110721 Keep Up The Steady Work Pace!

Only 35 weeks to go!

Allen, Dan, Erik, Melissa, & Trisha met.

WORK SCHEDULE

Allen has been working with the various time lords to create a rough plan of how we're going to get everything done. Of course, we won't end up following our plan *exactly*. But at least it will help us to have the discipline to keep up a slow, but steady pace of work...so that we don't find ourselves in January in exactly the same jam we found ourselves in in August!

Allen and Melissa hammered out milestones for costume work...see the Google doc with the master schedule.

TEAM CHARACTER ROLES

Those present still were attracted to the idea of having the teams submit their applications "in character," including selecting an archetypal role, such as scientists, journalists, governmental employee (elected officials? Men in black? Regulators?), and financiers.

We brainstormed ways to incorporate this into the game. Of course, we can have some of the optional puzzles favor related expertise (see below). It might also be fun to create a mandatory activity that used skills/expertise related to each of the roles...especially if such an activity required the teams to interact with each other in character.

Trisha described her positive experience with application procedures in which teams were assigned roles after applying based on application questions about their preferences. However, we leaned against this since we wanted teams to be in their characters from the get go.

On the other hand, letting the teams choose their own roles means that we won't know how many teams there will be in each role there will be (especially considering we also have the complication of two runnings of the game). This will make it more challenging to design activities that depend on roles (we can't just assume there will be five of each). But at least we'll know precisely how many teams there will be each game (20) and we'll have many weeks between choosing teams and the actual game date to make adjustments to any role-dependent activities to match the numbers we have.

We brainstormed when in the game flow to incorporate such an activity. It probably needs to be when all the teams are at one location. One good possibility is to hand out the activity when the teams check in with the "receptionist" at the very beginning of Act II. Act III might also be good...mainly because we might be short on material for that act.

We thought in abstract about how such an activity could motivate teams to interact with each other. Perhaps the teams would have either different information or abilities based on their roles. And then perhaps to accomplish the assigned goal each of the skills would be needed. Perhaps some sort of daisy chain transversing all four roles for completing the work might allow all teams to interact but keep the task of manageable duration.

PUZZLES

Allen presented a very rough "demonstration of concept" of an optional puzzle that uses skills that journalists might have (the "pulp science fiction story" puzzle). We discussed it as well as alternative and additional journalist activities. Trisha will think about the possibilities.

Allen previously presented to Erik a very rough demonstration of an optional puzzle based on sheet music. Erik will think about that one.

We discussed Allen's idea of an optional logic puzzle based on takeout food discount coupons. We agreed that it is a novel twist on a traditional "LSAT logic puzzle" and merits further development.

LOCATION SCOUTING

Erik and Sarah are continuing their work to get a school for Acts II and III.

Since this might be difficult, we discussed renting some sort of pavilion tent to erect at the Highlands Rec Center site to expand our space there...and thus allow us to locate both the lab and science fair scenes at the same location. Unfortunately, a quick internet scan of tent rental fees suggests that this approach will be very expensive.

OVERVIEW

Erik suggested we spend some group time reviewing the entire flow of the game to make sure we're not overlooking anything. We'll do that at the next meeting if time allows.

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As always, respond with your comments, clarifications, corrections, amplifications, etc.

Allen