From: educ@unixg.ubc.ca (Vicki Domansky)
Subject: Clay O'Rama
Keywords: dragon magazine, clay o'rama, clay, rama, playdough
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 00:02:00 GMT

** please note cross-posting

Has anyone ever played Clay O'Rama?  It is a game published in the
September 1987 issue of Dragon magazine, by Zeb Cook, I think.  
I watched it at a local mini-convention at UBC this weekend, and
thought it was the most hilarious game I've seen in a long time.  The 
roleplaying aspect of this game is almost non-existent, but it was 
so much fun to watch I thought I'd share it anyways.

Basically, each player was given a can of playdough (you all remember
playdough, don't you :-) and had a certain amount of time to create
their "combatant".  Imagination was the name of the game, and there
were creations that ranged from a ball that opened and shut like 
pacman, to a creature with spikes that looked like caltrop, to something
that resembled a deformed stegosaurus.  The percentage of the amount
of clay that went into the creatures assigned them hit points, based
on a max of 50 points.  Anything left over could be used for missiles
later in the game.

The movement capability of the combatants was determined by the
presence (or lack) of feet or other appendages capable of propelling
the creature.  One enterprising fellow added wings, which gained him a
3 movement rate equal to having 4 feet, while others with 2 or 3
feet/appendages received movements of 2. Movement was measured in 
hand-spans of the player, which gave definite advantages to those
with "large hands" ;-).  

Then attacks were given out.  Any appendage that was capable of attack
was given a rating of 1 - 4 d6 amount of damage.  The pacman received
a full 4 dice, considering the size of his gaping maw, while a fellow
who basically had two big feet received no attacks at all, but got a
special power of "the stomp".  Other special powers were then given
out, including things like "the poke" "blink" "morphself" "use
opponent as missile" and just about anything Fraser seemed to be able
think of.

The points and powers assigned, the battle then began.  Incredibly
weird creatures moved across the giant battlefield, some a few steps
at a time, others used powers like blink to move their allotted
handspans, then could move another entire arm's length.  Creatures with
gaping maws moved into place, rolled their 2D6 to see if they hit (a 6
on either die seemed to indicate a hit) then, if the damage was high
enough, ripped off hunks of playdough to represent physical damage.
One loglike creature was covered in spines.  He just rolled over
everything, giving incredible amounts of damage, but he also took
damage if it appeared his spines had been injured.  

One fellow had a special power "blob of death".  This allowed him to use
a missile to try to make a kill.  He had to stand back behind the
table and throw his piece of playdough at the intended target (his
hand or arm could not reach over the table).  If he managed to
actually hit his target, he could raise his fist over the opponent and
quickly smash down upon it.  He had to be quick, and the amount of
damage done to the playdough figure by his fist was estimated and
given in points of damage.  Another player who could "use opponent as
missile" just threw the creature up in the air where it hit the
ceiling, then landed back on the table about 3 inches shorter than it
had previously been!  Tension was high as one player with "morph self"
was given 2 minutes at the end of his turn to change his combatant
into anything else he wanted.

There was a lot of imagination and ingenuity (and even strategy!)
shown by the players, and a lot of shouting and laughing as the crazy
battle continued.  It was incredibly violent, but definitely a
refreshing change of pace from the other roleplaying, board games and
war games that were also going on.  If you are looking for something fun
to liven up a con, or just have fun with a group of friends, I'd
recommend it.  All you need is a couple d6's and enough playdough for
everyone.  Unfortunately I don't have the Sept '87 issue of
Dragon with the rules, but I'm going to bug Fraser until he lends me
his for the convention next year :-).
-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Vicki Domansky <Morgaine>                               educ@unixg.ubc.ca
Education Computing Services                       v_domansky@mtsg.ubc.ca
U of B.C. Vancouver Canada                        usereduc@ubcmtsg.bitnet