[Cypher] The Culmination of Human Greed

[Ermine]

Game Name The Culmination of Human Greed

Game System Cypher

Theme The lengths people will go for greed, and then to get out of debt.

Flavour A lot of Liar Game, a little Squid Game, and then modern fantasy Roleplaying Game.

Plot Summary You are a standard human in a mostly non-fantastical world. After all, elves, the most magical of races are either extinct or left for another plane. Who knows? But you may or may not have the gift of psionics (kept hidden for fear of witch hunts). The year is 2023 in the Common Era. You are in New York City, in the good old U. S. of A., though in an alternate timeline from our own. You live a common life in the working class, probably making no more than $25 an hour, but with all your bills, you basically break even. You have been given a sum of money that you likely never would have ever gotten in your life otherwise ($50 million). You also have been instructed by those who left it - a trio of mysterious, helmeted figures in business suits, yet armed with heavy revolvers (one with an AR-15 in their hands) - that someone else has that much money, as well, and the instructions are clear that anything is on the table to get that money from the other person. If you win or lose, you are charged $75 million at the end, leaving a winner who took all a clean $25 million to spend as they see fit. However, the loser, in this same circumstance, would be saddled with a $75 million debt. If you don't take money from each other, you are both still saddled with $25 million in debt. Anything you do is considered legal. You have for some reason agreed to do this, whether by free will or something else. You don't quite remember where they went once you had the money, overcome with both greed and fear. You have 7 in-game days until they come to collect their share. (This'll be the only round where I take the WINNERS of the game, so keep that in mind; this is your entry point into this game. And at least half of you will fail, with another game to give you a chance to make it into the next round anyway. Only this round will be done in separate threads, as all in one would be too confusing). EDIT: You will be pitted against NPCs in round 1, who may enter later rounds with you, but everyone will make it through round 1, win or lose.

What I'm Looking For I'm looking for people who are willing to con others to get their way. I'm looking for people who are willing to have fun being chaotic little goblins. I'm looking for people who may be honest themselves, but if put right down to it, would be willing to play this game and not be saddled with debt. I want people who will be savage when necessary. I want people who will be clever. I want players who want more than just combat from their games. And most importantly, I want people who are only the bad things I listed in-character; I want supportive PLAYERS who understand that this is just a game, with conniving, lying, cheating, or even painfully honest, CHARACTERS. I expect about one post per week. I expect a LOT of secret text as the games get more and more...secretive. The next round is called Minority Rule, after all, and requires a good deal of lying, cheating, and maybe even stealing. There will be deals made, and votes cast. It'll be lovely chaos. No rolling in this thread. You'll get your chance, since I plan on taking a LOT of people (possibly every applicant). I'll also be playing a ton of NPCs to fill out the roster for the later games, because I'm apparently a masochist. YOU WILL MEET THEM AGAIN. As a treat for being such good players. Don't build just for social encounters. You WILL have actual stuff you're going to do afterward that may involve combat, even. Or maybe that's what you start with. Who am I to judge? New players to the system are welcome. I will help as much as I can with the rules of the system (I played Numenera, the first Cypher system game, when it was still in playtest, and ran that game like 5 years, so I'm pretty confident I can help!) Remember, have fun. Also, I'm taking the ones WITH DEBT at the end of all the meat grinder games, not the final winners. But your character should still want to win! (I may have a place for winners as recurring NPCs, though, if you're into that. And you can always make new characters with debt from other games, including games in the past they're still in debt for)

Application Name: Descriptor, Type, and Focus: (I like TT tags, so use them to put any relevant info in these that you choose) Appearance: Personality: Backstory: How You Won Or Lost Round 1: (in secret text)

[Ermine]

I was hoping for at least one person after 2 days showing interest or even just acknowledging it...

Also, I'm considering making it "post as much as you're able" instead of just 1/week.

EDIT: Okay, so say you've never played Cypher. What better way than to get in on the ground floor of the next big game?

[Aethera]

This is a play-by-post site, after all, Ermine. Even if people aren't ignoring the [Cypher] tag (which they shouldn't—Cypher is AWESOME), two days isn't enough time to garner interest.

[Ermine]

It's probably mostly the Cypher tag, admittedly. I was originally going to do it in 5e because more people, but changed my mind to play something better fitting. Not that later events won't fit D&D -hinthint- But the rules have everything I need in Cypher. ^^

I'm just used to my games getting interest faster is all. Except one. I guess. So...but they're mostly more popular systems. Or the one that was a system I made (that I may revisit).

I'm not giving up, though! I really like this idea and want to see it happen, even if it ends up being a solo game.

[Aethera]

You may have broken them with the request for lying cheating gremlins... who will lose this round.

[Ladytron]

As someone who likes Cypher and would like to play it sometime, when I read your ad I see PvP (rightly or wrongly). As I have no interest in PvP I did not pipe up for your game.

Not a complaint, some people love PvP, just explaining why I didn't say anything. I'm just one person though, take from that what you will.

[Ermine]

Only the intro is PVP, and you don't even have to play it that way. You can team up in rounds 2 and 3. After the rounds of the game are over and everyone's in debt to the same source, you'll be working together to get the money to pay off your debt.

[wodine]

I'm hugely supportive of the Cypher system but I don't have the bandwidth to devote to another game right now.

[Aegis]

Hey. This sounds interesting to me. I’ll work on an app.

[Ermine]

That's too bad. :/ But at least you looked.

Edit: YAY~

[Aegis]

This is all up in the air for me still but I want to get my name on the list. This should be pretty close concept wise. I wasn’t sure how much you wanted for backstory or anything so let me know if you want anything else.

Name: Dominic Banyan
Descriptor, Type, and Focus: Perceptive Explorer who CALCULATES THE INCALCULABLE

Appearance: Mid thirties. Brown skin and eyes. Black hair. Usually wears casual clothes (jeans, t-shirt, sneakers, etc…). Clean cut and with a serious and aloof look and body language.

Personality: Laconic and witty. He’s a fun guy and a good friend, even if he doesn’t give off the vibe that he would be. He’s smart and loyal and always ready to go to bat for a friend.

He also loves scheming, getting one over on people who society may say is above him. He runs some petty schemes and cons just, winning a few extra bucks or making someone’s day a trivial amount harder, on jerks and “high falutin’” types.

Backstory: You own a small bar or restaurant.
Dominic has always had a good head on his shoulders. Math and science came to him easily, almost like breathing. The people stuff… has always been a little harder. He moved around a lot growing up, keeping shallow roots and growing no moss. He went to college for engineering, where he did well, but had a hard time applying himself. Eventually he graduated and got a job working in engineering. However, decided that wasn’t the life for him after about 6 years.

He managed to finagle his way into working at and eventually owning a bar and renamed it “The Crooked Hour” Bar and Grille.

[Ermine]

I'll accept any amount of backstory you're willing to give. ^~^

[Baraqi]

I've never played Cypher before, but the system seems interesting if you're willing to put up with a few growing pains!

Application Name: Simon Reeve Descriptor: Craven Speaker who Interprets the Law Appearance: Simon is a short man, probably somewhere in his mid- to late-twenties. He gives the vague impression of being washed out: pale skin, neatly-parted light blonde hair, watery blue eyes behind a thin pair of glasses. He generally dresses in neutrally colored button-downs and slacks; these are his work clothes, and he doesn’t seem to quite get the idea of having an entirely second wardrobe. He always seems to have a backpack and travel mug on his person. It’s sometimes difficult to get a grasp of Simon’s mannerisms, as they seem to vary widely by situation and company. Given enough time, the general impression one gets is that he’s a bit twitchy and uses his hands while speaking more than most people. Secrets Below!

[Ermine]

I'm hoping for at least one more, but I could do this with one player, technically, so...

...but I want more.

[goalentertainment]

I'm intrigued. I'll try to put something together.