The Gentlemen's Entomology Club
This guy is the perfect character for playing an enlightened entomologist. Can you guess who he is?
My colleague sent me a document this afternoon, the contents of which depleted me of any semblance of a rigorous work ethic for at least three hours. The masterpiece, designed by Michael Sands as part of a Game Chef competition (like Iron Chef but for games), outlines a role playing game called The Gentlemen's Entomology Club: A role-playing game of wine-drinking, boasting, beetles and some incidental rationalist philosophy. I know. I could hardly believe my good fortune. To be exposed to such awesomeness...it...it was like a dream. The words poured off the page and permanently registered themselves in my intellectual (hippocampal) archive. I am transformed. Let's explore the genius.
The gist: A group of friends get together over several bottles of wine and pretend they are 18th century entomologists/adventurers. The players take turns entertaining each other with provocative, fantastical (and ribald?) stories of their adventures to collect insects in foreign lands. Points are scored for a story told (by the storyteller), a successful challenge issued (by the designated skeptic), and opportunities to embellish (provided by the companion). The allegories are dictated - or at least directed - by keywords pulled from three types of cards: modifiers (e.g., dung-feeding), insects (e.g., dragonfly), and themes (e.g., "all men are brothers"). So, for example, if I am the storyteller I would start my story with "That reminds me of the time I came across my first dung-feeding dragonfly in tropical Africa"...[continue with some story that built around the theme that all men are brothers]...[the companion injects some side story I pursue and exaggerate]...[the skeptic calls me out about some outlandish detail I need to defend or injects some difficulty I need to address]..."And that's how I acquired this fine specimen of a dung-feeding dragonfly." Points are tallied for performances of the participants (the audience contributes here).
Highlights: My favorite aspects of this RGP include (verbatim from the game description):
- Often, these Stories may include elements of exaggeration or, indeed, baldfaced lies.
- Wine is important. The characters drink wine as they tell their stories and there is no reason for them to have all the fun. All players should drink wine as well. Port, whiskey or brandy would also be appropriate but might lead to a significantly shorter game.
- ...members use these meetings as an opportunity to boast and joke, with a prize for the most entertaining raconteur of the night. [was this game written explicitly for me?!]
Fantastic image of brave British men in India, captured by Sunny Brook. The only improvement I suggest for this game is moving the setting to the Victorian era, so that my geek friends and I can justify our donning of pith helmets.
A role playing game
that's entomological?
It's about time!
that's entomological?
It's about time!
How fun! Let me think on this (over a Merlot, of course).
Posted by Ted C. MacRae on February 26, 2009 at 01:00 AM EST #
This is great! I will insert myself into the game as one of the Victorian-age female explorers who boldly did not ride side-saddle and, scandalously, wore pants.
Posted by Nannothemis on February 26, 2009 at 07:00 AM EST #
I'll wear the pith helmet but I'm drinking several India Pale Ales
Posted by Bob Blinn on February 26, 2009 at 01:19 PM EST #
Heh heh. Perhaps we should consider imbibing some gin and tonics as well, to keep the malaria at bay.
Posted by ardeans on February 26, 2009 at 01:34 PM EST #
From the pdf: "Characters are almost always men. You may wish to have a female “gentleman” but be aware that this does affect the dynamics of the club and generally forces all characters
towards radical opinions such as “women are just as able as men” and “women may engage in intellectual debate.” I leave it to each individual club to determine whether a female might be admitted."
Haha. I'm in so long as we can further roleplay as Quakers so allowing non-white-landowning-men won't be so radical.
Posted by kmbayles on February 26, 2009 at 04:37 PM EST #
But do Quakers collect insects? Another one of my favorite sections:
Alluding to the theme in Enlightened thought can be done in many ways. For example:
* A direct example of the theme.
* A metaphorical allusion to the theme, illustrated by the insects.
* A tangential element of the Story.
* A digression from the Story.
Players should be aware that the requirement to address a Theme in each Story is there to
add comedy, not intellectual depth. Although analysis of many of these concepts may be
interesting and useful, in this game they are intended to force an extra layer of absurdity
into the Stories told.
Ha ha ha! So crazy! Perhaps we've found a replacement for Linnean games?
Posted by ardeans on February 26, 2009 at 04:46 PM EST #