{"id":2193,"date":"2020-12-21T22:38:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T03:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/?p=2193"},"modified":"2021-11-16T00:38:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T05:38:29","slug":"epimas2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2020\/12\/epimas2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate #Epimas2020 by Giving Games!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I hope you all are staying safe and celebrating any holidays you do while respecting COVID-19 guidelines! I want to share some fun and interesting games with you as part of the #Epimas2020 bundle<\/a> <\/strong>that I’m a part of. I hope you like what I share! The bundle ends in three days!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To tell you a little about Epimas, it is a created holiday season bundle run by Epidiah Ravachol, who I am lucky enough to have known and worked with over the years. The bundle was originally conceived as a way to share games with friends or new players and expand the hobby while maximizing use of the PDF format. You gave a bundle, you got a bundle. This year, it’s on itch.io and while the give\/get format isn’t yet feasible on the platform, there are 69 designers contributing to this amazing bundle you can gift a friend or colleague to help them explore so many amazing games that soon, they’ll be inviting you to play them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first year I can really participate in the bundle, and may be the last. I’ve wanted to be a part of Epimas since I first started in games years ago and saw it, because it demonstrates something I really love – games as a gift, as a way to grow the hobby, as a way to try new things, and as a way to spur new creation when inspiration strikes after checking out so many amazing games. I am so excited to be a part of it, so in the last few days of it, I wanted to recommend you check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year’s bundles are named in a trend with Santa’s reindeer, starting with the overarching Dunder & Blixem<\/a> bundle, which covers all<\/strong> games offered in the bundle. The others are Vixen<\/a>, Comet<\/a>, Cupid<\/a>, Dasher,<\/a> Dancer<\/a>, and Prancer<\/a>, which break down the bundle into smaller bundles of games. I am in the Vixen bundle with Turn<\/a>, alongside these others! Note that I haven’t played most of these games, but I’ve read the reviews and some of the text from a few and that’s how I’m compiling my notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Moose Trip<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Kira Magrann<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The cover for Moose Trip.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In Moose Trip you play moose eating psychedelic mushrooms. It’s a feelgood surreal game about moose and friendship!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moose Trip is absolutely a chill time to explore and be thoughtful, and moose are radical. It is also more thoughtful and expressive than you may expect, allowing you to go outside of yourself and then step even further into an experience that expands your perspective. Great for friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savior<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Kate Bullock<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Acover
The Savior cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

They asked for your help. You came to save them. You failed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savior is a voice recording and journaling experience for one traveller set within the limits of space and communities living within the vast galaxies. Travellers enter communities, experience their wonders, and try to help prevent the fall of them from systemic and community issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The savior will not be able to save the community. This is their story on trying, failing, despair, hope, and learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed for the Ad Astra jam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savior includes journaling & card draw mechanics and is a highly introspective game, tackling more high-concept moral dilemmas like Star Trek or similar sci-fi media. While it is clear at the outset that failure is imminent, the gameplay allows you to explore what that failure means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sigils in the Dark<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Kurt Potts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sigils in the Dark is a journaling game and GM supplement. The goal of the game is to create an evil mage\u2019s spellbook. You\u2019ll take up the role of this wizard with a desperate need, in search of arcane power to get what they want. They will try to understand dark sigils just outside their perception by randomly generating spells and adding liner notes to their grimoire. In the end, you\u2019ll have an in-game artifact that you can pass on to players and hopefully know a little more about what your evil mage has sacrificed to get where they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I really love journaling games, and making one that can double as facilitator notes is a great idea! With modern play we often lose artifacts of play, and this journaling game allows you to create a literal artifact for play that I can imagine being used again and again. A brilliant piece of design!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celestial Bodies, Orbital Mechanics<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Tomas Herbertson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
The map from Celestial Bodies, Orbital Mechanics<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A GMless tabletop roleplaying\u00a0game for three players. It tackles themes of\u00a0diaspora and homecoming; about receiving and committing violence; and a game about struggling to shape events far larger than the individual. It poses questions about colonialism, culture, and bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The map and illustrations for this game are really lovely and the map is quite useful. Another sci-fi style game with a likely rough ending is still made interesting by the variety in presentation and focus on diaspora, what community is, and the impacts of colonization. This looks like a really wonderful experience, with a lot of heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BEACH EPISODE<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Legendary Vermin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Beach Episode cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

BEACH EPISODE is a microgame mix-in for your regular table-top RPG group. Players take  their current characters, quickly adapt them for a rules-light session, and commence to run an anime-inspired, beach-themed adventure. All you need to play is at least 3d6 and an established set of characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kick it on the beach with us. It will be relaxing… probably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I LOVE this entire concept! How often do we reach a point in a campaign where we just want or need some downtime? Beach episodes in shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender provide opportunity for character and relationship development that might be otherwise difficult to find time for. Radical!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mariann: Soul Detective<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by WuDeRPG<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The cover for Mariann: Soul Detective.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In Mariann: Soul Detective, you play as Mariann, sensitive to the supernatural. You are able to see ghosts and lost souls and are talented with magic. In 5 Chapters, you will create unique spells and prepare yourself for your own Transformation to become part of the ancient group of Soul Detectives! You will shape the character of Mariann and will find out more about yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This game sounds very fun! It uses the Element Dice mechanic, which is new to me, and I admit I have a weakness for supernatural detective games. The fact that this game has a specific number of chapters that you play through is really fascinating, giving your time playing through this a limit, and allowing you to focus on this unique story. Nice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Weekend in the Country<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Lari Assmuth<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The A Weekend in the Country cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wretched & Alone cozy murder mystery game that uses a system of card draws to determine which of the four suspects had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love me some murder mysteries and the cozy ones can be really fun! With the popularity of last year’s Knives Out<\/em> (2019) release, I don’t know how you could resist solving crimes in this GM-less interpretation of the Wretched & Alone system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haunted House<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Gavin Hayes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Haunted House cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Haunted House is a one page roleplaying game for two people about a ghost exploring a house and learning about the people who lived there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spooky game will always get my attention and I love two player games! The fact that this is a one-page game too makes it all the cooler, because making games easily accessible to people with limited resources and time is the best! When so many of us are isolated with a partner or roommate, this feels like a no-brainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Long Way Home<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by NerdhausGames<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The cover for The Long Way Home.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Long Way Home\u00a0is a two-player game about a couple in post-apocalyptic desolation separated by an impassable boundary. When the alarm sounded, the Habitat sealed itself shut and no one knows how long it will remain sealed. Day by day, each of you will draw prompts from a deck of playing cards. These prompts will have you imagining scenarios, answering questions, and tracking your resources, health, and progress towards reuniting with your beloved. Sharing your recordings back and forth will help insulate your partner from the horrors of their situation and vice versa and serves as your only means of communication. The Long Way Home\u00a0is a Wretched & Alone title\u00a0based on the short play\u00a0Beyond the Gate, the script of which is included in the download.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This game seems very intense and uses recordings back and forth alongside prompts, which presents an alternate play method for people who may need or want one. Reading the description alone alongside the cover illustration made me feel a little tight in the chest imagining playing such a potentially heartwrenching game, but at the same time, definitely drew me in and made me want to learn more. If you want shared feels, I think this is the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re Off to See the Lizard<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by MalcolmInSpace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The cover for We’re Off to See the Lizard.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A system-agnostic hexcrawl, centred around a rough and tumble trade city run by an immortal chameleon the size of a city bus. Also there are aliens, pterosaurs, a deluded death-cult, a seagull witch, a d100 Ancient Junk table, a dragon with a weird name, and a Roomba with a knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you got past “immoral chameleon the size of a city bus” without getting excited, I’d be shocked. This hexcrawl sounds full of sights and sounds to fill your game night with laughs and creativity, and gosh knows we could all use that. Besides, I’m pretty sure the seagull witch will get you if you don’t buy it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…and finally:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Brie Beau Sheldon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Turn itchio cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Turn is a slice-of-life, rural supernatural tabletop roleplaying game for three to six people. Players are shapeshifters in a small, rural town–able to turn into animals like raccoons, cougars, and bears. They must balance their human lives and habits with their beast lives and instincts, while pursuing acceptance and community with other shifters – and with the mundane humans and beasts that populate the town. Players and the Town Manager build their town together using a unique town building system, and create the characters who populate it and the wilderness around it. Turn uses the Script Change toolbox to support player comfort and consent, and explores themes of\u00a0identity<\/strong>,\u00a0community<\/strong>,\u00a0self care<\/strong>, and\u00a0otherness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What more can I say than that I’ve finished the final drafts of the Snake backer level rewards so more archetypes and a new role will be on the way, plus new towns hopefully after I finish the Cougar fulfillment. On top of that, Towns Like Ours is just like, right there.<\/a> And that’s only if you get bored with the millions of possibilities in the basic game, full of thoughtful essays and a play experience you’ll never forget. People who play Turn leave the table changed, and that’s something special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

So that’s it, all the #TeamVixen games <\/a>ready for you to gift to a friend to experience and love. If you want to give more, grab the big Dunder & Blixem<\/a> bundle for all games offered in the bundle. Or pick and choose how you gift your #Epimas2020 bundle with Vixen<\/a>, Comet<\/a>, Cupid<\/a>, Dasher,<\/a> Dancer<\/a>, and Prancer<\/a>, <\/strong>and check out the hashtags for each team and #Epimas2020 itself on Twitter for more about the games, the creators, and the history of this splendiforous, generous celebration. Only three days left!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I hope you all are staying safe and celebrating any holidays you do while respecting COVID-19 guidelines! I want to share some fun and interesting games with you as part of the #Epimas2020 bundle that I’m a part of. I hope you like what I share! The bundle ends in three days! To tell you … Continue reading “Celebrate #Epimas2020 by Giving Games!”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":962,"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":[390,375],"tags":[54,52,98,224,37,97,10,4,17,50,138,8,15,12,190,216,69,142,41,192,23,18,45],"class_list":["post-2193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","category-review","tag-behold-products","tag-card-games","tag-cozy","tag-epimas","tag-feels","tag-fun","tag-game-design","tag-games","tag-gaming","tag-lonely-games","tag-reviews","tag-roleplaying-games","tag-rpg","tag-rpgs","tag-sale","tag-sci-fi","tag-single-player","tag-star-trek","tag-storytelling","tag-table-tools","tag-tabletop-games","tag-tabletop-rpgs","tag-turn"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cropped-IMGP4825.jpg?fit=1170%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paHOcG-zn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1657,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/11\/thoughty-bundle-up-for-whitney-bundleup4whitney\/","url_meta":{"origin":2193,"position":0},"title":"Thoughty Bundle-Up for Whitney #BundleUp4Whitney","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"November 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Whitney is the creator of Prism, currently available on DriveThruRPG. 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Whitney\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/kickstart.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/kickstart.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/kickstart.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/kickstart.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1694,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/12\/thoughtys-a-new-year-for-aven-bundle\/","url_meta":{"origin":2193,"position":1},"title":"Thoughty’s A New Year for Aven Bundle","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"December 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I'm starting a bundle to support the awesome Aven, a great game designer and one of the people who makes Big Bad Con a great space for people like me, in this coming new year - check out work from Aven, me, Meguey Baker, Paul Czege, and many other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1541,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/09\/homunculus-assembly-line-kickstarter\/","url_meta":{"origin":2193,"position":2},"title":"Homunculus Assembly Line Kickstarter!","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"September 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi All! It's been a big week for me - yesterday, the Turn books arrived to ship out to backers after a bundle of effort, and today, I've launched Homunculus Assembly Line on Kickstarter, led by John W. Sheldon! John is my business partner at Daedalum AP and also did\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two zines with various graphic approaches on the cover titled Homunculus Assembly Line.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/HomunculusZines.png?fit=680%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/HomunculusZines.png?fit=680%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/HomunculusZines.png?fit=680%2C432&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":117,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2018\/01\/play-with-purpose\/","url_meta":{"origin":2193,"position":3},"title":"Play with Purpose","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"January 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Dice by John W. 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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 "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":268,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2016\/10\/what-makes-a-good-player\/","url_meta":{"origin":2193,"position":5},"title":"What Makes a Good Player?","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"October 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"As most people know, I am rarely a game master in tabletop games. More often than not, I play games exclusively as a player, and sometimes I even just spectate! 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