TLDR;
This video introduces Legend in the Mist, a tabletop role-playing game focused on intimate, emotional stories and character growth. The game uses a simple tag-based system, where characters are defined by descriptive tags rather than traditional stats. The video walks through the process of creating a character, Tamsin, a village witch, to illustrate how the system works, including theme tags, power and weakness tags, quests, and story tags. It also touches on fellowship and the Action Grimoire, a resource for tag suggestions.
- The game prioritizes character-driven narratives over epic, world-ending events.
- Characters are built using tags that describe their skills, traits, and possessions.
- Theme tags define the most important aspects of a character and shape their development through quests and milestones.
Intro [0:00]
The video introduces Legend in the Mist, a fantasy tabletop game that focuses on intimate, emotional stories and real character growth. It contrasts epic stories with personal, relatable ones, highlighting how the latter can be more impactful. The game uses a streamlined tag system and is designed for solo, group, or co-op play, without requiring a Game Master. The video aims to demonstrate the game's mechanics by creating a character together.
Building a Hero [2:22]
In Legend in the Mist, players create "heroes" who are ordinary individuals from humble backgrounds drawn into extraordinary adventures. This concept is referred to as Rustic Fantasy, where characters undergo significant personal change. The game offers three methods for character creation: pre-made options, freeform creation, or detailed questionnaires, which can be mixed and matched. Instead of traditional stats, characters are defined by tags, which are short descriptors of skills, traits, or items that can aid or hinder them. These tags form the basis of the game's mechanics.
Magic [5:00]
The video begins creating a character named Tamsin, a village witch, and assigns her the "rudimentary magic" theme tag. Theme tags consist of three sub-tags: two power tags and one weakness tag. For Tamsin, the power tags are "beginner's wand" (providing a bonus to spellcasting) and "deflect spell" (a defensive option), while the weakness tag is "needs to concentrate" (imposing a penalty when distracted). The video explains how tags can be helpful or hindering depending on the context. Players can "burn" a power tag for a significant bonus, temporarily making it unavailable. The narrator can also scratch tags as a consequence of failure. Theme tags also include quests, which are personal journeys or beliefs that drive character development. Tamsin's quest for rudimentary magic is "I'm going to keep practicing until I become a true wizard," influencing her character's evolution based on whether she pursues or ignores this goal.
People [9:42]
The video proceeds to create a "people" tag for Tamsin to define her heritage, inventing a group called the "greenborn," who have a natural connection to the earth. Using a questionnaire, the video identifies power tags such as "green thumb" (skill in gardening and herbalism) and "the earth speaks to me" (a supernatural ability to predict weather or track animals). The weakness tag is "claustrophobic," representing discomfort in man-made buildings. The quest for this tag is "as the earth sustains us, so must we sustain it," emphasizing the importance of respecting the natural world. Failing to uphold this quest could lead to the loss of the greenborn tag or even corruption into a "greenblight."
Personality [12:33]
Tamsin is given a personality tag called "straight shooter," with power tags "clear communicator" and "risk taker," and the weakness tag "a little too honest." The quest associated with this tag is "Honesty is the best policy," which requires Tamsin to consistently be truthful, with penalties for lying.
Companion [12:55]
Tamsin receives a companion in the form of a black cat named Widdershins. The power tags for this companion are "on silent paws" and "calming influence," while the weakness tag is "answers to no one." The quest associated with this tag is "I promise to keep you safe," reflecting the bond between Tamsin and her familiar.
Story tags [13:35]
The video explains story tags, which are temporary and can represent items or emotional states. These tags are not just inventory but can also reflect a hero's emotional experiences, influencing gameplay. For example, a "hopeful" tag can add a bonus to rolls. Tamsin's starting story tag is a "ritual candle," a reasonable item for a witch that can be used in various situations. Story tags can be removed or replaced as the story progresses.
Example gameplay [15:00]
The video presents an imaginary scene where Tamsin and Widdershins encounter a flooded river with a washed-out bridge. Tamsin attempts to commune with the earth to find the best crossing point, using her ritual candle and "the earth speaks to me" power tag. The narrator introduces challenges like "slippery rocks" and the difficulty of carrying Widdershins, who "answers to no one." The scene illustrates how tags, modifiers, and burning tags for power can influence the outcome. Consequences for failure include being swept downstream, forcing Tamsin to choose between saving herself or Widdershins, potentially marking milestones or abandons on her quests.
Fellowship [17:24]
The video touches on the fellowship aspect, which represents the adventuring party. The group creates a shared fellowship theme card with power tags, a weakness tag, and a quest. Fellowship power tags are single-use and cannot be burned for power. Individual relationship tags describe how the heroes feel about each other, and these tags can be updated as the fellowship spends time together.
Action Grimoire [18:30]
The video briefly mentions the Action Grimoire, a separate book that provides suggestions for various situations in the game, such as enchanting items or improvising weapons. It offers helpful tags, consequences, and status tags, serving as a guide for both heroes and narrators. The Action Grimoire acts as training wheels for those new to the tag system, offering structure while still allowing for improvisation.