Thursday, 13 September 2012

Trickster, Trapper, Sniper, Spy

This idea was prompted by a comment Sidney Roundwood left and a post at Gothridge Manor.

It's an alternative, live-action game to play at an event, for when gamers are posting photos of themselves in advance to help in meeting up and plan to take more when they're there to post later, as often happens. It also lets some protect their real-world identity if they want to or need to. I'll call them all posters.

It's simple. Everyone carries a camera and the idea is to take a clear photo of as many other posters as possible; other individuals in shot are considered innocent victims and reduce counts at an agreed ratio. Posters protecting their identity are a special case - they play the sniper end of the spectrum and can have other posters in the frame only.

Queues for entry and planned meet-ups are 'safe havens'. Zoom is allowed as it raises risk of blur, but cropping not. The pics are posted after the event and numbers totalled, and popular opinion decides quality if there's doubt, with all but the sharpest discarded.

It could add a real frisson to the event, more of the tension of actual struggle. It's funny more gaming events don't arrange overarching games, or weave them into the structure, maybe using ambient random or similar methods. With so many gamers in one place...
_

5 comments:

thesethingsthatiwrite said...

I like the thought of that, like a game of assassin without the need for water pistols...

Anonymous said...

Thx for your post, I really enjoy your blog. Long time lurker, first time commenter, you know the drill. I tried to share this one time before, I don’t think it posted correctly…hopefully it will this time!

Porky said...

@ Paul Thornton - This is really just the beginning. There are so many other ways we could get more gaming beyond the tables, and maybe also tied in with what's happening on them, whether on the day or not.

@ Anonymous - The spam filter is busy these days, and surprisingly accurate too. But if this comment is spam, it's certainly a very interesting kind - maybe this kind..? Regardless, I'm happy any person might like it, and thanks for the kind words.

Gothridge Manor said...

That is funny. I can see them playing paparatzi (sp?). Dodging through the crowd or hiding in a fake plant in the corner with just the zoom lens showing.

What post of mine are you referring to because I can't think of which one it would be.

Porky said...

It was a post asking about conventions, probably one of the weekly questions. It reminded me of the general idea and the fact I had the draft for this post kicking around. Lots of drafts in these parts, and I'm not sure they'll ever all make it out...

Odd behaviour would be the thing to avoid, but there's probably more scope for it in a crowd, and for various lens-in-plant-pot-type situations with so much going on. Players would have to be on the ball, to have a great time doing what they'd normally do and all the while keep their eyes open for each other, and good chances to get the snap.