I've just released Cranium Rats Beta V. 1.2, available here (http://craniumrats.pbwiki.com/).
While I can rewrite the whole thing from ground up to make it clearer and closer to the end-product, I do not intend to do so currently. The document does what I need it to do, it transfers the rules and what the game should look like.
I cannot progress any further at the time being without actual play of the game.
I'd be very thankful to anyone who would put forth the time and effort to playtest the game.
Cheers!
Change Log between V. 1.1 and V. 1.2 is:
Added "Legend of Wrath" to Background section.
Inserted updated sheet.
Removed Aspect Multiplier from Resolution.
Removed "Rack up the Stakes".
Removed "Owned Tokens", All Tokens are now the same.
Stealing is now 1 Token, thought it was that to begin with.
Changed the order in which sections are presented all over.
Tokens are now worth 2 dice each.
One may use 2 Tokens to fully replenish one's Pool, this may only occur after completion of a Goal and outside of Conflicts/Bidding.
Inserted "Sweet in the Middle" rule for Die Reservoir under Tokens, if would go over the Die Reservoir limit each other player gains one Token.
Narration rights now always belongs to Water, unless someone offers him a Token and he accepts it.
Die Reservoir Limit is set to 6.
Each Rainbow scene gives the Water Aspect one Goal.
Added Game Zone portion.
Removed most of the Glossary.
Added "Setting Questions".
From here (http://www.story-games.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=690) on Story-Games, as I have been reminded unregistered users are unable to view some topics.
Quote from: Thunder God
I need 3 people to playtest Cranium Rats with me in about 24 hours.
The playtest will occur on #indierpgs on irc.magicstar.net.
Playtest will run between 2300 GMT(EST+5) and 0200-0300 GMT.
There is a 10% chance I will be unexpectedly late, though chances of that are slim.
Players are required to know the rules of Cranium Rats (http://craniumrats.pbwiki.com) Beta V 1.2. I will answer all fielded questions, but I expect you to have read the rules.
This is more or less of a first come first serve basis.
Another game will be run sometime next week, day yet unknown, hours will be 1100-1500 GMT or so.
Quote
Erm, yes, playtest, the one mentioned first is for today, May 12th.
The day next week when playtest will occur at 1100-1500 GMT is Tuesday, May 16th.
Well, next time I could run a game is each and every day(hopefully) from 28/05/06 to 01/06/06, hours are 1600-2200 GMT.
All takers say so now.
Someone on Story-Games suggested I tell you what the game is about, in case you still don't know:
Well, I gushed and pimped the game a lot, and am now trying less-pressure methods. I trusted my pimpage to still exist in people's minds.
Ok, here goes nothing:
In Cranium Rats it is not the people who decide on what they are going to do, but rather, three "Aspects" do.
You play these Aspects.
The characters are on their road to Enlightenment, but if they reach Enlightenment you "lose" them.
You'll be damned if you let them get what they are working for.
You want to control the character, for that you need your Score to get higher. There is a limited pool divided between you and the other two Aspects.
You will crush the opposition.
Cranium Rats has a fairly involved system intended to cause and benefit from inter-player conflict. In fact, most of the game is about conflict, whether in the real world or between characters. You want to "Win", much like in board/card games, but this is a zero sum game, so you have to do it at the expanse of the other players, who obviously want nothing more than to win themselves.
All the while, your attempts at victory push the character further away from its own success.
Scene-framing and what the Characters are work to ensure the game doesn't stay put for long.
CSI Game; Competitive Story Interaction Game.
Next Playtesting options:
13/06/06 to 24/06/06, except 1-2 days a week when I'll be working night duties.
Hours: 1600-2200 GMT which is 1100-1700 Eastern.
Ok, first thing first, no more date-limitation, I am free at the listed hours almost daily.
Taking Larry's Advice over at Story-Games, let's try to get a group first and then look for dates. Got one, or two, probably, who else is in? Need three players total.
Have two players, need the third and last spot filled.
June 15th-17th, GMT 1700-0200 the next day are open to me.
I'm free most days on, um, GMT 0800-1200, and GMT 1500-2000 or so.
It's highly probable that I'll be able to play on 15-17.
What hours, how un/likely?
On the 15th I can go from(all hours are GMT, subtract 5 hours for Eastern) 1700 as late as 2400.
16th and 17th I can go 1400-2400.
Session should be 2-4 hours, hopefully first session(assuming we ever get more than one!) should be at least 3 hours, to create characters, bone up on the rules and undergo the initial Flood Scenes.
QuoteWhat hours,
In theory, all the day and all the night ;)
Quotehow un/likely?
15th likely. 16-17 slightly unlikely but still very likely ;)
Ok, let's try to meet on magicstar.net.irc #indierpgs on the 15th at 1700 GMT, I'll try to make it as soon as 1600, but I've got an appointment with a doctor.
Seems Filip is okay with it, Andrew(7Storyfall) should reply soon, which leaves us waiting for a reply from Selene.
Good job everyone, let's hope for the best :)
sounds good
Yeah, I think I'm good for that. Er, so this would be at midnight-1 AM the 16th for me?
It'd be midnight-11 PM for you.
Psst, move it one hour earlier on GMT, seems I was going by British Summer Time, heh.
Well, Selene dropped, if anyone wants to play and take up her position, apply here. If anyone will step in, we could start a game on #indierpgs in 35 minutes, the only requirement is to have read the rules.
Or, same as today, from 1800 GMT and onward tomorrow...
Tomorrow, Saturday, we're looking for play 1400-1700 GMT, looking for one player.
Filip, please post when next you can play, so I'll base my further recruitment efforts on that.
That probably would be no sooner than in 3 weeks from now - then, I'll let you know. I suggest starting another playtest without me for the time being.
Good luck settling in!
Many a person told me they'd be able to playtest in 2-3 weeks, so unless people step forth(consider this an invitation), then we'll wait 3 weeks.
Will also give me time to crank out V. 2.1 without any pressure.
Ok, generally I'm free to play from now on, save for 13-17 (a convention). Just let me know one or two days before the game ;)
Hours?
I'll adjust to the rest of the group.
I will be in Chicago July 9-23, and that time on saturday I'll be in a training class. So unless I login from training... I won't be able to make it.
Some nights I will be free between that time, but that's likely in the early AM for you guys...
Well, seems July 7-8 it is, now need a third player!