Gorean Role Play

Spars - An NPC Referee Format

In an online Gorean role-play environment they had (and still may) overall guidelines established where a person's gender, Caste, and skill/ability (with weapons or hand-to-hand) were measured by the sides of the die they were allowed to roll. My memory may be off, but the lowest were women, free or slave, who generally used 20 sides; men, depending upon Caste and/or attained skill (which was in and of itself monitored by Caste leaders) used 21 to 24 sides; and, Kur and animals were given 25 to 30 sides, depending upon the animal. There were allowances made too. A Taluna/Panther picked up an additional side if she was fighting in the forest; a mounted Warrior would pick up an additional side; Torvaldsland frenzie added a side; and so on …

There used to be rules that were followed for the various types of spars and you rarely saw a death match in an open, public room; rather they were held in a private room with a registered proctor and the two opponents, each with one witness of their choosing. If memory serves me right, they were held in private rooms to keep the level of traffic down and the amount of confusion their posts caused; and, the chat software supposedly resetting the rooms with each entry or departure. The registered proctor was a moderator. They moderated the match by maintaining the established guidelines; keeping order; prompting the current winner to offer quarter^r1 and the current loser to accept; logging the event; and, they kept score.

As a registered proctor, I was taught how to train incoming proctors seeking registration, and registered them if they passed. Wow, does that bring back nice memories, setting up fake matches, death and otherwise, for training purposes, lol. Oddly enough the trainee and I rarely had trouble getting someone to strut their stuff, lol, especially on a slow night when people were looking for something fun (not to mention non-committal) to do. Anyone could apply to be a registered proctor, because it was an OOC position. In the room, they were the only one OOC; they weren't free or slave, male or female, they were just .. there, doing their thing; they were a presence, moderating the scene, similar too, if you will, how a Game Master moderates a scene.

Too, anyone could be an unregistered proctor, as long as they understood the scoring system. There was a time, when matches outside of sparing for sport, required the presence of a registered proctor, due to the nature of the spar and their established guidelines which went above and beyond being able to keep an accurate score.

As well, there were times a proctor, registered or not, remained IC; this of course, depended upon the storyline itself and if the proctor character would fit in. It was common for a proctor, registered or not, free or slave, male or female, to keep score in their Arena; they weren’t making a decision in role-play, they were simply keeping and posting the score.

Basically, the proctor, IC or OOC, was relaying the NPC Referee’s (the dice) decision, tallying it, and posting it for all to see.

There were different scores to be reached before an event was considered over. A regular event for the sport of sparring went to 15; a capture or release spar would go to 10; and, a death match would go to 20.

Except for determining who goes first, each participant rolled two die. The more sides on the die, the better chance of obtaining a higher score; hence why a new Warrior was given 22 sides and a trained Warrior with experience and years behind their character had earned 24 sides, but a male Scribe, Slaver, Merchant, … regardless of how experienced they were or the longevity of their character, only had 21 sides.

Depending upon the roll, points were awarded on this scale:

1 - 14 = 0 points; attack not realized

15 - 19 = 1 point; degree of attack, minimal to minor

20 - 24 = 2 points; degree of attack, moderate to severe

25 - 29 = 3 points; severe

30+ = 4 points; severe

So ...

If you rolled one die at 14 and another at 1, you earned 0 points, and the attacks you made on your opponent were not realized by them at all.

If you rolled one die at 15 and another at 23, you earned 3 points, and the first attack you made on your opponent (15) was barely felt, but the second (23) was realized.

If you rolled one die at 10 and another at 20, you earned 2 points, and the first attack you made on your opponent (10) was not realized, but the second (20) was realized.

The degree of the attack is basically there to give you an idea of how to look at it. A stabbing attack at 15 grazes the skin; 19 breaks the skin; 20 may go as deep as one-half inch; but at 24 plus, it would be the full intent of the attack.

As the spar progressed, so too did their injuries, until the total points of the type of spar (sport, capture or release, death, ...) were realized. The attacks up too and until the end, in a death match, were never fatal. If the score was 10 to 9 in a death match, and the one with "Firsts" rolled 23 23, yielding 4 points, the full intent of the attack, although severe, wouldn't be fatal, because the match was no where near over.

To start, each role-player pretended to toss a coin, rolling a single, six-sided die. The highest went first, which was referred to as “Firsts” and the lower of the two went second, which was referred to as “Honors.” If they tied, they each rolled again.

The proctor would post the -order- to the room using the participant’s name or another identifiable statement:

Firsts – Warrior of Ar / Honors – Torvaldsland Pirate

Points were counted sequentially, for each participant, and posted to the room after each had had their turn. In regular events, there were generally two participants, however there were times when there was three, four, five, … participants. Too, they scored a death match differently, counting backward with what was referred to as “body points” until there were no body points left, ending the match and hence, the losers life.   Multiple participants^f1 were also counted backward.

The proctor would post the -score- to the room after each completed round.

Two Participants

Warrior of Ar – 10 ~Round 3~ Torvaldsland Pirate – 8

Multiple Participants

Round 10:  Name1 – 15/3 | Name2 – 15/2 | Name3 – 15/5 | Name4 – 15/7

Death Match

Warrior of Ar - 20/10 ~Round 3~ Torvaldsland Pirate - 20/12

I would use a single sheet of paper to keep score: the left side for the person with "Firsts"; the right side for the person with "Honors"; and, the center for the round (which helped identify the specific area, if there was a challenge to the score.)  In scoring multiple participants, I drew lines dividing the paper accordingly, and wrote very small, lol.

In a match with multiple participants, the participants announced who the attack was intended for, and if it was realized those points were deducted from intended's overall total, just as it would be in a death match.

Score:  Round 2:  Name1 15/12 | Name2 15/15 | Name3 15/15 | Name4 15/15

Name1 attacks Name3 and realizes a 3-point attack.

Name2 attacks Name1 and realizes a 2-point attack.

Name3 attacks Name4 and realizes a 4-point attack.

Name4 attacks Name3 and realizes a 1-point attack. 

(Notice in this round, Name2 was not attacked, as can happen.)

Name1 had a total of 2 points deducted; Name2, nothing deducted; Name3 had a total of 4 points deducted; and Name4 had a total of 4 points deducted, as noted in the following:

Score: Round 3:  Name1 15/10 | Name2 15/15 | Name3 15/11 | Name4 15/11

In the last round, if the score was so uneven that the person with -Honors- couldn't possibly win, they didn't generally attack and the match was called to the winner. Such as a mid-way score of 15 to 10, with each player rolling 22-sided dice (2d22,) the person with -Honors- needing 5 points to tie, wouldn't generally attack, because the highest score he could possibly realize and add to his total was 4 and the match would still go to their opponent.

They still role-played their actions, their attacks and defenses (which were determined by the roll of the dice.) If the attack was realized it was known on the spot, totally by chance, by the roll of the dice (announced by the NPC Referee,) and so noted in their cumulative score sent to the room by the proctor.

Rolling dice wasn't the be-all and end-all for role-play, but with spars and the alike, it left a touch of mystery, via chance, of what would the final outcome would be.

There were plenty of times that a person with 23 sides lost to a person with 21 sides; that's the element of chance that comes with dice and even though their skill was higher rated, as seen with the number of sides to their dice (offering them two additional sides/chances per die [22 and 23] to roll a higher number,) they were on the same playing ground otherwise, as their opponent.

There were many other rules of course, that went along with the sport of sparring itself or with capture, release, death, .... or with the roll of the dice. They are all vaguely familiar to me now, but I recall the participants agreed or disagreed to what they called "stuns" prior to the match, where if one person's points totaled 4, not only did their opponent take the full brunt of the attack, they actually lost their turn too. The premise being their injuries were severe enough that they didn't have the ability to defend themselves, and their opponent had the time to strike a second time. Another was if a person was bumped off-line, they had ten minutes to return, before their opponent was named the victor.

It wasn’t a perfect system, by any stretch of the imagination; and there were discussions about this or that not being legal, accusations of cheating, but a format such as this is possibly another avenue to consider.

Some would put a lot of effort into their posts, others not. Those who enjoyed the written word, both reading and writing and those who were less inclined/able to do the same, were on equal footing, per say, because it was left to chance, to the roll of the dice, helping to standardize and balance the playing field and outcome, between participants.

This type of format was used in an auto chat system.  Rarely did it take longer than a minute or two for a player to begin their reply post, often taking an additional two or three posts to complete their action.  Long, well thought out posts, are nice and definitely add to any scene, however having to wait five to ten minutes for such can be painful.  Sending two, three, or more shorter posts, rather than one long one, keeps the room and people there, actively engaged with one another. 

There may be some people you know who are familiar with this system and they may be able to offer some additional pros and cons and/or correct any err in my memory.

If you are interested in this format and would like additional information, check out the Warrior and Low/Sub Caste (Assassins,...) links on "Naia's Compendium of Gorean Sites" listed within the Caste Menu.

I wish you and yours well; and too, happiness .. always,

naia{Saul}OOC
 

^r1 “You must learn,” Torm had said matter-of-factly, “the history and legends of Gor, its geography and economics, its social structures and customs, such as the caste system and clan groups, the right of placing the Home Stone, the Places of Sanctuary, when quarter is and is not permitted in war, and so on.”  TARNSMAN OF GOR; 1; Page 40

We shoved Talena, who was now frightened, to the side of the road. Hooded, she cowered there, the prize, her ears filled with the sudden violent ringing of blade on blade as two warriors fought to the death to possess her. Kazrak of Port Kar was a superb swordsman, but in the first few moments we both knew that I was his master. His face was white beneath his helmet as he wildly attempted to parry my devastating attack. Once I stepped back, gesturing to the ground with my sword, the symbolic granting of quarter should it be desired. But Kazrak would not lay his sword on the stones at my feet. Rather, he suddenly launched a vicious attack, forcing me to defend myself as best I could. He seemed to fight with new fury, perhaps enraged that he had been offered quarter.
At last, terminating a frenzied exchange, I managed to drive my blade into his shoulder, and as his sword arm dropped, I kicked the weapon from his grasp. He stood proudly in the road, waiting for me to kill him.
I turned and went to Talena, who was standing piteously by the side of the road, waiting to see who it was that would unhood her.
As I lifted the hood, she uttered a small, joyful sound, her green eyes bright with pleasure. Then she saw the wounded warrior. She shuddered slightly. “Kill him,” she commanded.
“No,” I replied.
The warrior, who held his shoulder, blood streaming down from his hand, smiled bitterly. “It was worth it,” he said, his gaze sweeping over Talena. “I'd challenge you again.”
Talena seized her dagger from my belt and raced to the warrior. I caught her bracetleted hands as she was going to drive the dagger into his breast. He had not moved. “You must kill him,” said Talena, struggling. Angrily I removed her bracelets and replaced them so that her wrists were bound behind her back.
“You should use the whip on her,” said the warrior matter-of-factly.
I tore some inches from the bottom of Talena's gown to make a bandage for Kazrak's shoulder. She endured this in fury, her head in the air, not watching me. I had scarcely finished bandaging his wound when I was aware of a ringing on metal, and, lifting my head, I saw myself surrounded by mounted spearmen, who wore the same livery as Kazrak. Behind them, stretching into the distance, came a long line of broad tharlarions, or the four-footed draft monsters of Gor. These beasts, yoked in braces, were drawing mighty wagons, filled with merchandise protected under the lashings of its red rain-canvas.
“It is the caravan of Mintar, of the Merchant Caste,” said Kazrak.  TARNSMAN OF GOR; 1; Pages 117-118

Pa-Kur had seen what I had seen, and now once again we faced one another. I gestured to the ground with my sword, offering quarter, Pa-Kur snarled and rushed forward. I met the attack cleanly, and after a minute of fierce interplay both Pa-Kur and I realized I could withstand the best he had to give.
Then I seized the initiative and began to force him back. As we fought and I forced him back step by step towards the edge of the lofty marble cylinder, I said calmly, “I can kill you.” I knew I spoke the truth.
I struck the blade from his hand. It rang on the marble surface.
“Yield,” I said. “Or take your sword again.”
Like a striking cobra, Pa-Kur snatched up the sword. We engaged again, and twice my blade cut him; the second time I nearly had the opening I desired. It was now a matter of only a few strokes more and the Assassin would lie at my feet, lifeless.
Suddenly Pa-Kur, who sensed this as well as I, hurled his sword. It slashed through my tunic, creasing the skin. I felt the warm, wet sensation of blood. Pa-Kur and I looked at each other, now without hatred. He stood straight before me, unarmed but with all the nonchalant arrogance of old.
“You will not lead me as a prisoner,” he said. Then, without another word, he turned and leapt into space.
I walked slowly to the edge of the cylinder. There was only the sheer wall of the cylinder, broken once by a tarn perch some twenty feet below. There was no sign of the Assassin. His crushed body would be recovered from the streets below and publicly impaled. Pa-Kur was dead.  TARNSMAN OF GOR; 1; Pages 211-212

^f1 Reminded on 02-15-06 that multiple participants were counted backward.
 

Kudos to you, Mr. Norman for writing the Gorean series!
A rich, yet utterly simple saga; a world, a time, a people;
those of the Counter-Earth .. the planet .. Gor.
Thank you!

The material presented herein was researched and compiled by me, naia{Saul}.
The material referenced comes from John Norman's Gor Series, The Counter-Earth Saga.
This is a work in process.
Please, do not take, copy, duplicate, or use this work as your own.
If you find it valuable enough to share, please .. share the link to this page.

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