Jonas reviewed Sanctum of the Ori Magi by Brian Stauffer
Gimmicky Mausritter scenario
3 stars
This is a origami-themed scenario for the Mausritter RPG. The presentation manages to enhance the theme and gets in the way at the same time. When buying the PDF, you get files for printing and assembling the materials into an "infinite flipper" card. It doesn't take too long, but I had to fiddle and cut half millimeters off here and there so that the paper toy can be folded and turned without corners hitting each other all the time. There's a certain joy and magic to the resulting object, but it's a very gimmicky presentation, and the scenario is easier to read (and use at the table) in the "layout" PDF that's also downloadable. Still, there are some bits in the layout when the text flow isn't immediately clear (in both versions). As of writing (June 2025) the digital version does not include the origami item card ("A powerful enchanted …
This is a origami-themed scenario for the Mausritter RPG. The presentation manages to enhance the theme and gets in the way at the same time. When buying the PDF, you get files for printing and assembling the materials into an "infinite flipper" card. It doesn't take too long, but I had to fiddle and cut half millimeters off here and there so that the paper toy can be folded and turned without corners hitting each other all the time. There's a certain joy and magic to the resulting object, but it's a very gimmicky presentation, and the scenario is easier to read (and use at the table) in the "layout" PDF that's also downloadable. Still, there are some bits in the layout when the text flow isn't immediately clear (in both versions). As of writing (June 2025) the digital version does not include the origami item card ("A powerful enchanted sheet of paper that can fold into 6 different items. It's printed on a tritetraflexagon so players can fold the item to its different forms") even though it's advertised on the itch.io page. - EDIT: Ah, it's not on the download page for the purchase, but among the demo downloads on the item page!
The writing is dense, packing a lot of information into few words. In my book, a pun like origami => "Ori Magi" is a bonus, but while you can find an Ori Magi Pattern Book (for Ori magic = folding paper into creatures automata) and receive the gift of the Ori Magi over the course of the adventure, there's no further info on the titular Ori Magi, which feels too thin to me. The scenario itself seems okay, but doesn't really grab me.
If you're into interesting forms of presentation, this infinite flipper Mausritter zine is for you. If origami fascinates you or your players, go for it. If you're not into either of these, then you can pass the Sanctum of the Ori Magi.