Recently a lot of fish died in the White River in Indianapolis. All that are left are strange mutant fish. Odd, certainly, but not important till a man was found dead by the river. Dead yes, but also mutated! This looks like a job for Mulder and Scully
A SCIENCE FICTION PLAY BY EMAIL GAME
The X-Files has been a popular TV show for the last nine years and was the topic of a Tim Price Matrix Game published in Wargames Illustrated. Everyone knows the basic story. Something weird happens. Mulder suspects government plots and alien encounters. Scully doubts but is open minded. By the end of the show they have discovered what has happened and resolved it (legally or more often by killing the monster!) This game is about that.
This game uses the Classical Matrix game rules found on the Hamster
Press web page I'm trying something different in this game. I want to see if a game can
be done in "high gear." By which I mean very rapid turn around time on
turns. Rather than do one turn a week (with a sub turn to do conflicts)
this game will do three turns a week. If conflicts or trouble come up
then they will take the place of the next turn but unlike in face to
face games, ALL of the players will get to argue in all conflicts (this
will keep the game moving and keep people interested.) Individuals argue
for their own trouble arguments but that is the only time the all the
players are not involved in each turn.
When I get ready to start the game I will send out a calendar of turn so
that the players will know exactly when turns will be due and when the
game will end. Don't worry if you miss a turn. Just jump back in with
the next turn. It does not hurt the game if a player goes in and out of
play. It is more important to keep the game momentum going. My advice is
that players write their next turn arguments when they read the turn
result. That way one never misses deadlines.
PICKING A CHARACTER
Each player in the game picks one character to champion in the game.
This means that you want to try to further that character's agenda in
the world. At the same time this is a mystery/intrigue game so I hope
that people will make lots of arguments for what Scully and Mulder do.
They are after all the hero's of the series!!! Player do not have to
make their character picks public but when you do it helps the role
playing/quibbling that goes on around a game. The following characters
are involved in this story. (They first appeared in a game run at GenCon 2000.)
MULDER X Files Hero
The truth is out there Scully. You know I'm right. This is another part
of the government conspiracy.
SCULLY X Files Hero
Mulder, do you really believe that aliens are poisoning fish in Indiana?
Why? Want on Earth could they possibly gain by that?
CANCER MAN X Files Conspiracy Agent
Nothing is going on here Mr. Mulder. Nothing at all. As far as anyone
knows, there was a chemical spill in Anderson. Nothing more.
JOHN DOE X Files The Body
First it was dead fish. Then they found mutant fish in the river. Now
They find me. Partly decomposed but terribly disfigured. I have three arms!!!
WILL MCNUTT X Files Corporate
The fish died from a chemical spill. And yes there were mutant fish in
the river who did not die. We are not responsible for them. Or the poor man.
JOHN SUTHERLAND X Files Scientist
I study the genetic manipulation of food. We make cows that can cure
diabetes, and pigs that will cure the common cold. All you have to do is eat them.
GLEN CZERWINSKI X Files Lab Technician
I can't take it anymore! We can't keep on doing this! It's unnatural.
We're playing God! I'm going to the police!!!
JUDY LEGANO X Files Waitress/Witness
I saw someone over by the river that night. I think they were fighting.
I heard some noise and then smelled something bad. Then a car drove off.
BART SKAGGS X Files Red Neck Trucker
Well Damn! What's that? I'd better check it out. Pee you! What is that
smell? Oooooo...I don't feel so good. I'd better get home quick.
REGGIE MILLER X Files Basketball Player
Hey? What am I doing here?
MARENGO ALANZO X Files Fisherman
Yep. I fish here. I started noticing them weird fish a lot longer ago
than the paper says. They started showing up after the plant started
making that new cow feed.
PEGGY HOLLY X Files Jogger
I found the body down by the river. I was doing my morning run when Rex.
That's my dog. Found him. Now Rex is dead!
BART PETERSON The Mayor
What a mess! Damn you Goldsmith! Now I've got to make things right. Well
I asked for the job. I'd better get at it.
STEVE GOLDSMITH Former Mayor
Guys, I really think we could solve all your problems if we just
privatize everything. You know that businesses are more efficient than
government.
OTIS BOWEN A Medical Doctor
Tell me what wrong. I can help. I'm a doctor
RUTH LILLY Elderly Heiress to a Drug fortune
Eh? Who did you say you were? My guardian? You want me to sign
something? A check? What was my name again?
CARL FISHER Financier, Wheeler Dealer, Race Fanatic
Meet me at the track and we'll talk business. I love watching those cars
race around at high speeds. Hey, your drink is empty. Have another!
MADAM WALKER Black Business Woman
Don't back talk me Missy! I've run more successful businesses than most
men! And I did it my way! So do you want to succeed or fail?
ROBERT OWEN Indianapolis Police Officer
Can I help you? You look lost. Maybe we should go down to the station.
Or if you're hurt I can run you over to Wishard Hospital.
NORMA JEAN Secretary
Another Monday morning! Back to the daily grind. I hope the boss doesn't
make another pass at me. This is really getting old.
BARBARA FRANCIS SKINNER College Professor
I'm doing some experiments with my dog Rex. So far I've conditioned him
to speak. Pretty soon I'll be able to test his IQ!
BLACK MAGGY Bag Lady
The little people tell me you're okay. They want to help you. Here, put
on this (a rubber band around your wrist) and you'll be safe.
BETTY BOOP Street Walker
Hey baby, want a date? I'll show you a real good time. What! You're a
pig! Don't hassle me! I'm just standing here. Why don't just go **** yourself!
DAKOTA The Kid
Gee Mister, are you sure I can help you? My mother always told me to be
helpful but she also told me not to talk to strangers.
NOTE ON THE CHARACTERS
Many of the characters in this game live or did live in Indiana. Bart
Peterson is the Democratic Mayor of Indy. Steve Goldsmith was the
previous Mayor (a Republican). Otis Bowen was a past governor. Ruth
Lilly is the 80 something year old heir of the Lilly fortune (you know,
the guys how make prozac). As a side game I challenge you to discover
the other Indiana connections. Some are impossible for anyone to know
(like Glen Cerwinski my old boss from the late 80's!) See what you can dig up!!!
SO HOW DO I PLAY AN X-FILES GAME?
The following sections explain what actions need to happen for a game to
be sci fi mystery. The sections come from the back part of the Classical
Matrix Game rules. They are really explanations of plot much like a
writer would use to tell a story. Please read them over before playing.
They will give you lots of ideas.
MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Whenever players encounter something they can not easily understand a
Mysterious Encounter game can begin. The purpose of the game is to find
out what is going on and if it is a plot to stop it!
At the start of the game the players and referee know what the first
clue is but not what is going on. The players make up the mystery by
making up clues in their arguments. Slowly a picture of what is really
going on emerges.
Once the mystery is solved the players must decide what they want to do.
Do they want to help the plot succeed or try to stop it?
THE HOOK
All Mysterious Encounters games start with a hook. Some weird,
unexplainable event that must be investigated. This event is the top of
an iceberg. As the players find clues they will find out what is really
going on. Neither the players or referee know the truth before the game
begins. They make it up as they go along! It is helpful for each player
to imagine what he thinks is going on right from the start. Then make
arguments that make that happen.
FINDING CLUES
Players make up clues in their arguments. Clues need to answer the
following questions.
SOLVING THE MYSTERY
Once the players have found enough clues that they think they know what
is going on they can prove their "theory" by making an argument that
says "This is what is going on!" The referee decides the argument's
strength based on how much evidence the player has to support his claim.
If the argument succeeds then that theory is what is actually going on.
The next step is to decide what to do about it!
Some players may think there is more to the mystery than what is proven.
If they want to they can keep on finding clues to see if there is a
deeper mystery going on. If they find enough clues they can try to prove
their own theory.
Should I stop they plot or help it to succeed?
Often time the player's investigation will uncover a plot. Some evil
scheme to do something. The mysterious event that started the whole thing was one of the
preparations the bad guys made. The player's investigation shows the
challenges the bad guys must meet to make the plot happen and what they
have done to prepare for success. The players can work to destroy the
plot (mess up their plans, make them fail to meet a challenge) or they
may decide the plot is right and work to make it succeed! So players who
start off with the same idea about what is going on may turn out to be
enemies at the end of the game!
The plot is set in motion when a player makes an argument for it to
happen. This causes a series of conflicts. The bad guys must succeed in
meeting each challenge their plot faces. If they succeed then the plot
works and the bad guys win. If the good guys can foil the plot then they
win.
QUESTS AND PLOTS: THE SECOND APPROACH TO THE GAME
Quest and Plot games start with the players deciding they want to do
some great task. The task is not easy. They must overcome many
challenges on the way. This requires planning and preparation. Then when the time is right they can make it happen.
The players and referee know what the goal is and how many "challenges"
they must face but not what the challenges are. The players find out
what they are by making them up! Then they plan how to overcome them.
CHALLENGES
A typical quest or plot requires players to overcome two or three
challenges. A challenge is a problem that stands in the way of reaching
their goal. Players make up what the challenges are in their arguments.
To complete the quest or spring the trap of a plot, the player must
"cross" the barrier of the challenge. This causes a conflict for each
challenge. Players can cross them slowly (one a turn) or try to do them
all in one turn.
PLANNING
The key to successfully carrying out a plot or a quest is planning and
preparation. Once the challenges have been identified, the players can
make arguments for the things they do to get ready to meet the
challenge. What planning does is increase the likelihood that the
referee will decide that a well prepared player's position is stronger
than another player's. This means the prepared player argues first to
see what happens.
MEETING CHALLENGES A CONFLICT
Whenever the players want, they can argue to set out on the quest or set
a plot in motion. When they do they must win a conflict argument for
each challenge to successfully pass it. If they set out before knowing
what the challenges are they are very likely to fail! So first define
what the challenges are. Players who are not prepared will also likely
fail so make preparation arguments! Players may try to meet one
challenge a turn (with time to do more preparations in between) or meet
them all in one turn (one challenge after another). Either way, it
causes a conflict over whither the challenge beats the player.
STOPPING QUESTS SPOILING PLOTS
Some players may chose to be on the other side from the questers or
plotters. In this case they want to stop the others from reaching their
goal. They do this by attacking the characters directly (very crass
poor show, what!) or by attacking the other players plans. Ruin their
plans and they will fail to meet the challenge. Players can also make
plans of their own to strengthen the position of the Challenges. Lastly,
players can make up trouble for players to face who fail to meet a
challenge. Sort of a "Win or else" deal.
SECRET PLANS
Players may want to make their plans in secret. They do this by making
secret arguments. This is done by writing the argument down to show to
the referee while saying out loud "Someone does
something secretly." Other players will have to use arguments to learn
the secret.
OTHER THINGS ONE CAN SEEK
Quests are often magical and plots evil but there are other goals that
are gamed the same way, such as Romance, Building, and Research.
Dramatic Question: What is causing the Fish to die?
Dramatic Question: What can science turn up about this case?
Dramatic Question: Nothing more my ass! What am I protecting?
Dramatic Question: Who or what killed me, and why?
Dramatic Question: What am I hiding?
Dramatic Question: What am I not telling the investigators?
Dramatic Question: Do they kill me before I get to the investigators?
Dramatic Question: What else did I see? Maybe hypno-regression will help.
Dramatic Question: What happened to me and how will it help the
investigators solve the case?
Dramatic Question: What is a basket ball player doing in this game?
Dramatic Question: What is in that feed?
Dramatic Question: What happened to Rex?
Dramatic Question: How can I use government to fix things.
Dramatic Question: How can I get government to leave things alone?
Dramatic Question: How can I save people from medical disasters?
Dramatic Question: How can I provide comic relief by being completely
demented?
Dramatic Question: How can I stay plastered throughout the game?
Dramatic Question: How can I help the hero's succeed?
Dramatic Question: How can I serve and protect and not violate anyone's rights?
Dramatic Question: How can I spice up my life a little? I need some
adventure!
Dramatic Question: How many insane science projects can I come up with?
Dramatic Question: How can I act as crazy as a bed bug and still not be
put on medication?
Dramatic Question: How can I manage to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Dramatic Question: How cute and obnoxious can I be and still remain
alive?
WHO did it,
WHAT happened,
WHERE did it happen,
HAS it happened yet,
WILL it happen again,
WHY did it happen,
HOW did it happen.
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© Copyright 2000 by Chris Engle.
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