the triptych & diptych
Triptych (trip-tick) n. A picture or carving on three panels able to fold over the centre; a set of three associated works so placed esp. as a centre piece; a set of three writing tablets hinged or tied together; a set of three artistic works; such used as an altar piece; a treatise in three parts.
Diptych (dip-tick) n. A picture or carving as above, except one of the panels has been nicked.
Each year Pheno invites respected designers to present bespoke single-session games: a set of three more serious games (the Triptych) and a pair of lighter, more humorous games (the Diptych).
These games have tended to be systemless (emphasising characterisation and drama over rules use and tactical simulation), and showcase what we consider the best of Pheno roleplaying: characterisation, genre, entertainment, innovation.
Players and teams can enter each game by itself and the games will be judged separately, but complete teams finishing all three games of the Triptych will also be eligible for the Triptych Perpetual Trophy. Teams finishing both Diptychs will be eligible for the Diptych Perpetual Trophy.
The Triptych
The Triptych games may not be always dark and angsty, but they will be pretty serious in tone. All are for 5 players.
Leviathan—by Michael Hitchins (1 sessions, 5 players, Heroquest)
The King in Winter—by Greg Tannahill (1 sessions, 5 players, Custom system)
Year King—by Shane Donohoe (1 session, 5 players, Systemless)
The Diptych
The Diptych games are a light brain cleanser after the Triptych. They may be silly, they may not. They are for 5 players.
Supernatural Studies Club—by Stephanie and Robbie Matthews (1 session, 5 players, Systemless)
The Campfire Initiative—by David McKie (1 session, 5 players, Systemless)
The Triptych
Leviathan
by Michael Hitchens
This is a game for heroes, the last and greatest heroes of a people. You’ll fight, there’ll be action and heroic deeds, enemies to defeat. But in this time and place being heroes isn’t enough. Whatever fights and battles you win you’re losing the war. Desperation is setting in. Who do you save when you can’t save everyone? Who gets sacrificed? What do you do when sometimes all the choices are bad?
What will you do in this game?
Roll some dice, fight enemies, play these characters as real people, interact with NPCs they care about. Make hard decisions, where none of the options are good. You will be provided with information about your character, but will have opportunity to flesh that out and add to it in session before play starts. While there is some dice-rolling, the main emphasis will be on how you play your character and how you interact with each other and the rest of the game world. These characters are in a desperate situation and, no matter how heroic, everyone has a breaking point. There is a story here, but your actions and reactions will shape it.
Note: There are no competitive/PvP elements in this game. While the characters may sometimes argue, they are on the same side and are there for each other.
| What’s the game again? | Being heroes, where that isn’t enough. |
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| Seriousness | Serious. |
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| Genre/setting | Tragedy in a fantasy world. |
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| System | Simplified Heroquest (which is a simple system to start with). |
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| Movie | rating MA. |
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The King In Winter
by Greg Tannahill
A game about the power of stories, for 5 players.
It is Midwinter's Eve, and the only light at this forgotten crossroads comes from the small campfire you built here.
Tomorrow the prince will be crowned king, and the world will change, but tonight you are here to play an ancient game of storytelling. Each of you will tell a story, and the stories will augur the reign of the new king. The tales you tell will be omens, good and bad.
But the game is more than that. For a mysterious fifth player has emerged from the darkness and snow with an agenda all his own, and his story is more dangerous and deadly than anyone had foreseen.
And beyond all that, for you this game is personal. Because you have a secret—a secret that you can never say aloud—but maybe, through the magic of stories, you might just have an opportunity to tell it after all…
The King In Winter is a game for five players about the power of stories. Players take on the roles of four friends and a mysterious traveler on the eve of the royal coronation. Gameplay consists of a series of structured interactive stories told by those characters to each other, set within a larger framing story. The game emphasises storytelling and characterisation, and is serious and cathartic in tone. The game is cooperative in structure. The King In Winter will be best enjoyed by experienced roleplayers, but it is written to be accessible and satisfying for everyone.
| What's the game again? | Five travelers in a high-stakes game of stories. |
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| Seriousness | Serious. Grimm, but not necessarily grim. |
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| Genre/setting | Dark folktale. The setting is unique to this game. |
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| System | The game mechanics are unique and will be fully explained during play. |
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| Rating | M. Recommended for players 15 years and over. |
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Year King
by Shane Donohoe
Last year, five friends chose one among them to lay their troubles on, to turn their luck around, to bring in some good times. They anointed him, made him a wreath to wear, called him their Year King. Then laughed about it and went off to get drunk.
That began a year like no other. For the one they named King, success like he had only dreamed.
Now Midwinter has come again. The friends are faced with the promise they made.
Will you kill the Year King?
(With thanks to Mary Renault’s The King Must Die)
| What’s the game again? | A game about making the most important decision of someone's life |
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| Seriousness | Serious |
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| Genre/setting | Modern/drama |
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| System | Systemless |
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| Movie rating | M+ (deals with mortality) |
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Diptych
Supernatural Studies Club
by Stephanie and Robbie Matthews
Welcome to the Supernatural Studies Club! We investigate the weird, the wondrous and the bizarre! Interested in Aliens, Ghosts, witches or werewolves? Come and talk to us! Accepting new members. Please complete the application form and return to the supervising teacher.
A typical High School, with typical students. Exams, uniforms, school food, hobbies, friendships, romances, monsters, witches, aliens, time travellers, bigfoot, and a 70% chance of a world ending event.
| What’s the game again? | A game for 5 curious students. |
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| Seriousness | Not very. |
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| Genre/setting | High School Manga with Supernatural Elements. |
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| System | Mostly Systemless |
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| Movie rating | M15+, Supernatural Themes |
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The Campfire Initiative
by David McKie
Since the year 2000, there have been things lurking in the shadows. Ghouls in the graveyards, Boogeymen under your bed, that thing that is about to grab your left shoulder. The U.N formed a group to deal with this issues without bring it into the public's view (can you imagine that jerk in HR with magic powers?).
You are part of that group.
Welcome to the Campfire Initiative.
You are underpaid, under-prepared and overworked. At least the, thus far, mythical retirement package sounds nice.
The Campfire Initiative is a game for five agents sent to deal with the forces of the occult, the otherworldly and sometimes just a teenager who now likes the taste of AB-.
| What’s the game again? | A game for 5 supernatural investigators. |
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| Seriousness | Comedy/Horror |
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| Genre/setting | Modern supernatural |
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| System | Light |
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| Movie rating | M15+, Supernatural Themes |
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Previous triptychs
2014
Morgan Morningstar, Closing the Gate of Dawn
John Machin, Ever On
Penny Sullivan and Jason Chappel, Inner Space
2013
Peter Rousell, Shiprock
Fi McConachie, The Silent Ones
John and Philippa Hughes, The Gate of Heaven, Cancelled due to illness
2012
David James, In Sceadure—In Shadow
Mike Walker, Death Journey
Dan L'Estrange, Home
2011
Jacinta Thomler and Stuart Barrow, Eternal Companions
James Riley and Terence Janssen, Project Legacy
Ingrid Bean and Shane Donohoe, The Sacrifice of Immortality
2010
Andrew Smith, Body Corporate
Ryan d'Argeavel, The Cabinet of Doctor Makundi
Michael Hitchens, Floodland
2009
Mik Bonsall, Dead Man Walking
Fi McConachie, Silence of the Bush
Nick Argall, Vengeance of the Vampire Lord
2008
David Hollingworth, Crime and Punishment
Andrew Smith, The Fall of the Family
Mike(y) and Liz Argall, The Group
2007
John Hughes, Quest: Mask of Heroes
Jacinta Thomler, Six Soldiers
David James, Those Left Behind
2006
Liz Argall, Being There
Joe McNamara, Killing De Villefort
Ingrid Bean, Rebirthing Eden
2005
Stuart Barrow, The Mask and the Moonlight
Xole Karman, Familiar
Andrew Smith, Something Wonderful
2004
Robbie Matthews, Mayhem Over Manhattan
Peter Rousell, Last Night in Eden
Eric Henry, The Fishbowl
2003
David James, Can you go home again?
Mike Walker, Psi
Ingrid Bean, Silence
2002
Ben Hunter, Project Hydra
Robert Barbetti, Something Wicked
Mark Bruckard, This Way Comes
2001
Larry Larkin, Once upon a time
Ryan d'Argeavel, I knew she was trouble the minute she walked into my office
Jon Naughton, They don't advertise for killers in a newspaper
2000
Michael Hitchens, You are Number 4, I am Number 6
Caitlin May, What is Honour?
Tony Guyot, Citius Altius Fortiu
1999 [The year Pheno ate Cancon]
Richard Canning, Memory Lost
Jo Ellem, Signor Jacemo's Circus of Wonder
Morgan Morningstar, Redemption
1998
Liz Argall, When I Meet My Family
Felix White, Lost Highway
Scott Walton & Daniel Wilks, Spazmo
1997
Andrew Smith, Fatalism
Diana Leithead, The Charity Gig
Antti Roppola, Understanding Ellen West
1996
Richard Percy, Covenant
Mark Barnes, Prometheus Rising
Brent Steves, Graenlendinga Saga
1995
John Hughes, Fallen Angel
Madi, Freaks
Grant Allen & Lindsay Beaton, Portents
1994
Ian Wanless, The Breaking
Robert MacLean, Faded Giant
Chris Slee, Uncle Jurgen's Happy Hour
