[world building?] Worlds Wide Net o' Gamers

[repeatnshuffle]

Despite the fact all the worlds have their own separate logic, their own time and people, and their own rules, they do share three things.

Doors leading to one another.
References to the game Duel Monsters.
And competition.

And since the doors and Duel Monsters are obvious, clearly we need a regular reminder of the third in each world! So, I bring you a monthly issue of Worlds Gaming Tournaments! (Only $199.95 a year!)

Each world will have its own competition once per month, hosted by a fitting host. The number of applicants will vary by game, but most compete with an eight-person tier, after preliminaries eliminate any extras. The last standing will be named winner, recognized as respected champion by the npcs for the month, and gifted with a special ring, which to them is just an accessorizing trophy. In truth though, it has special effects on whomever puts it on, winner of the ring or not. (They also won't know what effect they might get. All the color hints is the theme! The exact nature is up to the player.)

All the other details? Flexible. Not only do the worlds host differing games, in different areas, with different competitors and prizes involved, but the givens are dangerously easy to abuse. If someone interfered with the tournament, or a particular player, the npcs might try to stop them. But most are just normal people, and no matter what the host will hold the games until the end, a winner will be named and respected, and the prize will be given.

Best hope you're not playing in a game where someone's willing to fight dirty!

^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^

There's the concept I have, as it is now. But it's just what I've mused up, and I want input! There's no point without gamers/scenarios we all want, and the specifics of worlds in particular are definitely up for grabs. That's said, here's what I've come up with so far, putting games & prizes in the best fitting world I can place, while balancing the want to cover options. You get world, game, location, host, prize ring color and theme, and some example effects.

Domino City (GX): CapMon {{Rotates Manga & PS2 game versions}}
Location: KaibaLand Capmon Building
Host: KaibaLand Worker
Prize: Green Swap Ring
Prize Effects: Power Swap, Body Swap, Gender Swap, Memory Swap, etc.

Ancient Egypt: Ka Battle {{Uncommon Horse Racing Variant}
Location: Market Street/Desert
Host: Siamun
Prize: Gold Power Ring
Prize Effects: Gain Millennium Item, Constant use of a Ka, etc.

Domino City (BC): Duel Monsters {{Traditional Format}}
Location: City Plaza
Host: Kaiba Seto
Prize: Silver Bonding Ring
Prize Effects: Instant CR, Charisma, Emotional Honesty, etc.

Duel Academia: Duel Monsters {{Advanced Format}}
Location: Duel Arena (or Across Campus)
Host: Various Professors
Prize: Red Romance Ring
Prize Effects: Crush, Lust, Good Date Karma, Irresistible, etc.

Satellite: "Bar" Games (Pool, Poker, Mahjong, & Chess)
Location: Bootleg
Host: Bar Owner
Prize: Brown Normal Ring
Prize Effects: Domestic situations, loss of powers, lighter priorities, etc.

Neo Domino Unified: Turbo Duel {{Turbo Decks}}
Location: Memorial Circuit
Host: MC
Prize: Black Loss Ring
Prize Effects: Loss of a sense, a memory, a relationship, etc.

Heartland: Kids Tournament (Jump Rope, Connect Four, Card Games)
Location: Heartland Theme Park
Host: Mr. Heartland
Prize: White Create Ring
Prize Effects: Free pass on making a room/item/world door without repercussions


Last, here's some input questions I'd really like–

How long should prize rings take effect? ((one week/two weeks/one month?))
Should effects have a permanent effect, if player prefers?
What alternate games/variations/hosts/locations/prize powers would you prefer?
Should npc contestants include fitting canons of the world?

And, enough of me talking for one night! Let me know what you want, instead.

Comments

[ofsexandwar]

This all sounds really interesting and cool to me - I like how not all of the prizes are necessarily "positive" effects, to spice things up. Wish I could help more with the Heartland stuff, but I may have stopped watching Zexal, oops. (Even if poor Shark almost became a baby heel.) I like its prize, though, and that it sounds like mostly kids will get it. The most coveted prize, and they make....A GREAT BIG TOY STORE. :D

As for input questions:
-- Given our current pace, one or two weeks for prize duration seems sensible? I lean towards one since we're all used to week-long effects.

-- Maybe instead of permanent, if the player liked the effect it becomes erratic? Sometimes the character has that ability and sometimes they don't, so it can activate unexpectedly at hilariously awful moments.

-- Just because I want to see you play him - I mean, because we have this resource built into the setting - maybe Sugoroku should run a game? Either as something his shop sells or an obstacle course-type game as a throwback to his days of being Indiana Mutou. Fetchie, just make yourself a nice royal tomb for dungeon crawling already

-- I like the idea of pulling people from the relevant world to fill the contest a little more. A PC would always win, though, right?

[repeatnshuffle]

Yeeeeep. ^~^ Thanks! I thought some bad effects would be a good addition for the risk factor, but also encourage some muses to perhaps, make someone else where their ring prize, to push an effect on them. (Of course, they might end up with a nice effect, too, so oops!)

And yay you caught right onto my kids prize irony~ And no worries, I haven't looked too closely at the world, either, but I assume Heartland Theme Park is an acceptable backup location? With Mr. Heartland (Playing nice that day, of course. we hope) as Host?

And let's see- One week works for me, erratic permanents are an AMAZING concept depending on the prize, and I'm sure Sugoroku could be pushed in somewhere if need be. ;) The logical spot is GX!DM, since BC!DM is in the middle of, well, that setting. xD But since only some might wander over for CapMons anyways, perhaps an irregularly hosted game at his shop, with some eighth, special prize? (no. clue. what.)

But, yes... the trouble with making a PC ALWAYS win is it makes them instant champs, even if we have canon npcs of that caliber. But, that said, perhaps we could

a) have the better duelists only show in games where no/one PC is playing.
b) better duelists don't show up unless a PC is participating, who's one that tournament multiple times.

But, yes, PC winning IF we have more than one playing sounds smart. But, if they always win no matter what, we kill my chance for Piston to one day come back and rave that he can't win a certain tournament, or Bones gambling deck backfired that day. xP I am selfish and want this!!

[tinythirdchild]

Mr. Heartland makes an excellent host. Second only to the MC from 5D's. Truly a man devoted to his job, staying behind at risk of his own life to narrate a duel so people evacuating a city won't stay to watch it.

It could maybe be up to the PC player's discretion, if they're the only one interested at that time at a particular tournament, whether they won or lost? And then if we did have an actual competition it'd make sense to have that be more threaded out, to get the interaction and then repercussions.

resists urge to recommend pokémon tcg because cannot unsee mali with espeons (SO PURPLE, SO FUZZY)

[repeatnshuffle]

Awww, so clearly if an apocalypse happens there, or a riot, or some other dastardly interruption to the gaming that surely wouldn't involve innocent children victims, he'll host right on through! (clearly we need an age limit to keep grown-ups from that ring, hmm?)

And hey, if you want that on the list of kid games----<3

That's about what I was thinking, too! I didn't want to push anyone to have to write out playing a game, even if they participate in every one ever. So I see no issue with waving a win to get to some ring fun! (Or, saying someone played five times and FINALLY got it. xP)

[masokaiser]

Hmmm...this sounds pretty cool. :>

I have an idea for what happens if you win a "modified" game, though...

If you win something that's been corrupted, say, by the Underground, the prize you receive will always have a positive effect for you...but it's been corrupted as well, and it might not be so nice for the other people it affects. For example, a Red ring might induce unwanted lust or general horniness in other people, or a Silver ring makes your charisma dangerously powerful: if you give a command during its effect, the recipient is compelled to obey.

I like moral dilemmas.

[repeatnshuffle]

Ooooh, I like this addition! Grant it, some effects are already negative, but amplifying the powers so it hits surrounding people too or something certainly has some higher stakes involved.

But now you make me want to brainstorm more ways to moral this up.

How dare you.

[masokaiser]

Hehe, I was thinking that the rings with negative effects might change a little with the corruption...like the black ring, instead of causing loss to the wearer, might "steal" those things from somebody in particular...

But yes. >:3

I shouldn't talk like this on this account.

[repeatnshuffle]

Ooooh, that would be fun, especially with the memory or relationship steal option--!

But that's partly why I wanted just vague theme prizes. Utterly malleable~

[masokaiser]

Also, I really (really really) want a Kaiser to win the Red Ring and have it do something unfortunate.

[repeatnshuffle]

All the approval.

Actually, all the insistence. Everyone must be victim to the Red sometime!

[masokaiser]

I have some

very interesting ideas

for what to do with it....

[repeatnshuffle]

Yeeeeeeeeeeees??

Don't tease.

[masokaiser]

well

the signal from the thing might just do some messing with his boot cuffs

and set them off at really terrible times

perhaps~

[repeatnshuffle]

...........


Talk about conflicting sensations!!

Or, conflicting messages, at that.

[masokaiser]

Hehehe. It'll probably have another effect, too...but what should it be, I wonder?

[repeatnshuffle]

Well, of "Romance" options... Something else to help set up that FIRST reveal? Like, the irresistible option, or a crush mixed in, or "awkward run-ins luck" to create scenario?

[masokaiser]

Ohoho...

I like the idea of the irresistable option mixed in...and/or awkward run-ins.

this is going to be so great oh my god

[repeatnshuffle]

Heh heh- just let me know if/how to help the amazing~

[repeatnshuffle]

Oh whoops! I forgot to ask when to have it!

I was thinking middle of the month for the actual date - fewer holidays and such then, I find - but veeeery lenient back/forward dating, for our impulsive convenience??