Universalis 1

This is Universalis playtest which started here. To reply, use edit button and add your reply under the text. Sign it with ~~~~ (this will turn automatically into your signature).

Story so far: link

Players (listed in turn order): EvilCat, Neonwhite, GiacomoArt, davina_small

Components

• Characters
• Locations
• Props

Tenets

• Naval adventure.
• Lovecraft-esque horror. (Details, 2)
• Pseudo-historic setting of Elizabethan time. (Details)
• Moral choice between sin and virtue.
• No supernatural facts or components can be introduced into the game until there are 3 or 4 characters marked with "sympathetic" trait. (Details)

• No interrupts.
• Try to challenge only such details and/or in such way that preceding text wouldn't have to be overwritten.
• If a player doesn't act on his turn for a day, the next player can take the turn for free, or any other player can take it for 1.
• Refresh rate for each scene based on the number of players who get refreshed: 12 for 2, 8 for 3, 6 for 4, 5 for 5 or more.
• When newly created Components are introduced to the Scene, Events describing their discovery are free.

Scene #2: During the Storm

Framed by EvilCat

Components palette:

the Caribbean Sea	Storm - {{#replace:sinister, supernatural, violent, heavy rain (x2), howling winds, monstrous waves|, | - }}	Spanish galleon - {{#replace:cannons, huge|, | - }}	Pirate sloop - {{#replace:cannons, agile|, | - }}
Master component: armed sailor - {{#replace:melee weapon, wheellock pistol|, | - }}		Galleon's crew - {{#replace:armed sailors, crew|, | - }}	Sloop's crew - {{#replace:armed sailors, crew, experienced, great teamwork|, | - }}
Sharks - {{#replace:a slew|, | - }}	Will Bowyer, seadog - {{#replace:armed sailor, experienced navigator|, | - }}	Ship's boys #1 and #2

Scene #3: Separated

Framed by GiacomoArt.

Components palette:

Tropical beach - {{#replace:along an inlet, clear blue sky, littered with flotsam|, | - }}	Nicole Tissot, pirate queen - {{#replace:French, red hair, cruel, off-hand dagger, strong spirit, sympathetic character, sore, tired, thirsty|, | - }}	Santiago, former prisoner - {{#replace:recently betrayed, nightmare and sense of foreboding, has saber, has wineskin|, | - }}	Coconut palms - {{#replace:a patch|, | - }}
Coconut thief crab - {{#replace:large, holds a coconut|, | - }}	Barrel

Scene #4: ???

To be framed by NeonWhite for 9+.

Coin count: EvilCat - 12, NeonWhite - 25 GiacomoArt - 12, davina (currently inactive) - 25 .

Replies

Reply under this header, please.

GiacomoArt

Bleah. All the things I want to do are going to take more coins than I've got. I'll forfeit the one coin left from my bid and end the scene. So with a refresh rate of 8 for three players, that'll bring us to...

EvilCat: 12

GiacomoArt: 12

NeonWhite: 25

For framing the next scene, I'll bid 5 coins.

--GiacomoArt 04:32, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

NeonWhite

My bid is 9 coins to frame the next scene.

I must say it felt odd initially to have the scene end so abruptly, but after a moment's reflection I guess it works fine. We can always recall the scene later if we so wish. Interesting to see this mechanic at work - it feels very movie like! Interested to hear your thoughts on whether Santiago's introduction was strictly part of scene 3, or whether it was really a cut away to a separate scene which then merged/caught up to scene 3. I'm not suggesting anything be changed, but just trying to get a feel for how things ought to flow.

Regarding the site, Cat, would it be possible to have a separate place for comments and game moves. Also, when bidding to frame the next scene, it is hard to avoid seeing the previous bids once one goes into edit. I had to decide the number of coins I wanted to bid and only then click 'edit'. I suppose this is workable as long as we remember to decide our bid beforehand.

Neonwhite 09:42, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

EvilCat

I bid !3 Coins!. The scene goes to Neon %)

I'm all for cinematic scene flow, abrupt scene endings worry me a little too. We probably should use Complications more. Are you ready for them? Anyway, the scene is in your hands %) Also, wikis have a built-in discussion page mechanism, see tabs above.

EvilCat 10:15, 19 April 2009 (UTC)