THE ZONE: INTEREST CHECK

The Zone RPG, created by Raph D'Amico, is a tabletop storygame of surreal horror, magical realism, mutant weirdness, and collaborative self-destruction. Influences include Annihilation, Stalker, Roadside Picnic, Uzumaki, and the SCP Foundation.

The Zone (DWRP Version) is very much the same thing, except adapted to DWRP format.

How will this play out? You can look at an explanation of the original game here, and you can even play it for free in your browser with other people. I highly recommend it, if you have a group of people and have two to three hours of free time. You can even play it on your own as a journaling game!

This would be a six player game, maximum, and it would be invite only. This would probably run sometime mid/late October to early November. This seems like a small amount of people, but I just want to feel it out and see how it works closely to the original format and work out the kinks of adapting it to a new format. Additionally, due to the easy set-up and shared storytelling roles, this can be played multiple times with different groups.

Ideally, the game would run for two or three weeks maximum. I'm toying with the idea of it being entirely original characters to fit the setting, and I'm interested in hearing feedback about that.

If the game is a success, I'd love for other people to facilitate and run this game, too! (After all, I didn't come up with it.)

EXPEDITION 14 BRIEFING

Welcome, volunteers. I know you've all been wondering what The Zone really is, and if the rumors are true. As the 14th expedition, you deserve to know what we know. It's not a lot. But it may help you.

It all started with the anomalies. Locals calling in to talk radio or visiting their doctors with stories of unseasonal weather; impossible objects; half-sightings of unknown creatures; claimed conversations with long dead loved ones. People disappeared. Medical notes describe bodies that started... changing.

We initiated special containment procedures. Performed tests on those who refused to evacuate. Then, as if reacting to our attention, The Boundary appeared and isolated everything and everyone within an area of several square miles. We don’t know if there are still survivors. Or if they're still human.

Since that moment, not a single expedition has returned. All lose contact minutes after leaving visual range. We're going on fragments, rumors, and occasional anomalies that seep beyond The Boundary.

We don’t know what The Zone wants--or if it wants. It seems to be a mirror. It manifests whatever Phobias, Obsessions, and Memories you bring into it. The Zone brings them to life to test you.

There are rumors that The Zone can grant your deepest Wish if it deems you worthy. Sensor readings show something incredibly powerful at its heart. Perhaps the only escape is the The Center itself.

You are the 14th Expedition. You will almost certainly not return. Good hunting. But prepare to die. The Federal Bureau of Coherence, without admitting liability, thanks you for accepting this mission.

This is a collaborative storytelling game.

1. We're telling a movie

The game is a series of scenes, which we can choose to play in as much or as little detail as we want, describing or acting out what characters are doing. Scenes can be as short as couple of comments, or as long as a multi-character thread.

2. We will take turns being the director

Although I'll be moderating group vibe and facilitating the overall game, there is no set "game master". We take turns as director setting up and ending scenes, and all share a few key moves that anyone can trigger at any time to help the story along. No one will be forced to be on the spot for long. We're each in charge of our characters, but share responsibility for everything else.

3. We will play to lose

We are not competing with each other. That's why our fates are secretly decided at the start, so we can focus on creating not so easy situations which characters will always take the bait on... and suffer the consequences. You know those moments that have you yelling "DON'T GO IN THERE!" or "DON'T TOUCH THAT!" at your favorite horror film? That's this entire game.

Interested? Fill out the form below!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Name: Larissa
Character Concepts/Considerations: I think what'd be most fun to toss into this is a character I used for Ten Candles and made up on the fly. She was a junkie, but very outwardly upbeat and high-strung. She has a simple framework that I can add to, though of course, CW of drug use and addiction should be applied to her character.
Likelihood of Joining: Depends on the timing, but I'm VERY interested in a short run tabletop-style game.
Would you be interested in OCs only?: Yes!
Questions: None for now

Name: Jackal
Character Concepts/Considerations: Totally down to create an OC, but I also have a host of video game and LA characters I wouldn't mind AUing into this; special consideration for those that wouldn't be super tenable for me in a regular jamjar AKA "do you want to see me play an antagonist/villain?"
Likelihood of Joining: If it runs during a time I can fit it into my schedule (Oct-Dec, perhaps), chances are good! I'm on the lookout for something bite-size since my schedule is set to become too demanding in the near future to app the mainstream model of DWRP games. I'm also very intrigued by the group GM and predetermined fate concepts.
Would you be interested in OCs only?: Yes.
Questions: N/A

Edited 2023-09-06 03:15 (UTC)

Name: Alex
Character Concepts/Considerations: I'm kind of caught between a couple! I tend to be a party filler so I'm good with seeing what others might need and bringing someone smarter/dumber/funnier/more serious (ect) to the table. That said, most people I play are either serious sad women or absolute dumbass dudes, so take that as you will.
Likelihood of Joining: Depends on when it's run, but if the timing is right, for sure.
Would you be interested in OCs only?: I'd be okay with it!
Questions: I assume there would be some kind of red card option in this as well, but def a trigger list/stuff we could agree upon Not Doing would be fantastic.

Edited 2023-09-06 03:17 (UTC)

Yes, I'll definitely be including X-card and red card safety tools! Extremely important, especially when it comes to horror. (It's really dope, actually, the og game has built in x-card functionality in the browser!)

YEAH i was reading that in the rules and like, I trust you so I Figured It Would Be Fine but I WANTED TO STATE IT, FOR POSTERITY'S SAKE

GOOD TO BE STATED NEVERTHELESS

Name: Jeff
Character Concepts/Considerations: I'm not really sure ATM but I will aggressively marinate on it during this time.
Likelihood of Joining: Timing dependent but very likely, love an Ev game.
Would you be interested in OCs only?: Sure!
Questions: Do you have an idea of what the schedule will look like/ what the general scope of activity will be?

sure! it's hard to really tell what the concrete schedule might be, since i'm still feeling it out, but i'll do my best.

so, in the original game, the zone takes place across ten locations. each location will have one or two scenes/threads--ideally, these shouldn't be very long threads, like the length of a scene in a movie. when it's a director's turn to lead, they'll introduce the location and scene set-up, as well as deciding when it's time to move on--ideally, when the threads reach a conclusion point. so maybe, like, moving onto another location every 2-3 days....

(also, as a note, not every character has to participate in every scene. like a movie, sometimes you want to zoom in on just two guys and whatever is going on in there.)

as for scope of activity, there won't be an activity check because, well, there'd only be like six people and it seems not worth it LMFAO. ideally i'd want people to be reasonably active (3-5 short tags a day?)

lmk if you have any other questions, it's all very nebulous but i'm trying to keep things realistic

gotcha!! i think i have an idea of it for now, thank you :o) that all seems very managable so yay

Name: Hazel (I was logged in for bakerstreet stuff and container said "yeah sure use the dude from the horror cartoon" I guess)
Character Concepts/Considerations: I have a few OCs who would be great for this, and they're all from a modern supernatural fantasy setting ... (edit) but I would really love to try out The Beaurocrat, I have some ideas. I could also do Surgeon, I'm used to playing the party's Walking Box of Band-Aids.
Likelihood of Joining: Mid to High depending on the timing, like Jackal, since I'm job hunting rn
Would you be interested in OCs only?: Yes!
Questions: None for now!

Edited (Read more of the rules, got better ideas) 2023-09-06 14:13 (UTC)

Name: Sable.
Character Concepts/Considerations: My primary one is Karin Sauer from Fear and Hunger 2: Termina, but I'm not entirely sold on her just yet; I've also got an OC in mind (a jovial fight girl who sucks at empathy) but that'll require me finishing at least the beta of the story I'm writing, or at least getting a basic idea. Failing that, I could probably try to make something on the spot or see what would work! I ain't picky.
Likelihood of Joining: 50/50! Depends on how my work schedule lines up for it; it tends to be pretty chaotic
Would you be interested in OCs only?: It'd be a lil more difficult for me, but I am positively down for it!
Questions: None at the moment!