Pericle: Preview (GAMA Expo 2023)
3Pericle is an epic fantasy role playing game that does not require a gamemaster. It takes inspiration from Role playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, legacy games like Gloomhaven and Pandemic Legacy, and Microquests, like The Fantasy Trip and Dark City Games that tell their stories without a game master by utilizing choose-your-own-adventure mechanics.
Unlike traditional RPGs, Pericle does not require a gamemaster. Instead, players interact with the Pericle Gamemaster, a software program that sits at game-side on the tabletop, guiding the players through the story. The Pericle Gamemaster works much like traditional human GMs, by telling colorful stories, showing images to set the story mood and prompting players for their decisions. Digital videos help tell the story. Active menu choices allow players to explore the world, negotiate with NPCs and make key decisions.
Player choices influence the story outcome. Just like a good, traditional sandbox RPG, players choose their paths through the world - they pick their allies, they decide how and when to mete out justice, where to explore, who to challenge - and in the end, these choices change outcomes. Pericle is a tabletop role playing game, though, not a video game. Even player stats, like health, experience points, treasure, etc, are kept with pencil and paper mechanics - not the software - just like traditional games.
There are 4 stories in the Pericle saga. Each adventure path takes characters from beginner to heroic levels. New characters are used for each adventure - and all 4 stories are woven together in an epic saga. Character development is a key component of the game. Players create and shape their characters, allowing them to feel like the characters are truly their own. When making a character, the player simply chooses to be either a warrior or a wizard. But the talents, skills, masteries and spells the character gains provide a myriad of character choices - and allow a character to behave like a fighter, a rogue, a cleric, a druid and other classes typically found in fantasy games. This simplicity is an example of the game mechanics that make it easy to learn without a human referee, but still feel like a complete RPG.
Pericle's rule system allows freedom of choices, yet has mechanics that allow the world to operate without a human referee. Social interaction is a significant part of roleplaying games, but is difficult to accomplish without a human gamemaster. Pericle therefore encourages players to create background stories for their characters. Characters select a Raison d’Etre (RdE) - which means reason for being - to define a driving characteristic for their actions. Characters may focus their personal goals on charity, economy, scholarly knowledge, law & order or religion. Decisions reward or penalize characters based on alignment with their personal RdE. This encourages players to roleplay their character’s personality, and it comes into play in social interactions with NPCs, planning, and deciding the fate of foes.
BGG Link: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/320255/pericle
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