Clans of Chayil offers RPGers much that is fresh

Yes there are many role playing games out there, so when a new one pops up the question must be; do we need it?

Well, when it has bipedal moose – the Ud'lan – the answer is a resounding yes.

It was a picture of an Ud'lan that caught my eye initially with Clans of Chayil, and that led to a request for a sneak peek of this one – soon to hit Kickstarter to raise funds to publish.

Recognizing previews are not full-blown looks – one should expect more in the finished book – at more than 150-pages this preview gave a pretty good look at what should be expected with Clans of Chayil.

Now initially the book suggests typical player character races – humans, elves, dwarves, halflings – but an experienced game master should expect at least one player to be begging – maybe to the point of bribing with Pocky sticks – to play an Ud'lan PC.

As the name implies this one is based around the ideas of clans, and their importance in the world. Many are detailed in the book, and they provide some definite insights into possible player development. Ties and responsibilities to one’s clan can really help a player flesh out who they are ‘in-game’ and what their motivations are.

The clan aspect leads to what designer Robert Porras sees as one of the more unique aspects of the game.

“One of the mechanics of the game is Essence. We don't have magic like magic users and mages. Every creature and every clan both good and evil have an essence. The essence of a creature gives them life,” he related via email. “In the clans of Chayil, there are two different realities. One is physical and the other is Essence. Your Essence is that which does not originate from the physical world. It is life and power. Essence is the purest form of existence, an ethereal force that does not originate from the physical world. It is the very breath of life and the wellspring of power that flows through all living things. Essence is not bound by matter or form; instead, it is a timeless energy that transcends the limitations of the material realm.

“In Chayil there is a good essence called the "Naofa Fiain" pronounced "Nafa Fane", which means "The Holy Wild".  The darkness has an essence as well called the "Dorca Anon" "Dark Soul" and both Essences run like lightning and a gentle wind through the world of Chayil. 

“So you have the physical world to deal with but at the very same time there is the world of Essence. For example a battle may be fought on the battlefield physically, while on the Essence level a battle will be fought to attack the mind, body and soul, all at the same time. It offers a deeper aspect to the world.

It’s a world-building, and character building mechanism different enough to be rather fresh.

Porras said being immersive was a goal.

“Clans of Chayil is more than just a game—it’s an immersive world designed to pull players into living, breathing stories,” he said via email. “Each scenario unfolds like a television episode, with drama, conflict, and unexpected twists that keep players on the edge of their seats. But the real magic lies in how it invites people to step into the spotlight. Players are encouraged to let their inner actor emerge, to not just play a character but to become one.

“It’s a rare opportunity to set aside the everyday weight of work, bills, and school, and enter a world where the impossible becomes possible—a world where ordinary people can rise up and become legends. In Clans of Chayil, every player’s journey is more than dice rolls and statistics; it’s a living story.

“The world challenges players to engage deeply across all four aspects of life: mental, social, physical, and spiritual. Each adventure weaves these elements together, offering moments of strategy, teamwork, endurance, and personal reflection. The result is not just a game session, but an experience that lingers. Adventures that they will talk about as though they were real.”

To create the world which creates the broad opportunities Porras wrote it takes time to create – years actually he noted.

“The idea for what would eventually become The World of Chayil  was first sparked more than 20 years ago, while I was working with a group of teenagers,” he said. “I wanted to create something that would capture their imagination and encourage them to engage with each other face-to-face, rather than disappearing into their social media.

“With 60 kids under my care, I began experimenting with a simple, homemade game. It blended the principles of role-playing games with hands-on, real-world problem solving. Some of the challenges weren’t just on paper—they took physical form as puzzles the players had to solve together. At times, each teenager fully embodied their character, stepping into the adventure as if the story were their own.

“For most of them, this was their very first exposure to the world of RPGs. The result was beyond anything I expected. The kids showed up week after week—sixty strong, gathered in a rented hall—ready to dive into this new world we had created together. The experiment was an overwhelming success.

“Years later, as I moved into retirement, the memory of those sessions still burned brightly. Along with a few close friends, I decided to take that early spark and shape it into something larger, something lasting: a fully realized game world others could explore and play for themselves.”

Perhaps the best aspect of Clans is that it avoids a world painted in blacks and whites, opting for a world where old RPG stereotypes don’t hold true – which opens new game experiences for players.

“One of the aspects I love most about writing Clans of Chayil is the living, breathing quality of its world. Creatures, characters, and entire races aren’t locked into rigid roles—they adapt, evolve, and surprise,” said Porras. “Take the orcs, for example. In most fantasy worlds, they’re painted as mindless brutes or villains. But in Chayil, the story is more complex. There exists a tribe of orcs who have broken away from their warmongering kin and chosen the path of peace, seeking alliance with the Chosen Ones.

“This is the kind of twist that reshapes how players view the world. What appears to be an enemy may, in fact, turn out to be an unexpected ally. The surface tells only part of the story, and not everything is as it seems.

“Walt Whitman once wrote: “Be curious, not judgmental.” That spirit runs deeply through the veins of this game. Adventurers in Chayil will find themselves in situations where a second look—and an open mind—may reveal hidden truths, unlikely friendships, and deeper meaning than they first imagined.”

For Porras Clans is supposed to be about an experience which is more memorable than most.

“On a social level, my vision for this game goes far beyond dice and character sheets. I want it to become a catalyst—something that draws people together in ways that are increasingly rare in our modern world,” he related. “Imagine a group of friends, or even total strangers, gathered around a table. Before long, the walls of unfamiliarity begin to crumble. Laughter fills the room, conversations spark, and bonds are formed through the simple act of shared adventure.

“At its core, this is what we are trying to achieve with Clans. The game will give the player permission to stretch themselves beyond the ordinary—to imagine, to take risks, and to explore new parts of who they are. What I saw with those teenagers is that when they stepped into a character, they weren't just pretending; they were unlocking a part of their creativity that everyday life often pushes aside. We are trying to awaken the imagination again for a larger audience.”

Now to be fair any RPG can be more encompassing depending on the players at the table.

For some that means going deep ‘in-character’ at the table, focusing entirely on the in-game persona.

Our group is more free-form, jumping from in-game to talk of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, or civic affairs, or a good book. The experience is more camaraderie than role-playing.

In Clans how the experience is ultimately as much in the hands of players as in the source material.

Overall Clans is just too intriguing – at least the preview taste – to not suggest – especially for experienced RPG players wanting something new.

Check it out at clansofchayil.com