"Die Trying" (Game Thread)

• Prior to each PC's introduction, a viral outbreak had been spreading across the country and, ultimately, the world.
• At the time the PCs became infected, the extent of the threat was not known. (A link to the full description of the virus and its affect on humans will be posted here soon. I am trying to prevent it from becoming a spoiler.)
• Those infected -- here out referred to as the Infected -- lose their ability to store short term memories as soon as the fever peaks, typically 24-48 hours after infection.
• If an Infected survives the virus, they can spend between several days and several weeks in a state of semi-consciousness.
• Deep in their subconscious, some survivors retain some memories (which the Host will reveal over time to add drama and opportunities ... maybe).
• If these Infected regain consciousness, survivors will be weak and disoriented for a few days.

• This Google Maps "street view" link may or may not work on your particular device. Try it.
• Most of the PCs will begin their adventure from somewhere within Autzen Stadium, the University of Oregon's football stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
• Autzen was converted into a FEMA/CDC/Red Cross quarantine zone. Some description of the scene provided in this post (#12) include:
  • Dozens of military style tents filled with cots, some stained with blood, most unoccupied.
  • CDC isolation areas of chain link fences and plastic enclosed isolation areas.
  • Piles of garbage and medical waste bags.
  • Lots of US Army and Oregon National Guard signs and gear, confirming their involvement.
  • Two piles of bodies in the western end zone, one of neatly stacked body bags and the other of less neatly stacked, exposed bodies. There are hundreds, possibly thousands of dead bodies! Turkey vultures and crows eat at the unwrapped bodies, undeterred by people.
  • Above the piles of dead, the flickering, barely operating Duckvision board -- the 33-by-85-foot high-definition LED scoreboard -- displays several warnings about infection, handling sickened people and bodies, and penalties for violating the rules set forth by the current Martial Law declaration.
  • Despite the tents and other gear being sufficient to serve hundreds or thousands of patients, there are only a few dozen people milling about the football field at any point and only 100+ people anywhere inside Autzen.

• PM the Host for a Profile Sheet.
• Complete and PM it back to the Host.
• Once it is approved and posted, you may begin playing.

• By posting the profiles himself, the Host had "control" over them.
• He is able to format them consistently.
• He is able to update them as necessary.
• And consistently formatted, frequently updated profiles are easier for all to use.

• Absolutely!
• If there are things about your PCs/NPCs that you both want to keep track of yourself and want to be public for other Players/Readers, you are more than welcome to create your own secondary information page, call it an additional profile if you wish.
• I only ask that you only create ONE PER PLAYER. Otherwise, the Game Thread suddenly becomes filled with dozens of these pages.
• By posting it yourself, you have the ability to edit it yourself.
• If Players wish, I can even post links to these additional profile pages on the first page of the Game Thread.

• Terminology:
  • "Move": This is the action, dialogue, or both from the Player.
  • "Result": This is what happens after the Player's move.
• Read the last Result(s) and/or Move(s) that affect(s) your next Move.
• If you need clarification or have questions, PM the Host or appropriate Player(s), get your answers, and continue.
• At the top of your next Move in bold, include:
  • Your PC's name.
  • Your PC's location.
  • The time/date if your PC's Move in somewhere outside of the current time line.
• Compose your reply. It can be action, dialogue, or both.
• Post your Move.
• The Host and/or other Player(s) will then move.
• Rinse and repeat...

• Do not "god mode" other PCs without expressed permission.
• Do not assume Results to your Move. That is the Host's job.
• Do not move too fast or too far, thus preventing other Players from contributing.

• The Game Thread is intended for Moves, not back-and-forth, creative, interactive role play between characters.
• Players are free to add exposition/description to their Moves as is necessary to explain the Move.
• However, do not simply post interactive role play to the Game Thread.
• To interact in interactive role play -- for example, a basic non-Move conversation or sexual role play -- create a separate thread and post a link to it in your Move in the Game Thread.
• I will create one of these threads with another Player as an example.

• AnthonyBarker: Howard, Major Riggs (NPC).
• AngelEyes1994: Mara, Vicki Volstok.
• Aussie_Wolf: Adam, Travis Mulhearn.
• Alice2015: Dr. Paula Davis, Betsy Biggs, Carmen Ridge.
• TheNextNewGuy: Andrew Biggs.

• Howard -- Played by AnthonyBarker
  • Male, 42. Garbage Truck Driver.
  • Strength=5, Dexterity=3, Intelligence=2, Leadership=3, Charisma=2
• Mara -- Played by AngelEyes1994
  • Female, 20. University Student (Agriculture), Barista (Starbucks).
  • Strength=2, Dexterity=3, Intelligence=5, Leadership=2, Charisma=3.
• Adam Hunter -- Aussie_Wolf
  • Male, 23. Australian College Graduate and computer "tech"; backpacking the US.
  • Strength=4, Dexterity=3, Intelligence=3, Leadership=2, Charisma=3.
  • Note: Abilities need to be reduced by 1. Aussie has been notified.
• Dr. Paula Davis -- Alice2015
  • Female, 32. Psychiatrist; Lieutenant (Naval Reserve).
  • Strength=1, Dexterity=2, Intelligence=6, Leadership=2, Charisma=4.
• Andrew Biggs -- Played by TheNextNewGuy
  • Male, 18. High School student.
  • Strength=2, Dexterity=4, Intelligence=3, Leadership=2, Charisma=2
• Betsy Biggs -- Played by Alice2015
  • Female, 16 (NOT a sexually involved PC). High school junior.
  • Strength=1, Dexterity=2, Intelligence=5, Leadership=1, Charisma=3
• Vicki Volstok -- Played by AngelEyes1994
  • Female, 22. Sex addict, patient of Doctor Paula Davis.
  • Strength=2, Dexterity=3, Intelligence=3-5, Leadership=1, Charisma=4.
  • Adjustments: Intelligence fluctuates (mental illness, sexual addiction); -2 when not being treated with drugs and counseling.

• Some NPCs can be assumed and written by Players. Ask if you are interested.
• Autzen:
  • National Guard (in charge of Security):
    • Major Robert Riggs (Commanding, Autzen Complex).
      • Written by AnthonyBarker
      • Not available to other writers.
    • 2 lesser Officers (available with restrictions).
    • 9 Soldiers (available with restrictions).
  • Medical Staff:
    • Doctor Phillip Kim (CDC virologist)
      • Written by AnthonyBarker
      • Available to another Player if desired.
    • 2 other Doctors
    • 4 nurses
    • 4 untrained "helpers".
  • ~100 others.
• Lane County Mental Health:
  • 3 National Guard Soldiers:
    • Corporal Rogers
    • Private Davis
    • Private Harmon
  • 2 Nurses.
  • 6 others:
    • One "gramma", as of yet undescribed.
    • Her granddaughter, as of yet undescribed.
    • 6 others, some with mental illness but otherwise undescribed.
• Out In The World:
  • Unknown at this time.

• Autzen:
  • Medical supplies: 3 days.
  • Food: 6 days.
  • Water: Pressure still available at taps.
  • Power: Available.
  • Cell service: Available.
  • Internet: Available.
• Lane County Mental Health
  • Medical supplies: undeclared.
  • Food: undeclared.
  • Water: Pressure still available at taps.
  • Power: Available.
  • Cell service: Available.
  • Internet: Available.
• Out "In The World":
  • Unknown.
  • Disrupted.
  • Hording and pillaging is reported.

• Friday 30 October 2020:
  • Introducing Howard (Post #12). (Howard's profile, Post #10.)
  • Introducing Mara (Post #13). (Mara's profile.)
  • Howard's move (Post #16).
  • Result for Howard's Move (Post #17).
  • Introducing Adam (Post #21). (Adam's profile.)
  • Mara's move (Post #22).
  • Two associated moves:
    • Adam's move (Post #24).
    • Introducing Dr. Paula Davis (Post #25). (Paula's Profile.)
    • Paula's move (Post #26).
    • The two of them will be main characters in the Scene Thread "The Shrink and the Aussie".
    • You may follow along with this thread as it is written or, if you are joining us late, read it in its entirety now, as it has been concluded.
  • Result for Mara (Post #28).
  • Move for Mara (Post #32).
  • Result for Mara (Post #33).
  • Move for Mara (Post #36).
  • Move for Howard (Post #37).
  • Introducing Andrew Biggs (Post #40). Andrew's Profile.
  • Introducing Betsy Biggs (Post #41). Betsy's Profile.
  • Introducing Vicki (Post #42). Vicki's profile.
  • Result for Mara (Post #43).
  • Result for Vicki (Post #44).
  • Result for Howard (Post #45).
  • Result for both Andrew and Betsy Biggs (Post #46)
    
  • Result for Adam (Post #50).
  • Move for Adam (Post #51).
  • Result for Adam (Post #53).
  • Move for Adam (Post #54).
  • Result for Adam (Post #56).
  • Result for Mara (Post #57).
  • Result for both Paula and Vicki (Post #58).

• 1-11, 14-15, 18-20, 23, 27, 29-31, 34-35, 38-39, 47-49, 52, 55,
• This is just for my use, to ensure that I have not missed a post.

• 42 years old.
• 5'10", 230#, muscular, strong.

• Strength=5
• Dexterity=3
• Intelligence=2
• Leadership=3
• Charisma=2

• High School Graduate. Below average student (C- GPA)
• Jock: Football, wrestling, Track & Field (shot put, hammer throw)
• Current career: Garbage truck driver.
• Family: Divorced twice. 2 minor children by second wife (who live with mother).

• Strong, confident personality; Alpha type.
• Not the sharpest pencil in the jar, but remembers what he's learned.

• Very much a manly man heterosexual.
• Howard will definitely engage in sexual situations.

• This character is NOT a "controlling" or "leading" character.
• His primary purposes are:
  • First, to allow the Host to practice managing the thread.
  • Second, to provide information through exposition.

• Rosie:
  • 24 year old Medical Unit Volunteer at Casanova Center.
  • Sex partner of both a National Guard Officer and a National Guard Enlisted Man.
  • Uses the officer to gain resources.
  • Uses the enlisted man for her own sexual satisfaction.
  • Uses both to gain information.
  • Mara has a HIGH loyalty from Rosie.
• Kathy
  • 42 year old local nurse working for the CDC at Casanova Center.
  • She knows more about the virus/medical situation than most people.
  • Mara has an ABOVE AVERAGE loyalty from Kathy.

• 20 years old.
• 5'6", 115#, "C" cups.
• Fit, athletic, but no runway model.

• Strength=2
• Dexterity=3
• Intelligence=5
• Leadership=2
• Charisma=3

• High School Graduate. Scholar (A+ student)
• Athlete: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
• University Student: Majoring in Agriculture
• Current career: Barista (Starbucks)
• Family: 2nd of 4 children.
• Friends: Suzy (a character to be posted soon)

• A "follower", not a "leader".
• Quiet until she knows you.
• Not afraid of adventure or involvement.
• Virgin. Shy around men her age; more comfortable around older men.

• Virgin.
• Orientation is questionable.

• NOTE: Howard is played by your Host and is here primarily:
  • To allow the Host to practice posting Moves/Results.
  • To provide exposition/description for the rest of the Players, as a D&D Game Master would for a table top game.
  • And to provide through hints and suggestions possible directions for PCs who Players are eager for an adventure.
  • He is not meant to be a major, over performing character in the story.
• The last thing you remember, you were at home in bed with a fever.
• A viral outbreak is spreading across the country, but you don't think that's what you have.
• You wake up (an indeterminate number of days later), famished and dehydrated, in a cot inside a large National Guard tent, all alone. There are a dozen other cots -- many stained with blood -- but none are occupied.
• You step outside to find you are here, at the 50 yard line of the University of Oregon's Autzen football stadium.
• The field is filled with FEMA tents, CDC isolation areas, chain link fences, piles of garbage and medical waste bags, and more that indicates, without a doubt, that a massive medical emergency has occurred. There are US Army and Oregon National Guard signs and gear all over, confirming their involvement.
• In the western end zone are two piles of bodies, one of neatly stacked body bags and the other of less neatly stacked, exposed bodies. There are hundreds, possibly thousands of dead bodies! You see turkey vultures and crows eating at the unwrapped bodies.
• Above the piles on the flickering, barely operating Duckvision board -- the 33-by-85-foot high-definition LED scoreboard -- are several warnings about infection, handling sickened people and bodies, and penalties for violating the rules set forth by the current Martial Law declaration, about which you know nothing.
• The site was set up for thousands of patients, but you only see a few dozen people milling about, some in medical scrubs or National Guard uniforms, some in street clothes.
• There seems to be a lot of University of Oregon clothing on the people you see, as if they raided the gift store for something to wear.

• The last thing you remember, you were at Sacred Heart Medical Center, being checked for the virus spreading across the country.
• You wake up in one of the Rehabilitation Rooms of the Casanova Sports Center (Autzen Stadium) sleeping on an exercise mat laid out on the floor.
• There are half a dozen other women of various ages, ethnicities, etc. Some are conscious, some are not.
• A female nurse is present. She comes to check you out as you wake. As with Howard, she declares you free of the virus and healthy, though -- like Howard -- malnourished and dehydrated.
• A male National Guard soldier (armed with an automatic rifle and side arm) seems to be posted here, protecting the women.

• No one knows how you got here.
• While no one knows exactly how long you've been here, it's been weeks possibly.
• They take you inside one of the Autzen Stadium locker rooms where a Field Hospital is set up.
• A nurse declares you healthy, though malnourished and dehydrated.
• You are fed in a Field Kitchen in the stadium. The servings are meager and basic (canned food, unleavened breads made here.)
• You are introduced to Major Roberts Riggs, the ranking National Guard Officer.
• You are told that he is in charge of everything, though he defers medical issues to...
• Dr. Phillip Kim, a CDC virologist, who completes your medical check.
• You are told that Autzen needs laborers.
• Those who work hard are given "opportunities", such as training for Guard Duty, choice positions, and more.
• You are asked whether you want to go to work?
• A Guardsman hints to you (wink, wink) that there are great advantages to doing as "The Big Rigg" asks, from better food to better living arrangements to sex with some of the women who are here.
• You ask about what is going on "out there":
  • The reactions vary: some people are open, some are grim, some practically weep.
  • Millions are dying every day,
  • The world wide death rate is rising exponentially.
  • No one knows of a cure.
  • There is a rumor that some people are running around like wild animals killing other people. But, it is just a rumor.

• Lane County Mental Health
• 2411 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
• Across the road from the Casanova Athletic Center (Autzen Stadium grounds).
• Google Map link showing both LCMH and Autzen
• Why he ended up here is at of yet unknown.

• 23 years old.
• 6'2", 240# (110kg)
• Fit athletic body, reasonably muscled.

• Strength=4
• Dexterity=3
• Intelligence=3
• Leadership=2
• Charisma=3

• Australian.
• High School Graduate: Reasonable student (B average)
• University Graduate: Computer Technician
• Athlete: Football, Cricket
• Family: Only child
• Currently: Backpacking the U.S

• Happy go lucky.
• Likes to take things a little easy but is not afraid of hard work.
• Hard to anger, but once he is hard to stop.
• Typical Aussie guy

• Backpack with several changes of clothes.
• Personal travel items.
• Hygiene stuff.
• A little Host twist: he had a passport and money, but they were stolen.

• This was his time off before he starts work.
• He is looking to party before he has to settle down.
• Can do wonders with computer technology, even building working computers from scratch using compatible hardware.

• Definitely looking for sex.

• Dying: Cover your ass!
  • NPCs can be killed during normal play
  • PCs are only killed by acting stupidly or recklessly.
  • So... why should you even have NPCs if they can die?
  • NPCs are why PCs aren't easily killed.
  • They are sacrificial lambs ... pawns on the chess board.
  • NPCs are the first characters to suffer damage or even die when things get hot.
• NPC Moves:
  • NPCs can not post Moves.
  • An NPC is only a secondary character.
  • An NPC's moves are part of the Move of the PC to whom they are loyal.
• Personal possessions:
  • NPCs cannot collect possessions or wealth beyond their basic tools.
  • An NPC guard will have a weapon; an NPC nurse or doctor will have a medical bag; and so on.
• No ability scores:
  • NPCs do not have their own ability scores.
  • They are what they are: they do not grow.
• Entourage and Loyalty:
  • An Entourage is the number of NPCs who will follow a PC.
  • 1 Leadership point will attract 2 NPCs.
  • The Entourage's Loyalty is based upon 3 major factors:
    • PC Charisma:
      • If the PC's Charisma is equal to or greater than her Leadership, NPCs are very loyal. They will do almost anything they are told. (Very radical moves require Host approval.)
      • If a PC's Charisma is less than her Leadership score, NPC loyalty will be reduced. The Host will fairly determine NPC loyalty and actions with each new situation.
    • Other abilities: Examples include:
      • In the case of a fight, NPCs will be more loyal to a PC with high Strength (because they will see a powerful, hard fighting leader in their PC).
      • In the case of dangerous night time scrounging, NPCs will be more loyal to a PC with high Dexterity (because they will see a confident, sneaky leader in their PC).
      • In the case of constructing "infrastructure", NPCs will be more loyal to a PC with either high Intelligence or Leadership (because they will see a beautiful mind or confidence in their PC).
      • Make sense?
    • Frills:
      • NPCs are expensive! They are no different than a child or a slave.
      • Though most of their upkeep comes from the Community, their Loyalty to their PC can be increased with additional resources: payment, bribes, booze, women/men, pleasurable distractions, whatever!

• Long Term:
  • NPCs who often hold significant positions in the story.
  • Example: Major Riggs, the National Guard Officer commanding Autzen.
  • Most Long Term NPCs are not expendable.
  • They have 2 primary roles:
    • To provide exposition (description) of things, people, places, etc.
    • To provide hints at Player PC opportunities.
• Medium Term:
  • NPCs who often hold less significant positions in the story.
  • Example: A Doctor who only appears when needed.
  • Some are expendable but only with good reason and Host approval.
  • They have the 2 roles of Long Term NPCs plus 1 more: to be temporarily or permanently assumed and written for by Players, not the Host.
• Short Term:
  • NPCs who typically hold insignificant positions in the story.
  • They are from two main types:
    • A Community member -- perhaps a laborer -- who has no need to be identified by name.
    • A non-Community member who is only encountered out in the world.
    • They have the 3 roles of a Short Term NPC plus 1 more: to die!
    • Most are expendable.
    • The Host's permission is required, but the writing of their death is often done by the Player whose PCs are involved.

• The last thing you remember, you were at Sacred Heart Hospital at Riverbend, Springfield, Oregon.
• You now come to in the exam room of a psychiatry office.
• One of your wrists is handcuffed to a hospital bed.
• You are still in your own clothes but your shoes are missing, your pockets are empty, and your back pack is missing.

• Do you politely call out?
• Do you freak?
• Do you get angry?
• Do you try to pull the hand cuff loose?
• Something else?

AnthonyBarker said:

Mara (AngelEyes19994)

• The last thing you remember, you were at Sacred Heart Medical Center, being checked for the virus spreading across the country.
• You wake up in one of the Rehabilitation Rooms of the Casanova Sports Center (Autzen Stadium) sleeping on an exercise mat laid out on the floor.
• There are half a dozen other women of various ages, ethnicities, etc. Some are conscious, some are not.
• A female nurse is present. She comes to check you out as you wake. As with Howard, she declares you free of the virus and healthy, though -- like Howard -- malnourished and dehydrated.
• A male National Guard soldier (armed with an automatic rifle and side arm) seems to be posted here, protecting the women.

Read Howard's Result above. All of the information Howard learned you will also learn through your own questioning of people inside Autzen.

QUESTION: What do you do?

NOTE: Do not respond until I post for Howard. It will answer some questions you might have.

Click to expand...

• Lane County Mental Health (LCMH).
• 2411 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
• Across the road from the Casanova Athletic Center (Autzen Stadium grounds).
• Google Map link showing both LCMH and Autzen

• 32 years old.
• 5'4", 110#; 34B-24-36.
• Shapely, fit; looks good naked though certainly no lingerie model.

• Strength=1
• Dexterity=2
• Intelligence=6
• Leadership=2
• Charisma=4

• Psychiatrist.
• Lieutenant, Naval Reserves.
• Was working at LCMH when the virus struck.

• Nice and polite to those who are the same with her.
• Serious about her work.
• Paranoid, cynical, suspicious.
• Not a slut but likes sex (men and women both).

• Has access to the resources of LCMH, including the pharmacy.
• In her office, she has a bathroom in which she keeps personal and hygiene items for those occasional times she slept over on the couch.
• First Responders radio (with which she is in contact with Major Riggs at Autzen).

• She actually wanted to flee to the countryside but wasn't able to get out of town in time.
• She knows more about what's going on out in the world than any other PC.

• As stated, she likes sex with men and women.
• She is adventurous in bed ... or out of bed ... or no where near a bed.

AnthonyBarker said:

Adam Hunter (Written by Aussie_Wolf)

• The last thing you remember, you were at Sacred Heart Hospital at Riverbend, Springfield, Oregon.
• You now come to in the exam room of a psychiatry office.
• One of your wrists is handcuffed to a hospital bed.
• You are still in your own clothes but your shoes are missing, your pockets are empty, and your back pack is missing.

How do you react?

• Do you politely call out?
• Do you freak?
• Do you get angry?
• Do you try to pull the hand cuff loose?
• Something else?

Click to expand...

• Unlike those PCs introduced so far, you was not infected with the virus killing millions.
• You are a psychiatrist who was on duty at the Lane County Mental Health across the road from the Autzen Stadium complex at the start of our Game.
• You knows things about what's going on and about the virus that no one else knows, with the possible exception of Major Riggs (the Host's PC) and some of Autzen's medical staff (who are NPCs). (I am hoping you saved the "confidential" PM I sent you.)

• You are on duty when you hear a man in a locked room on the 2nd floor calling out.
• You know it is a virus survivor who was brought to you.
• You don't know who he is.

• Do you go to him?
• Do you ignore him?
• If you go to him, you can:
  • Have a very basic, interaction here in the Game Thread, limited to just a few posts.
  • Or start a scene thread (like we used to do in TBWTG) in which you can write as many short, quick replies as you wish.
  • It's up to the two of you.