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A Wiki Game

[Apologies if you've seen this announcement at either the Dire Cafe or RPGHaven]
I just ran across the game Lexicon again, and it sounds like a heck of a lot of fun.

It's played on a wiki and the idea is that every turn you create an entry in the wiki (going through the alphabet one letter at a time) and cite other entries, which 1)cannot be ones you've written and 2) must be phantom entries when possible (that is you create the name of the entry but nothing else).

Here's the elevator pitch and the website where the idea was first published:

The basic idea is that each player takes on the role of a scholar, from before scholarly pursuits became professionalized (or possibly after they ceased to be). You are cranky, opinionated, prejudiced and eccentric. You are also collaborating with a number of your peers -- the other players -- on the construction of an encyclopedia describing some historical period (possibly of a fantastic world).
http://www.20by20room.com/2003/11/lexicon_an_rpg.html

Anyone interested in playing? To keep it interesting, I'd be looking to recruit players from multiple places and encourage you to forward this along to anyone you think might be interested.
We've got enough to play, but still want more.
If you are interested go here and tap in.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by T. A. Holaday on October 27, 2009 at 4:51pm: Yes. I have always wanted to play this "game" (generative exercise?) with a group.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Shelton on October 27, 2009 at 5:18pm: We're just getting started. We have 10 players right now and we're planning an an entry a week. Come on over and join the fun. Once your a member, check out the disscussions on the main page.
http://lexicon-rpg.wikispaces.com/

Here's the premise (still being massaged)

The Concise Dictionary of The Dieselarch Empire

A Festschrift in honour of the late Professor Hillman deYasikarczek, students, colleagues, and admirers of Professor de Yasikarczek collaborated on this indispensable one-volume reference work on all aspects of the Dieselarch Empire. It covers important persons, political entities, places, battles, and events as well as general historical periods and movements within the empire.

Professor de Yasikarczek held the Justillian Chair of History and Archaeology at the University of Vastok. A luminary in his field, he was known to many for his comprehensive 6 volume A History of the Dieselarch Empire.

(Were going with a magi/steam/punkish kind of thing.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by WJ MacGuffin on October 29, 2009 at 3:39pm: Hello! I've run several Lexicon games, so while I don't have any time to participate fully in one, I'm more than happy to discuss the game format, what to expect, etc. You can post here or send me an email at wjmacguffin (at) gmail.com.

Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Shelton on October 29, 2009 at 6:35pm: Cool, thanks for the offer.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Shelton on November 2, 2009 at 2:08pm: So I've a question for you. A close reading of the rules didn't seem to spell this out.

You write an entry and make a link to "Lorem,"
When the L turn comes up should one of the players write an entry for Lorem.

I assume so, but wanted to make sure.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by WJ MacGuffin on November 5, 2009 at 3:03pm: Yes. Someone must write that "Lorem" entry--but it cannot be you, because you made the link in the first place. It must be another player.

Usually, the game limits the number of entries per alphabet "slot" to one per player. That means, as the game progresses, these slots will become full and closed to new links. For example, if you have 10 players, slot "L" can only have 10 entries. Since you linked to "Lorem", "Lorem" takes one spot and there are only 9 left for the other players. Eventually, all slots will be full and no new links can be written--players must use established links in their entries.

One last piece of advice, unless you want more. :) Don't use single letters as slots: use two or three per slot, such as "ABC" and "DEF". Almost every lexicon game I've ever seen has lost players along the way. Make the game shorter than you think it should be.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Shelton on November 5, 2009 at 3:07pm: Thanks. We've gotten started and you're more than welcome to check it out.

I'll certainly see what the other players think about the multi-letter turn idea.; ▶ Reply to This