In this review, I’m delighted to introduce you to For Thy Lich, the new roleplaying game from A Nuclear Manatee (with illustrations by Benedetta Falcone), part of the Ursa Minor collection. I’ll preface the review by thanking Grumpy Bear for providing us with a physical copy of the manual so we could write this article.
If this review makes you want to impersonate the tragic servant of a powerful Lich, you can purchase the physical For Thy Lich manual directly from the site for €12.00; included in the price you will also receive a digital copy that can be redeemed by using the code provided on the last page.
Now, enough chit-chat: it’s time to get to know a new game system that exudes desperation, uncertainty, and undeath!
Let’s Look at the Manual and Aesthetic Choices
We find ourselves leafing through a small, thirty-page zine-format manual, compact and delightfully illustrated. The decorative style is entirely grayscale, with a single accent colour on the cover, where we find the despot to whom we have sworn allegiance framed by coppery lightning bolts. We can see the Lich wields his magical sceptre of power, asserting his power over his subjects with an iron fist.
The general explanation of the game features simply decorated pages, which effectively evoke its macabre atmosphere. The sections dedicated to the creation of the world (and the characters) and the explanatory section on the progress of the game, on the other hand, feature full-page illustrations, which seem to draw us headfirst into the rubble of the domain of a ruler who is losing control of his powers.
Servants in the Torn World of For Thy Lich
The stunning and evocative images help us set the tone of the adventure from the very first moments of the session. Brushstrokes of “non-colour” give us a general idea and help paint in our minds this land afflicted by undeath. For one session, we will have the opportunity to play as the Lich’s most faithful servants, chained to the tyrant for eternity.
Voi, e nessun altro, siete vincolati ad assisterlo nella sua ricerca per vincere la Morte ancora una volta. (You, and no one else, are bound to assist him in his quest to conquer Death once again.)
The rules, listed on the first two pages of the manual, are extremely simple yet well-structured. They describe a game system catalogued as Descended from the Queen, which defines a collection of games by various authors, all based on the For the Queen rules.
In this masterless game session, players should begin by reading the introduction, which will immediately lead them into the wasteland. Then they can focus on creating their characters: nothing could be easier! The character sheet fits comfortably on one A5 page, and six copies are provided in the central pages of the manual. How thoughtful! On the left side, we’ll record the Truths about the Liches, Domains, and Servants we’ll choose from the previous pages, while in the upper right section, we’ll record our personal information. The manual provides few details about the world around us; it’s up to us to outline its contours at this stage. The bottom right section is dedicated to the Paths we’ll undertake.
For Thy Lich‘s Gameplay Review
Once satisfied with our choices and fully immersed in our new role, we can turn the page, and one player will begin reading the first question in one of the Paths. Players can take turns choosing whether to answer the next question, ask questions of their own, or even jump to different Paths. The character’s evolution, their ideas, and their relationship with their “fellow servants” will be dictated solely by our answers. We will shape the game world with our words in response to the open-ended questions in the manual.
Reaching the Final Question of a path will mark the imminent end of the session. Each player must answer in the way they choose; once this is done, the final act can begin, marked by the reading of the Consequences and the dramatic end of the game.
Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of For Thy Lich. The questions posed in the Paths aren’t trivial and can provide plenty of food for thought. It’s up to players to decide whether to keep the gameplay light and relevant to the setting, or to incorporate insights and real-life metaphors.
For Thy Lich‘s Review Conclusion
For Thy Lich is a very simple but impressive game. It was designed to be played exclusively as a single adventure (one-shot), and in my opinion, it does its job admirably. The system allows immense room for imagination and roleplaying thanks to a very limited set of rules. This can be a double-edged sword; players accustomed to the structure provided by more rule-rich systems (or simply those who are less confident) might be stumped by the “too much freedom.” I think this problem can simply be solved with an introduction led by a more experienced player.
I was surprised to see the six easily removable character sheets from the centre of the manual. They present a simple but extremely effective design, and they also feature exquisitely macabre illustrations on the back. I think it’s good game design that helps the sessions flow, as well as a nice touch for anyone who wants to take them home as souvenirs.
I’m sure that with a few little tweaks, this game can provide hours of roleplaying fun, interspersed with reflections on the meaning of life (and non-life).
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