Originally Posted by
Joe Acro
Here's basically how "Traitor Game: The Novel" works. Everyone creates an original character (possibly more than one, depending on the number of people involved). Al suggested we might also use public domain characters. Together, we come up with a scenario we like. (Me and Al worked on one, but I want this to be collaborative.) Ideally, we could agree/compromise to include the things we think are most essential to a good, interesting, fun game.
I feel like we'd have to forego prologues--jump straight into the story and fill in backstories as we go, either via flashback or conversation. Instead of acting autonomously, if there's something you want your character to do that effects other characters or the setting, you throw your ideas out there and we offer a general sense of approval, possibly helping with the details. Al suggested, and I think this is a good idea, that over the course of the game we visit each of the worlds of the characters involved.
I did write up a draft for the story idea, but I'm willing to modify it:
In the future, a group of scientist experiment with a source of cosmic energy that fell from the stars. They hope to use it to reach those stars--to finally push the boundaries on space travel. But they need to know exactly what kind of energy they're using. If it will be powering man-made flights and handled by human hands, they need to know how to effects man. They start, as scientists always do, with mice. At first, they think the energy is too much, as even small quantities seem to kill the test subjects. But then they test it again. The dead become living. And what these reanimated can do! Using more and more of this energy, the dead gain more and more strength and skill.
One scientist, defying others orders, takes it upon himself to attempt a human trial. He takes a cadaver and creates... the GilgaM.E.S.H., the Made of Energy Super Human that he hopes to be the first super hero--the saving grace for all.
But the scientist is wrong. It becomes readily apparent that GilgaM.E.S.H., who has a simple mind like that of a child, cannot handle the responsibility of saving mankind from itself. He doesn't understand right from wrong, doesn't understand emotion, doesn't understand free will. He cannot differentiate between small crimes and big ones, white lies and betrayals, quarrels and wars, and especially when people don't mean what they say. Mankind is something he doesn't understand. It is not like him. And so he gets to that dangerous point where he decides that since it is different and nonsensical, it must be destroyed.
Thankfully for mankind, an alien group of Universal Protectors arrive. The cosmic energy landed on Earth by accident, a shard of a conflict they had with a powerful spacefaring being. They want to set things right. With their power, and with one among them making a sacrifice for the necessary life force, they banish GilgaM.E.S.H. outside of reality.
...But outside of reality, GilgaM.E.S.H. sees other realms, other universes. He uses his cosmic power to fashion a home for himself, in this space between spaces, using as guidelines the structures of the world he knew and the worlds he now sees. He also sees many feats that are considered heroic, and feats that are considered evil, and some that are considered both depending on who you ask. He decides to continue in his mission, to learn what it takes to truly be a hero, to better understand how humankind thinks. He crafts a game, a game that will pit the participants against each other and against unknown forces, so that he can learn how people react to each other, how they forge relationships, how they justify their actions, in these most extreme of situations.
In a twist to be revealed later in the game, the Universal Protector who sacrificed himself actually lives on deep within gilgaM.E.S.H.'s consciousness and influences the game--primarily by saving those killed from truly being dead.