Games
Phenomenon 2008 is proud to offer the following games and events. These are divided into several categories:
- The Triptych
- RPGA games
- Living Arcanis games
- Freeforms
- Team (tabletop) games
- Miniatures
- Special events
The schedule
Go to General, RPGA and miniatures schedules...
Game ratings
Pheno uses a rating system for games to help you choose games, and to help you anticipate what the GM is looking for in a game.
Games are rated from 1 (little or none) to 5 (really important) on the following:
- Characterisation — portraying the characters... 1 (play the numbers) to 5 (bring out the deep insights)
- Story/plot — telling a good story... 1 (A-Team) to 5 (Shakespeare)
- Genre — knowing the genre, staying in the genre... 1 (post-modernist parody) to 5 (Tolkienesque total immersion)
- Seriousness — romp (seriousness 1) to the big issues (seriousness 5)
- Rules knowledge — do players need to know the game system (5), or is this a good introduction to it (0 or 1)?
- Advisory rating — violence, horror, naughty bits. This can also be rated like a film: G, PG, M, MA, R.
The Triptych
The triptych: each year, Pheno invites three respected designers to present a systemless single session game. Each game showcases what we consider the best of Pheno roleplaying: characterisation, drama, entertainment, innovation. Each game will be judged separately, but teams competing in all three games will also be eligible for the Triptych Perpetual Trophy.
- Crime and Punishment — by David Hollingworth
- The Fall of the Family — by Andrew Smith
- The Group — by Mike(y) and Liz Argall
RPGA games
A Glorious Revolution of RPGA games brought to you by the RPGA. D20 and Dungeons & Dragons v3.5.
Organiser — Wes Nicholson, email wes <at> rpga-apac.com
Living Greyhawk
- RTK8-02 Confrontation in the Timberway — a 1-session game for characters of APLs 6-12.
- RTK8-03 Circles — A 1-session game for characters of level 1-9 (APLs 2-6).
- RTK8-04 A Deeper Darkness — A 1-session game for characters of level 4-16 (APLs 6-14).
- Heresy's Blood — A 1-session game for characters of level 4-16 (APLs 6-14).
- RTK8-02 - The Hunting Party a 1-session interactive for characters of APLs 2-12
Living Forgotten Realms — 4th Edition D&D
- Scalegloom Hall — A 1-session game introduction to 4th edition D&D. 1st-level characters are provided.
- Escape from Sembia — A 1-session game introduction to 4th edition D&D. 1st-level characters are provided.
More RPGA game details will be posted when we have them, closer to the date of Pheno.
Living Arcanis games
Living Arcanis: how will you help shape the shattered empires of Arcanis? D20 and Dungeons & Dragons v3.5.
Living Arcanis games may be played as part of the Living Arcanis campaign or using one of a selection of pregenerated characters as a stand-alone game.
Organiser — Dean, email taffy <at> netspace.com.au
- LA PLX2-1 Lutes and Lyres — A 1-session game for characters of any level. Runs in session A.
- LA PLX1-4 No Fortunate Son — A 1-session game for characters of level 1-10 (APLs 2-9). Runs in session B.
- LA-HP5-01 Shattering the Light — A 1-session game for characters of level 7-21 (APLs 7-21). Runs in session C.
Freeforms
Freeforms are big games for 15–30 players (or rarely, and insanely, more...) players, whose characters are collected in some kind of social gathering in which they interact, intrigue and politic with each other.
- Auto Da Fe — by Joe McNamara (1 session, 16 players)
- Ball of Dreams — by Random (1 session, 24 players)
- Children of the Revolution — by Renee, Fi McConachie and Aveline (1 session 7th Sea, 10 players)
- The Heron's Revenge — by Stacey L Payne (1 session, 10-12 players)
- Project Eden — by Mik (1 session, 15 players)
- Star Explorers — by Mike Walker (1 session, 18 players)
- Undeadwood — by Xole and Andrew (1 session, 30 players)
- The Wake — by Travis Hall (1 session, 15 players)
Team (tabletop) games
Team games (or tabletops) are the traditional form of roleplaying, for groups/teams of about 5 players with generally one GM. There will be character sheets; there may be dice.
- Am I here? — by Michael Hitchens (1 session systemless, 5 players)
- The Disembodied Man — by Robbie and Stephanie Matthews (1 session systemless, 5 players)
- Familiar Times — by Ken Carcas (1 session D&D 3.5ed, 5 players)
- Kwaidan — by Philippa Hughes and John Hughes (1 session systemless, 5 players)
- The Last Action Heroes — by Dan L'Estrange (1 session system lite, 7 players)
- Last Man Standing — by Stuart Barrow (1 session systemless, 5 players)
- Platinum Angels — by David James and Nadina Geary (1 session Shadowrun, 5 players)
- Psi III — by Mike Walker (1 session systemless, 5 players)
- Starship Bridge Crew: Mission Clean Sweep — by Robert Cox (1 session systemless, 5 players)
Miniatures
War games typically played on a 4' x 6' table with painted miniatures, modelled terrain and endless camaraderie.
- Warhammer 40K — organised by Paul Naveau
- Warmachine and Hordes — organised by Jason Wagoner
- Field of Glory — organised by Tim Sleigh
- DE BELLIS MAGISTRORUM MILITUM - DBMM — organised by Peter Barrett
- Flames of War — organised by Paul Brelsford
Special events
More fun than we can classify anywhere else.
- 2008 Worldwide D&D Gameday — Get your first taste of D&D 4th Ed! A two-hour introductory game.
- Mission: improv-able — Fit the Fourth (and a bit) — brought to you by Mike(y) and Liz!