So much News for Michtim!

Work Log March 2016

My hubby is in hospital and I want to distract myself from being alone. With too much time on my hands, I try to create new stuff for Michtim: Fluffy Adventures that will really benefit the unique style of the game. Also I’ve got new tools to use! Ulysses is really helpful when creating tons of formatted text for blog posts and traditional writing. Love it! Check it out!

Finished Stuff

This is the list of all finished tasks so far.

Michtim Dice

There are now custom d6 for use with Michtim. They feature a variant 6 with the note „+Mood“ because Mood Markers are gained on the roll of each 6. There is also a prototype of an Emotion dice that could be used for mood swings. Sadly the production of these dice is fairly expensive and it has to wait until a later date (maybe a Kickstarter) to be worthwhile to produce.

Custom Michtim Dice!

Personality Cards

These cards help in character generation. If people can’t decide what to play, they can pick from one of ten unique personality cards. The cards also feature some questions to ask yourself when playing this character. These cards are best combined with the already existing Calling Cards to create neat characters.

Personality Cards for ultra-fast Character Generation!

Wound Cards

Michtims can now track wounds with style using Wound Cards. Each card has two faces. One is used for General Wounds (that is, wounds without wound effects). The other face shows rules for a specific wound effect, an illustration and info about the damage type (physical, magic or tech). Tracks run from 1 to 10 in the rare case that a creature has more than 7 Wound Tolerance. The deck contains 3 copies of 12 unique cards, bringing it to a total of 36 Wound Cards. That is the exact same amount as is used for the Calling Cards.

Wound Cards with Effects and Illustrations!

Stuff I’m working on

These are the projects I’m currently working on from time to time, but that are not finished yet.

Updated Core Rules

This is a big update in my opinion. I might want to create a separate book product to combine these into a new tome. For a KS I would instead create a new Core Rules product.

Calling Synergies

There are 66 unique combinations between all twelve Core Callings. I really want to write a short blurb for every combo to get creation started. Of course players can still have unique synergies as well, but to some, maybe a little input is a good idea. I figure that every Calling will receive a spread (double page) detailing each 5-6 Synergies. You would have a spread for the Cook, for example, and then have several synergies that go along with it like:

Cook + ……

  • Sorcerer = Alchemy. You create miniaturized potions. Friends can now carry up to three potions (instead of one meal). They can take any combination of your potions.
  • Machinist = Gadgets. You can create Accessories. They offer the usual boost to the attribute, but they have a Restore condition that says „spend an Action to wind up for one turn“.
  • Witch = Shelf Life. Your creations now last for a year and a day. If you decide to close your shop it no longer has an effect on your creations.

You can combine multiple synergies as well. Felixus Honigpfote is a Master Alchemist combining Sorcerer, Witch and Cook into extended potions that last really long and are super handy.

I am very exited for this new feature and it basically just takes a lot of time writing and coming up with new stuff. Maybe I can finish it soon. It would be a blast.

GM Support for running games

I was kinda inspired by Apocalypse World and Mutant: Year Zero lately. I really like no-prep games and Michtim was supposed to be such a game. It turns out that my example adventure is super railroady and is rather used as a starter to show what Michtim can be about. Anyway, my usual style of GMing is also low prep info graphic. I draw boxes with names and draw lines. Basically what Undying calls a Relationship-Map. You should absolutely use such things, they are terrific.

Mutant: Year Zero on the other hand uses Threat Cards (or tables), Artefacts and all sorts of interesting NPCs to build its stories. Some of those things, Michtim does as well. Michtim has an extended NPC section with lots of plot hooks to roll for. I’m not aware that anyone uses these. Most actual plays I’ve heard about are either completely new content or use the premade adventure Spark’s Flight.

Here I’m currently in the ideation phase. Since I do a lot of Cards lately, I might try to stay within this medium… but I’m just exploring options at the moment. For Creatures (I don’t like calling anything a monster) I thought about using the typical stat blocks from the adventure, but actually these blocks could be handled by personality cards or hand-waiving stats anyway. Just pick two stats the creature is good at, and you’re ready to go. Special Mechanics for creatures can be derived from Callings. The system flourishes when you use existing parts. That way expanding Callings would probably offer a lot of new content for Antagonists as well.

The only thing that’s usually different is Health (Wound Tolerance) and Armor as well as Hit-Modifications. Humans have tons of Health, are super resistant to Michtim-inflicted damage but they suffer immense penalties when trying to attack a small (but very fast) Michtim. There you have it. Humans are the game’s dragons already. Customize them with Gear and Callings and you’re good to go.

Gear Cards / Inventory Book

I tried to showcase how the game works right in the core book. But it helps to have options to pick and discover rather than create at the table. I will probably create new stuff in five areas:

  • Tools. For every Emotion there should be a lot of tools. Anger-Tools (Weapons) are the easiest to create, based on Wound Effects, but let’s not forget the other four Emotions. Grief-Tools could be shields. Joy-Tools are vehicles and Fear-Tools are stealth assets.
  • Accessories. These offer a one-time effect and a restore condition. Maybe I can make rules for Accessory creation. The Gadget-Synergy (Machinist+Cook) already offers stat-boosting rewindable accessories for example, but there could be a lot of other interesting things. Combine different Restore-Conditions with different effects (maybe based on Callings) and you’re good.
  • Cloaks. Cloaks are pretty easily created. The ones in the core book are basic ones consisting of one option. The new ones will offer two options. One option buys you:
    • 1 Armor to all sources
    • 2 Armor to a specific source
    • a special ability.

    If there’s no special, you might increase general Armor by 1 or specific Armor by 2… that way you could become Magic-/Tech-/Physical-Immune for example. The challenge is creating new Cloak effects, but again, these can be related to Callings as well. I want to keep things interchangeable. For example there’s this special ability that allows you to hide in plain sight. There might be a stealth-related Calling in the future that does that also.

  • Potions. One-time usable stuff like Potions should be very helpful. Alchemy and Bocicne are such an important aspect of the game that they might need a small boost by getting their own slot. These could use miniature cards instead of the bigger ones.
  • Valuables. Coins or Gems could be really useful. These will most likely also use miniature cards.

Creating Adventure Content

I’ve started to work on several adventure modules, but none comes easily at the moment. I wanted to do stuff for my overarching Restore the Veil campaign, but it just can’t be helped. At the moment, I’m not good at creating dungeon maps, so this will have to wait. Maybe some other aspect is more conducive to my abilities. I want to get the most out of my creative abilities.

Boxed Set

I created a mockup of the Boxed Set as I imagine it. At that time I didn’t know I would have 36 Wound Cards, so that part of the info is wrong. The general idea is as follows: Michtim requires a lot of stuff to be really useful.

  • Hardcover Book. I would love to use a traditionally printed and bound hardcover. The Print-on-Demand version is really good and more than sufficient, but when I get the chance to update the game, I’d at least think about doing a traditional print run for a Kickstarter.
  • Calling Cards. These exist now for a fairly long time and they are really, really useful. When I decide to create new Callings, I will need to update the Calling Card deck as well, bringing it up to around 17-20 unique Cards times 3. That’s quite a lot of cards. Maybe I’ll just have doubles instead of tripples because of that.
  • Personality Cards. These are fairly straightforward. Ten unique cards, no multiples.
  • Wound Cards. As established there are 36 of them.
  • Mood Markers and Karma Beads. Glass beads. Regular stuff.
  • Custom Dice. The dice would be one of the reasons a Kickstartered Box Set would make sense. You can of course play the game with just the book, but the set makes more sense to me.

What a Michtim Boxed Set could look like

What really bugs me is the amount of money required to do packaging and orders. I will have to do the math before coming up with a KS. Especially the delivery aspect can be pretty tedious I think. Maybe there is a way I can team up with an US fulfillment company that handles printing and packaging? The dice are already an US product for example. Chessex makes them.

All Things Michtim

It’s been a while, since I was posting something. I underwent a heart surgery in November 2013, right after my birthday. Everything went well, but in the wake of it all, I was forced to find a new job. I fell silent for a few months, and haven’t found the time to keep you informed about all the things I want to do for Michtim.

This is a preview of all the things I’m working of, right now. I cannot tell just now, when I’m finally able to push publication on any of these. So I hope this keeps you interested. Let me know what you’d like to see the most.

Michtim Adventures Story (German)
I want to start with the short novel I’m writing for Michtim. Since my native language is German, I felt more comfortable to produce my first draft that way. It tells the story of nestling Penny, who awakens in the woods, and cannot remember anything about herself. She is offered insight into her past by Isabella Frostherz, who has sinister plans for the little Michtim-Kid…

Saving the Veil Chronicle
This is a series of related adventures for Michtim: Fluffy Adventures. In the wake of a disastrous betrayal, the Michtims are left without the protection of the Veil. The heroes need to go out on adventures, to borrow the six Veiled gemstones, to restore the Veil to its former power. All adventures are designed to be micro sandboxes, and offer freeform exploration of new places.

Book of Hearts / Honobono
After learning something about the honobono roleplaying style (through Golden Sky Stories), I want to show ways to pull this off with Michtim. The Book of Hearts introduces blended Emotions: Players can use new tricks by combining two Emotions. All new rules are supposed to offer new mechanics for social interaction and non-violent problem solving.

Treasure Chest
This addon features new rules for Gear and a selection of new pieces of equipment. Including new rules to enhance existing Gear by showing your worth to the noble houses.

New Callings
So far, I’ve created three new Callings that I plan on releasing separately as well as bundled, so you can pick what you care about the most. Currently in the design phase: Vampire (stealing dice), Juggernaut (mitigating damage) and Mentalist (controlling others).

Special Actions
You can roll Emotions to do tricks outside of the existing rules. Special Actions introduces several new Actions for existing Emotions. I might be including this one in the Book of Hearts though.

Let me know, what interests you the most!

Also here’s a link to all existing Michtim Reviews I know of. Let me know, if I’m missing a review!

Bis zum nächsten Mal!
Georg

Reaching Out

Michtim RPG is close to selling its 100th copy! Also the free downloads for Michtim RPG were quite a success. More than 200 people downloaded the game on the promotion days. I guess we will see some hangout games popping up in the near future, as some gamers are looking for players to recruit.

You should check out the Michtim RPG Community on Google+. You can coordinate game sessions and share news on related topics over there. Tim Charzinski and Tim Franzke are posting some ideas for Michtim miniatures, while Michael Heywood is looking for players to run a hangout game. The community is still quite fresh and unknown, so maybe you would like to drop by and share your thoughts with us!

michtim_thankyou

TableTop Day: Last Call for Free Michtim RPG

michtim_lastcall

 

Hey there!

So I closed the free RPG deal a bit too early it seems. Some people came home from work, only to realize that they had missed the promotion. This is exactly the reason I am now using a different approach to this discount.

The prize on the product has reset, but fear not. There is a special discount link that you can use until 13/03/03 (or 03rd March 2013). Only problem is: I don’t know when DriveThru is exactly going to shut it down, so you should be quick on this one! Share the link as freely as you like; but do realize that the clock is ticking!

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=2476

That’s my last call to you. Take care and spread the word!

Georg

Michtim @ TableTopDay

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You might have read about International TableTop Day or #TableTopDay.

Michtim RPG is going to celebrate this day by going free for a short time period. The PDF can be downloaded from DriveThruRPG right now. This special occasion won’t last forever, so be sure to go out there and fetch the game.

If you want to support me, you can buy the physical Hardcover. I promise it looks gorgeous and is worth every Cent. Also it neatly fits into small bags, because it is nearly the size of a Michtim. (Okay, that’s a lie! But it is super-small!)

There are some things I’d love to see in return, although you do not have any obligations:

  • Play the game!
  • Tell your friends!
  • Drop me a line!
  • Post something online! (Mini-reviews, impressions, actual play reports, youtube videos, tweets, what-have-you!)
  • Hack the game! (My Little Pony RPG? I’ve heard about that.)

Here are some pictures of the actual hardcover that can also be bought at bit.ly/michtimrpg.

michtim_book_outsidemichtim_book_open

Be creative! Be merry! Become a Michtim!

It means so much to me!

-Georg

Hardcover Edition available!

Hey folks!

This is big news for me. Actually the product has been activated on 10/12/2012 (that’s all zeroes, ones and twos for you)! I’m really happy with how the product turned out. LSI seems to do an excellent job at printing. The quality of the paper is really great; and the hardcover is making me smile wickedly. I can honestly say it was the best day in my life so far! Sorry if I seem over-enticed, but I’m really enjoying this.

You can get the premium color hardcover version of Michtim: Fluffy Adventures from DriveThruRPG or RPGNow of course. All previous buyers of the PDF have received a special discount link on 10/12/2012 to reduce the price of the hardcover edition. I promised a $5,- discount, but actually gave away a $7,- discount because I want to share the love.

I’d really love to hear about your actual play experiences with Michtim RPG. Tell me what you would like to see in the future. Chances are, I might actually write a Companion, but that really depends on the exposure the game receives. I’ve learned that Turnaya needs a lot more coverage, so that’s a likely candidate for future releases.

Add me on Facebook (Georg Mir), Twitter (@zydake) or find me on Google+ (Georg Mir).

Georg

Michtim: Fluffy Adventures on DriveThruRPG

Hey folks!

Michtim: Fluffy Adventures is now available as digital download from DriveThruRPG (or RPGNow). You can fetch it for $ 10,- and there’s also an added bonus. If you buy the PDF now you also will get a $ 5,- coupon code valid for the hardcover print version.

Speaking of the hardcover (full color) print version: I really was hoping to get it out until end of September, but the delivery from the printer (who is in the US) to Austria is taking a little longer than expected. I will be able to activate the print product only when I finally receive my proof copies, but I expect them to show up in my inbox any day.

The coupon will only be valid for customers who buy the PDF before the print product goes live, but I will also include options to buy bundled PDF/print deals. 🙂

I want to take the chance to thank everyone who actually goes out there to buy Michtim: Fluffy Adventures. I really hope you enjoy it. If you have any comments, just let me know. You can contact me via Twitter (@zydake), Facebook (Georg Mir) or Google+ (Georg Mir).

You might also want to become a fan of Michtim RPG on Facebook!

Greetings from the Immergrummelwoods,
Georg

Up, Up and Away!

A spellcasting Michtim CultistIt has been quite some time since I started working on the Michtim RPG. I’ve switched the focus of the project several times. Creating a game with an educational message was my first thought. Telling players about the value of emotions; about their use for survival and social interaction.

Because of the cute nature of the Michtim characters, I thought it would be worthwhile to take an aim at younger players. While I still think understandable rules are paramount, I do want to get a bit more sophisticated with DIY support and a flexible talent system. But a lot of storytelling games have been there before, and did a great job.

Since I’m doing this not only for the fun of it, I want to take this into a different direction.

You’re new to this game. You got an invitational link from your storyteller. She said it would be easy, so you fired up your browser. Now you’re at this site that allows you to create an avatar for a game. Browsing through the talents is easy as pie. You find all the neat tricks that sound fun. Your storyteller can instantly look at the new hero and help you out with questions.

You’re a budding storyteller. Creating quests seems daunting, but you have something up your sleeve. A friend of yours recommended this game site that helps you with plot design. You send out invites to your players and have them create characters. They’ll build their characters, and afterwards you’ll get notifications. This is where the fun starts. Players pick backgrounds that neatly tie into the plot generator, giving you the right hooks to pull. It won’t get any easier.

You have a character that you really like. But sadly your group cannot have a session every day now, can it? What if you could visit your character whenever you like; take her out to some online adventure?

I’ve decided to explore the possibilities of Cross-Media Storytelling Games. Using different media channels to tell a story; to provide tools to help players perform better. Be prepared for game sessions. Have a strong connection to characters. Go public if they like. You know, “let me tell you about my character” is so 2011 — and a nuisance.

Lets show them your character now, shall we?