We’ve yet to start assigning characters to players, so this will be filled in more as things get closer to the event
(This isn’t the crew of the game, this is the crew of the boat “The Sisyphus” and the other folks on board)
At this event characters are pre-written. Prior to the event, players taking part will receive a questionnaire about things like experience, play styles and preferences. Characters will be assigned to players based on those answers. Characters briefs may be also customised to the player to help achieve a “good fit”.
With the above in mind, the below should give potential players a broad idea of some the kinds of characters available.
The Crew of The Sisyphus
The players are split into a number of teams. Below, we provide some information around what each team is about – and the kind of game that each team focuses on. This is merely indicative and within each team there’s a lot of variety of roles, but these are the broad themes. As high-level, basic tropes of each team, there will be nuance and exceptions individually, but it should give players a general idea of how each team “feels”.
The Master of The Sisyphus and the Ships Crew
This is the captain, engineering and medical crew of The Sisyphus. As a commercial vessel, these are Merchant Navy, but have an extensive background with the ship and the practical installation of the refits overseen by New World Industries. The crew is a close-knit family – with all that goes along with that. There will be links into the science and military teams, and play will revolve around interpersonal themes, the everyman exposed to the unknown and crisis management.
| James Oram, Master of the Sisyphus . | Ian Andrews | Fitzroy |
| First Mate Daniels | Eleanor Williams | Scott |
| Bosun Lope | John Neal | Scott |
| Chief Engineer Upworth | ||
| Dr Hallett, Ship’s Doctor | Jon Fowler | Tyne |
| Electrical Officer Faris | Patricia Kirsch | Scott |
| Radio Officer Ricks | Matt Overton | Scott |
| Able Seaman Cole | ||
| Able Seaman Rosenthal | Katrina Colvin | Scott |
| Ships Nurse Ledward | Lu Dunraven | Tyne |
| Deckhand Iselin | Haplocke Sixpence | Scott |
| Deckhands Smith, Jones, White and Brown | The Ref Team as required |
The New World Industries Team
This is the scientific and engineering team who have designed and built some of the innovations fitted to The Sisyphus. They are along partly to see their new inventions in action and partly as support if anything malfunctions or requires adjustment. They are competitive with one another, specialists in their fields, and protective of their reputations. Play will revolve around weird science, liason, exploring the deep background, interpersonal politics and some crisis management.
| Dr Lanchester, Managing Director, NWI | Antony Andrews | Sir Galahad |
| Dr Thesiger, Operations Director, NWI | Helly Dabill | Coventry |
| Dr Brockton, Head of Propulsion Research | John Kearney | Thames |
| Dr Scott, Head of Materials Research | Thames | |
| Prof. Abronsius, Head of Engineering | Dan Hooper | Thames |
| Dr West, Head of Electromagnetics | Jonathan Fry | Thames |
| Dr Gernsback, Head of Field Research | Julian Lynch | Thames |
| Professor Loyola, Head of New Technologies | Maria Shulga | Thames |
The Ministry of Defence
This is the team around the Defence Secretary and the procurement specialists in the Ministry who have been working with New World Industries. They are on board to protect their investment, to claim credit if all goes well, and to apportion blame if all goes badly. Play will revolve around politics, both national and interpersonal; intrigue, investigation, key decision-making under pressure and crisis management.
- There are expected to be approximately five player parts available
| Lambert MP (Con), Minister for the Navy | David Townsend | Portland |
| Debrett, Undersecretary of State for the Navy | David Kibblewhite | Portland |
| Caine, Civil Service | Triss Gutowska | Portland |
| Ashe, Civil Service | Mia Kyhn | Portland |
| Parker, Civil Service | Florence Smith Nicholls | Portland |
| Corvin MP (Lab), Chair of the Defence Select Committee | Sarah Lascelles | Portland |
The Observation Team
This is a group of scientific consultants who are not associated with New World Industries but who are here at the Ministry’s behest to observe, assure and verify the experiments. They are a wide variety of people from disparate backgrounds with unusual specialisms. Play will involve liason, investigation, politics, puzzle-solving, and weird science
| MacReady, Folklorist | Erin Marsh | Wight |
| Dr Clark, Clinical Psychologist | Travis Smith | Wight |
| Professor Childs, Neurosurgeon | Elina Gouliou | Wight |
| Dr Copper, Quantum Physicist | John Scott | Wight |
| Dr Garry, Sociologist | Clive Evans | Wight |
| Norris, Sonar Engineer | Iain Brown | Dover |
| Palmer, Naval Architect | Roz Horton | Wight |
The Royal Navy
This is a small group of Navy officers and ratings aboard to liaise between The Sisyphus and the Royal Navy vessels on maneuvers in the area. There are some ties to the Sisyphus crew and to the MoD. Play will involve military scenarios, liason, possible action, influencing the civilian authorities and some exploration of personal traumas.
| Lt Cmdr Burke, RN | Cole Bennett | Seymour |
| Rating Dietrich | Hannah Briar | Seymour |
| Rating Crowe | Andra Kurlis | Seymour |
The Press
What would a voyage like this be without a press contingent? This small group of individuals represents two publications authorised to observe under MoD guidelines. Their presence is unwelcome but tolerated. Play here will involve intrigue, investigation, arriving as an outsider to the larger group, risk-taking, some action, and exploration of political and ethical themes.
| Windrich, Defence Intelligence Quarterly Reporter | Simon Rogers | Dover |
| Carter, New Scientist Reporter | Victoria Smith | Dover |
| Greenwald, Jane’s Fighting Ships Reporter | Alexander Bolingbroke | Dover |
| Jones, New Scientist Photographer | Oliver St.John | Dover |
| Bernstein, Jane’s Fighting Ships Photographer | Oliver Facey | Dover |