The Computer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thecomputer) wrote2014-10-27 10:37 am
thecomputer) wrote2014-10-27 10:37 am
FAQ
What the heck is this?
Alpha Complex is a small, short-form Mafia-based RP taking place in the setting of the tabletop RPG Paranoia. It is expected to run from now to around the end of 2014.
What the heck is Paranoia?
Paranoia is a game taking place in a futuristic underground city called Alpha Complex, which is run by the whimsical and poorly-programmed tyrant The Computer. In that game, the players take the role of Troubleshooters, agents who are tasked with finding and shooting The Computer’s possibly-nonexistent enemies while wrestling with the world’s most inscrutable bureaucracy and the world’s worst boss.
What the heck is Mafia?
Mafia is a party game, where you have a number of players, then a subset of that group are secretly the Mafia. The Mafia seek to kill the other players, while the rest of the group seeks to identify the Mafia and put them to justice. The specifics of how the game works are outlined here.
So wait, are characters gonna die?
Oh yes. This will happen, and often. If you don’t want your character to die, then I recommend against apping them.
If I die early on, am I just out of luck?
There will be a “graveyard” from which killed characters can watch the game and interact with each other. However, it is true that characters who are eliminated will no longer be able to take part in the game itself. Be aware of this possibility when you app in.
What’s all this about First-Round Death in the app?
I’d like for anyone who really wants to to at least get the chance to participate in one round of debates. Accordingly, in the app, you can specify whether or not you want to be eligible for dying in the first round. This won’t be a guarantee either way, but if you are a Communist on night 1, PLEASE try to pick one of the people who volunteered for the risk of death in the first round in their application. After that, all bets are off.
What’s all this about Clearance Levels?
Every citizen of Alpha Complex is given a Clearance Level, indicating what areas and information they are granted access to. The lowest level, INFRARED, is reserved for the drug-addled pseudo-slaves who do most of the menial labor in Alpha Complex. The highest level, ULTRAVIOLET, is reserved for the High Programmers who run society from the shadows.
All characters will begin at Clearance Level RED. Each time a Communist is successfully killed, all surviving characters will be promoted to the next Clearance Level.
How big is this game?
This game is very small! There are a maximum of twenty character slots, and nobody can have more than one character, for game balance reasons.
What’s the schedule going to look like?
Starting on November 1st, the game will proceed in four-OOC-day cycles:
Day 1, 8:00 AM: New IC day starts, body probably revealed. Day's mingling begins.
Day 2, 5:00 PM: Trial goes up.
Day 3, 9:00 PM: Deadline for trial voting. Results posted, and the post for night actions goes up.
Day 4, 11:00 PM: Deadline for night actions. 8:00 AM next morning, the next day begins.
All times US Central.
If we go for too long, or once certain conditions are met, there will be a special fast-elimination finale. Once this begins, there will be at least one death each day in realtime.
November 1st will be the first IC day, but there will be no actual trial on that day. November 2nd will be the first night.
As a speed-related aside, a certain level of activity will be expected of all players. If only a handful of players are active, it creates an unfair situation where they are the only ones who are really engaging with the game rules. It’s fine to miss a trial here or there, but if you’re going to join, please make an effort to be around at least a little during each cycle.
What if I have to drop partway through?
Please, please let me know as soon as possible if this is the case. We’ll figure out something if we can, but this really is a worst-case scenario, especially in the latter half of the game.
How do trials work?
Each trial begins at around 5:00 PM, Central US time, on day 2 of the cycle. From there, people are free to discuss the day’s decision in as much detail as they want, but the ultimate objective is selecting one person to eliminate.
Along with each trial, a screened Voting post will be put up. At any time during the trial, you can reply to it indicating who your character is voting for. When every vote is in, or at 9:00 PM, Central US time, on day 3 of the cycle, the trial will end, and all votes will be revealed. If the majority was to vote for somebody, then that person will then die. If the majority was to abstain, then nobody will die. If there’s a tie, it will be settled randomly.
What if I’m a Communist and I decide to just name all the other communists publically right off the bat?
Please, please don’t do this. We’re operating a bit on the honor system here - try to avoid doing anything that will ruin the fun for everyone else.
Can I spectate?
Yes! If you want to spectate, we will add you to a filter that lets you see all posts in the main community, even those for the Communist forces.
What kind of characters are OK to app here?
The only requirement is that they be a character who could conceivably be coerced into participating in the killing of the other players.
Will my character’s powers be neutralized?
Powers can be retained on a case-by-case basis. If it would interfere with the mystery (i.e. Telepathy) or allow them to ignore The Computer’s security measures (i.e. Invulnerability), then it will be depowered.
What happens if I die from means other than the mafia game rules, such as independent murders or security guns?
Try it and see!
Ask further questions in the comments.
Alpha Complex is a small, short-form Mafia-based RP taking place in the setting of the tabletop RPG Paranoia. It is expected to run from now to around the end of 2014.
What the heck is Paranoia?
Paranoia is a game taking place in a futuristic underground city called Alpha Complex, which is run by the whimsical and poorly-programmed tyrant The Computer. In that game, the players take the role of Troubleshooters, agents who are tasked with finding and shooting The Computer’s possibly-nonexistent enemies while wrestling with the world’s most inscrutable bureaucracy and the world’s worst boss.
What the heck is Mafia?
Mafia is a party game, where you have a number of players, then a subset of that group are secretly the Mafia. The Mafia seek to kill the other players, while the rest of the group seeks to identify the Mafia and put them to justice. The specifics of how the game works are outlined here.
So wait, are characters gonna die?
Oh yes. This will happen, and often. If you don’t want your character to die, then I recommend against apping them.
If I die early on, am I just out of luck?
There will be a “graveyard” from which killed characters can watch the game and interact with each other. However, it is true that characters who are eliminated will no longer be able to take part in the game itself. Be aware of this possibility when you app in.
What’s all this about First-Round Death in the app?
I’d like for anyone who really wants to to at least get the chance to participate in one round of debates. Accordingly, in the app, you can specify whether or not you want to be eligible for dying in the first round. This won’t be a guarantee either way, but if you are a Communist on night 1, PLEASE try to pick one of the people who volunteered for the risk of death in the first round in their application. After that, all bets are off.
What’s all this about Clearance Levels?
Every citizen of Alpha Complex is given a Clearance Level, indicating what areas and information they are granted access to. The lowest level, INFRARED, is reserved for the drug-addled pseudo-slaves who do most of the menial labor in Alpha Complex. The highest level, ULTRAVIOLET, is reserved for the High Programmers who run society from the shadows.
All characters will begin at Clearance Level RED. Each time a Communist is successfully killed, all surviving characters will be promoted to the next Clearance Level.
How big is this game?
This game is very small! There are a maximum of twenty character slots, and nobody can have more than one character, for game balance reasons.
What’s the schedule going to look like?
Starting on November 1st, the game will proceed in four-OOC-day cycles:
Day 1, 8:00 AM: New IC day starts, body probably revealed. Day's mingling begins.
Day 2, 5:00 PM: Trial goes up.
Day 3, 9:00 PM: Deadline for trial voting. Results posted, and the post for night actions goes up.
Day 4, 11:00 PM: Deadline for night actions. 8:00 AM next morning, the next day begins.
All times US Central.
If we go for too long, or once certain conditions are met, there will be a special fast-elimination finale. Once this begins, there will be at least one death each day in realtime.
November 1st will be the first IC day, but there will be no actual trial on that day. November 2nd will be the first night.
As a speed-related aside, a certain level of activity will be expected of all players. If only a handful of players are active, it creates an unfair situation where they are the only ones who are really engaging with the game rules. It’s fine to miss a trial here or there, but if you’re going to join, please make an effort to be around at least a little during each cycle.
What if I have to drop partway through?
Please, please let me know as soon as possible if this is the case. We’ll figure out something if we can, but this really is a worst-case scenario, especially in the latter half of the game.
How do trials work?
Each trial begins at around 5:00 PM, Central US time, on day 2 of the cycle. From there, people are free to discuss the day’s decision in as much detail as they want, but the ultimate objective is selecting one person to eliminate.
Along with each trial, a screened Voting post will be put up. At any time during the trial, you can reply to it indicating who your character is voting for. When every vote is in, or at 9:00 PM, Central US time, on day 3 of the cycle, the trial will end, and all votes will be revealed. If the majority was to vote for somebody, then that person will then die. If the majority was to abstain, then nobody will die. If there’s a tie, it will be settled randomly.
What if I’m a Communist and I decide to just name all the other communists publically right off the bat?
Please, please don’t do this. We’re operating a bit on the honor system here - try to avoid doing anything that will ruin the fun for everyone else.
Can I spectate?
Yes! If you want to spectate, we will add you to a filter that lets you see all posts in the main community, even those for the Communist forces.
What kind of characters are OK to app here?
The only requirement is that they be a character who could conceivably be coerced into participating in the killing of the other players.
Will my character’s powers be neutralized?
Powers can be retained on a case-by-case basis. If it would interfere with the mystery (i.e. Telepathy) or allow them to ignore The Computer’s security measures (i.e. Invulnerability), then it will be depowered.
What happens if I die from means other than the mafia game rules, such as independent murders or security guns?
Try it and see!
Ask further questions in the comments.