Polarity - Game started

[Jontom Xire]

This game is actually an experimental part of a much larger game. I am unsure how well the rules will work so am running this game to test them before running the larger game. I need at least 12 players.

--- EDIT ---

The main feedback I'm getting is that the rules are very complicated. So I've tried to rewrite them more simply while putting the technicalities in spoilers. Don't read the spoilers unless you are intending to get deep into the mechanics.

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Each player is a spirit, a force of nature, an element of existence. These elements each have one of four polarities. During the "day" phase each player must state the name of another player and whether they are twisiting them widdershins or counter-widdershins. The player with the most twists is then twisted in the appropriate direction depending on whether there are more widdershins or counter twists. This has the result of changing their polarity. If the number of widdershins and counter-widdershins twists balance then there is no change. Players may not post to twist themselves. Failing to post a twist for two "day" phases in a row will result in complete removal from the game.

The polarities form a cycle like points on a compass. Twisting a player widdershins or counter-widdershins changes their polarity to the next polarity round the circle in that direction. In widdershins order, the polarities are:

Weird
Straight
Ordinary
Warped

So if you twist someone of "Straight" polarity counter-widdershins, then they will become "Weird" polarity.

Spoiler

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The effect level of a polarity is calculated from the strengths of all polarities as follows:

Effect = Strength - absolute(W - C) - O

So for maximum effect, the strength of the Opposite polarity must be zero and the strengths of the Widdershins and Counter-widdershins polarities must be equal to each other.

Example of effect:

Weird has 5 players
Straight has 2 players
Ordinary has 1 player
Warped has 3 players

Weird effect = 5 - (3 - 2) - 1 = 3
Straight effect = 2 - (5 - 1) - 3 = -5
Ordinary effect = 1 - (3 - 2) - 5 = -5
Warped effect = 3 - (5 - 1) - 2 = -3

The game is won when a polarity achieves a certain effect level based on the number of players of that polarity and the other polarities. To win players must twist other players so that there are lots of players of their own polarity, as few as possible of the opposite polarity, and the other two polarities have even numbers.

Each player MUST play for the benefit of their own polarity. If they get twisted and their polarity changes then they must then play for the benefit of the new polarity. Breaking this rule will result in removal from the game.

Each player has one of the following roles:

Dynamic element: Twist votes count as double.
Static element: Twist vote actually reduces the larger twist direction by one regardless of direction posted.
Intuitive element: During "night" phase can "scry" one other element to determine their polarity.
Converting element: During "night" phase can twist one other element in a direction of their choice. If the element is a Perverse element it gets twisted in the opposite direction.
Perverse element: Actually changes polarity in the opposite direction of twist.

Widdershins twists should be in blue and counter-widdershins twists should be in red (to make life easier for the narrator), please. And it is also preferred to strike through old twists if you change your mind. Thanks.

Example of day phase play:

Dan the dynamic element posts to twist Pete the perverse element widdershins.
Sue the static element posts to twist Pete counter-widdershins.
Ian the intuitive element posts to twist Dan counter-widdershins.
Colin the converting element posts to twist Dan widdershins.
Pete posts to twist Colin widdershins.

Because Dan is dynamic, Pete would be twisted widdershins. However because Sue is static, Dan's 1 point advantage is cancelled. No twisting takes place.

If Sue posted to twist Pete widdershins, then that would make three points for a widdershins twist, minus one because Sue is static. She basically cancels herself out. However because Pete is perverse, he would actually get twisted counter-widdershins.

At the start and end of each "day" phase, the effect of the polarity with the highest value is posted. The winners are the players in the polarity which reaches an effect level equal to a certain target (announced at game start and dependent on number of players).

Players: (12)

Spoiler

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Banjo1985
Catseye2121
Emperor Demonking
Evnafets
Fleeing Coward
Freshmeat_
Hap_Hazard
Murska
Mustiado
Raldor
Shadowcaller
Zeb The Troll

[Emperor Demonking]

Sign me up.

[Freshmeat]

In with science.

[Shadowcaller]

I will try this game since its new and I want to try new things.

[Murska]

After being thoroughly confused by the rules, I read the example and it's all so clear now. In.

[evnafets]

Break out the counterwise wine!
I've got a headache already, so I'm gonna earn it.

In!

[The Valiant Turtle]

Hmmm, this sounds interesting. I'll join.

[hap_hazard]

In.

[Zeb The Troll]

It sounds interesting. I'll give it a try.

[Jontom Xire]

Just 4 more would be really really good. I will run it with 8 just as a tester, but I think we need 12 really at least. More is fine.

Note that no-one dies in this game (it's kinda the point). You all play until someone(s) win.

[Mustiado]

I'm still really confused JX. But I'll try it. I find your bonus games very amusing indeed. Also: Is clockwise and counter-clockwise valid designations instead of widdershins?

[Murska]

Wikipedia tells me that widdershins was used for counterclockwise, so counterwiddershins would be countercounterclockwise, IE clockwise. Confusing...

[Jontom Xire]

I'm still really confused JX. But I'll try it. I find your bonus games very amusing indeed. Also: Is clockwise and counter-clockwise valid designations instead of widdershins?

Widdershins sounds so much cooler than clockwise :)

To be honest I'm a little confused too. I have no idea how this will play out. Like I said it's an experimental test game. I have an idea for a much larger and better game, possibly the most novel WW adaptation ever, and this ruleset is part of that so I need to perfect it before running the main game.

Still need 3 more people. Please sign up everyone! (or at least 3 of you)

[TFT]

I'm a bit confused, but since you need 3 more people, I'll try to figure this out.

[banjo1985]

Go on then, if you need another I'm in, and I'll hope that the first day clears things up for me.

[Jontom Xire]

I've clarified the rules. If you're having trouble understanding them, please re-read them. I'm eager for constructive criticism on how to make them more readable and understandable.

Also, just a quick note to say that the game will be played in this thread too.

[banjo1985]

Actually, after reading the editted rules, that helps a lot. I now understand how it works, so I think you have the rulers significantly clearer in this format.

[Mustiado]

No no, I got the compass rose idea. just still having a hard time with the spelling of 'widdershinns'.

[Fleeing Coward]

Guess I'll join to make up the numbers.

[Jontom Xire]

WhooHoo!! Thanks, FC!

I'll start the spreadsheet now and send out the role posts soon.

So much for doing any work today! :)

[Jontom Xire]

First off, thankyou to all of you for taking part in this game. I hope it is fun for you, and please remember that it is experimental. I would really appreciate any constructive criticisms you have.

You should now all have received your PMs. If you haven't, just let me know.

Day phase starts.

I think I need a better name than "day phase". How about "twisting phase", and "resting phase" instead of "night phase"?

Currently Ordinary and Warped polarities have the strongest effect with 0 each. The target is 3.

[Emperor Demonking]

Fleeing Coward, counter widdershins.

Trust me, that's a good move.

[Jontom Xire]

Oh, umm, can we have twists in red please. Actually we could have widdershins twists in blue and counter-widdershins twists in red just to make it more colourful.

What do people think?

And strike-through old twists if you change your mind please.

I twist my head widdershins

Actually, on second thoughts, I twist my hips counter-widdershins.

[banjo1985]

Right, so I say we turn Shadowcaller widdershins.

[Murska]

Fine with me. Shadowcaller Widdershins!

[Freshmeat]

Bandwagon ahoy.
Shadowcaller widdershins

[hap_hazard]

Freshmeat counter-widdershins.

[Mustiado]

This isn't something you can bandwagon, you're just twisting Shadowcaller in circles!

Hap_Hazard is going Counter Widdershins.

[TFT]

*Jumps onto the bandwagon*

Shadowcaller widdershins

[Murska]

This isn't something you can bandwagon, you're just twisting Shadowcaller in circles!

Hap_Hazard is going Counter Widdershins.

Er. Aren 't we just voting to get him twisted?