Party Conversations Rules for the Game Master and Players

INTRODUCTION

What is a Live Action Role Playing Game?
Live action role playing games have been described by many people as theatre without a script. This is a fairly accurate description. Each game in the Party Conversations series is the beginning of a script. The players are acting out the life of a person who has a unique personality and a history different from the player's own life. Live action games are like watching half of a movie or reading half of a book. The players determine the conclusion by acting out the rest of the story.
Each character is provided with a character sheet that details general information about the time period, locale, and events leading up to a particular point in time. This sheet also gives a player the personal story of a character including some life history and specific events integral to the game. The personal story gives an idea of the nature of the character. It tells the player whether the character is a rogue, an altruist, or a troublemaker. Each character may know a little about other characters in the game especially if those characters have "met" previously.

How Does One Win?
Each character has a goal that he or she must accomplish by the end of the game. It is important to understand that each game is designed such that approximately 60% of the characters should be able to achieve their goals. Most of the characters are set in opposition to each other. For example, there may be only one "top secret bomb" in the game. However, it is very likely that two characters have the goal of obtaining that bomb.
The game becomes even more exciting when characters find out that they cannot complete their goals in a straightforward manner. Suddenly, everyone at the party will be making plans and secret deals. There is no limit to the double-crossings.
Once the game begins, the fun starts. Each player usually knows very little about everyone else. In the first half of the game, players usually spend the time trying to get to know all of the other characters and determining whether or not anyone will be useful in helping them to accomplish their goals.
Later, as the game progresses, most of the players will start making deals with one another in order to help them accomplish their goals. All Party Conversations games have been designed to avoid the possibility of one character simply approaching another character and asking directly for the needed items or information.
Let's take the example of the bomb scenario. Bob is a character that has a bomb. He is a secret government agent who is carrying the bomb in order to capture an alleged spy. Becky is a spy. If she goes directly to Bob and asks for the bomb, then she will most likely be arrested. It would be in Becky's best interest to have someone else pick up the bomb for her.
The most interesting part of the game is that characters can say anything they want. They can make up any story in order to accomplish their goals. However, if a character, such as Bob, is found out to be a liar, his credibility will come under question, and no one may want to deal with him for the remainder of the game.

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