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[Harry Baldman]

I have developed an interest in running a succession writing game, and I think I may have a concept.

The game, such as it is, would revolve around forming a unified ideology around four sets of buzzwords (such as, for instance, Anthroneutral Cosmoxism, for a randomly generated example) and four players. Each player on their turn writes a chapter about their set of buzzwords in a way that paints them as the way of the future or something of that nature. Then, when the four players are all done, the buzzwords in question then get passed to the next player in each case, who then writes about their interaction with the buzzword the player previously had. This continues until the point that all buzzwords are fully integrated and iterated from both perspectives, or until it seems like the whole thing looks halfway coherent, whichever comes first.

The selection of the buzzwords has two potential mechanisms. First, random generation - players are selected on a first-come-first-served basis, and the first four get five different random buzzwords each, they have to pick one and roll with it. If they can't work with it, next player in line gets the chance to be in. First people who manage to produce a chapter this way are actually in. The second method is that the players supply a single buzzword each, which may be more interesting (given that the buzzword generator is rather primitive and predictable, really) in the long run, and the best-sounding buzzwords along with the supplying players are put in the game.

Now, who thinks this may be a reasonably good idea?

[WillowLuman]

Sounds like it could be interesting, though I guarantee headaches and bickering.

[Harry Baldman]

Sounds like it could be interesting, though I guarantee headaches and bickering.

Oh, that's why I'd keep it down to four players. It's much harder to attract bickering when you cast a small net. Though what they would bicker about, I have very little clue, since it's a made-up philosophy they're trying to work out on a foundation of nothing less than solid, compressed bullshit.

My two main concerns in this case would be the lack of inspiration among players, especially initially, and overly long waiting times for players to get work done. Though these could certainly be misplaced.

[WillowLuman]

People arguing over the definitions of the buzzwords. And be careful choosing the buzzwords, as some might be confusing/hard to write for.

[Fniff]

So, I've been reading up on Don't Rest Your Head, and it's pretty fantastic. The basic premise is that you are an insomniac who has gained the ability to enter a place known as the Mad City, a metropolis infested with nightmares who want to kill you, eat your soul, or worse. Not only that, you have gained two powers; the ability to do a mundane thing better then anyone else (An exhaustion talent) and the ability to do something completely insane usually relating to your mental disorders (A madness talent).
This is a really cool system that means your character could be able to use their childhood teddy bear to cause natural disasters, able to eat an iPod and a Nokia and then shit out an iPhone, or able to summon subway trains from anywhere. Not random shit I just made up, these are actually suggested powers, and probably some of the lower level ones. There is a cost, however. If you use too much of your power, you will turn into one of the nightmares yourself. And that's if you don't crash and end up sleeping, which is about the worst thing that could happen to you since that makes you defenseless and means every nightmare has your exact location. Death is about the best case scenario in that situation.

I was thinking of running a game. Anyone interested if that did happen?

[BlitzDungeoneer]

I actually read up on a bit of that system as well, and it seems pretty interesting, so yeah.

[flabort]

Pheh. I play games to live out fantasies, not experience real life.

Er.

Yeah, I don't get enough sleep as it is. However, I guess the game sounds fun enough as long as it stays a game.

[WillowLuman]

That would be worth keeping an eye on, at least.

[Execute/Dumbo.exe]

I would find it pretty interesting.
Question, does sleeping provide any benefits if you survive through it (however small a chance that would have.) and do the nightmares continue to know exactly where you are if you wake up alive?

[flabort]

TV tropes says that once you're rested, you still function as if you were asleep (Nightmare Magnet, they know where you are), but now don't have your powers to defend yourself, until you stay awake long enough to get them back.

[Fniff]

Pretty much what Flabort said. The length of time is about forty days, if I recall.

[Empiricist]

I think the duration you had to stay awake for has to be at least equal to the amount of time you were asleep for. So at least one day.

[Playergamer]

Linksy to a new game, based off of TCM's RTD from two years ago. Plz look, haven't gotten any responses in 3 hours.

[Parsely]

So, I've been reading up on Don't Rest Your Head, and it's pretty fantastic. The basic premise is that you are an insomniac who has gained the ability to enter a place known as the Mad City, a metropolis infested with nightmares who want to kill you, eat your soul, or worse. Not only that, you have gained two powers; the ability to do a mundane thing better then anyone else (An exhaustion talent) and the ability to do something completely insane usually relating to your mental disorders (A madness talent).
This is a really cool system that means your character could be able to use their childhood teddy bear to cause natural disasters, able to eat an iPod and a Nokia and then shit out an iPhone, or able to summon subway trains from anywhere. Not random shit I just made up, these are actually suggested powers, and probably some of the lower level ones. There is a cost, however. If you use too much of your power, you will turn into one of the nightmares yourself. And that's if you don't crash and end up sleeping, which is about the worst thing that could happen to you since that makes you defenseless and means every nightmare has your exact location. Death is about the best case scenario in that situation.

I was thinking of running a game. Anyone interested if that did happen?

Where can I download this system?

[Fniff]

It's by some fellows named Evil Hat Productions. Try buying it there.