Thought Exercise IV: Further the second person narrative.
This board game is called The Refugees of Canterbury and it's set in the Atomic London universe (consider this post to be a teaser of that universe). Fleeing the destruction of 19th century London, a handful of survivors must work together to reach safety in nearby Canterbury. The journey has many perils, and you are not the only survivors of the disaster.
Gameplay is narrated by a GM (game master) who tells the players what randomized events happen. Players can respond to those events in a variety of ways. For example, if the party stumbles across an injured survivor, players can argue whether to heal him or put him out of his misery. After the event, players adjust their character cards to determine where they have negative or positive emotions towards the other players (depending on arguments raised and actions taken). They can only adjust them in small increments until the action is drastic. The only stats a player keeps track of is their relationships with other players.
As the journey continues, those relationships unlock new abilities. If you really hate another character, you can attack them or imprison them. If you like or love a character, you can ally with them (or ally with them, giggity).
The focal point of the game is group interaction. Players get cards with a rough backstory, and they can fill in the rest to create a more meaningful experience. In that way, the game forwards the second person narrative by personalizing a group experience. It's not a "You" as in one person, but a collective "You" -- the second person plural.
Hey Patrick. This is Lee from work. I demand you make me a simple but stylized game of the age of zeppelineers. This will have to be an action game but with RPG elements. I need to upgrade my Zeppelin, add new and more awesome steampunk weapons, and land for platforming/puzzle treasure hunting sequences. 2D or 3D I am not concerned. A talking dog à la Pixar's "UP" would be appreciated. Its Thursday now. So I will expect my first build by next Thursday. Hazzah!
ReplyDeletePatrick...Its been 5 minutes and you havent green-lit my idea. Im getting nervous...
ReplyDeleteDear lord Patrick! Am I going to have to take this million dollar idea to another developer?! I might even just do it myself with crayons! You better pick up the ball sir! Or someone else will!
ReplyDeletei'll do it lee if patrick's lost his interest. and i'll do it for half the price patrick is charging. i don't have access to crayons, but i sit pretty close to the dry erase markers and post it notes at work. i could make a pretty rad game with those.
ReplyDeleteassuming you're standards aren't too high.
james
By Jove, I've been outbid! I acquiesce to James' superior bargaining power. However, how does Zeppelineers further the second person narrative?
ReplyDeleteThe answer to that question is so obvious I'll let lee answer. Seriously though, I think he'd be happy with any game that included a zeppelin in some fashion. Bonus if the zeppelin is used in seeking treasure.
ReplyDeleteHow does it further the second person narrative?
ReplyDeleteWell. It doesnt. But its still a million dollar idea. I will help you write the story. It will involve volcanoes. Aztec gold. and a lost tribe of half man half spiders.
its like printing money. We'll be rich! Rich as astronauts!
ReplyDeleteAlso, one concept that I think has never really been explored is kind of complex interactions that would arise between people who are brought together on a journey aboard a zeppelin. Zeppelins allow for scenarios than any other setting: treasure seeking, survival, rescue, bachelor party, race, off-shore oil-drilling protest, orgy, tea party rally, dance competition, straight-up tea party, heist etc. And the purpose would of course have consequences on the kinds of interactions in the group, the kinds of struggles they face, and the growth and maturation of the relationships throughout the game. The variety of situations possible on a zeppelin would mean the game play would never be repetitive and the would be super exciting each time.
ReplyDeleteWell said, "Jams". Is that your rap name James?
ReplyDeleteJames, I accept your answer. It shall be made.
ReplyDelete