Publisher's blurb:
Fenix #4, 2021 is all about JOY and HAPPINESS. Graeme Davis goes into the light and dark sides of joy in gaming. In our first gaming article for the brand new game Troubleshooters, we are introduced to the The Laugh-O-Tron, a weird science weapon putting a hahaha into your battles. Pete Nash goes another route, as he introduces us to the Sisterhood of Joiry; presenting three swordswomen born at the dawn of fantasy.
C’mon Get Happy - 4 pages – Graeme Davis on the Light and Dark Sides of Joy in Gaming
So sang Dr. House in a memorably sinister dream sequence in a 2011 episode of the popular medical drama. The performance and direction gave the idea of happiness itself unexpectedly sinister twist, and with the right presentation happiness can add a surprisingly effective level of menace to a roleplaying adventure as well.
The Laugh-O-Tron – Putting “A Hahaha” into Weird Science - 1 page article to Troubleshooters
The Octopus’ standard anti-personnel weapon, the disneuro ray, has two major disadvantages: it requires a lot of power to shut down and re-boot a person’s nervus system, and it can only disable a single target at a time. The Octopus scientist #621 (Octopus members are referred to with numbers, not names, for security rea-sons) invented an alternative: the Laugh-o-tron!
Sisterhood of Joiry – 4 pages about the Origin of Swordswomen born at the Dawn of Fantasy by Pete Nash
In this issue of Fenix we are encouraged to focus upon joy. Since I am, by nature, a grumpy old man turned bitter by years of witnessing frail human nature, I admit to finding little joy in the world of today. A place where friends turn away from friends due to election or referendums, families are torn asunder by new ideologies, and once stable nations stumble towards civil disorder. However, as the Pythons once sang, ‘Always look on the bright side of life!’
My personal bright side, the place I can always go to simply enjoy myself in pure escapism, has always been roleplaying games. Perhaps I am simply addicted to the interplay of storylines, player camaraderie and not least, the inherent gamble of a dice roll. Or maybe, it is the one place I can fantasise that I can be a true hero and actually defeat evil, rather than watch the real world head towards a dystopia I am helpless to prevent.
Whilst I could churn out a tedious article about theoretical Game Mastering methods to help roleplayers enjoy themselves to the fullest, or rewards to gift their characters, I shall instead look at the foundational female protagonists of fantasy fiction. Namely Jirel of Joiry and her sisters, who broke the mould of male dominated action adventurers.
So without further ado, please enjoy!