Invasion of the Corn Pod Snatchers Etc.
So October is here and that usually means lots of stuff going down so I thought I'd bring up a possible event. For anyone who's seen the classic B-movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" or the remake "Invasion" or just the general horror trope of THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU AREN'T WHAT THEY SEEM would be fun to play out...
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" starts in a picturesque little town that's all normal and complacent until people start noticing how...quiet everything has become. Troublemakers, pranksters, and daily squabbles are weirdly absent. And even those people screaming hysterics about how the people around them aren't who they say they are suddenly become calm model citizens. It's weird! Everybody is acting like nothing at all is wrong! Then you find pods full of dopplegangers that apparently take you over as you sleep and you realize shit has gone down. "Invasion" has the same plot, only the aliens are tiny parasites that are transmitted through liquids.
So, if this happens, I think it would work best if we use a combination of "Invasion" and "IotBS" for camp. One night there is a rain storm, like camp's wacky weather usually does. The next morning giant pods show up in the cornfields! Characters are free to react in their blase "whatever camp" or be highly suspicious, while others can be totally zen about it. Bodysnatched characters can suddenly become good friends with their long detested enemies, discussions happen, 4H farming of those weird pods occur. And, of course, as the weekend progresses other weird things start happening, probably culminating in a boss battle on Sunday afternoon if people want to punch something and/or each other.
It should be really easy to opt out because 1) it's totally easy to say you stayed in/didn't get wet and thus aren't infected and 2) unless you have really close contacts with somebody else and press the issue, bodysnatched people aren't menacing or easy to spot as being different. So if this kind of event isn't your cup of tea, you can just go about your business while other people act weirdly polite. While people who want to go with it can freak out why their grouchy best friend is suddenly super happy or why there is someone who looks just like so-in-so in a pod, and uncover the horrible truth at their own pace.
For people who haven't watched these movies but sound interested here's a breakdown of what would happen:
The Bodysnatched
Being bodysnatched is just playing your character only hopped up on prozac. They are suddenly okay :) with everything :) :) :). All your memories and quirks are there but an alien is inside your head telling you how wonderful things are if you all work together. You like having this inner peace. It's like being part of the Borg but without the crazy metal jewelry. People can pass off as normal in general conversations or you can choose to go full on Stepford in your interactions. Most bodysnatched are okay with just going about their business, but a lot of them also try to recruit others. By force if need be. You can do something hilariously silly like offering tainted pod person girl scout cookies or try to menacingly fight your close friends and family to join the collective, depending on how you and the people you thread with want to play it. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" just needed a pod nearby when this person went to sleep. "Invasion" had people being infected through shots, projectile vomit, and French kissing. All valid options. There are many routes to use if you want to try things. I BELIEVE IN OUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
The Infected
Being rained on or being infected by a bodysnatched person won't immediately turn you into one of them. You have to enter R.E.M. sleep for them to take over your mind. Obviously if you are a robot/NEVER SLEEP/what have you, you are free to get infected in other ways or just shrug it off like a boss. However, an infected person will remain totally normal/in control of themselves unless they sleep, so if you want some hilarious up all night antics or angst what have you, Since it's just a weekend event you won't have to worry about your character suffering too much if you choose this option. Also if people want a dream posts getting coerced or waking up just before the alien takes hold that's an option.
This kind of event works with a lot of people, so the more players interested the better it would be! Especially bodysnatched volunteers. Likewise, if people have issues with it, I want to make sure it's okay but I think all the opt-out loopholes are there and easy to use? So if enough people like and want this event, next thing is timing:
Poll Invasion Times
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" starts in a picturesque little town that's all normal and complacent until people start noticing how...quiet everything has become. Troublemakers, pranksters, and daily squabbles are weirdly absent. And even those people screaming hysterics about how the people around them aren't who they say they are suddenly become calm model citizens. It's weird! Everybody is acting like nothing at all is wrong! Then you find pods full of dopplegangers that apparently take you over as you sleep and you realize shit has gone down. "Invasion" has the same plot, only the aliens are tiny parasites that are transmitted through liquids.
So, if this happens, I think it would work best if we use a combination of "Invasion" and "IotBS" for camp. One night there is a rain storm, like camp's wacky weather usually does. The next morning giant pods show up in the cornfields! Characters are free to react in their blase "whatever camp" or be highly suspicious, while others can be totally zen about it. Bodysnatched characters can suddenly become good friends with their long detested enemies, discussions happen, 4H farming of those weird pods occur. And, of course, as the weekend progresses other weird things start happening, probably culminating in a boss battle on Sunday afternoon if people want to punch something and/or each other.
It should be really easy to opt out because 1) it's totally easy to say you stayed in/didn't get wet and thus aren't infected and 2) unless you have really close contacts with somebody else and press the issue, bodysnatched people aren't menacing or easy to spot as being different. So if this kind of event isn't your cup of tea, you can just go about your business while other people act weirdly polite. While people who want to go with it can freak out why their grouchy best friend is suddenly super happy or why there is someone who looks just like so-in-so in a pod, and uncover the horrible truth at their own pace.
For people who haven't watched these movies but sound interested here's a breakdown of what would happen:
The Bodysnatched
Being bodysnatched is just playing your character only hopped up on prozac. They are suddenly okay :) with everything :) :) :). All your memories and quirks are there but an alien is inside your head telling you how wonderful things are if you all work together. You like having this inner peace. It's like being part of the Borg but without the crazy metal jewelry. People can pass off as normal in general conversations or you can choose to go full on Stepford in your interactions. Most bodysnatched are okay with just going about their business, but a lot of them also try to recruit others. By force if need be. You can do something hilariously silly like offering tainted pod person girl scout cookies or try to menacingly fight your close friends and family to join the collective, depending on how you and the people you thread with want to play it. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" just needed a pod nearby when this person went to sleep. "Invasion" had people being infected through shots, projectile vomit, and French kissing. All valid options. There are many routes to use if you want to try things. I BELIEVE IN OUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
The Infected
Being rained on or being infected by a bodysnatched person won't immediately turn you into one of them. You have to enter R.E.M. sleep for them to take over your mind. Obviously if you are a robot/NEVER SLEEP/what have you, you are free to get infected in other ways or just shrug it off like a boss. However, an infected person will remain totally normal/in control of themselves unless they sleep, so if you want some hilarious up all night antics or angst what have you, Since it's just a weekend event you won't have to worry about your character suffering too much if you choose this option. Also if people want a dream posts getting coerced or waking up just before the alien takes hold that's an option.
This kind of event works with a lot of people, so the more players interested the better it would be! Especially bodysnatched volunteers. Likewise, if people have issues with it, I want to make sure it's okay but I think all the opt-out loopholes are there and easy to use? So if enough people like and want this event, next thing is timing:
Poll Invasion Times