#swordqueengames

[temporalhiccup]

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🌤️Share your favorite mechanic from a game you’re working on.

In my on going war against Setting Elements in Belonging Outside Belonging (I'm half-joking!), I've been experimenting with unlockable and growing sections of the City in BALIKBAYAN: Returning Home. Here are two (out of eight) parts of the City you can work towards accessing: the Market and the Sensorium. The group tailors the leader, aesthetics, and threats to their liking.

In the Cyberpunk genre the city always feels like an important character. Also, unlocking components of the game that everyone can enjoy in a BoB game is one of my fave design things to do now. The Unlockable sections here are the Market Contacts and the Hidden Power, and you unlock Moves within that part of the City that any player can lean into as they like. It's worked out really well in playtests so far (and I have more about how to unlock the more magical/supernatural aspects of the City).

[temporalhiccup]

I wasn't sure what to do in the lead up to the "actual dungeon", since the page included the days before January 1. I drew seven cards and seven rituals revealed themselves.

It's very nice to return to a dreamy flow of consciousness sort of writing (and I absolutely recognize my trans feelings bursting through and flooding the page), but I'm taking to heart the intention setting tarot reading and just going with it.

I'm also enjoying putting together these "covers", but I'm promising myself that I'm only spending 5-10 minutes on each one. This is another creative constraint for the project to manage my energy. (Once again, images from Unsplash.com)

(the VERY COOL THING is I started putting together the cover days before I pulled cards, so I had no idea the Devil card and its prominent skull was going to show up...)

Seven Rituals, Seven Steps

Seven ways to Enter the Dungeon

Seven ways to Become the Dungeon

The Devil - The Ritual Begins

Two halves of you bound: one false and fat on the lies fed to it, spirit skeletal and despair dripping off her bones.

One bound yet barely held together, seeking escape even if it means a temporary oblivion.

My love, take a deep breath and close all your eyes, even the ones on your palms.

The Devil will come to take his due, I will pay him in bone and song.

Now, run. Run and take both halves with you, leave your closed eyes and held breath with me.

Run, there will be no looking back, no hesitation or regret.

Run,

My love.

Queen of Cups: The Ritual of Water - To enter the dungeon that you are, dive into the water of your memories. Drown pain, drown despair, drown drown drown drown drown.

The Hierophant: The Ritual of Second Sight - To enter the dungeon that you are, take two hands two keys, two promises. Make a promise to each half, tell one lies and the other truth. Tell them the same thing. Regain whispers.

Ace of Cups: The Ritual of the True Promise - To enter the dungeon that you are, observe one of your halves. Fed on truth or lies, it offers you a chalice. It is filled with

Dreams

Promises

Time

Blood

Tears

Memories of him

Nine of Wands: The Ritual of Wounding - To enter the dungeon that you are, feel the tarnished dagger that appears at your side, deep in your bone and blood. What does it cut away? What song do you sing as it does?

Queen of Wands: The Ritual of the Cat - "A tad dramatic, aren't we?" the black cat says, arching its back and flickering its tail to dislodge the stars. "Pace yourself."

The Magician: The Ritual of Intention - To enter the dungeon that you are, feel the magic rising in you now, know that there is only the awakening. Name the magic that pours out of your eyes, mouth, pores of your skin.

The Empress: The Ritual of Naming - She emerges from your shadow, resplendent in glory you cast aside. What name have you discarded that she wears proudly?

A cracked crown bleeds from your hands. What does it hold and protect?

Regret

Love

Pain

Hope

Lies

Power

Name the stars that gather around you both, decide what you will do with the crown.

[temporalhiccup]

I AM THE DUNGEON

Week 10 February 27 - March 5

Short entries, and wow I need to look back at what cards I've drawn so far but that's a lot of swords, huh. Couldn't possibly mean anything!

This week's theme is events! This week slips back and forth between surreal and grounded, I think I'm starting to find the voice of the dungeon.

IX of Swords

Nine daggers sharp, slipped past every defense, every lesson learned.

Nine daggers, nine names, nine women I could have been if I had played by the rules.

The World

The dungeon turns on an invisible axis, and a new dimension cascades and recolors, recontextualizing all.

IX of Cups

A pattern of nine emerges: nine moon, nine winds, nine bells, nine knights. At the end of nine journeys you gain nine wishes.

VII of Cups

Some of your thoughts leak out of your mind, becoming beautiful but fragile objects. Choose only one to keep, as the rest shatter.

The Hierophant

An old mentor appears, younger than you have ever known them. Teach them what they will one day teach you.

VII of Swords

Vengeance appears before you, perfect and sublime. Hold them close, whisper treachery to begin the dance.

II of Swords

Water floods the dungeon, drowning all that weighs you down. What floats up to the surface with you?

King of Cups

A mirage aching to become real offers what you most yearn to consume. Partake and become unreal.

[temporalhiccup]

Experimenting with Setting Elements and replacing them with alternatives is my favorite things to do!

In Heaven Is Here (If You Want It) I attempted a more Firebrands structure approach while experimenting with growth and change in the Belonging Outside Belonging structure.

Much love to Jay Dragon who inspired so much of this.