It’s time for me to do a readthrough of ACKSII. I can’t believe I haven’t done one yet. I will be using my standard scoring system of Love It (++) , Like It (+) , Meh (-) , and Hate It (x) , keeping these in chronological order as presented in the book. This time I’m adding a new category, Confused by it (?). Although ACKSII isn’t on the docket to get played any time soon, I suspect its tendrils will work their way into every game I run for the rest of my life, in some form or fashion. Given that the three books that make up the entire ACKSII work amount to more than 1500 pages and a million words, I suspect this read-through will never be finished. As always, this exercise is an excuse to force myself to carefully read through the entirety of the book’s rules. I tend to skim and skip around, and this is the best way I have found to read and process in depth. It’s harder than a prescription for ADHD medication, but also free. I will be referring to the game’s author Alexander ...
While doing some thinking through Dragonbane, I was reminded of this game’s existence. I’m not sure how I initially learned of it (for some reason, I recall an Instagram advertisement was involved), but I soon bought the book, read some of it, and promptly forgot about it (as one does). This book came out, I think, around 2020, which was a unique year for all of us. During that time, I was eyeballs-deep in running Dwimmermount, plus my soon-to-be-ex-wife was pregnant and deathly sick, and I was making every effort to finish my Bachelor’s degree. In short, I didn’t have much margin to really sit down and read much of anything. Now, with my life being what it is (rich in everything except money), I have enough free time to make a go of this book. From what little I remember (and have read since I reacquired the book yesterday), there’s a certain feeling similar to Annihilation or Roadside Picnic; a dangerous and unthinkably strange Zone, into which the brave and foolish venture. I...