I have an idea, and I'd like to know if anyone else is interested.

[philmophlegm]

I've mentioned this idea before to a number of people. We were talking about it around the time that kargicq was trying to get a couple of games of online Diplomacy organised.

The core idea is this:

It's a freeform, play-by-email game with almost no rules (at least non visible to the players). The setting is the real world (almost) in 2008 (at least to start of with - time will probably advance somewhat quicker in the game than in real life).

What I want to know is...



...is anyone interested?

I would run the game, helped by bunn.

Commitment would be minimal and flexible. You would email me the actions your character is going to perform. I would work out what happens, and what happens in the wider world, and relay it back to you by email. If you are going to be busy in real life, then there's no pressure on your character to do anything in the game. I absolutely do not want anyone who might be vaguely interested to be put off joining in because they think they won't have the time - basically, if you have time to post a couple of comments a week on LiveJournal, then you'll have time to play this game.

So, apart from almost real-world in 2008, what's the setting? What's the plot?

Well, much of the object of the game is actually finding that out. Think mysteries and secret societies and conspiracies. Each character will be a member of at least one secret society. Characters will naturally wish to seek advancement within that society because as you do, you learn more about the truth behind the world's mysteries and conspiracies. More senior characters may provide missions for more junior members of their society, or perhaps ask favours of other characters they may have come across (perhaps not knowing that that character works for an entirely different society with conflicting aims). Of course it will be the senior members who know more of what is going on!

I will provide details and background of each character - so you won't be playing as yourself or even as your own character, but rather one provided by me. You might be a junior minister in the British government, or a senior priest working for the Vatican Bank, or a rich Saudi investor or maybe a humble furniture salesman who just happens to be very high up in one of the most powerful secret societies.

So, I ask again, is anyone interested? If you are, please comment below. At the moment, I just need to see if there is a critical mass of interest out there to make running this worthwhile. The more players the better.

Comments

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

I'm interested, especially for a character at the low commitment end of the range, at least until such time as I get hooked ;-) It will help if one is allowed to customise the character, obviously in consultation with your good self.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

You're the first!

I'll give you a name for your character, an occupation and a position in one or more secret societies. How devious you want to be, how evil you want to be, what colour eyes you have, what your pet's name is - all that is up to you.

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

Will it be a complete waste of time if my character turns out to be neither devious nor evil? On account of being seriously bad at both in RL...

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

Oh no, there's ample scope for characters to be honest and good. And many of the evil characters may honestly believe they are being good.

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

I'm interested, also with the low time committment proviso!

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

Excellentamundo!

[skordh.livejournal.com]

Count me in! Low time commitment and flexible sound like ideal attributes for a game.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

OK, you're in.

[chris-maslen.livejournal.com]

Count me in.

Do you mind if I point a couple of other people in this direction? There is a chunk of the Bristol gaming crowd on LJ but I don't think they'll be on on your flist.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

By all means. Seriously, the more the better. Doesn't matter if I don't know them. And everyone else - feel free to invite anyone you know who you think may be interested. There may be the occasional adult theme, so I would suggest nobody younger than mature teenagers, but apart from that, anyone and everyone!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

... probably ...

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

A devious and evasive answer. You'll be perfect for this game...

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

*evil sniggers*

(think Muttley ... )

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting; its been too long since I managed to do any roleplaying.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

Dunno how much roleplaying there'll be - probably what you get out will depend upon what you put in. But you're in - good.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Sounds intriguing!

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

So you're in then? Good...

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

Sounds good, so long as you don't mind long periods of radio silence while I'm researching in the secret archives. That don't exist...