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I find myself with too much time on my hand, and Freemarket is always something that's seemed interesting so let's do it! Plus audience participation at no extra charge! What is Freemarket? Freemarket is a game about life as a virtually immortal, easily bored pre-posthuman living in the Cassens-Hyugens Orbital Intersystem Relay Station near Saturn, which is now being run by the descendants of the original architects and they have rechristened it as Freemarket. It's a community where the only things that are scarce are living space, feedstock for the matter printers, and new ideas. The only hard and fast rule is that once you leave Freemarket, you can never come back - no tourists, no travelers, just people who want to live with 80,000 other hypertech iconoclasts in a continually evolving world of weirdness. It's written by Luke Crane, who you may know from such games as Mouse Guard and Burning Wheel. Luke knows his stuff, and Freemarket is an interesting hybrid of loose storygame and mechanically tight ruleset. It plays like Transhuman Space crossed with Paranoia written by Warren Ellis, only from a perspective of optimistic utopianism. What the hell do you do? Freemarket is intended to be a heavily character-driven game where the players largely set their own agendas within the confines of the station. Most citizens of Freemarket are organized into Multi Regional Cultural Zones, or MCRZs (usually pronounced as "mercy"). With basic food, shelter, and healthcare provided for all, what's left is to do whatever you want, and most people do this by finding like minded folks in a MCRZ and trying to change Freemarket for the better. Impress your fellow Freemarketers and you'll be awash in social currency (called Flow) and start moving up in the world. Make an rear end of yourself, and the citizens of the station will vote you off the island for good. It sounds...weird. Yes, it is. I really don't have a close analogy as to what it's like, because it's kind of out there in left field in terms of other RPGs it's like. The best thing I can do is point you in the direction of a fairly complete Let's Play from a few years ago. It appeals to me largely because it's so unique - I don't think I've ever run anything that's intended to be so character driven before. There used to be an excerpt from the rules available, but the game's website has vanished into the ether. Read the Let's Play, and know that even if it's bad it'll be relatively short - I'm planning on running the game for about two months (April thru June). It sounds interesting! I would like to know more! Four players is the recommended maximum, so the first four to claim slots will be in! Replacements can be slotted in fairly easily so if it's not to your liking or you have to drop out, I'll maintain a short waiting list. Game time will be 7 PM - 11 PM PST on some weeknight, to be determined by a vote of the group. We'll be using a virtual tabletop to run the game - probably Fantasy Grounds because I'm familiar with it, but it doesn't handle card-based mechanics natively so I'm going to look for some others just in case. Camping The Stairs will be on-hand for all your voice chat needs. Freemarket is available at the bargain-basement price of $10 from DriveThruRPG; there's a lot to digest there so I'm asking that everyone pick up a copy and be familiar with the setting and rules, which are pretty tightly intermeshed. Did someone say audience participation? Very astute of you! Freemarket works best with a bursting-at-the-seams supporting cast of non-player inhabitants and MRCZs, each with the own agendas to help or hinder the player MRCZ. So I'd like to solicit ideas for NPC MRCZs from the inhabitants of this fine internet comedy message board. There is almost literally nothing too outlandish or ridiculous for Freemarket - those who are particularly antisocial will be presumed by on their way down the social ladder, with one foot out the airlock already. Anarchist voudoun microbrewers? Sure! Medical clinic run entirely by people who have had their personalities overwritten by the characters from M.A.S.H.? Not a problem. Go nuts, and I'll keep the thread updated with activities of contributed MRCZs as the game goes on.
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Mar 21, 2015 18:46
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| # ? Apr 18, 2024 04:48 |
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The users: CirclMastr Ningyou FewtureMD goodness The baselines (waiting list): occamsnailfile A few of the MRCZs in Freemarket: Dab Den: Weed smoking secret organic hippy cult recruitment chill area run by sentient sloths. Kilomonkeys: Machine-learning specialists trying to create a body of work from an internally consistent virtual world. Tibetan Tartans: Caber-tossing transcendental meditationists. kaynorr fucked around with this message at 21:44 on Mar 23, 2015 |
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Mar 21, 2015 18:47
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I want in.
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Mar 21, 2015 19:33
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Good luck. You'll need it.
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Mar 21, 2015 19:40
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This sounds interesting and I need to work on my RPing. I'll tentatively claim I'm in. I want to look into it a bit more
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Mar 21, 2015 20:34
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oh gosh, i fuckin love weird posthuman settings~ tentatively claiming interest too if that's okay? o:
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Mar 21, 2015 21:57
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I have been salivating over this game for years, I am claiming a spot, if that's okay. I already have some ideas for potential ventures...
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Mar 21, 2015 23:43
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This sounds amazing, and while I'm not going to claim a spot - having no copy of the rules at present - I'd like to watch the goings-on and possibly get on an alternate list. e: NPC MCRZ - Caber-tossing transcendental meditationists, Tibetan Tartans DivineCoffeeBinge fucked around with this message at 01:20 on Mar 22, 2015 |
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Mar 22, 2015 00:05
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posting my interest as well if a spot opens. NPC: Weed smoking p.s. this game needs someone to sign up who can draw decently to do little depictions of the characters/scenes goodness fucked around with this message at 21:57 on Mar 22, 2015 |
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Mar 22, 2015 00:57
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It looks like you have four but I have the rules and am willing to waitlist/peanut gallery! NPC MRCZ: Kilomonkeys: Machine-learning specialists trying to create a body of work from an internally consistent virtual world. occamsnailfile fucked around with this message at 05:12 on Mar 22, 2015 |
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Mar 22, 2015 05:09
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I would love to play but I can't commit to a regular real-time game. 
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Mar 22, 2015 20:06
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Looks like we have our players, and a waiting list in case misfortune rears its ugly head. The rules suggest that the characters be built before the MRCZ, but I'm not necessarily sure I agree with that so I'll leave it up to you all. If you want to settle on your MRCZ and then create characters that would found it, or vice versa, feel free to throw out ideas. Also, it looks like we'll be using Roll20 as our virtual tabletop. Unlike Fantasy Grounds it has native support for card decks in the way the Freemarket needs.
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Mar 22, 2015 20:56
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kaynorr posted:Looks like we have our players, and a waiting list in case misfortune rears its ugly head. I'll have to pull out of being a primary player. Work just got real busy and I'm getting more shifts. I'll check in though and would like to try the NPC stuff
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Mar 23, 2015 19:44
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Cerepol posted:I'll have to pull out of being a primary player. Work just got real busy and I'm getting more shifts. I'll check in though and would like to try the NPC stuff Sad to hear it, but I'd have to have this game cut into any other weekly gaming obligations you might have. Hypothetically. DivineCoffeeBinge, welcome to the game!
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Mar 23, 2015 19:46
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kaynorr posted:Sad to hear it, but I'd have to have this game cut into any other weekly gaming obligations you might have. Hypothetically. I'm actually going to have to bow out as well - I haven't had the chance yet to clear some space, as I was figuring an alternate list might now come into play for at least a month or so. 
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Mar 23, 2015 19:58
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DivineCoffeeBinge posted:I'm actually going to have to bow out as well - I haven't had the chance yet to clear some space, as I was figuring an alternate list might now come into play for at least a month or so. occamsnailfile, your MCRZ calls upon you in this, their hour of need!
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Mar 23, 2015 21:20
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I think goodness is in line in front of me, however, I am otherwise prepared
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Mar 23, 2015 21:27
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occamsnailfile posted:I think goodness is in line in front of me, however, I am otherwise prepared Very correct. goodness, welcome to the game!
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Mar 23, 2015 21:44
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I'd like to schedule our first game for next week; what weekday evening 7 PM - 11 PM PST (that isn't Tuesday) works for everyone for the next two months?
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Mar 30, 2015 19:00
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I can do any day other than Wednesday or Saturday. 
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Mar 31, 2015 00:29
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Is there still interest to start this game next week? I know the thread has been idle since I solicited players a few weeks in advance of starting, but hopefully we've still got people who want to play.
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Apr 2, 2015 19:30
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Yeah I am deciding on whether to stay as player or bystander, will update ASAP!
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Apr 2, 2015 20:54
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I'm still down to play.
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Apr 2, 2015 22:51
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i'm still interested!
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Apr 2, 2015 23:19
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I'm still interested! I'm also free Wednesday and Thursday nights for the actual game.
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Apr 3, 2015 15:14
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Glad to hear that everyone is still onboard. Thursday is currently leading the voting - CirclMastr and goodness please chime in when you have a chance.
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Apr 3, 2015 16:37
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I'm good with Thursday.
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Apr 3, 2015 21:19
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It looks like we're ready to kick things off. Our first session will be tomorrow, Thursday, April 9th starting at 7 PM PST. We'll do character creation, MRCZ creation, and an introductory challenge or two so everyone can get their sea legs. We'll use the Camping The Stairs mumble server for voice chat - go to the "420 virgin nerd station" channel. Our virtual tabletop will be Roll20, as it has really good support for the card decks that Freemarket uses. If you don't have an account on roll20.net, go ahead and create one. I'll post the URL for the evening's session in the Mumble chat room. Now's the time to ask any other questions, otherwise I'll see you all tomorrow!
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Apr 8, 2015 18:32
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i'm super sorry to do this so late but a thing came up unexpectedly and i'm going to have to be up p. early tomorrow (it wouldn't be as big of an issue but whoooo i'm a dumb who lives in EST and somehow missed the 7-11 PST part) if this means i have to be replaced, I understand D: I don't wanna hold things up.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:55
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Here comes my character full of super-original names. Weyland Yutani Geneline: Cloned Sysop (Tags: Administrative, Controlling, Technical) 3 Experience: Flood/Bleeding 2 Thin Slicing 1 Interface: Cognitive Dissonance Dampener (Tags: Flood/Bleeding, Algorithm, Adaptive) 2 Caption Captcha (Tags: Thin Slicing, Heuristics, Rapid) 1 Tech: Smart Disc (Tags: Flood/Bleeding, Yautja, Intrusive) 1 Long Term Memories: My creator, Peter Weyland, was deported from Freemarket for repeated attempts to print xenobiological humans. Thomas Haas somehow took credit for the first meme I created: a retelling of The Highlander that was indirectly responsible for the founding of the Tibetan Tartans MRCZ. Short Term Memories: I erased the wedding memories of Caprice Nisei, a fellow Cloned Sysop, at her request. Flow 7
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Apr 10, 2015 04:20
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I'm at work :/ surprise double
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Apr 10, 2015 04:24
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I'm down to start any day after 5pm Central this Monday-Thursday
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Apr 13, 2015 08:06
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The plan is still 7 PM PST on Thursday, so it looks like we're good.
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Apr 13, 2015 18:08
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Is everyone else still Available?
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Apr 16, 2015 07:55
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I will be a little late but I will be there.
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Apr 16, 2015 09:52
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CirclMastr posted:I will be a little late but I will be there. It's cool - the first order of business is finishing character creation, which only requires goodness and Ningyou. After that we'll have MRCZ creation which will need the whole group, and a sample group challenge or two so people get adjusted to the system. We probably won't run until 11 PM PST again, probably more like 9 or 10. Once I know the whole make-up of the group and MRCZ we can start the next session with real honest-to-god Stuff.
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Apr 16, 2015 16:43
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I'm calling it for tonight. Ningyou had to go and no one else was there by 7:40, so headed out to do other things. Not sure if this is going to pan out, but let's reassess in the morning.
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Apr 17, 2015 03:37
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kaynorr posted:I'm calling it for tonight. Ningyou had to go and no one else was there by 7:40, so headed out to do other things. Not sure if this is going to pan out, but let's reassess in the morning. Ah damnit, I just got here.
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Apr 17, 2015 03:54
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I thought it was wednesday today  I have been really mixed up lately after working every single day for 3 weeks.
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Apr 17, 2015 04:14
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Alright, I've decided to give this one last go. Character creation and a learning challenge will be held this Thursday, April 23rd, starting at 7 PM PST. If this date & time does not work for you between now and (roughly) the end of June, now is the time to speak up. Otherwise, I'll see you all on Thursday in Mumble and roll20!
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Apr 20, 2015 16:19
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