The idea, currently, is this.
A co-op game based around a theatre and doing plays on stage. You and your group, consistent of the pretty-boy, the old nag, the shy girl and obviously director and stage-hand (etc.), will use their respective character bonusses on a tour playing varying dramatic plays. But like every amateur group, your level of failure is to be seen, so with every curtain call your audience will shrink. You start with 100, but will you have any viewers left at the end of your tour?
The mechanics.
Aren't fully worked out, but it's basically a push-your-luck card game. I won't go too far into any detail, but what's important to know is that during a scene (where cards are played) some players are on stage, some are backstage. The ones on stage are playing but, since they're ON stage, there's an audience watching, so they can't communicate. The players backstage can.
Achievement cards can be received when doing well. Obviously penalty cards for screwing up can be received as well. For instance, when players are communicating while on stage, they will receive a BOO from the audience; a penalty.
The problem.
The issue with the Alpha has been discussed many times, and I've read a lot about it. I want my game to be fully co-op, so no secrets and no spy. I realize that what will probably happen in this game is that everybody shows their cards, discusses the options and tries to figure out the best possible way to play. An ideal situation for an Alpha to swoop in and take over. However, I'm thinking of adding rules to the game which tell you what you can and cannot discuss. Penalizing the group when breaking it.
My question.
Would you, as a player or a group, accept a rule that prohibits you from discussing, for example, your exact hand? And would you be willing to penalize yourself when doing so? Even if it might result in you losing the game?
I know a game like Hanabi (great co-op) clearly states in it's rules that the level of communication will determine the difficulty and you yourself have to determine what level of strictness fits you best. But do you think this can be regulated?
I've gone over this a million times, and though I wish it can work, I haven't been able to convince myself. I'm considering switching to dice. You can trust dice.
Wow, thanks a lot guys. I just signed up for the forum and didn't expect this level of feedback from such a simple question. It's really giving me stuff to think about.
Moreover, it's made me realize that I'm in the early, early stages of development. I thought I had something going, but I really need to get back to the drawing board and work out some ideas before getting to the actual developing. Defenitely a good thing, though.
let-off studios:
Great input. Going for cards, not dice, still is my first and favorite choice. I am going to have to think of ways to spread the theme out thicker and really make it ooze through every mechanic. A challenge, but in the end definitely worth it.
Yet keeping information from each other seems like going for a semi-coop game, and that's raelly what I'm trying to make here. I can think of no reason, in a fully coop game, to withhold info from your fellow teammates. I do agree that the theme would allow for a non-coop game to work. I've been on stage a couple of times, I kind-of know what it can be like :)
Zag24:
I like your suggestions on the roles with different special abilities, making it legal to "cheat" every now and again. I have thought about the special cards like improvise as well. Great stuff. Tons of possibilities here.
heckmanjr:
Thanks for the suggestion, and I see your point. Obviously, I wouldn't want to ban all forms of communication. I'm just worried about about open hands of cards so everyone can see, like some of my group like to do with Pandemic for example. In this case everyone can see everything, and there's an open discussion on what to do. Your suggestion seems to be heading in the same direction. Something to think about though.
All in all, there's some work to do. But really guys, great stuff. Your suggestions gave me the confidence that the theme is stronger than what I initially thought. Any future suggestions are more than welcome, but you'll probably find me back here with another question at some point :)
Thanks