The Fateful Games of Victor Gijsbers
November 6, 2013 12:43 PM Subscribe
Stalin's Story, by Victor Gijsbers, is a game combining Vladimir Propp's folktale archetypes with totalitarian manipulation. One player assumes the role of Stalin, and with it the power to dictate the rules and order executions; other players are either actors trying to beguile him with a traditional rustic tale or courtiers trying to twist the tale's elements to their rivals' discredit.
Gijsbers recently returned to Soviet-themed gameplay with Comrade Stalin, an elaboration of Werewolf that examines the consensual nature of power.
He's also a formidable designer of interactive fiction:
-In The Baron (warning: child abuse), a grim story of a father looking for his daughter, "it is left to the reader to decide which of the possible endings are the better or truer ones (thus, one cannot win or lose in any traditional sense)," and "there are moments when the player decides not just what action she will take, but also for what moral reason."
-Fate is about a young queen ringed about by enemies, with nothing but dark magic to help her win a future for her unborn child. How bright a future depends on how much she's willing to sacrifice...
-Kerkerkruip is a bit of a departure for Gijsbers: it's an interactive fiction rogue-like. Morality is de-emphasized, but choices are as important as ever: when to defend, when to strike, what gods to pray to, who to slay in what order, and how to defeat the dread wizard Malygris.
Gijsbers recently returned to Soviet-themed gameplay with Comrade Stalin, an elaboration of Werewolf that examines the consensual nature of power.
He's also a formidable designer of interactive fiction:
-In The Baron (warning: child abuse), a grim story of a father looking for his daughter, "it is left to the reader to decide which of the possible endings are the better or truer ones (thus, one cannot win or lose in any traditional sense)," and "there are moments when the player decides not just what action she will take, but also for what moral reason."
-Fate is about a young queen ringed about by enemies, with nothing but dark magic to help her win a future for her unborn child. How bright a future depends on how much she's willing to sacrifice...
-Kerkerkruip is a bit of a departure for Gijsbers: it's an interactive fiction rogue-like. Morality is de-emphasized, but choices are as important as ever: when to defend, when to strike, what gods to pray to, who to slay in what order, and how to defeat the dread wizard Malygris.
Interesting stuff! I love the storygame diaspora.
I also liked Rock of Tahamaat, by Dogs in the Vinyard writer Vince Baker. I think it was written to demonstrate some obscure game design point, but it stands as a fascinating game even without that.
posted by Sebmojo at 1:39 PM on November 6, 2013
I also liked Rock of Tahamaat, by Dogs in the Vinyard writer Vince Baker. I think it was written to demonstrate some obscure game design point, but it stands as a fascinating game even without that.
posted by Sebmojo at 1:39 PM on November 6, 2013
Kerkerkruip might be interesting. It has good mechanics at least. I'll have a closer look at it later.
posted by JHarris at 1:44 PM on November 6, 2013
posted by JHarris at 1:44 PM on November 6, 2013
And Left Coast is the Philip K. Dick role-playing game. Last night I finally got to play A Penny for Your Thoughts, a game in which you're amnesiacs in group therapy in which the others help you recover your memories and discover who you are (or at least that's the rationale for what's essentially an improv game.)
There is some killer cool stuff going on in role-playing games/story games.
posted by Zed at 1:46 PM on November 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is some killer cool stuff going on in role-playing games/story games.
posted by Zed at 1:46 PM on November 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
This game looks very interesting! But, it's hard for me to see the win-condition for the rest of the players. Is it last-player standing? How quick are the rounds?
maybe we should get this up on a google hangout or something, try it out.
posted by rebent at 1:50 PM on November 6, 2013
maybe we should get this up on a google hangout or something, try it out.
posted by rebent at 1:50 PM on November 6, 2013
it's hard for me to see the win-condition for the rest of the players.
I think that'd be because one doesn't exist.
posted by Zed at 1:56 PM on November 6, 2013
I think that'd be because one doesn't exist.
posted by Zed at 1:56 PM on November 6, 2013
There are several possible ending conditions:
You are Stalin: Congratulations! You were and continue to be Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin, and you have ordered at least one person's death tonight! Collectivization will continue, you will prosecute victory in World War 2, and you will die in your bed at age 74.
You are a successful actor: Your acting has pleased or at any rate has not displeased Stalin. Maybe he'll take you into his confidence! Or at least continue to not order your death!
You are an unsuccessful actor: If you haven't been dragged off to be shot, then you've been dragged off to await the next train to Siberia.
You are a successful courtier: You've thinned the ranks of your rivals while avoiding their snares. You persist in Stalin's favor! You can definitely keep this up for the next 25 years.
You are an unsuccessful courtier: See "unsuccessful actor."
It's interesting to note that there's a separate moral victory available to any non-Stalin player. Stalin must be obeyed in everything: he can interrupt people, change rules arbitrarily, take the last Coke, claim the best chair in the living room, hoard all the pizza, etc. And yet Stalin can be disobeyed: all you have to do is quit playing. This is interpreted in-game as the public revelation of your counter-Revolutionary loyalties; your character will be dragged off and shot.
posted by Iridic at 2:31 PM on November 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
You are Stalin: Congratulations! You were and continue to be Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin, and you have ordered at least one person's death tonight! Collectivization will continue, you will prosecute victory in World War 2, and you will die in your bed at age 74.
You are a successful actor: Your acting has pleased or at any rate has not displeased Stalin. Maybe he'll take you into his confidence! Or at least continue to not order your death!
You are an unsuccessful actor: If you haven't been dragged off to be shot, then you've been dragged off to await the next train to Siberia.
You are a successful courtier: You've thinned the ranks of your rivals while avoiding their snares. You persist in Stalin's favor! You can definitely keep this up for the next 25 years.
You are an unsuccessful courtier: See "unsuccessful actor."
It's interesting to note that there's a separate moral victory available to any non-Stalin player. Stalin must be obeyed in everything: he can interrupt people, change rules arbitrarily, take the last Coke, claim the best chair in the living room, hoard all the pizza, etc. And yet Stalin can be disobeyed: all you have to do is quit playing. This is interpreted in-game as the public revelation of your counter-Revolutionary loyalties; your character will be dragged off and shot.
posted by Iridic at 2:31 PM on November 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
I think that'd be because STALIN.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:32 PM on November 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Sebmojo at 2:32 PM on November 6, 2013 [3 favorites]
"Comrade, can we speak in confidence here?"
"Da, what is it? Another complaint about the terrible bureaucracy?"
"In a way. But really, the biggest problem is how long it takes Great Leader to do anything."
"What do you mean?"
"He said yesterday that he would have the grain distribution edict ready for the food planning bureau by 2 today, but, still, we do not have it. We have asked once, but he delays. Of course we cannot risk asking again. But I have seen them complete and signed on his desk. He just does not give them to us."
"That is indeed a problem, but he is the leader. It is still his prerogative. You should just be patient."
"That is so. Still, it does not make sense to me. For some unknown reason, he keeps STALIN."
"..."
"Did you hear me? I said, he keeps--"
"I'm calling the guards on you."
posted by JHarris at 3:32 PM on November 6, 2013 [5 favorites]
"Da, what is it? Another complaint about the terrible bureaucracy?"
"In a way. But really, the biggest problem is how long it takes Great Leader to do anything."
"What do you mean?"
"He said yesterday that he would have the grain distribution edict ready for the food planning bureau by 2 today, but, still, we do not have it. We have asked once, but he delays. Of course we cannot risk asking again. But I have seen them complete and signed on his desk. He just does not give them to us."
"That is indeed a problem, but he is the leader. It is still his prerogative. You should just be patient."
"That is so. Still, it does not make sense to me. For some unknown reason, he keeps STALIN."
"..."
"Did you hear me? I said, he keeps--"
"I'm calling the guards on you."
posted by JHarris at 3:32 PM on November 6, 2013 [5 favorites]
It is possible for more than one person to win. It is also possible for nobody to win.*ominous and distant bell*
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 4:08 PM on November 6, 2013 [2 favorites]
Mod note: Warning for "child abuse" added to the "Baron" link by OP request.
posted by taz (staff) at 10:20 PM on November 6, 2013
posted by taz (staff) at 10:20 PM on November 6, 2013
The stripped down educational sim Stalin's Dilemma is available on the net if anyone wants to feel what it's like to kill millions trying to collectivize farms.
posted by BrotherCaine at 9:45 AM on November 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by BrotherCaine at 9:45 AM on November 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think it would be good to give The Baron a little more oomph of a warning. I find myself really disturbed, though I'm sure that's his intention.
posted by corb at 9:35 PM on November 8, 2013
posted by corb at 9:35 PM on November 8, 2013
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posted by JHarris at 1:37 PM on November 6, 2013 [3 favorites]