Hello all!
I'm so grateful to all of you for supporting this game. I am very proud of all of my games, but this one holds a special place in my heart. Following is a recounting of my most profound playtest of the game. I hope you enjoy:
MY VERY OWN FOREST SPIRIT PLAYTEST REPORT
Chapter One: Reflect
I made my first Offering (Reflect) and began my Outing. Early on I was struck by the swaying greenery beside the path, and the movement of the many silver leaves which flowed along it, ushered by the wind. Dozens of birds flew across around me as I walked or lighted near me, many of which Pangaraya played with. Coupled together, I considered this a Sync as these phenomena gave the beginning of my Outing a charged, otherworldly quality. Also, given that my Offering was Reflect, it seemed appropriate that there was so much beauty to imagine Pangaraya playing with. SYNC
Bloom: 2 + Reflect (Seed of Joy- +1 Bloom for each closed Chapter including this one)
Chapter Two: Appreciate
I was already so moved that I chose Appreciate as my Offering. Strategically, I knew it would seal my Bloom, and if I synced, I’d get two Bloom each Chapter after this which would guarantee the area's Sphere would raise. This was the most calm of the Chapters, but I saw a hawk flying overhead in search of prey, and immediately imagined Panga flying up to play with it which struck me as comical and in line with her personality, so I considered it a SYNC. All Bloom gains are sealed.
Bloom: 1 (Seed of Joy), Sealed.
Chapter Three: Cleanse
I looked around for some trash to see if I could take the Cleanse Offering, and there were a couple crushed beer cans. So I picked them up. I forgot to bring a bag so I carried them in my hands. Two paths diverged and I chose the one that lengthened my journey. I resolved to look for more trash as did Pangaraya but she got distracted, and I eventually found another crushed beer can which caused a SYNC, but that was barely the beginning. I made my way down a steep hillside, and knew the end of my chapter would be a circle cut into the grass by ATV’s doing donuts. As I made my way down I saw a huge pile of trash, which strengthened the SYNC for me. I resolved to try and find something to pack some trash out in, and was lucky to find a bucket, which I filled – mostly old DVDs, computer cords, and water bottles – and discovered as I looked around that there was a memorial marker with plastic flowers, commemorating someone’s death. Had I not already Synced, this would have caused one given that one of Pangaraya’s aspects is Flowers.
Bloom: 2 (Seed of Joy, Appreciate), Triple Bloom next Offering.
Chapter Four: Feel
I picked up a bit more trash, and made my way to the end of Chapter Three where – just as I decided to take the Feel Offering – I saw ahead of me the skeletal carcass of a donkey, lying in the near distance. As I began the Offering, I was overwhelmed with grief at the memorial marker and the dead donkey. I felt sorrow for death and its injustice and I tried to summon all my love for the donkey, for humanity, and for everything around me. It felt profound to be there, in that valley surrounded by trash and death, trying to beam my meager love out to everything. I was overwhelmed. Next, I began the most tiring part of the hike, up and out of the valley. Pangaraya didn’t fly, but only shrunk to sit on my head and nuzzle my hair to comfort me. About two thirds of the way up and out of the valley, I heard a Donkey braying repeatedly in the distance. Though a SYNC wasn’t foremost on my mind, I couldn’t help but recognize that this was one.
Bloom: 15 (Seed of Joy, Appreciate, Synced Feel = 5, tripled))
Chapter Five: Commune
The end of chapter one was at an old destroyed structure made of stone brick with beautiful sage and lichen growing therein. It could have been a sync on its own if I didn’t already know it was there. I chose to make the Commune Offering, which involves imagining a spirit near where you make the Offering, and discovering things about it. I couldn’t help but keep calling to mind the lichen, so I chose to Commune with the lichen spirit. It was quiet and spoke softly in many voices. I got the sense of it being many things but also one. That it moved slowly, but that every piece of lichen on the hill was possessed of the same spirit, and that though it was small and slow, it could devour rock in its time and so it was strong. I decided the structure with its beautiful plants was a spirit site, and was grateful to the spirit and moved on. On the last leg of my journey, I felt very calm and settled. Though I felt mindful, I was no longer concerned with Syncs or winning the game but was just calmly enjoying the last few steps, when I saw all across the hillside, boulders covered with lichen.
Bloom: 2 (Seed of Joy, Appreciate, Synced Commune)
Until next time,
Justin
Free for All
