Late at night during Fanimecon, I find myself always pondering what there is to do. Anime is a staple of course, along with games of Ninja, the game room and the dance. However, for 2011, I was thinking about perhaps setting up something bigger for the night owls to do. Discussing it with a few friends, I decided on proposing a Mystery game to everybody who wanted to join.
While the idea is still in the planning stages, I was thinking of opening this topic to help gather ideas to hopefully make this game a success. Here however is a rough outline of what I've thought up so far.
The game will begin in a room or location specified sometime at night, with Stage Zero being the ideal location, just due to spacing and proximity to everything in the convention. At that time, a prerecorded video will play, introducing the name of the game, the rules, instructions, and characters involved. Taped upon the bottom of the chairs will be identification cards sorting the players into three teams (I was thinking of main sleuth characters for Team Leaders. I'm going as Professor Layton, so I felt that would be a decent Team #1. However, I'm looking for others, including a Phoenix Wright and an L as Team leaders.) From there, the mystery will be introduced (via live action or video again), and the game will begin.
Hidden around the convention center will be various clues, all coded by various means, whether they be puzzles, logic problems, etc. This is to help the game 'feel' like the various media they are based around (again, Professor Layton here ^_^). Upon receiving puzzle clues, each team will return to their leader for a new lead, eventually leading to the climax of the game, and some pre-determined prize, which would hopefully be decided by the fanime staff.
Again, just a rough outline of what I'm thinking, but what do you all think? Let's get a new game in the works!
Mod Edit: its called a dance:)
I'm a big night owl and am always looking for fun stuff to do at night. This sounds really fun and I've always wanted to try something like this. I'd be down
Hurray, one positive response! Any other support for this idea? I want to get it highly supported so we might be able to use Stage Zero.
This does sound awesome! I think alot of people would be down for this. Every year I see plenty of people in the stage zero area just playing board games, they might as well play a mystery game! I am down!
Update on the idea:
After talking it over with some of my friends, I feel that introducing both a 'clue' and a 'npc' system would help advance the concept.
For instance:
Clues: Depending upon what team you're part of, there will be various clues hidden everywhere around the convention, marked with specific symbols. For instance, Team Layton players might find a clue hidden along with a puzzle. In order to access the clue, the puzzle must be solved and presented to team leader for verification. Each 'clue' solved will award the team 1 point.
The point system directly relates to the NPC system: Since this is a first-time event, I'm going to assemble a crew of cosplayers who will be my assistants in this endeavor, those who won't be playing the game themselves, instead assisting the teams with their deductive work. My idea is that the NPC's will all be identified again by a symbol somewhere on their clothing. The symbols will be the same, to help identify them, yet the NPCs will be busy doing their own thing on the convention floor. NPC's watching anime, playing in the game room, dancing at the dance...it's up to the team members to find the NPC's and question them about the mystery! Upon discovering and questioning an NPC, they will either give the player a clue to help solve the mystery, or at the very least a hint as to the location of their next puzzle.
At the top of the NPC hierarchy are the team leaders themselves: Professor Layton (myself), Phoenix Wright, and L (or another suggestion, if someone wishes to step up). We will be wandering the convention floor ourselves, conducting our own 'investigations', and will be largely unavailable for hints during the majority of the game. What we will do however, is tally the amount of points our teams have collected. Upon reaching a certain amount of clues, we will bring to light a new revelation about the investigation, and prompt the team to move to a new location, where mores clues are to be found. Essentially, we serve as the progress markers...whoever accumulates the most points the quickest will advance, and will ultimately end up solving the mystery!
Let's get more opinions in here people! I'm actually feeling rather excited about this!
Mod Edit: its called a dance:)
Which night would this be? Or would there be a different mystery each night?
I'm not sure what night would be best for the event, though I'd reckon a Saturday or so, just so we get the max amount of players possible. However, if response is good enough, and I get enough assistance, I would be all too willing to make it a multi-night event, with different mysteries every night.
Maybe just try one night this year and maybe expand to other nights in coming years if things go well.
That's what I was planning on originally. Still, I need to get some more support rallied!
It sounds fun haha ive been to plenty fanimecons ahah but this sounds fun :] xD really fun.
i also have an idea but it might be complicated. ill only give u a simple idea.
How about a team example: like team rocket, who steals clues and etc.
Make a system in which a team can take away points from another team they may encounter.
sounds very rough i know but to me i think it would add more spice and keep people alert xD.
Actually I could see the Team Rocket idea working potentially. Instead of stealing clues and/or points, perhaps they could be harmful NPC's who lead the players astray?
I think this is a wonderful idea, I'd love to be an NPC! My only suggestion is stay away from saturday night. That's the night of the masquerade, so most cosplayers as well as a lot of other con-goers will be watching the performances. I would suggest friday night, since that's usually the night without a big night event. Sat is masq, and sun is the Ball.
Yeah I was actually talking about that with my friends. We decided Friday would be the night to do it on.
this is so for me. I always end up roaming the hallways, streets,etc for something to do during the night. I smoke n drink so anything up late night im all for it. been going to fanime for 10 years plus, i do enjoy the gaming and the dance.....but those can only go so far.
Mod Edit: its called a dance:)
New Team Leader idea: If anybody knows someone going as Detective Conan, that Team Leader would go much more in line with the others.
Update: I'm going to wait for about 30 or so people who would actually sign up for this event were it on the roster at Fanime, Friday at say 8:00PM.
Upon reaching numbers, I'll actually begin writing and constructing a story / puzzles for the event.
You forgot the Trolls who can sabotage the "mystery" element of The Game how will you fix that
By your highlighting of "The Game" I'm willing to call you a troll myself, but explain. How are they going to sabotage it if they don't have any idea of the solution beforehand?
its a wild guess but what if they read this thread and dont say nothing then look for people playing it and they will confuse them?
All part of the game I would say. Of course there will be idiots everywhere who try to ruin others good time, but it's an investigation after all. Sometimes people will lead you astray. As long as they don't remove clues or anything too drastic, it won't affect the players too harshly.
haha i believe that would be good xD. the idea of corrupted NPCs and such. i wouldnt mind ^_^ xD this game seems to only become even
more interesting xD
sounds fun :D
an adventure would be the perfect late night thing since i wont be able to sleep regardless >:D
Mod edit: you KNOW why.....
7/30 People who support the idea. No suggestions from other people?
I support.
that actually sounds pretty interesting. I see this the answer to "when the gaming room gets boring". Some questions still remain though, such as what nights will this take place, Day Zero, Friday, when? Until there's a finalized version of the rules & how it goes down, i'ma remain skeptical bout this.
8/30.
And I plan on pushing for this event to happen on Friday night, with signups taking place During Day Zero and Day 1. If there are enough people willing to participate, I'll try to set up 2 games.
This sounds like a bunch of fun. I'd totally do it~!
9/30.
I'll have to get into a writing mood if this picks up.
Interesting I would be up for something like this as long as it does not interfere with any of the big events.
10/30.
Change of plans: In order to present the idea at the next fanime meeting, I'm going to try and create as much as possible, including the story, layout, clues, and others. I do hope to continue gathering support though.
I'd so enjoy doing this. I hope it gets up and running.
I will absolutely support this! And I would love to be an NPC as well. Would NPC's be just any cosplayers? I am going this year as Horo from Spice and Wolf. Maybe each NPC would have like a riddle that helps the teams? Although I suppose it would be easier if they just gave some sort of clue, like "Hmmm, it sure was strange. Last night I saw Colonel Mustard in the Library....with a candlestick...." Of course not that obvious!
Also would this be a MURDER mystery? That would be extra awesome. One cosplayer could be "murdered" and so the teams are trying to figure out whodunit? And then it can be uncovered how every suspect has a reason to commit the murder, and the clues begin to reveal who it really was?
One more thing. How late do you want to make this? Like when there is nothing really going on? Like around 10pm and later? If so, then one night only would definitely be better because some people might get tuckered out! Lol!
LadyGlitterbow brings up a few good points that I've been meaning to write myself.
The NPC's are going to be 'HOPEFULLY' a mix of cosplayers and plainclothes, and rather than simply approaching them and asking them plainly about clues, certain 'prompts' would be required in order to get them to speak up: EG - Instead of going up to someone and asking 'are you an NPC', someone would have to ask something along the lines of... "Did you hear about that commotion that happened outside of the dealer room?"
Also, if you're interested in becoming a NPC, I wouldn't mind an email being sent to me, just so I can plot according to how many people sign up.
The event will be held one day at around 9:00PM on Friday, with another being held on Saturday if there is a lot of interest!!
If you're interested in being an NPC, send me a private message here, or at
[email protected]
@ewu: Didn't the dance fail because it was a mystery?
the mystery dance? I donno, it was a mystery right?
How are people supposed to know about it? Word of mouth maybe? Or does it get hinted on the forums and all of the sudden it becomes the Forum's late-night social rendezvous?
I'm in. But I already told you that on IM.
I hope FanimeCon approves this and let's you get it off the ground.
This sounds wicked cool.... but far more complicated than most events D:
Complicated sucks, but at least it promises to be a good game if performed properly =).
Quote from: c2chaos on January 22, 2011, 10:17:08 AM
How are people supposed to know about it? Word of mouth maybe? Or does it get hinted on the forums and all of the sudden it becomes the Forum's late-night social rendezvous?
Wouldn't it get put on the schedule? If not, we could also spread the word with fliers, and/or the NPC's could go around saying to groups, "Did you hear about all the mysterious stuff going on? Meet at the so-and-so to find out more..." Or whatever, you know? There are plenty of people out at nighttime playing games and just hanging out, so I am sure they would love to just jump into the game.
The NPC idea sounds great! (^o^)
Hope this works! I'd rather be a part and see this late at night than that huge spin the bottle group in the game room of last year *shivers* ewww......
Ok, I find this interesting, especially since I had visions of Battle Royal go through my head as I read it *LOL with out weapons of course :P and I'll bite! If you can come up with some more definition to this I'm willing to throw it up in the Cosplayer Gatherings section as a COSPLAYER EVENT. As is there looks to be a Midnight gathering of Shin Megami Tensei happening this year and everyone knows that I don't go to con to sleep :P
Hey everyone, sorry for disappearing. This semester has just been relatively brutal on me. I'm still writing the storyline, and should have it finished by the end of the month at most.
I'm still trying to gather support, though I missed the last fanime meeting -_-.
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Heeey. This looks cool. =D
If this gets going, you'll have 9 more attendees over here <3
Fantastic! I'm glad this is gathering speed. It'll push me to write and set things up!
Update: Got a job, working day and night along with school. Still writing. Sorry if anybody is waiting with bated breath.
This sounds like a real fun time, I'm always bored in the middle of the night and end up smoking on the deck for like 5 hours
Quote from: DarkfallDC on March 02, 2011, 12:30:23 PM
Update: Got a job, working day and night along with school. Still writing. Sorry if anybody is waiting with bated breath.
I'm gonna die waiting D:< (j/k)
But really I'm excited and would love to be an NPC since I'm busy doing other stuff too :D
(I think I've already said this xD )
Im a big night own and wouldnt mind being an NPC with you owo
I love this idea, and really hope it comes into fruition. :D I'd love to go if this ends up happening!
It's unfortunate, but this semester has been kicking the crap out of me. I'll try to get this story done soon, but I'm not sure how much time will be left to organize the event. If it doesn't come about this year, next year I'll be sure to prepare more thoroughly.
well i'm in if it's still on.i don't sleep anywayse
This sounds like fun and I am a huuuge prof. layton fan. So puzzles are my game! count me in if its still on. I hardly sleep.
Haha. Even if it doesn't get started, search me out. I'll throw a puzzle or two your way.
heheh. My friend wanted to have a game of" CLUE" using cosplayers as the suspects.
What do you think of that idea?
Writing of the story is coming along smoothly for once, however, I need someone to volunteer as a "Assistant" NPC. Someone who will be around at the beginning of this game to help with the intro, and who will be available for contact during all scenes of the game (Predicted to be an hour or two in total.)
I'd defiantly be down and supportive of this as a player. If it's a go at the con, count on two more players! :D
Oh. And if the assistant NPC were someone like Luke, Mia, or any of the respective assistant characters from Layton or Phoenix Wright, it would be doubly fantastic.
all this hype for the event is good & cool & all, but what I'm wondering how far along is the script/story coming along?
The story overview is finished. All I need to do is add in the actual puzzles and assign roles, assuming there is enough time for this to be approved. If it is approved, I'll be running a practice session with a few NPCs on Thursday.
I've submitted the idea in the panels forum, but feel free to hype it up here, or move on to the panels.