Entry: Give Me Liberty...

[Michael S. Miller]

An entry for the 2006 Game Chef Competition
Using the 3rd option of Time: 3 sessions of 3 hours each
Using the 2nd package of ingredients: Law, Team, Steel.


Characters (preGens):
John Adams (representing New England)
Benjamin Franklin (representing the Mid-Atlantic Region)
Thomas Jefferson (representing the South)
His Majesty King George III (y'know, the GM)

Overview of Gameplay
First Session: Steel
Players must introduce the Interests of their colonies, their personal Holdings, and their innermost Ideals (in order to become invested in them). They also Steel themselves against what will happen to these Stakes (collective term for Interests, Holdings, and Ideals) if they are spent too far. Culmination signals the beginning of the Continental Congress.
This should run like a series of With Great Power...-style Enrichment scene, or a melodramatic play.

Second Session: Team
The various Stakes of the players cannot all be met—they are somewhat exclusive. The players much bargain with one another over whose Stakes get met, all while under pressure from the British (GM). Culmination signals the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
This should run like a negotiation game—Witch Trial or Are You a Werewolf?

Third Session: Law
After the agreements have been formed, the players still must defeat the British, while holding their teamwork together, and protecting their Stakes. Culminations signals the end of the Revolutionary War (if the Americans win) or the American Insurrection (if the British win).
This should run like board/war game like Risk or Axis & Allies, but with a strong layer of role-playing infused, and tie back into the Stakes.

[DevP]

Two comments.

(1) America: Fuck Yeah!

(2) I sorta didn't recognize it until now, but I've always found Revolutionary War Enlightenment politics kinda interesting. Cool.

[dindenver]

Hi!
I think setting the needs of the different players will be key hear. And are you so sure that all of the players will team up against the brits?

[Joshua BishopRoby]

Michael, have you seen the movie (or play) 1776?

[Troy_Costisick]

[Graham Walmsley]

I like this a lot.

Could you have a fourth session, "Actor"? Set in 1980s America, the ghosts of Adams, Jefferson and Franklin look on impotently as a B-movie actor usurps their role.

Maybe not such a good idea.

Graham