THROWBACK THURSDAY: A Game Changer!

Before Bushido (the first RPG set in feudal Japan)was published by FGU (Fantasy Games Unlimited), an edition was published in 1980 by Phoenix Games (and it turns out there was even an iteration before that as well).

It was this Phoenix Games version that a classmate called Dan Chambers ran for me, Nick, and several others at school.

I played a ninja (of course!), who in a flash of inspiration cooked up a plan (I can't remember the exact details now), that essentially reframed the mission he'd been assigned and used it to fuel a nationwide war.

Then through my crafty manipulation of politicians and warlords all this ultimately led to my character or, more likely, someone of his choice, being named shōgun!

What I do remember is Dan, a very canny and knowledgeable chap, looking over my plan and declaring that he couldn't find fault with it.

At that moment, it dawned on me - and has stuck with me - that one of the the great things about roleplaying games, that can't be emulated in any other games, is that you can think outside the box.

Just because you're on a quest for X doesn't mean to say all your character's actions have to be laser-focused on achieving X, when you have ideas about achieving Y and Z as well.