In this review we are pleased to present you Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione, the first T.Y.O.A. (Translate Your Own Adventure) of this and other parallel universes. We would like to thank Nigredo Press for giving us the opportunity to talk about it with you.

If you are interested in the product, you can find it on the Nigredo Press website here for 10 euros for the paper copy.

Translate Your Own Adventure

The premise that the game revolves around is that Salvador Moss, a Sorcerer Emeritus, needs help translating a booklet he found a few weeks ago. This book is mysterious, full of symbols written in an unknown language. Apparently it looks a lot like some adventure games popular in the world of Melsonia. The role he assumes is that of a cultist, an effective member of the Cult of Nigredo Press.

It is precisely on the basis of this incipit that the entire structure that supports the game develops. What we find in front of us is in fact a little book full of drawings and incomprehensible writings. The player’s task is to translate it. But how?

Using only your imagination, in fact there is no right or wrong way to do it and there are no pre-established rules. The drawings and symbols can be used as a basis of inspiration to build your own story and, if desired, your own game system.

The interesting thing is that Nigredo has provided a translation sharing system that allows anyone who owns a physical copy of the game to go and view those of others. This can be both a source of inspiration and comparison. Particularly interesting is the possibility of seeing how, starting from the same base, we can arrive at completely different stories and systems.

A Game within a Game, but with Some Premises

Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione is a particular game, which could be defined as a game within a game.

In fact, the Cultist, even before proposing his story to other readers or players, will have to deal with the translation by playing himself. On the other hand, you can’t propose a story if you haven’t written it first!

For some Masters or Players this can be a creative and stimulating experience, placing them in a challenging and fun situation. For others, however, it could be a frustrating activity, which takes a long time and could prove unsatisfactory. This is because a role-playing game requires not only a story and a setting (which in this case still have to be built almost from scratch) but also a system of rules and not everyone has such advanced game design skills. Of course, this problem can be solved by using another game system, but it would lose part of the meaning of an activity of this kind.

In short, keep in mind that the focus of the manual is on translating it, effectively making it a role-playing game. By extending this step to other people, a fun collective brainstorming phase can result.

My Translation

However, my overall experience was positive. I used the first ten pages to build the rules of the entire game, the setting and the characters. For the next ones I tried to imagine what they conveyed to me and I used them as a basis for the story, antagonists and objects within the game.

The result was a d6-based mini RPG, set in a crazy and colorful world, where the laws of physics have a relative and questionable value. It all revolves around the fact that the dragon that protects the city has been kidnapped by a group of crazy Fire Walruses who are studying it in a decidedly too invasive way. The players’ task is to save the poor dragon and consequently also the city, which without his protection would very easily be razed by the vomiting ogre heads.

I can’t deny that writing this crazy thing had a lot of fun. I really appreciate the fact that without the visual stimuli of the manual it would never have been born.

Art and Layout of Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione

From an artistic point of view the project does not shine or sink, but alternates different styles and sensations. It is colorful and the drawings are evocative, managing to fully hit the target. Some of the illustrations are really beautiful; others however, especially due to the captions and decorations, almost seem to have come out of an 80’s music video.

Nothing to say however about the layout, which is really well done, also thanks to the fact that the PDF file is double; one version is the one to be translated; while the other is without writing, so that you can easily write on it.

Conclusions of the Review of Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione

Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione is certainly a different, particular and interesting product. It accompanies the reader in the writing phase, leading to the creation of an RPG and totally original and crazy stories.

At the same time, however, it is not free from some problems. In addition to the aforementioned possibility that the result may not be satisfying, the definition “role playing” could be misunderstood. It is easier to identify this title as a writing experiment, an exercise in style or a game to be experienced individually or collectively. The result of this activity could be a playable RPG, but this depends on the people who dedicate themselves to it.

If you liked this review of Un Gioco di Ruolo in Cerca di Traduzione, continue following us to discover other original tabletop RPGs!