The Rules
Rather than listing the entire rulebook for this case-study, I will instead show a tailored selection of some of the most impactful rules and the design thinking behind them. Some game terms are not defined in this document, but can be found in the full ruleset. A copy of the current rules can be found in this document.
The Basics of Roleplaying
The Black Box is a roleplaying game at its core and functions similarly to other roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons. It is played by a group of people around a table who create a collaborative story together with the help of chance (often in the form of rolling dice).
The particpants of roleplaying games include players and one Game Master. The players control the main characters of the story, act as they would, and help tell the story through the decisions they make as these characters. The Game Master is in charge of the overall plot, describes the setting, narrates events, plays supporting characters and villians, and adjudicates the rules. Their primary function is to make sure the players are having fun and that a great story is being told.
The Black Box is themed as an occult ritual and as such refers to itself as the Ritual, its players as cultists, the characters they control as victims, and its Game Master as the Shaman. While the specific rules of the Black Box and its terminology may differ, it is still a roleplaying game at heart.
The particpants of roleplaying games include players and one Game Master. The players control the main characters of the story, act as they would, and help tell the story through the decisions they make as these characters. The Game Master is in charge of the overall plot, describes the setting, narrates events, plays supporting characters and villians, and adjudicates the rules. Their primary function is to make sure the players are having fun and that a great story is being told.
The Black Box is themed as an occult ritual and as such refers to itself as the Ritual, its players as cultists, the characters they control as victims, and its Game Master as the Shaman. While the specific rules of the Black Box and its terminology may differ, it is still a roleplaying game at heart.