Play Modes
Once you’ve all made characters and are ready to begin telling their story, it’s time to choose a mode of play. In Mnemonic there are four such modes:
- First Gathering: A short introduction to everyone’s characters, letting the players bring their characters into the story.
- Into the Grey: An extended exploration of the story’s key elements, from people and places to important objects and events. This mode is intended to last multiplay play sessions.
- Deck Burner: A fast-paced resolution to the story’s main conflict or to one of its many smaller conflicts.
- Laid to Rest: A somber ritual for saying good-bye to a character or to the story as a whole.
In addition, there are two short games designed to be usable during any other play mode, which should take no more than a few minutes to resolve:
- A Moment Alone: A brief ritual for clearing injuries from skills and reflecting on a character’s choices.
- Game Face: A short game for settling scores between players’ characters.
In order to play Mnemonic, everyone will need to have a character journal prepared, as well as some numbered six-sided dice ready to roll (two per person should be plenty, at least for the first time you play). Your group will also need a standard 54-card poker deck, which need to be shuffled and/or divided as needed by the mode you choose.
If you’re not sure what story you want to tell, the First Gathering can help you discover that through play; alternatively, you can choose one of the many Story Arcs provided within the Mnemonic Setting.