Labyrinth Lurker


https://nemysisrelapse.itch.io/hawker

See for yourself…

I can’t help but think of Samurai Jack while reading through Ronin TTRPG by Slightly Reckless Games. Keeping true to the Mork Borg (and all games in the Borg. Pirate Borg, Cy-Borg, etc) Ronin’s setting, Kage No Shima, is a dark, doomed, and dying world. It really sounds like a place Aku would be happy. I’m trying not to see it like that because the image I have for my game is more inspired by the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi and Ukiyo-e style of the Meiji period. I want to keep it dialed in right there.

‘The air in KAGE NO SHIMA is THICK with the stench of blood and the promise of violence.”

I'm prepping for a new solo campaign using the Ronin solo RPG by Coishina Verde, creator of Notequest. Solo Ronin is considered a classic in the solo RPG sphere, it’s an essential solo rpg to play. During my preparation, I discovered that the new "Rõnin" had already been funded and released. Now, there's a new "Rõnin" on the block—this one made by Reckless Games. The Kickstarter-funded game is essentially a Samurai-themed version of Mörk Borg. The Reckless Games Rőnin has a Barebones edition is available for free on their site. I’ve only had a chance to skim through it, but I can already tell it will work seamlessly as a solo TTRPG. The book is full of flavor and tables, and to make things easier, there's an official solo PDF, *Tales of the Masterless.*

After some fine-tuning, I’ve finally landed on a color scheme for my Kaiju-themed game, #kaijuHexicutioner. While I have access to #HexKit and an array of tiles and tools, my iPad is my go-to these days, so installation is off the table. Instead, I embraced the budget-friendly route with my free Canva account. To piece it all together, the “Hex Kit Tile Snapping Template” from ATellingEllipsis on itch.io has been an absolute game-changer for laying down tiles in that perfect hex style.

I’ll probably keep all the art/layout/design in this scheme. What do you guys think?

Just to clarify, I’m currently working on two Kiaju related projects inspired by son, Monster Brains blog, Shojio Otomo, Lancer, Yokai Hunter, and a million other things.

1 - Kaiju Hexicutioner - for Roll Up Jam on itch.io. A simple flavor rich hex crawl with a bunch of dailed in d66 tables for worldbuilding

2. - Unnamed Kaiju and Yokai Game – This hybrid journaling and tactical combat game draws inspiration from the battle boards seen in RUNE and *Magnagothica: Maleghast.* It features a unique mechanic of yokai collecting through physical cards, where players can collect, kill, buy, sell, trade, or even set yokai free. With a nod to *Shin Megami Tensei*, player characters can also acquire yokai (and potentially Kami) powers.

The story follows a young boy or girl who forms an unexpected bond with a kaiju in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by medieval Japan. Set on a small island once decimated by ancient Kaiju wars, the landscape bears the scars of battles between colossal kaiju and mecha. Over time, the survivors rebuilt, forming small settlements and a single large city, each with its own unique culture, customs, and religion. After years of peace and restoration, the island’s fragile tranquility is shattered when a notorious and powerful kaiju reappears, laying waste to the capital city and plunging the island into collective mourning over the shared tragedy.

Embark on a journey across the land, where you'll explore diverse landscapes and capture monsters and yokai, with opportunities to harness their power for yourself. Salvage materials to craft and trade, and interact with various factions and influential figures, gaining insights into their communities. Most villages and settlements exude a peaceful, cozy atmosphere reminiscent of *Animal Crossing*, *Stardew Valley*, and *Zelda*. However, be prepared to encounter numerous evil, cursed, tainted, and haunted locations along the way.

My current TTRPG Dev project - is a Kaiju SoloTTRPG hexcrawl and micro-setting. I’ve always loved Kaiju and yokai but two things inspired me to use them in my SoloTTRPG. One my 4yo son, and two one of my favorite blogs Monster Brains.

Earlier this year my son (3yo at the time) and I started watching Godzilla movies together while we’re both sick. I was watching the original black & white classic and he crawled up next to me and watched the entire movie in black & white and in the original Japanese with English subtitles. I saw his interest so I showed him Son of Godzilla next. Figuring he’d like Godzilla’s son. I was also trying to find the most kid-friendly Gojira movies. We’ve since watched a huge chuck of the catalog (last checked there were 38 films total. The vast majority produced by TOHO…oh and one with Brian Cranston lol). For my sons 4th birthday, a few weeks ago, all her wanted to get were Godzilla toys, which I happily obliged. We draw monsters and Kaiju together, watch clips & Kaiju toy channels on YouTube,, we video movies with his toys…we’ve fallen in deep!

The bond we formed over Kaiju is so far one of my favorite dad moments. I’ve liked Godzilla and giant robots since I was a little kid too, but I’ve never went full fanboy or got any deeper than watching the movies from time to time. The crazy part is he is the true fanboy! I’m in because he’s in! He doesn’t just love the Kaiju, he loves me, and or little fan-verse is formed and of love. I have a really cool kid.

Me getting ready for work.