Session 0 Report

General Summary

Perfectly Imperfect

Even though I promised that everything in Arcana Universum would be discovered emergently through play, we all have to start somewhere; so, here is my Session 0 where I roll randomly on the Mythic GME 2e Oracle and Descriptor tables to figure out how and where I start. In an effort to maximize actually playing the game, I've come to the conclusion that some pre-session planning will likely be necessary. Details like potential enemy or NPC pools so I know which miniatures print/paint/have on hand, generalized locations for set pieces and immersion, etc. Aside from the absolute smallest, most basic facts possible, to ensure that even the most random results can fit into the setting, everything will still be completely randomly generated.

The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I, the actual real-world player, will be roleplaying myself, or at least a version of myself if the Oracle so decides, that is "isekai'd," or otherwise transported against my knowledge and will, into this setting. This is obvious since this is all a roleplaying game, the most important goal I have going into this is to truly discover the world around me as my character does - hence the importance on emergent storytelling through play. Thus, I'm at a bit of a bind: How do I pre-plan some basic options like locations, enemy or NPC miniatures, and for Mythic GME 2e in particular, potential Threads and Characters on the Adventure List for my beginning Scenes if everything is emergently discovered as my character experiences it in-universe?

I've spent seriously, like, at least 6 weeks trying to figure out a way around this and I've come to the following conclusion: I'm going to spend forever just trying to figure out these "rules" I set for myself, or create this "perfect" way to do things, instead of just playing the game I want to play. So, I'm making the commitment to just jump into things with the caveat that this narrative, setting, characters, really EVERYTHING is an imperfect work in progress and I'll just have to hone in on the things I can and want to pre-plan, the things I discover through play, and be ok with being imperfect. The goal here isn't perfection and knowing things and details only my character would know, but rather it's a craft that I'll develop over time and figuring out what works versus what doesn't, and what I like versus what I don't.

So, without any further adieu, let's begin building a universe...

Start, Session 0!

I've DM'd a D&D5e campaign before and have done the Session 0 for that one, so I'm going to try my best to remember the topics covered there while keeping in mind the goal of emergent discovery. I think this article is more-or-less going to turn into a brain dump resembling a blueprint, a scaffold skeleton, rather than any interesting data.

Truths of Arcana Universum (as I know it right now)

The intent here is to list out the undebatable laws of this setting. What physics and chemistry is to our reality, these are to Arcana Universum. While some items need to, and likely will be, fleshed out and detailed over time, everything listed here is immutable fact:

• The event known as The Merge is canon and happened some time in the past. Most likely the distant past, thousands of years ago.
• Many fantastical races/beings that'd we'd recognize from folklore and stories are alien races that are native to one of the two realities
• The cosmic energies Anima and Umbra are present in all things, but some areas throughout the galaxy have higher concentrations of one over the other, which causes some unique changes, challenges, and situations
• Humans exist and must use Goddessite as their means to channel Magick through the AEGIS
• Riftspaces are this setting's version of MMORPG-like dungeons
• The setting, and especially its magical components, are heavily influenced by Wicca and the 22 Major Arcana.

Everything else in this narrative and setting gets derived from these.

Setting Generation

The goal of this section is to document my resources for random, emergent storytelling and content generation. As stated above, Mythic GME 2e is my Oracle engine and will be my primary source of inspiration. I do have a few other tools at my disposal, such as the UNE and some other books with random tables for landmark/biome generation, quest generation, etc.

• Mythic Game Master Emulator 2nd Edition (Mythic 2e)
• Universal NPC Emulator (UNE)
• Perilous Wilds
• Book(s) of Random Tables by dicegeeks

Themes & Tones

A non-exhaustive list of the themes of Arcana Universum, and some tones of the settings or stories found within:

Themes

• Balance in all things
• Death and rebirth. Cycles
• Inner and personal strength
• Companionship and love, both platonic or romantic and otherwise
• Adaptation
• Growth through struggle and sacrifice

Tones

• Dark, gritty survival.
• Lived-in, industrial
• Ancient, yet high-tech
• Supernatural. Horror. When appropriate.

Content & Expectations

As I've stated on my World Setting "Disclaimer" section, there is nothing taboo with me. Without putting any real-world names or tags on me and my political beliefs, I'll just say I'm a hardcore progressive and some of the potential content contained within the articles of Arcana Universum is such that I'd likely vehemently despise and oppose - violently so, if necessary. However, it's my personal belief that turning a blind eye to the truths of reality and possibility can be just as damaging as the acts themselves. Pretending bad things don't happen and don't exist can be what makes those bad things continue to happen. Only by being uncomfortable will growth truly begin to happen.

One of my goals with Arcana Universum is to flex my creative writing muscles; so while I solemnly pledge to approach such topics with grace and care, I will narrate them with details I deem appropriate to create a compelling narrative. Such topics may include, but may not be limited to:

• Racism, bigotry, and racial tensions
• Slavery
• Socio-economic division
• Sex, erotic acts, art, or depictions, sexual violence (all characters depicted in these situations will be of legal age, or what would be considered legal age in a science-fantasy space witch setting)
• Violence and gore
• Criticism of and commentary on religion and religious iconography
• Profanity

Character Creation

TBD. Yep. That's what I got so far. Will have to fill out the Skills section later, but I got the main Attributes rolled at least. The general premise is that the character will be a self-insert of myself and will have the most appropriate Skills in-game that I have in real-life, barring any personal identifying information. While this self-insert may appear to be very power fantasy-like, I can assure you that this setting is going to be brutal and difficult. Power gains in this game will be hard fought and well earned over a long period of time.

Starting Context

The information in this section is meant to be used to start the very first Scene and fill out the first few Threads and Characters. Everything here is done by using the random d100 descriptors within Mythic 2e or just straight random die rolls.

Why I'm there:

• Somehow cloned or replicated using science to transfer my consciousness across space-time to inhabit a host body, perhaps one just like the one I have in real-life.
• Somehow teleported or transported to Arcana Universum via Magick, some mystic ritual, or ancient unknown technology. The means to which will be revealed during play.

Potential NPC pools:

• Scientific workers
• Military personnel
• Additional characters in the same predicament
• Mercenaries
• Treasure hunters
• Explorers

Potential enemy pools:

• Skitter Rats (giant rats)
• Slimes
• Bandits