Perspective Checks | Ross (Blades of Mayari) - Worldbuilding & Working Mythology into RPGs

Welcome to another episode of Perspective Checks where I sit down with friends and folks from the TTRPG world and discuss what they love about this wonderful hobby!   This month's episode is a big one! Worldbuilding is an integral part of storytelling in RPGs, whether you're playing in an established universe like many big named systems provide, or are drawing maps and leaving blanks in the Powered by the Apocalypse emergent narrative style of newer indie games. The shared world that the characters interact with is as much a part of the story as the actions of the characters, reacting and responding to provide new obstacles and opportunities.   In this episode, I speak with Ross about his experience bringing pre-colonial Filipino mythology to the forefront in the excellent actual play Blades of Mayari, an exploration of the culture and heritage of the players using FATE. Ross and the cast of the show have done their homework and approach the lore and real-world mythology and culture of the Philippines with the respect and sensitivity it requires. We mostly talk about this setting specifically, but do branch out a bit to talk about the act of drawing inspiration from these historical cultures from the right place.   I highly recommend you check out Blades of Mayari, which has completed its first season and should be coming back soon for more!   Additionally, Ross recommended the following books & online resources if you're interested in learning more about Filipino history and mythology: Outline of Philippine Mythology by F. Landa Jocano Dictionary of Philippine Mythology by Ferdinand Blumentritt History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos by Luis H. Francia Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society by William Henry Scott The Gods Must Be Crazy - A Philippine Mythology Podcast The Aswang Project - A Free Resource for Philippine Mythology & Folklore   I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)   Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | DMs After Dark email: [email protected]   Music in the Episode: Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands