I gave up on this project twice or three times, but I always came back. I love it because it embodies the way I play the classic fantasy game, as well as the hundreds of experiments I want to make. I iterated it so much that I have 3 or 4 derived games from it. Getting closer or distant from its original intent. But something was wrong with the last version. The players were having a lot of fun, but I wasn’t. So, that was my previous give-up.

Then I came to the comment section of this game and found some really kind comments that got me thinking, “WTH am I doing? Let’s finish this”. So here I am, back to the beginning. Or sort of. Since I changed it all again, but don’t worry, I kept what was most fun for the players: the character creation and micro-classes.

So, what is the game now?

This comment makes lots of sense. Besides The Way, Cairn is my choice for hacking and playing fantasy games, and it has many problems solved in its structure. So I decided to do the obvious: make a Cairn Hack.

I’m adding my 36 micro-classes (yes, it has grown a little since the last release), the XP system, and a bestiary.

This last one was what I’m most excited about. It came from another project I started for the Icon0clasm Ball Jam, inspired by this post from Chris MacDowell. In it, almost every monster is unique, one of its kind, more like a legendary creature that affects an entire region. So, I’m revisiting the initial monster list, researching the original myths, adding new abilities, and so on. In the end, we have a revised monster, more powerful, with new skills, a specific treasure, signs of its presence, and rumors, which will be accompanied by a region with its own hexes, dungeons, and such.

I think it’s better to show what I made with The Basilisk:

Now, the idea is to work on the manual with some initial monsters and regions and increase it creature by creature.

Hope to bring news soon.

I’d like to extend my many many thanks to everyone who helped me test the game and to the people who commented on the page. 💚