Francesca Viganò
As always, before we begin this review I would like to thank the publisher, Grumpy Bear Stuff, for sending us a physical copy of Rosewood Abbey.
If you find the game interesting, you can purchase a physical copy from the publisher’s website for €20. You will also find additional free material for preparing a session on the same page.
The game is a detective story set in medieval abbeys, and is based on the Carved from Brindlewood ruleset. It uses a Powered by the Apocalypse system designed for solving mysteries. As in Brindlewood Bay, the narrative is shared among the players.
This 190-page manual provides an overview of the rules and the setting. It also includes a complete game session, which is ideal for setting the scene and learning to create the desired atmosphere at the table.
Sensitive Content in Rosewood Abbey
I always appreciate it when authors are explicit about the content of their game and dot their i’s and cross their t’s. I appreciate it even more when this information is provided at the beginning of the manual, as it happens here.
While the main sources of inspiration for Rosewood Abbey are clearly Umberto Eco‘s The Name of the Rose, the TV series Cadfael and games such as Good Society: A Jane Austen Roleplaying Game, as well as Brindlewood Bay, the themes addressed may not be apparent to most people.
It is important to note that this game draws on Walloon, Flemish and European folklore, which often treats religion with irreverence. The game evokes religious environments associated with the Catholic Church, as well as actions that Christians deem virtuous or sinful. The manual explicitly states that everyone at the table must be aware of and agree to address the issues set out clearly.
Where the Game Takes Place
The story focuses on Rosewood Abbey, a monastic community located at the foot of the Alps. The game is set between the 12th and 13th centuries. Although it refers to a specific period, the game does not strive for historical accuracy at all costs. A Preparation Sheet is provided to help players agree on the tone and level of historical accuracy for the mystery they will solve.
The monastery is more than just the setting for the game. It is a microcosm in which religious and laypeople coexist, where faith, truth and superstition intermingle. Characters interpret events as divine signs or demonic manifestations, increasing the mysterious atmosphere and increasing the tension. Rumours spread quickly, fueling suspicions and fears and driving the narrative forward. It is important to note that the mystery (or the central event of the story) is purely mundane and has no connection to supernatural elements.
The Characters in the Game
As we will see in this review, Rosewood Abbey guides players in creating their characters by providing them with all the necessary information on a handy character sheet. The protagonists are the Frates Herodoti, a group of monks and scholars in search of truth. For this reason, we recommend creating male characters. This could also include someone who just dresses as a man. All the monks are copyists, but they also have a Monastic Skill representing an additional activity that the character performs.
If you have trouble finding a name for your character, there are several options to choose from on the form. You will also need to decide on a nickname and place of birth. Once again, the form provides some fascinating options.
The creation process continues by selecting which of the 5 characteristics (Vigour, Control, Reasoning, Presence and Community) best represents our character. Only that characteristic can be given an additional point. Next, we distinguishes us from the other monks: our Move of the Brothers. Finally, we devote ourselves to a saint who offers us a special move to use during the game session. Finally, we will select some small, precious items for our character. These details, called Joy in Small Things, will give us an advantage in a test.
Some of the character’s traits will be highlighted during the game. In particular, there are Conditions and Thorns, which emerge when we want to change the outcome of a trial. If we choose to Sting ourselves with a Thorn when faced with failure, we will then have to recount a flashback related to the sin or virtue connected to it by answering the relevant question.
The Resolution of the Trials
As with all PBTA games, if the conversation leads to a situation with an uncertain outcome, it will be needed to roll the dice using a move. After indicating which skill they intend to use for the test, the player rolls two dice and adds the value of the indicated skill. If the result is 6 or less, the test is considered failed; if the result is between 7 and 9, the test is successful but has consequences; and if the result is 10 or more, the test is fully successful. As previously mentioned, the game allows you to modify the outcome of a test using the Spine mechanic.
Stinging with a Thorn also introduces the Rumours mechanic. This feature lists on a special card (which acts as a diary) all the crazy ideas and gossip spoken about by the monks in the abbey and the villagers in the nearby village.
As rumours spread and absurdities increase, the chronicle comes to a close. It announces the arrival of the papal authorities who are responsible for determining the fate of those involved.
Therefore, the fratres’ ultimate goal is to refute as many of these rumours as possible. Otherwise, there is a risk of excommunication or canonisation, which could be initiated by papal legates or the Inquisition.
The Role of the Cantor, Clues, and Complications
In Rosewood Abbey, the game master is known as the Cantor. Their role is to oversee the Mysteries, or game scenarios, in which the players must investigate, gather information and identify the culprit to report to the authorities. The Mystery, the Suspects, the Clues and the Locations where the story unfolds are at their disposal. The game master can also rely on a handy mystery sheet to help with this task.
One of the most interesting features of this narrative-driven game is its folkloric elements. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, there are no supernatural elements at play in Rosewood Abbey. Everything that happens is the work of humans; it is misunderstandings and beliefs that cause people to interpret events as if they were divine or evil deeds. It is up to the Cantor to narrate the complications arising from the dice rolls and the Brothers’ reactions to the situations they create. In addition to their own creativity, the Cantor will be aided by a list of suggestions detailed precisely in the manual.
The chapter dedicated to the Cantor also specifies what the structure of a Mystery should be. Finally, it emphasises the importance of improvisation, indicating some principles that would be good to follow. The aim is to make the scenes realistic and involve all the players.
A Game Session as an Example
Unlike many other roleplaying games, Rosewood Abbey is also extremely explicit in suggesting how to conduct and run a session. It does so originally and transparently by showing, in the first 90 pages of the volume, the transcript of a playtest session conducted by the author himself.
Although reading these pages is not strictly necessary, I would highly recommend doing so. They provide a useful overview of how to set the tone and start a game session. The process of constructing and developing a story is explained very clearly. It begins with the presentation and creation of the characters, followed by the selection of the Ancient One — a mysterious figure from local folklore who is either revered or feared by the inhabitants because they are blamed for events in the area surrounding the abbey.
I think this is a very original choice, and it helps people who have never played a roleplaying game before to understand what to expect during a session. I also think it could be useful for game masters who are used to investigative games where they have to keep everything under control. In Rosewood Abbey, the mystery is not solved by the Cantor, but by the group as the session progresses.
Review of Rosewood Abbey Aesthetics
Completely in black and white, except for the cover, Rosewood Abbey is an interesting manual, not only for its graphic design. It mixes images taken from works from different periods without losing coherence. Reading is made easy by a very legible font and single-column layout.
Personally, I appreciated the manual and the care used to create it. It is fascinating and unusual at the same time, offering a glimpse of modernity with an aesthetic that harks back to the past. One detail that should not be overlooked is the impeccable editing. I didn’t find a single comma out of place or typo, which is a testament to Alessia Caviglia’s excellent work.
Conclusions of the Rosewood Abbey Review
Rosewood Abbey is not a game for everyone, and it may even confuse experienced players. However, it deserves to be tried more than once. It’s not so much to learn the simple mechanics, but rather to appreciate its slow, deep pace and mature concept.
It is quick to read and prepare, but it does require attention and a conscious agreement between players. As well as the mysteries proposed in the manual, I recommend trying out La Camola prima della Tempesta (The Moth before the Storm), a new mystery written by Alessia herself. This can be downloaded when you pre-order the game on the publisher’s website.
