Art, photos, and games
Movies can show us things that we usually can’t see. I don’t mean ghosts or ultraviolet rays (although they can also do that). I mean concepts like emotions, relationships, power, intensity, and intimacy.
I’ll demonstrate with Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, which is widely regarded as “not a good movie.” That’s another secret. Any movie can reward careful viewing. Even low-budget movies from disreputable genres like “direct-to-video” and “sci-fi” have something to show you.
Learning to understand movies isn’t hard, or reserved for the educated elite. You can do it, based on skills you already know, once you see how it’s done.
As an example, let’s look at a scene from Top Gun: Maverick. Movies about airplanes can be very clear, because pilots announce their actions over the radio and their instruments explain every little detail about the airplane. Their actions are also obvious and spectacular.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Boris the Remnant, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger, Yonne the Rain.
Last time, the Fellowship researched the Forgotten Lands. This time, they try to go there, even though no one remembers the way.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The party: Buckle the Beast/Heart of Earth, Stella the Halfling/Hunter
Last time, Buckle gave up the Elder Star so the Kobolds left on the Moon could escape instead of dying. His empathy still outranks his desire for power, in this circumstance, at least. This time, the Fellowship tries to learn what effect they had on the Moon, and what effect it has on Vampires and Werewolves.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Dryden of Conwall the Collector/Hunter, Averiela the Elf/Elven Elite, Markus the Squire, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger
Last time, the Fellowship created a new location (the Smouldering Forest) and stirred up an adjacent location (the Bile PIt) by setting fire to the southern half of the Drowned Forest. This time . . . .
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Boris the Remnant, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger, Yonne the Rain.
Last time, Yonne met her people. This time, we take it easy with a trip to the library.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The party: Buckle the Beast/Heart of Earth, Stella the Halfling/Hunter
Last time, Buckle decided to fix the teleporter terminal he blew up years ago, to rescue the Kobolds trapped on the Moon after he stole their power source. They found a necessary component in a Dwarven Fortress, and now they venture into the Fairy Forest to fix the terminal.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Dryden of Conwall the Collector/Hunter, Averiela the Elf/Elven Elite, Markus the Squire, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger
Last time, the Fellowship confirmed that moonlight hurts vampires, killed Baron Von Till, and looted his castle. This time they find owning a castle is more complicated that assaulting it.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The fellowship: Boris the Remnant, Ol’ Jardiner the Harbinger, Yonne the Rain.
Last time, the Fellowship traveled to the Rain Comet, where most of Yonne’s people live. This time, Yonne learns more about her culture, but also what happens to Vampires during the full moon.
Chasing the Sunset is a West Marches-style exploration game using Fellowship 2nd Edition‘s Horizon rules.
The party: Buckle the Beast/Heart of Earth, Stella the Halfling/Hunter, Professor Gummidge the Lantern/Mad Scientist
Last time, the Fellowship tricked an immortal monster into powering the Miranda, retrofitted to a trans-dimensional lunar lander. They stole the Moon’s power source as they left.