Fantasy Program:

Fantasy Fiasco Teen Game Night

Introduction
In this program 3-10 high school students will play the storytelling game Fiasco. The games website
describes it as follows:

FIASCO is an award-winning, GM-less game for 3-5 players, designed to be played in a few hours
with six-sided dice and no preparation. During a game you will engineer and play out stupid,
disastrous situations, usually at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust. Its like making your own
Coen brothers movie, in about the same amount of time itd take to watch one.

This particular program will use a customized Fiasco Playset (see attached Magical School Playset)
set in a magical boarding school. The game will require registration in advance to ensure that the
librarian does not have to supervise more than two games at once. If the program is repeated, the
teens will become more familiar with the game and less guidance will be required, allowing more
groups to be added as space allows.

Program Goals
Encourage teens to read fantasy novels
Promote teen game collection
Foster community and friendship among teen patrons
Increase teen awareness of storytelling elements such as characterization, setting, and
motivation
Build improvisation and storytelling skills

Activities
We will begin with an introduction to the game and the books that inspired the setting (see attached
Readalike List). The official game book is intended for an adult audience. It includes a significant
amount of swearing, violence, and sex. These elements have been toned down so that teens will feel
more comfortable playing out the scenes.
(10-15 minutes)

Next is The Setup, which involves forming relationships between characters through dice rolls and the
options in the playset. Tabletop, a Youtube show that demonstrates different games, has a three-part
episode that plays through Fiasco. For clarification on how the game is played, I recommend watching
the videos, which can be found here: Setup, Part 1, Part II. Be aware that this series does not tone
down the more adult elements of the game.
(15-30 minutes)

After the Setup we will begin the game starting with Act I, followed by the Tilt, Act II, and finally the
Aftermath. These involve the players acting out scenes based on the background established in The
Setup. The game is a collaborative storytelling game that allows for extreme creativity and player
interaction. For a more detailed description of gameplay visit
http://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco. On the website you can read reviews, play reports, and
buy the book or pdf. Having the book or pdf is essential to set up and play the game.
(2-2.5 hours)

After the Aftermath is settled, the students will have some time to talk about their experience. The
librarian will provide them each with the Readalike List and encourage them to join for other game
nights. The librarian would also invite participants to fill out a survey to evaluate the program.
(5-10 minutes)

Total time: 2.5-3.5 hours

This event would likely be scheduled from 4 PM to 7:30 PM. Due to the potential for variations in
length of gameplay, it is recommended that the librarian have shorter board games or card games
available for participants who may be waiting on parents for rides. Because the program would
intersect with dinnertime, food and refreshments should be provided.

Setting
This program would be held in a public library. The program should take place away from the reading
areas as it has the potential to become noisy. A conference or meeting room would be ideal.

Planning Chronology
Six months before event
Get event approval
Purchase Fiasco
Three months before event
Write the Playset
Create Readalike List
Reserve space
Write press release
Design flyers
Contact food donors (if necessary)
One month before event
Contact press
Begin registration
Hang flyers (Target game stores, youth theatre groups, bookstores, etc)
Print materials (Playset and Readalike List)
Test the Playset
Contact pizza parlors about donating food
One day before event
Email reminders to registered participants
Double-check materials
Order the pizza and get drinks
Morning of the event
Set up Welcome sign (just before event)
Materials and Resources
1-2 staff members to guide players through the rules
4 6-sided dice per player (half one color, half a second color)
Several dozen index cards
Pencils
Fiasco book or pdf
Printed materials
Food and refreshments

Estimated cost
Index cards and pencils should already be available. Dice should cost less than $10 total. The book is
$25 for the print version or $12.99 for the pdf. Printing costs will be negligible. Food will be the
largest expense. If we get large pizzas to serve 10 participants at least 2 slices each, we need 3 pizzas.
Dominos sells large pizzas for $10 each, so the total pizza cost would be $30. A 2-liter drink costs
about $1, so if we purchase one bottle per pizza, we will spend $3. This makes the total program cost
$68 with the book and $56 with the pdf if the maximum number of participants register

Funding source(s), if needed.

Local pizza places may be able to offer a discount or provide free pizza. Other costs could come from
program funding.

Goal Evaluation
Our primary method of evaluating the effectiveness of this program would be to monitor the
circulation of the readalike books over the next six months. By monitoring the circulation for six
months, we could determine if the program developed a long-term interest in those materials. Game
collection use and returning participants would also be indicators of success. As another method, the
library could request via email (if teens are willing to provide one) that participants complete an
anonymous, voluntary survey about their enjoyment of the program and what they feel they learned
from it. If the program is successful, the library could host additional Fiasco programs using other
genre-themed playsets.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Samantha Belmont Sawyer
Teen Librarian
Pretend Library
54 Imagination Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70820
555-123-4567
sbelmo1@lsu.edu
www.pretendlibrary.org

Fantasy Fiasco Teen Game Night

Pretend Librarys Teen Department is hosting an evening of collaborative storytelling. High school
teens are invited to join us to play the storytelling game Fiasco. Players will play out scenes as the
residents of Mistress Marvillas Corrective College for Miscreant Mages, Mystics, and Magical Beings.
Experienced players and newcomers are welcome. The event will be held on January 28, 2017, at 4
oclock in the evening in the Imaginary Conference Room. Space is limited to ten participants, so
please register in advance at pretendlibrary.org or by calling the Teen Department Reference Desk at
555-123-4567. For more information, contact Samantha Belmont Sawyer at 555-123-4567 or email
her at sbelmo1@lsu.edu.

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 Doyouenjoytellingstories?
Doyouwanttobuildyourimprovskills?
DoyouplaytabletopRPGs?
AreyouwaitingforyourHogwartsletter?

Joinusfor

FantasyFiascoTeenGameNight
January28,2017
4oclockPM
HostedbyPretendLibrarysTeenDept.
Registerinadvance
atpretendlibrary.org
orcall555-123-4567formoreinformation