This was an online playtest of an earlier version of my "Dangerous Ideas" game. The main changes after this (and as a result of it) were to limit bonuses to twice a chapter, and to start with two memes instead of one. Enjoy!
[DangerousIdeas] PerrySimm says, "OK, log on."
Grog says, "(Still reading.)"
Grog says, "(Wait. Grog can't read...)"
Calidius says, "Ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Calidius says, "Let's see, dwarf memes. How about we say they're immune to being replaced, but can't assist anything. At any point, you can turn them into a leaf or coiled meme by drawing in a leaf or coil, at which point it acts like the others."
[DangerousIdeas] Eolo says, "alrighty"
Grog asks, "Can you fail to create/probe if you're not going after someone else's meme, or is that an auto-success?"
Calidius says (to Grog), "Yeah, you fail as normal."
Calidius says, "Going after someone else's meme is just tougher."
Calidius says, "(because they get bonuses to defend)"
Grog asks, "If you go after someone else's, can you follow it up by trying to create it without going after them? Or does that count as the same action with the same memes, even though it's only one of the memes?"
Eolo says, "it seems like it should count as the same action"
Calidius says, "Hmm, let's say you can't try to create or duplicate the same memes in the same turn whatever action they're associated with."
Eolo says, "yeah"
Calidius says, "(and actually, the basic action would indeed be the same--Create or Probe)"
Grog says, "I haven't finished reading, but perhaps we should start, and I'll catch up as we go."
Calidius says, "The only time this would be an issue (except to your own creativity) would be when trying to duplicate the same meme twice. You can always just think up some other meme."
Eolo says, "yeah, let's start"
Calidius exclaims, "OK!"
Eolo asks, "do we pick the ideas first or the story first?"
Calidius says, "So, first thing is to pick philosophies."
Calidius says, "Either."
Calidius asks, "Do you have a preference?"
Eolo says, "no, I dunno"
Eolo says, "I will be Modern Technology"
Eolo says, "unless that is too broad"
Grog says, "I was thinking of Alien Influence."
Calidius says, "Nah."
Calidius says, "Sounds good."
Grog says, "(In the 'extra-terrestrial' sense.)"
Calidius says, "Heh."
Calidius says, "I kinda liked my example of the Attitude of Cats, so I'll go with that."
Jota hollers (to inky), "You missed hearing him holler 'gotta come back!' while he was offline."
Cats renames himself.
Cats asks, "Shall we use the room for the story, or the channel for the story?"
ModernTechnology says, "the room"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Sounds good."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And, finally: the story."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Jack and the Beanstalk?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "The Three Little Pigs?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I'm fine with either."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "That's nicely episodic; sure."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "alrighty"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess you go first"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Right!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Hee, 'New Choice'. How long have you been looking for a good opportunity to stick that in a game?)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Let's see."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee"
Cats says, "Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. The first little pig always kept himself neat and tidy, for he knew that being clean meant that people would like you."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats writes down "people like you if you're clean" on a coiled meme.
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh yeah, I forgot about the initial round"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So is there only one dwarf?"
ModernTechnology says, "All three of the little pigs lived in houses that they had built with no difficulty whatsoever, due to their fine collection of tools"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, and ' - first pig', and I added a stone to that meme."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, and everyone should have 7 stones on the five nodes, too."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hmm, I guess I can't narrate something that crosses all three pigs"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Also, which branch did you add the meme to?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "The top one next to 'Probe'."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I put 2 on think, 2 on create, and 1 on the others."
ModernTechnology says, "so make that: The second little pig lived in a wooden house he had easily built for himself using his array of up-to-date woodworking tools"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks (of Tech), ""...that the third pig had purchased for them"?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology writes down 'Tools make things easier'
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I guess I'll go 2 on think, two on connect, two on connect, one on defend, and none on probe. If none's allowed."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I have the same layout as ET"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, none is fine."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "and I am writing that meme down on my create's coiled meme"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(however, was that 2 on create?)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, ET's turn for the setup."
ET says, "And the third little pig lived in a brick house with a big sturdy roof, on which he'd laid out a landing pad for flying saucers."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "do we put a stone on this meme we have just laid down?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] ET writes 'aliens will help us if we cooperate with them - third pig'.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Excellent!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "On, I guess, the coiled meme for create."
Cats says, "Chapter 1: In Which The Wolf Arrives, and Destroys the House of Straw."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(We're going for 6 chapters here)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Hmm. So every chapter has the same person starting?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, it rotates."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I announce the first chapter, then we play it out, starting with Modern Tech."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, I go first? ok"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "With me going last."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "then MT announces the second chapter, etc."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I will take three stones for my first action and place them on think and create"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "then for my second action I will attempt to create a meme"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "You get two free stones first, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Woo!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says (to ET), "oh yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I'll, I dunno, place one on create and one on connect"
ModernTechnology says, "One day, as the first little pig was sitting in his house of straw, he noticed the wolf zipping up on his segway. "Gosh," thought the first little pig, "That segway sure is nice. I wish I had a segway! It's so useful!""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I am going to create the meme "Segways are awesome - first pig""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "OK, what are you spending?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I don't quite get how this all works now -- I guess I will spend three stones from create and three stones from think and my one meme stone, for a total of 7"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology exclaims, "would anyone else like to help? you get 2 tokens if it succeeds!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, each time you spend from an outer node or from a meme, you add a bit to the narration."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "in addition to the previous thing I said? Or should I have not said that yet?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Your current narration works for the 'create' spending."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Sure, why not. I like segways."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "aha"
ModernTechnology says, ""Perhaps I should use my credit card to buy a segway," thought the first pig. "Credit cards are useful for getting new technology.""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks (of ET), "ok, you're putting a stone in?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "in that case I will roll against 8, unless Cats wants to help also"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, and you get one bonus point for using a coiled meme."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I will!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So I guess I spend one from Connect."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "ok, so I have a total of 7 regular stones spent, plus one bonus stone, plus the two you guys are contributing?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Do I add to the narration for doing so?"
Cats says, "'If I go around on a Segway, I won't have to walk! And that will keep me cleaner, since I won't have to walk through the dirt!', the little pig thought."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Actually, wait--MT, your current meme is held by the third little pig, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "so it can't help out here?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So if you want to involve that meme, you have to have him involved somehow."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, it can help, you just have to have the first pig think about what the third pig always does, or have him show up, or have a flashback, or what have you."
ModernTechnology says, "The first pig went into his house and called the third pig to tell him about the great segway. "Hey," said the third pig, "I could use my credit card to help you buy the segway""
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Wait, I thought MT had the second pig."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "You can either spend one from Connect, or just contribute the bonus from your current meme, if you can narrate it in somehow."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Er, right."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "dammit"
ModernTechnology says, "s/third/second"
[D&D] katre says, "my PHB is downstairs"
[D&D] katre says, "luckily, d20srd.org"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, perfect."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of Cats), "So I could contribute a bonus from the meme I have plus one from connect, helping by 2, and only giving up one stone?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, I'm just contributing the bonus point from my 'cleanliness' meme."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Or you could give up nothing, and just contribute the bonus."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hunh, weird"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(the max effective score you need is 10)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "But connect is only useful for helping other folks, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yes."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So, it's either spend it, or burn an action later moving it."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "May as well spend it."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "There will be more opportunities to spend it, but sure."
ET says, "And as the first pig looked at the different models, he noticed that one of them had a cool logo that resembled a painting the third pig had hanging on his wall. ANd he thought to himself..."
ET says, "'Big brother pig always said that there was a deep universal significance to that pattern, and that its presence here would help bring about a future of peace and goodwill. I would like to help him to achieve that buy buying this particular model.'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok, I'm going to roll and try to get 10 or under"
ModernTechnology rolls 2 6-sided dice: 5 4| 9
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hooray"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Yay!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Congratulations! It's a boy!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology writes Segways are awesome on a coiled node on his sheet
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, so, you get a new meme with a stone on it, and ET and I get 2 stones each."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, wait, we get 2 stones on Think."
[DangerousIdeas] ET adds two stones to Think.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "And that's 2 actions!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Now it's ET's turn."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So MT doesn't need to do a finishing narration?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats removes the bonus stone marker he had put on his sheet.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, it picks up from where it left off with you."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "OK."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Wait, duh."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Er, no, right."
ModernTechnology says, ""Well, that settles it," thought the first pig. "Go ahead and get me the awesome-looking one!" he said to the second pig."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "You done?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK! ET's turn."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So, I'll place one of my stones on Probe, and one on Create."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Then I'll try to Create a new meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "If I incorporate my previous meme into the narration, do I get its bonus stone?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yes."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(because it's a coiled meme)"
ET says, "Meanwhile, the wolf was looking at the house of straw and thinking about the relationship between wolves and pigs."
ET says, "'It is not logical or statistically likely,' he said to himself, 'that two such different species as wolves and pigs would have both achieved this level of sentience and intellect by chance and nature alone.'"
ET says, "'Perhaps we were both nothing more than dumb animals, but have been raised to this level by some outside influence which seeks to pit us against each other, in a grand experiment.'"
ET says, "'By defeating that third pig and his two brothers, I can help further this experiment to its natural conclusion of lupine superiority!'"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "can't argue with that"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha, yay."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "OK, so what all are you spending?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So now I proffer all three from create, two from think, and my bonus token from the cooperation meme. And then I look around the table hopefully."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(I theoretically could have spent up to three from think, right, since that what's I gave from create?)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "can I contribute bonus stones from both my coiled memes?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And you can later if we don't help you enough."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Or if we spend against you, etc."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "The only rule is that each time you spend more stones, you add to the narration to justify it."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So, who's up for a little contribution?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, hey, I'll join in."
ModernTechnology says, ""I must prey on their weaknesses," thought the wolf. "The first pig was clearly lured by the sleek lines of my segway, while the second's reliance on tools means I must obtain tools of my own to oppose him""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "And you're adding?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I am adding two bonus stones, yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, let's try this: first, announce what you're spending and from where, then do the narration bit."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, I'm spending a bonus stone from 'people like you if you're clean':"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So he can only add from coiled memes, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(And you?)"
Cats says, "Right."
Cats says, "'But who should I go for first?' the wolf mused. 'Perhaps the first little pig. I do like pork, and he is clean, and sure to be free from germs.'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "We're up to 9?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess so, yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So now I have six Monopoly buildings, two pennies, and a Chinese checker to roll against?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha, yes."
ET rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 2| 3
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You succeed! Narrate your meme's acceptance."
ET says, "'Thus,' concluded the wolf, 'I shall be forced to blow their houses down one by one.'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "And then I'll add 'aliens have influenced the development of species -- big bad wolf' to a leaf node under Connect. And give it a stone."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And MT and I add 2 stones to think for helping."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And you get a second action."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "OK. So let's try a probe."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Nobody can contribute a bonus to this action that they already contributed to the last action, but they can still spend stones from any potentially-involved node or meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "And they couldn't anyway in this case, since they could only contribute coiled before, and only leaves now?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "True."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "You can duplicate any meme you want, though, including a coiled one. And if you do that, that particular coiled meme can contribute."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So, if I tried to spread the influence meme, I couldn't use the cooperate one's bonus to help it, but if I try to spread cooperate, I can get a bonus from influence?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Then I'll do the latter."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Spreading cooperate to the first first pig."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Since spreading it to the wolf seems like it'd be an awful lot like the last narration.)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, say what you're spending, and narrate."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I'll spend the one from cooperate, one from probe, one from think, and the bonus from influence."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "That's all that I can spend, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You can spend the stone sitting on influence, too."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh yeah. So I will."
ET says, "'That wolf outside the window looks like he has something nasty in mind,' the first pig thought to himself. 'I wonder why he is so naturally ruthless, while we are so naturally peace-loving.'"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "I will contribute a stone from my connect pool -- do I have to narrate for that, and if so, what about?"
ET says, "'Perhaps wolves and pigs have been created for two different purposes, to serve two different sides in some great conflict.'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yes; you can narrate anything that seems apropos to your general philosophy."
ET says, "'Then I should do all I can to aid the side of goodness and right and ensure that that pesky wolf's plans come to no fruition.'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "<end>"
ModernTechnology says, ""Clearly what I need to do is see about upgrading my home's defenses to the most modern ones possible," the pig added mentally."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So that's six so far, I think -- anything from Cats?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, I'll spend 1 from connect, too."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "What meme are you going for, again?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Spreading cooperate, right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Spreading cooperation from pig 3 to pig 1."
Cats says, "'And clearly, I need to do this in a calm and aloof manner, so the wolf will have no idea what I'm really up to,' the first pig thought to himself."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Are we up to 7?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "I think so. Now we roll, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Go for it."
ET rolls 2 6-sided dice: 2 2| 4
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Woo."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So now I will add the cooperation meme, with a tag of 'first pig', to... a coiled meme under defend. And give it a free stone, and move the defend stone into it."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Excellent."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, my turn."
ET says, "So he slipped out the back door and began investigating where he ought to erect his new security armaments."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Whoops, right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(That is all I had to say.)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And MT and I add yet another 2 to think."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Now it actually is my turn."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'm putting my 2 on Create, spending 3 from it and 3 from Think, my bonus from clean and the stone on Clean, to create a new meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(I wonder if it would be useful later to clean this up and add selected excerpts to the end of the rules, as a sample transcript.)"
Cats says, "The wolf circled the house on his segway. "Hmm," he thought, "clearly the best way to destroy this house is to blow on it opposite to the way the straw is lying down. Perhaps the best way to annoy anything is to rub it the wrong way.""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Crap, now I have to incorporate cleanliness, too ;-)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Nice."
Cats says, "That pig is so clean, that everyone will want to help him. I better destroy him first."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "OK, anyone else?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I will contribute my tools bonus"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "wait, no, that's on pig #2"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I will contribute my segways are awesome bonus"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You can still contribute it, it just might get tricky in the narration."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But sure."
ModernTechnology says, ""Clearly the thing to do is to park my segway invitingly out on the driveway, then activate my super-mega-air-blaster against the straw when the pig comes out," said the wolf"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Excellent. ET?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "I would like to test defending, but have no appropriate stones. How many stones are in your favor so far?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I have 9."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I count 11"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You can spend your leaf meme bonus."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but maybe I miscounted"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, I see, I did"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "3 create, 3 think, 2 clean, 1 segway."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "You have nothing on defend?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I'd better help, then. Let's toss in one from cooperation."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "The bonus one."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Cool."
ET says, "'I had best be careful, though -- that first pig is acting as though he might be expecting *outside help*, if you know what I mean.'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Heh."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, that's 10; I'll roll."
Cats rolls 2 6-sided dice: 2 6| 8
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yay, stones for everybody."
Cats exclaims, "With that, the wolf carried out his dastardly scheme. The pig came out to admire the segway, and the wolf aimed the super-mega-air-blaster at exactly the wrong spots on the house. It was destroyed instantly!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats writes 'Rub things the wrong way to annoy them' - wolf on a leaf meme next to Create.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And I think I'll do the Jota thing of doing a Probe as my second action."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I have Set a Trend."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, spending 1 from probe, 1 from think, 1 bonus and my new stone from rub things wrong, I'll spread 'rub things the wrong way to annoy them' to the, hmm, third little pig."
Cats says, "The third pig was wandering by, and saw the destruction of his brother's house. Seeing the wolf about to pounce, he quickly ran up to help. "How should I distract him?" he thought, wildly. "Maybe something with his fur...?""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hmm, I see I should have spent more from create and less from clean last time. Oh, well."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of MT), "Are you getting involved?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "I guess I have 4! Help, anyone?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "nah, I'll skip it this time"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "if you want to try to defend against it"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Oh, we never said where we put our dice from helping MT, did we?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You put your bonus on Think."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(My think is pretty darn full now)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Is that what your question was?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Also, since Cats pointed out that I can use my bonus from influence to defend, I shall do so."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Curse you! ;-)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats is down to 3.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And go ahead and narrate."
ET says, "'But how do I know that the *wolf* was naturally programmed to hate being rubbed wrong too? Perhaps our forebears only gave that trait to a few species, but not most of them'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "OK, I roll!"
Cats rolls 2 6-sided dice: 2 3| 5
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So you were rolling against a 3?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I could theoretically re-roll the 3, but that's only a 1 in 6 chance."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "In terms of physical components, it seems slightly odd that you subtract one pile of stones from the other pile of stones."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "As opposed to, say, adding the pile to your roll."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Which would have you rolling a 6 just now, versus a TN of 4.)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hmm."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "well, he had it set up so when you play defend stones, you just take away helping stones"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but I guess it's better to keep them all on the table"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I think it would make more sense when everyone's physically together."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Also, I think this game takes longer to play than you expected. Possibly we should aim for just three chapters?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Heh, yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Part of it is learning how it works, but sure."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "At any rate:"
Cats says, "The third pig rand up and tried rubbing the wolf's fur backwards, but the wolf completely ignored him, and made off with the first pig. The third pig sat up and dusted himself off. "Well, *that* didn't work.""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Chapter 2!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "In which inky presents the title?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
ModernTechnology says, "Chapter 2: In which the first pig escapes from the wolf's kitchen and hurries to the wooden house, only to see it also destroyed"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And, ET starts."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So I begin by receiving two stones, which I will place one of on create and the other on probe."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Then I shall attempt to create a new meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Using one stone from create, one from think, both from cooperate1, and the bonuses from cooperate1 and cooperate3."
ET says, "During all of this, the second little pig was relaxing in his kitchen, drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hee hee"
ET says, "He happened to look out the window and saw the third pig racing down the street toward his home, shouting 'prepare the mandala, and add to it the token representing little brother big! we must commune with the overlords and beseech their aid in freeing him from the big bad wolf!'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha"
ET says, "The second pig peered pensively into his coffee. 'This is mightily similar to the events I just read about moments ago, in the panels of Marmaduke and Beetle Bailey. It is almost as though those strips were arranged in that way for a *purpose*, to warn me -- if only I had been wise enough to see it!'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Wait, wasn't one of your cooperate memes on a leaf?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Influence is a leaf."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, gotcha."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So I am attempting to add the meme 'aliens communicate via cryptic messages'."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Who wants to help?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "You're at 6?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah, I think so. Create 1, think 1, cooperate1 2+bonus, cooperate3 bonus."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I will contribute my tools bonus"
ModernTechnology says, ""And I would have been able to see it if I'd only used the right device," said the second pig. "Perhaps I need some kind of electrospectroscope.""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats adds a bonus from clean
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So that makes 8. Anything else?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I roll, then."
ET rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 4| 5
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "You got some good dice, here."
Cats says, "There's just gotta be something I can do for him," the second pig added. "I feel compeled to help, because he is so clean.""
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Oh, whoops -- forgot your narration.)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "S'okay."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You win! Go ahead."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "OK, so I'll add this to a leaf... off of create."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I sure do have a lot of tokens piled in think"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So that gives me one token on my new leaf node."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "And I'll try another probe."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(and narrate the success)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, right."
ET says, "And so he turned straight away to the horoscope page to seek further guidance."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Now I'll do another probe."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So mechanically, it looks like it's to my advantage to extend the same cooperation meme again."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right, but you get less points at the end of the game."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but if you're doing a probe, you should do one you did before"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah, what MT said."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Er, what?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Any probe, whether I'm extending a current group or turning a unique meme into a group, would appear to net me the same 1 VP."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, I get it."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Wait, no."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You get 2 points, effectively, for the first new one because you create a group of size 2."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Netting you 4+2 points."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Instead of 4+3."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Ah, OK."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, right, going from 4 to 4+2 instead of from 4+2 to 4+3."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But the latter is easier due to the additional bonuses."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Then I suppose I'll extend my new meme to the third pig, if I can."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Spending one from probe, one from think, the bonus from influence, and both the bonus and existing stone from the new cryptic messages meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "hmm, what is that? 5?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Go ahead and narrate, and then we can join in or oppose."
ET says, "The third pig threw open the door. 'Middle brother pig! The wolf has been gifted with sharp teeth and a terrible cunning, but you have been gifted with wisdom! How do you propose we respond to this threat?'"
ET says, "'Ah,' said the middle brother pig. 'We must discover the wisdom of those beyond us. Here, let me show you how...'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "<end>"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'll defend! For now, I'm spending the bonus from 'rubbing things the wrong way'."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Aw."
Cats says, "But in the meantime, the wolf had returned with his super-mega-air-blower. "Those pigs don't know what they're talking about," he laughed, and turned on the blower--aimed right through the window, up the hairs on the back of the second little pig's neck!""
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Not his chinny-chin-chin?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Ha!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I think I am not going to do anything here"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims (at MT), "But if you contribute your leaf bonuses, we could win this together!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "YM coiled."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology exclaims, "I don't have any leaf bonuses!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "So we're down to 4?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "wait, it's a probe, so he means leaves, I think"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats checks.
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, Cats is right, I think."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I need leaves, but you'd need coiled to help me."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, coiled always help? okey doke"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, Leaves are always Defend, and coiled are alway Connects, when it's not your turn."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "wait wait"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hmm, ok, so I could help"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but I'm not going to, haw haw"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "I spent everything I could already, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I could theoretically spend a couple more, but 4's already pretty unlikely, and I can spend some reroll points if I need to."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, go ahead and roll."
ET rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 1| 2
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Nyeah nyeah."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hooray"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "You just emoted that, didn't you?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of MT), "See? Two of these stones could have been yours?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says (to Cats), "Nope."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I will spend a seed to make you reroll!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "One seed, so you reroll one die."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(the 1)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, you are evil."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of Cats), "Left or right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Left!"
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 1| 1
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "That is craziness."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Uh. I *am* doing this right, right? 'roll 1d6'?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You can try rolling a couple more times the same way."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Clearly my philosophy is just fundamentally *right*."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "OK, tests:"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(not as a reroll)"
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 1| 1
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 2| 2
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 5| 5
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 5| 5
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, I'm glad I didn't spend another ;-)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Man. Why'd I waste that perfectly good 1 and 2 on tests?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You win! Go ahead and narrate."
ET says, "'Ah!' said the third pig, as his younger brother showed him how to interpret the steganographic messages concealed within the cereal advertisement on television. 'So we use complex carbohydrats to thwart him!'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So I will add the meme to a coiled node... one on probe, I guess."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "iron helps us prey"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Hee."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I will take my 2 and put them on create, then take 3 stones as an action and put *them* on create, then spend all of them plus five from think to create a new meme--replacing influence!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "And I remove the bonus markers from my other nodes now that it's the next player's turn, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Which character had influence, and what's the full text there?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "The wolf had it, and I abbreviated when I wrote it down -- let me scroll back."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, right."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "wait, you're replacing one of your own memes?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "'aliens have influenced the development of species -- big bad wolf'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, I'm trying to replace ET's."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh right"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "He's still got a grudge from when I defended against him earlier."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'm also trying out the different systems. And hey, you have the most memes."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Excuses excuses!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Which meme are you replacing it with?"
Cats says, "You know what?" the wolf said to himself. "Perhaps aliens didn't have anything to do with this after all. Those pigs are just being annoying. Perhaps I shall turn this air blower on at full volume, and howl along with it! Loud noises are, perhaps, the best way to get those you dislike to leave!""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Nice."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, I have 10 to start."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So, you have ten stones? And I can use any meme of mine to defend with?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "the replaced meme counts double, I think"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You can use any leaf meme, the influence meme, and any other meme held by the wolf."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Not memes held by other characters?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And yeah, the influence meme gets a +2 bonus instead of a +1, and any stones you spend from it count double."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "Not unless they're leaves."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(or you can assist and give it up for lost)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So, I could use cryptic messages from the second pig and influence from the wolf... which would only give me three. Unfortunately, I've nothing on defend, so I can't use think. Hmm."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah, I'll toss them in. Might as well fight with all I have."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats takes three off--go ahead and narrate.
ET says, "'But what if this is a test, to see how far I've developed? Just this morning, I noticed that my alpha-bits spelled out MPDHNABE -- that could easily stand for "Middle Pig, Destroy Him Now And Become Enlightened!'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "OK. MT, are you getting involved?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'll go ahead and spend my bonus from 'clean' first."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I warn you, I have seeds: siding with the felines will net you no stones."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess I'll defend for no reason at all"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "only one stone, since that's all I got on defend"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Woo!"
Cats says, "I just didn't have the heart to eat the first pig--he was entirely too clean," he thought. "Destroying the middle pig will be much more satisfying, and I know just how to do it.""
ModernTechnology says, "The pig rushed to his new computer to enter this new alpha-bits data into his spreadsheet"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I've lost track of how many stones are in the middle of the table."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, I'm running low on stones, but I might as well spend my last stone from Create and a stone from Think."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I've been keeping track."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(with actual stones!)"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I think he put ten (now 12) in, and has taken 3+1 out"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Plus one bonus, for a total of 13+, 4-."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "ok, so roll?"
Cats says, "The wolf saw the pig rush to his computer and it infuriated him even more. "What good is technology if I don't have my meals?" he exclaimed. "Yowwwl! I must eaaaat!!!""
Cats rolls 2 6-sided dice: 3 3| 6
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Yay!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "(Does spending from create/think but not a meme get you more narration?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims (at Cats), "Reroll the left one!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, every time you spend from anything you narrate."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Does it matter which seed I kill?)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats re-rolls!
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 6| 6
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Muahaha!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I still am at 9 or less, though."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Reroll the right one!"
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 2| 2
[DangerousIdeas] ET crosses off a second seed.
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Uh... again!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Muha muha muha!"
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "O noes!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I'm re-rolling the 6!"
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "I am down three seeds, but my meme is still safe... or *is it*?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Not any more!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(the dice stand at 4 4)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh dear. I need a six to rescue my poor meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I do not think I could make that happen, even with the aid of Those Above. I concede."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So by crossing it off, I leave that meme's node unavailable for the future, right?"
Cats says, "The wolf yowled! And turned on the blower full-bore! The pigs inside tried to concentrate on their alien friends, but they seemed to have been abandoned. With the house groaning around them, they finally high-tailed it and fled the scene!""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, it now counts as an open branch."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "That should probably be clarified in the rules."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats writes down 'loud noises drive away your opponents - wolf' on a coiled meme next to defend and puts a stone on it.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "Hmm, is it not?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Also, that makes it potentially tricky to fit another meme in the same spaces without erasing.)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Hmm. I guess it's clear in one place, but not under 'meme actions'."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ah, OK."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(The 'additionally' bit.)"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I think it's a nice additional perk to have replace make the spot unusable, but I dunno"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Was that your second action?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So, on to Tech."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks (of Tech), "Hmm, you think so?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Also, I'm noticing that shifting stones hasn't been all that popular.)"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I am about to shift a bunch of stones"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Never mind."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "also, wait, am I the third? and you guys haven't accomplished any of the things I mentioned in the chapter title?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Dude, I don't even *remember* the chapter title."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I narrated that the first pig escapes from the kitchen and runs to the second house only to see it destroyed"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, I got as far as destroying the second house, but that was it."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "anyway, I have 9 stones on think -- I can spend an action to move as many as I want to the outer nodes, right?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'm not sure about that with only 3 people--you all hadn't done my own chapter title stuff either."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, you did? I missed that"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, whoops, I guess I meant to add:"
Cats says, "...and the house collapsed behind them.""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok then"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I was too busy trying to save the pigs and the house and... uh... I guess it doesn't work that way."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "anyway, for my first action, I move 1 stone from the create node to the tools meme hanging off it, and 5 stones from the think node to the create node"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "Heh."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I'm going to spend 4 from think and 4 from create to create the meme "Technology can save your butt!" for the first pig"
ModernTechnology says, "Meanwhile, the wolf had tied up the first pig, tossed him on the segway, and set the segway to drive back to the kitchen. The first pig thought he was doomed, but suddenly realized the taser he was carrying."
ModernTechnology says, "Wriggling free of the ropes, he smacked the segway with the taser and it exploded in a cloud of sparks, sending him free of the wreckage"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "I wish to help!"
ModernTechnology says, ""Thank goodness I had that taser, he thought""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology exclaims, "please do!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I will contribute my bonus die from the third pig's belief in cryptic messages."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "awright"
ET says, "'I had thought it was merely pure luck that seeing the photograph of Big Brother Pig and his tesla coil on my mantelpiece this morning had reminded me to take my taser with me, but perhaps it was something more.'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And I'll contribute my bonus die from 'cleanliness'."
Cats says, "It's a good thing I was so clean that none of the electricity could be conducted to me!" he thought."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Er, bonus point."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok, I guess I will roll with 10"
ModernTechnology rolls 2 6-sided dice: 5 3| 8
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hooray"
ModernTechnology says, ""Thank goodness for technology!" he thought, dusting himself off (despite being pretty clean) and wriggling out of the burned ropes. The first pig raced back to the wooden house just in time to see it blown over."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "And a new early-adopter was born!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yay."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok, I guess ET should do the last chapter"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Sounds good."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats remembers to add his 2 bonus to think.
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, and I'm writing this down on a leaf node from connect"
ET says, "Chapter 3: In which the third pig's fortress proves insurmountable"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "The turn order thing is turning out to be a bit odd."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'm not sure if it works anyway, or what."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But at any rate."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "It seems to, sort of."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Since by counting the title as a turn, it means that each round is staggered one from the previous."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Which sort of skips you when it's your turn to announce the title."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But it happens to everyone, so."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats puts 2 stones on Create.
[DangerousIdeas] Cats spends 2 stones from create, 2 from think, the bonuses from clean and loud, and the stone from loud to create "In the end, it's best to lie in the sun," for the third pig.
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "It might be good to recommend making the number of chapters a multiple of the number of players, so as to give everyone an equal chance at being first/last."
Cats says, "The first pig met the two other pigs in the wreckage of the second pig's house."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, that's in there."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "What shall we do?" he cried. "Never fear," said the third pig. "We can all go to my house.""
Cats says, "What shall we do?" he cried. "Never fear," said the third pig. "We can all go to my house.""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(ilac)"
Cats says, "The loud noise drove them away from the wreckage. The second pig shuddered, "Wow, I'd do anything to get away from that.""
Cats says, "The first pig said, "There's too much dust from your house, pig two. I'm getting dirty!""
Cats says, "The third pig said, "At my house, there's a great big picture window. We can all sit in the sun by it and escape from the wrath of the wolf.""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "<fin>"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "I'm at 7--anyone else?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I will defend with the bonus from the second pig's cryptic message."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Aww."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "I must avenge the developmental influences!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess in that case I will defend also"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Arr."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, spend away you meanies."
ET says, "'Butbutbut!' shouted pig two, 'We cannot rest on our laurels! For look at the clouds, which form the shape of an elongated object that is probably a sword, indicates that we must proactively plan and prepare without hesitation!'"
ModernTechnology says, ""It's too dangerous to just go lying around in the sun!" said the first pig. "What we need is something more high-tech to save us, like a jetpack!""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats plinks down to 5.
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok, that's all I got"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I will roll!"
Cats rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 1| 5
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Woo!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ah ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I will spend a seed to make you reroll the 1"
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 5| 5
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Curses!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "I will spend a seed to re-roll it again!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Ah, I am pleased to see I am not the only evil one."
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Sigh, again."
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "And again!"
Cats rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "man what"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats peers suspiciously at the die.
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I am almost sad for you."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hmm."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I have 2 seeds left, which I can either spend now or THWART YOU ALL"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And I think I shall thwart you ;-)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Go for the thwarting, man."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "well, there's only a limited amount of time left to spend them, but I guess it might be better spent later"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "We totally deserve it."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Especially him."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "you get one more action anyway, don't you?"
Cats says, "I guess you're right!" the third pig said, "Quick, to the landing pad atop my house!""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "For my second action, I will take 3 stones and put them all on Defend!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I forgot about that"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oho, wily"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hm, my turn"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Clearly, I should have taken them first and spent them, but I figured you all would need more stones and would help."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I WAS WRONG"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I dunno, there's a lot of incentive to go along with what the other person is doing"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Help? My *nemesis*?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says (to MT), "True."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hmm, I suppose so."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "With four or five players, it'd probably be a pretty big effect."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "This might be less... right."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "(probably this is exaggerated in a 3-person game)"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Oh, wait, no."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of MT), "Hmm. You think?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "You think it would be bigger or smaller with more people?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I was thinking that once one person decided to help/hinder, you'd be guaranteed success/failure, because no one else would want to be on the losing side."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "well, if ET does something, me trying to cancel it often won't have a real effect, but if there was someone I could convince to come do what I'm doing, then it might be worth me doing it"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I dunno"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I.e. if I give you my bonus, then MT and Firearms would automaticlaly join in with a bonus stone, since it'd mean a free stone."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "anyway, I guess I will spend one action to get 3 more, and spend 5 from create, 2 from think, and 2 bonus stones from coiled to create the meme "Ground forces are helpless against those with aerial mobility""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I guess the other part is that in person, it'd be more obvious (to everyone) who had more memes, etc."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah."
ModernTechnology exclaims, "The wolf rushed over to the third house, minutes after the pigs did. But it was minutes they took advantage of -- hurrying onto the alien landing pad on the roof, they climbed into the saucer-like craft that had parked there and took off!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I am not sure if Cats has any real incentive to help here"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but I guess ET can still get some stones if he helps"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says (to MT), "Wow. This seems like a winning proposition. I'll help."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Wait, I actually do, don't I."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says (to MT), "If Cats had saved any on defend..."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "oh, do stones on think help you at all?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "If I help, i'll have more to spend against ET in the last round."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "...then he could spend them with thing stones."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks (of Cats), "This is the last round, isn't it?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "yeah, right now I have 4 stones on defend and no stones anywhere else."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Yeah, so anything you get on think is going to be in your favor."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Yeah, it's just a matter of trying to hinder both of you, or just trying to hinder ET."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "well, I have two more stones I can pull in"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Anyone, I'll contribute my bonus from first pig's cooperate."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hooray"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Anyway, I mean."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks (of MT), "2 more from Think?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh yeah, I guess I also have two more from think"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I was thinking of the two I had on coiled nodes"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess I should narrate those"
ModernTechnology says, ""This craft is awesome!" said the first pig. "These smooth lines, the way we ride it standing up -- it's like a flying segway!""
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee"
ModernTechnology says, ""This sure is helpful for getting away," said the second pig. "No way we could get away this easy on our own""
ET says, "'Now we just need to attract a spaceship with a giant laser to fight at our side,' said the first pig. 'Quick, help me lay out these Hostess Twinkies(tm) in a ring-shaped pattern. Everybody knows that giant-laser-equipped spaceship pilots cant resist that golden sponge cake and deliciously creamy filling!'"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I'll add a bonus from loud noises."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(hee hee)"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "(actually, I guess I now have 0 left on think)"
Cats says, "And that wolf gave me an idea!" said the second pig. "We can use this 'annoying noise' button and drive *him* away!""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "And now inky's trying to roll 2d6 to get under like, 27 or something?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Good luck with that."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I just fail on 11/12"
ModernTechnology rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 5| 6
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hooray"
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "Woohoo!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Woo"
ModernTechnology exclaims, "The ship soared away into the air!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess ET to finish up"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "for the record i have 2 stones on connect and 2 on defend, and four memes (2 leaf and 2 coiled) each with a stone"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I have 4 defend, 2 think"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I guess it kinda sucks to go very last, since nobody wants the bonus any more."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "OK. So I start out by getting two stones to place anywhere. Then I get another three as an action."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "It sucks mechanically, but rocks narratively."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Because if I win, I get to narrate the ending-ish pre-moral."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Heh. Rock on, then!"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So, I put all five of those on Create."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Then I spend all of those, plus all five on think..."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "...plus the stone on cryptic/third pig, plus the bonuses on that, and cooperate/first and cooperate/third..."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "...which I believe gives me 14 stones in my attempt to create a new meme."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "that is hard core"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Woo-hoo! Narrate away."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "are you replacing or creating?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "er, or just creating"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(maybe the tiebreaker should be leftover stones+seeds?)"
ET says, "'Now,' said the third pig, 'turn on the random-electromagnetoscope to find out what our battle plan should be.'"
ET says, "'Aye aye, Big Brother Pig!' said the littlest one. 'And I'll press this yellow button that sends a radio message containing the sum of all our earthly knowledge into the void, just like you prepared ahead of time. For we all know that information is the currency of the future and aliens and space travel and stuff like that.'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "That depends. Will just creating give me a lead?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "(Didn't notice your question before, since I was busy thinking up narration.)"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I dunno which is likely to be less defended again"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "st"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I have a total of 3 unique memes right now."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I guess that means there's kingmaker problems with this game, too."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "hmm"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Like, if you both were beating me, I could decide who would win."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I've got 4"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But anyway."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I have two groups of two. Worth 12 together. And a new unique meme should give me 16 VP, I think."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So unless my analysis just now is wrong, I'm just creating."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "You'd tie with a new one, then."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess he'd win with seeds"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I thought three unique memes were only four each, for a totaly of 12."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "as the tiebreaker, I mean"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, inky had four."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I missed that."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says (to ET), "Right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And, duh, I should have tried to stop Tech."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "How many seeds does inky have?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks, "6?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "So I *need* to replace in order to win."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Replacing it is, then -- what memes do you currently hold?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "no, you win ties with *fewer* seeds"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Wait, wha?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I dunno, it's his rule"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Then can't we both just intentionally use up all our seeds?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "No, that was the old rule."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, whoops"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology asks, "what's the new rule?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "(when you spent seeds on 'New Choice!'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "The new rule is that you win with more seeds."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh, ok"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So, what memes does MT have?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "And perhaps the new insta-rule is that you total seeds+stones for the tiebreaker."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "anyway, I have four memes: "segways are awesome" (pig #1), "ground forces are helpless against aerial attacks" (wolf), "tools make things easier" (pig #2), "technology can save your butt" (pig #1)"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "It is like this game isn't even finished being written yet."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee hee"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats asks (of MT), "Which ones are leaves and which coils?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "oh yeah"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "the second and fourth are leaves"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "So the one to go for is the wolf one."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Oh, man."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "yeah, I guess so"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Since it's already a leaf, and he doesn't have any other wolf ones to help."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Why the wolf one and not the pig #1 one?"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Ah, right."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Of course, this means you have to make the pigs technology fail ;-)"
ET says, "'But if this whole *house* were a *gigantic* *tank*,' thought the second pig, 'then we could just ROLL RIGHT OVER the wolf!'"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ha ha yay."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I'm totally lost as to what meme you're creating here"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "but I have no real complaints"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Presumably you should tie that in to your own philosophy."
ET says, "'And I bet the aliens could turn the house *into* a tank if they really wanted to...'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Uh, 'the aliens are coming for us and will save us in the end'."
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "aha"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Or, um. Except I'm replacing the wolf, so..."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "s/us/them."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "'the aliens are coming and will save their favorites in the end'."
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "OK, so I've got my 14 stones. What kind of defenses do I face?"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "I guess I have 2 stones from defense pool, 1 stone + 1 bonus from pig #1 leaf meme, and 1*2 stone + 1*2 bonus from wolf leaf meme"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Taking it to 7."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Narrate away!"
ModernTechnology says, "Meanwhile, down at ground level, the wolf was deploying anti-personel mines he had found someplace. "I may not be able to handle their aircraft," he thought, "but any land-based forces will suffer!""
ModernTechnology says, ""Gosh," the first pig thought, watching him, "I guess technology might really be able to save him in a crisis if we were to ride out in a tank!""
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ok, that's all I got"
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Heh."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "And now Cats will do his worst, I imagine."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Well, hmm, I do have 6 stones."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Unless he decides to stay out, on the basis of not wanting to do kingmaking."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "But, yeah, the kingmaking thing is sort of weird."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I guess I will spend 2, on the theory that I would have had 2 left if I had not stupidly helped Tech last turn."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Unfortunately, you have an existing fued with both of us."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats spends 2 from defense!
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Bringing me down to five?"
Cats says, "'Who needs to fly, anyway?' thought the wolf. 'Birds go down as easily as pigs!'"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "Aren't you *favoring* aerial beating ground?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "I think I am defending the wrong meme, but hey."
[DangerousIdeas] ET exclaims, "New Choice!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Ha!"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "Yay!"
Cats says, "'Curse them and their flying ship!' thought the wolf. 'I hope they go for the tank option!'"
Cats says, "'I do hate birds!'"
[DangerousIdeas] ET asks, "So now I'm rolling against a five, yeah?"
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "OK, roll or New Choice me."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Ayup."
ET rolls 2 6-sided dice: 5 3| 8
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Seed, of course."
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "On the five."
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 5| 5
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Again."
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 3| 3
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "Again."
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 4| 4
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "I think I ahve on seed left, if I counted right."
ET rolls 1 6-sided die: 6| 6
[DangerousIdeas] ET says, "And I fail."
ET exclaims, "And then all of a sudden, the house itself comes to life!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "already I am piecing together the moral of this narrative"
ET says, "There is a great whirring and a flashing of lights and a shuddering vibration."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Hee hee yay"
ET exclaims, "ANd the building slowly breaks free of its foundations... levitating up and LIFTING INTO THE AIR!!!"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "ha ha"
[DangerousIdeas] ModernTechnology says, "it's a FLYING tank"
ET says, "The flying brick house of the third pig floats, like a brick-that-floats-in-the-air slowly toward the wolf who stands there with an expression of utter disbelief on his face."
ET says, "And then falls on him. The end."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats exclaims, "And, Modern Technology wins again!"
ModernTechnology says, "hee hee hee"
ModernTechnology says, "Well, I think it's clear what the moral of this story has been"
ModernTechnology says, "namely, snow goons are bad news"
ModernTechnology says, "I mean, uh,"
ModernTechnology says, "ok, I have no idea what the moral here is"
ModernTechnology says, "You can rely on modern technology but alien technology might make your house fly and then fall over"
Cats says, "But even aliens rely on technology to prevail."
ModernTechnology says, "yeah, I guess so"
ModernTechnology says, "aliens are like modern technology FROM THE FUTURE"
Cats exclaims, "Post-modern technology!"
ET says (to Cats), "Your game totally rocks, by the way."
Cats says (to ET), "Yay, thanks."
ModernTechnology says, "this was pretty fun as a storytelling facilitator"
ModernTechnology says, "I am not sure about any of the mechanics, really"
ET says, "It depends how much you care about winning."
ModernTechnology says, "but it's possible more strategies would come up with more plays"
ET says, "Making me think of, e.g., 'Just A Minute'."
Cats says, "Yeah, I mean, ideally it would be both a fun strategy game and a good storytelling facilitator."
Cats says, "But it might have to settle for being better at the latter than the former."
Cats says (to ET), "I'm not familiar with that."
ET says, "It's a radio show on the BBC. Panelists are supposed to try to speak for sixty seconds on a given subject without hesitating, repeating themselves, or deviating from the subject."
Cats says, "Oh, interesting."
ModernTechnology says, "hunh"
ET says, "If you catch someone breaking one of those rules, you buzz in. If the host thinks your challenge is justified, you get a point and get to start talking on the subject in the remaining time."
ET says, "If the host doesn't think it's justified, the person you interrupted gets the point and gets to keep going."
ET says, "And whoever's talking at the end of the sixty seconds gets a bonus point. Continue for as many rounds as you have time for."
ModernTechnology says, "wow"
ET says, "In theory, it's a competition. And the players do listen carefully for mistakes and jump on them, keeping each other on their toes."
Cats says, "As far as the mechanics go, I think it's at least clear that there's not a single obvious strategy. Since if you go for the coiled memes, you can only help others and leave yourself open for replacements, and if you go for leaf memes, you get less points (from groups) and less stones."
Cats says, "Heh, but it's really more about the chatter ;-)"
ET says, "But in practice, it's all for fun, and they won't hesitate to challenge you to make a quick joke, even though it'll score you a point."
Cats says, "That's the same sort of thing going on in a lot of ComedySportz games."
ET says, "(The four panellists all being comedians, not regular folks vying for a prize.)"
Cats says, "You're theoretically vying for points, but the point is that vying for points frees you to be creative and amusing."
ET says, "Yeah."
Cats nods.
ModernTechnology says, "interesting"
ET says, "And gives you restrictions that are fun to try to work around."
Cats says, "Exactly."
ModernTechnology says, "yeah, restrictions are good"
ET says, "Like the way DI forces you to work your memes into your narrations in order to get their bonus stones."
Cats says, "Yeah, that was what I was hoping for."
ET says, "Although I think it might not be bad to have multiple memes to start with."
Cats says, "I was wondering if spending seeds should have a narrative effect, but I think that might be a bit much."
ET says, "Since I did feel like I was sorta repeating myself a bit, trying to re-use the same memes over and over."
Cats says, "Hmm, that seems reasonable."
ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
ET says, "Maybe if you had to take one of each (leaf, coil) in the first setting stage."
Cats says, "I guess a bigger restriction would be to only get the bonus once per chapter."
ET says, "So that you wouldn't just be repeating *both* of them every time."
Cats says, "And starting you off with more."
Cats says, "Right."
ET says (to Cats), "Yeah, that might not be a bad idea."
Cats asks, "Did the number of stones seem reasonable?"
ET says, "Yeah, I think so."
ModernTechnology says, "well, it was a little tight at first, but once I got going it was fine"
ET says, "What he said."
ModernTechnology says, "if we can't use the free bonus all the time it'll get tight again"
Cats says (to Tech), "Yeah, you had to go first, too."
Cats says, "I suppose using the bonus once for yourself and once for everyone else would be a bit hard to keep track of."
ModernTechnology says, "but the action to get 3 stones seems like a good amount"
ET says (to MT), "On the other hand, getting two memes to start would give you two bonus stones in the first round rather than one."
ModernTechnology says, "true"
ModernTechnology says, "I mean, I think it would be an improvement, I'm just mentioning the downside"
ET says (to Cats), "You could let people use the bonus N-1 times, where N is the number of players. But that might just be confusing."
Cats asks, "Oh, you think 1x bonus/chapter is good?"
ET says, "Especially if they wanted N-1 uses in the same round."
Cats says, "Hmm, yeah."
ET says (to Cats), "Maybe. But with a lot of players, it might get stretched thin."
ET says, "Maybe you can use it every other round in a chapter."
ModernTechnology says, "I guess yet another idea would be that every time a chapter starts, you put 3 stones on each meme, or something"
ModernTechnology says, "or 2 stones or I dunno"
ModernTechnology says, "and that would take the place of the bonuses"
Cats says, "Oh, I get it. Yeah, you could just add bonus markers to N-1 or whatever."
Cats says, "Or N/2"
ModernTechnology says, "or, right, have a separate bonus color"
ET says (to Cats), "Yeah."
ET says, "The separate bonus color would be important there, I think."
ET says, "Since you don't want the bonuses getting saved up."
Cats asks, "I was doing that for my own sheet--were you guys?"
Cats says, "(Putting the bonus marker on memes as I used them)"
ET says (to Cats), "I was for the 'mark that this node's bonus is used', yeah."
ModernTechnology says, "no, I was just remembering"
ET says, "(Hotels instead of houses.)"
ModernTechnology says, "it didn't seem so bad when it was just in the same round"
Cats says, "If you could only use them 2 times per chapter, it'd be more important, presumably."
ET says (to Cats), "But I mean that actually placing bonus tokens down at the start of the round, as available stones of the other color, would be good."
ModernTechnology says, "yeah"
Cats asks, "So, the reverse?"
ET says, "Right."
Cats says, "So, N/2 (rounded up? down?) bonus markers on all your memes at the beginning of the chapter."
Cats says, "Which you then just spend."
ET says, "Right."
Cats says, "and when you get a new meme, you put one stone of your color and 2 bonus stones on it."
Cats says, "And the bonus stones refresh at the end of the chapter."
ET says, "Two or one? The round is partially over at that point."
Cats says, "I'd think the same number as everything else."
Cats says, "Although, hmm."
ET says, "OK. That makes the create-then-probe or create-then-create autc. tactics more powerful."
ET says, "Since you get to potentially use all three of those new stones in your second action."
Cats says, "Yeah."
Cats says, "Well, wait."
ET says, "(Also, in answer to your earlier question, 'rounded up'.)"
Cats says, "I think you should only be able to use one bonus stone per *action*."
Cats asks, "That wouldn't be too hard to keep track of, would it?"
ET says, "Bonus stone per meme per action, I assume."
Cats says, "Right."
ET says, "Nah, I don't think so."
ET says, "I mean, I don't think it's too hard to keep track of."
ModernTechnology says, "yeah, that seems fine"
Cats says, "Yeah, that's how I parsed it."
Cats says, "OK, so: N/2, rounded up, bonus stones per meme per chapter."
Cats says, "One of which can be spent per action."
Cats says, "2 memes at the beginning, one leaf, one coil."
ET asks, "Does this RPG design contest involve judging?"
Cats says, "Everyone who entered gets to vote on the ones they like."
ET says, "If so, I suspect that the shorter and more succinct your rules are, the better your chances will be."
Cats nods.
Cats asks (of ET), "Did you think they seemed long as-is, or OK?"
ET says, "Which isn't to say that your rules are particularly long, but just that it might be one area in which one could influence the judges."
ET says, "By meta-gaming the meta-game."
Cats says, "There's a thread right now about 'How long is your game? Mine's (X) words""
Cats says, "Heh."
ET says, "Oh, and dwarf memes are probably an unnecessary complication."
ModernTechnology says, "oh yeah, I forgot about those"
ET says, "You might consider switching to just 'coil' memes and 'straight' memes. Since the game we just played seemed to go fine without mentioning dwarves at all."
ET says, "Anyway, you rock and your game rocks."
ModernTechnology says, "for parity the dwarf meme should actually be a coil, not a straight, but I don't think it really makes that big a difference"
ET says, "Later."
ModernTechnology says (to ET), "byebye"
ET has disconnected.
Eolo has disconnected.
Cats says, "Yeah, I think there's no need for special dwarf rules."
[DangerousIdeas] Cats says, "Thanks, all."
[DangerousIdeas] Jota exclaims, "Quite welcome!"
Calidius has disconnected.
Calidius exits stage left.