From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Fri Sep 29 10:32:30 1995
From: "Isaacs, Ross" (RISAACS@main.nlc.gwu.edu)
To: Nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
Did that get everyone's attention?
I was standing in the shower, thinking about a Nephilim supplement,
when I first got this idea. One of the things that troubles me about
publishing conspiracies in game products is that everyone reads the
books; players and GMs read Secret Societies. Thus, the GM would have
to change things to keep her players on their toes. That makes those
conspiracies pretty much useless. Why would I spend three months
writing a supplement telling you all about the conspiracies swirling
in Washington, D.C. when I know you'll likely change it?
That lead to another thought: when I'm GMing a game (which I do
from time to time) I hate it when one of my players figures out the
thing in the first few minutes. (You know what I mean. After
giving them two small clues, one idiot savant in the group looks up,
glassy-eyed, and says "The Butler is probably the cultist." And it
is!) Or the players want more of the conspiracy after resolving the
first one. Or they ask about the motivations of some minor
character. There are times when I've had to come up with
conspiracies on the fly. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
It's not easy coming up with the next layer of the onion time after
time.
So I proposed the Great Conspiracy Generator. Remember that in
Foucalt's Pendulum, the hero writes a program that randomly selects
elements of a conspiracy, and he publishes the results, which gets
him into a lot of trouble because everyone believes it. My idea
would be the same thing, only with dice and tables. Think of it like
the board game, Clue; Col. Mustard did it in the Dining Room with the
Rope. Only here you might come up with, The Rosicrucians and the
Star Arcanum steal a Gutenberg Bible.
The GM would roll on several tables, first a Main Table which directs
her to other subtables. She would then have to figure out how those
elements come together. The Great Conspiracy Generator wouldn't do
the work for you, it would just randomly provide elements.
What does the group think? What kinds of things would you like to
see on the Great Conspiracy Generator? I'd like to have both
policial and supernatual elements included. (This is the greatest
strength of the X-Files, IMO. They link strange tales with political
conspiracy; face it, we all suspect that the government *knows* about
Big Foot.)
Discuss.
Ross A. Isaacs
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Fri Sep 29 12:07:19 1995
From: Laurent.Mynard@laforia.ibp.fr (Laurent MYNARD)
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
I do not repeat the whole message from Ross about his idea of Great
Conspiracy Generator. It would be to long and I suppose everyone read
it...
Ross, sorry, but I do not like your idea. Since AD&D, I fear very much
anything looking like a random encounter table or things like that. I
refuse to have my scenarios built by dice rolls.
Ok, you are right, players have often silly ideas, and you have to
improvize some conspiracy plot. That is why I have always one or two
general conspiratories in the background of my scenarios, which could
come in the foreground if I need it. But they are my own conspiracies,
I thought deeply about them before. Really, I never felt the
need of any sort of GCG while playing Nephilim. If I need a plot
because my players immediatly understood what was going on, I use the
secundary ideas I had kept in the beckground. If one or several
players focus on something they should not, then I think that you must
adapt your conspiratory to the circumstances, and a random generator
is of no use.
That is my own opinion, but I can understand that you feel better
knowing that if there is any problem, your GCG is here to provide some
help.
But I have found something very usefull to find new plot ideas. I have
two independant groups of players (so independant that the players
never met!), which have for the moment completely different
adventures. And regularly, as you describe it, one player focus on
something and imagine some conspiratory where I had seen nothing. But
I always keep such idea in mind, in order to use it with the
other group.
As soon as I have some time, I post my own view about E.Ts (largely
inspired by X-Files) in Nephilim (do not forget the Star
Arcanum... very funny).
Laurent.
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Fri Sep 29 14:36:57 1995
From: kirstin chappell
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
This is a truly inspired idea--if only I had even one group to play
Nephilim with.
On Fri, 29 Sep 1995, Laurent MYNARD wrote:
> But I have found something very usefull to find new plot ideas. I have two
> independant groups of players (so independant that the players never met!),
> which have for the moment completely different adventures. And regularly, as
> you describe it, one player focus on something and imagine some conspiratory
> where I had seen nothing. But I always keep such idea in mind, in order to
> use it with the other group.
I also have to say I agree with Laurent. I have worked with a random
plot generator developed by a group of writers and it still takes a lot
of work to come up with a decent and coherent story when the generator
has finished its job. These things can come up with ideas that you might
not have thought of otherwise, but they don't save time--you have to put
in all the bridges, chuck out all the irrelevancies, develop all the
characters, etc. quite on your own. Nonetheless, if it's new ideas you
want, they can be come up with some novel suggestions.
Paul
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Mon Oct 2 08:59:29 1995
From: pound@is.rice.edu (Christopher Pound)
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Dice and tables don't thrill me, but an automated version might be nice.
Here's a simple script I wrote to handle things like this:
[NMLA Editor's Note: This script has GT and LT signs in it
that wont appear in your browser, but will appear if you save the
file...]
------ Cut here --------
#!/usr/local/bin/perl
# adv - random adventure generator. Written by Chris Pound (pound@rice.edu)
#
# Create a template like "The [1] [2] has [3] the [4]" and put it in a
# file by itself. Create subfiles (named the same as the template file
# but with the number that is being called appended to that name) from
# which lines will be picked randomly and inserted in the appropriate
# place in the template. Subfiles may call other files too.
#
srand(time);
($f=shift(@ARGV)) || ((print "usage: adv \n") && exit);
open(F,$f) || ((print "$f not found.\n") && exit);
chop && ($s=$s.$_) while ;
sub r {index($s,']');}
while (&r>=0) {
for ($o=index($s,'[');$o>=0;$o=index($s,'[',$o)) {
$c=substr($s,$o+1,&r-$o-1);
open(F,$f.$c); rand($.) < 1 && chop && ($t=$_) while ;
(substr($s,$o,&r-$o+1)=$t) && $o++ if $c;}}
for (;$i>=0;$i=index($s,' ',$i+65)) {substr($s,$i,1)="\n" if $i;}
print "$s\n";
------ Cut here -----
Suppose you have a file called "neph" that looks like this:
[1] [2], an agent of the [3], [4].
And then 6 files like this ...
"neph1":
Chris
Ross
"neph2":
Pound
Isaacs
"neph3":
Rosicrucians
Networking Gurus
"neph4":
has stolen a Gutenberg Bible
plans to destroy [5]
"neph5":
the stasis of [6]
"neph6":
Myxztplk
Akhenaton
Victor Jimenez
You could run "adv neph" and get an idea like:
Ross Pound, an agent of the Networking Gurus, plans to destroy the stasis
of Myxztplk.
Pretty simple. With sufficiently complex tables, you could print up dozens
of ideas and work on them a little either before the game or as you go.
--
Christopher Pound (pound@rice.edu) | They think they are Parisians, but
Department of Anthropology, Rice U. | they are nothing. -- Pierre Bourdieu
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Mon Oct 16 21:32:42 1995
From: (RIsaacs@aol.com)
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
Chris Pound has the right idea. I was originally thinking of some
sort of rotating wheel thing, or a deck of NON-COLLECTIBLE cards. It
has been suggested to me that a series of tables would work better,
and could see publication in the GM Companion.
To clear up any misconceptions: I'm not saying GMs would be slaves to
a bunch of tables. Nor am I suggesting that stories should be
generated at random. I happen to think that it's a waste of time and
energy for me to tell you that the Templars and Rosicrucians are
fighting for control of Congress, and the Emperor has sided with the
Rosicrucians, when you and I both know your players are going to read
that. Then it's no longer a conspiracy for the players to uncover.
Unless you'd prefer I write it all in code and leave it up to you to
decipher it all. ;)
Considering all the wacky conspiracies out there - Cuba, the CIA, the
Pentagon and aliens all conspired to kill Kennedy - and events in
Foucault's Pendulum, I think it would be in the spirit of Nephilim to
come up with a quick, easy, amusing way to come up with conspiracies.
It would be a way to shake up creativity, I think. But it appears
that my idea does not meet with the approval of the list. Perhaps
I'll just drop idea.
Ross A. Isaacs
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 03:13:54 1995
From: Liam Routt (repulse@zikzak.net)
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Ross said:
> It would be a way to shake up creativity, I think. But it appears
> that my idea does not meet with the approval of the list. Perhaps
> I'll just drop idea.
Umm, until proven wrong, I would say that one should be caseful to
mistake a lack of positive responses and a few negative responses as
rejection of the idea. I know that I have been quite interested by the
idea, but just have not had the time to make any intelligent
commentary... If you are not going to pursue the ideas here, let me
know off the list, and I will discuss it with you directly; but I
would think that there are probably other lurker types who would find
such ideas valuable, even if they don't feel they have things to
offer, and that the people who are not interested could probably sit
on their hands...
Regards,
Liam R.
--
"My name is Liam. I too am an agent Liam Routt
of the Lord. I ask your aid." Darcsyde Productions
- Xombi, Issue 3 repulse@zikzak.net
Melb Uni: caligari@citri.edu.au WWW: http://zikzak.net/~repulse/
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 05:07:35 1995
From: Slime (slime@alpha.delta.edu)
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
heck just watch the newspapers for good ones to save...
example Headline : Pentagon to Sell 9 million pounds of Mercury
Left over from hydrogen bomb testing(cover story)
Remember " Orichalka stays compact in matter and
is attracted by metals..." pg 127 Nephilim
(Conclusions): Why is the government, gathering
Orichalka? Why is it thinking about selling this
Mercury? Why do they no longer need mercury?
Do they have an even better method now, to gather
Orichalka energy? Or do they seek to Spread their
Stockpile of Orichalka, to specially chosen allies
at bargin basement prices.
The article goes on to say that this planned sale
will drive world wide Mercury prices down, and dis
courage current mining operations around the world
(possible Goal?) to close potential Orichalka mines?
Several groups and members of congress oppose this
plan, etc. (possible sub plots).
All this was generated by reading the newspaper in
About five minutes time, if you need a "Conspiracy
Generator" maybe you're not paranoid enough to play
Nephilim.(tongue in cheek comment).
My meager thoughts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Garlick * Email address : slime@alpha.delta.edu * Saginaw, Mi. USA
Ask about Slime Web: www.alpha.delta/~slime 517.686.9272 Fax 517.686.8736
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 07:33:41 1995
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
From: jd@auvergne.culture.fr (Jerome DARMONT)
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
At 01:01 PM 17/10/95, Liam wrote:
> If you are not going to pursue the ideas here, let me know
>off the list, and I will discuss it with you directly; but I would think
No! Continue on-list! Make it live!
-------------------------------------------
Jerome DARMONT
D.R.A.C. Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, FRANCE
Magice omnipotens est.
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 10:02:31 1995
From: (yfcw29@castle.ed.ac.uk)
Subject: Re: Conspiracy Generator
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Ross Isaacs :
> .....I was originally thinking of some
> sort of rotating wheel thing, or a deck of NON-COLLECTIBLE cards.
> It has been suggested to me that a series of tables would work
> better, and could see publication in the GM Companion.
An excelent mechanism for generating conspiracies already exists, in
the form of Steve Jackson Games' Illuminati and INWO card games.
For those who are not familiar with these, each player starts off with
a card representing a Major Conspiracy such as The Bavarian
Illuminati, or The Servants of Cthulhu. This is represented by a card
with arrows pointing out at each edge. Half a dozen minor groups, such
as the CIA, South American Nazis, Satanists, Boy Scouts, etc, also
represented by cards, are drawn and can be controlled. You end up with
a hierarchy of groups like a tree structure growing out, with your
orriginal conspiracy in the centre. You can then use your controlled
groups to attack uncontrolled or enemy controlled groups.
Sounds complex, but it mirrors the way conspiracies are supposed to work
very simply and quickly. It would be quite easy to do the principle
conspiracies in the Nephilim universe as Illuminati or INWO group cards.
> It would be a way to shake up creativity, I think. But it appears
> that my idea does not meet with the approval of the list. Perhaps
> I'll just drop idea.
Don't you dare! Liam is almost certainly right, there are probably
plenty of people interested in the idea, just not sure how to
contribute.
If you have not seen Illuminati or INWO, find someone who has a set
and get them to demo the game to you. You'll love it. It produces
exactly the sort of unpredictable narative you want, in the form of a
game.
Simon Hibbs
yfcw29@castle.ed.ac.uk
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 10:35:09 1995
From: "Isaacs, Ross" (RISAACS@main.nlc.gwu.edu)
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
> From: Liam Routt (repulse@zikzak.net)
> Ross said:
> > It would be a way to shake up creativity, I think. But it appears that my
> > idea does not meet with the approval of the list. Perhaps I'll just drop
> > idea.
> Umm, until proven wrong, I would say that one should be caseful to
> mistake a lack of positive responses and a few negative responses as
> rejection of the idea. I know that I have been quite interested by the
> idea, but just have not had the time to make any intelligent
> commentary...
Alright. Liam makes a good point. I threw out the idea (and even
got a positive response), so I should persue it.
(and perhaps I'm not paranoid enough, even though I believe that the
U.S. government is behind the illicit drug trade, and that they
monitor our phones and e-mail, and that television is mind control,
to play Nephilim. See my adventure in Serpent Moons, out this
November, to judge.)
(And yes, I know it would make a simple computer program. I got the
idea from Eco's FP, in which a simple computer program starts all the
trouble. But the Conspiracy Generator is intended for publication.)
I do have trouble linking disparate elements. I am very logical and
plot oriented. Is that left-brain or right-brain. Sam has said I
need to get in touch with my poetic side. . . Anyway, I can't figure
out how strange, unrelated events link together. I think this is the
hallmark of a good conspiracy, however. The militia movement in the
U.S. has managed to link the UN with Communism with the American
Government's purchase of old Soviet tanks with roadsigns to come up
with a really good (though wacky) conspiracy. Makes for fun reading.
I'm also certain that given enough time, any gamemaster could come up
with a conspiracy on her own. The purpose of the Generator is to
stimulate thoughts in a short time - in the middle of an adventure,
when you don't have time to flip through the newspaper.
I don't want the Generator to be too static. I don't want it to
dictate ideas. I don't want it to define how elements come together.
I see a series of tables. One might be a list of secret societies.
Another might be a list of places. Another, a list of things.
In the end, you'll get something like this:
Templars
Pentagon
The Holy Grail
You may look at that list and get one story. I'll look at it and get
another.
I'm still wrestling with what tables should be included, and what
should be on the tables.
Ross A. Isaacs
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 11:33:54 1995
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
From: "Isaacs, Ross"
Subject: Re: Conspiracy Generator
> From:
> An excelent mechanism for generating conspiracies already exists, in
> the form of Steve Jackson Games' Illuminati and INWO card games.
[::snip::]
> If you have not seen Illuminati or INWO, find someone who has a set
> and get them to demo the game to you. You'll love it. It produces
> exactly the sort of unpredictable narative you want, in the form of
> a game.
Well, Simon, you are correct. I have INWO and think it's terrific!
Perhaps I should recount my thought process:
I'm in the shower, working on a proposal for a Washington D.C.
sourcebook for Nephilim. I'm trying to come up with all sorts of
political conspiracies - Templars and Rosicrucians fighting over the
Senate, etc. - when it occurs to me that doing so would be silly. You
and I both know that players and GMs alike are going to read this
book. So why put conspiracies out there for Players to read?!
Then I started to think of other things. INWO. Everway's Vision Cards.
Foucalt's Pendulum. I reasoned that it would be fun to create some
way to randomly create conspiracies, which would keep players in the
dark until they learned the secret in play. Naturally, I first thought of
cards. These would be non-collectible, sort of like a storyteller deck.
The GM would flip out cards and have to make up a story (sort of like
Everway). I pitched the idea to Sam, not expecting much.
Sam liked the idea, but hated the cards. He suggested I try to come up
with a series of tables. If done right, it could be useful and funny. This
was not what I was expecting. I thought I'd float the idea here on the
list to see a) the reaction and b) hash out some ideas.
While INWO is a great source, I can't necessarily write a chapter
saying "Use INWO, it's great." (I can, however, use it as a resource.
Thank you for the suggestion, Simon!!)
Ross A. Isaacs
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 14:22:35 1995
From: "Michael V. Caprio Jr." (mikecap@WPI.EDU)
Subject: Re: Wake up, it's a Conspiracy Generator!
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
> (And yes, I know it would make a simple computer program. I got the
> idea from Eco's FP, in which a simple computer program starts all the
> trouble. But the Conspiracy Generator is intended for publication.)
You can still publish lines of code... which would look neat even if
nobody understood them. Maybe even several versions of the perl
script we saw - one in BASIC, one in C(++), one in PASCAL, or whatever
(mind you, this doesn't mean I'm volunteering to write these, but I'm
sure _someone_ on this list might be driven enough to do it...)
Mike
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From owner-nephilim@erzo.ORG Tue Oct 17 14:19:22 1995
From: Laurent.Mynard@laforia.ibp.fr (Laurent MYNARD)
To: nephilim@erzo.ORG
Subject: Re: Conspiracy Generator
You have already what you wish. Akhenathon created it.
Just use a Tarot cards deck to generate your plots. It works.
A few Tarot cards, your imagination and a lot of paranoia, and everything is
done!
Laurent.
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