Debbie knows me so well. "Have you heard about 'Come Out and Play'?" she asks me when I get home. I admit that I have not. She sits me down at their website. "Look, they're going to be playing Human Risk in Washington Square Park. Do you want to sign up?" Well, um, yeah of course! Heck, my obsession with this game was one of the first things I blogged about on Ishbadiddle.

So I signed up. Now here's where you come in: I need minions. And, as there are still seven slots open, I need nemeses. (I assume they'll fill all the slots, but wouldn't it be more fun to play with friends?) It is Sunday Sept 24th at 1:30 p.m.. Here's the description:

Human Risk represents the game for global domination that plays out on our screens every day. We see the bombs blazing….who is trying to take over who now? How do the real armies of the world stack up on the game board?

We start with defense spending numbers from the World Bank data centers and assign empires their armies as fairly as possible given their resources spent in the real world. Over 1000 armies represent $1billion each invested in armies around the world, divvied up amongst empires from sea to shining sea. The park becomes our gameboard; our fiendish players duke it out with the fuzzy dice until one empire emerges victorious.

The rules are simple; armies can only be destroyed by a losing dice roll or by the game gods. Individual players choosing to torture or destroy their own armies for some sick and twisted jollies may be punished by janjaweed marauders, hurricanes, nuclear accidents or other cruel devices. There is no rhyme or reason in the game of Human Risk.

Players may be videotaped or otherwise recorded during the play of this game; virtual world visits to the gamesite are empowered through Second Life.

Props will be scavenged. Empire building players should dress as if they’re about to ride gloriously into battle!

OK, so it's political-theater Risk, not Hasbro Risk, but who cares?

Minions will be expected to protect my imperial personage, to crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and to hear the lamentation of the women! I will also divide spoils in a just and equitable manner that will sate your thirst for plunder while providing me with a lifelong lock on power.

Minion applications will be accepted in comments below, via email, or by engraved weapons sent in tribute.

M E-L posted this on August 25, 2006
It is filed under Community, Local News

It is also indexed with the following tags: Games | New York City | Distributed Culture |