Short version: Memoria is on itch.io for free, there’s a new version up right now, this will be where you’ll find the latest version. I would love for you to download it and follow Starlight Grove on itch.io!

Memoria is on itch.io

Hi all, thanks for signing up for updates about Memoria. Can’t wait to share more with you.

If you like, you can download the project at itch.io. This will get you a copy of the latest playtest materials, and whenever I update them, you’ll get an email. The plan is to keep all the updates centralized there. When the project is finished, I’ll refine the playtest and leave it up as a free demo, and a new page will be made for the full rules.

It’s listed as pay-what-you-want: for transparency, donations are completely optional and won’t be deducted from the price of the final game.

Memoria updates

Playtesting is going well. I’ve developed a simple mechanical system of adding custom tokens to a bag (or cards to a small deck), and revealing three tokens at random to influence the final scene.

Divination is something I’ve wanted in the ritual from the beginning. Right now, how you recall the story will trigger certain tokens being added to the pool for the end draw, so there’s some notion of what’s likely. The “three-card pull” is common in both runes and tarot reading, and I think the simple and familiar format is a good starting point.

The tokens themselves are a little weird. I chose three suits: leaves, claws, and clouds. I really want to make this game feel like it’s not made for our world, so you have to find ways recreate it in our reality that aren’t always easy or intuitive. For the tokens, you can make your own (as simple as scraps of paper with scribbles on them) or use things you already have. I have tried it using different cards from my tarot deck, matching up the suits as I like. I’ve also painted some rocks I found in High Park and drawn symbols on them.

I really want Memoria to be unique to the table playing it, and this bit of required work makes it feel more special, to me. I’m thinking about offering two token sets as crowdfunding exclusives; I know a ceramics artist and someone else who makes resin dice and jewelry and commissioning some limited quantities could be really cool.

There’s still some tweaking to do, but reading the “spread” of three tokens at the end felt really engaging, and there are two exciting possibilities I have been considering: roles that add new suits to the game, and unique results tables for every myth.

Excited to see what you think! As always, if you have any feedback you can reach me at starlightgrovegames@gmail.com.

Happy Beltane!

– Julien