Gencon Interview with Rob, Jess, and Nathan.... the makers of MORTINS LIST
Warning: I typed this interview up myself. this interview was not previously avaible on the net...if you plan on addin this to your website please give props where da props are due.
the milenko500
GC=Gencon interviewer
GC: I'm here with Rob Bruce, R. jesse Deneaux, and nathan Fostey, The authors of Mortins List: the End To Boredom, soon to be released on darkCarnival games. Now guys from the underground rumors Ive heard and the play testers Ive talked with. I understand that this game is like nothin else that people have played before. If its not a boardgame, Not an RPG, not Live action, miniatures, or a ccg, what is it? please elaborate.
Rob: Sure. Its the next step beyond all that. its real Life. theres No board, except the ground beneath your feet. No imaginary characters. its YOU and YOUR freinds, doing real life things, completeing the real activities. called Quests, which the game book lays out for you. when you get this game, your getting an unlimited resource of funand maybe even life altering activities. its more like an exhaustively researched encyclopedia of activities with over seven years of research and play testingthen a normal source book. purely and simply its THE END TO BOREDOM
GC: I dont understand......... real Life adventure? you mean like in that movie with tom Hanks.... "mazes and monsters"?
Nathan: maybe in the sense that both are incredibly entertaining, even addictive; but no, Mortins list conatins 360 Unique quests that cover everything there is to do for fun on earth and beyond. Any thing you can think of is in there.
GC: 360 different quests? give me an example. what could a group of people end up doing while playing mortins list?
Jesse: check it out: when you play Mortons list, chances are you'll be doing something new and exciting. something fun that you wouldnt normally think of it if it werent in the game. It could be something artistic, benevolent, or even something that borders on dangerous and un lawful. from common activities like shootin pool or going out to eat, to the semi elaborate, like tryin to find a hot date, to the more bizzar, like disguising yourselves as bums or yuppies, then infiltrating there habitat to see how they really live, and everything in between. You could find yourself at a strip club, casting a real black magic spell..... or both
GC: This does sound different then any game Ive ever heard of. But my next question is how do you play? how long does it take to play a game? and how complex are the rules?
Nathan: hey, thats 3 questions.. but its all quite easy. game play is explained in the first 12 pages of the book. The rest of the book is devoted to quests. first, Everybody comes together and makes an oath to go wherever the game points them, before they know what there quest will be. when you play this game your letting fate (or some other power) decide what you and your freinds will be doing for the next hour or so. you have no idea; it could be anything. Next everyone rolls dice to determine one person in the group who will act as a leader and organizer of the group.
Rob: This leader rollls the 30 sided Die that comes with mortins list, inorder to determine the exact quest that everyone will do. We wont go too much into the mechanics of the game, but the 360 quests are organized into 13 chapters. , called tables, each of which represents a theme, such as daytime, social, creative, or nighttime activitys, etc.... the rolling process is simple and the book guides you along eachstep
jesse: After players have there quest, they discuss the details. for example, lets say they roll neighbor hood patrol on the nighttime table. this quest is about patrolling a nieghbor hood for lawbreakers. the players need to decide where they are going to patrol, wether to do it by foot, by car, bike, etc........ should they split up? stay together? what kinda equipment should they bring: cell phones to contact the police, or a copy of the citizens arrest procedure (provided in the game) and some restraints to take matters in there own hands? each quest can be totally catered to what the players like. the only limit to how far you can take it are your morals.
GC: that sounds pretty controversial. what else can ya tell me about the game? any other details or surprises to look for?
rob: Controversial.......? you could say that. but it just reflects life, the good and the bad, the calm and the crazy. And yes there are lots of other details. for instance there are mutations and deviation. they put a twizt on a quest and a new dimension to gameplay. For example, One mutation, obscure luggage, involves carrying around a weird object. Imagine this: your quest is trying to get a number from a hot girl (or guy), but at the same time your mutation has you carrying around a boc of fruit loops. Or you could be wearing costumes. we cant even begin to explain all the limitless possibilitys of what ya might end up doing when you play mortins list. But no matter what you will have memories and stories that last a lifetime, and experiences that will shape you forever.
Jesse: Mortons list also contains a strong mystical element. It taps into an energy that we cant totally explain.... because we dont totally understand it ourselves. Its sorta of like fate or luck, But much more. we call it karma. Over the years spent writing and shaping mortons list , many times it felt like we were discovering the game rather then inventing it.
GC: well youve Got me interested. When is mortins list comin out for people to play, and where can they get it?
Nathan: Mortons list is premeiring at gencon , august 2nd 2001. Look for us at the mortins list/ Dark carnival games booth. where we will be doing demonstrations, holding contests, and having special freebie giveaways. Mortons list comes in a box set, with a fat 360 page book, six multi colored six sided dice, and one big 30 sided die...... all you need to play. Also look for it in hobby stores, book or comic stores, and wherever else books or games are sold, coast to coast. for more information, advance sales, and what not, make shure to browse over to www.mortinslist.com . straight up its the neutron bimb. Thats our sale pitch, belive it.
GC: This project sounds really cool, and I wish you a lotta success.
rob, jesse, nathan:see you at gencon!!!
well there ya go... there you have it..... thats the shit.. that game is gonna be the shit. and remeber that gencon is in milwaukee, wi and it starts on august 2nd. its a four day event. thursday through sunday. for more info go to http://www.wizards.com/gencon