Sandbox Earth

[Varthonai]

CURRENT PLAYER:
ShadowDancer

NEXT GAME SIGNUP LIST:
kronosdragon
shadow_strike
username
nrocha20
Bloody Shadow
Aval
KingOfKong
Killervirus
Big Boom
Damian
i like boom(er)


Only one member may play at a time. If you are interested in playing, post below and I'll add you to a list. Selection is random.

Your goal is to create some kind of utopia. Obviously, methods of doing this will vary because of differing values--it could be a "utopia" in an aesthetic sense, an ethical sense, a utilitarian sense, etc.

As the GM, my job is to make this as difficult for you as I possibly can. If you like, you can think of me as the Devil. You can also think of me as everything that inevitably happens when your ideals meet the reality of human nature and the gloves come off. Whatever backstory you give me, I'll play along with it in-game.

You possess omnipotent control over the world you create. HOWEVER, the rules of the game impose some limits on your power. You are not incapable of breaking them--you just lose if you do. ;-)

You must observe the following rules:

1. You must include at least one human civilization, and that civilization must appear in your first post (though it could come at the very end, if you're inclined to spend most of your first post describing the creation or evolution of the ecological and geological makeup of your world.) Your humans must be physically and psychologically identical to male and female Homo Sapiens. The size, number, and ethnic / racial / cultural demographics of your civilization are completely up to you. For the purposes of this game, "civilization" is defined as "two or more people, living (for the most part) in cooperation with one another." If you think you can pull off a minimalist masterpiece with just two people, I ain't gonna stop ya.
2. While you can arrange for significant individual humans to have experiences that develop their personalities--and even, if you see fit, cause them to become insane--you cannot perform direct mind control. I will call you out on anything that I think is too direct.
3. Your civilization must eventually either a) come to a brief and cataclysmic end, or b) gradually come to violate Rule #1 due to natural selection, as your humans are replaced by their evolutionary successors. This can happen whenever you feel it is appropriate, but you should know that part of my job is to make it happen sooner rather than later. Your run on the game will end at this point, and the next player will begin.
4. You must play out the events of your civilization in chronological order. This is not a Tarantino film. You also cannot "edit" your work by changing the outcomes of events that have already passed.

With those rules in mind, here are some suggestions for stuff that you CAN do (but obviously are not required to):

1. PROVE YOUR EXISTENCE. You can stay subtle and hidden if you want, but you can also get up in everyone's face with thunder and lightning and general badassitude. Send out divine heralds! Carve commandments into mountains with giant laser beams from the sky and sign them with your initials! You can't mind control people into worshipping you--but, if you're so inclined, you can just kill everybody who doesn't. With fire, plague, earthquakes, and zombie armies.

2. HAND OUT SUPERPOWERS. Giving superpowers to everybody would be a violation of Rule #1, but feel free to have an occasional miracle-worker. Be careful about revealing the future through prophets, though. I WILL make you stand by their predictions... unless the prophecies are deliberately fake, which brings us to...

3. LIE. Be a Trickster God. Make false prophesies and empty threats. Lead your devoted followers on a wild goose chase until they stumble upon happiness unexpectedly. Throw your enemies into confusion. Fool humanity into behaving itself. They're gullible, and they know nothing about your nature. You can get away with anything.

4. MAKE NON-HUMAN FOLLOWERS. They don't have to have the moral flaws that your humans have; create alternate societies as foils to your main society, foils that compete or cooperate with the humans. Make spirits, angels, aliens, or giant teddy bears. Decide for yourself whether or not they deserve the level of free will that you give to the humans.


Post below or PM me if you're interested.

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________


POST-GAME SUMMARIES:


Mattbot's "Urtrex": A world built atop a giant spaceborne crustacean, its human population had a steampunk-esque society with overtones of 19th-Century British classism. Urtrex was destroyed when a race of winged extraterrestrials unleashed technology that drove the Urtrex crustacean to zombified madness, causing it to destroy the civilizations that grew upon it.

Varth's Notes: Matt showed little concern for the well-being of his people, and in fact purposefully assisted me in their destruction from time to time. The welfare of his people seemed less important to him than the creation of a unique and fleetingly beautiful setting. It was an interesting interpretation of "utopia" to say the least.

[Varthonai]

[Space Reserved for Post-Game Summaries]

[Varthonai]

[Space Reserved for Post-Game Summaries]

[Varthonai]

[Space Reserved for Post-Game Summaries]

[Varthonai]

The die is cast. Mattbot is God #1. Other players have been added to the second list.

Begin when you're ready, Matt.

[Mattbot]

Oh... crap, I better get to work then :D

[Varthonai]

I have a great idea, Matt. Why don't you give them nuclear weapons right off the bat? That way there'll be mutually assured destruction from the get-go instead of thousands of years of brutal conventional warfare.

In fact, you could build your entire civilization on top of a gigantic nuclear stockpile.

C'mon, why would I lie to you? :smilewinkgrin:

[Mattbot]

Well I could always follow my nation (http://www.nationstates.net/nation=mattbot_the_23rd) Where my race has a solar cannon built onto the moon and is heavilly guarded by a fleet of space battleships xD

But i'd rather go for something a little more... eccentric :think:

[Varthonai]

Eccentric is good. Eccentric is more fun to exploit.

[Mattbot]

(aww man I have no idea what this is xD)

Sitting atop the shell of a giant crustacean floating through deep space lies the fertile land of Utrex, a complex labyrinth of lush islands, tall freezing mountains and clear seas. Throughout this landscape there are many interesting and beautiful creatures ranging from the famed Aliosaurs of the west to the meek and cowardly Turmoolies lying in vast caverns buried deep into the shell beneath the soil and rock, but none of these animals are more amazing or deadly than the Chronicled Yellow Snib which dominates most of the known land.

These astounding creatures are rumored to be the most early form of life on Utrex and over time have evolved and spread over it. They somewhat resemble a mix between kiwi and lizard and are no taller than an average dodo yet they are not to be misjudged. The long beak of a Snib is razor sharp and can slice straight through almost any surface, they also keep to large flocks rarely traveling alone being know to use their vast numbers to swarm over prey.

During the evolution of the Snib a sub race was born, the Human (your every day person) who slowly began spreading across the land but where kept to the center of the shell as the coasts where heavily controlled by the Slembergs. From their cozy location in the center of the shell they began creating tools, weapons and other various technological advances, most of which had been greatly inspired by the mountain carvings of “Those above” which had began appearing overnights since the first Human settlement was established.

These carvings first began as what was came to be known as awesome faces and later instructions to various technological breakthroughs that had lead them into a utopia of peace and respect. On the summer of 1295 one of these worshiped “Above peoples” crash landed in the city of Mattopia where it was discovered that these people where no more than common winged deliverers, a daily pest on the streets of Humanity. Soon after this the carvings were ignored and Humanity declined into a stage slightly similar of that in 19th century Britain (Oh yes, I’m going there) Where nations are controlled by the money hungry upper business class and gothic architecture is rampant.

On the coasts of the shell a major war is in progress with the Slembergs who have become more of a threat to Humanity than ever, Cities are surrounded by thick adamantium walls to protect them from ever increasing Snib stampedes and on top of this the winged messengers have created their own nation up in the mountains and are currently in a heated trade conflict with the Humans.

Brief description of he 3 main races:

Humans
19th century British stereotypes that thrive on buisness, The richer you are the more control over the government guild you have. Crime is severly punished with gladitorial battles. Citys are covered with sprawling gothic towers reaching into he clouds.The Military is focused currently around gunpowder, adamantium blades and Mithril armourments.

Above People/ Winged Messengers
Futuristic technolgical advances, all contained within one gleaming city attop the highest mountain of Utrex, Peaceful yest mischievious race. Currently in a trade war with Humanity. Tall Human look to them with a slight green tinge to their skin and feathered wings.

Slembergs
A race of large humanoid monkeys with crops of mushrooms growing from their spines. Their tribes span the whole coast of utrex sealing it off from all other intelligent races. The tribes communicate with each other through the geat council who sit upon a mountain that is attop a stay piece of shell, The shell piece circles Utrex like the moon passing by ever Slemberg tribe on its rotation.

[Varthonai]

Very nice, but I'd like to know more about this world's systems of mass media.

Does it have a press? Is it a free press? Do the Slembergs, Above People, and humans have different forms of mass media?

[Mattbot]

(This work?)

The Humans are updated on current events through large theater sized screens placed throughout major public gathering areas whereas Business related news is placed on various newspapers, Each city has its own paper which has to be brought at any local newsbender (A traveling magician/ newspaper distributor confined within the city walls), there are also public speakers who voice opinions of the lower classes but are quickly silenced through unnecessary and near inhumane means.

The Sky People/ Winged Messengers have their own free press in the works focusing on all forms of media and news which greatly exaggerates most issues and as a result most of it is rarely read. Most Sky People gain information from adventuring travelers who pass through the mountains from time to time, although still not very trustworthy it beats their press.

Slembergs Gain most of their knowledge from tribal leaders during gatherings, the leaders gain their information from the great council residing on the floating mountain (its attached by a loose piece of shell that skims around the land like an orbit btw) that spans off from the coastal border. Through the council the tribes are able to pass updates on their lives from one to the other.

[Varthonai]

Heh.

If any public speakers are talking right now, I'd like to hear what they have to say. Before the authorities arrive, of course.

[Mattbot]

“Too long have I watched these wine swilling, pipe smoking, pompous fools run our fair land and look down on us, forcing us to work our caps off in those mithril mines of theirs for no more than 12 shellings a minute, I can‘t feed my families with that kinda pay, I‘d be better off outside those walls hunting Kalembracers and Hushnecks. Also we feel that the laws in this city in particular are too strict, gladiatorial matches with a flock of Snibs for no less than tripping over my employers shoe, That’s madness. All we ask for is a little higher payment and a reduction on the penalties for crime! And some better living conditions for that matter, I personally feel that the view from my tower is not nearly as splendid as that of the upper classes.”

[Varthonai]

"A reduction on the penalties for crime, y'say?" shouts a slurred male voice near the front of the attentive crowd. "Hahaha, and what's a law-abidin' citizen such as yourself want with that, eh? As for your livin's, I say a man's lucky to have a home at all. Ya really think life's better out there? Out there with the Slemberg savages who'd kill ya just as soon as look at ya? I want no part o' tha'!"

The man is red in the face, and his breath reeks of alcohol. The crowd eyes him angrily.

[Mattbot]

"See this is what I’m talking about" The speaker continued "This poor fool has been run so hard by our omnipresent upper class that he has been demoted to the lowest common demeanor, a Drunkard! who is no mor-"

"Shad ap you swine, I'll not be sympathized with by a mere miner!" The Man interrupted pulling a large bottle of snubstar ale from his coat pocket. Suddenly one of the crowd members lunged at him with a chipped and worn cane proclaiming "You dare to question my shame sir, have at thee!" but was cut off mid charge by something the Seemingly drunk man pulled out of his pocket.

It was the insignia of the upper class, this man as no ordinary Drunk. The assailant cramped down onto his knees and began begging for forgiveness.

"Oi oi what’s all this then?" 4 heavily armored guardsmen arrived from seemingly nowhere brandishing automatic muskets. The crowd began to scatter as the speaker tried rallying them into a stand.

"Sir, do you know the penalty for public rallies?" the lead officer of the guard started.

"Gladiatorial match against a pack of mountain Snibs?"

The guard let out a hearty chuckle "Why of course not, haven't you heard? its been upgraded to Snibzorgs" (Extreme as the come Snibs probably genetically created by the Winged Messengers) The 4 guards simultaneously kneecapped the Malefactor and dragged him off up the main road.

The wasted noble was left alone in the center...

[Varthonai]

The drunkard hobbles over to a remaining guard, clearing away bystanders. "'Ey, son," the old aristocrat barked.

The guard looks nervous. "Good morrow, Sir."

"D'you know who I am, boy?"

[Mattbot]

"Why my liege, of course I do" Bowing to the staggering Drunk "Your Sir Stan Atanbrook of Mattopia, one of the highest members of the upper class, dominator of the snib farms to the north and one of the main competitors in the timber trading business. You were first born in-"

"Alright lad, enough" rubbing his eyes and wobbling about a tad.

[Varthonai]

"So I am," said Stan Atanbrook. "Look, lad, I dun' know if I can get home by m'self, I'm mor'n usually out of it tonight... be much obliged if'n ye could gimme a hand, aye? I'll put in a good word for you to your Chief, whaddaya say?"

[Mattbot]

The young guardsman was distracted as another armoured figure ran towards him "Noodleshmucket we need to get to barracks, we're being pulled out of the city!"

"What? why?"

"The Winged mesengers of the north have nuked Northtonion, you can see the mushroom cloud from here!"
The man pointed out over the hills where a faint red glow could be seen, similiar to sunrise.

"Christ my cousin was in Northtonion"

"and now every city militia is being drafted into the mountains to wage war on them! Now lets go! Drill sergeant will have my ass on a plate if we take too long!"

The two guardsmen sprant off up the streets soon followed by a larger group of guards and intrigued citizens.

(You'll never leave the square Stan! NEVER!)

[Varthonai]

Matt, you've broken reality somewhere. I'll need to know the origin of the break and how far-reaching its consequences are, so that I can determine how many people have gone insane as a result.

[Mattbot]

It was due to the far advanced alien tech within the Winged Messengers nukes, any living creature within a 30 mile radius is turned into a infective zombie.

The human forces on their way to the mountain capitol of the Sky People were attacked and soon infected by the zombies spreading from Northtonion now leaving most central cities near defenceless.

[Varthonai]

Mattopia's citizens weren't zombified, but they felt some reality-warping effects. Unless "Christ" is a common expletive in Mattopia with an alternate history from "Christ" as we use it, or else was simply an onomatopoeia of frustration. And how did that guard get the name Noodleshmucket?

[Mattbot]

Yep Reality is bending out of control, just like Noodleshmuckets (A common name meaning "yield of the snibster")spine CASUE HES A ZOMBIE NOW! D=
There is a radius of at least 60 miles spanning from the zombie tide that is causing people to use odd sayings like "christ". As the zombie tide extends so does the radius.

[Varthonai]

So we've zoomed ahead a few hours to the part where Mattopian forces are attacking zombies, then.

Very well. How fast is word going to spread of this attack? What do humans in Urtrex use to communicate in times of emergency?

[Mattbot]

It would usually go very fast through telegrams but alas the reality molestation has blocked out the system replacing it with telepathy. However no one has managed to master it yet, so far only accomplishing blowing each others brains out.

Lower classes are using this to their advantage and are exploding the heads of their masters.

[Varthonai]

I think you mean telepathy, Matt. Telekinesis is when you move objects with your mind.

No devilry from me on this turn. I'm just going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the head a splosions.

[Mattbot]

(Whoops thanks Varth)

Due to the amount of mayhem now engulfing Utrex the Winged Messengers decide to cut their losses and flee into their space crafts abandoning the rest of the Crustacian to thereality mess up.

Zombified snibs are cutting across the land at rapid speed zombifying anything they can come intocontact with, almost all the Human cities have been engulfed now and the Slembergs are fleeing off the end of the shell in a desperate attempt to escape the madness.

Those last Human cities have actually managed to create a psychic barrier around their homes which can stop the zombie tide getting too close yet this requires a lot of concentration.

[Varthonai]

Zombified snibs gradually break into the shell of the crustacean atop which Urtrex rests. It becomes infected with the virus and begins to thrash about in an attempt to devour the creatures that live upon its back. The ground quakes, the oceans rise, and the empires fall. Your entire world dies screaming.

Matt's world has ended. The next player selected by the RNG is Silence. Begin whenever you're ready, Silence.

[Mattbot]

Its just as beautiful as I imagined, sniff.

[Wadling]

(I am shocked that Mattbot's great society fell, I was sure it would last forever)

[Damian]

(I'd like to throw my name into the hat for the third game, if that is possible.)

[Big Boom]

GO SILENCE GO!!!!! (lol)

[Varthonai]

Noted, Damian.

By the way, there's no need for parentheses here. Only the current player's words are ever canon anyway.

[Silence]

(Don't have time to write up a post today. I'll prolly get one posted this time tomorrow. Right now I gtg to a concert.)

[Varthonai]

S'all good, my friend, take your time.

[Silence]

Can you move it along to the next player and remove me from the list please?

[Varthonai]

Certainly, Silence. Feel free to come back at any time.

I've rerolled the RNG and the new player is ShadowDancer. Begin whenever you are ready.

[ShadowDancer]

(Eh, sorry for the lateness...)

Encased in a large bubble consisting of small crystal bubbles lies Krysilis, a world completely submerged underwater. Floating atop this endless sea is a giant glacier, home to the Nazi penguins that inhabit this large chunk of ice. They are a strange race, often inventing new things and exploring the vast ocean. As time passed, they grew more intelligent and invented their own language and writing system. Soon, they began creating tools and weapons.

As the penguins continued to create, a new race came into existence, the Human. The penguins were fascinated by this creature and observed them as they grew. Over time, these humans became more advanced, and were almost as intelligent as the penguins. The penguins then decided that the humans were not a threat to them, and went back to developing more weapons.

Near the Nazi Penguin’s glacier underneath the ocean, is an army of yellow submarines holding the Nazi Penguins enemy, the Nazi Polar Bears. The Nazi Polar Bears use to live on their own glacier, leaving the Nazi Penguins alone, but one day due to unseen circumstances, it melted, leaving the Nazi Polar Bears homeless. They blamed the loss of their home on the Nazi Penguins and have decided to wipe them out. However, at this point the Nazi Penguins were already well aware of their presence and attacked them first, resulting in a full scale war.

The humans, no longer able to live peacefully, took refuge in a cave, where they discovered the entrance to the hollowed out center of the planet. Here, they created their own civilization, carving buildings and monuments out of the stones. Scattered throughout the area were patches of fertile land, which they used to farm and plant crops.

Three main races:

Nazi Penguins:
The Nazi Penguins are not your average everyday penguin. Though they are about 2 feet tall, they are still very dangerous. One wrong move and you may find your head in the belly of a whale. All penguins are born with black and white feathers, however some dye their feathers upon maturity. The color of their feathers symbolizes their rank in the military, with silver having the highest authority. Other colors include red, blue, and green.

Though their main weapon of choice is an AK-47, they also have throwing knives and nuclear missiles, though they only use these as a last resort. When fighting, they never confront the enemy directly. Penguins prefer to be tactical in their approach. If they have to, they will lie hidden in the snow for hours waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Nazi Polar Bears:
The Nazi Polar bears are not your typical polar bears that you see on the planet called Earth. They’re roughly 7 seven feet tall and walk on their hind legs. The most common color is white but some are brown and black. On their left arm, they have a red reversed Swastika that is roughly 6 inches across.While the males are considered dominant, the females are usually the fighters against the Nazi Penguins due to the fact that they’re more protective of their mates and offspring and therefore stronger than the males when fighting.

The weapons they usually carry can be compared to the Uzis or Katanas on Earth however, their main weapons are their claws. When fighting the Nazi Penguins, they try to get close so they have a better chance of killing them and they can be sure that a particular kill is theirs. It is a custom with the Polar Bears that the one with the most kills gets to have the best meal and is treated like a king/queen for a day.

Humans:
The Humans are like the humans on Earth but different in many ways. The Humans have various skin tones, like blue, green, orange, or pink for example, different hair and eye colors. They have no sides in the war but if paid enough money, they’ll get information about the enemy.

[Varthonai]

The Humans are like the humans on Earth but different in many ways. The Humans have various skin tones, like blue, green, orange, or pink for example, different hair and eye colors. They have no sides in the war but if paid enough money, they’ll get information about the enemy.

This is a slight violation of Rule #1, Shadow. Review the following:


Your humans must be physically and psychologically identical to male and female Homo Sapiens. The size, number, and ethnic / racial / cultural demographics of your civilization are completely up to you.

You may have misinterpreted the last part there. You can determine the proportion of races in your human population; you can't just make them up.

However, since skin and hair and eye color are fairly superficial alterations (and also since I am quite fond of your Nazi Penguins and Polar Bears ^^) I will forgive this rule violation on the condition that you demonstrate for me a simple day-in-the-life scenario for a human being in Krysilis of your choosing.

Any follow-up questions or clarifications you need can be directed at me in your next post, or via PM if you wish.

[ShadowDancer]

As the artificial lighting in the underground got brighter, many humans were already out and about, going to work or running errands. The streets were a blob of colors as humans tried to get to their destinations. Fladoodle tried to push his way through the evermoving blur of people so he could make his way to his job. After a few minutes of being shoved around the streets, he finally made his way to the mines.

"You're late," said another worker.

"Shut up Karum," Fladoodle replied, heading toward the elevators. "Those people are animals!" Karum chuckled and followed him into the elevator.

"I told you to get up earlier," Karum scolded. Fladoodle just grumbled and stared at the buttons. With a soft ding, the elevator doors opened, revealing a large crystal. The two men stepped out and grabbed their tools that were propped up against the side of the mine wall. They walked up to the blue, luminescent crystal, meandering through busy workers scurrying all over the place. Fladoodle approached one of the workers.

"Fladoodle! Glad you're here, I need you to look after my kid. Later!" Before he could say anything, the worker had already left. Fladoodle sighed and looked down at the ten-year-old staring at the pretty, blue light. Fladoodle always hated kids; they always turn out to be little annoying brats that got in the way of what he was doing. To make it worse, his friends always asked him to watch their kids at work.

'Seriously, who brings their kids to work and asks a friend to watch them? Bad parenting right there...' Fladoodle thought as the kid started tugging on his shirt. He looked down at the kid, annoyed. "What?"

"What's that pretty blue thingy?" She asked, pointing at the crystal.

"Don't your parents tell you anything?" The kid stared at him with a blank expression. Fladoodle sighed. "That blue 'thingy' is this entire society's source of power," he explained, "It powers all the-- DON'T TOUCH IT!" he shouted as he grabbed the girl's hand.

"But... It's prettyful..." She whined. Fladoodle groaned and dragged the child over to Karum, away from the crystal.

"Here!" he yelled, "She's your problem now!" Karum stared at Fladoodle as he stormed off.

<several hours later>

The apartment was a mess. Various items of clothing littered the floor, making it impossible not to step on something. Dirty dishes were piled up in the sink waiting for their lazy owner to clean them. Fladoodle was lying on his bed, staring up at the rocky ceiling of his room.

"I hate kids" he muttered. The kid that his friend wanted him to watch caused trouble for him all day, mostly trying to touch the crystal. Fladoodle groaned, turned out his light, and went to bed.

[Killervirus]

Hey uhm cough.

:D

[basumarpo1610]

I have a great idea, Matt.


Why don't you give them nuclear weapons right off the bat? That way there'll be mutually assured destruction from the get-go instead of thousands of years of brutal conventional warfare.



In fact, you could build your entire civilization on top of a gigantic nuclear stockpile.

[Mattbot]

Thats a simply fantastic idea, only problem is that i'm not the current player. ShadowDancer is.

[Varthonai]

Well, crap.

I'm kind of in over my head here, guys. I want to keep this thread running but I've spread myself too thin. Again.

In my past experience with this sort of thing, I've generally taken volunteers from among the players to take over as the GM. And then it inevitably becomes just as inactive as before and kind of dies out.

It could take me a while to get back to this, guys. :-[ Would you rather I open it up for someone else to take over as GM / Devil figure, or close it until I can come back?

[KingOfKong]

Kinda looks like this thing is dying, wich is baaad.

I wanted to play as well :(

Maybe you should give the GM role to someone else until you come back? Don't give to me though, it'd die straight away.

Also, feel free to give me a tenpointer for reviving a "dead" thread.