Gods of the Ancient World

Public tickets will go on sale for $40 starting October 19th

Sing, O Muse, of an age when gods and men contended for glory, when oared fleets crossed the wine-dark sea carrying commerce or conquest to distant shores.

In "Gods of the Ancient World" players will take the role of Greeks, Romans, or even the Gods themselves.

Some mortals will build up their home region by managing resources, building industry, and manufacturing fleets to sell artisanal goods to distant lands. Others will command troops around the Mediterranean, conquering regions for the glory of their faction. Others still will be political leaders, drafting laws for the betterment of their people while vying for their own political standing.

Meanwhile the gods will seek to gain the mortals’ prayers which empower them to perform miracles and gain influence over their rivals.

FAQs

Q: Wait... People do this for fun?

A: Yes they do--all over the world! The blog Shut Up & Sit Down made a fabulous documentary of their first experience... as well as a two-part documentary of their second! (Click here for Part II).

Still not convinced (or short on time)? Check out this inspiring, short video of Megagames at PAX. The UK group Megagame Makers have been going strong for over twenty years, and featured in such newspapers as The Independent.

McGill professors have been hosting megagames for fun and learning for more than fifteen years, where the PaxSims blog is the nexus for all things simulation and gaming. Be sure to check out the (in)famous student-made short on Rex Brynen's annual Brynania Civil War simulation.

Or, for the educationally minded, a video on the EnTRUSTed Hospital Simulation.

Megagames are also used for facilitation work with governments, corporations, international organizations, NGOs, and universities by people such Rex Brynen, Vince Carpini, Tom Fisher, and Jim Wallman.

So... what are you waiting for?!

Q: Ok, but what is a Megagame?
A: Megagames are unique experiential games for 30 to 300 players - part model UN, part board game, part live-action role play - and all fun! They are driven by narrative rather than victory points, and often built as lifelike simulations of the real world with a fantastical twist. Megagames are written to make the players feel, think, experience, and learn.

Megagames are sweeping the globe as the newest, most unique experiences a gamer can find.

Q: But I’ve never done this before!
A: Don’t worry, neither had we. You’ll be a pro in no time.

We will send you an information package 1-2 weeks before the event date for you to review game mechanics, your role, and background storyline.

Megagames are designed to be learned on the fly, just like real life. They are about experiencing a storyline, rather than mapping out a path to victory. In a Megagame, it is much better to die a legendary death that your friends, new and old, will tell tales of for all time, rather than attempt to beat everybody in a race to the finish.

Above all, experienced players and the control team (aka, the game facilitators) are very nice. We won’t let you do anything too silly- unless you want to!

Q: How should I treat other players?

A: We are so proud to bring you this event, and we want to make sure every player gets an engaging and fulfilling experience. This requires the cooperation of all players to make this fun for everyone. If you are found to be disrupting the event by harassing other players, including racist, sexist or otherwise bigoted remarks, you will be reprimanded as the game control sees fit, up to and including expulsion from the game without refund.

Q: Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
A: Contact the Ottawa Megagames team at OttawaMegaGames@gmail.com, on the Ottawa MegaGames FB page.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to let us know! We like to think we’re pretty friendly people and will do whatever we can to help.

Q: The cost is higher this year. What happened?

A: In past years, we've worked to get game costs down to around $25 a player. This year, we are running a new game, and have new materials to purchase to prepare. To break down where your ticket price goes, lunch is around $17, ticketing fees are around $4, and the remaining $19 goes to the materials cost. We're still volunteers running the game, and don't take a cut ourselves!