[SUBMITTED] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

by **Baggieland** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:18 am

Here's a new offering.

[TITLE] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[DESCRIPTION] Reports that more and more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are seeking exorcisms for being possessed by evil spirits are fuelling rumours of the impending apocalypse. A coalition of religious figures have come to your office to see if you, @@LEADER@@, can save @@NAME@@ from eternal damnation.

[VALIDITY] must have medium to high religiousness

[OPTION] "I'm going to need some help here," says Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, who represents the largest parish in @@CAPITAL@@. "My parish has thousands of citizens and they all claim to be possessed. I can't administer exorcisms to all these people all by myself. The government needs to set-up a massive recruitment drive for all the remaining non-possessed citizens to become priests and fast-track their exorcism training."

[EFFECT] the underworld is a lonely place as poorly trained priests fail to banish demons correctly

[VALIDITY] only for nations that haven't banned internet / computers
[OPTION] "That's going to take too long," suggests Bishop @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@. "My congregation are from Computer Chip Valley and together we have created an exorcism app that all non-possessed citizens can download. The app can tell everyone how to perform an exorcism and what materials they need; then they can start de-possessing their family, friends and neighbours instantly. It may seem dodgy allowing all these untrained people to perform something as complicated as an exorcism, but we need to act now!"

[EFFECT] evil spirits abound as laymen discover that two chopsticks are no substitute for a cross

[OPTION] "Run, run for your lives, the four horsemen are already on their way," proclaims Monk de Willie de Honk. "We have to flee from the hordes of the apocalypse. I have a monastery on a tiny island in the remotest part of @@NAME@@. Let's bring all the remaining non-possessed @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ there, isolate ourselves and pray for God's protection."

[EFFECT] isolation and boredom make the apocalypse seem not so bad

[OPTION] Suddenly, a big, red guy holding a trident seems to appear out of nowhere. "There is only one way to deliver the @@DEMONYM@@ people. Tell all of them to present their souls to me, then I shall transport them all to the inner circles of my inferno. I'll be nice to them, I promise."

[EFFECT] @@LEADER@@ has a new office that has a propensity to catch on fire

[TITLE] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[DESCRIPTION] Reports that more and more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are seeking exorcisms for being possessed by evil spirits are fueling rumours of the impending apocalypse. A coalition of religious figures have come to your office to see if you, @@LEADER@@, can save @@NAME@@ from eternal damnation.

[VALIDITY] must have medium to high religiousness

[OPTION] "I'm going to need some help here," says Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, who represents the largest parish in @@CAPITAL@@. "My parish has thousands of citizens and they all claim to be possessed. I can't administer exorcisms to all these people all by myself. The government needs to set-up a massive recruitment drive for all the remaining non-possessed citizens to become priests and fast-track their exorcism training."

[EFFECT] the underworld is a lonely place as poorly trained priests fail to banish demons correctly

[VALIDITY] only for nations that haven't banned internet / computers
[OPTION] "That's going to take too long," suggests Bishop @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@. "My congregation are from Computer Chip Valley and together we have created an exorcism app, called iExorcise, that all non-possessed citizens can download. The app can tell everyone how to perform an exorcism and what materials they need; then they can start de-possessing their family, friends and neighbours instantly. It may seem dodgy allowing all these untrained people to perform something as complicated as an exorcism, but we need to act now!"

[EFFECT] evil spirits abound as laymen discover that two chopsticks are no substitute for a cross

[OPTION] "Run, run for your lives, the four horsemen are already on their way," proclaims Monk de Willie de Honk. "We have to flee from the hordes of the apocalypse. I have a monastery on a tiny island in the remotest part of @@NAME@@. Let's bring all the remaining non-possessed @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ there, isolate ourselves and pray for God's protection."

[EFFECT] isolation and boredom make the apocalypse seem not so bad

[OPTION] Suddenly, a man dressed in a dark suit and holding a pile of contracts seems to appear out of nowhere. "There is only one way to save the @@DEMONYM@@ people from the apocalypse. Tell all of them to sign these contracts, then my master shall transport them all to a place far away from the imminent catastrophe. There's nothing to be suspicious about, my master is a reasonable fellow."

[EFFECT] @@LEADER@@ has a new office that has a propensity to catch on fire

[TITLE] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[DESCRIPTION] Reports that more and more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are seeking exorcisms for being possessed by evil spirits are fuelling rumours of the impending apocalypse. A coalition of religious figures have come to your office to see if you, @@LEADER@@, can save @@NAME@@ from eternal damnation.

[VALIDITY] must have medium to high religiousness

[OPTION] "I'm going to need some help here," says Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, who represents the largest parish in @@CAPITAL@@. "My parish has thousands of citizens and they all claim to be possessed. I can't administer exorcisms to all these people all by myself. The government needs to set-up a massive recruitment drive for all the remaining non-possessed citizens to become priests and fast-track their exorcism training."

[EFFECT] the underworld is a lonely place as poorly trained priests fail to banish demons correctly

[VALIDITY] only for nations that haven't banned internet / computers
[OPTION] "That's going to take too long," suggests Bishop @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@. "My congregation are from Computer Chip Valley and together we have created an exorcism app, called iExorcise, that all non-possessed citizens can download. The app can tell everyone how to perform an exorcism and what materials they need; then they can start de-possessing their family, friends and neighbours instantly. It may seem dodgy allowing all these untrained people to perform something as complicated as an exorcism, but we need to act now!"

[EFFECT] evil spirits abound as laymen discover that two chopsticks are no substitute for a cross

[OPTION] "Run, run for your lives, the four horsemen are already on their way," proclaims Monk de Willie de Honk. "We have to flee from the hordes of the apocalypse. I have a monastery on a tiny island in the remotest part of @@NAME@@. Let's bring all the remaining non-possessed @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ there, isolate ourselves and pray for God's protection."

[EFFECT] isolation and boredom make the apocalypse seem not so bad

[OPTION] Suddenly, a man dressed in a dark suit and holding a pile of contracts seems to appear out of nowhere. "I am from the law firm Lucifer, Beelzebub and Lucifer. My client has instructed me to inform you that there is only one way to save the @@DEMONYM@@ people from the apocalypse. Tell all of them to sign these contracts, then my client shall transport them all to a place far away from the imminent catastrophe. There's nothing to be suspicious about, my client is a reasonable fellow."

[EFFECT] @@LEADER@@ has a new office that has a propensity to catch on fire

[TITLE] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[DESCRIPTION] Reports that more and more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are seeking exorcisms for being possessed by evil spirits are fuelling rumours of the impending apocalypse. A coalition of religious figures have come to your office to see if you, @@LEADER@@, can save @@NAME@@ from eternal damnation.

[VALIDITY] must have medium to high religiousness

[OPTION] "I'm going to need some help here," says Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, who represents the largest parish in @@CAPITAL@@. "My parish has thousands of citizens and they all claim to be possessed. I can't administer exorcisms to all these people all by myself. The government needs to set-up a massive recruitment drive for all the remaining non-possessed citizens to become priests and fast-track their exorcism training."

[EFFECT] the underworld is a lonely place as poorly trained priests fail to banish demons correctly

[VALIDITY] only for nations that haven't banned internet / computers
[OPTION] "That's going to take too long," suggests Bishop @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@. "My congregation are from Silicone Alley and together we have created an exorcism app, called iExorcise, that all non-possessed citizens can download. The app can tell everyone how to perform an exorcism and what materials they need; then they can start de-possessing their family, friends and neighbours instantly. It may seem dodgy allowing all these untrained people to perform something as complicated as an exorcism, but we need to act now!"

[EFFECT] evil spirits abound as laymen discover that two chopsticks are no substitute for a cross

[OPTION] "Run, run for your lives, the four horsemen are already on their way," proclaims Monk de Willie de Honk. "We have to flee from the hordes of the apocalypse. I have a monastery on a tiny island in the remotest part of @@NAME@@. Let's bring all the remaining non-possessed @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ there, isolate ourselves and pray for God's protection."

[EFFECT] isolation and boredom make the apocalypse seem not so bad

[OPTION] Suddenly, a man dressed in a dark suit and holding a pile of contracts seems to appear out of nowhere. "I am from the law firm Lucifer, Beelzebub and Lucifer. My client has instructed me to inform you that there is only one way to save the @@DEMONYM@@ people from the apocalypse. Tell all of them to sign these contracts, then my client shall transport them all to a place far away from the imminent catastrophe. There's nothing to be suspicious about, my client is a reasonable fellow."

[EFFECT] @@LEADER@@ has a new office that has a propensity to catch on fire

by **Pax Nerdvana** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:21 am

This looks pretty good. Would iExorcise be a good app name?

by **Baggieland** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:25 am

Pax Nerdvana wrote:This looks pretty good. Would iExorcise be a good app name?

I like that!

by **Pax Nerdvana** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 6:26 am

Baggieland wrote:
Pax Nerdvana wrote:This looks pretty good. Would iExorcise be a good app name?

I like that!

Great, although that's about all I have.

by **Palos Heights** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:20 am

Last option seems a bit too "in your face" about it.

Maybe make it a lawyer or HR representative and they need you to sign something away instead?

by **Baggieland** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:46 am

Palos Heights wrote:Last option seems a bit too "in your face" about it.

Maybe make it a lawyer or HR representative and they need you to sign something away instead?

I like where you're coming from, I'll see if I can work it in.

by **Evil Dictators Happyland** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:50 am

Maybe the last option could be the demonic equivalent to the "download our program because your phone has a virus" ads that just give you a virus, where they are offering to cleanse your people's souls for no charge, but they need everyone to sign contracts to let them access the souls, so pass a law making the signing of that contract mandatory, please.

by **Fauxia** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 5:17 pm

Fueling only has one l.

Also, maybe this would be more appropriate for nations with medium to high religiousness and a national religion? It seems a more difficult issue for nations without one

by **Baggieland** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:16 am

Evil Dictators Happyland wrote:Maybe the last option could be the demonic equivalent to the "download our program because your phone has a virus" ads that just give you a virus, where they are offering to cleanse your people's souls for no charge, but they need everyone to sign contracts to let them access the souls, so pass a law making the signing of that contract mandatory, please.

Thanks Mr. Evil Dictator, Sir

. I'll put some of yours with some of Palos Heights'.

Fauxia wrote:Fueling only has one l.

Okey dokey.

Fauxia wrote:Also, maybe this would be more appropriate for nations with medium to high religiousness and a national religion?

Possibly. My reckoning is that nations with 0% to 49% religiousness aren't bothered about religion. Whereas 50% and higher, religion is a 'thing' in their nation. Does it need to have a national religion? I think possibly not.

by **Fauxia** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 6:34 am

Well, you’re the Editor, I yield

by **Trotterdam** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 8:23 am

So, what really gets me about this issue is that it seems to treat demonic possession as completely factual. We've had issues before that hinted at the possibility of the supernatural without confirming it, but outside of easter eggs, nothing that's outright incompatible with a mundane world. This draft, particularly the effect lines, seems to establish with the narrative voice that demonic possesion is objectively real.

by **Australian rePublic** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 1:55 pm

Option 1- all eldigable people. Some faiths don't allow female priests
Also, I am quite religious and have heard stories of demonic possession. In those cases, I believe, the person doesn't know they're possesed and will actively avoid church.

by **Candlewhisper Archive** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 12:53 am

I's note on fuelling vs fueling, it depends which side of the Atlantic you're on. The general rule is to use your own nation's spelling rules, as that gives NS that lovely cosmopolitan vibe.

by **Baggieland** » Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:05 am

Trotterdam wrote:So, what really gets me about this issue is that it seems to treat demonic possession as completely factual. We've had issues before that hinted at the possibility of the supernatural without confirming it, but outside of easter eggs, nothing that's outright incompatible with a mundane world. This draft, particularly the effect lines, seems to establish with the narrative voice that demonic possesion is objectively real.

Yes, that's why it's aimed at people who are more likely to believe in it.

Australian rePublic wrote:Option 1- all eldigable people. Some faiths don't allow female priests
Also, I am quite religious and have heard stories of demonic possession. In those cases, I believe, the person doesn't know they're possesed and will actively avoid church.

Um, it says 'Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@.

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:I's note on fuelling vs fueling, it depends which side of the Atlantic you're on. The general rule is to use your own nation's spelling rules, as that gives NS that lovely cosmopolitan vibe.

Yes, I cross-checked the British & Yankee spellings, sorry Fauxia, reverting back to a most Brittanic double L.

Reworded the last option as well.

by **Baggieland** » Thu Mar 29, 2018 7:05 am

Bump.

Still looking for a better parody of Silicon Valley everyone!

by **Jutsa** » Thu Mar 29, 2018 9:01 am

Could always go with Silicone Alley - an alley where people normally work with silicone but decided to make an app anyway. :roll:

by **Baggieland** » Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:27 am

Jutsa wrote:Could always go with Silicone Alley - an alley where people normally work with silicone but decided to make an app anyway.

Thanks Jutsa!

by **Baggieland** » Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:35 am

Bump.

Any more comments before submission?

by **Chan Island** » Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:26 pm

I agree with Trotterdam: this draft just needs an option completely dismissing demonic possession as fictional in some form. You could play a joke that the other speakers react to this individual as someone who is possessed and thus perform an exorcism right in your office, but it has to be there. It's simply too glaring an absence.

Otherwise this is great!

by **Trotterdam** » Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:30 pm

My problem isn't the lack of speakers that don't believe in demonic possession, but rather that the effect lines treat it as completely factual instead of poking fun at the government combating an imaginary (or at least hard-to-prove) threat.

by **Baggieland** » Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:26 am

Chan Island wrote:I agree with Trotterdam: this draft just needs an option completely dismissing demonic possession as fictional in some form. You could play a joke that the other speakers react to this individual as someone who is possessed and thus perform an exorcism right in your office, but it has to be there. It's simply too glaring an absence.

Otherwise this is great!

I love your idea of the other speakers performing an exorcism on the unbeliever in the office. Unfortunately, the option you suggest is called the dismiss button. Let me have a think about what else a 5th speaker could bring to the discussion.

Trotterdam wrote:My problem isn't the lack of speakers that don't believe in demonic possession, but rather that the effect lines treat it as completely factual instead of poking fun at the government combating an imaginary (or at least hard-to-prove) threat.

I don't know, I think they're pretty funny.

by **Evil Dictators Happyland** » Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:46 am

[OPTION] "Run, run for your lives, the four horsemen are already on their way," proclaims Monk de Willie de Honk. "We have to flee from the hordes of the apocalypse. I have a monastery on a tiny island in the remotest part of @@NAME@@. Let's bring all the remaining non-possessed @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ there, isolate ourselves and pray for God's protection."

[EFFECT] isolation and boredom make the apocalypse seem not so bad

[OPTION] Suddenly, a man dressed in a dark suit and holding a pile of contracts seems to appear out of nowhere. "I am from the law firm Lucifer, Beelzebub and Lucifer. My client has instructed me to inform you that there is only one way to save the @@DEMONYM@@ people from the apocalypse. Tell all of them to sign these contracts, then my client shall transport them all to a place far away from the imminent catastrophe. There's nothing to be suspicious about, my client is a reasonable fellow."

[EFFECT] @@LEADER@@ has a new office that has a propensity to catch on fire

I have a couple critiques to make. For the former option, I would like to suggest that the monk requests that you spread everyone out as far as possible across @@NATION@@, as fitting each and every @@DEMONYM@@ on a small island would be off-the-scale population density, not "isolation and boredom".
For the latter, I would change the name on the law firm, since using the name of the Devil and one of his archdemons is a bit on the nose. Maybe you could do something like the law firm of "Horace, Edward, Logan, and Lee", so that people have to reread it a couple times to figure it out.

by **Chan Island** » Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:36 pm

So I've taken the time to draft in an idea where there is a skeptic who dismisses the whole demonic possession thing as ridiculous. I've worked the original first 2 options to take into account the idea of an exorcism being performed in front of you, hopefully in a funny way. Thoughts?

[TITLE] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[DESCRIPTION] Reports that more and more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are seeking exorcisms for being possessed by evil spirits are fuelling rumours of the impending apocalypse. A coalition of religious figures have come to your office to see if you, @@LEADER@@, can save @@NAME@@ from eternal damnation.

[VALIDITY] must have medium to high religiousness

[[OPTION] "What ridiculous twaddle," scoffs a completely glazed-eyed @@RANDOMNAME@@, addressing the painting of your predecessor next to you."Demonic possession is not real and should be dismissed as such. The people need to be educated through a public information campaign saying that demons are imaginary, religion is fake, the apocalypse isn't coming and everyone should just calm down."

EFFECT] unnaturally distorted voices are telling the public everything is OK

[OPTION] "DEMON! I'm going to need some help here," screams Father @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@ as he tackles the previous speaker and begins an exorcism right there and then. As your interns take over pinning down the possessed, he turns to you."Just my parish alone has thousands of citizens and they all claim to be possessed. I can't administer exorcisms to everyone all by myself. The government needs to set-up a massive recruitment drive for all the remaining non-possessed citizens to become priests and fast-track their exorcism training."

[EFFECT] the underworld is a lonely place as poorly trained priests fail to banish demons correctly

[VALIDITY] only for nations that haven't banned internet / computers
[OPTION] "That's going to take too long," suggests Bishop @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@, while pointing a smartphone at the still-pinned first speaker. "My congregation are from Silicone Alley and together we have created an exorcism app, called iExorcise, that all non-possessed citizens can download. The app can tell everyone how to perform an exorcism and what materials they need; then they can start de-possessing their family, friends and neighbours instantly. It may seem dodgy allowing all these untrained people to perform something as complicated as an exorcism, but we need to act now!"

[EFFECT] evil spirits abound as laymen discover that two chopsticks are no substitute for a cross

by **The Great Underground Empire** » Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:31 am

#897 was bad enough, no more obvious Christian references such as 'Lucifer', please.

None of my puppets are mainline Christian, so there's just no valid options in these kind of issues. For instance, I have a Gnostic puppet that worships Lucifer as the main good deity, yet these issues always portray him as evil. So choosing the pro-Lucifer options have the opposite stat effect than what'd make sense for the nation.

by **Singapore no2** » Thu Apr 05, 2018 1:27 am

The Great Underground Empire wrote:#897 was bad enough, no more obvious Christian references such as 'Lucifer', please.

None of my puppets are mainline Christian, so there's just no valid options in these kind of issues. For instance, I have a Gnostic puppet that worships Lucifer as the main good deity, yet these issues always portray him as evil. So choosing the pro-Lucifer options have the opposite stat effect than what'd make sense for the nation.

Yes. I must concur. The references are currently simply too on the nose. Why don't you tone it down and make it just a tad more ambigious instead?

[SUBMITTED] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

[SUBMITTED] Demonic Possession Getting You Down?

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