This uses the Dauntless deck as a starting point mainly for characters, but will very much be a unique story…

In the 22nd century, humanity ventures into deep space in search of knowledge - and power. Space is vast and humans aren’t the first to explore it but thousands of planets and stars have yet to be claimed and humanity intends to make a home for itself among the stars.

The deep-space starship Dauntless and her crew, had embarked on a new mission of exploration beyond the colonial boundary…

However, an unexpected solar flare had knocked out systems. The ship was still supporting life… for now…

Initial card art curated by @sparkletwist

Everlorn was a dead-end world on the edge of human space — until the day a prospector stumbled out of the desert stormlands with a million credits’ worth of hyperdrive crystals in his hands. Now spaceships thunder through the skies above the planet’s boomtowns, and fortune hunters fill the dusty streets.

The folks who settled Tempest Ridge hoped for a quieter life. Ostensibly a mining town, Tempest Ridge also supports a small collection of homesteaders and eccentrics who value its isolation out at the very edge of habitable land in the Verge. Nobody ever paid attention to them; that had its uses.

Now it’s that very position on the frontier that has brought it to the attention of the powerful syndicates hoping to scour every inch of Everlorn to extract its crystalline wealth. Tempest Ridge is seeing more strangers every day, and most of them with hungry eyes on the unending maelstrom that marks the stormlands.

Of course, getting the attention of civilization also means a chance for profit. Syndicate money seems unending, and for those not in Tempest Ridge entirely by choice, well…maybe there’s an opportunity there, too.

First, though, they’ll learn: Everlorn has no mercy for the inexperienced, or the unwise; and out here, there’s nobody to call in for a timely rescue.

This is a Beginner Game. Please take a close look at Info for Applicants. Veteran players are welcome to help show new players the ropes, but are expected to be part of the learning process.

A triumph of modern architecture.

One of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.

But the lift is falling.

It is in freefall. Only a true hero can save the occupants - and apprehend the culprites.

In this game we are not overly obsessed with cannon.

You can adopt a known character, or create your own.

We will build the game together.

This will be a short story, focused on creating your super-hero and showcasing their abilities.

Comedy / Panto

This game is presented as a chance for people new to Storium to get to grips with things and ask questions, as they find their way to additional games. You might see this to the end, or it would be acceptable to leave once you are established.

You have the chance - but not the obligation - to have a go at narrating, as well.

As with all my games, this is fully inclusive.

So now we are all in trouble.

The Emperor had new clothes. Take the old ones to the incinerator, he said. Such sad rags should not be associated with me.

So his footman did take them down to the incinerator.

Except at the incinerator, they said that would be a waste. Take them to the Royal Housekeeper to make them into blankets for the widows and orphans of the city.

So the incinerator sweeper did just that and went to the Housekeepers assistant.

But the Housekeeper’s assistant had a better idea. Those clothes would not make good blankets, and they are worth more intact. So sell them, and the money can be used to buy more, better things for the poor.

So they were taken to the Master of the Robes, who passed them to the Footwoman, with instructions to get a good price for them. She sold them to a merchant for a bag of gold.

That merchant took them out of town, seeking a great price from the nobility.

Now the Emperor has nothing to wear for the banquet tonight. So he has sent his messenger to the incinerator, charged with being sure to run and get there before it is too late. On pain of death.

As I say, now we are all in trouble.

Trouble is in the town.

First a villain had sabotaged the lift in a skyscraper, endangering life and causing chaos - apparently as a protest against nighttime light pollution.

Then a bizarre kidnapping at a power station caused the city power supply to be cut - long enough to assist a prison break in another part of town.

Heroes are needed - to control the outbreak, and track down the escapees - and, more importantly, finally bring those responsible to justice.

If that was not bad enough - evidence is mounting of a plot to perpetrate some very doubtful genetic “improvements”…

In this game we are not overly obsessed with canon.

You can adopt a known character, or create your own.

We will build the game together.

Many Storium games slow down after the first couple of scenes…. this game is designed to be 2-3 scenes long, with the opportunity to continue in a sequel for those who wish to…

For this story, we are especially encouraging players to develop the interaction and teambuilding between characters.

Festive magic. Modern day.

A fun, festive game with an international feel, allowing players to explore their inner elf in a steampunk North Pole.

Santa has resolution. 8K resolution to be precise. Elf powered, but never pixelated.

He believes toys should be robust, sustainable, ingenious and fun. They should encourage creativity and individuality … and above all be fun, embracing the true meaning of Christmas.

However, he has a rival. Krampus. Krampus is all about the digital - algorithms, in-game sales, click-bait. Screen-based, stereotype re-enforcing, cynical and commercial. Given his way, Christmas spirit would be replaced with an “Online Xmas Experience.”

Can our heroes ensure Christmas is fun and accessible to all, and does not become some digitised, superficial marketing campaign for the elite?

It will be a light, fun, fast game where players can drop in and out and play moves when it suits them.
We will start early to mid November and aim to finish in the first week or so of December, based on the needs of players.

Our game will see our characters preparing for Christmas. Each “day” in the game will be covered over 1-3 days in real life - its ok if players do not get to post that often.

You may learn new things you never knew about the traditions and inner workings of Santa’s Lapland kingdom!

You will have the chance to invent toys, and explore Christmas traditions from different parts of the world.

If you have played one of my previous Christmas games:

• The basic 12 days of Christmas countdown remains similar to give us a structure but will be updated

• The basic deck of cards is still here, but will be changed quite a lot to give us a new story

• There is totally no need to have any knowledge of previous games - but if you want to bring a previous character in, that is fine.

Um, hope I have covered everything, but do ask questions!

Ta-dah! It’s your move!

My move? How am I supposed to know what comes next?
This is a game for beginners, but a bit more advanced.
Some of the other games I have put up are just regular games designed to be easy to get into and with someone on hand to explain anything to new players.
This one however is less about getting to grips with the mechanics, and more how to navigate some of the tricky things that can come up.

Like, when you just do not know what to post next.

I intended this game to be like a lucid dream - taking a song, some ideas, an image, and just see what it conjures up.

Don’t try to second guess what I want. Have a look, and just ask yourself what story would I write from this (and would I want to?).

And then go for it. What type of character? What era? You decide!
The only wrinkle will be is if we have 2 players with totally different ideas - but that can happen, and we will work through it together.

By all means, reach out to me if you need to - its always good to talk to the narrator if unsure - but don’t worry about failing. If you think you might like this - whatever you think this is! - have a go at a character. At worst, we can have a discussion about some of the challenges when you are not sure what you are expected to write next, and how we can address that as players (and narrators). At best, we will end up with an interesting bit of writing together.

Game brief

What a Day That Was - a song by David Byrne.

And on the first day, 
we had everything we could hold
Ooh  - and then we let it fall
And on the second day, 
there was nothing else at all
Ooh what a day that was.

There are fifty thousand beggars
Roaming in the streets
They have lost all their possessions
They have nothing left to eat

I'm dreaming of a city
It was my own invention
I put the wheels in motion
A time for big decisions

Down comes a bolt of lightning
Start an electrical storm
Starts a chain reaction
Go pull a fire alarm

(Lemme tell you a story)
Big chief with a golden crown    
He's got rings on his fingers
And then he walks up, up to the throne

And if you feel like you're in a whirlpool
You feel like going home
You feel like talking to someone
Who knows the difference between right and wrong

What a day that was.

Poetry is one thing.
But to live it….

More game info @ Info for invitees and applicants

Twenty years ago Elf Mountain was taken.

Now it is time to take it back.

It was home to the purebred Sanate elves, and also their cousins, Mākai elves, commonly known as wood elves.

Within its heart was the Jinta crystal - huge, running the length of the mountain, solid on the outside but vibrant with liquid magma coursing through it.

While the Sanate elves attended it, it provided the natural energy for crops, creatures and peoples in the surrounding lands to do well and prosper.

Then the Garginoids invaded. Times before they had been repelled, but this time they were organised and determined. They seized the mountain, and forced most of the elves out.
They thought they could control the Jinta.

They could stifle it - but they could not fully control it.

The Sanate elves turned to stone as the Garginoids corrupted its power.
The Mākai elves, however, were able to escape and make homes elsewhere.

All over the land, crop yields were high, and deaths from disease increased. The sky just seemed a little greyer.

The Garginoids also suffered. They became unable to reproduce, and struggled to obtain enough food. Of course, they terrorised nearby villages for resources.

The average life span of a Garginoid is fifty years. So, now, twenty years later, it is reckoned safe to return. The elves have built themselves up and acquired some new friends. The Garginoids they calculate are now of reduced numbers, and advanced age…

However, the journey will not be easy. Where once there was harmony and justice, now there is suspicion and fear. Hard, even wicked rulers have replaced benign ones; and cruel creatures have moved into the region…

We are seeing what AI can do!

I ran this game before with the OLD AI.

The NEW AI is a BIG advance - let’s see how much we can rely on AI to write out moves!

The theme is Dr Seuss - we are trying to have really minimal content, lots of reference to colours (and Dr Seuss creatures and objects) so we can see how the AI responds to the content we do put in.

A freeform game of diplomacy and conflict (and trade) with a D&D feel. Not huge focus on magic and monsters. Lots of scope for character development and story steering

No established external canon to worry about - the narrator will tell you all you need to know as you go.

I would want any player to tell me if I need to adjust to increase their access or inclusion.

Headlines

This game focuses on diplomatic problem solving and advancement, set in a medieval fantasy world. It is set for three scenes but there may be sequels. This is to focus on the initial game being completed without losing momentum, but with the option for enthusiasts to continue.
It would suit people who enjoy writing about conflict resolution, diplomacy and (small p) politics. In other words, running a government and steering a people, alongside personal character development.

The game will not start until there is a core of players who have a track record or known to the narrator so we have the best chance of the game being seen through to the end.

About the story:

Your character is part of a diplomatic team with an unusual and engaging brief.

Your home land (Vitriol) has signed a treaty with an overseas country (Laskia), making a port town and some surrounding land in that continent sovereign territory of Vitriol. This is to enable efficient trade between the two peoples.
This brings a whole portfolio of opportunities and problems - not lease managing conflicting interests and possible resentment from locals. There is of course plenty of politics, as individuals and groups try to pursue their own interests.

Game world:

The game world is medieval / fantasy. Magic exists but is not over very significant importance.

Game style:

Political, diplomatic drama, with an expectation of plotting and advantage seeking.

Expect a succession of challenges for your characters as various people or groups wish to protect their interests. Drama is likely to compound and build.

The game is likely to be fairly fast paced with a lot to read - but less frequent posters will be made welcome.

New players will be encouraged by the narrator.

About the narrator and players:

There will be a lot of scope to bring your own ideas to the table. The narrator will drip-feed core information about the game world so you will not have to read lots of source material in advance.

Players are asked to communicate weekly so we know you are still playing. As players have different speeds you do not need to worry about “posting in order” or waiting for everyone to post.
Players are asked to be respectful to one another and patient if there are differences of opinion or style.