Sandy's Soapbox
Much like the battle of wits in the Princess Bride, the game begins when everyone is in character, and it ends when someone decides to cross the Ropebridge, and you all choose your fates.
Until next month,
Sandy
sandy @ rpg.net
Your team is on a mission, but there's an unexpected rope bridge ahead of you. It looks like it might break any second. Do you cross?
[Bridge will break on the d6th+1 person]
Characters: Give yourself a name and a title. (it's good practice to remember names and roles)
| 1) Fatalist: Your past was miserable, and you have nothing to lose. But others might have more to lose, so you're not going to force anyone to agree with you. | 2) Optimist: Of course it'll hold! Everyone really needs to get across, now! You'll do whatever it takes to get everyone across, but you won't allow anyone to stay behind. | 3) Cautious: You don't really have a strong opinion, because you don't know bridges. As long as someone else proves it works first, you'll try it. Unless you get convinced that it's still too dangerous. So you'll trust the group, but not any one individual's opinion. |
| 4) Gambler: You're all for it... as long as you go last. That way, the odds favor you. So let those that will cross go first, let those that won't cross stay behind, just as long as you're last across. | 5) Greedy: You can't risk not making it across, but you really don't want to die. Which is best, first or last? First might break it and die, but if it breaks before your turn, you won't get across at all! | 6) Nostalgic: You know, things weren't really so bad before. Why the need to risk everything to cross this bridge? We could just sit it out, go back, maybe start a new life or something. |
| 7) Paranoid: You don't want to cross, because you know the bridge is rigged to fall. You just don't know when-- after the first person, after the 3rd, could be anyone. You just know it'll break. Can you convince the others that crossing is foolish? | 8) Wishy-washy. You're not sure. Maybe that person is right... maybe that one is. You keep changing your mind who to believe. In general, you tend to agree with whoever just spoke, even if they contradict the person that spoke before them. | 9) Bossy. Everyone still hasn't realized you're the leader of this group! Crossing or not crossing, what is most important is that it is your decision, and that they all follow your decision! So find out which way they are leaning, then take charge! |
Now for the gimmick. You run this scenario three times. Each time, it has a different backstory, a different framing. Start with the first, "Escaping Slaves", full of tension. Then give each person a new character and run the more profit-motivated "Diamond Explorers". Finally, close with "Heroic Rescuers".
For each scenario, start a 10-minute countdown timer. At the end of 10 minutes, the scenario ends.
Escaping Slaves
Captured by pirates to be sold as slaves, you managed to escape. However, standing before you and freedom is... a rickety rope bridge. You have 10 minutes before the pirates arrive to recapture you. Do you risk death, for freedom?
Diamond Explorers
You sold what little you owned to seek the diamond fortune. You have been exploring for months, and you're certain the fabled diamond mines are just ahead. In 10 minutes, though, the corrupt local officials will catch up to you, steal your maps, and ship you out of the country, leaving you penniless and lost. Do you risk your life, for riches?
Heroic Rescuers
Your medical team was closest when the Earthquake hit. If you can reach the disaster area, you can save many people's lives. Unfortunately, no one knew there was a flimsy rope bridge between you and them. Do you press on to rescue them? In 10 minutes, the rainstorm will crash upon you and make travel impossible. Cross now, and risk death, or stay put and leave the victims to their fate?
Debrief
Now run a debrief. This is where you all come out of character and discuss why each scenario played different from the others. Note a debrief is not a brag session or a "tell me about your character", but instead a look at the big picture. How many people survived each time? Why did the group-- the group, mind you, not you or your character-- act the way they did?
Finally, did this scenario provide any insight into why 'ordinary people' behave oddly in different situations. The next time you see someone acting 'different than you', do you think you'll remember that we all have our own point of view?
