UPSB v3
Forum Games / The Gathering (Rules, Replacement Sign-up, General Inquiry)
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Date: Wed, May 14 2008 16:16:59
If you are playing The Gathering, please make sure you understand the rules as listed below. The game has now started.
What this thread is for
* Asking general questions concerning the game, its rules, etc. Zombo or myself will answer questions. Anyone is free to ask questions, whether or not you are playing.
* Signing up as a replacement.
What this thread is *not* for
* Playing the game.
* Commentary or analysis of the current game.
* Any form of cheating.
Replacement Sign-up List
IAmTheMrGuy
Rules
1. The game consists of two phases – the movement phase and the action phase – that alternate throughout the game. Each cycle lasts one hour in the context of the game.
2. The duration of the movement phase is determined by the amount of discussion taking place as well as whether the majority of the players have finalized their movements. If the game moderator (i.e. Tialys) deems it is necessary to proceed to the next phase to avoid a standstill, then players who have not yet submitted movements will be required to do so as soon as possible.
3. The length of the action phase is defined by the time required to receive, process and resolve the actions of all players. However, the deadline to send initial actions is within 48 hours. You are allowed to continue the discussion in the public thread while the action phase is taking place. If you fail to PM me during the action phase, you do nothing by default.
4. Deadlines are not set in stone and may fluctuate due to extenuating circumstances. It is up to the discretion of the game moderator to modify deadlines if deemed appropriate.
5. The movement phase occurs publicly. You simply post /move followed by the desired location in bold font in the game thread (for example, /move foyer). You can move to any room you wish, but only if it is unlocked. If you do not want to move from your current location, please write /stay to clearly tell us you're not moving. For simplistic purposes, rooms that are unlocked using items other than keys cannot be locked using the same items. You can also move as many times as you want before the movement phase concludes. If you do nothing during the movement phase, you remain in the same room by default. Alternatively, if you wish to remain in the same room for the whole movement phase, post /stay.
6. Once the movement phase concludes, I will send you a PM with a more detailed description of the present room as it appears from your point of view. At this time, the action phase commences. During the action phase, you send the action you want to execute to the game moderator as a private message. The most common actions are as follows:
Observe (target): Spies on a specified player to see what he/she does. If a person is not specified, then you observe everyone in the room from a distance and will notice where they are but not what they do unless their action is egregious (e.g. attacking someone). Since observing places you in a preemptive position to act, it is one of the few actions that allows for follow-up actions (see Rule 8).
Search (object/area/etc.): Searches a specified object/area/etc. within the room. If the object/area/etc. is not specified, then a random search is assumed, but exact searches are more likely to be successful. Any ordinary and small items you find are picked up by default; you do not have to specify this. However, if you wish to leave the item for whatever reason, send me another PM. If the item is considered odd or is fairly large, you will be asked to make a further decision (see Rule 8 for an example). In the case that multiple players choose to search the same object/area/etc., if there happens to be an item to be discovered, the chronological order (timestamp) in which the PMs are received by the game moderator will determine who gets the item. The player who sent their action PM earliest will find and seize the item while the other players will find nothing.
Use (item/ability/etc.) on (target): Uses a specified item/ability/etc. on a target. The target may be a person or an object, depending on your intent. You must specify both the item/ability/etc. and the target if you choose this action.
Attack (target) using (weapon): A specific case of Use, in which you inflict damage on a designated target using a specified weapon. The amount of damage inflicted depends on a variety of factors, including the weapon used and the level of awareness of the target. If you do not specify a weapon, a physical melee attack is assumed.
Defend (target) using (item): Defends against incoming attacks using a specified item. If no target is specified, it is assumed you are defending yourself. If no item is specified, you will automatically defend against melee attacks using physical self-defense and attempt to evade any ranged attacks. If your method of defense happens to be irrelevant, such as attempting to defend against a gunshot using a baseball bat, you will try to evade the attack by default. Unfortunately, if no attack occurs on the defended target, then your action will be wasted.
7. The game is by no means limited to these few actions. In fact, you are encouraged to think creatively and formulate other actions of your own, which will then be resolved by the game moderator. Some further notes regarding actions:
* A general rule of thumb is that any action is permitted as long as it is realistic, specific, and can be accomplished within a short period of time. Thus, actions to avoid are:
> physically unrealistic or impossible actions – e.g. “pole vault onto the second floorâ€
> actions that are too vague – e.g. “use pliersâ€
> broad/expansive actions – e.g. “search the whole forestâ€
> actions that take too long to accomplish – e.g. “search all the room’s furniture in detailâ€
* When others are in the same room, their level of awareness depends partially upon the obviousness of your action. For example, if you shatter a window, others in the room will realize that you broke it, whether or not they choose to observe.
* Keep in mind that you have average knowledge of all things. For example, don’t try an action such as “sabotage (an electrical appliance) by rewiring itâ€, because it simply isn’t realistic for the average person.
8. Sometimes more than one action, or a follow-up action, is required during a single action phase. In such a case, the moderator notifies the player and the player must respond accordingly. Consider the following example:
Player A wishes to search a certain area and sends this request to the moderator.
The search reveals a mysterious package.
The moderator notifies Player A and asks the player what he/she wants to do.
The player may then choose to open the package on the spot, take the package, or some other possibility. Either way, the choice must be sent to the moderator.
9. By a similar token, a series of actions is permitted if and only if the actions follow a realistic, logical progression. For example, if you want to open a box and then hide an item inside it, you can specify both actions in a single PM. However, if you want to attack someone, search something, and defend, all during a single action phase, your request will be denied.
10. Since this is a test (trial) game, there are further simplifications:
* All members begin with only the following:
> identical regular-sized backpacks
> a wallet containing 25 gold coins and personal identification
> ordinary clothing (i.e. jeans and t-shirt) and shoes
> no additional items
> no additional possessions (i.e. assume you have brought nothing else to the gathering)
* The backpacks can fit items that would normally fit into a backpack. Once your backpack becomes full, it can no longer accommodate any more items.
* Health or general condition is denoted by hit points (HP). All players begin with 15/15 HP. The physical status, location, and remaining health of each player is updated publicly after every movement-action cycle. Taking damage reduces health and eating food regains health, but HP may also be affected by other factors.
* Although personal identification is represented in the game as a card, no action can be done with it. This includes showing your card to someone else, exchanging cards, throwing away your card, cutting it into two, etc...
* When a player dies, his or her team identity is not revealed, but you can gain this information by finding the body and searching his/her ID. You can take any item, if available, from a dead player except his/her personal identification.
* It is impossible to steal anything from other members. However, you can offer an item to somebody else or accept an offered item. Such a transaction must be agreed upon by both parties in order to occur and does not count as an action as long as a single item is involved. If two or more items are exchanged, it counts as an action.
* It is impossible to steal from the merchant’s store or injure the merchant. The stock of the merchant’s store is infinite.
* Assume that all members have 20/20 vision (i.e. don’t PM me saying you want to impair the vision of someone by smashing his/her glasses).
11. If you wish to opt out and there is a replacement available, PM me and I’ll replace you. However, if there is no replacement and you are unable to play, you will become a liability to your team.
12. You are not allowed to directly quote or post screenshots of any PMs sent by the moderator, but paraphrasing is allowed.
13. You are not permitted to edit your post. Post again with the relevant correction(s) if necessary.
14. You CANNOT talk to other players privately (PM, AIM, MSN, etc.), unless specified. Any players caught will be mod-killed. Your only medium of communication is the public game thread.
15. This is for the pen spinners who were invited to the gathering: your goal is to survive. If you die, you lose. This is not like Mafia where the "Town" wins as a whole, as a team. If you die, you lose. -
Date: Thu, May 15 2008 08:17:03
So it takes place inside a mansion sort of building? We can't go outside?
When does the game start? -
Date: Thu, May 15 2008 08:43:19
do we make up what the merchants sell? or this there a list of thing they sell.
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Date: Thu, May 15 2008 12:30:50QUOTE (Rorix @ May 15 2008, 03:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So it takes place inside a mansion sort of building? We can't go outside?
When does the game start?
the game takes place on an island, you can explore the whole island, but the bulk of the locations are inside the mansion
the game should start today and tomorrowQUOTE (WhiteFang @ May 15 2008, 03:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>do we make up what the merchants sell? or this there a list of thing they sell.
you will receive a list of the stock at the store if you go to the merchant and stay there for the action phase.
once the game starts, I suggest you try to guess what each location may contain and compare your guesses publicly. -
Date: Thu, May 15 2008 15:05:51
This should be fun...I am anxious to play.
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Date: Thu, May 15 2008 19:04:14
i think this has potential to be great forum game, just to see how it works out
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Date: Thu, May 15 2008 19:04:28
added a new clause "* Although the personal identification is represented in the game as a card, no action can be done with them. This includes showing your card to someone else, exchanging cards, throwing away your card, cutting it into two, etc..."
dont try to do anything with your ID card it wont work.
it only serves the purpose of revealing your ID when found on your body. -
Date: Fri, May 16 2008 06:42:35
if you find the body and see their ID, can you tell other people?
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Date: Fri, May 16 2008 13:11:38
yea... you can say anything you want when you post in the thread
as long as it's not a direct quote from a PM or a screenshot -
Date: Fri, May 16 2008 14:29:48
I thought the thread was going to up already?
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Date: Fri, May 16 2008 14:30:34
added a clause: 14. You CANNOT talk to other players privately (PM, AIM, MSN, etc.), unless specified. Any players caught will be mod-killed. Your only medium of communication is the public game thread.
if it wasn't obvious enough, you CANT talk in private to other players. This is the same rule as in Mafia games.QUOTE (Sleeve @ May 16 2008, 09:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I thought the thread was going to up already?
sorry it's not up yet, this game takes a lot of preperation to set up, should be up soon -
Date: Fri, May 16 2008 14:38:45
I can understand it taking a while to set up
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Date: Sat, May 17 2008 12:22:48
O GEEZ! I CANT WAIT! It's like we are really living in the game
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Date: Sat, May 17 2008 15:22:20
If I kill someone and see their ID, can I hide/take it so that others can't see it?
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Date: Sat, May 17 2008 15:43:56QUOTE (Teatime @ May 17 2008, 10:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If I kill someone and see their ID, can I hide/take it so that others can't see it?QUOTE* When a player dies, his or her team identity is not revealed, but you can gain this information by finding the body and searching his/her ID. You can take any item, if available, from a dead player except his/her personal identification.
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Date: Sat, May 17 2008 18:38:49
Please note the change in Rule 5:
QUOTEFor simplistic purposes, rooms that are unlocked using items other than keys cannot be locked using the same items. -
Date: Sat, May 17 2008 22:14:42
Added new rule:
Contrary to what the role PM says,
15. This is for the pen spinners who were invited to the gathering: your goal is to survive. If you die, you lose. This is not like Mafia where the "Town" wins as a whole, as a team. If you die, you lose. -
Date: Sun, May 18 2008 00:09:07
I want to sign up.
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Date: Mon, May 19 2008 02:22:51
Who was the pilot of the private jet? Was he in or out of the jet when it exploded?
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Date: Mon, May 19 2008 14:20:56QUOTE (yoonkwun @ May 18 2008, 10:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Who was the pilot of the private jet? Was he in or out of the jet when it exploded?
that's in game information you may discover while playing.
clarification: "If you do not want to move from your current location, please write /stay to clearly tell us you're not moving." -
Date: Fri, May 23 2008 21:35:17
is it too late to join?
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Date: Wed, Jun 4 2008 22:30:52
we need more replacements, please join