'Tis that time of year, hoss...
All of my players had to cancel before yesterday's game, except for one. I asked that remaining player if he'd mind gaming alongside one of the twins who keeps asking when we can play Dungeons & Dragons again.
The plan was a 90-minute one-shot and then watch a movie, which we did. My boy had fun, the two of us from our home group got to roleplay a little, and I was able to test the new Zeeku game mechanic in full (there's a whole second layer which I got to try for the first time yesterday).
Explaining that this adventure would take place in the puchsia (combination of puce and fuchsia) dimension or parallel universe, it could feature familiar characters who were also distinct from themselves due to existing elsewhere in the multiverse, metaverse, or skinematic Vengerverse (though, the adventure itself was PG-13).
My son continued with his original character (by now, 3rd level) named Chicken Wizard or Chicken-Wing for short, a quick-silver elf and thief. The player from our home-game I gave the choice of playing his usual character in the current Cha'alt campaign, a puchsia-hued Thurberus or completely new character (he opted for a demon sorcerer named Hasslebub), and I, as GM, roleplayed a dark-elf warrior named Zax. Hasslebub and Zax were also 3rd level.
The scenario itself felt familiar yet fresh simultaneously. In the underdark, the drow city of Tenzarith released their prisoners once a year to be hunted by the dark-elf elite into the Caves of Carnage. The PCs were prisoners only a day away from The Hunt.
The players got into it and adventure was had, even if only an hour and a half worth. In the end, the party found its way to freedom, reaching the desert surface and fuchsia skies... or would those be puchsia skies, above?
The original part of Zeeku went swimmingly. 1s and 6s were flying every which way and I interpreted them to the best of my ability - the players threw-out a few helpful suggestions, as well.
During our playtest, it became obvious that the secondary layer of game mechanic needed an overhaul. So, that's what I intend to do over the next couple of days, tweak it here and there until it's in better shape for VENGER CON IV: Post-Modern Apocalypse. That's when the real playtesting takes place. After an entire weekend of running Cha'alt and Cha'alt-based sessions, I'll know if Zeeku is ready for prime-time.
There's a good chance it'll continue to evolve as it gets used and abused. By the end of the convention, I expect to self-publish a little PDF booklet of Zeeku for gamers looking for alternate ways to improve their gaming experiences, potentially. ;)
And since yesterday's truncated one-shot was my last GMing responsibility until the convention, I have the next two weeks to forge scenarios, random tables, and crazy encounters of weird-shit tinged with hitherto unimagined colorations. Can't wait to get started!
Enjoy,
VS
p.s. Want the hardcover Cha'alt trilogy? Here's how (and they're currently on sale!)!! Want to join the Kort'thalis mailing list to stay up-to-date on what's going on in the skinematic Vengerverse? This is it!! Last but not least, I'm organizing a based-as-fuck RPG convention in Madison, WI this July (Sandy Petersen will be joining us as VENGER CON's Guest of Honor). Grab your weekend badge for VENGER CON IV: Post-Modern Apocalypse!!!
