Seedlings of an idea...

[singerinthedark]

I have this FABulous idea for an RPG game integrating the Wod 2.0 Mortals system and the rules for "A Penny for My Thoughts." The players are amnesiacs who wake up in a mental asylum. On day one of gameplay the players are given a basic , nearly blank WoD character sheet. Players will have a few dots to spend to start on basic stats, but since they don't remember anything, these will be very, very basic characters. Characters spend the first evening of game in "therapy," which will be pure "A Penny for My Thoughts" to get them started. After that, the characters will spend games alternating between group therapy (the Penny system) to remember who they are, and exploring the asylum, its inmates, and its secrets. Or perceived secrets. Who knows what psychoses the characters have? Perhaps they are just regaining memories in waking dreams by projecting them onto their situation. Perhaps not.

Players are awarded dots to spend in appropriate skills and stats, rather than experience, as they remember who they are. This simulates the rapid regaining of skills and basic knowledge about themselves at first (since they are starting at ground zero). Once the campaign has gone significantly forward, i.e. they have reached just beyond a beginning hero's stats, we'll switch to an experience points system. This simulates the slowdown of knowledge gain as they reach the limits of what they have already learned (even if they couldn't access it) and start having to learn new things.

The whole idea is that the players start out knowing as little about their characters as their characters do. I think that with the right group of players, this could add a creepy, but all together wonderful dimension to gameplay, rather than just having them as fully-formed inmates of the asylum.

So, to all my GMs and gamers out there: What do you think? Any thoughts, tips, ideas? Any potential playtesters before I unleash this monster on a gaming group?

Anyone? Bueller?

Comments

[lyahdan.livejournal.com]

a. That sounds awesome and fun.

b. damn, wish you lived closer

c. For playtesting, I could likely make it out if it's a night I'm free.

d. Wondering if a short version could work for a convention game.

e. I think I really need to pick up Penny..

[battymaiden.livejournal.com]

b. Wish I did, too, sometimes. I miss hanging out and gaming with you. We need to make that happen some weekend.

c. Sweet! Heck, I'd take the playtest out to Davis/Sac if most of the testers are out there and someone were willing to host. I'll let you know once I've got this fleshed out a bit more.

d. Been kicking that around, too. Since a game of "Penny" lasts about 3 hours with four players, I've been brooding over ways to streamline, shorten, or even break up the sessons of "Penny" to allow for in-character time where the players can explore the world outside of storytelling.

e. I have totally fallen in love with this game. Just by itself it makes a wonderful evening.

[lyahdan.livejournal.com]

b. Yesh. Let's get into that after I'm back from GenCon

c. I'd be willing to host if that's the case. Note that I'm not in town for a chunk of August though.

d. With a 6 or 8 hour game, I could see that working then.

And just generally...glee!

[brazenleo.livejournal.com]

You should consider unlocking this particular entry so that others can read it. If you do I can point a bunch of my bay area gamer friends your way. If you feel like doing that let me know.

[battymaiden.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That sounds good. The post is unlocked.