a tangent of the still undeveloped ARGGASM--------
initial discussion summarized here: http://www.principiadiscordia.com/cramulus/index.php?title=LARPGASM
participants: Cramulus, Verbatim, Pixie, Cainad
social networking site here: http://larpgasm.ning.com/
:awesome:
I knew I should have gone on IRC yesterday.
I think this will work better as an ARG than a LARP per se (since a LARP tends to be geographically defined, whereas an ARG, with its online component, is not bounded by such quibbles) but I'll want to look at the logs before making any sort of sweeping judgements like that.
Oh, damn.
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2009, 10:22:56 AM
I knew I should have gone on IRC yesterday.
I think this will work better as an ARG than a LARP per se (since a LARP tends to be geographically defined, whereas an ARG, with its online component, is not bounded by such quibbles) but I'll want to look at the logs before making any sort of sweeping judgements like that.
Oh, damn.
hehe... #nerdspag was On Fire last night.
Cram we need to discuss another character class/ type to go on there.
And the Social Networking site is fucking gorgeous!
Might write The Birth of LARPGASM for it.
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2009, 10:22:56 AM
I knew I should have gone on IRC yesterday.
I think this will work better as an ARG than a LARP per se (since a LARP tends to be geographically defined, whereas an ARG, with its online component, is not bounded by such quibbles) but I'll want to look at the logs before making any sort of sweeping judgements like that.
Oh, damn.
this really is on the cusp between a LARP and an ARG. Because you can go out into meatspace on postergasm quests (or whatever quest you're on), and try to solve problems "as your character" - having a fictional persona allows you to explore what it could be like to be a different type of Discordian than you might already be. Or if you're actually NOT a discordian IRL, this gives you the opportunity to try out the headspace. It's sneaky like that. If this takes off, we can use it to con non-discordians into thinking like Discordians and going on GASMs.
As you can see, there's a faction that's right up your alley. We'll have to think about these factions and what makes them unique in terms of gameplay. Each one should a distinct approach to the game.
Quote from: Pixie O'Fubar on August 28, 2009, 10:56:55 AM
Cram we need to discuss another character class/ type to go on there.
yeah we really need a fifth, huh? And some new names too. The stuff there is just placeholder until we develop those ideas further.
QuoteAnd the Social Networking site is fucking gorgeous!
:jebus:
the cool thing is - we can already start playing. The game's framework is loose enough that people can play RIGHT NOW! no further details are needed, but they will give the game more depth. We can come up with that as we go.
the basic things you do in this game:
a) post missions
b) go on missions
c) post mission reports
d) spend ballots by linking to a mission report or mission writeup.
And if we make big decisions about how the game should work differently, it's not too late to change the rules.
the big challenge right now is
working with what we have. We have to find a way to make the game work on ning. Ning isn't
quite as customizable as I'd like. For example, their forum software doesn't have polls. And I can't create two different "types" of user groups - (factions vs cabals). But I can have you list that info in your profile.
raise your hand if you want to help run this thing / moderate the game / be a faction leader
Yes, I did notice a faction which would appeal to me.
One idea I considered on the way to work is that the Discordian factions could be "gateway factions" and through the course of playing, progressively weirder and more mind-bending factions could be revealed (Subgenii, FSM, Cthulhu Cultists, P2, the Order of Nine Angels, the Office of Special Plans etc) mostly as part of an open-ended plot, but with minature, fully plotted out games and missions involved with them.
Because it aint much fun being a Discordian without taking the fight to Grayface now and again.
This idea wins.
:mittens: to the thread.
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 01:37:37 PM
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2009, 10:22:56 AM
I knew I should have gone on IRC yesterday.
I think this will work better as an ARG than a LARP per se (since a LARP tends to be geographically defined, whereas an ARG, with its online component, is not bounded by such quibbles) but I'll want to look at the logs before making any sort of sweeping judgements like that.
Oh, damn.
this really is on the cusp between a LARP and an ARG. Because you can go out into meatspace on postergasm quests (or whatever quest you're on), and try to solve problems "as your character" - having a fictional persona allows you to explore what it could be like to be a different type of Discordian than you might already be. Or if you're actually NOT a discordian IRL, this gives you the opportunity to try out the headspace. It's sneaky like that. If this takes off, we can use it to con non-discordians into thinking like Discordians and going on GASMs.
As you can see, there's a faction that's right up your alley. We'll have to think about these factions and what makes them unique in terms of gameplay. Each one should a distinct approach to the game.
Quote from: Pixie O'Fubar on August 28, 2009, 10:56:55 AM
Cram we need to discuss another character class/ type to go on there.
yeah we really need a fifth, huh? And some new names too. The stuff there is just placeholder until we develop those ideas further.
QuoteAnd the Social Networking site is fucking gorgeous!
:jebus:
the cool thing is - we can already start playing. The game's framework is loose enough that people can play RIGHT NOW! no further details are needed, but they will give the game more depth. We can come up with that as we go.
the basic things you do in this game:
a) post missions
b) go on missions
c) post mission reports
d) spend ballots by linking to a mission report or mission writeup.
And if we make big decisions about how the game should work differently, it's not too late to change the rules.
the big challenge right now is working with what we have. We have to find a way to make the game work on ning. Ning isn't quite as customizable as I'd like. For example, their forum software doesn't have polls. And I can't create two different "types" of user groups - (factions vs cabals). But I can have you list that info in your profile.
raise your hand if you want to help run this thing / moderate the game / be a faction leader
I'm up for moderating the game, , May move on to other aspects as we roll with is.
Also I will send the site to a couple of people who might be able to give us some pointers.
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2009, 03:37:48 PM
Yes, I did notice a faction which would appeal to me.
One idea I considered on the way to work is that the Discordian factions could be "gateway factions" and through the course of playing, progressively weirder and more mind-bending factions could be revealed (Subgenii, FSM, Cthulhu Cultists, P2, the Order of Nine Angels, the Office of Special Plans etc) mostly as part of an open-ended plot, but with minature, fully plotted out games and missions involved with them.
Because it aint much fun being a Discordian without taking the fight to Grayface now and again.
I like this idea a lot. Is it possible to hide content depending upon the factions a player is a member of? If not, once the ground rules are a little more trodden, the hidden factions need not be on the same site, or even tie into the same ning API. E.g. a small faction might be able to point-score amongst themselves, or not even care about points - as long as they hold some puppet strings for other factions.
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/cramulus/index.php?title=Character_Creation
everyone is invited to hit Edit and add more character concepts
idea:
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/cramulus/index.php?title=LRP_mechanics
also, there will be a meeting to rap about the game in #nerdspag some time on Saturday.
knowing plenty of nerdspags I have just stuck it on mah facebooks, the ning linky.
what time cram? (oh please convert into GMT+1, i suck and fail @ timezones.)
I just read the wiki page and "the Discordian society that we wished existed" would that suggest a setting similar to LMNO-PI's "the City"? (which is again, afaik, loosely based on Transmetropolitan's City?)
ooooooh we've been aching for a good background.... Larps suck without good reading material to engage teh realitiez shiftings
LMNO-PI... would you be up for this kinda theme to be pinched and maybe changed a bit?
Maybe sourced on the wiki as a potential starting place for background.
Thing being is that all the non discordians who are just plain nerdspagz need stuff to get into the mindset.
WE GOTTA MAKE EM WANT TO BE ASSHATS! FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY! :lulz:
A few notes on the backstory:
-the game is sending you into the real world. Sometimes you might be interacting with strangers. So our game takes place in the real world, or a close cousin of it. When you go in-game you're in a slightly altered universe. So the backstory can't make any visible changes to the world. It's still the year 2009. Obama is still the US President.
-So the modifications to the world need to be things that the average joe doesn't know about. Sort of like how the White Wolf universe looks just like our universe at a glance. You'd only know there was a difference if you were part of one of the many secret societies. Many secret societies coexist without even being aware of each other. Things like aliens and magic are also acceptable.
-The characters are aware that they're playing a game, taking orders from a website.
-So one thing we need to explain is how this website / game is framed in the context of this great discordian conspiracy we'd like to imagine exists. Does it have ties to RAW literature? The government? Or is it something else now?
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 07:57:29 PM
Sort of like how the White Wolf universe looks just like our universe at a glance.
What? In White Wolf, EVERYONE is some kind of supernatural shitbag.
well except the non-players. Regular jerks on the street don't know they're living in some sort of B horror movie
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 07:57:29 PM
A few notes on the backstory:
-the game is sending you into the real world. Sometimes you might be interacting with strangers. So our game takes place in the real world, or a close cousin of it. When you go in-game you're in a slightly altered universe. So the backstory can't make any visible changes to the world. It's still the year 2009. Obama is still the US President.
-So the modifications to the world need to be things that the average joe doesn't know about. Sort of like how the White Wolf universe looks just like our universe at a glance. You'd only know there was a difference if you were part of one of the many secret societies. Many secret societies coexist without even being aware of each other. Things like aliens and magic are also acceptable.
-The characters are aware that they're playing a game, taking orders from a website.
-So one thing we need to explain is how this website / game is framed in the context of this great discordian conspiracy we'd like to imagine exists. Does it have ties to RAW literature? The government? Or is it something else now?
:mittens:
I can't be on for Saturday. I might write up some ideas tonight though.
"The City" is fully available to steal from.
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 08:01:49 PM
well except the non-players. Regular jerks on the street don't know they're living in some sort of B horror movie
No. Everyone.
I have seen more than a few WW games, and
everyone is some sort of spagernatural thingie. Oh, and you can't possibly beat the buff-ass bad guy, you have to wait for the duex ex machina (read: another NPC) to come along and save you. While you wait, you should explain how dark your character's life is, so you can get more exp to apply to the skills that you'll never need to use due to above NPCs.
Won't play.
But I might be convinced to write a parody after the fact.
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 07:57:29 PM
-the game is sending you into the real world. Sometimes you might be interacting with strangers. So our game takes place in the real world, or a close cousin of it. When you go in-game you're in a slightly altered universe. So the backstory can't make any visible changes to the world. It's still the year 2009. The Smiler is still the US President.
fixed.
Quote from: Triple Zero on August 28, 2009, 10:22:45 PM
Quote from: Gramulus on August 28, 2009, 07:57:29 PM
-the game is sending you into the real world. Sometimes you might be interacting with strangers. So our game takes place in the real world, or a close cousin of it. When you go in-game you're in a slightly altered universe. So the backstory can't make any visible changes to the world. It's still the year 2009. The Smiler is still the US President.
fixed.
(http://namcub.accela-labs.com/pics/Obama-smiler.jpg)
Trying to hash out a rough requirement spec for the software. I've made some assumptions based upon what I think would be easier to implement.
- Assignable titles/tags to individuals and groups - e.g. "everyone", "member of LDD", "Polyfather", "member:Enki" etc
- Finer-grained view/edit privileges for content such as blogs or missions would be based on above titles
- Functional roles - e.g. who decides whether a member has completed a mission - determined either by title, process or a named individual
- Simple defined 'processes' to begin with - e.g. "true" if more than X% of "title" vote for it
- A mission has functional roles required to operate it: ownership, editing, judges, etc
- A group/faction has similar functional roles as a mission - e.g. ownership can be determined by election or by dictatorship
- Read permissions can also apply to information such as who fills the functional roles
The last one is a nod to Cain - so your faction might not reveal who is pulling the strings, or it might flat-out lie - it may pretend to be a democracy, for example.
If it sounds complex, bear in mind that the default actions and roles would be identical to those laid out already. Allowing the creation of titles and rulesets allows people to make it as intricate as they wish though.
For example - if a faction is able to create disinformation about their internal data, then rival factions might be able to spend ballots on "spies" - a bit of software which reveals a secret (or entirely bogus) information. So if your faction leader finds out that the ownership of LDD is not democratic, but actually the illuminaii, they may make that information available to any "title/s" they wish, or keep it to themselves.
Quote from: Cain on August 28, 2009, 08:05:19 PM
I can't be on for Saturday. I might write up some ideas tonight though.
Computer went weird and crashed on me last night. I spent 6 hours waiting for the battery to drain, then fell asleep.
On the other hand, I may be available tonight.
we've been sorting it out on etherpad also...
http://etherpad.com/LARPGASM
I wonder if we can find some way of embedding the One-Line Meme Bomb database tool into the NING site. That's be a handy resource to have at your fingertips over there, and the extra exposure would mean more votes and culling of the best meme bombs.
Ning for Dummies
http://ifile.it/hq1lnkt
^
|
worthless! nvm
Meanwhile ---
meeting notes:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19221565/Larpgasm-Latest2?secret_password=lu4n2ppdc941684kvlu
Quote from: Telarus on August 29, 2009, 08:47:33 PM
I wonder if we can find some way of embedding the One-Line Meme Bomb database tool into the NING site. That's be a handy resource to have at your fingertips over there, and the extra exposure would mean more votes and culling of the best meme bombs.
so far unable to find a virtual currency widget, im pretty sure i could code that.
but not until we actually get the game running (cause it will be useless before then)
What happened to this? :(
I've been AFK a lot this past week and have all kinds of crazy errands to run but I've managed to peek into the etherpad regularly, only to see discussion has died down.
I've been busy as fuck doing apartment hunting and the like
we're still stuck on the issue of how to tabulate people's votes
I know this post isn't really contributing anything, and I'm not sure how I can contribute, but I'd like to say that I want to get involved with this somehow. It would give me an excuse to get out of the house more, actually do some mindfucking, read more literature, excercise myself creatively, etc.
Also, I know a few ubergeeks at my school that I could spread the word to, if that would help our cause(which I think it would, however little).
I do have a question, though. Are we just going to call this LARPGASM, or should we come up with a title for the benefit of the non-Discordian LARPers?
LARPGASM would be the code name, relevant to other Discordians. the project would have a real name elsewhere.
the project, as it stands, is frozen.
for posterity, and future larpwrights, here were the objectives:
To create a game which is ....
-a mindfuck to both players and nonplayers
-scales well. It can be played with 2 people or 2000 people with no extra work on the admin's part
-content generated / aggregated by other players
-playing the game also advertises the game
I like how it would create this whole other layer of fictional reality over the rest of it. A mindfuck indeed. I have to say I'm in love with the concept.