A description of an "Engle Matrix" game:

The game is then played in turns. At the start of each turn, the players move the characters around the map, arranging them is some mutually satisfactory fashion. A player can move any character, and not just his or her own character. In fact, they can even move someone else's character -- though of course some mutually satisfactory situation must be achieved. This phase can include as much or as little roleplaying as the players like, or as much of an authorial attitude as they like. Often, when the players want a conflict between some characters, they will ensure that they end up at the same location.

Then, the players each make an argument about what they want to happen that turn. The referee rates each argument's plausibility on a scale of 2-6, and the player rolls a six-sided die to and tries to roll that rating or higher. So a very convincing argument is 2-6, and a weak argument succeeds on a 6. It's worth noting that this is the referee's only role! Unlike a GM in a traditional rpg, the referee never introduces any elements into the setting (beyond the choice of scenario). The ref's only authorial duty is to rate the plausibility of arguments.

It sounds like an interesting way to tell a story, not so interesting a way to play a character. Depending on your preference, it may or may not be a satisfying evening. But it's a seductively simple mechanic I'd be interested in trying some time.

Filed under :: Gaming

If you are interested in playing an Engle Matrix Game we do them by email on the MatrixGame2 yahoo group. Right now we are doing a wargame (refighting the Spanish Civil War) but in the past we've done horror stories, fantasy quests, murder mysteries, all kinds of political games and even comedy games. Blackaddercus Citizen of Rome (In which Blackaddercus tries to save Caesar) and Black Adder Man of God (in which Reverend Blackadder of Salem uses the witch trials to boost church attendence!) Anyway, we'd love to have you drop by the group.

Chris Engle

Thanks, Chris. My dance card is pretty full up right now, but I'll keep that in mind if things slow down from frenetic to merely frantic.

very hardest game.

Yao Wang, I don't quite follow you. Matrix Games are very easy to play. They don't require a lot of set up time and can be played quickly. Face to face games only take a couple to three hours to play a whole story. On Line Matrix Games are done by email or on blogs (two are being run on Live Journal right now). I know the idea seems hard when people first hear it but honestly it isn't. I hope you give it a look see.

BTW are you in the US or China? If you're in China, you're the first person there to hear of Matrix Gaming. I'd love to have a contact there.

Google Chris Engle and you'll find my Hamster Press web page.