The Inside Scoop on Gaming

THE TRAVELS OF MENDES PINTO, GAME DESIGN GOES LIVE

If you are new to The Travels of Mendes Pinto (TToMP from now on), this is for you. Otherwise, just skip this intro.

TToMP is a role-playing gamebook design column. As the column unfolds in a roughly monthly base, I'll be designing the core gamebook for a new role-playing game aptly titled "The Travels of Mendes Pinto".

TToMP is a game set in 16th century Asia. The characters are Europeans (mainly Portuguese) that travel to Asia in the fleets sent by the King of Portugal.

TToMP is based on a 16th century book called "Peregrinacao" (in Portuguese), meaning Pilgrimage written by a Portuguese adventurer called Fernao Mendes Pinto that reached Asia in 1539 and lived there for the next two decades. In his book Mendes Pinto narrates his travels and adventures from Etiopia in Africa to Japan, and from Tartary to Indonesia.

When the gamebook is over, you will get the rules that will allow you to play an adventurer in the vein of Mendes Pinto.

Each month you will find a development in the gamebook design. This will be in a separate file that can be accessed through the links below. The column proper will provide my notes and comments on the design effort of the month.

I hope you enjoy being part of this journey.

THE CRIMINAL ALWAYS COMES BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

It's turning into a habit. I mean, spending two columns with the same section of the TToMP game book. But, as I said before, time is not on my side. So, this month all I have to show is a revised Section IV. [DOC (74K) - PDF (107K)]. It's still work in progress but at least the pieces are finally in place.

What did I change (besides some minor corrections, thank you Frederic Moll)?

First, I simplified the 6 stage action resolution process. Now it only has 5 stages:

Context. (Corresponds to phases 1. and 3. in the previous version.)
Aims.
Commitment. (Where you still find space for randomisation.)
Performance.
Outcome.

Next I made things more complex by specifying in greater depth the outcome. I distinguish now between automatic plus impossible outcomes; and alternative outcomes. The latter can be handled either through the random or the deliberate determination methods.

Further to this I also added more details on the differences between isolated and combined actions (actions performed by several parties).

Please, just click here [DOC (74K) - PDF (107K)] and tell me what you think about this revised action resolution for TToMP.

Sergio

PS Next time I'll jump to section 6, combat. Not that I think you will indulge in such shameful behaviour, let's just see how the general principles of action resolution apply to conflict.

INDEX

PREFACE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- DOC (48K)
- PDF (16K)

I.	"DO I THUS START MY PEREGRINATION"
Introduction
- DOC (224K)
- PDF (272K)

II.	"OFFERED TO ANY VENTURE, GOOD OR BAD"
Fast play

III.	"BEGINNING IN MY CHILDHOOD"
Character creation
- DOC (196K)
- PDF (128K)

IV.	"TRAVAILS AND MISFORTUNES"
The basics of action or the action resolution system
- DOC (74K)
- PDF (107K)

V.	"MISERIES, POVERTY, AND MISCHIEVOUS ACCIDENTS"
Descriptors and activities

VI.	"LIKE ONE THAT SAW DEATH IN THE EYES"
Combat

VII.	"READY TO SAIL"
Seamanship

VIII.	"THANK THE LORD FOR HIS GIFT"
Religion

IX.	"IN GOOD REASON I MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT FORTUNE"
Character advancement and development

REFERENCE MATERIAL

INDEXES

CHARACTER SHEET
- DOC (44K)
- PDF (32K)

SAMPLE CHARACTERS
Fernao Mendes Pinto 
- DOC (44K)
- PDF (40K)
Alvaro Pires
- DOC (52K)
- PDF (48K)

Topics	Author	Date	Latest Reply
disabled gaming (2) new	seanbhoy	10-24-2004 13:42	06-27-2005 16:00 new
Change of course - A new look at action (3) new	Sérgio Mascarenhas	07-21-2003 02:43	07-30-2003 23:55 new
Change of course - From TToMP to One Shots (1) new	Sérgio Mascarenhas	07-20-2003 23:12	07-20-2003 23:12 new
An alternate approach to resolution (7) new	Hunter Logan	07-19-2003 07:58	07-21-2003 06:39 new
Real World and RPG Mechanics (7) new	Paul	07-18-2003 11:16	07-20-2003 21:14 new
Since you've asked... (6) new	Chris Chinn	04-17-2003 12:48	04-20-2003 23:08 new
A Tribute to the Mother Tongue (13) new	João Mariano	02-04-2003 03:30	03-18-2003 13:59 new
I just don't get it (8) new	BrenMan	02-02-2003 17:08	03-14-2003 04:44 new
some remarks... (3) new	Frederic Moll	11-21-2002 05:51	11-30-2002 16:06 new
Some notes (1) new	Sergio Mascarenhas	11-07-2002 18:22	11-07-2002 18:22 new
Mende Pinto ? (3) new	Frederic Moll	09-12-2002 22:19	09-13-2002 03:13 new
Chargen queries (6) new	Balbinus	09-12-2002 15:36	11-08-2002 05:24 new
Restricted? (2) new	Miguel	08-13-2002 09:59	08-13-2002 20:56 new
Character sheet (4) new	SablKnight	08-12-2002 06:03	08-20-2004 09:51 new
Comments on Character Creation (28) new	Sleeper	08-08-2002 18:51	01-31-2006 13:25 new
Comments (30) new	S. Ben Melhuish	07-01-2002 11:30	01-23-2006 05:07 new
Answering your questions, and one of myself (2) new	Jake	06-01-2002 07:37	06-01-2002 08:34 new
Arbitration and Fairness (7) new	Andrew Martin	05-31-2002 15:31	06-03-2002 02:39 new
Failure of Torg (3) new	GC3	02-22-2002 23:34	02-25-2002 04:48 new
Not sure I'm seeing the difference... (2) new	Mock	02-22-2002 14:02	03-01-2002 05:17 new

The Travels of Mendes Pinto: Team Game

The Criminal Always Comes Back to the Scene of the Crim

THE TRAVELS OF MENDES PINTO, GAME DESIGN GOES LIVE

THE CRIMINAL ALWAYS COMES BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

INDEX

What do you think?

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The Travels of Mendes Pinto: Team Game The Criminal Always Comes Back to the Scene of the Crim by Sergio Mascarenhas Dec 31,2002	THE TRAVELS OF MENDES PINTO, GAME DESIGN GOES LIVE If you are new to The Travels of Mendes Pinto (TToMP from now on), this is for you. Otherwise, just skip this intro. TToMP is a role-playing gamebook design column. As the column unfolds in a roughly monthly base, I'll be designing the core gamebook for a new role-playing game aptly titled "The Travels of Mendes Pinto". TToMP is a game set in 16th century Asia. The characters are Europeans (mainly Portuguese) that travel to Asia in the fleets sent by the King of Portugal. TToMP is based on a 16th century book called "Peregrinacao" (in Portuguese), meaning Pilgrimage written by a Portuguese adventurer called Fernao Mendes Pinto that reached Asia in 1539 and lived there for the next two decades. In his book Mendes Pinto narrates his travels and adventures from Etiopia in Africa to Japan, and from Tartary to Indonesia. When the gamebook is over, you will get the rules that will allow you to play an adventurer in the vein of Mendes Pinto. Each month you will find a development in the gamebook design. This will be in a separate file that can be accessed through the links below. The column proper will provide my notes and comments on the design effort of the month. I hope you enjoy being part of this journey. THE CRIMINAL ALWAYS COMES BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME It's turning into a habit. I mean, spending two columns with the same section of the TToMP game book. But, as I said before, time is not on my side. So, this month all I have to show is a revised Section IV. [DOC (74K) - PDF (107K)]. It's still work in progress but at least the pieces are finally in place. What did I change (besides some minor corrections, thank you Frederic Moll)? First, I simplified the 6 stage action resolution process. Now it only has 5 stages: Context. (Corresponds to phases 1. and 3. in the previous version.) Aims. Commitment. (Where you still find space for randomisation.) Performance. Outcome. Next I made things more complex by specifying in greater depth the outcome. I distinguish now between automatic plus impossible outcomes; and alternative outcomes. The latter can be handled either through the random or the deliberate determination methods. Further to this I also added more details on the differences between isolated and combined actions (actions performed by several parties). Please, just click here [DOC (74K) - PDF (107K)] and tell me what you think about this revised action resolution for TToMP. Sergio PS Next time I'll jump to section 6, combat. Not that I think you will indulge in such shameful behaviour, let's just see how the general principles of action resolution apply to conflict. INDEX PREFACE TABLE OF CONTENTS - DOC (48K) - PDF (16K) I. "DO I THUS START MY PEREGRINATION" Introduction - DOC (224K) - PDF (272K) II. "OFFERED TO ANY VENTURE, GOOD OR BAD" Fast play III. "BEGINNING IN MY CHILDHOOD" Character creation - DOC (196K) - PDF (128K) IV. "TRAVAILS AND MISFORTUNES" The basics of action or the action resolution system - DOC (74K) - PDF (107K) V. "MISERIES, POVERTY, AND MISCHIEVOUS ACCIDENTS" Descriptors and activities VI. "LIKE ONE THAT SAW DEATH IN THE EYES" Combat VII. "READY TO SAIL" Seamanship VIII. "THANK THE LORD FOR HIS GIFT" Religion IX. "IN GOOD REASON I MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT FORTUNE" Character advancement and development REFERENCE MATERIAL INDEXES CHARACTER SHEET - DOC (44K) - PDF (32K) SAMPLE CHARACTERS Fernao Mendes Pinto - DOC (44K) - PDF (40K) Alvaro Pires - DOC (52K) - PDF (48K)