I'm interested in a game in which the participants lurk off-camera mostly or entirely, pulling the strings of events and others, and thwart the plans of the other participants. Those being controlled may not even be aware of it.

This might not be a traditional RPG, but I don't really want a board game either. Genre is less important than execution.

Anyone have ideas or can point me to existing games, either indie or major label, that address this style of play?

Universalis seems custom made for your request.

Trevis.

Hmmm. I've been looking for a reason to buy that game, since what I hear seems so interesting, but never considered that it could apply to this. I should have, of course :) I'll have to buy it soon, methinks.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Emiricol wrote: I'm interested in a game in which the participants lurk off-camera mostly or entirely, pulling the strings of events and others, and thwart the plans of the other participants. Those being controlled may not even be aware of it.

[...]

Anyone have ideas or can point me to existing games, either indie or major label, that address this style of play?

I have a concept for such a game. If you're interested, I'll discuss it in greater detail in this thread, sometime later when I have the opportunity to write it up properly.

(The essential idea behind this game is that the social impact of actions is the only effect one needs to be concerned with.)

Shreyas Sampat wrote: I have a concept for such a game. If you're interested, I'll discuss it in greater detail in this thread, sometime later when I have the opportunity to write it up properly.

(The essential idea behind this game is that the social impact of actions is the only effect one needs to be concerned with.)

That's one of the goals of Touché as well. To at least capture the big sweeping plots and ploys, although the camera's focus still tends to linger on the Nobility (although, depending on what scenes you participate in, your noble could be entirely off screen...)