Notes!

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

Duels are common, as are sporting events, puzzles, endurance tests, obstacle courses, capture the flag and most anything else The Game throws at you. Variety is key, as are situations that increase viewership. In some cases contestants will be explicitly forbidden from certain abilities or solutions to a challenge.