Right I have thought about this idea for a while and tried to work out some details of it. Of course as all my games none of it are set rules and everything is discussable, to make it work for everybody.
As the title might suggest, for those who know it, the origin lies with a computer game called Tropico. This is a city builder/strategy game where you are the ruler of a caribean island. The player can rule the island anyway he likes. Lot's of tourism or export of goods, communist style or capitalist style, democracy or iron fist. Before you stop reading because it's from a computer game, please read on a little bit more, I'm going to explain my game idea now.
We are going to play Tropico's citizens and just live our daily lives. This could vary from being raped for fun to teaching children how to grow banana's. In other words, what happens on the island is completely up to the players. The only one who can steer the way we live is 'El Presidente' who is the ruler of the island. He or she lives in the palace and governs the island in anyway he or she seems fit.
So what kind of roles was I thinking about?
Well first of all, the most important player in the game will be 'El Presidente'. This character can be anything you like but the more outrageous, the better I think. For example a pompous religious zealot would be a lot more fun than let's say, Gordon Brown or Barack Obama. He/she will rule the island and in this case I can imagine an inquisition being brought to life. As you see a lot of things depend on El Presidente.
Furthermore there are the simple jobs like barmaid, waitress, builder and farmer. This are the low paid jobs obviously. A step higher are the highschool jobs. Think of policemen, El Presidente's personal guards, journalists, clinic workers, factory workers etc. The highest jobs are College degrees. Whether or not we can choose this depends on El Presidente's decision to either build a college or to let foreigners onto the island. Jobs like this are surgeons, priests, factory CEO's etc.
You are free to think of a job you would like of course but please try to keep in mind that this is a very small island and that jobs like archeologists simply won't pay enough. Also, don't play multiple jobs when it's a rare job. For example, there can never be too much farmers, but I would prefer a max of 1 CEO. If you have any doubts on what job to take, you can always ask me. I won't bite without permission...
Tell me more about the setting. I'm liking it so far.
As I said, everybody is free to play whatever he or she wants. When you are a barkeeper, I can imagine you describing the daily routine of the bar. It would also be one of the general game area's. Your housing will be corresponding with the job you have. If you have a low paid job, you most likely live in shacks or simple communist tenements. Highschool jobs earn better so they can live in apartment blocks or detached simple houses. College jobs or dual incomes can afford large condominiums or mansions, again depending on what El Presidente has decided to build.
And what is the plot?
There isn't any. For the first time in a while I'm setting up a game without a plot. Everybody is free to think of their own plot. I just create the setting and some public places, for the rest, you are free to play whatever, however, whenever you like.
I will add some pictures of the game later to give you a little bit of the atmosphere I was searching for. In the mean time, if you are interested in this game, get your name down. When there is enough people I will get this game started.
