Simpering Sycophants
by Shaker
this is the full text of a work in progress game
feedback is deeply appreciate
a game of cut-throat courtiers for 3 - 6 players
Turn order decided by rolling two dice each - turns are ordered from highest to lowest roll
each player is a Vizier to the Empress
Viziers compete for the Empress's Favor
Those who please her best become her Favorite, a position of privilege and power
Those who displease her too often face punishment or execution
Every turn, each Vizier will describe their latest attempt to curry Favor, and roll two six-sided dice: One die reveals whether the Empress was pleased, and the other die provides a Secret.
The roll for Favor is simple:
1-2: the Empress is displeased. Lose a point of favor. In the absence of favor, receive a punishment.
3-5: The Vizier's offering is acceptable.
6: The Empress is delighted, and that Vizier receives a point of Favor.
Punishments are not cumulative through the game, but will add up if you get them in a row:
1: Chastisement - receive -1 to your favor roll the next round.
2: Flogging - -1 to favor roll, as well as forgoing that turn's Secret roll.
3: Death - The game is over for this Vizier. Describe how you are dispatched in lurid detail, if you like.
The roll for Secrets gives a Vizier leverage against their rivals:
1: You discover a secret about a rival of your choice. The price for not revealing it to the court is that during a later round of your choosing, you may take credit for their achievement. If they would receive the Empress's Favor, it belongs to you. If they would have received her displeasure, you receive that as well.
2: You foster an unsavory rumour about a rival of your choice. In the next round, the Empress is less inclined to find their offering acceptable - they roll -1 for Favor.
3: Skulking about in places where you oughtn't, you find where one of your rivals has hidden a secret - either a jar of oils, vial of poison, or jeweled dagger. You may steal it immediately. If no player actually has one of those items, you get nothing.
4: You find a jar of secret, strange oils, with which you may lace the incense of the court and elevate the mood of the Empress. This gives all Viziers a + 1 bonus to their roll for Favor. In the pleasant haze, all players forgo their Secret roll. You may use this in a later round at your discretion, but you must use it before the Viziers declare their offerings.
5: You come into possession of a vial of poison. You may attempt to poison the Empress's Favorite at any time. Roll a die. A roll of 1-3 means your treachery has been detected, and the Vizier will be executed in terrible fashion. A roll of 4-5 leaves the Favorite unable to produce a gift the following round, as they are stricken with illness, and they immediately lose a point of favor. A roll of 6 kills them - they may describe their dying in lurid detail, if they like.
6: You discover a jeweled Dagger. If you become the Favorite, gaining the Empress's trust, you may betray her and sieze the throne, winning the game. Describe how you overthrow the Empress in lurid detail, if you like.
The game is played like so:
Each player declares what they bring as an offering, describing it lavishly. then all players will roll both dice at once, to see how their gifts are received and what secrets they've gleaned about their rivals. Any secrets that must be used immediately may be forfeited if a player chooses. If a player wishes to use a secret they've been keeping during that round, they must use it before the offerings are declared.
Whichever Vizier holds the most Favor at any moment is the current Favorite. In the event of a tie, neither is Favorite.
The game can end in a few different ways. One is that every Vizier dies, through some combination of bad fortune and poisonings. Such is life! Another is that a Vizier survives to the very end, and all of their rivals die. In this case, they've won! They may choose to describe in lurid detail how they sieze power, if they like. The third way, previously mentioned in the Secrets table, is that a Vizier in the position of the Favorite manages to gain possession of a jeweled Dagger. In that case, they may immediately betray the Empress and sieze power, winning instantly.
This game is a rough draft. Very rough. If you have thoughts on it, feedback, please tell me!