TTRPGS I've Been Playing - Earth Mother, Sky Father
Earth Mother, Sky Father by @takataapui is one of the most unique and emotive games I've ever played! I love the incorporation of the Māori language in play, especially in relation to each of the questions asked. I'll admit I'm not super familiar with the folklore that inspired this game but it still did a really good job of getting me invested and conveying the story.
The questions and monologues were very well-written and emotive. Whenever I or the other player paused for breath or to think it felt very tense and despite playing it in a board game store where a bunch of MTG players had congregated the questions did a wonderful job of setting the mood.
I also really appreciate the layout of this game, putting the page numbers at the top was a very good choice for a digital format and in general it sometimes felt more like I was reading a book of poetry rather than rules for a game. The layout was also clever in how it incorporated embedded links to audio recordings of pronounciation guides. This really feels like one of those games designed with a digital format in mind, rather than as an optional backup to the physical book. Ironically, it’s also one of the ones I’d be most interested to see as a physical book.
Another thing I really liked about this game was how it almost incorporated elements of choose your own adventure novels. It's a really interesting depiction of the conversation to see how the questions you chose to ask or not to ask physically changes the page you turn to.
This is definitely a game I'll play again, I even have a person to play it with in mind. If you like games that aren't afraid to be artistic and poetic and emotive, please check this one out!
You can find Earth Mother Sky Father Here.
