Stones Of Sekhmet

Stones of Sekhmet

This is an idea I (Kazhiim) had while smashing medium stones for gravel. Everybody knows sledging is fun, but nobody has ever thought to put a game together for it :) the idea is still in the works and not anywhere near being playable at an event, but it's best to get these sort of things written somewhere.

Background

There is a little-known story told by a few of our elders, one of the many ways we believe our lands were created. In the beginning they say, the universe was an empty void. The gods knew they wanted to create a place on which they could create civilization, but they could not decide where. Although the void all seemed the same, some parts of the void were more appealing to the gods than others. Perhaps one place could have had more water, or maybe another would have been nothing but mountains. Each god had their own ideas for how the land we were born on should be though, and none could agree where they would place it. Loving the fighting between gods, Sekhmet suggested that they play a game to decide where it would be. Three pure worlds were created and placed next to eachother, and the gods took positions around the planets in a circle. They each took turns smashing into one of the orbs, shattering it into smaller planets and sending them flying in all directions. As the planets were slashed, pierced, or bludgeoned; valleys, volcanos, and oceans were formed. The planets became cracked and flawed, forming the rivers and craggy mountains. If one of the gods saw that another was getting dangerously close to an undesirable target, they would come and redirect the world towards their own goal. Some of the larger, less formed planets reached their targets; the gods didn't want to create us on anything less than the perfect world, yet they still praised eachother for their success at reaching these destinations. Some pieces splintered and became far too small, too broken for life. These were abandoned or found their way near the other abandoned worlds, becoming moons. Ours was the final acceptable land left unbroken, but it had not reached any of the god's preferred parts of the void. As a matter of fact, it had ended up right between each and every one of them, right where they had started! And so our lands were made equally great in all things: mountains, valleys, deserts and oceans. The only exception was the Nile, a massive cut made by Hapi during the competition. Thoth did not approve of any of the smaller planets made, and so he made a single great moon for us from the largest unused stone. Other changes were made to the land, but these were not of concern to the elders telling this story. All that mattered was that the conflict of the gods had led to our world being tipped in no direction: equal in every way, and suitable for our great civilization.

Many elders find this story to be implausible, as not every god would have wanted to participate in a battle to determine our land. Thoth would not have brought another rock to create our moon, he would have made it from some special material uninvolved in the conflict. The perfection of the nile could not have been made in a wild, unaimed strike by Hapi. This does not bother the believers of the tale though, and they have created a game to honor it.

The Game

Phew! That was a lot of typing :) Anyway, the game played today is very similiar to the game played by the gods ages ago. Three medium stones are placed within an arena, and participants take turns striking at them with sledgehammers. The goal is to get a non-gravel piece closest to the center of the arena as possible. Other targets may be aimed at for a lesser amount of points, and the smaller the stone is without being turned into gravel, the better. Each player claims three rocks, and the value of each rock is added up until the person with the most points is claimed the winner. Here are the complexities of the game:

• In order to cover the costs of the medium stones and any sledgehammers handed out by the judges, each player is asked to make a donation before entering. In my case, I ask for a medium stone per player. I try to make the prizes more valuable than the fees, but if you place so much value in medium stones you can ask me if you may donate something else. I'll decide whether you're allowed to play or not based on whether I need- er, whether whatever you offer covers the costs :).

• Before the game begins, each player has the option to choose one of the alternate targets to be his optimal target, and another to be his unwanted target. Their claimed stones have special values when they are closest to the optimal, but each claimed stone (regardless of the claimer) nearer their unwanted target than any other target will drop 2 points from their score. If they choose not to have optimal and unwanted targets, they will get neither bonuses no penalties from any claimed stones.

• Each player takes their place in a circle around the three initial stones, with the first player being chosen by the judges. The first player stands north of the stones and chooses the order of the rest of the players, who stand clockwise from the starter.

• A basic turn consists of choosing one of the rocks within the playing field and breaking it with a sledgehammer. There is no rigid boarder to the arena, but stones too far away may be removed by the judges if they choose to.

• Unless a stone is claimed, anybody may smash it on their own turn. This can be used to destroy higher-point stones that haven't been claimed yet, redirect stones coming too close to your unwanted target, or just to annoy the other players :)

• Anybody other than a judge who removes stones or gravel is disqualified. Spectators are asked to remain a certain distance away from the arena, so as to not interfere.

• A player may claim a stone and smash on the same turn. However, they lose their next turn, so consider how close other players are to their goals before claiming. Sometimes, it is better to destroy a high-value rock than claim a low-level one.

• Each stone has several values applied to it once claimed. They are as follows:

Rock size	base value	Optimal Target	Center Target
Cracked	1	2	3
Broken	2	3	5
Split	3	5	7
Smashed	4	6	9
Gravel	Worthless,	you	dolt!

• These values are applied to the stones closest to each target. The second to closest targets get half value, and the 3rd closest get 1/4th value.

• If seperate hosts choose to, they may increase or decrease the amount of stones each player can claim

• The game ends when all stones have been either claimed or completely turned to gravel. Scores are tallied, and the winner is the one with the most points.

• What do you win? A percentage of the gravel produced (As a host I would choose 75 or 80%), as well as a special prize. If enough interest is placed in this, perhaps I could convince the devs to contribute a special sledgehammer with increased smash yield, or something. Who knows, it depends on how many people like this game :)

Schedueled Times

No game is currently schedueled as I am still working the mechanics of the game out.

Comments

Place any comments or suggestions on the mechanics of the game here. Sign each comment with your in-game name sos I know who to thank for all the great ideas I steal.