Monster Kart Monday #1: Mermaid Adventures

This entry is part 1 of 21 in the series Monster Kart Monday

Last week I told you I was working on additional content for Monster Kart Mayhem and that I would have more to report soon. This week I’ll show you a first look at the first add-on for MKM, Mermaid Adventures.

If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because Mermaid Adventures is a great RPG for kids by Third Eye Games. Check out this review I wrote in January 2013. Mermaid Adventures was also recently nominated for an ENnie award, one of the most prestigious awards in gaming.

With all of that being said, I received permission from Eloy Lasanta, the game’s author, to use Mermaid Adventures as the inspiration for the first add-on track of Monster Kart Mayhem. The world of Mermaid Adventures actually worked out very well for the game: in the core book, we discover that the residents of Atlantis hold annual Olympic games to celebrate the peace that has been brought to the land. The Olympics are a perfect stage for another thrilling race like the Monster Mash.

Players may select from any one of eight new pre-generated characters or build their own fishy racer using the new character creation rules that will be present in the Monster Kart Mayhem core book. New racers include:

  • Fiona the FIshfolk
  • Eloy the Eelfolk
  • Upala the U rchinfolk
  • Jonas the Jellyfolk
  • Otto the Octofolk
  • Roy the Rayfolk
  • Sonia the Sharkfolk
  • Lashelle (aka “Shelley”) the Lobsterfolk

Each of the merfolk races from Mermaid Adventures is represented, and they all have unique Perks and Quirks (the new name for Gifts and Faults) to help set them apart from one another.

The race course itself will feature several new undersea locations, including:

  • Atlantis Stadium
  • The Abyssal Plain (the ocean floor)
  • Ship Graveyard
  • Hydrothermal Field (filled with Black Smokers, or towering pillars of underwater volcanic activities)
  • Sea Mountains
  • Coral Reef
  • Sea Dragon’s Lair
  • The Dark Lands
  • The Finish Line

The race is still 1,000 km long, so each of the locations has been reduced in size from the typical 200 km length found in the original Transylvania race course.

Finally, the Mermaid Adventures add-on will contain nine all-new Power-Ups. I’m still finalizing these, but a few of the ones I have planned include:

  • Shooting Starfish
  • Oi-eel Lamp
  • Sea Turtle Armor
  • Treasure Map
  • Pearl Necklace
  • Piranha Repellent

As you can see, I’ve been having a lot of fun working on the new Mermaid Adventures course for Monster Kart Mayhem. I still have a few more Power-Ups to figure out, so if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments!

Tune in again next Monday for more Monster Kart Mayhem tidbits.

Series NavigationMonster Kart Monday #2: More Mermaid Adventures >>