Conspiracy (A Covid Game)

Players will roleplay real-life positions in the government and world to navigate the story/conspiracy of COVID-19 (or other potential conspiracy regarding world events); it’s origins, spread and handling of finding a cure/solution.

This application of imagination mixed with real-time events and history can apply this game to other topics and scenarios, so the game has replay value under the premise of focusing the conspiracy on other topics.

Conspiracy Game Design Document

Abstract:

Players will roleplay real-life positions in the government and world to navigate the story/conspiracy of COVID-19 (or other potential conspiracy regarding world events) ; it’s origins, spread and handling of finding a cure/solution.

This application of imagination mixed with real-time events and history can apply this game to other topics and scenarios, so the game has replay value under the premise of focusing the conspiracy on other topics.

Demographic:

Aspiring actors/creatives/performers/entertainers who want to practice creating narratives, acting in politically dramatic scenarios or biological/historical buffs looking to kill time.

Aesthetics/Themes:

• Narrative
• Deception
• Role-Playing

Heuristic Goals:

• Is the game intellectually engaging?
• Is the game confusing?
• Is the game too dramatic/political?

Gameplay:

Both players are seeking to control the flow of information regarding COVID-19. One player takes the role of a CIA agent with the other player taking the role of a journalist/spy. The goal of the CIA agent is to put a positive spin on the events leading to the outbreak and the subsequent handling of said outbreak (from the U.S. perspective). The goal of the journalist is to safely reveal the truth about the outbreak; publish information without starting a war or creating public backlash/sanctions.

Player Turn:

The game begins by entering the calendar day. Each player will draw two cards from the Classified Information Deck and one card from the Decision Deck to start the day off. The passive player will draw two cards from the Current Events deck and present the information to the active players. The active players must then decide if they will use the information provided to activate their Decision Cards. When a Decision Card is activated, the point value of the Decision Card is added (or subtracted) to the point value listed on the Current Event Cards. One player can respond to another player’s action and the point calculation occurs for that player.

Once a player activates their Decision Card(s), the players move to the next day. The calendar may indicate a specific event that can correspond to a specific player (i.e. Press Meeting/Info Briefing) the player is then required to use at least one Decision Card in response for that calendar event. In the event a specific calendar event is activated, only the specific corresponding player can play. After that, the players must move to the next day.

 

Victory:

The player who successfully completes their agenda at the end of the given time period will win the game; present the information relevant to the specific agenda. A player will win if they have more points than the other player.

Mechanics:

There are 2 active players and 1 passive player. The 2 active players take on the roles of the CIA agent and journalist. The passive player is in charge of managing current events and decision cards in an RPG format. The game will take place over the course of one calendar week. The calendar is an asset for the game with specific dates posted for each player and the designation of decision/situation cards.

For each day, the passive player will reveal new current events regarding COVID (drawn from a deck of cards). When an active player hits a certain day on the calendar, they will be presented a Decision Card that they can choose to use at that moment or at the end of the week. Each day, both players will draw from a Classified Information Deck that will have information to use for their agenda.

The Classified Information Decks for the specific players will contain events/actions that are valued a certain number of points. The Decision Cards will be valued a certain number of points as well. A player’s score is tallied by adding the value of the points that were played. The values of the Classified Information Cards are added together, with the Decision Cards either adding or subtracting to that value. The point values will range between 1 and 5.       

Assets:

• Calendar
• Notebooks/Pads (optional)
• One deck of Current Events Cards
• One deck of Classified Information Cards
• One deck of Decision Cards

Calendar Public Domain Knowledge: Current Events Cards

1. World Health Organization releases initial breakout report.
2. China releases global statement on virus.
3. Doctor of patient zero is diagnosed.
4. Doctor of patient zero dies to virus.
5. China’s bio-weapon program manifesto updated.
6. Social media influencers in China “reporting” on quarantine life.-countering China’s statements.
7. China releases quarantine & disinfection policies & updates.
8. China releases local statement on virus.
9. Most of China infected rapidly.
10. Cases in China drop significantly while cases worldwide spread wildly.
11. Europe’s first case is reported in Italy.
12. Cases spread wildly in Italy and throughout Europe.
13. All of Europe is infected.
14. U.S. reports its first case.
15. Entire east coast of the U.S. infected.
16. West coast reports its first case.
17. Midwest/Mountain U.S. strangely not affected.
18. China initially pledges to send medical supplies.
19. China sends less supplies than promised.
20. Canada becomes infected.
21. Europe’s death count surpasses China and hits world record.
22. U.S. gets a higher infection rate than China and Europe.
23. China reveals they will work on a vaccine.
24. Multiple U.S. companies reveal they are working on a testing kit.
25. U.S. government approves studying various drugs for treatment and possible vaccines.
26. Europe enters quarantine.
27. Cases in Europe turn positive despite lack of treatment drugs and vaccine.
28. Cases in U.S. continue to turn negative despite looking into treatment drugs and vaccine.
29. Medical company stocks shoot up as they spin PR to address making testing kits and drugs for treatment.
30. Scientists rush to human testing for possible cures

Calendar Classified Knowledge: For both players to keep as they draw.

1. Anonymous hacks into China’s healthcare computer infrastructure-holding the data hostage. (-4 points)
2. Pentagon reveals foreign policy briefings from late 2019-info on virus was in briefings. (-3 points)
3. It is revealed that the World Health Organization altered the initial report before it was released. (+5 points)
4. World Health Organization releases true initial breakout report-including actual source and true number of cases. (-5 points)
5. China’s bio-weapon program updates from 2018 found.-hints at virus being engineered. (+2 points)
6. Head researcher from bio-weapon program flees China.-implementation records are found. (+3 points)
7. Head researcher from bio-weapon program found dead outside of China. (-5 points)
8. China discovered to bribe the World Health Organization to alter the initial report. (+4 points)
9. China has been stockpiling medical supplies (ventilators, masks, gloves, medical gowns). (+2 points) 
10. China’s initial blame of virus on wildlife farming found to be PR spin. (-2 points)
11. Patient zero dies before additional studies can be conducted. (-1 point)
12. Family of patient zero has been taken under “police” custody. (+3 points)
13. Social media influencers in China are getting in a crackdown by the government. (+2 points)
14. Patient zero moved to Chinese “police” custody. (-2 points)
15. The spy assigned to China has gone missing/compromised. (-4 points)
16. The spy in China was a double agent for CIA and journalists. (-3 points)
17. Anonymous hacks into the U.S. healthcare infrastructure-holding the data hostage. (-5 points)
18. China secretly has drugs for treatment and a possible working vaccine. (+4 points)
19. Anonymous hacks multiple companies to check if they are working on tests. (+3 points)
20. Anonymous hacks into U.S. Congress members finances (to reveal if they are receiving lobbyist money from medical companies or investing in them). (-5 points)
21. A new mutation occurs causing the virus to be more contagious and deadlier. (-4 points)
22. The World Health Organization decides to cover up the possibility of a mutation and second strain. (+5 points)
23. Your spy finds the lab that worked on the bio-weapon virus. (+4 points)
24. The lab is abandoned/repurposed. (-3 points)
25. A second virus bio-weapon is found among the lab documents. (+2 points)
26. Governments want to use human testing to secure a vaccine. (+3 points)

Decision Cards: For the players to complete their agenda

1. Hire a spy/journalist secretly to investigate China/World Health Organization. (2 points)
2. Pull your spy out prematurely. (1 point)
3. Bribe the officials at World Health Organization/United Nations to report certain information. (5 points)
4. Keep information hidden from the President. (2 points) 
5. Brief the President prematurely about the information you currently have now-creates a press conference. (5 points)
6. Leak the information anonymously to news outlets. (3 points)
7. Leak the information to Anonymous. (4 points)
8. Hire Anonymous to attack China/U.S. infrastructure for data. (3 points)
9. Publish the seizure of the family of patient zero. (4 points)
10. Share/repost the personal briefings of Chinese social media influencers about government crackdown. (2 points)
11. Publish the bio-weapon lab documents. (4 points)
12. Send U.S. forces to occupy seize the lab. (5 points)
13. Bury the lab documents mentioning the virus work. (5 points)

Calendar Events

Day 1: You are assigned to the COVID (virus) task force. [Applicable to both players] {Players must pick one Decision to start their agenda.}

Day 3: The World Health Organization publicly releases the initial virus reports. [Applicable to both players]

Day 5: The U.S. government holds a press conference to address the state of the nation. [Applicable to both players] 

Day 7: Your supervisor demands a progress report. [Applicable to CIA player]