[IRC Event Series] - No Stats Theatre - planning/interest

[Lmns Crn]

[note=IRC Info!]Server: Otherworlders
(irc.otherworlders.org)

Channel: #cbgnostats

Please note the new channel, chosen in order to avoid disrupting the general discussion in #thecbg. To join this channel, type "/join #cbgnostats". You can be in both channels at once, if you like.[/note]It's early in the life-cycle of the Setting Author Q&A, but not too early, I think, to declare it a success. We've had good turnout in all our Q&A events, strong support from the site's administration (:heart: Ishy), and people clamoring to participate. In light of this success, I think it's time to unveil phase two of my IRC Event Series plan, so buckle your seatbelts!

No Stats Theatre is a proposed series of casual, one-night-only IRC games open to all members of the community. As the name implies, No Stats Theatre games will be played without any significant game mechanics-- nobody has a character sheet or stats, and disputed actions are resolved by the digital equivalent of a coin-flip. These severely stripped-down mechanics enable players to jump into the action without stopping to "build a character" first, and eliminate the need for players to study the often complicated systems of mechanics often associated with some worlds.

Each episode of No Stats Theatre will rotate between various narrators and between various settings. It is my hope that we will get some people expertly running games in their own settings, and that we will also get people running games in other people's worlds, in the spirit of the old stalled-on-the-runway Adopt-a-Setting Project. Players are encouraged to participate in some games as their schedules and their interest allow-- there's no obligation to set aside time to return week after week unless you want to. People who do make a habit out of playing in many No Stats Theatre games will have a front-row seat for a tour of many of the worlds featured on this site.

Sounds pretty neat, eh?

How do I get involved as a narrator?
Easy! Post in this thread to indicate your interest. We'll sort out an order based on everybody's availability, then let the person who's next in line pick a date that works well for them. (In time, we'll get around to everybody who wants to be featured.) When you set your date, provide information about what you plan to run (the world you're using, and a one- or two-sentence description of your premise) for potential players. If you're planning to run a game in someone-else's world, it's probably a good idea to contact that world's writer for advice, or at least to get his or her blessing.

If you feel like there's a maximum number of players you can reasonably handle, make note of this as well. At your option, you may want to include a few sample characters for players to use, or to inspire players to create their own (see below).

How do I get involved as a player?
Easy! Just jump right in. When you see a game you're interested in playing in, post and say so. Post a one- or two-sentence description of the character you want to play (background, personality, profession-- that sort of thing), and you're ready to go!

A few suggestions for types of games:
Because of the stripped-down mechanics, it's going to be difficult to arrange the type of tactical distinction we associate with a lot of types of games, and a lot of the fire is going to be taken out of conflict-intensive games that would rely on a lot of die-rolling. Battlefield scenes may be unsatisfying on a mechanical level, and may also do a sub-par job of exploring the intricacies and unique aspects of a particular setting. Because of time constraints (everything takes longer on IRC, and we're bound to fit each game into one evening), consider small and relatively simple scenes. I've had ideas involving suspicious dinner parties, magic classes for beginners, archaeological explorations of ancient ruins, supplicatory meetings with potentates, and so on. I've already thought of a few suitable scenes for Jade Stage games (and one or two that would work in other settings), but I'm most looking forward to hearing the ideas of those in this community whose creativity far exceeds my own.

Go ahead and post with suggestions and expressions of interest. I will edit this post to include a list of interested folks, and as we get more information on who's interested in showing up, we'll settle on a time that satisfies as many of us as possible. Based on the Q&A thread, it seems like evening or late night EST on weekdays may work the best, but feel free to jump in and run a game whenever your schedule suits you, and I'm sure people will bend their schedules to fit whichever timeslot you like.

I'm eager to run a few games and play in several more, so get posting!

[sparkletwist]

I like this idea a lot. Informal, low- or no-stats roleplay is how I prefer to play anyway, as long as I can play with people who know enough to not hang themselves with the large amount of metaphorical rope slack that style of play gives you-- given the typical crowd here that shouldn't be a concern.

[Nomadic]

This sounds like fun. I'm interested.

[Kindling]

Damn, now I need to get on the IRC, haha.

[Steerpike]

I'd love to participate.  I can't volunteer as a narrator right away though perhaps in a couple of months I'd be able to.

[SA]

Our group occasionally runs games where the sum total of character creation is "NAME" "OCCUPATION" "HOBBY" "SKILL" "INEPTITUDE" "LOVES" "HATES", usually determined in one or two spoken sentences.  So I'll ask a player "who are you?" and he might say "Candice Brannigan, Car salesperson who hates cars.  I'm good at judo but suck at driving (that's why I hate cars) and I love to ice skate."

Don't know if that method might be transferrable in some way to your little shindig, but it usually means that we can start play about five minutes after we sit down (we also invent the setting on the spot), and that simplicity might be what you're looking for.

[sparkletwist]

If you're looking for a narrator to start things off, I'm still looking to inflict my setting on...er, I mean, play a game in my Crystalstar setting, after the collapse of the commoner campaign group #2. ;)

[Lmns Crn]

This thread is hella old, but I am posting in it nevertheless.

Is there still any interest in this sort of thing? Was there ever?

[spoiler=Because if so,][spoiler=we should totally][spoiler=you know,][spoiler=if you want to, I mean]mumblemumblemumble[/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler][/spoiler]

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I'm game

[sparkletwist]

I'm still interested, too. So consider my offer still open. :D

[Mason]

Count me in. I would like to become more of an active member of this community, this is as good a chance as any. Sounds fun as well.

[LD]

Depending on my availability and on which setting is being run (If I am familiar with it) I am interested in participating.

I suppose the key now is to set a time to get together each week so that people can plan ahead to log on the IRC channel at certain periods. Good luck. Please don't plan around me (my schedule is variable), find something convenient for you and I will see if I can make it. :)

[Steerpike]

I'd love to participate.

[LD]

So sparkletwist- what time will your setting be run? Set a date and we'll see if we can make it.

I will read up on your setting as well-

[Superfluous Crow]

I wouldn't mind joining as well if time allows. Probably takes some odd schedules to allow for time difference between continents, but hell, if we can make it work I'm in.