The new RPG stream Into the Mother Lands just announced its release this October. This Twitch-funded project looks like a great addition to the wealth of actual-play shows, but much about Into the Mother Lands sets it apart from other representatives of the genre.
Throughout its 12-week run, Into the Mother Lands will tell a sci-fi odyssey using a brand new game based on the Cortex system. Cast members are adventurers who have been making their home on an adopted world after a mysterious ancestor's misguided travels stranded them there generations in the past. The game promises unique, new cultures, enemy plots and loads of adventure, all brought to life in a new system.
In addition to interesting, new gameplay and a fantastic story, what sets Into the Mother Lands apart from other streaming RPG shows is its focus on highlighting the talents of Black and POC creators. Increasing diversity and representation in not only on-camera personalities but also in the production and development crew is a great indicator of how the series is approaching production in the right way. In a video introducing the series, lead developer B. Dave Walters claims that Into the Mother Lands will be a "journey into a Blacker future," and the cast and crew make-up delivers on this promise.
Led by creative director Tanya DePass, known from her non-profit I Need Diverse Games or her work with the Rivals of Waterdeep D&D live stream, the team includes established gamers and RPG contributors. Game Master Eugenio Vargas showcases his talent as DM for The Last Refuge, while Walters is known for his work on Darkened Wish or Vampire the Masquerade: LA by Night. Some of the cast have even contributed content to RPGs like D&D or the upcoming tabletop RPG based on N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth books, including developer LaTia Jacquise along with Vargas and DePass.
The commitment to highlighting Black and POC content creators is an excellent move for Twitch and follows on the heels of some lackluster work from other parts of the media industry in this area. Gamers of Color have always existed but have regularly been ignored by the industry, which has often chosen to showcase whiteness in everything from drawing from European mythology and folklore to designing fantasy characters with white skin. With such a white-washed history, games like Into the Mother Lands are even more important for increasing representation but also for showcasing the work that POC creators are doing.
Into the Mother Lands will be available on the cypheroftyr Twitch channel starting Oct. 4 and is sure to be a must-watch stream. With a veteran creative team and a brand new story to tell, the series will provide entertainment while increasing diversity and representation.