This blog aims to record my attempts to map out a gamescape for myself in the Philippine setting, given that I don't really have much time to do so, what with my growing family, and work, and other real life concerns.
I try to keep updated on the news, share posts by other bloggers and what I think about them, and write about my thoughts on the impact that gaming has had on my life and the lives of others I've known (in person and virtually).
My Gaming Preferences
Favorite Games
There are two games that really taught me about role-playing and the importance of tactics and teamwork in all kinds of conflict resolution and problem solving in games (though to be fair, I'd include the people in the gaming groups that I played with). They are:
- Champions (HERO System) - Superhero RPGs hold a fascination for me, because I was a big comic book collector back when I had more disposable income. I've tried the Marvel Super-Heroes RPG by TSR, the DC Heroes RPG by Mayfair Games, and most recently the Mutants & Masterminds RPG by Green Ronin, but Champions remains my game of choice. Tactical options, the concept of separating game effect from special effect, and the meshing of most of the game's mechanic philosophy with my own preferences make it my go-to game for any cross-genre game.
- Call of Cthulhu (Basic Roleplaying) - there's something about how the system matches the game genre so well, the SAN mechanics, and the way the rulebook and many sourcebooks and adventures consistently reinforce the game's atmosphere and themes. I still hold Masks of Nyarlathotep up as one of the best RPG adventure campaigns ever.
Favorite Published Settings
- Super-hero genre: the settings for Marvel Super-Heroes & DC Heroes could be considered a cheat, but they are. Especially since I tend to combine them into a single setting when I run Champions. I also liked the Mutants and Masterminds, and Champions Universe settings for its obvious fondness for the same source material and its lean yet evocative writing style. San Angelo also deserves mention for its game-changing take on a super-hero city.
- Horror: Call of Cthulhu's 1920s era adventures - something about the era really draws me in, the time period, the look, and the sourcebooks that deliver on atmosphere-reinforcing information and wonderful telling details make this a winner for me. The modern Call of Cthulhu stuff didn't really work for me as a setting -- great for one shots though. And then Delta Green came around with its conspiracy theories and its wonderful twisting and updating of the Cthulhu Mythos, and I was sold!
- High Fantasy: didn't really dabble in this area much, but I really liked Skyrealms of Jorune, Shadow World, and from the D&D contributions: portions of the Mystara setting (The Grand Duchy of Karameikos, The Principalities of Glantri, The Dawn of the Emperors Boxed Set, and the Night's Dark Terror, and Isle of Dread modules) and portions of the Forgotten Realms setting.
- Space Fantasy: without a doubt, the hands-down winner is Fading Suns. There's something about being able to run adventures in a universe obviously inspired by the Dune series and the Hyperion Cantos (and perhaps even a smidge of Against a Dark Background) but is unique enough to be its own setting.
