Descriptive Roleplaying Game System

"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed"
 Francis Bacon, Novum Organum

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What is Emergence?

What is Emergence Not?

Emergence is not a board game, although it allows the use of dice to determine the course of the game. It is not specialized for use to one particular Story Setting, like others similar games can be. It allows for stories with action, drama, magic and technology. It is not a strategy game with a set of rules that must be followed. However, players may find they are challenged to use strategy in the course of the Story-Game.

An Emergence Story-Game is not run by a referee, a Dungeon Master, nor is it narrated by a Story Teller. It is acted out by the Players, and directed by the Director. These terms have been borrowed because both Theatre and Emergence share roleplaying in common. Emergence in many ways resembles theatre games, in which actors improvise a character portrayal for a given scene. Since it does not depend on dice rolling, it is ideal for Live Action Role Playing.

Some Definitions

Roleplay

Roleplaying is when you take on the role of a character in an imaginary situation, like actors in a Theatrical Performance or a Movie, or children playing a Game of Pretend.

Story

A Story is a description of linked events, real or imaginary, intended to interest or entertain an audience. It usually has people in it, whose actions react to or cause the events described in that story. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The middle usually contains a climax or two, and a few twists or turns; it has all sorts of stuff which really makes the story.

Game

A Game is fun, or should be. Usually it has rules and guidelines, to help every participant have a fair go, and to provide a challenge for them at the same time. Particpants who break the rules usually upset everyone else, and ruin the game.

The Golden Rules of Emergence

Since Emergence is a game, it has rules. The main rules are:

• Have Fun
  If you need help with this, ask a child for some help.
• Use You Imagination
  The Story-Game is pretend. Without your imagination, it cannot work and will be no fun at all. The places in the Story will not be, the Characters will not live, and nothing will happen.
• Be descriptive
  Whether you are the Director running the Story-Game, or one of the Players, just listing actions and events is not enough. You must both be storytellers, describing as colorfully as reasonable, what happens in the Story.

Contents

Note: These topics are to be covered eventually. None are, as yet, complete. They are a work in progress.

Player Roles

• Character Creation
• Character Developments
• Playing the Role
• Describing Actions
• The Inevitable Conflict

Director Roles

• Integrating the Characters
• Story Telling
• Keeping Things in Order
• Setting the Scene
• Describing the Outcome
• Action Scenes
• Character Scenes
• Dealing with Digression

Setting

• History and Culture
• Geography and Politics
• Science and Technology
• Myth and Magic
• Example Settings

References

Acknowledgements

• Play Testers
• Contributors
• Inspirations