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MatrixGamer — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:57:19 CDT

JACK THE RIPPER:
THE GAME YOU PLAY BEFORE THE GAME
Beginner Engle Matrix Game

By Chris Engle
Hamster Press 2007
http://www.io.com/~hamster
hamster@io.com

Play free on line games at our yahoo group! http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/MatrixGame2/

Podcast of an actual play session at http://harpingmonkey.com/ click on the tab for podcasts. Then click on Rolemonkeys and select episode #11. The show is a little over 2 hours.

Board Game RPG
Duration: ½ hour
Players: 2-6
Complexity: Low
Replayability: High
Ages: 12 to adult

Print version: $9.95
http://www.io.com/~hamster

PDF version: $5.00
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=519&
Click on the "Other Games" tab and look for the game.

EXAMPLE OF PLAY

Six friends gather together at Jack’s house. They can’t decide what to play so they opt to play a quick game and then pick a long one. Jack, the host, suggests they play “Jack the Ripper”. They agree so he opens up the laminated folio and reads the game opener.

“The News boys shout out “Ripper murders again! All London is afraid!” The famous Jack the Ripper is in the middle of his crime spree. How many more victims will he take before his is stopped? Will the police ever discover who he really is? Your job is to find out. The reading public wants to know…”

[As the players listen to the story opener each one forms a mental picture of old London.]

“The rules say we all pick a character and read the description out to one another. I want to be Jack, because I am Jack.”

The players each pick a character:

JACK THE RIPPER: The world knows you as Jack the Ripper…You are there to taunt the other players. Hurt them. Help them find out who you are and then take it away from them…

THE INSPECTOR: The Ripper is on the loose and all England wants him captured. FIND HIM! Along the way root out other wrong doers…

LADY COVERUP: You know something about Jack that would cause the greatest scandal of the century. You are here to cover it up…

LORD BRUTAL: The law is too lax… Uncover the other player’s weaknesses and make them face the facts… They are inferior to you and have to admit it!

MR. REVENGE: One of the players has done you a great wrong. You want to get even. Pinning the Ripper’s murders on them will do just fine…

PRETTY NELL: Every game has to have a patsy and you’re it. Your job is to attract as much misery as possible… You win if you are emotionally destroyed…

[The player’s mental image of London is refined by the character descriptions. They are now mentally now placing these characters in the foggy backstreets where the action occurs.]

Host: “The rules say that we take turns making things happen. The youngest player goes first. That would be you Lady Coverup. The rules say you pick a question to answer. Which will it be? What do eye witnesses report? What clues do you plant?”

[The first time people play Engle Matrix Games they often feel uncomfortable making up what happens in the game. Some people say they are no good at it. In Beginner EMGs players are helped through this challenge by being asked to pick a question. This is a simple small step.]

Coverup: “I pick “What clues are found at the latest victim’s body that show who did it?” How do I answer it?”

Host: “The rules say you make up what you want to have happen. “The only limit on what an argument can be is that it must answer the question the player picked.” It looks like you make up whatever you want.”

[After picking a question players make up an answer. Again this is a simple small step. Yet some players have a hard time making it. Some feel it is too free form. Others feel too restricted. Others love it and dive in head first.]

Coverup: “Cool! My answer is this. “The Ripper first strangles his victims and then cuts them up with a very sharp knife. The murderer has to be a man, a strong man.” So… does it happen?”

Host: “The rules say that you pick another character to be your referee. “The referee’s job is to decide how much they like the argument. The more they like it, the stronger it is, which gives it a better chance of happening.” So pick one of us to be your referee.”

[In some games everything the players say happens. In other games the only things allowed to happen are defined by the rules. EMGs slide between these extremes. Players make up what happens but another player acts as the voice of reason. They decide what the success roll will be.]

Coverup: “Does it matter who I pick?” Host: “No, you can pick anyone.”

Coverup: “I pick you Jack. How well did you like my argument?”

[First time referees often feel they are not qualified to judge argument strength. Much like player’s nervous about making up their first arguments, it helps to make the mental step a small one. One way to do that is to rule arguments “okay” until you start trusting your judgment.]

Jack/Host: “The “Argument Strength Table” says I can rate an argument seven ways: can’t miss, really strong, pretty strong, okay, pretty weak, really weak or impossible. I have no idea how to judge so I think I’ll call it okay. That means you need to roll a 4, 5 or 6 on 1d6 for it to happen.”

Coverup rolls a 3. Her argument failed.

[Engle Matrix Game arguments are like gambits in other games. A player tries to get something through that will help tell the story they like or which puts them in a position of power. Some gambits fail. When this happens, don’t give up. You will get other chances to make things happen.]

Host: “Play goes around the table so Mr. Revenge goes next. Pick a question, answer it and pick a referee.”

Revenge: “Lord Brutal is my father – not that he recognizes me…”

Host: “Pick a question before you start answering it!”

[Note how Jack is filling two roles in the game. As Jack the Ripper he is a player who wants to win (however he defines that). As a host he wants to help people follow the rules and have a good time. This means consulting the rules as needed and helping the others to use them.]

Revenge: “Sorry. I pick “How do you uncover another player’s weakness and what is it?” My answer is this: “Lord Brutal is my father – not that he recognizes me. I know this because my mother told me and I bear a family resemblance. In the dark we almost look the same.” I pick Jack as my referee as well.”

[Revenge has decided to pick on Lord Brutal. His argument sets Brutal up for later problems. The players are messing with one another when they do this. Part of the fun of the game is seeing who you can pin the murders on.]

Jack/Host: “If you look like him in the dark then you could murder people and pin the blame on Lord Brutal. I kind of like that. I think that is pretty strong. You need to roll a 3, 4, 5 or 6 on 1d6 for it to happen.”

[See how Jack is already expanding his referee wings. He likes Revenge’s argument and that convinces him to give it a better chance to happen.]

Lord Brutal: “Wait just a minute. I do NOT have an illegitimate child! I do NOT consort with lower women!”

[Lord Brutal doesn’t want to be set up. He is doing the most natural thing in the world, jumping up to object. Players do this in all kinds of games. EMG rules take advantage of that natural tendency by allowing players to make counter-arguments.]

Host: “The rules say “If a player doesn’t like the argument just made they can step up and do a counter-argument.” So I guess you just did that. Pick a referee.”

Brutal: “Let me see. Who will give me the best rating? Revenge won’t. Coverup will want someone to blame. Pretty Nell might love tearing down a great man like myself. That leaves the Inspector and Jack. I trust the police more than a murderer so I’ll go with the Inspector. How well did you like my argument?”

[Brutal is now thinking about which player would be most friendly to his cause. He knows that some players will be biased against him because their characters do not like him. EMGs are as much about the interaction of player personalities as they are about interacting characters. It is accepted that players are biased. Just be certain to pick one biased in your favor!]

Inspector: “I’m like Jack. I’m not sure how to rate an argument so I’ll say it is okay as well. You need to roll a 4 to 6.”

Host: “The rules say “Each player rolls for their own argument. If they roll successfully they get to roll again. If they fail their roll they are out. Rolling continues until only one argument is left.” If everyone rolls out then nothing happens. Time to roll.”

Revenge rolls a 6 (he needed 3-6), Brutal rolls a 5 (he needed 4-6). Both get to roll again. Revenge rolls a 3, Brutal rolls a 4. They roll again. Revenge rolls a 3, Brutal also rolls a 3. Brutal missed his roll so Mr. Revenge’s argument happens. He is Lord Brutal’s son.

[Dice rolling competitions resolve all logical conflict in the game. Players start with different visions about what should happen. They state them and let the dice gods determine which wins. Some gamers hate this. They want all their input to happen. There are games that do that. This isn’t one of them. Instead the rules mimic an unfortunate pattern of life – namely that not everything works.]

Host: “Play continues around the table which means Pretty Nell goes next. I’d like to point out that you now know 2/3rds of the rules.”

Nell: “I pick “What do eye witnesses report?” My answer: “I was an eye witness. I was out with my girlfriend Agatha. There we was having yourselves a good time when this tall strange bloke catches Aggie’s eye. She went off with him and later ended up dead. That’s the second friend I’ve lost to this fiend!”

I pick the Inspector as referee.” Inspector: “An eye witness will make my job easier. We will be able to get a picture of the suspect. I like that. It is really strong.”

[Pretty Nell cleverly used her argument to tell the Inspector’s story. By picking him as her referee she assured that he would give her argument a better chance of happening.]

Nell rolls a 3. She did see the man her friend went off with. Next up is Lord Brutal.

Brutal: “Who is the Ripper’s next victim? Tell us all about it.” I see that you are all wanting to set me up but I know how to stop that! “The Ripper strikes another helpless woman down last night. I was engaged in a poker party with the Prince of Wales all that night so it is clear that I am not the murderer. QED.” I pick Nell as my referee.”

Nell: “What another of my friends killed? (She lays her hand on her forehead play acting grief.) Really strong! (She swoons.)

[Brutal follows Nell’s lead and tries to get her backing by telling her story. He is also trying to establish an alibi so he will not be accused of the crime. Sadly he has no luck and will fail. If he succeeded though the game would be completely different. We would know that he couldn’t have done it.]

Brutal rolls a 1. He fails to establish an alibi. The Inspector goes next.

Inspector: “What clues are found?” I find a monogrammed handkerchief at the crime scene that did not belong to the victim. It bears the initial B. I pick Revenge as my referee.”

Revenge: “Really strong.”

Brutal: “This is a travesty! They are planting evidence and he is picking the player who wants to set me up! That’s not fair.”

Host: “Looks like you want to make a counter-argument.”

Brutal: “You’re darned right I do. A news reporter sees the Inspector plant the evidence at the scene and publishes it in the Times. The Inspector has to admit his inferiority now. I pick Jack as my referee. He seems to be the fairest of all of you.”

[Despite the fact that Jack is running the real Ripper, Brutal has discovered that he is the fairest referee. The player is NOT their character so Jack the player and host can be objective if he wishes. Good referee usually are fair.]

Jack: “The police planting evidence. I guess it is possible but I’m only going to call it okay.”

Coverup: “I want in on this as well. I say the Inspector did find the handkerchief. I pick Revenge as referee.”

Brutal: “Can she do that?”

Host: “The rules say “All the players can jump in with a counter-argument each turn.” So I think she can.”

Revenge: “Another really strong argument.”

Host: “Unless there are more counter-arguments it is time to roll.”

The Inspector rolls a 2 (he needed 2-6), Brutal rolls a 3 (he needed 4-6) and Coverup rolls a 6 (she needed 2-6). Brutal missed the roll so he falls out the competition. The Inspector rolls a 1, Coverup rolls a 2. The handkerchief is found. Jack is up next.

[As many players as want can jump into a counter-argument. Imagine a game where 60 players were all rolling. It would take forever, right? Wrong. Competitions seldom go on more than ten rounds and when they do it creates excellent drama in the game. Counter-argument competitions are competitive game fun. At the same time they are quick and simple so they don’t turn off players who hate paying attention to details.]

Jack: “I pick “What evidence do you plant?” I am at my club – the same club attended by Lord Brutal – when I run into the older man. I defer to him, which he loves, which allows me to help him on with his coat. This also allows me to plant a knife in his pocket that has blood on it from the last murder. He doesn’t notice it but his man servant finds it at home. The result is that his servants now suspect him. I pick Revenge to be my referee.”

Revenge: “Look! Another really strong argument.”

Jack rolls a 2. He has planted incriminating evidence on Lord Brutal.

Host: That ends the first go around. We keep on going till a player picks the final question “Who do the police arrest?” We all have to agree to answer that question. For now though we are back to Lady Coverup.”

Coverup: “How do you put another player on the spot and what happens when you do?” The man servant is an avid reader of the awful newspapers and realizes that this fits the weapon used by the Ripper. He turns it in to the police. I pick Revenge as referee.”

Revenge: “Much as I like it, if the man servant does this he will lose his job. Realistically I can’t rule it strong. I’d say it was pretty weak. You need to roll a 5 or 6.”

Coverup rolls a 5. The police now have a weapon and suspect. Revenge gets his second turn.

Revenge: “What clues do you plant?” I have been dressing up like my father and going down in the bad part of London. Once people get a look at Brutal’s picture there will many witnesses that place him at the crime scenes. I’ve especially gone after the friends of one witness – Pretty Nell. She will be killer on the stand. I pick Nell as referee.”

Nell: “I’m being singled out to be abuse? Really strong.”

Revenge rolls a 5. “Lord Brutal” has been seen at the crime scenes.

Nell: “What do eye witnesses see?” I see Lord Brutal on the street during daylight. I recognize him as the Ripper. I call for the police! The chase is on. Lady Coverup, be my referee.”

Coverup: “Finally I get a go. All the evidence seems to be pointing to Lord Brutal. You have seen “him”. I think it is really strong.”

Nell rolls a 2. She sees Lord Brutal and fingers him as the Ripper.

[The evidence is now all pointing to Lord Brutal. He has one chance to get away.]

Brutal: “How does the prime suspect try to get away?” A crazy woman starts chasing me in the street. She is calling the police. Being a brave son of the Empire I stand my ground and command the police to desist. Because of my commanding presence and great power they back down. Instead they arrest the wench for accosting me! Proof positive that I am superior. Jack, be my referee.”

Jack: “Who is more credible, a lord or a poor woman? In the 19th century the lord wins hands down. Pretty strong.”

[Unfortunately for Brutal, the other players don’t want him to get away. Many will jump in with counter-arguments. If all of them jumped in they would be doing what the rules say be done to resolve the final question.]

Coverup: “No, they take them both in. Mr. Revenge be my referee.”

Revenge: “That sounds okay. I have a counter-argument myself. The police do take in Nell but they take down the Lord’s name. Once back at the station all the pieces all up. Inspector be my referee.”

Inspector: “Really strong. I want a go as well. The police arrest both – just to be sure. Brutal be my referee.”

Brutal: “I think it’s pretty weak.”

[Why would the Inspector pick Brutal to be his referee? Obviously Brutal would give him a poor chance of success. Maybe he did it out a sense of fair play. He gave Brutal a little bit of power and dignity before the ax fell.]

Host: “If there are no other counter-arguments, it is time to roll.”

Brutal rolls a 6 (he needed 3-6), Coverup rolls a 4 (she needed a 4-6), Revenge rolls a 3 (he needed a 3-6), the Inspector rolls a 5 (he needed a 5-6). No one went out, they all roll again. Brutal rolls a 2, Coverup rolls a 1, Revenge rolls a 2 and the Inspector rolls a 6. Both Lord Brutal and Pretty Nell are arrested.

Host: “Curiously we just did the final question “Who do the police arrest?” But this arrest was for an unrelated charge so the game goes on. Inspector, you are up.”

Inspector: “Well let’s do the final question. We have Brutal in the station. It is time to officially arrest him.”

[The Inspector picks the final question to resolve what the last turn started. It is time for a clash of ideas and a big dice off.]

Host: The rules say “When a player picks the climactic game ending question… all the players make counter-arguments about what happens to end the game.” Also we all have to agree to end the game. Anyone disagree?”

No one does so the players all make arguments describing Lord Brutal’s arrest.

Coverup: “They are in the station. Nell speaks to the Inspector. The lights go on in his head and he looks to Lord Brutal. “My Lord we have something to discuss, you and I. You are under arrest.” I pick Jack as referee.

Jack/Host: “Really strong. We will do a big dice rolling competition so hold off on rolling.”

Revenge: “I stand there and watch as they take the old man away. A week later I file suit to establish paternity. I want to inherit. Jack be my referee.”

Jack: “Pretty strong.”

Pretty Nell: “I’m there when they arrest him but I forgive him. He didn’t know what he was doing. He’s really my friend. Another friend lost! Jack, what do you think?”

Jack: “Martyr! Really strong.”

Brutal: “They may arrest me but I have friends in high places. No charges are ever filed and this story is buried by my friends in Windsor. Jack, do your magic.”

Jack: “Sounds really strong. You are a lord after all.”

Inspector: “Due to brilliant detective work Scotland Yard has solved the crime. I get promoted. Jack – judge me.”

Jack: “That sounds okay.”

Jack: “That leaves me. I watch in the crowd as the Lord is hauled away. I know that I can stop now. I’ve served my master well. After he comes into his inheritance I will blackmail Mr. Revenge until I die. I pick Brutal to be referee.”

Brutal: “At last some payback, I think it’s really strong.”

Host: “Now we all roll.”

Coverup rolls a 2 (she needed a 2-6), Revenge rolls a 1 (he needed a 3-6), Nell rolls a 4 (she needed a 2-6), Brutal rolls a 6 (he needed a 2-6), the Inspector rolls 5 (he needs a 4-6), Jack rolls a 2 (he needed a 2-6). Revenge drops out of the rolling. Next roll: Cover up rolls a 1, Nell rolls a 3, Brutal rolls a 2, the Inspector rolls a 3, Jack rolls a 2. Coverup and the Inspector drop out. Next roll: Nell rolls a 1, Brutal rolls a 2, Jack rolls a 2. Nell drops out. Next roll: Brutal rolls a 1, Jack rolls a 2. Brutal drops out – leaving only Jack the Ripper. Brutal is arrested but Revenge is blackmailed for the rest of Jack’s life.

[That solves the climax of the game. All that is left is wrapping up lose ends.]

Host: “The rules say that we can do one last round of arguments to say what happens to our characters after the game. We will go around the table.”

Coverup: “I defended my son from prosecution. I die knowing I have done well (if not done good). Jack is referee.”

Jack: “Okay.”

Cover up rolls a 3 and fails.

Revenge: “You can call me Lord Brutal II now. In fact I insist on it. Jack referee it.”

Jack: “Can’t miss. You need to roll 6 – 1’s in a row to fail.”

Revenge rolls a 1,1,1,2.

He is Lord Brutal.

Nell: “I marry Lord Brutal in prison and die of consumption tragically. Jack ref me.”

Jack: “Always the martyr, really strong.”

Nell rolls a 2 and dies tragically.

Brutal: “I maintain my innocence to the gallows. Only my wife believes me. Was a fate! Jack, do it.”

Jack: “Can’t miss.”

Brutal rolls a 2. He dies.

Inspector: “I have nothing to add.”

Jack: “Nor do I. Lord Brutal died well. Anything else would be anti-climactic.”

*****

“Jack the Ripper” is a simple game in which players make up clues and try to pin the rap on one another. It doesn’t take long to play and typically gets player’s creativity revved up for another game.

This is an Engle Matrix Game. As such players make up what happens next. This kind of freedom seems odd to some players yet restricting to others. Players who like having set rules will find it odd that they can do anything. Free form role players will find making brief arguments limiting.

EMG referees are another point that confuses people. Unlike in some role play games, EMG referees are not all powerful. They are the voice of realism. They can veto outrageous arguments unless they think they are fun. Referees should try to be fair but since bias is assumed, they don’t have to be. If you get a bad ruling – just don’t pick that person as referee again. Anyone can be a referee (and rule everything okay) but being a good referee requires a person to become comfortable with making decisions. This a useful confidence building experience that helps out in life. See – games can be good for you!

Over the last twenty years many people have said that Matrix Games won’t work. I am glad to say that this is not so. Engle Matrix Games and other types of Matrix Game are played the world over every day. They are so simple a 6 year olds can play yet subtle enough that the British Army uses them for planning.

Chris Engle
2-27-07
Hamster Press = Engle Matrix Games

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