The Game Moves
This story was made using the solo RPG: Monster Hunter, by La esquina del rol. Based on the Firelights system, this pamphlet RPG is about the Borderlands, and the last Monster Hunter who has the Scattergun of Destiny. They must find the Six Legendary Bullets to banish The Evil One and restore the Borderlands. The following is a list of the card-draws, rolls, and actions taken during play that resulted in the transcribed narrative:
Beginning stats: Monster +2, Hunter +1
Starting Location: 5 of Diamonds
Roll: 3, 5 : HOLLOW
The First Bullet
| Action | Draw | Roll | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover New Place | 3 of C, 6 of H | 1 + 2 + H(1) | 1 | Place 3 of C to the South, gain Setback |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (1, 4) (3, 6) (3, 1) | - | Camp, Hurt, Difference |
| Discover New Place | J of C, A of C | 5 + 6 + H(1) | 2 | Place A of C to the Southeast, then J of C to the Northeast |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (1, 6) (4, 1) (4, 4) | - | Waterfall, Impede, Madness |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (4, 5) (5, 6) (6, 4) | - | Mountain, Sabotage, Union |
| Search for Resources | 9 of H, 3 of D | 5 + 2 + H(1) | 1 | +1 Resource, Monster in the Distance |
| Monster | - | (6, 2), 3 + 6 + 1 | - | Shade, ST 10, Weak to Black |
| + Attack | 3 of H, 10 of S | 6 + 1 + M(2) | 1 | Stack 10 of S (2) |
| + Evade | K of H, 8 of D | 2 + 3 + H(1) | 0 | Gain 2 stress (2), Disadvantage. Hunter = 2, Monster = 1 |
| + Attack | 8 of C, 6 of C | 2 | Stack both cards (6) | |
| + Evade | 9 of D, 4 of D | 6 + 2 + H(2) | 1 | Gain 1 stress (3) |
| + Attack | J of H, 6 of S | 2 + 3 + M(1) | 1 | Stack 6 of S (8) |
| + Evade | K of D, Q of S | 1 + 2 + H(2) | 0 | Gain 2 stress (5), Disadvantage. Hunter = 1, Monster = 2 |
| + Attack | A of S, 2 of H | 2 | Stack both cards (11): MONSTER DEFEATED | |
| Rest | - | - | - | Reshuffle deck, Stress = 0, Hunter = 1, Monster = 2 |
The Second Bullet
Monster +2, Hunter +1
Resources: 1
| Action | Draw | Roll | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search for Resources | 8 of S, 2 of D | 6 + 2 + H(1) | 2 | +2 Resources, Advantage |
| Discover New Place | 9 of S, 5 of S | 2 | Place 9 of S to the South, Place 5 of S to the South | |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (2, 5) (4, 6) (5, 3) | - | Desert, Forgive, Promise |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (5, 3) (3, 2) (2, 6) | - | Plantation, Escape, Destruction |
| Overcome Challenge | 9 of D, 10 of H | 5 + 5 + 3 Resources | 2 | Success |
| Take Risk | 7 of C, K of D | 5 + 3 + M(2) | 1 | Narrative Cost |
| Monster | - | (6, 3) 3 + 1 + 1 | - | Troll, St 5, Weak to Black |
| + Evade | 7 of D, J of S | 6 + 3 + M(2) | 2 | Success |
| + Attack | 4 of D, 6 of C | 6 + 2 + H(1) | 2 | Stack both cards (3) |
| + Evade | K of C, 8 of H | 1 + 3 + M(2) | 0 | Gain 2 stress (2), Disadvantage. Hunter = 2, Monster = 1 |
| + Attack | J of D, A of H | 2 | Stack both cards (5): MONSTER DEFEATED | |
| Search for Resources | 8 of C, 3 of S | 4 + 5 + H(2) | 2 | +2 Resources, Advantage |
| Discover New Place | 6 of S, Q of C | 5 + 3 + H(2) | 1 | Place Q of C to the NE, Narrative Cost |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (4, 2) (1, 6) (4, 4) | - | Plains, Hunt, Madness |
| Monster | - | (2, 5) 2 + 3 + 1 | - | Dire Wolf, St 6, Weak to Hearts |
| + Attack | 4 of S, 9 of C | 3 + 6 + H(2) | 2 | Stack both cards (2) |
| + Attack | 5 of C, 6 of D | 3 + 5 + H(2) | 2 | Stack both cards (4) |
| + Evade | A of S, 5 of D | 3 + 3 + M(1) | 2 | Success |
| + Attack | 10 of S, 6 of H | 3 + 4 + M(1) | 2 | Stack 6 of H (6): MONSTER DEFEATED |
| Discover New Place | 2 of S, Q of S | 1 | Place Q of S to the NE, Narrative Cost | |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (4, 1) (1, 3) (3, 3) | - | Lake, Secure, Disease |
| Rest | - | - | - | Reshuffle deck, Stress = 0, Hunter = 1, Monster = 2 |
The Third Bullet
Monster +2, Hunter +1
Resources: 2
| Action | Draw | Roll | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle | 2 of H, 4 of S | 5 + 6 + 2 | 2 | Is Pet happy to see Vic? “Yes, and…” — she still loves Vic |
| Monster | - | (5, 4) 4 + 5 + 1 | - | Mummy, St 10, Weak to Red |
| Search for Resources | A of S, 9 of H | 3 + 5 + H(1) | 2 | +2 Resources, Advantage |
| Overcome Challenge | Q of H, J of D | 0 | Gain 1 stress (1), Disadvantage | |
| + Attack | 6 of S, 8 of D | 2 | Stack both cards (3) | |
| + Evade | 9 of D, 5 of H | 4 + 2 + M(2) | 1 | Gain 1 stress (2) |
| + Attack | 10 of S, 6 of H | 2 + 3 + M(2) | 1 | Stack 6 of H (5) |
| + Evade | 2 of C, 4 of H | 1 + 2 + M(2) | 2 | Success |
| + Attack | 3 of D, 6 of D | 2 + 4 + M(2) | 2 | Stack both cards (9) |
| + Evade | 10 of H, K of C | 3 + 2 + M(2) | 0 | Gain 2 stress (4), Disadvantage |
| + Attack | 5 of C, K of S | 0 | Evade Danger, Hunter = 2, Monster = 1 | |
| + Evade | 2 of S, 7 of D | 6 + 3 + M(1) | 2 | Success |
| + Evade | 2 of D + 4 of S | 6 + 3 + M(1) | 2 | Success |
| + Attack | 3 of S, J of S | 2 + 3 + M(1) | 1 | Stack 3 of S (10): MONSTER DEFEATED |
| Oracle | 5 of D, 9 of S | 2 + 1 + 1(50/50) | 0 | Is Pet coming along? “No, but…” — she can take care of herself |
| Rest | - | - | - | Reshuffle deck, Stress = 0, Hunter = 1, Monster = 2 |
The Fourth Bullet
Monster +2, Hunter +1
Resources: 0
| Action | Draw | Roll | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover New Place | 2 of H, 6 of S | 2 + 2 + H(1) | 1 | Place 2 of H to the Southeast, gain Setback |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (3, 6) (1, 3) (6, 6) | - | Wetlands, Secure, Will |
| Search for Resources | K of D, 7 of D | 4 + 4 + H(1) | 1 | +1 Resource, Monster in the Distance |
| Monster | - | (4, 5), 5 + 4 + 1 | - | Llorona, ST 10, Weak to Spades |
| + Evade | A of D, 7 of C | 1 + 4 + H(1) | 1 | Gain 1 Stress (1) and Narrative Cost |
| Discover New Place | J of H, 6 of D | 6 + 2 + M(2) | 1 | Place J of H to the North, gain Setback |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (2, 6) (4, 5) (1, 2) | - | Dunes, Pursue, Isolation |
| Monster | - | (2, 6), 6 + 4 + 1 | Elemental, St 11, Weak to Hearts | |
| + Attack | 2 of C, 8 of H | 1 + 4 + M(2) | 1 | Stack 8 of H (2) |
| + Evade | 9 of H, 6 of C | 1 + 2 + M(2) | 0 | Gain 2 Stress (3), Disadvantage, Hunter = 2, Monster = 1 |
| + Attack | A of H, 9 of D | 1 | Stack A of H (4) | |
| + Evade | 5 of C, 8 of H | 6 + 4 + H(2) | 2 | Success |
| + Attack | 5 of H, K of C | 6 + 1 + M(1) | 1 | Stack 5 of H (6) |
| + Evade | K of H, J of S | 4 + 3 + M(1) | 0 | Gain 2 Stress (5), Disadvantage, Hunter = 3, Monster = 0 |
| Staring at the Abyss | 9 of C, 8 of S | 2 | Rest, Disadvantage | |
| Rest | - | - | - | Reshuffle deck, Stress = 0, Hunter = 1, Monster = 2 |
| Oracle | 10 of S, 2 of S | 1 | Does the Elemental come back? “Yes, but…” it wants to keep the bullet | |
| + Attack | A of H, 7 of D | 4 + 1 + M(2) | 2 | Stack both cards (9) |
| + Evade | 6 of H, J of S | 3 + 2 + M(2) | 1 | Gain 1 Stress |
| + Attack | 8 of H, Q of D | 3 + 4 + H(1) | 1 | Stack 8 of H (11): MONSTER DEFEATED |
The Fifth Bullet
Monster +2, Hunter +1
Resources: 1
| Action | Draw | Roll | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover New Place | A of D, 4 of D | 2 + 3 + M(2) | 2 | Place 4 of D to the Southeast, Place A of D to the Southeast |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (4, 1) (6, 2) (4, 6) | - | Lake, Steal, Monster |
| + Monster | - | (6, 6), 4 + 5 + 1 | - | Zombie, ST 10, Weak to Black |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (4, 4) (1, 3) (5, 2) | - | Mine, Secure, Population |
| Overcome Challenge | 3 of S, K of D | 5 + 1 + 1 Resources | 1 | Narrative Cost |
| Oracle | 7 of H, 3 of D | 6 + 4 + 0(Unlikely) | 2 | Does everyone come with Vic? “Yes, and…” — so fast she avoids the zombie fight |
| Discover New Place | K of C, 6 of S | 1 + 1 + M(2) | 0 | Place K of C Face down to the NE, Gain 1 Stress (1) |
| + Take the Risk | Q of H, 2 of D | 2 + 5 + H(1) | 1 | Narrative Cost |
| + Roll for New Place | - | (5, 1) (1, 2) (3, 3) | - | Swamp, Attack, Disease |
| Search for Resources | 7 of S, 4 of C | 4 + 1 + H(1) | 1 | +1 Resource, Monster in the Distance |
| Overcome Challenge | 4 of H, K of S | 3 + 4 + 1 Resource | 1 | Narrative Cost |
| Monster | - | (2, 4) 6 + 4 + 1 | - | Dragon, ST 10, Weak to Hearts |
| Oracle | 5 of C, 9 of H | 6 + 6 + 0(Unlikely) | 2 | Can Vic get the bullet without killing the Dragon? “Yes, and…” — she already has the last Bullet |
| FINAL LOCATION | 6 of H | (6, 4) (5, 4) (6, 5) | - | Valley, Persue, Truth - Place to the South East |
Final Thoughts
I went into this game planning a third-person narrative. The Firelights system works well as a modified PbtA RPG system, but it is a long game.
Admittedly, it’s largely long because I spent time writing narrative, rather than using the more traditional “journal entry” system of solo journaling. If I had spent only a few minutes on each event, the whole story could have been much shorter. The system itself is solid enough, though there was some clunkiness with the simplicity of the design. The map never really became important, and it was certainly lucky that I drew so many face cards when searching for bullets when I did, otherwise the game would have been even longer.
You can probably tell where I petered out. In the end, I decided to cheat the system a bit; I had discovered the idea that the last bullet had been put into Vic around bullet 3, and I didn’t want to risk a long stretch while I hunted for the right card.
There are a lot of possible themes I could have used in making this a longer story: Westerns are prime places to explore Self versus the World, and playing around with a demon-tainted world could have made for some quality stories, especially about someone who is struggling to figure themselves out as they comb the twisted landscape for McGuffins.
There are a few more games I have that are based on Firelights, so with this practice under my belt, I think I might be able to handle a far more interesting, engaging, and developed story.
Perhaps I’ll come back to this one and set about revising it into a story I’m more proud of. ‘Til then, I’ll continue exploring other systems and the stories they create.