What we

fo�d in
the field
1–4 players
You a� in What We Found In The Field is a relatively short game that uses an evolving
a field. deck to illustrate both the reactions of a buried cyclopean object to the actions
of small group of people, as well as their own relationship with the object in
their lives and to the world around them.
Above you, clouds cross the azure skies. It is a clear day; one
that invites further clarity. Setup
Beneath your feet, earth and rock, and sundry other mysteries.
Mysteries that await revelation. You’ll need a deck of cards.

Around you, the beginnings—or endings—of a story long told. Separate the suits and lay them aside, in order. You will take cards from these
piles throughout play and add them to your deck. Take the 2 of each suit to
What lies around you? create your deck.

• Grassland? P�y
• Ancient temples?
• The ruins of wars long past?
• Something...other? Read the introductory paragraphs and answer the questions within through
consensus.
What you see has made its watch and guarded its treasures for
a time after a time. It is why you are here today. Or it isn’t. Once finished with the introductions, as a group decide what actions you’d like
to take. You may discuss as much as you like until someone says they would
Why have you come to this place? perform an action—no take backs! Sometimes, we act and react rashly in real life,
without thought of the consequences.
• Glory?
• Discovery? If the group decides the action was carefully thought through, the player who
• Escape? called out the action will pull three cards from the top of the deck and choose
• Revenge? one, placing the others on the bottom of the deck. If the action is decidedly
rash, the player may only pull the top card of the deck.
The reason is nothing. Or it is everything. Either way, before
you, in the ground, lies something newly revealed. Once a card is chosen/pulled a player will:

What is its form? • Read it out loud, answering any questions associated with the card
and narrating how your actions bring about the result. On cards 2, 5,
• A shape? 9, and A, all other players will also answer the question.
• An object?
• Some part of an immense body? • Follow the associated deck instructions.

Deep within the mysteries of your being, what is revealed
beckons, demanding further revelation.
You approach.
• Resume the dialogue towards the next action.
Follow this loop of play until you reach an Ace in the deck. At that point, read
the card aloud; questions asked will be answered by the group to conclude the
session.
Cards Cards
♦ Dis�vрy — what to �arn ♥ C�nec�� — What pulls you

2♦ Nothing happens, but you feel like you’re on to something. What rumours exist of 2 ♥ You feel connected, somehow, to the immensity before you. What is a story your mother
giants—made or born—in your lands? Add 3-5 ♦ and shuffle the deck. told you when you were young? Add 3-5 ♥ and shuffle the deck.

3♦ Your action reveals something on the immensity before you—a removable panel? A 3 ♥ Almost imperceptibly, the immensity focuses on you. What happens? When was the last
sigil? An inscription? Where have you seen something like this before? time you were chosen?

4♦ You hear something from within. To what in your life does this sound mimic? 4 ♥ You feel called to touch it. What happens? What do you feel?

5♦ The earth trembles; your actions have caused the immensity to rise! What is one aspect 5 ♥ The immensity speaks! What do you hear? Of what in your own lives before today does
of the immensity you notice? Add 6-9 ♦ and shuffle the deck. this remind you? Add 6-9 ♥ and shuffle the deck.

6♦ Somehow, you feel the immensity focus on you—a connection? What does it do? Of 6 ♥ Something you’ve said or done has soured its mood. What did you do or say?
what in your memory does the immensity remind you? Draw the next ♥, shuffle the deck. When else in life have you caused offence? Draw the next ♠ and shuffle the deck.

7♦ Something goes wrong—you’ve angered it! What happened? To what in the world do 7 ♥ It has over-exerted itself to be nearer to you. Why and how? When else in life has
you point your own anger? Draw the next ♠, shuffle the deck. connection caused hurt? Draw the next ♣ and shuffle the deck.

8♦ You’ve pushed too hard; something breaks. What happened? What else is broken in the 8 ♥ You have a flash of inspiration! What is revealed? How has the immensity inspired you?
world around you? Draw the next ♣, shuffle the deck. Draw the next ♦ and shuffle the deck.

9♦ A breakthrough! How does the immensity change? How have you changed in your 9 ♥ It tells you its names. What are they? How do you already know these names?
lives? Add 10-K ♦, remove any lower ♦ and shuffle the deck. Add 10-K ♥, remove any lower ♥ and shuffle the deck.

10 ♦ Your actions have sundered connections forged. How? When else have you traded 10 ♥ Somehow you’ve soothed the beast within. How did you connect with the immensity?
connection for knowledge? Was it worth it? Remove the next two ♥ in the deck and shuffle. Who else have soothed in life? Remove the next two ♠ in the deck and shuffle.

J♦ Somehow, you’ve soothed the being within. How did you accomplish this? When else J♥ The power of your connection renews its spirit. How did it react to your actions? Who
was peace the answer? Remove the next two ♠ in the and shuffle. else have you supported in life? Remove the next two ♣ in the deck and shuffle.

Q ♦ You discover an easily-fixable flaw. What is it, and what happens when you fix it? What Q ♥ Its purpose has become more mysterious to you. Why? When else have you been lost?
else have you fixed in this life? Remove the next two ♣ in the deck and shuffle. Remove the next two ♦ in the deck and shuffle.

K ♦ Just a little more – you are so close to knowing. What do you seek? Add the A ♦ and K ♥ You feel its spirit within you. What question do you ask it? Add the A ♥ and shuffle the
shuffle the deck. deck.

A ♦ The true purpose of the immensity is fully revealed. How do you react? Can you use it A ♥ The connection you have nurtured has gone to fruit and is ready for harvest. What will
for your own ends? How do you change the world? The end. you do with your new friend? How will you enrich its life and how will it enrich yours?
The end.
Cards
♠ Emnity — What divides you
2♠ You feel a chill within. What violence is in the world? Add 3-5 ♠ and shuffle the deck.
3♠ The earth itself echo an unseen anger. How does this manifest? What angers you?
4♠ You feel something more—unease? Hate? Malevolence? Fear? Where does this feeling
manifest in your own life?
5♠ Its original—dark—purpose is brought to light. How? What is that purpose? What are
your own dark secrets? Add 6-9 ♠ and shuffle the deck.
6♠ It reacts angrily; in its frustration, something fails. What fails? When have you failed?
Draw the next ♣ and shuffle the deck.
7♠ Your actions give the immensity pause. How do you capitalize on this connection?
When else have you had a second chance? Draw the next ♥ and shuffle the deck.
8♠ The immensity readies to fight; In doing so it, reveals a something new. What is
revealed? When else did your quick eyes bring opportunity? Draw the next ♦ and shuffle
the deck.
9♠ It reveals a weapon. You cannot escape. What is it? When else did you face the
possibility of death? Add 10-K ♠, remove any lower ♠ and shuffle the deck.
10 ♠ Its anger is palpable, like a new source of energy. How does the immensity change?
When did anger last drive you? Remove the next two ♣ in the deck and shuffle.
J♠ “No Quarter will be given,” it says. You realize the ground around you is riddled with
devastation. What does it look like? When else have you seen devastation like this?
Remove the next two ♥ in the deck and shuffle.
Q ♠ The immensity’s aggression hides its mysteries. How? When else have you lost crucial
knowledge? Remove the next two ♦ in the deck and shuffle.
K ♠ You have crossed the Rubicon. It readies its weapon. What are your final thoughts? Add
the A ♠ and shuffle the deck.
A ♠ The immensity ends your time on this plane of existence. There is a chance that one
may escape—the group may choose one player to survive. What is their fate? What is
the fate of the Immensity? Where is its violence directed next? The end.
Cards
♣ Ent�py — what IS B��n
2 ♣ Nothing happens. What are the bygone eras of this land? Add 3-5 ♣ and shuffle the deck.
3 ♣ Something falls from the immensity. What and how? How are you broken?
4 ♣ Creeping moss infects its crevices. How else is does the immensity show its age? What
is the oldest thing you have with you?
5 ♣ Your actions have caused the immensity to lose function in some way. What has it lost?
What does this land lack? Add 6-9 ♣ and shuffle the deck.
6 ♣ Somethings falls from the immensity and reveals a secret. What is it? What secret is in
your own life? Draw the next ♦ shuffle the deck.
7 ♣ The immensity needs help. How do you know this? When else has someone asked for
help? Draw the next ♥ and shuffle the deck.
8 ♣ The immensity reacts to you as if you were a memory out of time. A bad memory.
What does it say? How is the feeling mutual? Draw the next ♠ and shuffle the deck.
9 ♣ Rousing the immensity costs it much. What else is failing? What else is broken in this
land? Add 10-K ♣ , remove any lower ♣ and shuffle the deck.
10 ♣ Your actions push the immensity towards oblivion; its secrets, lost to history. What
knowledge have you lost now? When else were you the source of ignorance? Remove
the next two ♦ in the deck and shuffle.
J ♣ The immensity becomes resolute as it contemplates the end and begins repeating a
phrase. What is that phrase? When else have you heard this phrase? Remove the next
two ♥ in the deck and shuffle.
Q ♣ One of the immensity’s weapons fails. What was it? When else was peace achieved by
failure? Remove the next two ♠ in the deck and shuffle.
K ♣ The immensity shudders as if gasping for breath. Do you want to save it, or let it go
into oblivion? Add the A ♣ and shuffle the deck.
A ♣ So often, we don’t get a chance to say goodbye. Whatever fuels the immensity’s life
ends abruptly, leaving the immensity frozen upon the field in front of you. What
happens to the immensity’s cold shell? The end.
What We Fo�d In the Field
A story game for 1-4 players

© 2022 Will Kinchlea

www.willkinchlea.com