UK Games Expo is over, I’m back in Edinburgh, and the first order of business is to announce that Diane Ramic Stock Art won the RPG Publisher Spotlight for June.
Thank you to everyone who supports the site and podcast through the patron. You could count on one hand the number of indie TTRPG-centric ‘media’ people at the press preview at the UK Games Expo. Your support as a patron is helping keep a rare beast alive!
Patrons can now vote for the July spotlight in this private link.
The candidates are
To vote, head over to Patreon and take part in the poll.
July – Storming the Bastille month
An era of upheaval grips the land. The old order, whether a council of mages, a tyrannical monarch, or a corrupt government, has been shattered by the fires of rebellion. The player characters, heroes, or perhaps merely survivors of this great struggle now stand on the precipice of a new dawn. But with the rulers cast down, a power vacuum yawns, threatening to consume the very people the rebellion fought to save. As the Game Master, your role is to navigate this treacherous and exciting new landscape, guiding your players as they grapple with the consequences of their actions and the monumental task of forging a new future from the ashes of the old. This is not just a story of war but of what comes after – a tale of politics, intrigue, and the difficult choices that lie in the heart of building a new society.
- The Power Vacuum is a Character: Don’t just gloss over the fall of the old regime. Make the resulting power vacuum a central antagonist. Who steps in to fill the void? Is it a single charismatic leader, a council of squabbling factions, a foreign power, or something more sinister? Explore the immediate consequences: widespread looting, the breakdown of law and order, and the desperation of a populace without leadership.
- Not All Rebels Are Friends: The rebellion was likely a coalition of different groups with different motives. Now that their common enemy is gone, those alliances may fracture. Introduce factions with conflicting ideologies. A group that fought for democracy may now be at odds with a faction that wants to install a new, “benevolent” dictator. Let the players navigate these complex political waters.
- The Old Guard Doesn’t Vanish: Deposed rulers and their loyalists rarely go quietly. They may have fled into exile, plotting their return, or have gone underground, forming a counter-revolution. These remnants of the old regime can serve as persistent and dangerous antagonists, using their wealth, connections, and knowledge of the old systems to undermine the new order.
- The People’s Problems are Paramount: While grand politics are at play, don’t forget the common folk. How does the revolution affect them? Is there food? Is it safe to travel? Are the old, hated laws still being enforced by local officials who haven’t gotten the memo? Ground the high-stakes political drama in the everyday struggles of the people the players are ostensibly trying to help. This provides rich opportunities for quests and moral dilemmas.
- Introduce External Pressures: Neighbouring kingdoms or powers will have a keen interest in the outcome of this revolution. They might see it as an opportunity to invade, a chance to install a puppet government or a dangerous ideology that needs to be crushed before it spreads. These external forces can add a new layer of complexity and threat to the campaign.
- The Moral Grey Area: Make it clear that there are no easy answers. The rebellion may have been justified, but its leaders and the players will be forced to make morally ambiguous decisions to maintain power and stability. They might have to compromise their ideals, make deals with unsavoury characters, or even resort to the same tactics as the regime they overthrew.
- Building the New World: Involve the players in the creation of the new government and its laws. What kind of society do they want to build? This can lead to fascinating in-character debates and allows the players to have a tangible impact on the world. Present them with difficult constitutional questions and let them grapple with the long-term consequences of their choices.
