Se7en Sagas

Rolisboa 2024, the biggest roleplaying game convetion in Portugal, has come and gone, leaving us with incredible memories and valuable insights. I had the pleasure of presenting Durandal, a mythic chivalry TTRPG inspired by The Matter of France, and the experience exceeded all expectations. The playtest session was a blast, with players diving headfirst into the world of heroic knights, divine intervention, and complex moral choices. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with everyone engaged and fully immersed in the mythic feel we’re striving to capture with Durandal. Moments like these remind me of the joy and magic that tabletop games bring, and I’m thrilled to share this journey with so many passionate players – and to have the pleasure of bringing new players to the hobby, which was also the case this time.

Inspiration for Durandal continues to grow as I dive into reading material that helps enrich the lore and atmosphere of the game. I recently picked up a copy of the Spanish comic book Roncesvalle, capturing the drama and intensity of the famous Battle of Roncesvalle, along with a Portuguese translation of The Song of Roland. Both bring the legendary battle and Roland’s epic journey to life and are excellent resources for anyone looking to understand the spirit behind Durandal.

But the weekend’s playtesting wasn’t limited to knights and legends—I also ran The Call of the Deep, a one-shot horror adventure set on a Portuguese cod-fishing trawler in 1956. My wife, daughters and a friend joined in, and they had an incredible time facing down the creeping dread of the open sea. It was rewarding to see The Call of the Deep bring out both chills and excitement. Their reactions confirmed that this adventure brings a unique blend of horror and suspense, especially with its setting grounded in Portuguese history.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that Durandal will be launching on Gamefound early next year. For anyone who follows the crowdfunding campaign, there’s a special €10 discount applied at checkout, so please help spread the word! Additionally, The Call of the Deep is available on DriveThruRPG, alongside Dawnfall, my previous game. You might also want to check out the Quickstart Edition of Durandal, to start to get a feel for the game. Thank you to everyone supporting Se7en Sagas—it’s your enthusiasm that keeps these adventures alive!