(West Worlds) Play The Game - ROM, 25/Jun/2017


Overview

"Everyone likes a good game, gets the blood pumping, keeps the mind sharp. Of course, some can't, or won't, play. But, the tv is pretty good these days, tens of channels, subscription for the good stuff, the special matches. And, the Olympics, of course. Not just good for your health, to be a sportsman you need to train your mind, be ready for those trying to confuse you. Turn you into just a consumer."

"Then, there's those poor sods who can't handle reality, don't enjoy sports. I just pity them, running away from reality, drugging themselves into oblivion. They should just get stuck in, join a local club, start one if they have to. Anything, cricket, bowls, ping pong if nothing else. Competition, it's part of human nature."

As a player-character this is about as close to a 'normal' Earth as exists in this campaign, though there are definitely multiple layers of strange things going on. You will very likely be concerned with sport in some way (and be significantly anti-drug), be involved in or resisting the advertising industry, or be part of a drug culture that thinks little of sport and despises the advertising industry. Apart from that it is 'business as usual' for a 'normal' 2011 Earth. A character from this world who isn't 'sporty', doesn't care about advertising, and is neutral on the subject of drugs might be possible, but would rather be missing the point. Acquiring the strange abilities those from this world get after start of play might be very difficult to justify, for any 'normal' character, though the hypnotic skill could be learned.

2011; you either compete, or you go under.

Character View

"Funny world this. On the surface, most places pretty peaceful, well organised, good place to buy medical services, if you're careful, got credible resources. Talk to a Gate Agent, they set up anonymous accounts, anyone can draw on, just do your bit to keep those topped-up. They can get you good papers, id, will do for a short time there, but, of course, you'll be owing a favour in return."

"Below the surface, there's the sports, and how mad people are about them, and the drugs, they can be pretty bad. Watch out for the adverts, too. Some sneak into your head, and you find you want to buy stuff, you've got no use for. The sports use them too, and you can find you want to get involved, or at least pay to watch them on a screen. Pretty sure there's drugs, go in the wrong place you need to guard your drink, or you'll find you want more, or at least you're chucking up your guts. Might need a Wonderland visit to clean you up."

"If you've got the right id, this is the place to go if you want to move around the world, no questions asked. Get on a plane and in a day or two you can be on the other side of the Earth. Telephones, you can get pocket ones, let you talk to anyone with a phone, anywhere in the world. Watch moving pictures, use their 'Internet' thing - you'll have to talk to someone else if you want to know more about that. Got to keep them fed with juice, though, they're not magic, even though they may look it. And, they let the authorities find you, if you leave the battery in - be careful."

"Lots of good tech for sale here, cheap food, good clothes, really cheap second-hand books. Watch out, though, lot of low quality stuff around. Loads of things made in China, I never did figure that one out. Be careful, some places have got cameras, moving picture, video ones, all over the place. Can make it difficult to find, use, Well Gates. Also, those pocket phones, lots of them are cameras, moving picture, too. Try not to use a Well Gate while one is facing your way, we don't need the trouble."

Game Mechanics

nickname: Lude

Play The Game Everyman Skills:

Acting 8-
Climbing 8-
Computer Programming 8-
Concealment 8-
Conversation 8-
Deduction 8-
Paramedics 8-
Persuasion 8-
Shadowing 8-
Stealth 8-

Transport Familiarity: Small Motorised Ground Vehicles
PS: Profession 11-
CK: Anglo-American Culture 8-
AK: First World 8-
Lang: English, 4pts, literate
Running, 6"
Swimming, 2"

Required Lude Powers (PC):

Illusion Awareness, 5pts
Hypnosis (EGO-Based), 10pts

Hypnosis: this is a skill/power, which can be built several different ways, and provides moderately good self-control and limited control over others. A +1 skill roll costs 2pts. Advertising has gotten so bad in this world that you need something like this for self-defence, not to mention resisting 'instant addiction' drugs, and there's a lot weirder stuff out there, which this'll help you with. Or, maybe you just like the way this can improve those drug trips...

Note that you don't have to be a 'lude' to have come from this world, either as a native, or one of the rare Refugees, but that is uncommon, and could be quite bad for the character's longer term (mental) health.

Quote: Knowing what's an illusion, and controlling yourself and (mostly willing) others...

Refugee: very rare


(c) Rory O. McLean, 1980 - June 2017
    Permission granted to use for non-profit making purposes

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