As a creative person I find myself often interacting with other creative people. Friends and acquaintances often post their creations to social media, others sell their creations online or through crowdfunding. It always really makes me happy when I support a friend and their art blows me away.

Lawman has been something bouncing around in Joe Martin’s head for a long time. I remember play testing his board game Shootinany at least 6 years ago and I’m pretty sure that was the precursor to this. I’m always super jealous of people who can draw and write. Since my drawing skills have reverted to pre-elementary school levels.

I’ve been reading a ton of rpgs over the last year. The trend seems to be setting over system and it makes sense to me. When you read a generic system like FFG’s “Genesys” or Seventh Sphere Entertainment’s “Open Legend” you can try to get excited about new ways of doing the same thing (attacking things, casting spells, tactical movement etc…) but with games that have a “theme” like Free League Publishing’s “Mork Borg” or Monte Cook’s “Invisible Sun”, it’s easy to get excited about this new crazy “theme/world” you haven’t thought of using before.

Lawman, picks a theme, “sci-fi tropes” from all our favorite sci-fi classics from Robocop to Judge Dread to Firefly and more, and somehow keeps them dark, but makes them fun(ny) too. The game makes fun of itself, but keeps it serious enough that it’s not just a joke game like HOL (an obviously an influence here). The art sets the tone and fits perfectly with the writing. The system is simple, but doesn’t seem like an afterthought (Mork Borg I’m looking at you). Finally, the “hey these are just words on the page, arrange them so they make things the most fun for you and your friends”, attitude is exactly the kind attitude I love in a game designer.

Okay, now I’m totally inspired to finish the project I’ve been working on. ( )