Artwork for podcast Lonely TTRPG
Lonely TTRPG EP 38 - Out of Time by Krystal Norton
Episode 38 • 27th February 2023 • Lonely TTRPG • Black Dragon Dungeon Company
00:00:00 00:24:48

Share Episode

Shownotes

In this Solo Journaling TTRPG, you are a person out of time who can travel anywhere a long the timeline. As you travel you will encounter people and feel large and small emotions. This journal is the record of your travels. 

This game requires a deck of playing cards, a D4 and something to record your throughs with. 

Thoughts: This is a fun game that plays around with non-linear time while being super easy to pick up.

You can find Out of Time at https://gingergeekgal56.itch.io/out-of-time?ac=pEV55vHqdvG

Find our merch at https://my-store-d24802.creator-spring.com/

Find our games here at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/20990/Black-Dragon-Dungeon-Company.php?affiliate_id=3362048

BDDC logo by https://www.instagram.com/craftyteapotfox/

You can find us on Twitter @bddc_pod or Tumblr @bddc-pod

You can support us on Patreon https://patreon.com/blackdragondungeoncompany for early releases and exclusive content.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Transcripts

SteelStash:

Greetings.

SteelStash:

weary wanderer and welcome back to Lonely, T T R P G, the Solo Actual Play

SteelStash:

and Review podcast This week we are playing out of time by Kyrstal Norton.

SteelStash:

They say that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

SteelStash:

This is why world leaders created the Department of Time.

SteelStash:

The Secret World Organization employs people from all walks

SteelStash:

of life, including you as an employee of the Department of Time.

SteelStash:

You are given a single stopwatch with 15 charges.

SteelStash:

Each time you click it, you are transported to another moment in time.

SteelStash:

It could be the.

SteelStash:

Present or future, your job is to document what you see and not get involved.

SteelStash:

However, it is not in our nature to just observe.

SteelStash:

Many employees have gotten involved in the moments they see out of

SteelStash:

time as a solo journaling R ppg, where you play as a time traveling

SteelStash:

member of the Department of time.

SteelStash:

You exist outside of time as an observer, but that doesn't mean that

SteelStash:

you do not interact with those around.

SteelStash:

During the game, you're going to record your interactions

SteelStash:

with the people you have met.

SteelStash:

The game ends when you have created 15 entries.

SteelStash:

Take all the time you need to complete the entries.

SteelStash:

It is recommended you do one or two entries per day.

SteelStash:

For this game, you'll need a D four, a deck of 52 cards without the jokers, and

SteelStash:

something to record your thoughts on.

SteelStash:

So, yeah.

SteelStash:

The way this is gonna work is you're going to roll a D four.

SteelStash:

If you get a one that takes place in the past, a two will

SteelStash:

take place in the present.

SteelStash:

A three will take place in the future, and a four will take place anytime that you.

SteelStash:

Once you determine the time you're going to pull a card, if it is a red

SteelStash:

card, it will be something you observe, and if it is a black card, it will

SteelStash:

be something that you interact with.

SteelStash:

In addition to that, when you pull a card, you are going to

SteelStash:

be given a set of prompts to.

SteelStash:

Guide what you do while you are there.

SteelStash:

So without further ado, we're gonna dive on into this.

SteelStash:

We're not gonna set up any type of fancy screen or anything

SteelStash:

like that as we are just running through some simple interactions.

SteelStash:

So I got my trustee D four right here, and of course our standard deck of cards.

SteelStash:

So for our first assignment,

SteelStash:

we got a one.

SteelStash:

So that will be going to the past and we got the Queen of clubs,

SteelStash:

so that will.

SteelStash:

Fear, our prompt is fear

SteelStash:

and we are interacting with it.

SteelStash:

So a past event that was fearful and we are interacting with.

SteelStash:

So I feel like this is.

SteelStash:

Prank is a strong word, but part of the part of the hazing of new personnel.

SteelStash:

I was given my assignment and sent back to the past and when I got there it was some

SteelStash:

medieval English monastery and I didn't really know what I was getting into.

SteelStash:

I thought I was just supposed to like observe the monastery.

SteelStash:

But during the, during the course of my day, the monks started to, the monks

SteelStash:

started to panic and run, and I heard an awful shouting coming from outside

SteelStash:

and.

SteelStash:

as I go check outside the monastery, I see a band of Vikings charging up towards us.

SteelStash:

So I join the monks in helping gather what we can and run and hide.

SteelStash:

Luckily I found a secluded spot that I could hide by myself and.

SteelStash:

, as the sound of the attacks got closer and closer to me, I activated my

SteelStash:

return switch and I returned on home.

SteelStash:

Cuz after all, I'm not, I'm not paid enough to take on Vikings.

SteelStash:

So for my second assignment, we got the present

SteelStash:

and that is going to be the Ace of Diamond.

SteelStash:

And that's going to be betrayal.

SteelStash:

So the rules state that present is anytime in the current

SteelStash:

time that you're writing in.

SteelStash:

I'm going to.

SteelStash:

I'm going to decide that that's like the current age.

SteelStash:

So these events might not strictly be 2023, but

SteelStash:

you know, within the, within the two thousands definitely within the two.

SteelStash:

Probably not gonna go too much later than

SteelStash:

2015.

SteelStash:

Even that seems like really far back, far enough back to be considered the past.

SteelStash:

Betrayal

SteelStash:

and actually, no, I mean, , I forgot.

SteelStash:

This is a this is a game in a fictional game, so it doesn't necessarily have

SteelStash:

to be like an actual real world event.

SteelStash:

So this is a betrayal that I am observ.

SteelStash:

, and I think that this betrayal,

SteelStash:

I think that this betrayal is going to be

SteelStash:

kind of personal in nature.

SteelStash:

, my friend in the agency was promised a promotion, but at the last minute, at

SteelStash:

the last minute, it was given to someone who had congressional connections.

SteelStash:

So definitely a case of my friend feeling like

SteelStash:

what they were promised was not given to them and just not a good time.

SteelStash:

You know, all, all to suck up to co.

SteelStash:

Like the congressman is like the congressperson.

SteelStash:

The agent was related to.

SteelStash:

It's not like they even sit on any of the subcommittees

SteelStash:

that like control our budget.

SteelStash:

It was just purely a, purely a power move.

SteelStash:

And like that's what made it sting even more.

SteelStash:

But for our next assignment,

SteelStash:

we are once again returning to the.

SteelStash:

And that is the eight of clubs.

SteelStash:

So another interaction

SteelStash:

and the prompt is friendship.

SteelStash:

So an interaction in the past involving friendship.

SteelStash:

So

SteelStash:

for this, I'm going to say that it is the Great War, world War I we're in

SteelStash:

the middle of World War I, so 1915.

SteelStash:

19, yeah, 1915.

SteelStash:

I am,

SteelStash:

I have set up a position along one of the trenches to observe.

SteelStash:

The fighting, and this was a, this was a particularly bad night of fighting

SteelStash:

when a, when a British soldier crawls from where they were at and

SteelStash:

no man's land and stumbles across my stumbles, across my hiding spot.

SteelStash:

And, you know, I.

SteelStash:

, of course, I'm not going to kick them out.

SteelStash:

They're, they're wounded, they're injured, so I patch them up as best I can

SteelStash:

with the first aid kit that they have.

SteelStash:

We share some food.

SteelStash:

We, we share an evening together.

SteelStash:

This, this soldier is, you know, this soldier is scared of.

SteelStash:

Falling asleep, which is understandable.

SteelStash:

They, they did get hurt pretty badly.

SteelStash:

And given everything that's been happening it's understandable that they

SteelStash:

are concerned that if they close their eyes, they're not gonna open again.

SteelStash:

But

SteelStash:

we spend, we spend most of the.

SteelStash:

We spend most of the night talking and learning about each other in really

SteelStash:

one of the, really, one of the best ways that you can just two humans

SteelStash:

trying to avoid the horror that's around them and that that night has,

SteelStash:

that night, has left a deep impact on.

SteelStash:

And one that I think that I will, one that I think I'm gonna carry

SteelStash:

with me for the rest of my days.

SteelStash:

So moving on to assignment number four, another present,

SteelStash:

and we got the five of spades.

SteelStash:

Peace.

SteelStash:

So this is going to be, this is not going to be an assignment.

SteelStash:

This is going to be.

SteelStash:

This is going to be a little bit of vacation for me especially

SteelStash:

after my last assignment, the interaction that I had in World War I.

SteelStash:

I am going to, I'm going to retreat to a cabin in the Rockies for a little.

SteelStash:

and we're gonna say that we're gonna say that it's, it's fall.

SteelStash:

We're gonna say that it's the fall timeframe.

SteelStash:

So the weather's just starting to turn cold.

SteelStash:

It's hoodie weather.

SteelStash:

It's close enough to winter that there, that the storm clouds

SteelStash:

could produce a little bit of.

SteelStash:

and I'm going to sit next to, I'm going to sit next to that fire that

SteelStash:

I built out in front of this cabin, watching this storm rolling over the

SteelStash:

mountains with the promise of snow, the wind blowing through the trees,

SteelStash:

and just, just reconnect with the world and that feeling of peace that I.

SteelStash:

So moving on to number five.

SteelStash:

I'm rolling.

SteelStash:

Ones and twos tonight.

SteelStash:

Ladies and Jets.

SteelStash:

We are at a statistical anomaly right now.

SteelStash:

Now that is another one.

SteelStash:

We are returning to the past and we have the two of clubs.

SteelStash:

And that is another betrayal this time.

SteelStash:

It is a betrayal that I am a part of.

SteelStash:

So

SteelStash:

I have been sent to the French court.

SteelStash:

Of Louis the 16th and I have found myself,

SteelStash:

I found myself a position with the Palace Guard, and I know what, I know what's.

SteelStash:

, I know that the revolution is underway.

SteelStash:

I know that.

SteelStash:

I know that the people are coming for the monarchy and dis, despite

SteelStash:

what I know about how terrible.

SteelStash:

The next few years are going to be the reign of terror is going to be.

SteelStash:

I also know the importance of that historical example of the people

SteelStash:

standing up even to their king when.

SteelStash:

tyranny and inequality become so high and becomes so ignored by those in power that

SteelStash:

the people have no choice but to rise up.

SteelStash:

And I leave.

SteelStash:

I leave a gate unsecure.

SteelStash:

So this is my betrayal.

SteelStash:

This is my betrayal of.

SteelStash:

The job that

SteelStash:

I was hired for in order to, in order to serve and preserve this historical

SteelStash:

example, and furthermore, it's a little bit of betrayal to myself as.

SteelStash:

This is the first time that I have like directly gotten involved and my direct

SteelStash:

involvement has led to a loss of life.

SteelStash:

I've had other direct involvements before, but those, those involvements

SteelStash:

have all been in attempts at preservation.

SteelStash:

But this involvement, this involvement served only destruction and the hope.

SteelStash:

, the example of this destruction would serve the future.

SteelStash:

All right, so moving on to moving on to six.

SteelStash:

All right, we got a three, so we're now going to the future,

SteelStash:

and that is the queen of diamonds.

SteelStash:

So we are observing something in the.

SteelStash:

We're observing a death in the future,

SteelStash:

I think.

SteelStash:

I think that for this, I am going to be flung into the far.

SteelStash:

A future so far ahead that I can't even really comprehend the distance of time

SteelStash:

and the death that I'm going to witness is the death of a

SteelStash:

star, the death of our star.

SteelStash:

And I'm going to sit there on this research vessel

SteelStash:

and watch as our star explodes and dies and consumes at least

SteelStash:

the, at least the inner half of our solar system with its death.

SteelStash:

As I watch the end of all things and yet,

SteelStash:

and yet I am on a research vessel.

SteelStash:

I am.

SteelStash:

I am on a ship with a crew and while.

SteelStash:

, while there are plenty of alien life forms in this crew, there are also,

SteelStash:

there are also stilled humans here.

SteelStash:

I mean, certainly not as I could recognize from my time evolution

SteelStash:

being what it is, but, but humanity has survived in some capacity.

SteelStash:

So even though I have witnessed the death of our star and the death of our.

SteelStash:

We are still alive.

SteelStash:

And that observation I think fills me with, fills me with hope as I move into my

SteelStash:

seventh mission, which is another present.

SteelStash:

And we have the Ace of hearts.

SteelStash:

And the ace of hearts is going to be love,

SteelStash:

but a love observed.

SteelStash:

So this is,

SteelStash:

I'm gonna say kind of a cop out answer for this.

SteelStash:

Despite all the regional conflicts, despite.

SteelStash:

The flexing of dying powers and their attempts at maintaining

SteelStash:

relevancy and the horrors that they're inflicting in those attempts.

SteelStash:

The love that I'm going to observe is the love that the people have for each

SteelStash:

other as they attempt to stand and face.

SteelStash:

These trials, that unbreakable bond of love, that binds groups together

SteelStash:

in an effort to

SteelStash:

preserve some part of themselves.

SteelStash:

And this is a preservation that coming off my last mission, I know that they are

SteelStash:

able to do, but in the face of everything, it just, it seems as daunting as it did.

SteelStash:

It seems as daunting as that star exploding.

SteelStash:

And yet they, they still stand next to each other because,

SteelStash:

because of their love for each.

SteelStash:

All right, and moving on to our next mission,

SteelStash:

which will be number eight.

SteelStash:

Once again in the present and we have the king of diamonds,

SteelStash:

and that is going to be fear.

SteelStash:

So observed fear.

SteelStash:

And just continuing off on, continuing off on what I observed with my last

SteelStash:

one is, Just the amount of fear that the people have as they try to

SteelStash:

persevere and preserve all the systems that they were told were in place to

SteelStash:

protect them, seem to be ineffective.

SteelStash:

The uncertainty of everything that's going.

SteelStash:

The constant struggle as every day the news is reporting another tragedy,

SteelStash:

another conflict, another loss.

SteelStash:

There.

SteelStash:

There doesn't seem to be a shortage of fear running around.

SteelStash:

So in an effort to get away from that, we're going to jump to the past

SteelStash:

where we have the seven of spades for number nine, seven of spades,

SteelStash:

and this will be an interaction with love.

SteelStash:

So I think that.

SteelStash:

I think for this one I'm going to, I'm going to head to the early 19

SteelStash:

hundreds, to New Orleans to Nolens

SteelStash:

because I've been getting some, I've been getting some bad assignments and you know,

SteelStash:

I want to have a happy one, so I'm gonna head down to New Orleans to the

SteelStash:

big easy, and I'm gonna spend some time

SteelStash:

with jazz, and I'm going to spend some time with.

SteelStash:

This rising new movement coming out.

SteelStash:

And while I'm down there, while I'm down there, I'm going to meet

SteelStash:

a woman, a captivating woman who is going to completely ensnare my senses

SteelStash:

and.

SteelStash:

We are going to, we are going to spend several, several nights together laughing

SteelStash:

and dancing and experiencing each other as only two people caught up in the moment.

SteelStash:

Can.

SteelStash:

And,

SteelStash:

and if a, if I'm being honest with myself, this is, this is

SteelStash:

such a pleasant experience that

SteelStash:

I'm going to hide my pocket, watch away.

SteelStash:

I'm gonna hide my stopwatch.

SteelStash:

, and I'm just going to, I'm gonna live in this moment for as long as as long as I

SteelStash:

can, as long as I'm going to be allowed.

SteelStash:

And that's actually where we're gonna call the game for tonight,

SteelStash:

because that seems like the happiest ending that I'm gonna get.

SteelStash:

And I want a happy ending.

SteelStash:

I play a lot of horror games.

SteelStash:

I play a lot of games that get deep into my.

SteelStash:

, and I know this says a lot more about me than it does about the

SteelStash:

game, but you know the ones where you can have that happy ending.

SteelStash:

I, I really like those.

SteelStash:

But that is out of time.

SteelStash:

This is,

SteelStash:

this is a, this is a fun game.

SteelStash:

This is a nice twist on the, on the journaling.

SteelStash:

A lot of the, a lot of the journaling games present you a very linear approach,

SteelStash:

so bouncing around a lot between, between the past, the present, and the future.

SteelStash:

That is a, that is a nice novelty.

SteelStash:

One thing, . Yeah.

SteelStash:

One thing that I wish the game flushed out a little bit more was where, when in

SteelStash:

the pasture jumping to like if there was some type of, if there was some type of

SteelStash:

mechanic for how far back you're going.

SteelStash:

And I get why there's not because there's a lot of history and there's a lot of.

SteelStash:

So I get why there's not, it allows you to do whatever you kind of

SteelStash:

want, and I do appreciate that.

SteelStash:

You know, it's just also one of those, it's just also one of those,

SteelStash:

the prompts are, the prompts are fairly vague and repeating, so

SteelStash:

they aren't always, They aren't always the best and they

SteelStash:

don't, they don't necessarily indicate some type of timeframe,

SteelStash:

which, I mean, again, it's a positive because it's not like that prompt is going

SteelStash:

to tie you strongly to one thing, but you know, it's, it's one of those you have

SteelStash:

to kind of dig around and you have to figure out how you wanna respond to it.

SteelStash:

For a normal person playing this game, playing this game with the suggestion

SteelStash:

of, you know, only responding to one or two prompts a day, that's not gonna be

SteelStash:

that big of a deal because like several of the other card based journaling

SteelStash:

games we've played, like Galatea , Her Odyssey, that sort of thing, you

SteelStash:

know, draw your prompt in the morning, think about it throughout the day.

SteelStash:

Think of, you know, Do a little research, do a little checking and find something

SteelStash:

that resonates with you in that prompt,

SteelStash:

that format doesn't exactly work well for me especially with this podcast

SteelStash:

because, you know, it's one of those I have, I have to get the game out.

SteelStash:

I have to get enough out so that you guys get a feeling for the game.

SteelStash:

So the sitting and thinking about the proc response,

SteelStash:

it's not, it's not exactly practical for me.

SteelStash:

I, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna whip out my phone and record a record a TikTok of.

SteelStash:

, me drawing the card and then thinking about it and then stitching all

SteelStash:

those together to create this.

SteelStash:

That's, that's not exactly the formula that I'm running.

SteelStash:

But

SteelStash:

for someone not doing this, for some type of content creation,

SteelStash:

that that's a perfectly.

SteelStash:

format and could be an interesting way to engage with this game.

SteelStash:

And again, you know, just pulling the prompt and like spending some time to

SteelStash:

actually sit down and think about it instead of jumping on the first level

SteelStash:

of idea that comes to your head would definitely make this a lot more enjoyable.

SteelStash:

So again, on me, not the game.

SteelStash:

But at the end of the day, it's a very, it's a very light game.

SteelStash:

It's only four pages, and two of those pages are tables.

SteelStash:

So very light, very easy to pick up and get into.

SteelStash:

Again, I really like the concept.

SteelStash:

I like the non-linear aspect of it all.

SteelStash:

I like the fact.

SteelStash:

I like the fact that because you are out of time yourself, all these

SteelStash:

different random experiences give you that opportunity to let something

SteelStash:

from the future affect the present.

SteelStash:

That type of thing always amuses me.

SteelStash:

I, I always enjoy that type.

SteelStash:

thought process and and mental gymnastics.

SteelStash:

So a lot to like with this game.

SteelStash:

And if you liked what you saw, then you can check out out of timed over on Itch.

SteelStash:

You can find it at GingerGeekGal56.itch.io/out-of-time

SteelStash:

for the low, low price of name, your own price.

SteelStash:

So if you go pick it up remember at least toss them a dollar.

SteelStash:

We like to pay our creators around here because they make fun games for us.

SteelStash:

And if you do pick it up, tell 'em that Steel stash, sent ya.

SteelStash:

And remember, I must stash.