[Recruiting 1] Something Completely Different

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Anyone out there a GM who'd like to run but is too busy?

A player who needs something creative to do during the lags in game posting?

Have a concept for a character but there's no way you could ever make them work mechanically?

Are you more of a writer than a gamer?

Well I have a proposal: we play a game. Without the game rules. Without a GM. And without limits on who gets to pose the characters when they have an idea to add.


One person I played with coined it Chaotic Fiction. I can describe it as "writing a script by jotting down a snippet, then leaving it in a public place for anyone to pick up and scrawl on, before coming back and trying to finish whatever you started while trying to figure out what to make of these new parts that you don't remember writing". (For examples here's the game the group actually played starting here, continuing here for a bit, restarting here after a break game, and ending here again.)

This is an extremely high trust type of game. Not only do you have to trust that the other players won't make some tripped-out god and/or continuously grab the spotlight you also have to trust that they if they pick up an idea, and especially a character, that you started they won't then render it a lame mess. And by the same token they have to be able to trust that if they use something you create that you won't use your authorial privileged over it like a choke-chain or throw a diva tantrum. There will be at least one referee to see that things don't get out of control, but they will not have complete power.

Also important to note: There will be no one GM who is responsible for everything outside of what the PCs do. For the first game I may do more of that than I would usually expect if the new players need a "tutorial". But ultimately the point of this method of playing is that the burden of creating the story is spread out.


As for specifics of what I'm thing for the game:
* Setting: Crinoverse. It contains everything. And most of the necessary information is available right here on the ATT.
You do not have to read the entire Crinoverse thread to play in this game.
* Tone: Light, and slightly funny. The current Avengers' show is close. My personal opinion is the whole process goes smoother if things aren't taken too seriously.
* Power and Beating People Up: PL would probably top off at 12. Fights should roughly be decided by comparing PL, but limits can be overcome by a creative. Basically you either need to team up to take on a guy over your PL or come up with a suitably awesome idea (ideally still allowing the other characters some contribution).
* Concepts Allowed: When I said the Crinoverse contains "everything" I wasn't exaggerating. Plus you can, if you really want to, play an established character from some property.

Please ask questions now. I don't care if you don't have any, think up something random. I'm sure to have missed something: this is the first time I've had to propose one of these not to the same group that was already doing them.

EDIT: Likely Recruiting Number: Six players to start. Thread will be opened up later once people have gotten comfortable.

Characters already submitted:
Kinematic
Echo
Quentin Wilde
Lilith Kane and Bastenvy
War Hawk
Grusht (masquerading as The Enforcer)

[Commando]

This sounds interesting.

If everyone gets to post, and they sound like they could be long posts, then there should be some kind of order to work in. Otherwise, we'll end up writing long posts and someone else will ninja it and screw up an hour or so of work.

As for write-ups, who needs them in a creative free-for-all without the rules? Concepts and in-depth power descriptions should suffice.

[EnigmaticOne]

I like it too.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

If everyone gets to post, and they sound like they could be long posts, then there should be some kind of order to work in. Otherwise, we'll end up writing long posts and someone else will ninja it and screw up an hour or so of work.

It's tricky: if there's a strict order then we run back into the problem of waiting for someone. And "not having to wait" is one of the advantages of this kind of play.

I do get what you say, it happens. But accepting and even working around ninja-ing is often part of accepting how this works. ("Assume this post happens before PLAYERX's post" is one good tactic. Sometimes you still figure out a way to make it work, and sometimes work brilliantly.)

Of course if people vote for having an order I won't say no.

As for write-ups, who needs them in a creative free-for-all without the rules? Concepts and in-depth power descriptions should suffice.

You're right.

[EnigmaticOne]

How many folks are you thinking of?

[Commando]

We could always make a practice of checking the OOC thread first. Post in there that we are working on one at the computer right now (has to be right now, not "planning to work on it"). That way we avoid a bit of ninja'd posts.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

You can just post a "this post reserved for something I'm working on right now" right on the thread.

Also generally we dispensed with having separate threads for OOC and IC, but I'm only mentioning to note that the game can be run that way (so long as people make clear which is which). We can do it traditional if people are more comfortable that way.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

How many folks are you thinking of?

Well, normally I'd say there's no limit since no one person has to keep track of them all. But seeing as how this will be a learning experience I'd say no more than 6.

[Commando]

That makes sense. Post and the edit the post. That way everyone knows that something is being worked on and they shouldn't post. Nice.

You were thinking PL12 level, so about Avenger level of power then? (since we're not using mechanics)

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

You were thinking PL12 level, so about Avenger level of power then? (since we're not using mechanics)

PL 12 or lower, though PL 10-12 will be recommended as we will be trying to give people a rough idea of what their characters can do. Because we're not using actual mechanics you can obviously make characters work that would be steamrolled in a normal game.

[Commando]

Yeah, I'm trying to come up with a good concept. I've been wanting to play a powerhouse for a while, but since this game lets us pretty much play with whatever kind of character we want (even those normally black balled by GMs because of cheesy powers), I'm considering those characters that have been shot down around the gaming table.

[Commando]

I've got it! One of my all time favorite characters, which I'll recreate as my own, but I love the power - Taskmaster calls is "photographic reflexes" but Huntsman (Image Comics) calls is "skill copying", either way, the effect is the same, and very difficult to mimic using standard rules when most GMs are wary of Variable power effects.

So, that will be my character - the goon sweeper/duelist who can perform any skill or maneuver after having seen it once. I'll come up with a backstory and such a little later.

[EnigmaticOne]

Trying to think about a way to incorporate Dilbert and Dogbert into the Crinosverse... probably the PC is an empowered friend of theirs through a botched experiment of something. Something like kinetic energy or plasma controlling powers.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Do you suppose Sparta-Corp is too evil for them to work there?

[EnigmaticOne]

I think given that the corporation Dilbert works for in the comic is already Evil with a capital... SpartaCorp is just more competent. I imagine Dilbert works to TRY and improve it, or undermine it as is, from the inside. Dogbert just wants to get loads of money and make a fool out of Kenneth Kane, which he isn't half bad at, I imagine.

My character is a teenage neighbor though, I think, but a friend of theirs.