Pre-ArrowNES: [Name Pending]

[Arrow Gamer]

Hi, and welcome to my fourth attempt at an NES. This shall be a storyNES, much like Grandkhan's, but be a tournament game, where two players write stories about battling each other and I choose the winner. These have been run before, by Tycho, Thomas.Berubeg and others. The name is a work in progress, primarily because of, well, this thread.

Here, I wish to determine a few things (with your help, of course!). Namely:

1) The setting. We need to decide upon where to place it. At a massive arena? A mideival castle? A haunted forest? Disneyland? You decide. Moreover, the theme: dark and dreary? Upbeat and funny? Up to you.

2) The judges. I'd like to have two or so non-players aid me in the decision making. Applications should be through PM, and I shall decide at my discretion.

3) Any random rules. If you have a random idea, now is the time to spitball it.

4) The name. I'm at a loss.

And most importantly:

5) How to make this game different! I have hear it said that tournamentNESes die because people aren't invested in their character, due to imminent death always a possibility. Help me change this! I'm short on ideas ATM, so help would be appreciated.

PM or VM me if you want to get my AIM address.

Thanks, and post away.

 

[KaiserElectric]

Subscription post.

 

[SamSniped]

Subbed.

 

[KaiserElectric]

I discussed this in a chat with the GM, but I'll post it here for posterity.

My idea is that instead of using the vague dark and mysterious extra dimensional locales used in the last game, we instead have something more certain, like a sci-fi combat tournament. That way it will be open enough to allow the players some creativity, but not so vague that the players don't get invested.

My other idea is that instead of doing it elimination style, we do it on a point system. There will be three player created judges, made by the GM and the two others. Winning in your fight will win you a point, but it is not the only way to earn points. The judges will sometimes select fighters that they deem worthy and award them bonus points, even if they lost their match. For instance, a Klingon-expy judge might award a player for being particularly ferocious or honorable in combat. Then a clear winner is selected from the winning side, and the best "loser" is also selected for bonus points.

 

[Tycho]

Subbed, and looks good. Best of luck to you in running this NES, Arrow.

 

[Terrance888]

ArrowNES: In the Knee

 

[KaiserElectric]

Do you want to get smacked?

 

[NinjaCow64]

Subbed, will definitely try and make time for this.

I discussed this in a chat with the GM, but I'll post it here for posterity.

My idea is that instead of using the vague dark and mysterious extra dimensional locales used in the last game, we instead have something more certain, like a sci-fi combat tournament. That way it will be open enough to allow the players some creativity, but not so vague that the players don't get invested.

My other idea is that instead of doing it elimination style, we do it on a point system. There will be three player created judges, made by the GM and the two others. Winning in your fight will win you a point, but it is not the only way to earn points. The judges will sometimes select fighters that they deem worthy and award them bonus points, even if they lost their match. For instance, a Klingon-expy judge might award a player for being particularly ferocious or honorable in combat. Then a clear winner is selected from the winning side, and the best "loser" is also selected for bonus points.

They are all great ideas!

ArrowNES: In the Knee

DO EET

Also: For those who have judged before, how much of a time commitment is it? Because if it is less than being a tourney participant I could possibly volunteer for that...

 

[Omega124]

I probably won't play, but

5) How to make this game different! I have hear it said that tournamentNESes die because people aren't invested in their character, due to imminent death always a possibility. Help me change this! I'm short on ideas ATM, so help would be appreciated.

My suggestion for this is to have it be double elimination. Have both a winner's and loser's bracket. That way, a person will be less afraid of death because they will always have a second chance if they screw up in a round. Of course, to have a double elimination bracket work, you're going to need to have a lot more matches than a single one, which would increase mod work. Just a thought, though.

 

[Tycho]

Also: For those who have judged before, how much of a time commitment is it? Because if it is less than being a tourney participant I could possibly volunteer for that...

Well you have to read it and judge it first, and then decide who you want to win in each match, so depending on the number of contestants, it could be a small amount to a large amount of work.

 

[Angst]

I'd prefer a Fertile Crescent-ish cultural setting with a lot of dark grit-cruel gods-fantasy mood and a bronze-iron age technological level. But that's just me, perhaps.

 

[Deusselkerr]

I'd prefer a Fertile Crescent-ish cultural setting with a lot of dark grit-cruel gods-fantasy mood and a bronze-iron age technological level. But that's just me, perhaps.

I'd play that, but I'm also digging the tournament gig too.

1) Setting: An alien mother ship. The aliens have just conquered 23rd century earth, and have abducted humans for gladiatorial combat as part of the celebrations.

2) The judges: the alien emperor and empress (two non-players).

3) Random rules: Weapons could be anything sci fi, but is determined by the aliens before each round. Each player could have proficiencies- explosive, lazer, hand to hand, alien- and this will determine how well they fight with the weapon they are given.

4) Name: ArrowNES: The Xenowarfare Chronicles

5) How to make it different (Basically more random rules): Death doesn't really kill you since the aliens can revive you. Instead, it puts you at the bottom of the rankings. First to die goes to the very bottom, etc. Your rank each battle earns you points; most points at the end of the celebrations wins. The date for the end of the celebration can be postponed "because the Emperor is enjoying it too much to stop" (the group wants to keep going with this NES). So, say, there are 10 declared days of gladiatorial combat. After ten days (turns) a winner is proclaimed based on most points earned, or the game can keep going "the emperor has increased the length of the conquest celebrations by 5 days (turns)."

Eh? Eh? This fits pretty well with Kaiser's stuff.

 

[KaiserElectric]

Good idea Deusselkerr. I was actually thinking of a more tongue-in-cheek setting, an intergalactic gladiatorial game show. It would work similarly to your point system, with additional points added if the judges are impressed with your fighting. It also allows players much more freedom in creating their character, such as motivation for signing up and playing as non-humans.

 

[Angst]

Hrm. I'm not particularly invested in space opera scifi personally so I'll pass then. You guys have fun!