Brian's Freeform Roleplaying Page


I've spent many years writing, running and playing freeform (or theatre-style as they are sometimes called in the US) roleplaying games. This part of the site provides easy access to information about each of the games that I currently run.

This page provides brief descriptions of (and links to) all the games that I have written (five) or games by other authors that I have permission to run (two). Each of the individual game pages contains an introduction to the game, details of where and when it is being run, a history of the game and a casting form. In order to play in any of my games, you will need to sign up for the game itself. Since the majority of my games are run at conventions, this means that you have to sign up for the convention itself and then sign up for my particular game. You'll find details of how to do this on each of the individual game pages.

The game(s) which are scheduled to run in the near future are listed first, followed by all my other games in no particular order. Currently the only game that is scheduled to run is The Clockwork Café, which will be at Intercon R in February 2018.

Other than that, there are currently no plans to run any of the other games. There's one new game in the pipeline ("First Contact") and that's likely to make its debut in 2019. My most recent games, "Hello You Must Be..." and "Omega Expedition", run as private events, hence I don't publicise them on my website.

For more details about me, my games and how I got started, please click here, while if you want a very rough and ready idea of what a freeform actually is, try this link. You can also read some advice about what a freeform is and how to get the most out of playing in one. Finally, if you are planning on playing in one of my games or you have actually signed up, please read this description of what to expect.


Currently Running


The Clockwork Cafe
The Clockwork Café
It’s 1905. On the shores of Lake Geneva stands the exclusive Clockwork Café. Run by the enigmatic Richard Blanc, it doubles as the secret meeting place of the Society of Lady and Gentleman Adventurers. Here the spies, adventurers, master-criminals and detectives of the Great European Powers meet on neutral territory to exchange tales of daring-do!
The Clockwork Café: a 30-player, 4-hour game of larger-than-life heros and villains where the fate of the world could easily lie in your hands! The Clockwork Café will be at Intercon R in February 2018. To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Information and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

Other Games


Under Angmar's Shadow
Under Angmar's Shadow
Cardolan... a Kingdom shattered by war and plague, riven by political divisions and teetering on the brink of destruction. Under constant threat of invasion by the Witch-king of Angmar, the Crown rules in name only, the real power lying in the hands of the squabbling Lords. Can the accession to the throne of the young Princess Nirnadel re-unite the Kingdom? Or will it fall prey to Angmar? Or be swallowed up by one of its "friendly" neighbours, Arthedain or Gondor? Or will it just fall apart?
Under Angmar's Shadow: a 42-player, 8-hour epic set in Tolkien's Middle-earth. You decide the fate of a Kingdom! To find out more about the game (previously known as "The Cardolani Succession"), please click on the links below. Under Angmar's Shadow ran in Chicago in June 2010 and made its UK debut in October 2017. There are rumours that it will be back again in 2019...
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Information and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

The Man in Black
The Man in Black
The Man in Black, a name known across the entire UFG and beyond. The galaxy's infamous assassin, he has never been known to fail. The word is that he's coming to the backwater of Jericho, to the bar bearing his name, to carry out his latest hit. No-one knows who has hired him or who the target is, but he's bound to bring trouble in his wake: UFG agents, groupies, outsiders in general. None of them is welcome in Jericho, where the Locals just want a quiet life, free from UFG interference.
The Man in Black: a 40-player, 4-hour game set in the far-future in a bar at the edge of known space. To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Background Pages and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

House on the Hill
House on the Hill
The House on the Hill, on the scenic New England coast, is the ideal location for a short break or a long vacation. Yes, the old hotel did burn down 80 years ago, shortly after opening, but we don't mention that to the guests. And those men in the corner: the ones in the suits with the shades and suspicious bulges under their jackets? Just guests, that's all. And the strange man with the French girl dressed like they've stepped out of a silent movie? More guests. As for the guy with the demented look in his eye, well, he's the owner.
House on the Hill: two games in one. You can play in either in the present day (2009) or 80 years ago (1929). A 34-player, four-hour game, described as a cross between Dr Who, HP Lovecraft and Reservoir Dogs. Do you want to find out what's in the cellar and why the place keeps burning down? To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Background Pages and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

Council of Fennas Drúnin
Council of Fennas Drúnin
The thief and murderer, Yasmin The Foreigner, has been returned to Fennas Drúnin. The Mayor, Ostomir, has convened the Town Council to judge her for her crimes. However, not everyone is convinced of Yasmin's guilt and there are still many unanswered questions. Where is the Mayor's Chain of Office? Is the maid, Hescen, really dead? And what were Forak's Violators really doing? Will the truth ever come out?
Council of Fennas Drúnin: a 16-player, 4-hour game, set in Fennas Drúnin, a small town in Tolkien's Middle-earth. Play a member of the Town Council, a concerned citizen or the accused herself and see if you can discover the truth! Council of Fennas Drúnin had a long-overdue UK outing at Consequences in November 2012. To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Background Pages and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

Intrigue in the Clouds
Intrigue in the Clouds
Her Majesty's Airship, Royal Victoria, is on a voyage across the Atlantic in 1886, carrying the rich and famous to America. Cross wits with notorious diplomats, spies, scholars, heroes, rogues, killers and worse. The occult mixes with mystery, love and danger on a GothicPulp airship.

Intrigue in the Clouds has always been one of my favourite games and it is with great pleasure and sadness that I have added it to my stable of games. Dean Edgell, author of Intrigue and a good friend of mine, died in December 2007 and keeping his games alive is part of my tribute to him.

Intrigue in the Clouds: a 31-player, 4-hour game set on Her Majesty's Airship, Royal Victoria. Run in memory of Dean Edgell. To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Background Pages and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

The Man in Black
Nepenthe
The panel at the convention sounded interesting: "the future of virtual reality". However, you hadn't expected it to be this interesting! The speakers aren't so bad, but some of the audience are, well, really weird. And who are those guys who look as if they've just walked in from a D&D game? You know these roleplaying-types can be nerdy, but these guys!!
Nepenthe: a 16-player, 4-hour game by Bruce Glassco, Maurice Manton & Penny Robinson, run with the authors' permission. It's a great game for beginners and old hands alike. To find out more about the game, please click on the links below.
What, Where and When
Brief outline of the game + when & where it is running
The Game Itself
Background Pages and Casting Forms for the game
History
How the game came to be and details of previous runs

index
Index
Home
Home Page

Games
Games Page
Writing
Writing Page