{"id":1064,"date":"2019-03-23T10:00:11","date_gmt":"2019-03-23T10:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/?p=1064"},"modified":"2021-11-16T00:39:05","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T05:39:05","slug":"five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/","title":{"rendered":"Five or So Questions on Mysthea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Today I have an interview with Jay Iles on <\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/1549920133\/mysthea-legends-from-the-borderlands\"><strong>Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands<\/strong><\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/1549920133\/mysthea-legends-from-the-borderlands\"><strong>, which is currently on Kickstarter<\/strong><\/a><strong>! It plays into some of the thoughts I&#8217;ve been having about what happens <\/strong><em><strong>after<\/strong><\/em><strong> rebellion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Art for Mysthea is by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artstation.com\/travis-anderson\">Travis Anderson<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"840\" data-attachment-id=\"1066\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/cover-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?fit=1890%2C1890&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1890,1890\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cover\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;The Mysthea cover with a red crystalline feature like a castle in the background with a cliff in the foreground. The cliff has trees winding around and framing the image, and on the right near a group of trees, a person wearing a cape and holding a red and gold scepter or staff of some kind in the shape of a half-sun stands, looking out toward the red crystalline structure.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?resize=840%2C840&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"The Mysthea cover with a red crystalline feature like a castle in the background with a cliff in the foreground. The cliff has trees winding around and framing the image, and on the right near a group of trees, a person wearing a cape and holding a red and gold scepter or staff of some kind in the shape of a half-sun stands, looking out toward the red crystalline structure.\" class=\"wp-image-1066 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?w=1890&amp;ssl=1 1890w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/840;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tell me a little about <\/strong><em><strong>Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands<\/strong><\/em><strong>. What excites you about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So! <em>Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands<\/em> is a game of post-war rebuilding and divided loyalties in a geomantic fantasy world. It\u2019s set in a city that\u2019s in territory contested by two major powers, and now those powers are at war. The war front has passed over this city and is now a distant rumble, and the city is free again &#8211; though much worse for wear. Each player creates a faction active in the city, whether they\u2019re an ancient order, a new organisation dedicated to refugee support, or sent by one of the great powers to rebuild the city and pursue their patron\u2019s agenda. You\u2019ll make a viewpoint character from your faction, dive into the politics and struggles of the wounded city, and see how it changes from flashpoint to flashpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m excited about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Telling a zoomed-in story:<\/strong> your group will find out how a single city grows and how its people change over the span of a few decades. You\u2019ll craft this city and get to know its districts, its politics, its festivals.<\/li><li><strong>A dive into weird fantasy<\/strong>: <em>Mysthea<\/em> is a world defined by the crystals scattered over it by a prehistoric impact. These crystals warp the environment and its creatures, but also resonate with human thought. What does a society look like where everyone has limited telekinesis, and can use these crystals to build, fight, control beasts, craft prosthetics, etc? I\u2019m interested in finding out!<\/li><li><strong>A game of empire and liberation.<\/strong> At least some of the player factions will be coming into the city as liberators, having ousted the previous occupiers. But the ousting wasn\u2019t clean, and the faction\u2019s patrons aren\u2019t altruists. As you play you\u2019ll deal with what happens <em>after<\/em> liberation, as each faction must reckon with their obligations to their patrons, the city, and each other. We\u2019re hoping the fantasy setting will provide the needed distance to really dig into this thorny topics, and have hired cultural consultants to try and ensure we do so respectfully.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"602\" data-attachment-id=\"1067\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/enart10\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?fit=2520%2C1805&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2520,1805\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Enart10\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?fit=1024%2C733&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?resize=840%2C602&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A group of people of various types who have crylstalline features look up through a city towards a shop in the sky that is emitting lighting. One individual raises their sword toward it in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-1067 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?w=2520&amp;ssl=1 2520w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?resize=300%2C215&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?resize=768%2C550&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?resize=1024%2C733&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart10.jpg?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/602;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I like this zoomed in look, and I\u2019m curious about the\nflashpoints! What does it feel like in play to go from moment to moment in this\nworld, and how is that represented in the game?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A flashpoint starts with\nyou defining its core issue: why have we decided to pick up this city\u2019s story\nhere? Maybe a battalion of soldiers has arrived at the city and demanded\nsupplies? Perhaps a shower of crystal meteors have hit the city, causing destruction\nand warped the area? Or maybe one of the player factions has decided they\u2019ve\nhad enough, and is going to try and seize control of the city?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So &#8211; you\u2019ve set up this\nflashpoint. To play through it, you\u2019ll jump between the actions of Houses\n(slow, ponderous, and vast) and Heroes &#8211; agile and dynamic, but with their own\npriorities. We&#8217;ve designed the two layers to feel very different in play. House\nactions add new elements to the map and reshape the city&#8217;s balance of power,\nbut use up a limited pool of Decrees. The hero phase feels more like standard\nPbtA, something like Monster of the Week. Your group of characters have a\nmission to deal with, and as you play out the moment-to-moment drama of that\nconflict you&#8217;ll test your bonds with your fellows and discover new truths about\nthe world. The two phases flow into each other. Your Houses&#8217; actions set up\nthreats and opportunities for your Heroes to deal with, while your Heroes&#8217;\non-the-ground experience of this city and its people can completely change your\nHouses&#8217; priorities and goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"602\" data-attachment-id=\"1069\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/enart01-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?fit=2520%2C1805&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2520,1805\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Enart01\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?fit=1024%2C733&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?resize=840%2C602&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"In a copse of trees, two of which are growing together with a golden orb shining between them, a small turtle-crab creature, a speckled black bird, a tall deer-like creature with spines on its back, and a long-legged lizard creature gather around a glowing book on a pedastal.\" class=\"wp-image-1069 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?w=2520&amp;ssl=1 2520w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?resize=300%2C215&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?resize=768%2C550&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?resize=1024%2C733&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enart01.jpg?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/602;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How do you approach the\nidea of consent and agency in a world where people can control things with\ntheir mind, able to break rules with a thought?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the interesting things about magic in <em>Mysthea<\/em> is that it adds agency, and its most powerful effects need close friends working together on a common goal. It\u2019s a link between the mental and the material and has been used in-setting to craft crystal prostheses amputees can telekinetically control, and literally give agency to constructed beings of stone and crystal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s the other element\ntoo &#8211; consent and agency. One person acting on their own can only perform a few\ntricks with crystal shards and boost their normal actions &#8211; to do more, you\nneed to work together. By calling on the aid of those who have strong bonds\nwith you you add their wisdom to yours, letting you work together to go beyond\nhuman limits, evoke world-warping auras and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that magical\npotency comes from close bonds and common goals instead of years of arcane\nresearch and expensive components is really interesting! What sort of society\ndoes that lead to? How does that change how minority groups organise and lobby\nfor their rights? How do autocrats maintain their power, knowing what power\nlies in their subject\u2019s hands if they work together? I\u2019m interested to find\nout! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1955\" data-attachment-id=\"1070\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/monster07\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?fit=1400%2C1955&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1400,1955\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Monster07\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?fit=733%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?fit=733%2C1024\" alt=\"A large muscular monster stands with other monsters, and the monster is green and reddish pink with large thick legs and shorter arms, a massive head with multiple horns, spider-like eyes, and a huge mouth with big chunky teeth that are fully bared.\" class=\"wp-image-1070 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?resize=215%2C300&amp;ssl=1 215w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?resize=768%2C1072&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Monster07.jpg?resize=733%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 733w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1400\/1955;\" \/><figcaption>I didn&#8217;t ask questions about the monsters but this thing is RAD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I was just asking people\nabout making games that happen after the liberation! What do you think are the\nchallenges in designing a game with this focus, and what\u2019s exciting about them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One challenge is definitely\nthe messy complexity of these situations. You can&#8217;t turn back the clock &#8211; the\noccupation happened, and it and your &#8216;liberation&#8217; left scars on this place.\nAmong the city&#8217;s citizens you&#8217;ll have those who want to restore the old ways,\nand those who suffered under that regime and want to keep moving forward. Among\nthe liberators, you&#8217;ll have isolationists wanting to minimise investment and\noccupiers trying to claim this city permanently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s a really interesting\nsocial situation to drop players into, but it&#8217;s vital to keep the difference\nbetween dogma and the true situation clear. Part of our solution is to make\nsure the game prioritises humanity over ideology. We want to humanise all\nparties involved, though that definitely doesn\u2019t mean presenting all positions\nas valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, we\u2019re aware of the\nlimits of our own perspectives, and have hired consultants to make sure we\ntreat sensitive matters with the appropriate degree of tact and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1278\" data-attachment-id=\"1071\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/hero05\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?fit=1890%2C2875&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1890,2875\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Hero05\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?fit=673%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?resize=840%2C1278&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A woman with wildly waving short hair in strappy, torn clothing that has gens in the leg straps growing down into stilts that are part of her feet. She holds large geometric golden blades in a defensive stance while a diamond shaped, golden item floats behind her head, emitting a bright light and three long, red tentacles.\" class=\"wp-image-1071 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?w=1890&amp;ssl=1 1890w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?resize=197%2C300&amp;ssl=1 197w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?resize=768%2C1168&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?resize=673%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 673w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Hero05.jpg?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/1278;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What are some of the more\ncomplex aspects of designing a game focused on a whole city, rather than just a\nfew characters?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you have to treat\nthe city as a character in its own right, and give it a presence at the table.\nThe map of the city is central to the game: you begin by placing down its\ndistricts and landmarks, and as you play you\u2019ll introduce factors to it\nrepresenting people, places and events crucial to the current flashpoint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also important to\nmaintain the link between people and their community &#8211; to the extent that one\nof the GM\u2019s principles is \u2018name everyone, and know who backs them\u2019. There\u2019s no\nlone wolves in Legends From the Borderlands, and no faceless mooks &#8211; everyone\nhas their own identity, and their own place in the city\u2019s cultural fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, the easiest way to make something feel alive is to have it change. The timeskips between flashpoints are here to establish that, letting the city grow physically and culturally &#8211; each time you jump ahead, you\u2019ll describe ways the city\u2019s appearance has changed, and a new festival that\u2019s sprung up to remember the previous flashpoint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1120\" data-attachment-id=\"1072\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/troops\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?fit=1168%2C1557&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1168,1557\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Troops\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?resize=840%2C1120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"An illustration of large crystalline creatures with crystal weapons leaping and running towards the viewer.\" class=\"wp-image-1072 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?w=1168&amp;ssl=1 1168w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Troops.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/1120;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thank you to Jay for the interview! I hope you all enjoyed the interview and that you&#8217;ll <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/1549920133\/mysthea-legends-from-the-borderlands\"><strong>check out <\/strong><em><strong>Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands<\/strong><\/em><strong> on Kickstarter today<\/strong><\/a><strong>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today I have an interview with Jay Iles on Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands, which is currently on Kickstarter! It plays into some of the thoughts I&#8217;ve been having about what happens after rebellion. Art for Mysthea is by Travis Anderson. &#8212; Tell me a little about Mysthea: Legends From the Borderlands. What excites you &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/03\/five-or-so-questions-on-mysthea\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Five or So Questions on Mysthea&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[390],"tags":[90,20,10,4,17,25,8,15,12,23,18,56],"class_list":["post-1064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","tag-fantasy","tag-five-or-so","tag-game-design","tag-games","tag-gaming","tag-interviews","tag-roleplaying-games","tag-rpg","tag-rpgs","tag-tabletop-games","tag-tabletop-rpgs","tag-worldbuilding"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cover.jpg?fit=1890%2C1890&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paHOcG-ha","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":80,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2018\/06\/five-or-so-questions-on-champions-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":0},"title":"Five or So Questions on Champions Now","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"June 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi all!I did an interview with Ron Edwards on his Kickstarter project, Champions Now! Ron prepared our audio recordings and edited everything into a video, so you get to hear the interview on the following video. I hope you enjoy it and that you'll check out Champions Now on Kickstarter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":110,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2018\/02\/death-in-rpgs-let-me-live-revised-2-17-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":1},"title":"Death in RPGs &#8211;  Let Me Live (revised 2\/17\/18)","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"February 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi all!I recorded this recently and had to make some updates, but now it's a new video on a new URL:\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/Uluvyh64_P8This post was supported by the community on patreon.com\/briecs. Tell your friends!To leave some cash in the tip jar, go to http:\/\/paypal.me\/thoughty.If you'd like to be interviewed for Thoughty, or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":382,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2014\/07\/hangout-with-brie-and-pulse-creators\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":2},"title":"Hangout with Brie and PULSE Creators","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"July 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1435,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/07\/friday-hi-day-youtube-post-live\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":3},"title":"Friday Hi-Day YouTube Post Live!","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"July 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tfn7OHqQ_HQ","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/Tfn7OHqQ_HQ\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":133,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2017\/11\/boy-band-the-game\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":4},"title":"Boy Band: The Game","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"November 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi All! Got an idea today, so I wrote it down. Check out Boy Band: The Game, which will get a fancier version at some point, but until then, get ya grabby hands on it.Boy Band: The GameThis post was supported by the community on patreon.com\/briecs. Tell your friends! To\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1862,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2020\/04\/script-change-now-has-discord-emojis\/","url_meta":{"origin":1064,"position":5},"title":"Script Change Now Has Discord Emojis!","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"April 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Check it out! https:\/\/briebeau.itch.io\/script-change","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Archive&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"the script change buttons on a sheet.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Script-Change_121118_BSheldon_Page_6-791x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Script-Change_121118_BSheldon_Page_6-791x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Script-Change_121118_BSheldon_Page_6-791x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Script-Change_121118_BSheldon_Page_6-791x1024.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1064\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}