I'm still trying to figure out how come the shiny medal was different (if indeed it was, and not the whole thing an invention by Toaster). I'll post some theories, please let me know what you think, or alternative suggestions.
- It was mentioned but not used the first time it came up: It's a possibility, and the main reason I added the laser pointer, coins, and other crap when I did the last one.
- It was mentioned at night, and used during the day: This would prevent us from an experiment today, but we can invoke new stuff to try it on tomorrow.
- It was intended by the mod somehow: this theory is that, if Toaster did indeed get the PM about it, that it was GG just yanking his chain (and ours, by extension) conjuring up a random useless object/ability. Sounds petty, but bastard is not a compliment.
- It was shiny, and it was given: no other things (that I recall at the moment) in the flavour have been shiny (yeah, I'm grasping here, but I'm trying); the only other thing that was explicitly given from one player to another was Toaster's toast to Solifuge (the medal doesn't count, since his PM told him he lost it), though that seems rather trivial. Soli, did you get the toast? I also offered pizza around at the beginning of the game, but no one took me up on it; I suspect it too would have had an effect (though it's too late now).
- It is some sort of easter egg: Other than the couple recent ones, I've not followed/played any of GG's other games. He does seem quite creative and not repetitive, which is an ideal set up for easter eggs. Does any of the old hands know him to do such a thing? Does it fit with his overall Mod personality? If this is true, it could account for the resurrection, and would make Toaster's claim of already having one an (unverifiable) lie.
...more ideas as they come to me. What else was different about the medal? Can we trust Toaster's claim of a PM about it? As far as I can tell, all other attempts to interact with the world via flavour text have failed -- unless Webadict did die of paint allergy? I doubt it, but I've painted Vector, so we can verify that tomorrow. Also, if the death was caused by paint, it would mean the scum didn't kill last night, which seems improbable.
We can probably set some of these up to see if they have an effect today or tomorrow. Suggestions welcome.