In recent years, RPGs have become very accommodating and safe for everyone.
My design philosophy for Giri-Ninjou is the exact opposite.
It is a game about the ugly side of being Japanese.
Your actions are restricted.
No one can be trusted.
It'll probably end in Death, Dishonor, or at best Enlightenment.
But you'll have to wade through a river of blood to get where you are going.
Happy to report that the NUNA Quickstart has made it halfway to the 50 sales needed for a Bronze medal on DriveThru RPG. If you haven't gotten a copy yet, the link to the Quickstart and free player characters preview (which has more than enough downloads for Bronze but is free so doesn't count) are below.
Player Characters Preview (FREE)
https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/575125/NUNA-Rpg-Player-Characters-Free-Preview
60 page Quickstart ($1.99)
https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/575172/NUNA-Rpg-Quickstart
As I've stated here, my next project is Giri-Ninjou, a radically different game from NUNA.
 |
| 1794 woodblock print of a kabuki moneylender character, which I am using in a non-RPG project and I put here for a thumbnail. |
Giri means Duty while Ninjou means Humanity. From my 22 years living in Japan and becoming a published Japan Studies researcher there, I am always disappointed by the misrepresentation of Japan by outsiders. Films with Japanese characters always talk about 'honour', but this is largely an Orientalist trope and Japanese are more likely to base their actions on Giri and Ninjou.
Here is my concept for Giri-Ninjou:
Rules light
GMless
Narrative
Ruthlessly faithful to Japanese society & culture, NOT D&D in funny hats
On Kickstarter by year's end
I am currently enjoying the incredible warm weather and sunshine here in Vancouver. First snowless year in 47 years, with the rest of the country snowed under.
(I wanted to put a movie poster here but Blogger is having issues today)
 |
| Meh, this is all I could upload. Tilt your head right to see correctly. |
While I recuperate from balancing work and writing the Nuna QuickStart, I am reading The Great Buddha Pass - a huge work of fiction from the prewar period about a wandering, evil samurai. Post Nuna, my next project is Giri-Ninjou, my rules light TRPG about Duty & Humanity among the samurai.
You can read The Great Buddha Pass HERE, and several movies have been made based on the property over the years.
Hullo,
Just thought I'd get my head together over this blog in time for the new year.
Sweet Jeebus, 2022 sounds so Cyberpunk...
So what have I got planned for the next year?
1) As you may have noticed I am on a Stormbringer kick. I think it is part my love of the old game, as well as my need to limit my focus in response to the insane real life distractions I have. I intend to continue it, but talking to JB I realize how ignorant I am of the game. I am running on 20 year old memories, while JB knows his shit.
So for a little while I'll be doing a rereading of both the Elric novels and the 1st edition Stormbringer PDF I have. It is the only way to keep the re-design on track I wager.
Thanks JB for the inspiration!
2) I have a half-finished indie game based on Japanese culture called Giri-Ninjo (Obligation & Humanity) which was mechanically inspired by Lasers & Feelings. I hope to polish it off, finish a draft, playtest, then put it on itch.io.
3) Get a better job and get sonny in a better school so the pressure is off me and I can have fun gaming & writing again.
Thanks to you few who've stuck with this blog, stay safe, and see you in the year 2022 or earlier if I have a free moment!
