Here is a quick rundown of what exactly an ORG is, and how it differs from classic EM games!
Definition
ORG stands for Online Reality Game. It takes the classic Big Brother, Survivor and The Amazing Race games that we play to a larger scale. A classic ORG will last roughly two months, and will see a bigger variation of challenges and gameplay! On EpicMafia a game usually lasts several hours. You have to make connections, alliances and decisions on the spot and you have less time to think things through. In an ORG you have more time to build connections, alliances aren’t something thrown together in a quick chatzy but rather will often see people developing closer bonds. This results in a few things. Firstly, jurors that are more attached to the game and less likely to vote on a whim (if you’ve invested over a month into a game you tend to think your vote through a bit more) and also a game that’s less challenge reliant and more reliant on social/strategic gameplay. In an ORG the jury process is also very different. It will typically involve those in the final 2 or 3 posting a google doc with their speech, often several pages long. Jurors will then respond with their own google doc of questions which the finalists can reply to. The process is more drawn out but often results in richer discussions.
Format
Most ORGs are played using some form of instant messaging service. The most popular ones are Skype, Facebook and Discord. Players are typically expected to log in and touch base at least once per day, however the more active you are the more likely you are to do well! Players can communicate one on one, but there will always be a group chat (i.e a house chat for Big Brother, or a tribe chat for Survivor). In addition, all players will have a private chat with the hosts, where they will post their own confessionals, challenge submissions and votes! Aspects of an online game which can be difficult to manage in our minigames are typically enforced in ORGs. For example, in a Survivor ORG, players on separate tribes may not be allowed to communicate. This is adhered to with great vigilance so if you’re in an ORG, don’t try to circumvent it!
Themes
Many ORGs will have themes! These themes are typically similar to the ones you’ll see on the actual television programs and are generally embedded throughout the game. So a Big Brother game may have a “Winter Wonderland” theme, where all challenges and twists are related to that theme. Alternatively a Survivor game might be “Heroes vs Villains”, seeing players separated according to their perceived strengths.
Rules
All ORGs have rules which are monitored by the hosts of the game. Most of these are common sense rules, i.e don’t edit your submissions or cheat, don’t speak to people you aren’t allowed to speak to etc. Should you be accepted into an ORG, the hosts will likely clarify the rules for you prior to it beginning! I’ve attached some basic rules used in EM ORGs here for your reference though. Just take note that not all ORGs adhere to the same rules and if you have any q’s you should ALWAYS ask your hosts. If you break the rules or you are inactive, depending on the severity of your actions you’ll likely receive a strike. The system is pretty simple, three strikes and you’re out.
The Challenges
The challenges in ORGs vary from those on EM in a bunch of ways. Typically players will be given 24 hours to do a challenge. Most challenges will either be a submission based challenge (where you send the hosts your score) or a live challenge, which you undertake in your personal chat. Some of the classic ORG challenges you might experience are as follows:
Flash Games
When playing a flash game, you’ll have 24 hours to play the game before submitting your best score. Be aware that most ORGs will NOT accept your high score, and many will ask you to send proof of identity with your score, so for example including your skype in the image, as well as the date and time to verify that this is current!
Puzzles
Some puzzles are hosted as flash games, and some are live challenges. These typically involve some logical reasoning and can sometimes take a little bit longer to complete!
Endurance
An endurance challenge in an ORG is typically more drawn out, and may involve up to 24 hours of activity. For example you could be asked to post every 10 minutes for 24 hours and the player with the most posts wins the challenge.
Alliance
Alliance challenges typically see players working together to win. A classic example of this would be a variation of gunshow, or an election.
How to Play
Want to play in an ORG? Check out this thread for some current open applications!
https://epicmafia.com/topic/87194
Current ORGs
We stan our users! You can see who is playing in a current org here!
https://epicmafia.com/topic/87195
I still don't get it...
If you have any questions please feel free to PM me or ask in the comments below!
