Hippogryph Issue Two

in this issue:

• why do a wrestling issue? - If you don’t care about professional wrestling, why are you reading this issue? Well, it’s about unarmed combat, improvised weapons, character development, and storytelling. That’s RPG material right there.
• characters: wrestler archetypes - How to make RPG characters inspired by professional wrestling. Whether you’re using the Hippogryph mechanics or the tabletop roleplaying system of your choice, there’s something for you here.
• worldbuilding: wrestling promotions - Create a setting for your professional wrestling promotion! Stick to the real world and the conventions of kayfabe, or mash-up other genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
• adventures: running a show - Book the card for your wrestling promotion’s shows! Set up feuds, battle for championships, and build ongoing angles! It all culminates in a pay-per-view event where all problems are settled in the ring!
• rules: wrestling matches - Advice on modeling different types of wrestling moves using the system of your choice, or the Hippogryph rules. Includes information on basic types of matches and winning conditions.
• glossary of professional wrestling terms - A primer for beginners and non-fans, featuring all of the essential terms needed to develop, run, and play a tabletop roleplaying game based on professional wrestling.

A hippogryph is the poster child for two things that, by all logic, should not go together. Yet somehow, they merge into a new entity that not only works, but elevates both components. It’s a strange hybrid creature, combining elements of a giant eagle with a horse. Various cultures over time have used the hippogryph as a symbol for everything from the perplexing nature of religious belief to the immeasurable power of romantic love. For me, it represents how the whole can be more than the mere sum of its parts. It’s lofty yet grounded, poetic yet practical.

I named this project Hippogryph because it’s full of such dichotomies. The hobby at its core is the melding of wargaming and storytelling. My strongest influences are both heavier legacy games like Dungeons & Dragons, and lighter, free-form systems like Fate Accelerated. My goal is to leverage the strengths of each element, use them to compensate for their collective flaws and drawbacks, and create something singular, entertaining, and useful.