I've had an idea, but I may need some help. I want... well, I guess, cliches, for want of a better term.
I was thinking that it might be interesting to run a game where the players get a limited hand of "complication" cards, that can be played to introduce twists into the game. I was thinking along anime lines (especially because I just finished reading a sourcebook on running shoujo, or "girl-oriented" anime), so the kinds of things I was thinking of were:
Rival Interferes! One of the characters' rivals (or possibly a new rival!) pops up and further complicates the current situation. Examples include Ranma's rivals in Ranma 1/2, or Team Rocket from Pokémon.
Pervert! Someone accidentally walks into the wrong changing rooms, or is looking at the wrong time when an errant gust of wind blows up a skirt. Again, Ranma 1/2 has a number of examples, as do things like Love Hina and Please, Teacher! - anything that has an easily embarassed male, pretty much. I guess it might include an actual "pervert" turning up, like the Classics teacher in Azumanga Daioh.
Flashback! One of the characters immediately gets to have a flashback to something appropriate from their history.
Falling Petals... Someone has to confess something - either something they did, or something they're feeling.
Run, It's The Fuzz! Someone in authority turns up at an inconvenient moment - the cops, a teacher, a lifeguard, or anyone who'll defuse the current conflict.
I was thinking that some of these might be marked as having to be played at the beginning of the scene - the "Pervert!" one, for example, since it requires some set-up to work, or "Falling Petals...". Some might have the option of being used as a scene-setter or as a complication - say, "Flashback!". And some are obviously complication-only - "Rival Interferes!".
I was thinking about ways to encourage people to use the cards to complicate their lives, and I thought that cards would have a number of points associated with them. A few that were definitely positive for the PCs might cost a point or two, but most of them would introduce a pool of points that the players could get by taking on board the complication - being the one doing the confession in "Falling Petals...", for example.
Anyway - any other thoughts about cliches or situations that might be useful? I was thinking that "Food!" might be one (either someone gets real hungry, or the scene is all about cooking or eating)? Yeah, I'm reaching a bit here... ;)
Posted by svend at November 25, 2004 1:13 AMExcellent idea! Perhaps you could include "a stranger brings strange news" or "tensions rise" or similar. I shall think on this!
other cards could be:
Costume Caper: the characters must suddenly change into a random costume/outfit (there doesn't really have to be a good excuse for this but they must try to come up with one)
Mysterious Illness: the character must faint or get ill because of their secret illness they have been trying to hide out of embarassment.
Annoying Sibling: An annoying (but cute) sibling of a character must turn up and try to tag along.
Flavour of the month: the cutest boy/girl in town walks past and distracts the character who proceeds to get a bleeding nose.
Unrequited Love Letter: A damaging rumour starts circulating based on a Love Letter found that claims of romatic liasons that have never happened.
Weakest link: A characters ultimate weakness must be found out.
electrical malfunction: An electrical item owned by one of the characters must start to malfunction.
Well, that's just a few ideas. : )
Posted by: puggle at November 27, 2004 1:05 AM