THE SURVIVAL ETHOS SYSTEM (SES) in DR:TX
Across the Dystopia Rising franchise, the Survival Ethos System (SES) is designed to reward players who are open to playing in a deeper survival scenario, where their characters are vulnerable to all of the dangers of the world, without exception. Starvation, deprivation, violence, provoked or unprovoked CvC engagement, and sudden and vicious death. This is not an in-character decision or designation, but a player choice for a more true-to-dystopia experience, where survival is its own horror. The SES is not an in-character group, but rather an out-of-character playstyle. It was originally introduced at the National Dead Man’s Hand event.
The Survival Ethos System is designed to engage players interested in CvC within Dystopia Rising while making the content Opt-In as well as enjoyable for all players, both those involved in the SES and those who have not opted into this mode of play.
Registration for the ses locally
Players who Opt into the Survival Ethos System must register their player number and character name on the SES clipboard at player check-in each DRTX event.
We’ve made our SES list variable each event so that if you’re not feeling it that month, no worries! By making it an event-by-event basis, each player can decide at Check-in if they feel up to being part of the Survival Ethos System that month.
If a player signs up, this puts them (and all their characters) on a list with other players who have also opted into this system. This registration supersedes the normal CvC ruleset, in that players registered with the Survival Ethos System are stating they do not require prior negotiation or notification before engaging in CvC in any location, or timing, of our event’s in-character activities. It also generally indicates a willingness to staff to encounter strong horror and survival themes in the playspace.
Registration in the SES is considered public and may be checked by any player at the Post Office in order to allow a more organic survival game.
Once game starts, the list will be posted in the Post Office windows for easy reference all event. Once signed up for the SES for an event, players may only opt out and be removed from the list after losing infection, or at the discretion of Staff/Player conversation under extenuating circumstances. For these reasons, the list is the primary method of knowing if someone is ready for unnegotiated CvC at any given time, even if they were previously OK with it!
The only official way to know if someone is on the SES list for an event is to check the list posted at the post office, or do a check-in with the player involved.
Players may check in with others in the game space with the standard CvC “C” hand gesture and return with the word “Registered” if they have opted into the Survival Ethos System. While players may choose to indicate with custom patches, tokens, or other markers on their costuming that they are regularly enrolled in the SES, these tokens are unofficial.
Consent to Conflict
Players enrolled in the SES can engage in “casual violence” with each other without the need for a Guide to be present, even in non-Wasteland areas, so long as there is no intention for infection loss. All time requirements and Guide requirements for lethal CvC remain the same. The SES does not override out of character check-ins like the OK Checkin if flashed in the moment. Even with prior implied consent, a player can always choose to leave a scene if they must for out-of-character reasons. However, if you do decline an SES CvC engagement, you must speak with a staff member or Guide to remove yourself from the SES list for the rest of the event.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
SES Currency and Buylists
While opting into a system that raises the danger for your characters is its own rewarding playstyle, we do offer some incentives to those who choose to buy in!
Every month a character is registered with the Survival Ethos System they earn one Mark (SES Currency) at the end of the event. This currency will be noted on their primary character notes section and may be used with specific buy lists associated with the Survival Ethos System. There may be other opportunities to use and earn these currencies in-character as well, at local chapter discretion.
Occasionally there may be opportunities presented at check-in to earn additional SES currency by signing up for specific dangerous situations (like giving our Storytellers the location of where you’re sleeping that event to be targeted by antagonists), or performing certain behaviors (like Interfering a lethal Murder call intended for someone else).
In addition, players that have Master Society Membership in a San Saba Faction are required to participate in the SES, but have unique rewards befitting their station.