MAZES The RPG of Dice, Danger, and Dungeons #ZineQuest
Created by 9thLevel
Adventuring like it was 1979, gaming designed for 2019. MAZES is powered by Polymorph a new role-playing system from 9th Level Games!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
VICTORY!
about 5 years ago
– Fri, Mar 01, 2019 at 01:09:22 AM
My Stalwart Companions,
We have entered into the Maze, and we have returned victorious!
Thanks to you, we are going to make this ZINE EDITION and kick off the future of all things POLYMORPH.
After we get the all clear from Kickstarter we will launch the BACKERKIT and survey.
If you have any questions you can reach us here or at 9thLevel.com
Thank you from the bottom of our dungeons,
Chris, Heather, Heather, and Dan - 9th Level Games
Mazes, Monsters, and Some Really Cool Zines
about 5 years ago
– Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 04:05:09 PM
We have a week left on the MAZES RPG (Zine Edition). And I wanted to take a moment, and talk about how RAD this whole #ZINEQUEST thing has been. As soon as we heard about it - we changed our plans to make this game as a ZINE - sort of a life long dream really. That seems strange coming from a company with 20 years of successful publishing - except, the "sword and sorcery fantasy rpg zine" has been an unrealized dream until now.
Thanks for a being a part of this adventure with us!
Can We Talk about Zine Quest?!?!
So, it’s no secret that I love RPGS and that I love ZINES and that I love kooky weird indie art. So, when you all of that together - I lost my mind. I have backed 36 of these ZINE projects at the physical level (and a few more than that in Digital only). It’s like an addiction right now - March is going to be a hard withdrawal for me…
That being said, here are a few gems from the ZINE QUEST PILE that may be of interest to MAZE backers.
Beneath the spires and stones, the canals and isles, the Catacombs breathe, inhaling life and exhaling danger... and the smell of treasure. This single-sheet mini zine (zini, if you will) is an experiment in pushing the envelope for information density, layout, and gameable lore. It is written to be system agnostic, allowing you to take adventurers from any world and game into the catacombs described inside. The inside spread describes how to procedurally generate dungeons on the fly or in advance complete with dozens of possible encounters and a back cover which is a quick reference for all the mechanics contained within.
As part of their stretch goal push - the TEAM behind BENEATH THE CANALS is going to make a MAZES Stat Block translator for the weird Pentolan creatures you may find in the catacombs.
You can get the DIGITIAL VERSION of this ZINE for $1 (or the full version for $7). If you are a MAZES BACKER that backs BENEATH THE CATACOMBS, we will include the STAT BLOCK sheet via BACKERKIT.
Miseries & Misfortunes
Miseries & Misfortunes by Luke Crane is one of the coolest games ever. Its a B/X D&D hack for playing in 17th Century Paris. It AMAZINGLY cool (and the campaign is done, but you can still get in on that).
A Rasp of Sand: A Roguelike Tabletop RPG Experience
A large zine with a Roguelite randomized ocean goddesses temple. Designed to be difficult and highly replayable. I don’t really understand it, but I super want to play it.
An RPG-zine based on encouraging diverse ideas and diverse creators. The focus will be on world building, design, and art. This really talks to what 9th Level is all about in gaming.
DEEPER INTO THE MAZE
about 5 years ago
– Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 11:27:06 PM
My Most Brave Companions,
The campaign for MAZES is doing great - thanks to you all. Everyone at 9th Level is so excited to get this game into your hands. Especially GREG BRIGNOLA's hands (Greg changed his pledge to the DMS GUIDE and I am stoked to write and run a custom adventure for him and his people).
We're so excited that we are going crazy with some ACTUAL PLAY content. Attached here are the links to an ACTUAL PLAY and to the live stream. Its some fun stuff. If, like Greg, you decided to back at the top LEVEL - we could do an ACTUAL PLAY like this (which we would record) or live at any of the shows that we regularly attend.
Speaking of shows we regularly attend, if you are going to be at DREAMATION this weekend - Chris and Heather will be there with Mazes, Kobolds, Meeple Party, and even Kids on Bikes! (Huh?)
Until the next adventure my friends,
Chris, the Night Wizard of Harrowsgate
100 BACKERS, ACTUAL PLAY, and SOME FIRST LOOKS
about 5 years ago
– Wed, Feb 13, 2019 at 04:00:35 PM
My Most Stalwart Companions,
BACKER REPORT
We funded quickly yesterday which was great, and we just passed 100 backers which is better! MAZES is like an ashcan or a 1st edition - its main purpose is to make something cool and playable - but its not the end of the journey, it's the beginning - and the more people that pick up some Polymorph dice and play MAZES the better its going to be in the long run!
ACTUAL PLAY
So, as Actual Play has become more and more important to RPGs in general - I have to get away from ,my grognardy sense of "why would people want to watch me play a game". Heckfire, the DIANA JONES AWARD was given to ACTUAL PLAY. To that end, we are going to support this KICKSTARTER with some ACTUAL PLAY, and then hope to continue to support the game with ACTUAL PLAY.
So, tomorrow night - FEB 14th @ 7:30 PM - Chris will be driving down to the BALTIMORE AREA to run a session of MAZES at GAMES and STUFF, Maryland's most excellent game store. You can log in now and request an update when we launch!
Since Mazes is designed for fast, easy pickup - like at a convention - it is imperative that Character Creation is easy and fun. To make a new character in Mazes - grab a character sheet, and follow these simple instructions:
1) Which role do you want in the game? The Paragon, the Vanguard, the Warrior, or the Sentinel? Record your ROLL (the die) and your ROLE.
2) Record your HEARTS and CROWNS (which are based on your ROLE).
3) Who do you want to be? Which CLASS makes the most sense for that? Record Your Class.
4) Each CLASS has a description and a KEY EDGE (the iconic thing you have to have to be this class). Record that EDGE.
5) What is your KEY ATTRIBUTE? Attributes are "adjectives like Intelligent or Strong" - they replace "the stats" that you have in most games. Each CLASS gives you a choice of 3 KEY ATTRIBUTES, Pick one and record this Edge.
6) Choose the Side of the Balance you fall on? Each Class gives you a choice of two different edges that represent the choices that this CLASS faces - are you fast or powerful, armed or armored? Choose one and record that edge.
7) Then pick an edge that makes you UNIQUE. You can pick any edge you want. Record that edge.
8) What is your name - give yourself a name.
9) Each class gives you a simple choice of 2 characters that you have a BOND with - these represent examples (you can make your own bonds) that this class will often have.
So, here is an example of a Character made with RED WIZARD class:
I want to be the best as a spell caster - so I am going to take PARAGON. I record d4 in ROLL, and PARAGON in ROLE. Since I am the d4, I have 4 HEARTS (which is low), and 4 CROWNS (which is high). I have decided I want to play a RED WIZARD - a fire mage type. So I record RED WIZARD for my CLASS. All RED WIZARDS have FORGE MAGIC (the magic of fire and metal), so I write that as my first edge. The class offers me three choices for a KEY ATTRIBUTE - Iron Willed, Tough, or Intelligent. I think my wizard is a going to be a wiry and wise old coot, so I take TOUGH. For my BALANCE Choice, I have two options - Well Armed or Tools. I think about it - do I want to be more of a smith, or a fighter? Since I have chosen the d4, I think I will avoid fighting - so I take and record TOOLS. Finally, I have to choose any EDGE THAT I WANT. Based on my choices so far, I decide that I want to play a stern older woman who has fought in a lot of battles as a war-mage, but her time has passed - so I look over the options and decided that I will take the attribute edge "Traveled" to show her worldliness. I name her Ix Ninefingers, and tell the party about her - getting ready to define my bonds with them.
- YOURS IN ADVENTURE, 9th Level Games
...Into the Darkness - Chris O'Neill talks MAZES
about 5 years ago
– Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 12:34:03 PM
THANK YOU ALL FOR BACKING MAZES! If you want to hear more about the system, Chris did an hour long brain dump via Kickstarter live about it.
