Deify

 

Deify

Company: Dover Publications; Type: RPG; Players: solo; Time: 1+ hours; Genre: Journal; Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥 I love it!

This game is unusual in a few respects. First, it is published by Dover Publications, better known for its reprints of classic, public domain works. Second, more noteworthy than unusual, it is a relatively new game, only published in February of this year. Finally, it is part of a growing number of games that make use of Tarot cards for event / action resolution.

Along with Language Creation, Mythopoesis is one of my ongoing fascinations. This game enables you to create a starting deity, and then through gameplay to evolve their nature, their myths, and their religious practices through the practice of drawing Tarot cards and responding to the associated prompts for whatever the current state of play is.

Every deity has a number of starting Attributes: Domain(s), Epithet(s), Practice(s), and a Champion (one only at a time). 

They also have certain Characteristics: Sacred Places, Symbols, Appearance, and Associated Deities. The difference in their nomenclature is only important in terms of individual prompts.

Over the course of the game, with each draw of major or minor arcana, the player will be prompted to add or subtract attributes or characteristics as a result of the events associated with the card. In many cases, the card will prompt the player to describe the specific circumstances that led to the indicated changes.

Play proceeds by drawing one Major Arcana, then three Minor Arcana, and working through their prompts. There are four major phases to the game, that represent the mythic life cycle of the god: Birth (Fool), Prime (Chariot), Decline (Tower), and the End (World). You start by playing the Fool, and then proceed accordingly from there. You can shape the gameplay to your liking by including Chariot, Tower and World cards in the Major Arcana deck at your discretion.

And voilà! That's the game. Enjoy!