Roleplay Game Mechanics

For purposes of this ruleset, these are the defined roles:

**Players** refer to cast members who are empowered with their own agency.

Timeless **r**efer to cast and crew members who are empowered with facilitating the story for the players and the Audience. This includes people designated to play NPCs.

**Storyteller** refers to the person directing the overall action.

**Narrator** refers to the person in charge of the transmissions between areas not seen on stage and the stage. That can include backstage and the chat.

**Propmaster** refers to the person in charge of physical items.

**Archive** refers to the person who tracks down continuity during the action. This position is principally used for tracking show continuity and to arbitrate past events using the continuity.

### Scenes:

* Generally no more than 4

players in a scene. 5 or more can happen due to circumstance

* Characters can leave the

scene at any time, whether in-character or opt-out

* IF a scene is only 2

people, characters cannot leave without resolution (mutual agreement)  or unless Storyteller ends scene.

* If a player opts out, it

does not spare them of consequences, up to and including death.

* Storyteller can switch

scenes to a different place with the use of the word “MEANWHILE…”

### Request for Scenes:

* Players can request a Narrator for a scene. This will be transmitted to Storyteller as needed.
* Occasionally,

Storyteller can ask a player who they want to meet with

* Note: If a Storyteller

does not allow a player to meet a requested character, it is because they are
mid-scene in a different place or they cannot logistically arrive at the
scene.

* The place should be

specified.

### Conflict resolution:

* Any CvC (Character vs. Character) is handled

through adjudication of a third person not immediately in a scene by the ST
asking them how the conflict resolves.

* Always narrate physical

action, not a character’s emotions, motivations or what they will do next.

* In the absence of a

third person in the scene, Storyteller will select one of the Timeless to
adjudicate.

* This includes fatal

conflict.

### Items:

* All items must have a

physical representation. No forsoothing (narrating an imaginary item to be
there) is allowed

* A list of available

items is maintained by Collection.

* All items can be traded,

stolen, broken, or taken by force.

* Every character may

start with one non-magical item.

* More non-magical items

can be acquired from characters when it is innate to the character (Example:
various items from Trade, potions from Physic) or when reasonable in an area
(i.e. Paper in a writing room), but item must still be represented by a
physical representation.

### Magical items:

* Magical items come from

chat.

* They are given by the

audience to a player. That player determines the effect.

* Magical items have

“charges.” They can be recharged by chat. The player will have no idea if an item
has a charge unless they attempt it OR find an in-character means to figure out
charges

### Interactions with Chat:

* For a donation, an audience member can send a

message to any player that will appear in the game world/show.

* Audience (“Eyes of the

World” in the show) represents various spies or rumors so they can circulate
information they have seen on screen to a character that would not know the
action otherwise.

* When possible, the

message should be read aloud.

* Messages can also just

be fun aspects to play with for flavor

* Messages will be

screened for appropriateness (no lewd, harassing or heinously genre-breaking
messages will be allowed)

* There is no expectation

for the Players to interact directly with chat while onscreen, but may do so offscreen as side commentary.

* The Timeless mods can

interact with Chat fully, blurring the boundaries

### Divination:

* For purposes of this

game, divination is broadly “where you are forcing the storytellers, either
Storyteller or Narrator, to reveal an immutable plot point AS FACT by asking
for this information directly.”

* Information revealed to

you willingly by a Storyteller or Narrator is not considered divination.

* Fake divination (like

using fortune-telling devices and narrating your own ideas or theories) does
not count.

### “Moment of Crisis”

* This is when a player actually does not know

what to do in a situation and freezes on camera. Especially if a character is
about to do major CvC including killing off another character; some players are
uncomfortable with this kind of confrontation.

* Any player may ask for a

Moment of Crisis, by saying “Storyteller, I have a moment of crisis.” There is
no limit to the number but should be done sparingly to emphasize important
dilemmas.

* Storyteller stops the

scene and asks the player what is going through their thoughts and reveal their
inner monologue (ex. “I feel I want to kill this person because I was
betrayed.”)

* Storyteller offers an

alternative: (ex. “You can choose to ask why they betrayed you”)

* At this point,

Storyteller asks them to make a choice between the two options and scene
resumes.

### Storyteller Save:

* If the season uses a “Storyteller Save,” they

are limited to one “Save” through the Season. It is represented by a
“significant item” on their person.

* To activate, player says

“Storyteller, I call on my \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for help.”

* Storyteller stops the

moment and asks for the backstory of their item before he listens to their
request.

* A Storyteller Save CAN

be used to prevent death.

* Items represented by the

Storyteller Save CAN be stolen. But if activated, different plot may occur.

### Death Monologue:

* When dying, Storyteller

or appointed Narrator narrates impending death

* Everyone clears the

scene except the person dying. They have 3 minutes to convince Storyteller. 3
minutes begins as the timer is turned, not when the dying person speaks.

* If convinced, play

resumes and ST narrates how player survives

* If not convinced or opts

for death: ST narrates back history and we return to the scene where player
plays out death

* Storyteller can always

ask for the Timeless to collectively Vote the person’s fate in a circle with
thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate life or death.

### Inconsistent or conflicting information:

* If information like

action or facts are in question because they conflict, a player can bring this
up to a Storyteller.

* If not on camera, you

can ask Archive privately to clarify.

* If on camera,

Storyteller or Memory will summon Archive and Archive will clarify.

* Archive has final

arbitration on continuity.

### All else:

* Anything not covered here, ask Storyteller

(Ryan) to clarify. Anything technical, ask Director or any of the channel
producers (of the Scabby Rooster) to clarify.