PixlBit

Since junior high, I've been obsessed with tabletop rpgs. I have games that range from the basic medieval fantasy game to far future psychics battling alien threats. I love storytelling in all it's genres and to me, there is something very special when it comes to gathering together with friends and taking part of an adventure.

Like any other industry, there are the big names, Dungeons & Dragons, in the case of RPGs, but there are also the independents. The games that are the product of the blood, sweat and tears of just a handful of people who put up their own money to make their dream a reality. 

Torchbearer is one of these. Published by Burning Wheel HQ and the effort of Thor Olavsrud and Luke Crane (who wrote the original ruleset the game is based on), it harkens back to the simple times of exploration that were part of the original D&D, before it became Advanced or had multiple editions.

However, Torchbearer takes a more modern approach to the rules, allowing players the ability to influence and shift the game towards or against them as necessary to advance the story and to advance themselves. That's a hallmark for independently produced rpgs, they tend to focus on providing a narrative approach to the storytelling, with a smaller, less intensive amount of rules to use.

My players and I have some experience with indie RPGS, but the unusual structure of this game is taking some getting used to. We've played two sessions so far and they have definitely begun to feel the sting of adventuring, as they are sick, injured, tired, hungry; all of them conditions that affect how capable they are of completing the adventure.

If anyone's interested in this, I'd be glad to post some more information on how the game is working for us and I whole-heartedly point said interested parties to: If anyone's interested in this, I'd be glad to post some more information on how the game is working for us and I whole-heartedly point said interested parties to: http://www.burningwheel.com/store/index.php/torchbearer.html