Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Swords has been out for a year and a half now, #SundayAMSwords is going strong after a full year, the game has...

Swords has been out for a year and a half now, #SundayAMSwords  is going strong after a full year, the game has been featured in the Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/jun/19/the-joy-of-reading-role-playing-games), and it's well on its way to becoming my best selling game.

It's time to take a few victory laps.

Here are two rituals for when you've clearly reached the story's end, but you want just one more moment to celebrate (or soberly reflect depending on the die roll) with the rogues before you fade to black.

The Ritual of the Triumph
When you are in the End Game and you find that the story has reached its conclusion, but no one has reincorporated yet, you may invoke the Ritual of the Triumph. Request that whoever has the power to do so ends the phase now. Then demand a Triumphant Rogues' Phase from the Overplayer.

All demands in a Triumphant Rogues' Phase must be about spectacle, celebration, or reflection. "Show us how trick the wily wizard into buying us all drinks." "Show us how you boast of these recent deeds." "Show us how the village receives us as we return with their stolen cattle." "Show us how you mourn the loss of your loyal steed."

You must end the game on this phase and during this phase each Rogue Player must have a single demand made of them.  This means that one Rogue Player must choose not to reincorporate and this Rogue Player cannot make the final roll. All other Rogue Players must reincorporate.

The Ritual of the Spoils
When you are in the End Game and you find that the story has reached its conclusion, but no one has reincorporated yet, you may invoke the Ritual of the Spoils. Request that whoever has the power to do so ends the phase now. Then demand a Spoilful Discovery Phase from the Overplayer.

All discoveries in a Spoilful Discovery Phase must be about treasure earned, regrets revealed, or wonders beheld. The must not extend the current story, but may hint at adventures yet to come. "I find a small, jade idol in the shape of a tortoise. Who might pay the most for such a trinket?" "In the smouldering wreck, to my surprise, I find my long lost brother's locket. What small hope do I have that he yet lives?" "As we stand on the cliff's edge surveying the lush valley below, we see a crystal pyramid overgrown with vines and jungle weeds. What happens when the light of the dawn first shines upon it?"

You must end the game on this phase and during this phase each Rogue Player must make a single discovery.  This means that one Rogue Player must choose not to reincorporate and this Rogue Player cannot make the final roll. All other Rogue Players must reincorporate.
http://www.worldswithoutmaster.com/swords-without-master/

10 comments:

  1. I really, really love that you have put so much energy into Swords and the Worlds Without Master. Thanks for the fun and entertainment, Eppy! May it continue for a dozen generations.

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  2. Thanks! The secret is, I kind of love this game.

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  3. Swords Without Master is what brought me back to tabletop gaming after a very long hiatus. Thanks for the awesome game, Eppy!

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  4. I am proud to be the siren call that lures you back in!

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  5. These both make me want to play so bad! I love the ritual of Spoils! And your examples are awesome.

    I hold the ancient journal of a long dead wizard; all but one sheet torn from its spine. What terrible message is found on this lonely page?

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  6. The not-so-secret is we do too Eppy! :)

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  7. Ooh, there are some Tales that can be built out of these. A Tale of Triumph ends in a Ritual of Triumph and a Tale of Spoils ends in a Ritual of Spoils.

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  8. These look great. :D  I especially love the hinting at adventures yet to come! Making those connections in the fiction between various sessions of this game is one of my favorite parts.

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