One Camera Style

Intro:

The One Camera Style is something fairly unique to Infinite
Imagination Inc games. It isn't a tabletop RPG, and it isn't really
a LARP. It lies somewhere between. Rather than sitting at a table,
telling the Game Master what your character is going to do, in a One
Camera Style game you get off your seat, onto your feet, and do it!


What it is:

A good way to think about it is to pretend that the game is being
recorded to make a movie. Unfortunately, producer of this movie could

only afford one camera to film the action. Whatever action the Game
Masters are currently directing is what's being filmed, and what will
eventually make it into the movie. Everything else is off-screen.


Dice may or may not be used. Sometimes the Game Master will have a
set of "big dice" for the few rolls that are necessary. Characters

may be simplified sometimes all you'll get is a description with no
"numbers" or stats. Other times there will be character sheets and
detailed write-ups. What ever you get, remember the sheets are just
the one-dimensional inspiration for what, we hope, the players will
inflate into *TWO* dimensional roles!

What it isn't:

Boring. You will have a blast!

What the game master does:

The Game Master is still in control, and sets the scenes and the pace
as usual. He will also get rid of the table and shift the chairs
around. Chairs double as scenery and props. The Game master will
set up each scene including positioning actors (that's you) and
describing what's going on around you.

What you do:

Get up and move around. Once the game master has set the scene,
you're on. You can also come up with your own scenes. let the game
master know you have an idea. Include as many other actors as you
can and go for it. This is a combination of improv acting and
collective storytelling.

Do's and Don'ts:
In order to ensure that you and everyone around you has a good
time. There are some guidelines to follow.

Don't hurt the game master, or other players for that matter. No
actions that will harm other players or Game Masters. If you're
punching the bad guy (or another player), make sure you only mimic
the swing. If you're throwing something, don't let it fly fake
it. Please please please don't tackle.

Do watch every scene. It saves time later that your fellow gamers
won't have to update you with all of the little details. It will
also give you ideas for your own bits and scenes. And it's fun.

Don't just stand there. Do something, get involved in the scene.
Don't worry about stumbles, we'll edit that out in
post-production. You will have more fun and you're giving your
fellow actors something to play off of as well.
Do give the other players a chance to have a "scene" don't hog the
"camera". Each character has unique talents, and if they're sitting
on the sidelines a valuable piece of information may not come to
light. As always, work together and you will achieve your goals.

Don't kibitz from the sidelines. If you've got good stuff, use it in
a scene. If you whisper it off camera, it can't make it into the film.

Do create your own scenes and make stuff up. No canned scenario
survives contact with the players, the game master knows this. You
are not going to break the game. The game master will adapt, and if
you go off too far into the wild, we can always rewind. Every game
master loves to hear "oh oh I got one.."

Do include as many other actors as you can, and game masters if need
be. This is not Shakespeare, one person soliloquies are boring. If
you gotta do 'em, keep 'em short.

Do go face to face. For example, if you are looking for information
about some ancient Egyptian artifacts, doing research in the library
would be dull. But going to speak to an Egyptology professor at the
local university is good. Then the audience gets to watch a scene
with conversation and can actually hear the information spoken. It
also give s you the chance to involve more actors.

Do have fun.