Above/Below - Gods of the Middle [CYOA / Multiplayer Godgame]

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Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

https://i.imgur.com/JFy9mlD.mp4

Above is everything. An opaque infinity stretching from direction to direction. If one looks carefully things that could be can be seen in it's surface. Essences and Ideas surfacing momentarily before sinking back in. Or breaking off and falling forever. For Below is nothing. And only things in nothing are spirits. Great in power yet with nothing to grasp they can only flail impotently. Many fight over the tiny pieces of the Above that have fallen off, not because the bits of matter are useful but because they are the only things there are. The only things to affect. The only points of reference.
But now something unusual is happening. The Above boils and expels a massive piece of itself. A number of lucky spirits witness the birth of a land. Enormous! Enough matter to make anything out of. Enough matter to BE on. It hangs precariously close to the burning infinity of the Above. To go so high would be to face death. But up there, they could be gods.

-~X~-

:siren:

We have a discord channel! https://discord.gg/jNeUJ4S Mind that its on the same server as the chat for Dog Kisser's current game: Break Down That Gate! :siren:

Welcome to Above/Below, a game where you are a god of Middle. This game is ~~a ripoff~~ heavily inspired by The Fragile Gods of Somewhere by Dog Kisser, which is wonderful.
The game is divided into Eras, which are divided into four turns. Each Era five of gods make it in, do with the world as they please, and at the end of the Era, they die. That's right, you'll die no matter what but your legacy will live on.

GODS
To make a god, state your name and your Idea(s), for example, Robert the god of Pizza, or Alice the god of Booze and Hangovers.

Each god begins with 3 HP. If you run out of HP you die.
When you take action, roll 1d20 to determine how successful you are.
- On a roll of less than 11 you lose 1 HP.
- A roll of 20 is Critical Success! your action is greatly magnified and you gain a bonus of +1 to all your later action rolls.
- A roll of 1 is Critical Failure! you lose 2 HP and your action backfires, causing the opposite effect!
If your roll gets pushed to 1 or 20 by modifiers that's just a regular good/bad roll. Not a Critical one.
If you roll 1 or 20 but get pushed away from it only the bolded part of the Critical result will trigger.
If the actions of several gods contradict each other, the one with highest roll takes priority but side effects spin off from the others. Everyone will make a difference.

SPIRITS
Only five gods can be active on Middle at once but those Below can still have an effect on the world by aiding or hindering the gods. By doing so you can earn Spirit Points which will increase your chances of becoming a god in a later Era.

Anyone not currently playing a god is a Spirit.
Each turn you may vote for one god to alter the result of their roll.
You gain 1 Spirit Point per vote.
You have the following votes to spend each Era: +1, +1, -1, 0.
- That is, if you've already given +1 to two rolls, you can't give another during the current Era. Only -1 or 0.
- The 0 vote means abstain. You aren't affecting anyone's roll but you still get a Spirit Point for declaring your decision.
The final result of a dice roll can't go below 1 or above 20. Anything beyond that range only acts as a buffer to prevent change in the opposite direction.

TAKING ACTION
Gods

List your Name, Ideas and HP at the top of each post in bold.
Write a post about what you intend to do and roll 1d20.
Your Ideas don't confer any mechanical benefits but will affect how your actions appear to the world, which can have effects going on.

Spirits

You have no name but bold any action you make.
Keep a track of how many Spirit Points you have.

-~X~-

The mass lies above spirits, casting the first shadow. It is still in process of separating from the Above. Undifferentiated, full of possibilities. Daring spirits could reach in and pull out any Essences they desire from it. Make the potential into something concrete. Many may affect it from afar but only five are close enough to conquer it. They make their way higher and higher up even as the Above grows painfully bright.

-~X~-

There's the Middle. Or at least what will become the Middle, it is not much of anything yet. Do not make actions yet but roll 1d100, the five highest rollers will be the first group of gods. In addition to your roll list five Essences. These will be the building blocks of the world. They can be just about anything as long as its a single word. Some examples would be Plastic, Wood, Wrath, Dog or Eye. The Essences can be interpreted in rather broad manner. If Dog were chosen it might not result in mountains made of live dogs but materials with traits associated with dogs. The Essences chosen will shape all of the world and the people on it.

I will pick the five most suggested Essences once recruitment is closed, merging very similiar ones. However, as this game is in manner a follow-up to the Fragile Gods of Somewhere� the Essences used there are forbidden here. This is to keep things fresh even for people who might have read Dog Kisser's game.

Blacklist

Water
Dice
Glass
Silver
Milk
Molasses
Salt
Fire
Iron

Recruitment for the first round will probably be up for a couple of days. Maybe less if we get a bunch of people early.

Good luck little spirits!

Game Rule talk FEEL FREE TO IGNORE UNTIL YOU'VE READ THE THREAD posted:

In FGoS a god could try to avoid their death by age by binding themselves to the world, becoming a terrible monster, an Atrocity. Gods of the middle are free to end their career early for a cause of their choosing but there's no telling what will happen until you try.

FGoS gods could directly battle and harm each other.

Any of these laws could or could not apply to the world of Above/Below.

Jvie fucked around with this message at 02:17 on Jan 12, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:04

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 20:04

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

Primary Essences - The building blocks of the world

Unnatural Essences - Diversions from the normal workings of the world

Essences:
Each essence embodies certain Ideas and opposes some others, from this you can get a idea how they might behave. These properties aren't absolute, the Forms the Essences manifest in are many, and all different. Still, whenever an Essence is utilised for a cause it tends to empower it's embodied Ideas in the outcome, and diminish it's opposed Ideas.

-~X~-

Gods of the First Era

Larien Lightbearer, Goddess of Hope, Mygda, Goddess of Fruit, Pseye, the Mind, Ravid, Goddess of Edges, Solomna Goddess of Silence

Gods of the Second Era

Armaturt the God of Toughness, Culinarion the God of Feasts, Metzli the God of Wanderlust, Pemphero the God of Happy Coincidences, Yearn the Divine Desire

Gods of the Third Era

,
Vic Tydpodd-Whitecastle the ~~God~~ Executive Producer of Meddling, The Hand, Xenon the God of Heroes, Calar the God of Loss Realized, Ria the Goddess of Atrocities

Jvie fucked around with this message at 20:03 on Aug 26, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:04

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

FANART posted:

Dog Kisser:
Fanart! First stage of people of the Middle!

Bee Bonk:

WereGoat:

The Lord of Hats:

Barbed Tongues:

Prince of Space

Jvie fucked around with this message at 19:51 on Apr 25, 2019

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:04

Dog Kisser: Mar 30, 2005; But People have fears that beasts do not. Questions, too.

Essences
Wool
Hunger
Feathers
Automobiles
Chocolate

God
Faller, God of Motion - 1d100 = 30

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:26 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:13

Lux Anima: Apr 17, 2016; Dinosaur Gum

Essences
Steam
Electricity
Wood
Brass
Jewel

An errant spirit attempts to be:

Fortus, God of Wellsprings
Breaking into Above: 1d100 14

Lux Anima fucked around with this message at 03:27 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:17

The Lord of Hats: Aug 22, 2010; Hello, yes! Is being very good day for posting, no?

I'm going to suggest the world be built using the Essences of:

Crows
Zippers
Wool
~~Rubber~~ -> Felt
Jewels

Mygda, Goddess of Fruit
Manifest!: 1d100 83

The Lord of Hats fucked around with this message at 18:32 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:18

WereGoat: Apr 28, 2017

Materialise?: 1d100 59 Ria, Goddess of Atrocities

Suggested essences: Ghosts, Mercury, ~~Bronze~~ Brass, Felt, Crows

WereGoat fucked around with this message at 17:02 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:22

Crazycryodude: Aug 15, 2015; Lets get our X tons of Duranium back!

....Is that still a valid thing to jingoistically blow out of proportion?

I am a GOD: 1d100 33

The Essences of Hydrogen, security, community, moment, courage

# ? Jan 1, 2018 03:33

Bee Bonk: Feb 19, 2011

God
Ravid, Goddess of Edges: 78

Suggested Essences:
Brass, Ghosts, ~~Smoke~~ Crows, Fungus, ~~Spite~~ Felt

Bee Bonk fucked around with this message at 17:42 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 04:08

LLSix: Jan 20, 2010; The real power behind countless overlords

Larien Lightbearer: 1d100 99

Essences
Foxpandas
Jewels
Community
Uplift
Harmony

# ? Jan 1, 2018 04:08

paper bag with a face: Jun 2, 2007

God:
Blurp, God of Sludge 1d100 = 5 womp womp

Suggested Essences
Brass
Ghosts
Rot
Entropy
Mirrors

# ? Jan 1, 2018 04:40

AJ_Impy: Jun 17, 2007; SWORD OF SMATTAS. CAN YOU NOT HEAR A WORLD CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE? WHEN WILL YOU DELIVER IT?; Yam Slacker

God: 42

Substances:

Synergy
Monetization
Bitcoin
Dignity
Vacuum

# ? Jan 1, 2018 04:49

super sweet best pal: Nov 18, 2009

Godroll 13

Essences
Wine
Ghosts
Brass
Silk
Jewels

# ? Jan 1, 2018 06:09

Slaan: Mar 16, 2009; ASHERAH DEMANDS I FEAST, I VOTE FOR A FEAST OF FLESH

Diarama, Goddess of Fractals: I rolled a 2

Essences:
-Wood
~~-Sapphire~~ Muppets
~~-Fur~~ Felt
-~~Chalk~~ Crows
-Fungi

E: Changed essence vote

x2

Slaan fucked around with this message at 17:26 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 07:18

Scribbleykins: Apr 29, 2010; Any scientist with the right background can brew his own booze.

...

What do you mean electrolytes aren't used for brewing booze? That's silly!

...

Well when all you have are chunks of TNE and an overly large water ration, all the world looks like a still!; Grimey Drawer

Essences:
Brains
Easels
Chopsticks
Brass
Wool

God:
Pavroti - God of Sound 1d100 = 31

# ? Jan 1, 2018 07:34

Astus: Nov 11, 2008

Would-be God: Meztli, God of Wanderlust = 45

Essences:
Fear
Wonder
Ambition
Failure
Movement

# ? Jan 1, 2018 10:12

Theantero: Nov 6, 2011; ...We danced the Mamushka while Nero fiddled, we danced the Mamushka at Waterloo. We danced the Mamushka for Jack the Ripper, and now, Fester Addams, this Mamushka is for you....

Pretender God: Pseye, God of Mind = 83

Essences:
Brains
Jewel
Wine
Brass
Wood

# ? Jan 1, 2018 13:10

Zybourne Clock: Oct 25, 2011; Poke me.

Thalamun, god of rolling an 11 on a d100

Substances
Bone
Ghosts
Candles
Potatoes
Boogers

# ? Jan 1, 2018 14:40

Cloud Potato: Jan 9, 2011; "I'm... happy!"

Egg, God of Eggs is here!

Rolling to be a god!: 1d100 16
Or not!

Essences: Eggs, Wool, Hats, Brains, Chocolate

# ? Jan 1, 2018 14:48

TheNabster: Apr 26, 2014; "Today I will cause problems on purpose"

Oh I am super down for this.

Tix-Tockl, God of Time.

Rollan, 1d00 = 44

Essences
Clocks
Crystals
Ghosts
~~Lead~~ Crows
~~Paper~~ Brass

TheNabster fucked around with this message at 18:19 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 16:25

dont be mean to me: May 2, 2007; I'm interplanetary, bitch
Let's go to Mars

Essences:
Oil
Wonder
Brass
Wood
Information

Yeah I don't think I'm going to roll for a god.

# ? Jan 1, 2018 16:32

Slaan: Mar 16, 2009; ASHERAH DEMANDS I FEAST, I VOTE FOR A FEAST OF FLESH

Slaan posted:

Diarama, Goddess of Fractals: I rolled a 2

Essences:
-Wood
~~-Sapphire~~
~~-Fur~~
-Chalk
-Fungi

Changing Essence Votes:
- Sapphire to Muppets
- Fur to Felt

# ? Jan 1, 2018 16:57

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

I'm happy there are already so many would be gods, welcome! I'm not closing the applications yet but here's a list of the current top rolls and essences.

Top Rolls so far:

Top Essences so far, with similar ones merged:

....and a whole ton of Essences with only one vote.

# ? Jan 1, 2018 17:08

TheNabster: Apr 26, 2014; "Today I will cause problems on purpose"

Did you fuse Crystals and Jewels?

# ? Jan 1, 2018 17:14

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

Yes. If both got in I fear there'd be too much overlap.

# ? Jan 1, 2018 17:24

Slaan: Mar 16, 2009; ASHERAH DEMANDS I FEAST, I VOTE FOR A FEAST OF FLESH

Slaan posted:

Diarama, Goddess of Fractals: I rolled a 2

Essences:
-Wood
~~-Sapphire~~ Muppets
~~-Fur~~ Felt
~~-Chalk~~ Crows
-Fungi

E: Changed essence vote

Time for even more strategery votes!

Changing:

Chalk to Crows

# ? Jan 1, 2018 17:25

Bee Bonk: Feb 19, 2011

Getting on the crowagon! Changing ~~Smoke~~ to Crows!

# ? Jan 1, 2018 17:43

TheNabster: Apr 26, 2014; "Today I will cause problems on purpose"

Jvie posted:

Yes. If both got in I fear there'd be too much overlap.

Fair enough, I was gonna change it if it wasn't. I will change some votes however

Essences
Clocks
Crystals
Ghosts
~~Lead~~ Crows
~~Paper~~ Brass

# ? Jan 1, 2018 18:18

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

We have a discord channel! https://discord.gg/jNeUJ4S Mind that its on the same server as the chat for Dog Kisser's current game: Break Down That Gate! :siren:

Here are the Essence totals given the recent changes people have made:

# ? Jan 1, 2018 18:22

Theantero: Nov 6, 2011; ...We danced the Mamushka while Nero fiddled, we danced the Mamushka at Waterloo. We danced the Mamushka for Jack the Ripper, and now, Fester Addams, this Mamushka is for you....

Essences:
Brains
Jewel
~~Wine~~ Ghosts
~~Brass~~ Wool
Wood

# ? Jan 1, 2018 18:27

The Lord of Hats: Aug 22, 2010; Hello, yes! Is being very good day for posting, no?

Essences
Crows
Zippers
Wool
~~Rubber~~ -> Felt
Jewels

# ? Jan 1, 2018 18:34

Aabcehmu: Apr 27, 2013; Confusion As a Natural State of Being

Essences
Brass
Jewel
Ghosts
Crows
Wool

No natural liquids, and organism, sounds like it'll make for an interesting to start.

Atom, God of Diamonds: 1d100 58

No luck

# ? Jan 1, 2018 19:46

sheep-dodger: Feb 21, 2013

Solomna Goddess of Silence appears: Materialising: 92

Essences

Jewel
Felt
Chocolate
Ambition
Fungi

# ? Jan 1, 2018 20:13

ShadowGlass: Nov 13, 2012

NaeNae, god of colors. 22

Essences:

Wood
Jewel (crystal)
Felt
Chocolate
Wine

ShadowGlass fucked around with this message at 20:28 on Jan 1, 2018

# ? Jan 1, 2018 20:17

Jvie: Aug 10, 2012

God applications and Essence votes are CLOSED.

So many applications, so many high rolls! Others have pretty low chances rolling high enough to get in so I'm moving onto the next phase.

The gods of the first era
LLSix - Larien Lightbearer
sheep-dodger - Solomna, Goddess of Silence
Lord of Hats - Mygda, Goddess of Fruit
Theantero - Pseye, God of Mind
Bee Bonk - Ravid, Goddess of Edges

A big round of applause for the conquerors of the Middle. I'm going to need some time to make sense of your choices for Essences. In the meantime the gods need to pick symbols for themselves. Its easy!

Pick a color and combine any number of the dots with straight or curved lines. Don't worry about making it pretty.

The essences chosen for the new world are:
Wool ~10 (Felt)
Brass 9
Ghosts 8
Jewel 9 (Crystals)
Crows 7 (Feathers)

I have merged wool and felt. They are two shapes of the same thing here. The rest... Well I really expected none of these, and I love them. See you soon on the Middle!

# ? Jan 1, 2018 21:12

Theantero: Nov 6, 2011; ...We danced the Mamushka while Nero fiddled, we danced the Mamushka at Waterloo. We danced the Mamushka for Jack the Ripper, and now, Fester Addams, this Mamushka is for you....

Pseye, God of Mind