Game rules: NECROMANCY

© Boardom 2006

Necromancy is an evolved form of 'Western Shoot-out', a school hard duel game akin to Rock-Paper-Scissors. This group game was created by all the members of Boardom, and is played without any equipment.

Even though it has only ever been played in one place in the world, there is varying terminology for the different elements in the game. These rules are using the Necromancy theme.

BASIC PREMISE

Everybody stands in a circle and someone is chosen to count to three each turn. Everyone chooses what move they are going to do and to whom, according to how many 'points' they have and who is still alive. On the count of three, everyone makes the sign associated with the move. Everyone then pauses to carry out the consequences of that round and subtracts mana accordingly.

BASIC MOVES

There are three basic moves. These don't require any points (AKA: Mana, bullets);
- Reload (AKA: Meditate, charge)
SIGN: Parallel to or touching the head with index and middle fingers
Gives user one more point
- Resurrect (AKA: Revive, heal, zombify)
SIGN: Palm(s) outstretched toward dead player
Makes that player a Zombie for user (See RULES FOR ZOMBIES)
- > If two or more players try to resurrect the same dead player, the dead player becomes alive and is freed
- Block (AKA: Shield, hide)
SIGN: Forearms crossed across chest
User cannot be hurt or killed this turn
- > Can only be used 5 times in a row

ATTACK MOVES

These moves use points and are put in order of cost;
1 - Shoot (AKA: Zap, lightning bolt)
SIGN: Hand(s) pointing at victim
Victim, if not blocking, dies
- > If two people shoot each other with 'Shoot' it cancels out
- > If two people shoot the same person, the person dies without extra consequence
2 - Double shot
SIGN: Hands pointing at a victim each
Victims, who aren't blocking, die
- > If two people shoot each other with 'Double shot' it cancels out
- > If two people shoot each other, one with 'Shoot' and one with 'Double shot', 'Shoot' wins
3 - Mass resurrection
SIGN: Palm(s) outstretched towards ground, kneeling (OR any bad 70's dancing)
All dead players become Zombies for user
- > 'Resurrect' overrules 'Mass resurrection'
4 - Explosion (AKA: Grenade, blast)
SIGN: One star jump, yell "BOOM"
Everyone except the user and players blocking, die
- > If the player who explodes is shot the same turn, the explosion is cancelled
- > The user kills all Zombies under its control
- > If two or more players explode at the same time, then (depending on preference) either only people who exploded that round die OR everyone except those who are blocking
5 - Life (AKA: Chance, health)
SIGN: Prayer stance (Palms together for all you pagans)
Gives one life
- > The user may have as many lives as they want, as long as they earn them
- > A player with a life may choose to not use it, if killed (The player may want to run the risk of being eventually resurrected and set free to keep the life)

RULES FOR ZOMBIES

• If the Necromancer is killed then all Zombies are freed
• A Zombie cannot kill its Necromancer (the person who resurrected it) or other zombies belonging to its Necromancer
• A Zombie can only block twice in a row
• It may only have up to 2 points, and as such may only use 'Shoot' and 'Double shoot'
• It must, to the best of its ability, try to win the game for its Necromancer

OTHER RULES

• If a player wasn't ready and doesn't make any sign in particular, it counts as nothing and they can be shot
• If a player makes a sign late or changes their sign, especially to block if they see someone shooting at them, then they automatically die
• When a player dies, their point level is kept - If resurrected, their points are automatically reduced to 2, unless immediately freed
• If a player forgets, or is unsure of their points, 0 is assumed
• A player has to tell the other how many points they have if asked
• If a player does a move that they don't have enough points for, and is found out, they die
• The first round, traditionally, everyone reloads. This may be changed to everyone starts the game with one point.
• There is no limit to how many points a player can have
• A player may release Zombies from servitude, to make deals and such
• If there are only two players alive, and no Zombies, it becomes a Duel, and the speed is increased until one loses

HOW TO WIN

Turns are taken until there is only one player remaining alive, he is the winner. Zombies and dead players with lives do not count.

~Optional rule~

SUDDEN DEATH (AKA: Cuban execution, Irish execution)

Sudden death is a mini game within Necromancy to add variety to certain situations. You must have at least 5 people playing overall for this to work properly

If the game comes to a point where it is everyone (one Necromancer and everyone else Zombies) versus only one other player, then you can choose to play Sudden death.

The player without any Zombies stands in the middle.
Zombies and Necromancer arrange themselves around the player in a circle so they have a partner on the other side of the player. If there is an uneven number, then the Necromancer can stand out for the moment and let his minions do the dirty work

Z
Z . . . . . . . N
. . . . . . . . . . .
Z . . . . P . . . . Z
. . . . . . . . . . .
Z . . . . . . . Z
Z

All the normal moves are available (except 'Double shot', 'Resurrect' and 'Mass Resurrection' but that's only because you couldn't use them anyway - the player in the centre may use 'Double shot'), however the game now works on two levels; high and low (i.e. standing, crouching)
Attacks aimed at the centre player may 'miss' and pass on to the player behind if they are not on the same level as you.

E.g.; (See diagram) The Zombie on the very bottom was shooting high (Standing), the Zombie on the very top was reloading also high while the centre player reloads low (crouching). The Zombie at the bottom shoots, but is on the wrong level to hit the centre player. The shot flies over the player's head and kills the Zombie opposite him.

If attacker is high, and attackee is low then shots pass over the head. This counts for everyone
If attacker is low, and attackee is high then shots go through the legs. This counts for everyone
This is the only case where a Zombie may shoot its own Necromancer.

Sudden death ends as soon as someone dies
If the centre player dies, then the Necromancer wins the game
If the Necromancer dies, then all the Zombies are freed and the game goes back to normal mode
If one of the Zombies die, then the game goes back to normal mode (because it no longer matches the 'everyone-verses-one-player' criteria)