The Rules of My Game

WANTED: Illustrator/programmer for new RPG game, Somebody; game should be in style of Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts series; previous experience preferred but not necessary; sample of work must be submitted with application

SYNOPSIS: Kyle is a tall, lanky fifteen year old boy with bad hair. Last year, Kyle spent most of his time hiding from the town's band of miscreants: Frankie (a tubby dullard with unwashed black curls), Jackson (a short, stupid looking boy who has the habit of saying, "There's a ditch with your name on it"), Morton (the group's muscle-man, though they rarely say his name aloud for fear of his wrath; in truth, he is perfectly comfortable with his name), and Olivia (a long-haired redhead who would just as soon kick an old woman in the mouth than wear anything other than jeans and an ill-fitting t-shirt). Kyle was so traumatized by his frequent beatings and tauntings by the gang that his parents sent him to a camp for the summer so that he could find himself. This camp taught Kyle how to identify the destructive behaviors that others around him were engaging in and armed him with the tools to protect himself and develop his own identity. Unfortunately, Kyle has also learned how to use his enemies' weapons against them....

This year, Kyle has vowed to stand up to his tormentors, as well as enlist as many new friends as possible in his crusade against psychological cruelty. However, Kyle was not anticipating meeting with resistance from some of the most respectable people in town. The town's mayor, Mayor Lanson, feels that Kyle should not be so analytical and enjoy his childhood; Mayor Lanson often interferes and outright prevents Kyle's actions. Kyle's parents are also displeased with Kyle's new take on life; they feel that he has become manipulative and presumptuous with adults, often providing unqualified psychoanalysis to their friends at dinner parties. And Kyle can't prove it, but it seems that every time he turns a corner, there's the shadow of another school counselor....

Join Kyle has he tries to improve the world one psyche at a time. But can he spread healing without succumbing to an unhealthy psychological worldview himself?

GAMEPLAY: The battle system for this game is unlike traditional RPGs. It will have a turn based battle style, much like the Final Fantasy series. However, although actions taken during battle will decide the winner, the repercussions of the battle actions last well beyond the battle itself. For example, during a battle, Momentary Guilt may be cast against an opponent. This casting may cause enough Hit Point (HP) damage to cause the opponent to lose the battle; in this respect, the battle system is much like any other RPG. However, once normal gameplay has resumed, the damage done by Momentary Guilt to the player's Psychological Points (PP) may cause the actions and options available to that character to be altered. If PP becomes impaired, a character may no longer be able to bring him or herself to ask a stranger at an Item Shop for assistance; the character may instead be forced to shop only at a local Item Shop where they feel more comfortable.

The use of PP is the signature element of Somebody, and its most significant effect on gameplay is its long range implications on game options. In some instances, it may be impossible to continue a given mission simply because a character's PP does not allow them to cope with the requirements of that mission. It should be noted that PP is a double-edged sword. A character's PP can be damaged through a battle sequence, as described above. However, a character's PP can also be damaged by inflicting too many Psychological spells on his opponents.

For instance, if a character relies too heavily on casting Persistent Low Self Esteem, it will begin to affect his own PP as his own need to damage others becomes a shield for his own insecurities; bullying is as damaging to the bully as it is to his victim. For example, Kyle may battle Frankie and Olivia on a bus. When Frankie initiates battle by taunting Kyle, Kyle can respond with a Single Handed Shove or a Two Finger Shoulder Push if he is at Level 2. However, Kyle has substantially less physical strength than most players, and this course of action will only serve to further battle. Level 2 Kyle can then cast Conduct Disorder on Olivia, which will lower her HP during the battle; it will also reduce her PP during battle, causing her to lash out at Frankie, particularly when Frankie's attacks fail to inflict much damage on Kyle. However, after the battle, Olivia's PP will continue to drop, making her willful and difficult with her friends, increasing the likelihood that she will be unhelpful in future battles. Unfortunately, casting Conduct Disorder too often will also decrease Kyle's PP when he is not in battle. In this situation, Kyle will develop a sinister nature, having prompted so many others into bad behavior. This will make Kyle less trustworthy at first glance and, therefore, shopkeepers will raise prices when he attempts to make purchases. Also, strangers in town will be less willing to provide him with clues and free items to help him along the way.

The following are a list of spells and actions available to characters within Somebody:

ICY PSYCH SPELLS: Freezes ability to cope psychologically
Level 1 Embarrassment
Level 2 Shame
Level 3 Momentary Guilt
Level 4 Lasting Guilt
Level 5 Hellish Introspection

FIERY PSYCH SPELLS: Burns up sense of self worth, leaving only the husk of a man
Level 1 Self Doubt
Level 2 Insecurity
Level 3 Persistent Low Self Esteem
Level 4 Self Loathing
Level 5 Depressive Suicide

THUNDEROUS PSYCH SPELLS: Shocks personality into meltdown
Level 1 Irritation
Level 2 Minor Frustration
Level 3 Debilitating Frustration
Level 4 Incapacitating Frustration
Level 5 Sudden Aneurism

WINDY PSYCH SPELLS: Blows sanity away like a Tibetan sand painting
Level 1 Borderline Personality Disorder
Level 2 Conduct Disorder
Level 3 Bipolar Disorder
Level 4 Institutionalized Depression
Level 5 Catatonic Schizophrenia

PHYSICAL ATTACKS:
Level 1 Two-Finger Shoulder Push
Level 2 Single-Handed Shove
Level 3 Double-Handed Shove
Level 4 Groin Kick
Level 5 Face Punch

HEALTHY PSYCH SPELLS:
Level 1 Compliment
Level 2 Positive Reinforcement
Level 3 Nurturing Environment
Level 4 Group Therapy
Level 5 Permanent Support Web