwarves and a hobbit have, of course, gotten lost on their first mission from Balin. I started this solo run to generate some content for upcoming one-shot sessions and to brush up on the rules. Originally, I planned to use a VTT to keep everything organized, but it turns out good ol’ paper was faster to set up. I went full analog with a hand-drawn journey map —which gets game use! Scribbled notes, tallies, and random game doodles. Turns out, these make for great AP material. Sometimes, the long way around is the best path.
I've also been dipping my toes into the world of Reverse: 1999 to see what all the Gacha hype is about. It’s a beautifully crafted game, loaded with narrative layers—but I'm here for the gameplay, and so far, I’ve only played through a few tutorialesque matches with no real stakes—and no real money spent 🤷🏾♂️ I’m taking suggestions!!
ICYMI
Judd’s been on a rampage with his Daydreaming about Dolmenwood posts, especially now that he’s using the Sorcerer RPG system. Highly recommended if you're a fan of weird, mystical forests.
Kill Team 2024 dropped, and it’s packing solo and co-op modes!
Catch you next week! 🎲
Nov:
RPGKC Monthly - Balin’s Moria Expedition.
RinCon Tucson,AZ ??? 🤞🏽
Dec:
PAXU!! Lifted: Indomitable
Games on Demand
RPG Designer Meet & Greet
PANELS!!!