Post by halonachos on Mar 21, 2014 22:36:08 GMT
Hello everyone, I've been thinking about how the RPs here are generally run with a GM who sorts out events and player actions in order to make sure that the game runs as smoothly as possible. One thing that kind of bothered me was when a GM controlled a faction that was in direct opposition to the players because of the fact that the players acted out everything via actions that were put on display for everyone to see, including the GM. I know that it's easy for a GM to say that they won't take those actions into consideration, but the omnipresent status of a GM is something that is hard to ignore because there will be at least some little contamination of the GM's actions as a result of something they read in the in-character posting.
What I propose is a game where the GM admits that they will react to the in-character posts that they read, the only thing is how can they explain that they are? I began to think of how this could work, and it reminded me of some sort of Orwellian society where there was a big brother who could see what everyone was doing. Heck it even reminded me of the traffic cameras that are just about everywhere now, and all of the various security cameras that exist in every single building.
So after some thought here's what came to mind for the format:
1) The GM plays the role of some sort of "Big Brother" character that has open access to the public lives of player characters.
2) The GM sets some limitations for themselves so that they have an advantage over players, but not a complete advantage.
3) The players have a goal to beat the GM through some means determined by the theme of the RP, it must make sense and be possible.
4) When players communicate in public they post in the game's thread, private conversations take place via PM so the GM cannot read them.
5) All thoughts that give a hint as to what the player is doing are to be left out, no "Wonder if I could take that out" thoughts are to be posted.
6) GM must create a map that will remain constant and have a predetermined amount of goons and surprises. No deus ex machina solutions to the player's actions.
7) GM may include a player character that acts like a mole, any private conversation that the mole hears can be reported to the GM via PM.
8) Players can kill the mole.
9) The enforcers on the side of the GM must be less than the number of "civilians" in the game. Civilians are neutral and can only side with players. Enforcers must be in a ratio of 1:5 at minimum (10 enforcers means 50 civilians).
10) Enforcers can only respond in 1 of 3 levels of alert. 1 is no alert, 2 is less than lethal responses, and 3 is lethal responses.
11) Heavy enforcers are allowed for every 50 normal enforcers.
12) Players can see actions of the GM because they would notice any placement of guards around various locations and would hear about any other actions through word of mouth.
XIII) If the GM violates the rules, so can the players. The RP then becomes silly and everyone should do their best to be so.
Now what scenarios would this work in?
1) GM is a prison warden and players are prisoners trying to escape.
2) GM is an evil wizard with an all seeing eye and players are trying to revolt against him/her.
3) GM is a super computer and players are trying to shut it down.
4) and to be silly because there is an anime crowd here, GM is the main character of a cartoon and players are minor characters trying to get into the spotlight. You know, for reasons.
Going with the Orwellian theme here's an example.
1) GM creates a map of a city, basic names for zones and major landmarks.
2) Cameras are everywhere except for inside residential dwellings and bathrooms.
3) GM decides a police force of 200 for a civilian population of 1,500. Police are armed according to alert level.
4) Alert 1: Tasers, handcuffs, and pistols(cannot use pistols), Alert 2: Riot gear and tear gas, Alert 3: Riot Gear, Tear Gas, Pistols, Tasers, and 1 armored vehicle for every 50 officers. Armored vehicle has tear gas launchers and heavy water cannon.
5) No mole or listening device on any player character.
6) Players must lead a riot to overthrow GM.
Examples of acceptable GM actions:
-Players are repeatedly seen in public going to the same building and then into the same restroom; GM sends enforcers to question players involved and may search dwellings of players for clues.
-Players convince civilians to riot in one area, but players wait for riot to occur before leaving to their destination and are seen on camera; GM has sent enforcers to deal with riot, any enforcers encountered where already ordered to stay put.
Examples of unacceptable GM actions:
-Players are seen in public going into the restroom together; GM arrests players and throws them in jail.
-Players convince civilians to riot and players wait to leave until after riot is occurring; GM ignores riot and sends all enforcers to kill players. (In this case the GM would lose because it would be assumed that rioters overwhelmed GM).
Players will have stats based on Toughness, Charisma, Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence. GM will decide scale for stats that they are most comfortable with using, and what they can be used for.
What I propose is a game where the GM admits that they will react to the in-character posts that they read, the only thing is how can they explain that they are? I began to think of how this could work, and it reminded me of some sort of Orwellian society where there was a big brother who could see what everyone was doing. Heck it even reminded me of the traffic cameras that are just about everywhere now, and all of the various security cameras that exist in every single building.
So after some thought here's what came to mind for the format:
1) The GM plays the role of some sort of "Big Brother" character that has open access to the public lives of player characters.
2) The GM sets some limitations for themselves so that they have an advantage over players, but not a complete advantage.
3) The players have a goal to beat the GM through some means determined by the theme of the RP, it must make sense and be possible.
4) When players communicate in public they post in the game's thread, private conversations take place via PM so the GM cannot read them.
5) All thoughts that give a hint as to what the player is doing are to be left out, no "Wonder if I could take that out" thoughts are to be posted.
6) GM must create a map that will remain constant and have a predetermined amount of goons and surprises. No deus ex machina solutions to the player's actions.
7) GM may include a player character that acts like a mole, any private conversation that the mole hears can be reported to the GM via PM.
8) Players can kill the mole.
9) The enforcers on the side of the GM must be less than the number of "civilians" in the game. Civilians are neutral and can only side with players. Enforcers must be in a ratio of 1:5 at minimum (10 enforcers means 50 civilians).
10) Enforcers can only respond in 1 of 3 levels of alert. 1 is no alert, 2 is less than lethal responses, and 3 is lethal responses.
11) Heavy enforcers are allowed for every 50 normal enforcers.
12) Players can see actions of the GM because they would notice any placement of guards around various locations and would hear about any other actions through word of mouth.
XIII) If the GM violates the rules, so can the players. The RP then becomes silly and everyone should do their best to be so.
Now what scenarios would this work in?
1) GM is a prison warden and players are prisoners trying to escape.
2) GM is an evil wizard with an all seeing eye and players are trying to revolt against him/her.
3) GM is a super computer and players are trying to shut it down.
4) and to be silly because there is an anime crowd here, GM is the main character of a cartoon and players are minor characters trying to get into the spotlight. You know, for reasons.
Going with the Orwellian theme here's an example.
1) GM creates a map of a city, basic names for zones and major landmarks.
2) Cameras are everywhere except for inside residential dwellings and bathrooms.
3) GM decides a police force of 200 for a civilian population of 1,500. Police are armed according to alert level.
4) Alert 1: Tasers, handcuffs, and pistols(cannot use pistols), Alert 2: Riot gear and tear gas, Alert 3: Riot Gear, Tear Gas, Pistols, Tasers, and 1 armored vehicle for every 50 officers. Armored vehicle has tear gas launchers and heavy water cannon.
5) No mole or listening device on any player character.
6) Players must lead a riot to overthrow GM.
Examples of acceptable GM actions:
-Players are repeatedly seen in public going to the same building and then into the same restroom; GM sends enforcers to question players involved and may search dwellings of players for clues.
-Players convince civilians to riot in one area, but players wait for riot to occur before leaving to their destination and are seen on camera; GM has sent enforcers to deal with riot, any enforcers encountered where already ordered to stay put.
Examples of unacceptable GM actions:
-Players are seen in public going into the restroom together; GM arrests players and throws them in jail.
-Players convince civilians to riot and players wait to leave until after riot is occurring; GM ignores riot and sends all enforcers to kill players. (In this case the GM would lose because it would be assumed that rioters overwhelmed GM).
Players will have stats based on Toughness, Charisma, Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence. GM will decide scale for stats that they are most comfortable with using, and what they can be used for.