[za3k](/) > [Games](/mygames.md) > stupid conspiracies
-written 2021-01-17 by zachary "za3k" vance
+
+**playtesting: none**. made after testing [stupid russia](/archive/stupid_russia.md) and finding major problems
A 30-minute party game for about 10 players. Competitive but goofy, not really about winning. Can be played online.
-**Playtesting**: Not playtested yet. Made after testing [stupid russia](/archive/stupid_russia.md) and finding major problems with it.
+written 2021-01-17 by zachary "za3k" vance
## Rules
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[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > "no, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!" (v2)
----
-written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance. version [1](/archive/invincible1.md) 2.
**No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!** is a game for 2-8 players. Half the players are Heroes (round up), and half are Villains. It's designed to be friendly for players new to storytelling games.
> *24. I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually instantaneous.)* - Peter Ansprach, 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord
+written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance. version [1](/archive/invincible1.md) 2.
+
## Making Heroes
Make up a hero, or roll randomly to make your Hero. "I am a ..." (roll once per column)
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[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > "no, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!"
-written 2021-02-07 by zachary "za3k" vance
-
**No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!** is a game for 2-8 players. Some of the players are Heroes, and some are Villains. It's designed to be short (30 minutes) and friendly for players new to storytelling games.
| Players | Heroes | Villains |
> *24. I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually instantaneous.)* - Peter Ansprach, 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord
+written 2021-02-07 by zachary "za3k" vance
+
## Making Heroes
Roll randomly to make your Hero. "I am a ..." (roll once per column)
[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > loot boxes
-written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance
+**playtesting: none**
+
A short storytelling game for 2-4 players, better with fewer. Play as long as you want, 10-60 minutes.
-**Playtesting**: None
+written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance
### Rules
- Each player describes their character in one or two sentences. They also have a starting inventory of any three items they want. The player will always have exactly three items.
[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > ninjas ninjas ninjas!
-**Playtesting: None**
+**playtesting: none**
*Ninjas Ninjas Ninjas!* is a fast-paced storytelling game about how damn cool ninjas are, for 3 players exactly. It's designed to last 15-30 minutes.
- If you want to grade your exam exactly (guessing is fine), each player tracks how many stars they have thrown. To keep track, tally in front of you on paper, or take a penny from a stack in the middle whenever you throw a star.
- If you wish, you can play with a time limit using a timer.
+written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance. Version [1](/archived/ninjas1.md) 2
+
## Suggested Progression
I've designed the rules to introduce complexity gradually, based on which game number you're on. Feel free to progress faster or not at all. The rules are clearly marked based on game number throughout. If you want to quickly see where things changed for your current game:
- In game 1, you play with none of the optional rules, and without keeping track of **stars**.
- In game 8, you make up your own cool ninja hand signals to replace all the yelling you've been doing.
- In game 10, you add Role Swapping, which makes things extra crazy. You need to have memorized the Roles already.
+# Rules
+
## Setup (option 1, quickstart)
One player shouts "Red!". One shouts "Blue!". One shouts "Green!". They immediately start playing.
## More Players
- Ninjas Ninjas Ninjas requires at least 3 players, but it probably works with up to 5. You need one Role per player. Come up with your own Roles. Each Role needs at least one way to throw **problem stars**, and at least one way to throw **point stars**. If you have good Role ideas and try them out, send it to me!
----
-written 2021-02-08 by zachary "za3k" vance. Version [1](/archived/ninjas1.md) 2
[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > ninjas ninjas ninjas!
-written 2021-02-07 by zachary "za3k" vance
+
**playtesting: none**
*Ninjas Ninjas Ninjas!* is a fast-paced storytelling game about how damn cool ninjas are, for 3 more or players (instructions are written for 3). It's designed to last 5-30 minutes--how long exactly is up to the players. New events and challenges happen rapidly, and which player is doing what shifts quickly.
**Supplies needed**: None, in the worst case. Ideally, each player tracks how many stars they have thrown--you tally in front of you on paper, or take a penny from a stack in the middle whenever you throw a star. If you wish, you can play with a timer. If your group has trouble keeping track mentally, you can also use nine nickels to track throwing stars.
+written 2021-02-07 by zachary "za3k" vance
+
## Learning
The intended play style is fast, and the game is complex at full speed. At first start slow, and review a **Role** every time you get it. Also, mention why you're passing point starts. After a couple games, players should memorize the rules and Roles, and stop using any written aids. Then, start scoring if you aren't (guessing is fine). You can also use a timer if you want one. Finally, ramp up speed until you're forced to improv (say what you do *before* thinking it through).
[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > stupid russia
-written 2017 by zachary "za3k" vance and an anonymous friend. revised and playtested 2021-01-15.
*Playtesting notes*: I don't recommend this game. The rules are too hard to understand, and there is not enough feedback for players. The Inspector is very busy and doesn't get to play. We played in Discord with about 5 "rooms" with various caps on the number of players in that voice channel. The "rooms" worked well, I suggest this system for any party game that should have a bit of eavesdropping and private conversation. We played for an hour with 10 people--this was about right, maybe even long. We should have used less codenames. Two people dropped out partway, which didn't cause major issues. [Python program](/archive/stupid_russia.py)
A party game of making and breaking alliances for 8-20 players. One player is the Inspector (this could be done by a computer), and the other players are Stupid KGB Directors. The Directors all have a list of spies loyal to them. They try to report as many names as possible, but if too many Directors report a name, the agent is killed and all Directors who reported that agent lose some points. Everyone is encouraged to adopt a stupid persona and a bad Russian accent.
+written 2017 by zachary "za3k" vance and an anonymous friend. revised and playtested 2021-01-15.
+
## Rules
Each player gets instructions that looks like the following:
[za3k](/) > [games](/mygames.md) > ultimate archwizards vs the dark lord
-written 2021-02-03 by zachary "za3k" vance
-## Premise
You are an Ultimate Archwizard of your school--maybe you are the Laser Archwizard, maybe you're the Ultimate Genie who can grant any wish, or maybe you're the World Pro Wrestling champion who's so good you can compact opponents into a black hole while monologuing.
The Dark Lord has finally come to your solar system, and they will conquer it without fail as they have all others before yours, unless you stop them! Only you, the most powerful beings of your world, can possibly stop the Dark Lord.
**Playtesting: None**
+written 2021-02-03 by zachary "za3k" vance
+
## Character and world creation (part 1)
1. Draw or describe your character.
2. **Mastery** and **powers**: Decide what you're the Ultimate Archwizard of ("lasers", "genies", or "pro wrestling" in the examples above). The GM will describe how you are the **master** of your school, and describe your two special **powers**.
projects / za3k.git / commitdiff