"Guys, we gotta play this new system! I heard it is going crazy online and getting amazing reviews," Quentin as always gung-ho about a new tabletop game. It of course started with DnD, then he shifted to Pathfinder, and now he was always on the lookout for the next thing. He loved learning new systems and rules. His friends, however, just liked having time to hang out together.
"This one isn't take two sessions just to explain the rules, is it?" asked James.
"Yeah, when do we get to kill some monsters?" Terry added with a smirk.
"Not that kind of game, guys. This one is more social-based yet still has robust rules for role-playing and gameplay," Quentin said flipping through the rulebook. It featured a number of men all wearing a uniform: shirt and tie under navy blue coveralls.
"We play as Brothers of Unity who seek to improve their communities and build a brighter future. Each cycle you receive labor assignments and you have to work together to complete them and help spread Unity throughout the city."
"Sounds cool, I guess. Like a town-building simulator, but our characters are like super-janitors?" Josh laughed, but the guys found themselves having fun.
The next session, Quentin arrived wearing the Unity uniform.
"I was researching the game online and found out you can order a real-life uniform! Figured it would be fun to wear as we play!"
"Dude, you always go all out for nerdy stuff like this!" said Josh, with a laugh.
"Like you're not a nerd too for playing all these games," Terry joked back. "Should we call you Quentin or by your Unity designation?"
"Well, once we get playing we should stick to our character names, and by that I mean our Unity designations," Quentin responded. "It helps with the immersion anyway."
The five guys played another session. In this one, they helped repair an abandoned city park and gained enough Core Value Points (CVP) to raise their city's Unity Level.
"So now we get access to more Labor Assignments, right?" asked James with an eager smile. James loved the role-play aspect of games and loved getting to increase his the brotherhood's CVP.
"I like how we all work together. I haven't seen a system where we don't have individual character sheets but instead share a single purpose!"
"You guys want to go late, tonight? Because if you complete another Marching Drill you can increase your Discipline stat."
By the next week's session, the whole crew pulled up in the Unity uniform coveralls.
"No way, you too, Josh! I thought you said these were janitor suits," remarked Terry, playfully.
"Maybe, but this brother is also a proud brother of Unity! And please, use this brother's designation, 67551," responded Josh, now going by 67551.
"Affirmative, 67551. Hail Unity!" Terry, now bearing the designation 23514, put his hand to his chest as said that.
"Hail Unity!" responded the other brothers.
As their session began, the brothers were fully immersed. They had all been reading the rules for game, and had fully embraced the Unity Protocol. They spoke like true Unity brothers, any individualistic speech patterns were being smoothed out. It's like they truly shared one purpose. Their city's Unity level was increasing and they finally were at a high enough level to open a second Unity Center. Unity was expanding and the brothers realized they had to expand it beyond the game as well.
The brothers set up a table at the local game store to promote Unity. They told interested players about the role of teamwork and cooperation and how it brought them together as players and as brothers.
"So do we need the jumpsuits to play too?" asked a curious young man.
87621 responded, "The uniform is not required to play, but it is encouraged. In a system where cooperation is key, it helps to visually unite with your brothers."
The young man's friend laughed and said, "C'mon Derek, we should get it. It looks cool plus I always kind of wanted a uniform."
By the end of the month, the gaming store had transformed on each Saturday into a Unity Center. Six groups of brothers would come in uniform to play Unity. But the role-playing went beyond just a game. After their sessions, the brothers spoke about how to expand Unity throughout the community and raise their real-life Unity level. The brothers all pledged to serve Unity and obey the Unity Protocol in all aspects of their life.
The game then became a form of training and re-education. They decided it was the perfect recruitment tool and planned to showcase it other gaming stores. Unity was just beginning.