Paint CHiPs
Viva Le Me
Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26383 |
 Equinox
Hey.
As many of you know, I'm into various literary RPG nerdistry, as are some other folks around here (CHiPsJr, CRSR, urbanjunkie, raginghobo, etc). Anyway, some of our favorite haunts have dried up, so I've gone ahead and started my own damn game, comic book style. Equinox, a literary roleplaying game with a superhero/villain theme. If you've never done a game like that before, but you dig the genre, have always wanted to write that kind of stuff (admit it), or are just looking for a fun exercise to whip your fiction back into shape and knock the rust off your typing fingers alongside a group of talented and diverse writers, you should really check it out. I know some of you have been on the fence and been solid "maybes" in some of the other literary games I've posted about before, this is a solid opportunity to get in on the ground floor, and you'll already know the two guys who built it (me and CRSR).
Anyway, this is the schill I'm using for recruiting purposes. If you're interested, feel free to ask questions here or get a hold of me. My advice for those that might be interested is to dive in and swim. There's no expectations, the game is just starting so you can get in on the ground floor, and really, wouldn't you like an online hobby that actually benefits you (working on writing) instead of just wastes time? They say that the best way to get better at writing is to sit down and write, and this is a great and fun way to do just that.
Anyway, the schill (meant for another audience but what the hey, it gets the point across):
Hello folks.
I grew up on comics. Superheroes and villains always fascinated me, and even though I’m long past the days of collecting, I still occasionally entertain thoughts about the genre. I always thought it would be cool to write comic books, with the limitless possibilities, but of course never did. Still, the inner kid in me goes back to it every once in awhile.
Over the last few years, I’ve also been involved in a few online writing games. Eventually, the match between format and content just became too perfect to resist.
So now, I’m starting a writing game of my own. A literary roleplaying game, based in a world of superpowered people. I’ve worked out the mechanics, nailed down a gameplay format, and created the outlines of the Equinox universe, so now I invite you, and anybody else who might be interested, to play.
The URL:
http://equinox.paintchips.net/forum/
What is it?
The game is called Equinox, based in Equinox City, a bustling metropolis that is the center of the superpowered world. It’s set in the present day, in the basically real world, just with heroes and villains occasionally flying about. Two organizations run operations in the city and all over the world: Horizon, centered on making the world a better place, and The Black Hat Society, which has significantly less altruistic motives. Your character is either a hero or a villain, working for the corresponding organization, and competing with other superpeople to try and complete their objectives (and, quite often, your own).
If you’ve never played anything like this before, it’s an open-ended roleplaying game, only instead of dice and statistics, the gameplay is based on fiction writing. You create your character, join your organization, and every week they post missions and schemes. The players pick which job they want to go for, and spend the roleplaying period writing about their character working to complete the objectives. At the end of the week, whoever told the best story wins. The final piece of the story comes together, the chips fall, and the winner ends up completing the objective and getting the glory, while everybody else goes home with their capes tucked between their legs. The week after, it all starts again, with new jobs, and new opportunities.
One week the job might be to kidnap a renowned scientist, another week it might be to save the life of a critical superperson, or to steal a special weapon, or to blow up a laboratory, or whatever. Not only will you and your colleagues be competing to try to be the superperson to win the day, but you’ll also be facing the other side, who might have quite different ideas about what should happen on the job.
The name of the game is open-ended competitive (often cooperative) serial fiction. You write the stories, you flesh out the contexts, you create the characters, you go for the gold. At the end of the day, the best storytellers win.
What sort of genre is it?
Entirely up to you. Some people will go for comedy, some people dark drama, others may play it straight. The types of characters will be as varied as people’s imagination. The Equinox universe borrows equally from Marvel, DC, graphic novels, movies, but at the end of the day is totally original. And, as the ultimate storyline is created by the players, there’s no telling exactly how it’ll end up.
One of the fun things about the format is it allows a diverse group of writers of various levels of experience, talents, and backgrounds, to come together all on the same playing field. Everybody will be pushing each other to step up their games, there is no set style or format. If you’re an old hat at feds, this is an opportunity to challenge yourself against an extremely talented bunch of veterans and newcomers in a game where the content is entirely devised by the players. If you’re new to the format, it’s an excellent way to knock the rust off your writing gears and to write fiction alongside a community of unique talents.
Is it time-consuming?
Unlike some other online RPGs, there is no set expectations. There are no one-on-one matches, so you’ll never have to worry about your opponent no-showing, or being forced into a match when you just don’t have the time. You can take or not take missions at your leisure. Some weeks you may want to go for the glory and be very active, some weeks you may want to just sit out and read. It’s entirely up to you. The point of the game isn’t to nail you down into a new time-consuming hobby, but to allow you a forum to write how you want, when you want.
Even reading won’t get out of hand, though you may find you want to keep up on what other people are writing anyway. Everything will be cross-posted in an easy-to-skim bare bones format, so if you’ve been away for a few weeks, you can catch back up with what’s been going on quickly.
The idea is to make a game that doesn’t make people feel constrained or boxed in.
Is it hard to pick up?
The style and format is so easy it quickly becomes second nature. If you feel overwhelmed or unsure because you’ve never played a game like this before, check out the site, say hi, ask questions, and read. Or, just dive in and swim, you’ll pick it up in no time.
One of the other benefits is this is a brand-spanking new game. No miles of backstory to acclimate yourself to, no cliques of players that won’t give you the time of day, no having to plug away for months to get yourself noticed. We’re all starting it fresh with players culled from all over. This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
And, because of the format, you don’t have to worry about getting stuck because somebody flaked out, or having to pay your dues, or anything like that. We’re all new at it (though some of us behind the scenes have a lot of experience running and playing in games like this), and the best way to get the hang of it is to try it out. Create a character, send in an application, and start playing. Easiest thing in the world.
Right on. How do I get started?
Check out the site:
http://equinox.paintchips.net/forum/
The OOC (Out Of Character) stuff is in the Night and Day forum (for random chit chat), and you’ll find a General Info forum, as well as various primers on the various boards. The game will be starting soon (if it hasn’t already), so check it out, and pass the word on to others that might be interested. The more the merrier.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them on the Night and Day forum, or get a hold of me personally. My email is paintchips@gmail.com, my AIM is Arranger771. If you’re undecided, or on the fence, give it a look and ask around.
See you in Equinox.
----Paint CHiPs
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10-11-2004 06:24 AM
