Let's Play HOMESTUCK

[ardentApathy]

ACT 0

What is the Ultimate Riddle?

What is Homestuck?

You are at the beginning.

The Answer is up to you.



>Proceed to final act.

HOMESTUCK

[ardentApathy]

***NOTICE: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT***
THE NEW OP CAN BE FOUND HERE.
PLEASE DIRECT ANY INQUIRIES TO RANTER OR HER CURRENT CO-GM.

Q: What is this?
A: This is a riddle. It is also the Riddle.

Q: What is that supposed to mean?
A: That is for you to find out.

Q: How do I play?
A: Simply post here or message me expressing an interest to join. Only four people may play in a given session at any one time. There may be up to two sessions running concurrently. The first person to join a session will have a special role: only they can submit answers. They will also receive fewer clues than everyone else, but their clues will be more important to solving the ultimate riddle, as well as the Riddle.

Q: Ok. So... how do I play?
A: Each player will be sent clues via PM. Each message will be its own self-contained riddle. You must work together to solve it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If any part of a riddle, or any solutions are posted in this thread, you will instantly may receive a GAME OVER. You will not get to play again. Please don't spoil the experience for future players.
ADDENDUM: Spoilers under spoiler tags are still spoilers, and will be treated as such.
ADDENDUMx2: Subtle hints that don't directly reference the riddles are fine, and make the game more fun, as long as you don't indicate that it's a hint. That's my job. Remember, you run the risk of an unrecoverable GAME OVER if you violate these rules.
ADDENDUMx3: While I may hold all the answers, I don't pretend to hold ALL the Answers. <== This is an example of a subtle hint.
ADDENDUMx4: Revealing any of the endings in any way, shape, or form may have DIRE CONSEQUENCES for all of paradox space. You have been warned.

Q: So how are we supposed to work together?
A: PMs, Instant Messenging, phone calls... be creative. This is meant as a metaphor for Homestuck, and the kids weren't able to talk directly with each other either.

Q: What ARE we allowed to post?
A: That's tricky. Anything that gives away one or more of the riddles is a definite no. Other than that, feel free to post to your heart's content. If you accidentally stumble on an answer while talking with non-players, I won't hold that against you.

Q: What if we get a GAME OVER? Can we post hints for other players?
A: There's nothing stopping you, although I would prefer if you didn't.

Q: What the heck was that first post about?
A: A taste of what's to come if you decide to play.

Q: Can you give us any hints?
A: I will say one thing: pay attention to the possible meanings of the words. Everything is important. EVERYTHING.

Q: Are you just making this up as you go along?
A: Everything has been predetermined. I don't expect that will change in the future, either. And I DEFINITELY won't change the game on you while you're still playing.

To answer your question, though, yes. Yes I am. (heehee)

NOTE: This is not to say that your responses won't have a significant influence on the story. They most certainly will! How both these things can be the case is part of the mystery. And, I think, part of the fun!

ONE FINAL NOTE: You CAN influence your own destiny in this game, no matter how much it seems like you can't.

ANOTHER FINAL NOTE: When you are done, you will have created an algorithm for Homestuck.

FINAL FINAL NOTE: At the end of Homestuck the webcomic, I will reveal everything to the best of my ability. Provided you ask me first.

THE REAL FINAL NOTE: My answers will NOT be influenced by the end of Homestuck.

Feel free to ask more questions, and I might add them to this post if I deem them important.

So, am I right in thinking that answering these riddles will be a bit like playing Homestuck ourselves?
Or is it more that the answers are Homestuck related?
Or...could it be that is one of the things you can't tell us?

A: I don't think it's revealing too much to say that it's both!

As to why, well... that would be telling.

I went ahead and added a couple of addendums to the first addendum in the FAQ. Now I'll explain why.

If this thread is successful, I will consider it to be my greatest contribution to this forum, and to Homestuck. But it can only succeed if YOU succeed.

I am reminded of a quote I made about my title, the Page of Text, recently:

I like the idea of the Page being the active counterpart of the Maid; someone who assists others with his aspect in order to help himself. So... I guess my schtick would be typing up advice, encouragement, etc. for others in order to further my own interests? That's... remarkably accurate.

As such, I am fine with giving hints. In fact, I love it! However, I have a few rules as far as hint-giving is concerned:

1. They must be subtle.
2. They must not directly reference the riddles or the solutions.
3. They must not be labeled as hints unless I myself am the one doing it. (see: subtle)
4. If you ask me for hints, I will not give them.
5. The previous rules may not always apply.
6. Only you can give yourself a GAME OVER.

Ensuring the riddles and solutions remain a mystery to everyone until they start playing is key to the mission of this thread. <== subtle hint right thar

To my team (which will totally kick ass): How shall we communicate?

A: This question quite succinctly sums up the goal of HOMESTUCK: communicate. Less succinctly, it is: we communicate. Less succinctly, it is: shall we communicate? Least succinctly of all, it is: How shall we communicate?

I have just now given you the tools to my own destruction.

This is a result of my very being.

Hmm so.. if I THINK I have a possible answer (that is probably very, very wrong) where do I send it?

A: Anyone may answer any question they choose, in any manner they choose. However, the strength of an answer varies proportionally with the number of people who agree with it.

Truth ?

A: This is simultaneously the only answer to a riddle, while also being the only answer to ALL Riddles.

It is also, still simultaneously with the previous statement, the only Answer to a Riddle, while also being the only Answer to ALL riddles.

If you comprehended those two statements, you have what you need to solve HOMESTUCK.

Also, I feel I should mention that as of now, I have 413 possible endings in mind. Your choices will determine which you receive. The first session to unlock each ending will be noted in the HALL OF FAME.

---
SCRATCH:
Alpha session:
1. InoxFy
2. retroScavenger
3. Ross_Varn
4. MasterBlade

Beta session:
1. Godbot
2. Legendary
3. Liliumus
4. problemProtagonist

Blue session:
1. Liliumus
2. El Ninja Monkey
3. Konkoa
4. MegaRock35
5. Gecky
6. ardentApathy

Red session:
1. liquidMountain
1. Naristar
2. Legendary
3. PlumFinder
4. El Ninja Monkey
5. insanityIncarnate
6. ardentApathy

SQUIB:
ALPHA
-InoxFy
-retroScavenger
-Ross_Varn
-MasterBlade

BETA
-Godbot
-Legendary
-Ranter
-problemProtagonist

GAMMA
-ravemastaj
-foliageFornicator
-AcariStorm
-Schazer
-MQuinny1234
-GreenElectrodes
-DaVici
-Pyotr Romanov

DELTA
-Liliumus
-El Ninja Monkey
-Konkoa
-MegaRock35
-Gecky
-Juju
-MasterBlade
-Naristar
-sonic3535
-shudder
-azhdrake
-ardentApathy
-problemProtagonist

HALL OF FAME:
1. THE PRINCESS OF
2. THE DECEASED MOTHERFUCKING CRAB
3. THE SHIP OF DREAMS
4. THE GAME CORNER
5. THE TRIO OF FORCE
6. THE GODDAMN WORLD EATER
7. THE MAID OF BLOOD
8. THE SPY
9. THE HIGHEST SCHOOL
10. THE BINARY DIVIDE
11. THE AVID DREAMER
12. THE OPPRESSED
13. THE HEAVY UP-PRESSURE
14. THE DOWNWARD PRESS
15. THE HEAVY PRESS
16. THE HEAVIEST PRESS
17. THE SLIGHT ACTOR
18. THE HEAVIEST ACTOR
19. THE GREAT HUZZAH!
20. THE PRINCE OF HOPE
21. THE NATURAL TWENTY
22. THE FINAL TWO

[InoxFy]

Hnn... this has potential!

[ardentApathy]

Hnn... this has potential!

Is this an "I'd like to join"?

[retroScavenger]

JOINING.

[Ross_Varn]

Yes. Yes it is. Oh wait no that was me.

[MasterBlade]

In too.

[ardentApathy]

Once I hear back from InoxFy, we can start the first session. If he doesn't want to play, the next person who wants to join will get the fourth spot.


Oooh, this is exciting!

[InoxFy]

Hit me with it! I'm in

I might have to go to sleep soon, however.

[Ross_Varn]

As will I. Best approach will probably be a Skype group. MasterBlade and Retro both have my contact, so InoxFy, should we meet up on Skype?

[ardentApathy]

Hit me with it! I'm in

I might have to go to sleep soon, however.

That's perfectly fine! There's no time limit.

For being the first to express interest, you get the honor of being the first player!

I will send each of you your first PMs as soon as possible.

Remember, there can be only one Answer. <== subtle hint

[ardentApathy]

The first clues have been sent!

Don't be discouraged if you get an answer wrong the first time. You can (almost) always play again! <== subtle hint

[ardentApathy]

Also, InoxFy: this won't affect anything important, but it will affect something. What gender are you?

If you don't reply, I'll just end up using "thon" later. And by later, I mean at the very end of the game.

^Also, this was an unintentional clue. Just pointing it out for you guys because I'm feeling helpful.

EDITx2: Also, tell me your birthday while you're at it. Month and day only, please.

EDIT: Added an important addendum to the important note in the FAQ.

[Godbot]

Hm, all right, I'm curious. I'm in.

[ardentApathy]

Hm, all right, I'm curious. I'm in.

Sweet! Since there's already a session running, I'll have to put you on the waiting list.

Hmm... maybe having concurrent sessions isn't a bad idea after all. Maybe if one session takes too long to solve a riddle, maybe 3 days, I'll start another session running alongside that one. I suppose there's no reason those sessions couldn't cooperate either!

Also, I'm curious as to whether this is solvable to someone with no knowledge of Homestuck. I think it is. In fact, I think such a person would be more suited to solving it, which excites me. <== subtle hint? I think so

EDIT: Also, unless you withdraw later, you will be the primary player of that session. Lucky you!

[ardentApathy]

Here's an interesting tidbit. I just now transferred the entire Riddle from Notepad to MS Word, so I can format it beforehand. In the default MS Word 2010 size and font, it is 13 pages long.

Guess what number shows up on the 4th page.

EDIT: Notepad is my notepad, Word is my storyboard. <== VERY subtle hint

EDITx2: Also, just to fuck with people's heads: the fact that "VERY subtle hint" is a hint by itself is, in itself, a hint.

[Legendary]

I'll sign up.

[ardentApathy]

Godbot AND Legendary, eh? You guys are shaping up to have the highest average post count of any session. Out of two. I didn't say it was MUCH of an accomplishment. :P

[MasterBlade]

Bah, screw the post counts. We can take 'em! >: D

[Legendary]

How can you take us, when we're already nabbed?

No wait. That doesn't work.

[ardentApathy]

Added an important note to the FAQ. You guys might want to read it.

Bah, screw the post counts. We can take 'em! >: D

I certainly hope that's not just pride speaking. >:]

[Legendary]

So I shouldn't mention the war?

[ardentApathy]

So I shouldn't mention the war?

As long as it has nothing to do with the riddles, I don't care what you post. And now you've got me curious.

[Ranter]

Are you going to play as DM to keep some plot structure, or are we going to create the plot together as characters?

Oh yeah, reading the first post is something I should have done, huh?

I'd love to join if you'll have me!

[ardentApathy]

Are you going to play as DM to keep some plot structure, or are we going to create the plot together as characters?

Both. Again, this is part of the mystery.

EDIT: OHSHI- I just had the perfect idea. I know I said I wouldn't change the game on you guys while you're still playing, but this has nothing to do with the first riddle. Please forgive me.