Universalis (other)
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Universalis (other)
''Universalis'', subtitled "The Game of Unlimited Stories", is a role-playing game (RPG) published by Ramshead Publishing in 2002 that stresses interactive storytelling. The game uses a unique system, based on "coins" that are used to make additions to the game, which allows the entire group to participate in the creation of the setting and events in play without a traditional gamemaster. The rules also provide a means of negotiating their own alteration, allowing for unlimited customization for play. The system is meant to support any possible genre. System Story power "Coins" are the measure of story power in ''Universalis''. By spending coins, players can create "facts" in the game. These may be about characters, the setting, or the scene being played. Each player begins with a number of coins (typically 25), and gains more after each scene plays out (typically 5). Players may also gain coins by winning "complications" (see below). Setting tenets Unlike most RPGs, where the ...
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Role-playing Game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development. Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal role-playing game system, system of rules and guidelines. There are several forms of role-playing games. The original form, sometimes called the tabletop role-playing game (TRPG or TTRPG), is conducted through discussion, whereas in live action role-playing game, live action role-playing (LARP), players physically perform their characters' actions.(Tychsen et al. 2006:255) "LARPs can be viewed as forming a distinct category of RPG because of two unique features: (a) The players physically embody their characters, and (b) the g ...
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Ramshead Publishing
Ramshead Publishing is an American game company that produces role-playing games and game supplements. History Mike Holmes and Ralph Mazza were members of the Gaming Outpost who were later among the founding members and prolific posters on the Forge, and worked together to develop a game using their ideas ''Universalis: The Game of Unlimited Stories''. Holmes and Mazza published ''Universalis'' (2002) through Ramshead Publishing. Mazza had been using his initials since childhood, and based the name of this company on his initials. Mazza bought out the share of ''Universalis'' from Holmes in January 2003, so that he owned both the game and Ramshead Publishing alone. Ramshead published the ''Robots & Rapiers Quick Start Rules'' (2004) as a PDF at first, and then printed in book form at Gen Con Indy 2004. Adept Press, Burning Wheel, Driftwood Publishing, and Ramshead Publishing sponsored the Forge booth at Gen Con in 2004. Ramshead released its second complete game, '' Blood Red Sands' ...
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Storytelling
Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing narrative, stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatre, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation or instilling moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include Plot (narrative), plot, Character (arts), characters and point of view (literature), narrative point of view. The term "storytelling" can refer specifically to oral storytelling but also broadly to techniques used in other media to unfold or disclose the narrative of a story. Historical perspective Storytelling, intertwined with the development of mythology, mythologies, predates writing. The earliest forms of storytelling were usually oral literature, oral, combined with gestures and expressions. Storytelling often has a prominent educational and performative role in religious rituals (for example, the Passover Seder), and some archaeo ...
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Gamemaster
A gamemaster (GM; also known as game master, game manager, game moderator, referee, storyteller, or master of ceremonies) is a person who acts as a facilitator, organizer, officiant regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer role-playing game. The act performed by a gamemaster is sometimes referred to as "gamemastering" or simply "GM-ing." The role of a GM in a traditional tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) is to weave together the other participants' player-character, player-characters' (PCs) stories, control the Non-player character, non-player characters (NPCs), describe or create environments in which the PCs can interact, and solve any player disputes. This basic role is the same in almost all traditional TTRPGs, with minor differences specific to differing rule sets. However, in some Indie role-playing game, indie role-playing games, the GM role significantly differs from the traditional pattern. For example, in Powered by the Apocalypse systems, the othe ...
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Indie RPG Awards
The Indie RPG Awards were annual, creator-based awards for Indie role-playing games and supplements. They were established in 2002 by Andy Kitkowski. The final round of awards was given in 2017. For the purposes of the Awards, there exists a following "definition" of an Indie role-playing game: * A game where the creator is the person who has written at least 50% of the actual game content. * A game where the creator has full control of content and publishing. * A game where the creator is the publisher, with full control over expenses and profits. Categories The following categories for nominations have been used throughout the history of the awards: *Indie Game of the Year - the main award for Indie Games. *Indie Supplement of the Year - for best Supplement for an Indie Game. *Best Free Game - for free Indie Games. *Best Support - for the publisher has best supported a previously published game or supplement. *Best Production - for best written and most attractive Indie Games. *M ...
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Collaborative Fiction
Collaborative fiction is a form of Writing style, writing by a group of authors who share creative control of a Storytelling, story. Collaborative fiction can occur for commercial gain, as part of education, or recreationally – many collaboratively written works have been the subject of a large degree of academic research. Process A Collaborative writing, collaborative author may focus on a specific protagonist or character in the narrative thread, and then pass the story to another writer for further additions or a change in focus to a different protagonist. Alternatively, authors might write the text for their own particular subplot within an overall narrative, in which case one author may have the responsibility of integrating the story as a whole. In Italy, various groups of authors have developed more advanced methods of interaction and production. The methods used by commercial collaborative writers vary tremendously. When beginning writing the short story 'the toy m ...
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Indie Role-playing Games
An indie role-playing game is a role-playing game published by individuals or small press publishers, in contrast to games published by large corporations. Indie tabletop role-playing game designers participate in various game distribution networks, development communities, and gaming conventions, both in person and online. Indie game designer committees grant annual awards for excellence. In the early 2000s, indie role-playing discussion forums such as The Forge developed innovative design patterns and theories. In 2010, the game Apocalypse World established the popular design framework Powered by the Apocalypse, inspiring hundreds of similar games. Starting in the early 2010s, indie game publishing provided new opportunities for LGBTQ writers to share underrepresented stories. Common examples of indie role-playing games include Apocalypse World and the Powered by the Apocalypse framework, The Quiet Year, Fiasco, Fall of Magic, Blades in the Dark, and Dialect. Definit ...
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Indie RPG Awards Winners
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media *Independent media, media free of influence by government or corporate interests * Indie art, fine arts made by artists independent of commercial fine arts establishments *Independent film, a film produced outside of the major film studios ** Indiewood *Indie game, video games created without financial backing from large companies * Indie role-playing game, a role-playing game published outside of traditional, "mainstream" means * Independent animation * Indie comics, independently published comics * Indie design, for handmade products by independent artisans * Indie literature, a book published outside mainstream publishing *Indie poster, or alternative poster, a poster created by a novice graphic designer *Small press, or indie press, a book or magazine publisher whose publications appeal to small, niche audiences, and are typically not distributed widely Music *Independent ...
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Role-playing Games Introduced In 2002
Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing as "the changing of one's behaviour to fulfill a social role", in the field of psychology, the term is used more loosely in four senses: * To refer to the playing of roles generally such as in a theatre, or educational setting; * To refer to taking a role of a character or person and acting it out with a partner taking someone else's role, often involving different genres of practice; * To refer to a wide range of games including role-playing video game (RPG), play-by-mail games and more; * To refer specifically to role-playing games. Amusement Many children participate in a form of role-playing known as make believe, wherein they adopt certain roles such as doctor and act out those roles in character. Sometimes make believe adopts an opp ...
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