Octopus Overlords

Let's try this again.

...

I've tweaked the rules to approach a more traditional WW. I haven't changed a lot though, since the ruleset did work out pretty well last time.

The major differences are:
* the baddies have no conversion power (because conversions sucks and aren't fun)
* the baddies have a baddie forum and there are three of them
* Gollum is boosted, and propped to play a balance game between good and evil

Full changelog in the third post. If you didn't read or participate in the first Fellowship game, I've linked to it in my sig.

Fellowship of the Ring II

Many Meetings

Frodo woke and found himself lying in bed. At first he thought that he had slept late, after a long unpleasant dream that still hovered on the edge of memory. Or perhaps he had been ill? But the ceiling looked strange; it was flat, and it had dark beams richly carved. He lay a little while longer looking at the patches of sunlight on the wall, and listening to the sound of a waterfall.

”Where am I, and what is the time?” he said aloud to the ceiling.

”In the House of Elrond, and it is ten o’clock in the morning,” said a voice. ”It is the morning of October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know.”

”Gandalf!” cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by the open window.

”Yes,” he said, ”I am here. And you are lucky to be here, too, after all the absurd things you have done since you left home.”


THE FELLOWSHIP

HOBBITS



Frodo
Starts with the One Ring. Immune to corruption. If Frodo controls the Ring at the start of the 7th Chapter, he must immediately pass it on to another (uncorrupted) Hobbit or to Gollum. Failure to do so causes the Servants of the Eye to win. Frodo is the only Hobbit that may re-possess the One Ring without succumbing to darkness.



3 Hobbits
Hobbits are unusually resilient to corruption. If they get control of the One Ring, they will resist corruption for one single Journey/Chapter cycle. Before the end of the following Journey/Chapter, they must pass the Ring to another player or become corrupted. They may never possess the Ring again or they will be instantly corrupted, with one exception: if they are passed the Ring in Chapter 7, they will not be corrupted. Instead, they will win the game with the Fellowship.

FREE PEOPLE



Aragorn
Aragorn may protect one player each Journey. Aragorn may not protect the same player two Journeys in a row. Protected players are immune to Hunts by Servants of the Eye. Aragorn will know which actions he managed to disrupt, if any (Kill, Capture). Aragorn will not disrupt an action that would otherwise fail. Aragorn may not protect Captured or Imprisoned players.



Gandalf
Gandalf may determine the nature of one player once per Journey. Frodo and the Hobbits will scan as Hobbits. Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir and Warriors of the Free People will scan as Free People. Corrupted players, Uruk-Hai, Saruman and the Witch-King will scan as Servants of the Eye. Gollum will scan as Gollum.



Boromir
Boromir wants to bring the One Ring to his father Denethor, Steward of Gondor. He wins with the Servants of the Eye, not with the Fellowship. Each Journey, he may scan for Frodo. Boromir is misguided, but not corrupted, and counts as a Warrior of the Free People for the purpose of scans and ability to Hunt Some Orc.



3 Warriors of the Free People
Warriors of the Free People have a sacred task to protect the Ringbearer at any cost. They have no special power by themselves, but as long as at least one of the Free People (including Aragorn, Gandalf and Boromir) is alive the Fellowship has the ability to Hunt some Orc.


SERVANTS OF THE EYE

The Servants of the Eye have access to a secret forum in which to plot and coordinate. Register at http://ooww.freeforums.org/ and send me a PM to gain access to Spoiler and Servant forums.



Uruk-Hai
The Uruk-Hai are given command by Saruman to seek out and capture the Hobbits, alive and unspoiled, for they carry an Elvish weapon. Each Journey, the Uruk-Hai may Hunt one player. If target player is Free People, that player is killed. If target player is a Hobbit, Frodo or Gollum, that player is captured. Hunting may be disrupted by Aragorn. The Uruk-Hai is told if and what kind of action was disrupted by Aragorn (Kill, Capture).



Saruman
As a one-time ability, Saruman may choose to Imprison a player. He may do this at any time. Imprisoned players are removed from the game just as if they were Captured and are prohibited from using any special powers such as protections or scans. Any player, even Free People or Servants may be Imprisoned. Upon Saruman's death, Imprisoned players are freed. Imprisoned players may not be freed in any other way.
* If the Uruk-Hai is slain, Saruman inherits the capture/kill power.




Witch-King
Once each Journey, the Nazghul Witch-King of Angmar may search for the One Ring by targeting a player. The Witch-King will determine whether that player holds the One Ring or not. This action may not be disrupted by Aragorn.
* If both the Uruk-Hai and Saruman are slain, the Witch-King inherits the capture/kill power.

GOLLUM



Gollum
Gollum wants the Ring for himself, and he is accustomed enough to its wiles that he can withstand the desire to return it to its Lord. Gollum is immune to corruption (as we know it) and will hold the Ring without becoming a Servant of the Eye.
* As a one-time ability, Gollum and Steal the Ring from a player. If the target player is not a Ringbearer, the ability is wasted. Gollum cannot Steal the Ring from a Captured or Imprisoned player. Gollum may never pass the Ring to another player.
* As a one-time ability, Gollum may Guide a player. Guiding revives the player who was Appointed as Scout in the previous Chapter.
* Guiding or Stealing may only be used during Journeys. Neither action can be disrupted by Aragorn.

PASSAGE OF TIME

The goal of the game is getting through 7 days ("Chapters") of travel.

The ”Night” cycle is referred to as the ”Journey”.
The ”Day” cycle is referred to as a ”Chapter”.
The game starts with the first Journey, through Caradhras to the Doors of Durin.

Prologue: Rivendell. (Sign-ups, roles are handed out.)
Journey 1: Caradhras
Chapter 1: The Doors of Durin
Journey 2: Balin’s Tomb
Chapter 2: The Mines of Moria
Journey 3: The Bridge of Khazad-Dum
Chapter 3: Lothlorien
Journey 4: The Great River Anduin
Chapter 4: Rohan
Journey 5: Helm’s Deep
Chapter 5: Fangorn Forest
Journey 6: Isengard
Chapter 6: Minas Tirith
Journey 7: The Black Gate of Mordor
Chapter 7: The Cracks of Doom

Journey sequence of events:

Gollum guides.
Gollum steals.
Boromir scans
Gandalf scans.
Witch-King searches.
Aragorn protects.
Servants of the Eye hunts.

Chapter sequence of events:

Broadcast:
Which faction (Fellowship, Servants of the Eye, Gollum) controls the One Ring.
Which players are Captured.
Which players are Imprisoned.
Remaining players.
Display ”You may Hunt some Orc” if ”Hunt some Orc” is legal.

CHAPTERS

At the start of each Chapter, it will be broadcast which of the three factions control the One Ring (Fellowship, Servants of the Eye or Gollum). Note that simply capturing the Ring isn’t enough for the Servants of the Eye to win, they need to bring it to their Dark Lord. Gollum needs to possess the Ring at the end of the 7th Journey in order to win.

During a Chapter, the Fellowship must vote to Appoint ”(player name)” as Scout, alternatively ”Hunt some Orc” within ”accuse” tags. A majority vote is needed. Once a majority is reached, voting is closed. Captured players may not be Appointed as Scout, may not vote nor post in the game thread.

Being Appointed as Scout is a dangerous task, and will lead to the death of the player appointed (it’s the same as a standard lynch). The player’s faction is revealed (Free People, Hobbit, Servant of the Eye or Gollum). Corrupted Free People and corrupted Hobbits die as Servants of the Eye.

LET THE RINGBEARER DECIDE

A time limit is imposed on Chapters. If the time limit is exceeded, the player who currently has the Ringbearer's vote will be Appointed as Scout. If the time limit is exceeded without an active vote from the Ringbearer, the Ringbearer will be Appointed as Scout.

HUNT SOME ORC

Voting to ”Hunt some Orc” unlocks all captured players (but not Imprisoned players, see below) and ends the Chapter without a lynch. ”Hunt some Orc” is a legal vote only if any uncorrupted Free People remain AND there is at least one Captured Hobbit, Frodo or Gollum currently. Whether ”Hunt some Orc” is legal or not is displayed at the beginning of each Chapter.

CAPTURED OR IMPRISONED

Frodo, Gollum or the Hobbits may become Captured by the Servants. Until freed, a Captured player is forbidden to post or vote and may not be Appointed as Scout (lynched). If the Captured player is a Ringbearer, that player keeps the Ring until he is released. Possession of the One Ring is always considered to be with the Servants of the Eye faction in this case. If the Ringbearer is freed by Hunt Some Orc, however, and still uncorrupted the possession of the Ring goes back to whatever faction the Ringbearer has (Fellowship or Gollum). If all Servants are killed while players are captured, those players are not automatically freed. Goblins and orcs are considered to have run off with the little ones until the Fellowship have successfully Hunted some Orc.

Through the course of the game, a player may become Imprisoned by Saruman. Imprisoned players are removed from the game just as if they were Captured and are prohibited from using any special powers such as protections or scans. Imprisoned players may not be freed by Hunting Some Orc. The only way to release an Imprisoned player is to slay Saruman.

HEY, GANDALF, CATCH

Frodo and Hobbit Ringbearers may Pass the Ring to another player at any time by sending a PM to the Moderator specifying which player the Ring is to be given. The recipient of the Ring will be told the player name of the player who sent the Ring to him. Be careful about to whom you Pass the Ring! Only Hobbits can carry it without succumbing to darkness.
* Any Free People who are passed the Ring will be Corrupted immediately and ally with the Servants of the Eye.
* Any Hobbit other than Frodo or Gollum who is passed the Ring for a second time, or holds on to the Ring for more than one Journey/Chapter cycle, will be Corrupted immediately and ally with the Servants of the Eye.
* Corrupted players immediately gain access to the Servant secret forum. They lose whatever powers they used to have. Their victory condition change to that of the Servants of the Eye.
* The Ring may never be passed to a Captured, Imprisoned or dead player.
* If a Ringbearer is killed, he must immediately pass the Ring.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The Fellowship wins if:
At the start of the 7th Chapter: The Ringbearer must pass the Ring to another, uncorrupted Hobbit (even if this Hobbit has previously held the Ring) or to Gollum for the Fellowship to destroy the Ring and win. Any other action results in a win for the Servants of the Eye. The targeted Hobbit is not corrupted even if he has held the Ring before, and will win the game with the Fellowship.

The Servants of the Eye wins if:
At the end of the 7th Journey: If the Servants of the Eye controls the One Ring, the Servants of the Eye wins.
At the start of the 7th Chapter: If the Ringbearer fails to pass the Ring on to another Hobbit or to Gollum, the Servants of the Eye wins.

Gollum wins if:
At the end of the 7th Journey: If Gollum controls the One Ring, he will win by running off with it to his secret lair, keeping it hidden for another few hundred years. If Gollum is passed the Ring at the start of the 7th Chapter, however, the Fellowship will win instead.

Changes from the first game:

* New role: Saruman. As a one-time ability, at any time, Saruman may choose to Imprison a player. Imprisoned players are treated like Captured players, except that any player, even Free People or Servants may become Imprisoned. Upon Saruman's death, Imprisoned players are freed. Imprisoned players may not be freed in any other way. If the Uruk-Hai is slain, Saruman inherits the capture/kill power.

* The Witch-King may no longer convert players. If both the Uruk-Hai and Saruman are slain, the Witch-King inherits the capture/kill power.

* The Servants of the Eye have access to a secret forum in which to plot and coordinate.

* Any Fellowship Ringbearer, not just Frodo, must pass the Ring in Chapter 7 to win.

* Aragorn may self-protect. He only protects against the Servant hunt (kill/capture).

* A Ringbearer facing death decides to whom the Ring is passed - no random redistribution.

* "Let The Ringbearer Decide" - a time limit is imposed on Chapters. If the time limit is exceeded, the player who currently has the Ringbearer's vote will be Appointed as Scout. If the time limit is exceeded without an active vote from the Ringbearer, the Ringbearer will be Appointed as Scout.

* Boromir may now scan for Frodo once per Journey.

* Gollum has a new special ability! Instead of searching for the Ring each Journey, he may try to steal the Ring as a one-time ability. In addition, he has the one-time ability of Guiding: During a Journey, Gollum may cancel the previous Chapter's Scout casualty.

14 players.

1. Grundbegriff
2. redrun
3. theohall
4. Qantaga
5. bb2112
6. rhsetts2
7. Remus West
8. RMC
9. tru1cy
10. triggercut
11. Mr Bubbles
12. coopasonic
13. pr0ner
14. Newcastle

Oh, and feel free to comment and discuss. I know I'm out of sequence here so no rush to get this started.

The road goes ever In and In,
Down from the forum where it began.

Grundbegriff wrote:The road goes ever In and In,
Down from the forum where it began.

It's a dangerous business, going out your door.
You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet,
there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.

IN please.

I've read through the rule changes. I like the passing of the evil power. Imprisionment will be powerful, but I think it will balance - last game folks only wanted to hunt orc, but the more players left, the easier it is for Saurman for hide.

Speak friend, and enter.

Friend!

"Here is the Mirror of Galadriel," she said. "I have brought you here so that you may look IN it, if you will."

Very interesting set of rules. I'm looking forward to it.

Sounds like fun Ill give it a go.

Someone has to get bb2112 killed. IN.

Remus West wrote:Someone has to get bb2112 killed. IN.

bb2112 wrote:

Remus West wrote:Someone has to get bb2112 killed. IN.

In fairness, I meant someone other than yourself.

Remus West wrote:

bb2112 wrote:

Remus West wrote:Someone has to get bb2112 killed. IN.

In fairness, I meant someone other than yourself.

 Remus West 
 


Don't even know if he is the Seer and already trying to kill him.

In

in

In!

So, four more players and we're off!

A question to you all: What do you think of Gollum's Guiding ability? Too weird? Do you think it would be possible for Gollum to find a good use for it (given his status as his own faction)?

I could change it to something else. I don't mind him having a really powerful ability either, since he's all on his own and odds are against him anyway. If you think Gollum's ability should be changed, please suggest an alternative power.

[Biased]

Death to anyone with furry feet!!!! Yessssss.

[/biased]

stessier wrote:[Biased]

Death to anyone with furry feet!!!! Yessssss.

[/biased]

Thanks for the suggestion - that might be too powerful.

Won't you join the game btw?

I was trying to resist, but what the heck count me in.

Mr Bubbles wrote:I was trying to resist, but what the heck count me in.

Same and I'll add that I totally don't understand the rules.

In!

in.

Lagom Lite wrote:So, four more players and we're off!

A question to you all: What do you think of Gollum's Guiding ability? Too weird? Do you think it would be possible for Gollum to find a good use for it (given his status as his own faction)?

I could change it to something else. I don't mind him having a really powerful ability either, since he's all on his own and odds are against him anyway. If you think Gollum's ability should be changed, please suggest an alternative power.

Evil has little reason to leave Gollum alive, and strong reason to want him dead.
The only scanner is Gandolf, who is likely to want Gollum around.

So, Gollum can't publicly use the ability to bargain for his life. I'm don't see why he would ever use it (am I missing something?).

An alternative ability. He doesn't want anything that makes him look different than a hobbit - so no immunity to other folks actions (imprision, capture). He's a survivor - very hard to kill. Oxford would like to get a picture of him to use with the definition of sneaky. He made it through Moria on his own. He's very hobbit like.

On first scan by Gandolf, he scans as hobbit? Gandolf can scan again if he chooses, and will find the truth on closer examination?

quit giving me the big puppy dog eyes stare!!!!

redrun wrote:Evil has little reason to leave Gollum alive, and strong reason to want him dead.

But evil can't actually kill Gollum, they can only capture/imprison him. It would be up to the Fellowship to risk letting him loose.

Alright, the roster is full. I'll start up shortly.

Qantaga, could you hand me the keys to the ooww.forum please?

Keys sent.

Prologue - Rivendell

Next day Frodo woke early, feeling refreshed and well. He walked along the terraces above the loud-flowing Bruinen and watched the pale, cool sun rise above the far mountains, and shine down, slanting through the thin silver mist; the dew upon the yellow leaves was glimmering, and the woven nets of gossamer twinkled on every bush. Sam walked beside him, saying nothing, but sniffing the air, and looking every now and again with wonder in his eyes at the great heights in the East. The snow was white upon their peaks.

”I do not understand all this,” said Boromir. ”Why do you speak ever of hiding and destroying? Why should we not think that the Great Ring has come into our hands to serve us in the very hour of need?”

”You cannot wield it,” said Aragorn. ”None of us can.”

”What strength have we for the finding of the Fire in which it was made?” said Boromir. ”That is the path of despair, or folly I would say.”

”Despair, or folly?” said Gandalf. ”It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Well, let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into this heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.”

”At least for a while,” said Elrond. ”The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”

Frodo glanced at all the faces, but they were not turned to him. All the Council sat with downcast eyes, as if in deep thought. A great dread fell on him, as if he was awaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainly hoped might after all never be spoken. An overwhelming longing to rest and remain at peace by Bilbo’s side in Rivendell filled all his heart. At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice.

”I will take the Ring,” he said, ”though I do not know the way.”




Any player may, at any time, ask the moderator to clarify a rule by sending me a PM or by coloring the question red in the game thread. Feel free to PM me your thoughts and your plans, I will enjoy reading them.

Roles are randomized and sent out. The first Journey will begin as soon as everyone has received their role.

Good luck!

alrighty then, checking in, ready to roll.

Servants of the Eye, I've put up your baddie forum at http://ooww.freeforums.org/ . Please let me know if there are any problems or you find that you lack access.

I've put up a spoiler forum for those of you who (irretrievably) die, and to those of you who are lurking in this thread. PM me if you want access.

Lagom Lite wrote:Servants of the Eye, I've put up your baddie forum at http://ooww.freeforums.org/ . Please let me know if there are any problems or you find that you lack access.

For the sake of simplicity, post your issues accessing the baddie forum here.

coopasonic wrote:

Lagom Lite wrote:Servants of the Eye, I've put up your baddie forum at http://ooww.freeforums.org/ . Please let me know if there are any problems or you find that you lack access.

For the sake of simplicity, post your issues accessing the baddie forum here.

I don't see anything there except the old forum.

I am still at a convention, and flying Friday, but will be on as much as I can.

Sorry about the EZmate to begin.

Lagom Lite wrote:Prologue - Rivendell

Next day Frodo woke early, feeling refreshed and well. He walked along the terraces above the loud-flowing Bruinen and watched the pale, cool sun rise above the far mountains, and shine down, slanting through the thin silver mist; the dew upon the yellow leaves was glimmering, and the woven nets of gossamer twinkled on every bush. Sam walked beside him, saying nothing, but sniffing the air, and looking every now and again with wonder in his eyes at the great heights in the East. The snow was white upon their peaks.

”I do not understand all this,” said Boromir. ”Why do you speak ever of hiding and destroying? Why should we not think that the Great Ring has come into our hands to serve us in the very hour of need?”

”You cannot wield it,” said Aragorn. ”None of us can.”

”What strength have we for the finding of the Fire in which it was made?” said Boromir. ”That is the path of despair, or folly I would say.”

”Despair, or folly?” said Gandalf. ”It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Well, let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into this heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.”

”At least for a while,” said Elrond. ”The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”

Elves.

Do their eyes only see greatness in battle prowess? For evil may be powerful, but it shall never be great.

The ring must be destroyed, and those with the strength to carry out this task shall show greatness that even the elves must acknowledge.

theohall wrote:

coopasonic wrote:

Lagom Lite wrote:Servants of the Eye, I've put up your baddie forum at http://ooww.freeforums.org/ . Please let me know if there are any problems or you find that you lack access.

For the sake of simplicity, post your issues accessing the baddie forum here.

I don't see anything there except the old forum.

I see what you did there!

Is it to soon to vote for bb2112?

"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true."

(Checking in).

Remus West wrote:Is it to soon to vote for bb2112?

Did anybody else just get a chill? And, um, are Remus's eyes supposed to glow like that?