Every world that develops a
communication array gains access to The Game. In some cases, it
becomes one channel out of many, or the powers that be in a world
hide its existence (for a short time or forever) from the people
proper. In some cases it is the dominant betting event in a world, in
others training to be in it is a lifetime’s occupation. In some, it
is even a religion.
There are often multiple on-going Games
and contestants are drawn from throughout the multiverse to
participate in gaining wealth, fame, fortune and whatever else The
Game might offer. No one is quite sure where
The Game is located, let
alone how the staff select contestants. Some believe it began life as
a vast zoo that branched out into creative ways to sustain itself,
others believe The Game is eternal and forever and the heart of the
multiverse. That no one knows where it is truly located or even who
the unseen Producer of The Game is does lead many to distrust it, but
evn so The Game goes on.
The Game famously has no rules. It
does, however, have referees and linesmen because people do
try to cheat and this isn’t acceptable at all. Among the many rules
The Game does not have, the following are paramount:
1) Trying to cheat
to win is not allowed. When asked what constituted cheating, the host
famously said he knew that when he saw it. Getting aid from outside
counts, as does trying to leave The Game.
2) Murdering other
Contestants is not kosher at all. The casting directors went to a lot
of trouble and time to find a diverse group of players and reducing
some to laundry problems is not encouraged*.
* It
is also not, strictly speaking, forbidden. But no one who has
out-and-out murdered another Contestant has ever won, regardless of
how justified they were. Killing the murderer of
a contestant, on the other hand, is entirely allowed and probably
encouraged.
The Host/Presenter
is cloned as needed. Please do not kill him without due cause.
Linesmen and Refs
are drawn from ex-contestants, among other groups. Killing them is
considered a Bad Idea as they are not obligated to be neutral in The
Game.
Camerapeople, on
the other hand, die pretty often. Running toward danger for the best
shot tends to do this.
Refs have the
ability to limit/nullify/disable powers as needed. They also oversee
security officers who make sure no one is cheating. People try, after
all.
Camerapeople are wholly invisible.
Linesmen tend to be quite visible and
tough, though not all of them are as impressive as their reputations
might claim. Their duty is to stop contestants from breaking the
rules that technically don’t exist, most of which involves actions
that will ruin ones possibility of winning The Game.
Layout
The contestants quarters are designed
to fit their particular needs and comforts to a point. Every
contestant is able to survive in everyone’s quarters and throughout
The Game everyone speaks the same universal language. All quarters
are connected together by a gateway system and mundane doors in a
large complex. There are no locks in it and a great deal of communal
space exists for contestants to get to know each other both as
friends and as enemies.
The medical facilities are very, very
good and have been known to even revive the recently dead if need be.
This is, however, not a pleasant experience by all accounts.
Sample Scenarios
