Road to Romance - Metatopia Playtest 2

By Alex White

- 23 minutes read - 4689 words
The second Metatopia playtest of my in-development romance game

Players

Safety Discussion

We like to start with a safety discussion to make sure that we are all on the same page about elements which we would like to see (or would not like to see) in a game. Something which is new for this kind of game is the 'spiciness' level of a romance. We decided to cap the spiciness level at ‘sensual’. So our stories might be wholesome, sweet, or sensual, but not venture into ‘steamy’.

The adventures take us through six chapters of our story plus an epilogue. My four players sat in a circle and each played the protagonist of their own story, the paramour of the player to their right and the trouble of the player to their left. While playing, we ran the introduction for each story, the encounter for each story and so forth. For the purposes of writing up the stories here I have collected each set of chapters together to make cohesive stories.

Stories

  1. Frontier Thriller with a wounded paramour and misunderstandings
  2. Adventure Thriller with a tortured artist paramour and an amazing ex-lover
  3. Regency Thriller with a beautiful paramour and a rival who is better that you
  4. Sci-fi Hallmark with a charming paramour and a busybody mother.

Broke back Canyon

Protagonist: Tex Willer. He is held back by his fear of commitment, and he really wants a sense of belonging. Played by Camilla

Paramour: Wounded hero. Played by Kevin

Trouble: misunderstandings. Played by Colin

Introduction

It is sunset on a dusty mesa. A lone figure in a large hat and practical clothing which has been in a lot of fights and never been washed. A musty, manly smell. There is a gorgeous sunset behind him as he approaches another small town where he won’t be welcome. People duck into the saloon as he passes.

He doesn’t realise it, but he looks exactly like a terrible outlaw, Harry the Kid. They always speak in general terms “You know what you did”.

As whispers grow, he lets out a manly sigh. “Just another town of small, petty people. Nobody appreciating things."

Encounter

There is a man sitting in the bar near him, with scars around his neck. Tumbleweed blows past the open saloon doors. The man says, with a strong Spanish accent “They are going to keep chasing you. You have that sort of face”. The scars indicate that he was lynched once, but it didn’t take. He introduces himself as Señor Harri El Niño. He pours a little more whiskey into Tex’s cup. They drink a little more together, then Tex pours a drink for him. They chat the night away.

Complications

Tex has set up camp by himself. As he is setting up he sees a horse walking towards him in the night, with someone barely holding himself upright. Tex is uncomfortable with the commitment of looking after someone, and walks to the injured person as they fall off their horse.

It is Harri and he has been shot.

“I don’t need any help” Harri gasps.

Tex pins him down, cleans his wound with the last of his water, and then treats the wound, extracting the bullet while Harri screams. A buzzard hops a bit further away.

Harri says “Turn me in and get the bounty on my head”

“I don’t do that. I’m going to leave you with some water here, and if we meet again you can repay me then.”

They wordlessly stare into each other’s eyes for a moment, then Harri watches Tex ride away. The buzzards hop closer.

First kiss

Tex feels terrible that he left Harri alone to recover. He doesn’t like this feeling and goes back but finds Harri missing, with all the gear. Heading towards the nearest town he is half-way there when he sees a solitary column of smoke. He approaches cautiously with his gun ready in case it is bandits who have taken Harri. He’ll go down guns blazing if he needs to, if they have killed Harri. Then he recognises the tent and hears Harri’s gruff voice. “I’ve got your tent”

Tex finds Harri’s ability to take care of himself while being a little bit vulnerable an… admirable… trait. They decide to settle down for the night, and in the chill air huddle up a bit against the cold. We draw a veil over the tent.

Catastrophe

Not long after they have been using the tent to its fully capacity, a posse turns up - and they are confused at seeing two Harry the Kid’s. “Harry the kid” they shout.

Tex looks at Harri - then turns back and realises that they are all pointing their guns at HIM. It is the first time he realises that they have been mistaking him for someone else!

Harri says “it is me that they want, not you” He turns to the sheriff “take me in, not him”

“Damn” says the sheriff. “They do look alike”

One of the posse says “perhaps we should hang them both to be sure?”

“Boy’s got a point” says the Sheriff.

Tex pointedly asks for separate cells.

They are both hogtied and bouncing on the back of the horses going into town. Grumbling to each other.

Happily ever after

They were both due to hang, but there was an attack on the small town and the sheriff’s cells burn down. In the smoke and flames they yell each other’s names. They are able to get out and make a run for it.

Harri El Niño says that he is at fault, and they should separate.

Tex disagrees. He thinks they belong together. Out on the prairie, where they can forget their ghosts.

It’s almost as if they lean in for a kiss - then they both mount their horses and as they are riding off, Harri draws his ‘Peacemaker’ and shoots at the church bell which goes ‘Dong’ and then collapses down into the church. The sound of the bell swells into an Ennio Morricone theme tune as the ride off into the sunset.

Mace Hunter, and the Underminers of Love

Protagonist: Mace Hunter, driven by loss and grief. Played by Kevin.

Paramour: Ariadne Crow, tortured artist seeking a new muse. Played by Jen.

Trouble: Selena Pray; ex-lover. Hot and she knows it, allergic to clothes, the new head of the explorers league. Played by Camilla.

Introduction

The arctic wind whips around them. Even so, Mace is still missing most of his shirt, muscles gleaming as he tries to keep his team safe from the polar bear. The snow is covered in blood, and his mentor, the father of the woman he once loved, is lying there ripped open. He says “I’ve got this” as he wades towards the bear, steely jaw and fists clenched.

Selena arrives on a snowmobile in short shorts and a fur bra. She is secretary of the explorers club and key to everything he wants. She has bright hair which flows freely.

“Oh, Mace, this was your last chance”

“You can still save his life”

She drop-kicks the polar bear and says “I’ don’t think I want to. I’m now in line to be head of the explorers league.

Mace crouches and holds the blood sodden body of his mentor. Slowly he says “I. Loved. You”

Encounter

Ariadne Crow is a cover artist who is being assigned to draw and paint Mace for a magazine feature. It isn’t supposed to be too dangerous, so she is with them on an adventure to the island of Madagascar, where Mace is searching for the lost eye of the temple of the emerald ape.

Mace says “This is no place for an artist, the jungle is deadly” and coolly grabs a snake from behind her neck and kills it.

“Clearly you can keep me safe”

“I’ll do my best, but I can’t make promises”

She finds this very compelling. It looks like she is about to say something, but then she draws that expression on his face “look at me” Mace reaches out one hand towards her face, then pulls a stinging insect out from her hair. Maintaining eye contact all the time.

Complications

We are at the League of Explorers in London. A list has been put out of missions that hopefuls can apply for, so that they could be inducted by the committee. Mace is standing looking up at the columns of the building, and the list on the door.

Selena comes out of the main doors. She is wearing a very tight black corset, long skirt slit right up the thigh.

“Mace, are you applying?”

“You know that I am”

She flaps back her skirt and puts one leg up with her high heels on a stone decoration

“I’ve just created this list as head of the Explorers League. If you want in, you have to satisfy me”. And in a breathy voice continues “and we both know that was not your forte”

Mace growls “I wouldn’t get back with you to save my life. Which co-incidentally is what you failed to do to save my mentor”

He looks at the list. As he picks a far-flung excavation she says

“Is that your assistant, who is going to take pictures of the investigation?”

“First of all, she’s an artist not a photographer. Second of all, she’s not my assistant. I’ve been saddled with her and haven’t enjoyed a single moment of it” - all the while keeping his eyes locked on Ariadne’s.

Selene stamps her foot on the ground, covers her leg and says

“Well, we’ll see who gets there first shall we?”

Mace turns to Ariadne. “You shouldn’t come along with me. I get people killed”

Selene butts in “A lot of people are already dead. I’ll see you among the corpses”

First kiss

They are underground in the salt mines below Krakow, Poland. Mace is holding a fiery torch in one hand and an ancient iron dagger in the other. The mines have been abandoned because of the mole people here, and there are bodies of men and mole people here. The dagger is from 5000BC, and is the oldest dagger there is, probably forged by the mole men.

They could escape up the rope, but Ariadne’s art supplies are behind the ranks of mole men.

Selene is ahead of them higher up in the caves.

Mace has his arm around Ariadne’s waist in that perfect poster moment.

“Keeping you safe has been the most important thing” Mace growls quietly.

He knows the art supplies are really important to Ariadne, so Mace leaps off the rope, guts one mole man with the knife, decks another with the torch and blinds them with its light. He grabs up the art supplies and completed pictures, runs back and leaps onto the rope again where Ariadne was dangling. “You should keep good care of these” he says.

Her eyes are big as saucers as they gaze intently at each other, then kiss fiercely. Then they start to climb.

Catastrophe

After kissing Ariadne, Mace continues climbing up the rope, just at the top it comes loose! He lunges and grabs the edge of the cliff ledge with one hand, while holding onto Ariadne and the dagger with the other!

And at the top we see Selena! She puts her foot on his fingers. “Oh, we are here again. Me, getting you out of trouble… if only you can let go of your baggage”

Mace looks up at her, and can see a lot of leg. “I’ve got in my hand the dagger that we both know can get me into the explorers society, and the woman I love” He pauses for thought. He goes to drop the dagger, but Selena stamps down on his fingers, and the shock causes him to drop Ariadne. Mace jumps up, getting into Selena’s face and screaming at her - and it turns into a passionate kiss returned with equal fierceness, and then passionate lovemaking!

Happily ever after

It’s an autumn day in the Explorers League. Selena is sitting there in her best F-You clothing (what there is of it), one leg draped over an arm of the chair; smugly thinking that this is the day that Mace will come along and accept from her a junior membership in the Explorers League. She has been talking up this moment and the club is full of people waiting to watch her victory.

The clock strikes midday… but there is no Mace

The camera cuts to the coach which was supposed to bring him to the club. But there is no Mace there.

The camera cuts to the apartment where Mace lives. The door is ajar, and the house is bare. Everything has gone, including the artwork made by Ariadne which he had hung in the living room.

The camera cuts to the caverns underneath the salt mines, where Ariadne sits on the throne, queen of the mole men, surrounded by blind supplicants. She hears a noise from a tunnel nearby and Mace strides out, carrying a torch and with his shirt raked by mole man claws. Across the cavern he meets her eyes and says “I’ve fought my way through these caverns to find you. I love you and never want to let you go”

Ariadne has been somewhat changed by her experiences and is bolder now. “Rule the underground with me. You must never leave me again” Mace unfurls an oil painting he was carrying “I made this painting of you” (it’s not very good) “I will never leave your side again”. He swoops his hand through the back of her hair and leans in as the mole people raise a cacophonous howl.

As a coda - it is now night in the Explorers League club. Everyone has left apart from Selena who is still sitting on the armchair, drumming her fingers. Then she slams her fist down. “How DARE you!”

Regency Risks

Protagonist: Miss Emma Harcourt; Abandonment and Redemption. Played by Jen.

Paramour: Sir Edmund DeWitt. Breathtaking but out of her league. Played by Colin.

Trouble: Lady Gloriana Templeton, a rival. Played by Kevin.

Introduction

Miss Emma Harcourt has been a big fish in a small pond. She grew up in a rural town but now she is in London at a coming out ball. She soon has a clear rival after they have both danced with the same gentleman. The rival is Lady Gloriana Templeton who is smarter, classier, better dressed… There is a lull in the refreshment and Emma makes some kind of snide remark about Gloriana, who overhears it. She turns, blue eyes like an alpine lake, blonde hair shimmering in the sun, cheekbones that you could shave with. She raises one flawless eyebrow and says “I wasn’t aware they were allowing the maids to wear such clothes”.

Emma is so aware that she is in over her head, and can’t just mess with this woman, but has to try. “They do say that some ladies use fashion to cover for their personalities”

“Well, that clearly isn’t what you’re doing”

Emma can’t handle this, and she can hear the titters of Gloriana’s coterie.

Encounter

At the ball there is a libertine rake, a terrible cad who takes advantage of young women. Emma doesn’t know about Mr Rakewell’s affairs, but Sir Edmund DeWitt knows all about him and is wants to protect Emma. They are all pairing up to play a game of Pall Mall (a precursor to Croquet). Sir Edmund emerges from the line of gallant men. His flowing blonde locks flowing in slow motion as he casually jumps the queue and speaks to Emma.

“It seems you don’t have a partner?”

Emma is close to losing it. The Edmund DeWitt is speaking to me?

Gloriana definitely notices. She was supposed to be playing with Edmund, but now she sees him assisting Emma. Her eyes narrow and lips compress. Mr Rakewell was due do play with Emma and stands disappointed. We see the shadow of his hat fall across his eyes.

Complications

The crystal chandelier is catching the light. The orchestra is playing, and the scent of flowers is in the air. Emma thinks she is winning with two people interested in her - Rakewell and DeWitt. Emma turns to look around and sees Gloriana with her friends. She has a smile of pure (fake) joy and says to Emma. “And so kind of you as well. There is a Mr Rakewell here who has been looking for you, and I hope you can spend time together”

“So friendly, so shockingly magnanimous of you” says Emma who goes to find Mr Rakewell. She looks over her shoulder and catches Gloriana giving her a super hard eye.

Edmund was half-listening and didn’t catch any of the undertones or verbal jabs. His face lights up to Gloriana. Emma now thinks that perhaps her reputation has been ruined. Gloriana looks as if she has triumphed over her rival.

First kiss

Time has passed and talk is getting out linking Emma to Mr Rakewell. Emma is started to become a social pariah. Even Mr Rakewell is pulling back a little with the whiff of scandal about her. This plays into her insecurities about abandonment.

It is another party, she is trying to approach groups of people to talk to them and they keep disappearing. She looks increasingly desolate. Gloriana is off yelling at one of her clique over some petty infraction and isn’t immediately in view. It is evening in the garden and there are cute lanterns around. She is looking at a flower bed and Edmund appears by her side.

“Miss Harcourt? The tulips are lovely around here”

She is immediately heartened that someone has come to talk to her.

He continues “I can’t help by notice that since your time with Mr Rakewell I don’t see you any more?”

“I’m afraid I’ve been grievously misled. For your own reputation you should stay away from me”

“Others might say that, but they don’t know what they are missing.” He offers his hand and takes her for a stroll in the garden. We see them kiss tenderly, silhouetted against the moon.

Catastrophe

Gloriana takes Mr Rakewell aside. “You know Edmund?”

“Yes?”

“Well, he is trying to take miss Emma Harcourt away from you. He has called you stupid and slovenly and rude."

“How dare he!”

“I love dear Emma, and it is shameful what Edmund is doing. If only someone could…”

“I certainly shall” said Rakewell “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I should have been keeping more of an eye on Miss Harcourt”.

“Take my gloves” Gloriana says.

Rakewell marches over to Edmund DeWitt, slaps him in the face with the gloves then throws them on the floor.

“I demand satisfaction, you blackguard!"

Edmund is confused, but responds appropriately “Sir Edmund DeWitt is no coward sir. Name your time”

“You are a coward sir. You went behind my back to steal my woman”

“Oh Edmund” Gloriana simpers

Rakewell continues: “Sunset tonight. My manhood is not at issue but yours Sir. People whisper it but I shall speak it. I will speak it upon your body sir.

“I look forward to hearing the last of your manhood”

Emma is firstly mortified - it is terrifying to have two men fight over you. Secondly she realises this makes her reputation much more talked about before. Plus Edmund wasn’t fighting for her honour, but his own. Excuse me?

Gloriana looks at Emma archly. “Either Mr Rakewell will lose and everybody will blame you for the duel, or the man you love will be killed and it’s all your fault”

The duel is vicious and Edmund gets stabbed and left for dead. Rakewell is a bastard who has been in many duels.

Rakewell glances over at Emma “I don’t want you either now. You’re used goods”

Blood is visible on Edmunds handkerchief. He’s going to need hospital at the very least.

Happily ever after

Emma nurses Edmund back to health after his grievous duelling injury in his country manor. They had to leave London for the remains of the season. Away from the noise and rumours and everything, they actually find love.

Come the next season they arrive arm in arm as Mr and Mrs DeWitt. Not abandoned but found, and with her honour redeemed.

Also in the next season, angry and unhappy, we see Mrs Gloriana Rakewell…

Desert Planet Domesticity

Protagonist: Jordan Zentarim; has trust issues, wants fun. Played by Colin.

Paramour: Ruby Stealheart, Charismatic singer, but has too many admirers. Played by Camilla.

Trouble: Ma Zenterim, a busybody. Played by Jen.

Introduction

Jordan lives on a single economy farming planet. It is stable and secure but boring as hell. He does lots of mechanic work on the farm, whether in the baking sun or underground with the tubes. There is a montage of him working in various environments. He is filthy, and then his ma comes along.

“Why don’t ever go into town and meet a nice girl. You work too hard, have some fun.”

Something bursts, he grabs a backup mask and hands it to her. “Mother, I don’t have time, this all needs constant work.”

“But you clean up so handsome though…” She wipes some muck off his cheek, and he smears it back on again.

“You’re not getting any younger dear” she says sadly.

“I love you TOO” and he slaps the button which closes the sliding door in front of her face and walks away.

Encounter

Jordan goes into a town to do some business and then goes to the dimly lit cantina. He was only going to stay for one drink but is suddenly captivated by the singer Ruby. She is the queen of the place. Men say that she soothes their pain. There is slow music on the guitar and her beautiful voice fills the air with a song lamenting the loss of love and the beauty of new relationships. Ruby Stealhearts is on a stage, wearing a simple dress. The passion she puts into the song is amazing. A group of men surround her sobbing. She is a ‘girl next door’ type. The song ends and there is a round of applause. Jordan asks who is singing, and asks the bartender to send her a drink. She takes the drink, and comes over to Jordan and introduces herself. She is touched by his mark of appreciation.

She likes men who are secure enough to show emotion. He tells her that he had to get away from home. He has another woman in his life who is… a presence. Ruby puts down her glass and says “I’m very good at listening. I’d be happy to hear more”. Jordan makes an excuse and leaves, playing a little hard to get. He has trust issues.

Complications

Ma is friends with the bartender and heard all about the conversation of Jordan with Ruby. She asks when he is going to bring Ruby around.

“Who?”

“The one from the bar”. Realisation dawns on his face.

“I bought one talented singer a drink. That’s all” He’s standing by the door.

“Well, I’ve got to think about my grandchildren”

“Ruby is a nobody. A background person in my life who I’ve met ONCE.”

He turns, and behind him is Ruby walking past in jeans, work clothes, big glasses. She heard everything and is in tears. “Oh, hi, I didn’t know” her voice trembles…

First kiss

Jordan seeks out Ruby, and knocks on the door of her house. She opens the door and sees a flower on the ground and a drink - the same glass and same drink that he had bought her at the bar. She smiles faintly and says “Come out”, and he pops out from round the corner. He apologises to her, and explains that the other woman he mentioned is his mother, who has been overbearing for a long time. It wasn’t about Ruby, he needs to let loose a little, and show that he isn’t just an ass.

Ruby had never met her mum, and thinks he is lucky and privileged to have one. Jordan says that she is probably right.

She grabs his hand and takes him for a walk. She wants him to know that she isn’t just a girl who sings in a bar. She doesn’t want to end up like that. They get to the little college and she tells him that she is studying to become a pilot, and she is going to explore the galaxy. She sings to make the money to learn and get free.

Suddenly he SEES her, he can SEE what she is hoping to do. He grabs her hand, and pulls her in for a kiss. She obliges after a pause when she says “You are never going to say those mean things again?”

“I promise”

It isn’t just a peck, they kiss intently on the sidewalk.

Catastrophe

Ruby has come round for meal with Jordan and his mother. Ma comes straight out with the question “I hope you don’t think less of me for asking, but how many children do you want?”

Ruby responds cautiously. “Mrs Zentarim, I don’t know yet, I think I want to travel first. I’m going to be a pioneer and explore space”

“Well, that doesn’t sound very good. Not a very stable career for a mother” says Ma.

As the conversation continues, Jordan sits helpless! He says nothing.

Ma can’t help but feel that this is too dangerous and reckless an approach for someone who is going to be a partner for her boy.

Ruby feels that Ma should be smarter about the ambitions and dreams of the young man sitting between them.

Ma can’t imagine what would give her such an idea

“Who wants desert?” Jordan tries to distract them from their increasingly barbed comments with eclairs, “With whipped cream!” He places them proudly on the table.

“That’s not what Jordan tells me” says Ruby

“He doesn’t tell you a lot of things” says Ma

“Oh, he tells me lots of things, Mrs Zendarim, after we make love…”

Ruby stands up “But if my desires to leave this hell hole are so unwelcome, perhaps I should show myself out”

“Perhaps you should”

Jordan panics and freezes. Ruby storms out. His mother storms out. Jordan is left standing with the eclairs. He takes one, and eats it sadly.

Happily ever after

Jordan moves out and surprises Ruby with an apartment of their own near the campus.

Ruby is returning from class, and they haven’t spoken in a while. Jordan bumps into her, and as she is picking up her stuff, there is velvety bag amongst it. Inside that is the key to an apartment.

“Ruby, you deserve so much better. I think we should move in together. I have my money from the farm. This is closer to the university for you. Once you’ve completed school we can fly away together. What do you say?”

There is a long pause

“You’re cooking tonight” she retorts with a smile.

Then they make out in the middle of the walkway; we see a spaceship launch in the background behind them.

A metaphor.

Playtest Insight

It seemed that there was an abrupt jump between Catastrophe and Happily Ever After. In addition, the players wanted to see the trouble get their come-uppance. What was going to happen to Ma Zentarim? You can see that stingers were put in for Selena Pray and Gloria Rakewell neé Templeton, and that is because the players wanted to include something there.

So I'm going to add a chapter between Catastrophe and Happily Ever After which resolves the Trouble. If it is a bad person, they get their comeuppance. If it is an interfering friend or parent, they come round to the idea and eventually give their blessing. Misunderstandings (or the fruit of them) are resolved. This will tentatively be called Comeuppance until I come up with a better name.