Murderball

Back in 2.0, we had an in-game sport known as Dog’s Head. This game was inspired by the sport of “Jugging” in games like Amtgard, which is in turn inspired by a crazy 1989 B-movie called “Blood of Heroes” with Rutger Hauer. There are countless interpretations of this game, but it is at it’s heart a quick, crazy, and violent sports game so it’s a perfect addition to Dystopia Rising.

The original Dog’s Head rules in 2.0 required a lot of in-game equipment to function so it was really difficult to play effectively. The main purpose of LONE STAR MURDERBALL is to provide a framework for a no-holds sports game that allows anyone to play without a need for a huge investment of in-game currency and scrap.

The reigning Dog’s Head champs of 2.0, Keegan’s Hammers

Lone star Murderball

A variation of Dog’s Head, for the common ‘Vado

(designed by Shan Lind, Jonathan Loyd, and Jefferson Bergan White)

The Goal 

Two teams of five players each (plus two additional players off the field for each team) line up on opposite sides of the pitch known as the Killing Field and attempt to place a skull, called the Murderball in the opposite team’s goal by outmaneuvering or incapacitating the other team. One point is scored for each time a team places the Murderball in the opposite team’s goal. A game is played to at least 3 points. The game is overseen by a referee called an Immolator, who usually is a psion with some skill in Pyrokinetics.

The Field 

The Killing Field is a rectangle 24 feet by 36 feet large. Two goals are placed along the middle axis of the field, 3 feet from the edges. The goal should be 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot tall so that the Murderball must be placed inside it. In the center of the field is a circular area 7 feet in diameter. The Murderball is placed in the center of the circle at the beginning of play. No player may enter the center circle before the Immolator calls game-start or they will be killed.

The Positions 

Each team consists of seven players, each in a unique role. You may only have 5 players on the pitch at a time, or else the Immolator can punish your team.

Note: Upon striking another player with any weapon which mangles, the user must declare “mangle limb”.

  • The Knocker; armed with a Melee Standard weapon that exclusively mangles and does not assign damage and a shield, loaded with three uses of “Knockback 5”, which refreshes each at the end of each round.

  • The Arms; armed with two Melee Standard weapons that exclusively mangle and do not assign damage. 

  • The Buckshot; armed with a Two-handed Firearm exclusively loaded with three packets of “Knockback 10” and a Melee Small weapon that exclusively mangles and does not assign damage. The Buckshot can retrieve their packets after a score during the reset between rounds.

  • The Jecter; armed with a melee small weapon that exclusively mangles and does not assign damage and a single use injectable that refreshes each round which, upon injection, applies “10 seconds cannot be mangled, then, all limbs mangled”. 

  • The Fixer; armed with a melee small weapon that exclusively mangles and does not assign damage and a psion crystal that grants use of “heal mangled limb”  with a 5 second cooldown, so long as the crystal is in direct contact with the subject of the cast. Once per round the Fixer may call “by my voice, heal all mangled limbs”, but this applies to both teams. 

  • The Sideline Medic; armed with a Murderball Triage Kit which, following 10 seconds of sawbones roleplay and the declaration of “Murderball Triage Kit, heal all mangled limbs” , completely heals the mangled limbs of the subject of the cast. The Sideline Medic may not normally enter the Killing Field, score points, or attack any player, but may remove a player on their own team from the Killing Field. They may haul out a player who has successfully made it to the sideline by declaring “carry 1” and dragging the player off the field. 

  • The Alternate; at the appropriate juncture, the Alternate may step in for any of the above roles but otherwise may not participate in play beyond the scope of a spectator. The player they replace becomes the new Alternate.

Scoring 

Any player with a free hand may pick up the Murderball. In order to score the Murderball must be placed inside the opposite team’s goal. The Murderball must be ambulated by a player across the field, it cannot be thrown, kicked or otherwise moved besides in the hand of a player on the Killing Field. The Murderball may be used to block shots but is not itself a weapon. Any time a limb holding the Murderball is mangled, the Murderball must be placed on the ground where the action occurred. The Murderball may not possess any forward independent motion at any time.

The Duration and Winning a match

A game is played until one team achieves 3 points, or 10 minutes has passed. The team with the most points at the end of 10 minutes is declared the winner by the Immolator at the end of this duration. Each time a team scores, it is considered the end of a “round”. When a team scores, there is a brief reset between rounds and the Murderball is placed back in the center circle before the next drive begins. Most “tournament matches” of a Murderball are played over three separate games. The team with the best record over 2 of 3 rounds is declared the winner.

Substitutions 

Substitutions may be made at the following times: 

  • In the event of grievous injury (OOC ouchie) 

  • Between each goal, during the round reset.

Wounds/Dying 

Players whose limbs are mangled cannot use that limb until it has been healed. A player may continue to hold their weapon, shield, gun or psion crystal in their alternate hand. A mangled limb may not hold an item, including the Murderball. If a weapon is dropped, it may be retrieved by any player with a functioning limb to do so, but may not be denied to the other team as a strategy. 

If a player enters Bleed Out for any reason, they must be healed to at least 1 Body before re-entering play. This can be done by any Sideline Medic, spectator or the Immolator. 

Out of Bounds 

Upon leaving bounds, the spectating crowd should beat the player (besides the Sideline Medic and the Alternate) enthusiastically with their weapons, fists, guns or other implements of war.  If a player is put into Bleed Out by this, the spectators should heal the player to at least 1 Body and push them back onto the Killing Field. The player is now considered to have returned to play. 

If the Murderball leaves play, the game is paused with the positions of the players maintained. The Immolator replaces the Murderball at the center of the middle circle and declares “game start” and play resumes.

Return to Play 

When a player is returning from off-field, they must declare “I’m back, *****.” The expletive is left to the preference of the player, but must be loud enough that the opposing team can hear them.

Fouls/Cheating

Any player found to be undermining the rules of the game will be, at the will of the Immolator, summarily incinerated on the spot. The Immolator may choose a lesser punishment if it suits them.

Any use of Skills other than the ones provided by Murderball equipment is considered CHEATING.

Occasionally, when you possess a CHEAT on a Local Plot Card, you may be able to present this item to the Immolator for a stated effect. Cheating is frowned upon and the Immolator may light you on fire for the attempt.