Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

credits $6000 m o v i e
words and graphics by jim pinto $6000 Dollar Movie is a story roleplaying game about a dreadful B-Movie
that languished for years before finally being released to a limited
artwork by The Forge Studios
number of screens. Portions of the film have been damaged from
proofing and assistance by James Glover and Martijn Tolsma years of neglect and other parts are just unwatchable. Crippled with
$6000 Movie is Game 25 in the Protocol game series. production problems, delays, illness, and actor changes, the final piece
Inspired by GMZero. plays out like a glitter-stained collage of leftover jigsaw pieces, while the
characters are random bits of nonsense drawn from the imagination of
a confused screenwriter. Will the audience enjoy the premiere? Or will
the flop prove what the producers knew all along?
contents Each game in the Protocol series is zero-prep for 3 or more players.
introduction........................................................................................... 2 The game length is exponentially long, so games with more players take
getting started...................................................................................... 3 more time to complete. The Protocol Series requires a deck of poker
motivations............................................................................................. 5 cards as well as tokens to track drama points.
relationships........................................................................................... 5 This series presumes some understanding of GMless game protocol:
gameplay................................................................................................... 6 scene-framing, shared authority, and so on. If you’ve never played a
scenes GMless game, try one of the GMZero games such as Dying Memoryes, or
opening scene........................................................................................ 6 George’s Children. A free pdf of game advice — GMZero — is available
vignettes................................................................................................ 6 for download at drivethrurpg.com.
interrogations..................................................................................... 6
interludes.............................................................................................. 7
ensembles............................................................................................... 7
introduction
scenes........................................................................................................ 8 $6000 Movie is the twenty-fifth game utilizing the Protocol game
locations.................................................................................................. 8 mechanic. Light and quick, the system gives players everything they
spending drama points.......................................................................... 9 need to start playing immediately, doing away with over-explanation
optional rules........................................................................................ 9 and getting right to the tools.
overview................................................................................................... 9 In $6000 Movie, players take on the roles of directors outside the action
backgrounds.......................................................................................... 10 and characters inside the action, using the ebb and flow of four different
advanced roles..................................................................................... 10 scene-framing styles to tell meaningful stories about characters in
names....................................................................................................... 11 crisis. Specifically, they are actors in a quickly made movie, with a small
scenes...................................................................................................... 12 budget and poor editing.
character sheet.................................................................................... 12
kickstarter backers............................................................................ 13

Copyright 2014 © post world games and jim pinto.

All rights reserved.

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

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roles
getting started Roles provide flavor and context, but no mechanical benefit.

Each character is an actor appearing in a low-budget film. Time has • The Kamikaze Pilot. Looking for a way to die.
ravaged some of the film, while poor editing and writing have made • Farmer #2. More screentime than farmer #3.
sure that any consistency the movie had is long gone. The characters
• Schrodinger’s Cat. TBD.
need names, roles, motivations, and relationships, as well as an
understanding of the plot. Once each player has completed the • Woman Who Walks on Walls. In 3-D.
following steps, you are ready.
• The Yogi. Really needs to work on his accent.
• Name your character
• The Hooker Who Dies at the End. Who really dies.
• Select one role for your character — this has no mechanical benefit
• The Guy in a Monster Costume. Not a furry.
• Determine a character's motivation by drawing a card
• The Dead-Beat Dad. Who just wants to get his kids back.
• Determine a relationship between two characters by drawing a card
• The Blackjack Dealer. Also wearing an eye-patch.
• Determine elements about the game world
• Body Double for Mr. Keaton. Mr. Keaton is not contractually
deck shuffling obligated to appear in this film.
A standard deck of cards is shuffled at the beginning of the game and • Firefighter. Who turns out to be the one who was starting the fires
again (only) if the deck runs out of cards. Used cards are discarded. all along.
Do not return Motivations or Relationships to the deck. The same goes
for Scenes and Locations during play.
The use of jokers is optional.
drama points
Each player starts the game with one drama point and only gains
additional points during interludes and interrogations. See page 5.

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motivations world building

Motivations are determined by drawing one random poker card from Each player selects one ingredient from the list below. If you are playing
the deck for each character. The motivation descriptions are vague — a 3-player game, then each player selects two. Now is a good time to
specificity is your job. For instance, the ♠10 is a motivation of family, determine the era and place you’ll be setting your story.
impulsively. The player may define this motivation as doing whatever it
• Which of the characters is pregnant? Who kills Hitler in the end?
takes to protect her family.
• Which of the characters is secretly a cop? Who befriends Hitler?
A list of motivations is on page 5.
• Does the script call for cockroaches, ants, or spiders?
relationships • Since you can’t afford to film in a lighthouse, what do you use as the
Relationships are determined by choosing (any) two characters and replacement?
drawing one random poker card from the deck. The pair of characters • Why were all of the butler scenes cut from the movie?
share this relationship. The relationship descriptions are vague.
Specificity is your job. For instance, the ♣10 is a relationship of • Why are there two witches in the film when the script calls for four.
burdensome trust. The players sharing this relationship may define it as • Name and describe the victim who dies in the opening credits.
an ongoing issue of trust between two brothers who have lied to each
other since childhood. • Name and describe the antagonist before the opening narration
because the script does such a poor job of introducing her.
A list of relationships is on page 5.
• Describe three details about the haunted robot in Act II.

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motivations relationships
Suit Suit
♣ Confusingly ♣ Burden
♦ Redundantly ♦ Complex
♥ Obsessively ♥ Fortune
♠ Impulsively ♠ Ominous

value value
A Save Earth A Abduction
2 Rescue Someone 2 Magic
3 Duty 3 Reconciliation
4 Envy/Greed/Desperation/Fear 4 Codependence
5 Evil Twin 5 Fist-Bump
6 Time Machine 6 Switch-at-Birth
7 Undo Time Machine 7 Evil Twin/Twin
8 The Medallion 8 Criminal/Monetary
9 Hyperactivity 9 Judgmental
10 Family 10 Trust
J Retribution J Rivalry
Q Love/Hate/Lust Q Lustful
K Reward K Outsiders
Joker Joker
Draw two and combine the results Draw again, adding another character to the Relationship

“I don’t care what it costs. Bring my son back to life, doctor.”

“If only we had a second set of surgical hands. I can’t do this
alone.”
(Enter Evil Twin)
“You don’t have to work alone… ever again.”

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interrogations
game pl ay (diamonds ♦)
While creating a story of their characters’ filming of $6000 Movie, the Interrogations involve the director asking questions to one character.
players take turns directing scenes. Although this document provides The director selects a player and steals one drama point from him. Then
the tools for framing the action, map-making and location naming are the director asks five questions — in or out of character — which must
left to the players. A chart of scenes is on page 8. be answered by that player in character.
Each turn the active player (director) draws two cards, which determine If the interrogation is in character, the director may ask the questions
the scene type — vignette, interrogation, interlude, or ensemble — as from the point of view of an NPC or his own character. This process
well as the location. The scene’s type (suit) and atmosphere (value) are should feel organic. If the interrogation is out of character, the director
determined by the first card, while the location is determined by the asks the questions in an abstract fashion, as though going down a list.
second card. For instance, the director draws a ♦6 and a ♣7 indicating The questions can be anything fitting the theme.
an interrogation (♦) about shadows at a bad close-up/poorly-spliced (♣) The director draws a ♦4 for scene — Interrogation about Lies about
volcano. Revelations — and a ♠7 — Obviously Someone’s Basement Volcano. The
director decides that Henry has been cornered by his ex-girlfriend while
the opening scene at the base of a dormant volcano. Lillian wants to know the truth about
The opening scene of the game is always a vignette at a Supermarket. why Henry broke up with her, because the story about him having cancer
The vignette focus is either Rice Krispies or Fire Alarm/Smoke Machine. obviously wasn’t true.
Determine randomly which player narrates this vignette, but do not
advice
draw any cards. Afterwards, take turns until every player has directed
Ask leading questions. Avoid yes/no questions, or questions that can be
four scenes.
reduced to short answers. What and why questions are great. Did or can
questions are not. “Why are you waiting for reinforcements?”
vignettes (clubs ♣)
npcs
Vignettes involve no actual dialog, merely setting the atmosphere for
The director may add one NPC to an interlude or interrogation, but
the story. The director determines the location from the card drawn and
the characters remain the focus of the scene. Vignettes do not have
narrates a brief scene. A vignette shouldn’t take more than a minute or
dialogue, but any number of NPCs may color the story background.
two to narrate.
Ensembles may have NPCs, but they are controlled/run by the director.
The director draws a ♣10 for scene — Vignette about Two Heads are Better Other players may introduce NPCs by spending one drama point.
than One — and a ♦Q — Low-Budget Backdrop High School Dance. “No
one would suspect that Bob and Henry would attend the dance. Nor would
they suspect they were wearing the same exact costume… at the same time.”
advice
Keep your vignettes short and simple. Narrate enough information to In $6000 Movie, scenes are about the poor ideas of an ‘inspired’
set the tone, but don’t overdo it by dragging the action on too long. writer/director transformed into B-level quality. When you are
Concise sentences are a writer’s best friend.
the director, make the most of your scenes by having director’s
friends showcase their lack of talent.

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interludes (hearts ♥) ensembles (spades ♠)

Interludes involve two (and only two) characters with a pre-existing Ensembles involve all of the characters. Like an interlude, the director
relationship. Neither of these characters needs to be the director’s determines the plot of the scene, as well as the location. The director
character. The director determines the location and sets the scene based may preempt the scene as much as he likes, but once the ensemble
on the cards drawn. The scene runs as long as the director likes, without starts, the players should let things develop organically. The director
being self-indulgent, calling “scene” when the characters have said still has the right to call “scene” at any moment, but any player may
or done enough. An interlude involves only one location. Should the override the director by spending one drama point to end a scene early,
characters leave the location, the scene ends. or to extend a scene longer.
All players not involved in the scene gain one drama point at the end of The director has drawn the ♠3 for scene — Ensemble about Revelations —
the interlude. and the ♥6 for location — Outside Power Station. The director decides the
group has reached the power station just as the systems to go offline and the
The director has drawn the ♥5 for scene — Interlude about Double Plot
power fades. Now there is no way to use the electrical current to kickstart
Twist — and the ♣8 for location — Bad Close-Up/Poorly-Spliced Uncle
the volcano into reverse eruption. Everyone is clearly going to die in a shower
Jessup’s Farm. The director decides that Henry and Lillian have escaped the
of lava and ash. With no time left, each character — in turn — reveals the
thundering volcano by hiding inside a barn. There, Henry reveals to Lillian
truth to the others about the secrets they’ve been hiding.
that he was really Bob all along, while Lillian reveals to Bob that she’s
pregnant with Henry’s baby. advice
Ensembles involve everyone and should be allowed to run their course.
advice
But not too long. Eventually the characters will start spewing every kind
Interludes are mostly about the drama between two characters. While
of theory and idea, which slows play and distracts from the story.
the interlude can be used to advance the plot, this is secondary to the
interpersonal actions and reactions of the characters. An alternative Let everyone get a say, but once you resolve the scene’s primary focus,
example of the scene above could be the pair burning down Uncle it’s time to end things. Don’t forget, if there’s conflict, the scene ends on
Jessup’s farmhouse with both of their evil twins inside. its own, unless someone spends one Drama Point.
resolving conflict
In the Protocol Game Series, whenever two or more characters reach a act iii
moment of unresolvable conflict one of the following things happens: Players take turns directing scenes. The order is not important. Players
may decide to take turns in a random order, clockwise order, or even bid
• In an interlude, the director decides who wins the conflict, narrates
to be the next director. Just make sure everyone is involved and no one
the conclusion, and ends the scene.
directs two times in a row.
• In an ensemble, the scene ends, which leaves the conflict dangling.
The players may also decide to have the game end only after all of the
• Should the players wish to override any of these rules, they must face cards have been revealed (during character creation and game play)
spend one drama point, or in the case of a tie, more drama points for a longer game, or all the aces are revealed for a shorter game.
than anyone else. The winner narrates the conclusion.
Once the characters begin Act III, each player narrates his character’s
• Should a scene end unresolved, this creates a cliffhanger effect. involvement in the finale. For each drama point a player still possesses,
Players may wish to resolve this in the following scene. But this isn’t he narrates (in turn) a vignette about his character. Once everyone has
always necessary. Use your best judgement. Sometimes the best spent their drama points, each player determines if his character lives,
things are left unsaid. dies, ascends to the heavens, joins the aliens, contracts psoriasis,
Vignettes and interrogations have no conflict. is trampled by bulls, or is somehow changed by the ordeal.

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scenes locations
Suit Suit
♣ Vignette ♣ Bad Close-Up/Poorly-Spliced
♦ Interrogation ♦ Low-Budget Backdrop
♥ Interlude ♥ Outside
♠ Ensemble ♠ Obviously Someone’s Basement

Value Value
A Medical/Surgery A Barbershop
2 Flashback/Out of Order 2 Corral
3 Revelations 3 Junkyard
4 Lies About Revelations 4 Bank
5 Double Plot Twist 5 Police Station
6 Shadows 6 Power Station
7 Fire Alarm/Smoke Machine 7 Volcano
8 Frodo’s Speech 8 Uncle Jessup’s Farm
9 Death Ray 9 The Water Cooler/Tower
10 Two Heads are Better Than One 10 Parking Structure
J Chaos J Drag Strip
Q Internal Conflict Q High School Dance
K External Conflict K Spaceship
Joker Joker
Monologue Gold-Plated Rocket Car

monologue
Monologues are (optional) solo scenes where the director’s character
(or an NPC) delivers a single speech that cannot be interrupted. The
director decides who else is at the location. The director gains one drama
point.

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drama points overview

Drama points are used to control the narration and finale. In addition, create characters
players may use drama points in the follow ways. • Shuffle a deck of poker cards
• The director may spend one drama point to discard a scene/ • Name characters
location card and draw a new one.
• Determine backgrounds (optional)
• During an interrogation, the player being interrogated may spend
• Select roles
one drama point to avoid answering one question.
• Determine motivations
• If a scene ends with unresolved conflict, any player may spend one
drama point to shift the conflict to an NPC who has already made • Determine relationships
an appearance in the story, or spend two drama points to shift
• Give each player one drama point
the conflict to a new NPC.
opening scene
• Vignette (Rice Krispies or Fire Alarm/Smoke Machine)
optional rules scenes
• Take turns directing scenes
• If the same suit is drawn three times in a row for a scene or location,
discard the card and draw a new one until a new suit appears. • Draw two cards: one scene type, one location

• At the beginning of the game, shuffle the deck and remove 10 cards • Gain drama points during interrogations
at random. Do not look at them. Remove them from play and never and other players’ interludes
shuffle them back into the deck. act iii
• Should a player ever run out of drama points, the director may give • Take turns narrating vignettes about the finale
him one of his, regardless of the scene type. end game
• On page 10 is a list of advanced roles and backgrounds. Neither • Who lives? Who dies? Who ascends to the heavens? Who joins the
is necessary to play the game, but each adds additional color and aliens? Who contracts psoriasis? Who is trampled by bulls? Who is
flavor. No character has more than one. When using backgrounds, somehow changed by the ordeal?
these are selected before roles. When using advanced roles, these
replace standard roles.
• Once per game, the players may decide to award one drama point
to a director who has framed a particularly good scene.
• Select a permanent director who does not play a character, but
instead runs the game like a traditional RPG. Cards are still drawn
for scenes. The game lasts for a number of scenes equal to four
times the number of players, or as long as the director chooses.

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backgrounds advanced roles

Suit Suit
♣ Ex-Military ♣ Understudy/Stand-In/Stunt Double
♦ Illegal Alien ♦ Also Getting E.P Credit
♥ Drifter ♥ Best Friend
♠ Lower Class Scum ♠ Getting Paid $15/Hour

value value
A Indentured A The Dead-Beat Dad
2 Poorly-Trained 2 The Blackjack Dealer
3 Aloof 3 Body Double for Mr. Keaton
4 Overshadowed 4 Farmer #2
5 Judgmental 5 Firefighter
6 Jilted/Scorned 6 The Guy in a Monster Costume
7 Well-Known 7 The Hooker Who Dies at the End
8 Sycophant/Bully 8 The Kamikaze Pilot
9 Regarded/Respected 9 Predator
10 Mysterious 10 Pre-Zombie
J Single-Minded J Schrodinger’s Cat
Q Sympathetic Q Woman Who Walks on Walls
K Crusader K The Yogi
Joker Joker
Scholar Volcano Expert

“If we can’t stop their evil plans, what hope is there for good?
Wait. Is that really the line? Is that some kind of Yoda-ism?” “So. What’s my character’s motivation.”
“CUT!” “You’re trying to save the earth… from the Volcano.”
“What?” “The Volcano?!? Which Volcano?”
“Don’t editorialize the script. Just read your lines!” “The one that is headed toward earth.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!?! There is no way I’m saying “Oh. For ****s sake!”
that again.”

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character names location names

Aaron Amanda Abracadabraz
Barbarella Beth Bonanza High School
Bo Buzz Cosmo Joe’s Liquor Emporium
Colt Crystal Dante’s Bikeshop
Daisy Daerick East New Heights
Dan Don Excalibur Cosignments
Elizabeth Eric Formula One Bakery
Erich Erik Greybeard Tavern
Erin Frank Hyperdrive Towing
Hank Harry Iocane Candy Store
Heather Henry Jackson’s Cafe and Gun Store
Hillary Howard Krypton Comics
James Jen Lexington and Concord Park
Jesse Jessica Lower Case Graphics
Jim John McClaine Mama’s Laundromat
Kelly Kris Middle Earth Records
Lang Larry North Umbrage Library
Lawrence Lenny Old World Burgers
Lester Lillian Quiet Please! Learning Center
Liz Luke Raven’s Wood Bookstore
Margaret Mary Rip Van Winkle’s Sleep Center
Napoleon Nixon Something Special Discount Store
Oscar Omar South of the Border Bar and Grill
Pedro Pendelton Tucker’s Vacuum Repair
President Lincoln Q Ultraviolet Garden Supplies
Robert Roscoe Video Junction
Summer Susan Western Lake Hospital
Terminator Terry Wicked Peak Amusement Park
Thomas Tom The X-Ray Museum
Tiff Tiffany Ye Ol’ Haberdashery
Vivian William Zenith Video Arcade

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

 name/role
scenes
vignettes (clubs ♣)
Vignettes involve no actual dialog, merely setting the atmosphere for background
the story. The director determines the location from the card drawn and
narrates a brief scene. A vignette shouldn’t take more than a minute or
two to narrate.
interrogations (diamonds ♦) motivation
Interrogations involve the director asking questions to one character.
The director selects a player and steals one drama point from him. Then
the director asks five questions — in or out of character — which must
be answered by that player in character. relationship
If the interrogation is in character, the director may ask the questions
from the point of view of an NPC or his own character. This process
should feel organic. If the interrogation is out of character, the director
asks the questions in an abstract fashion, as though going down a list. notes
The questions can be anything fitting the theme.
interludes (hearts ♥)
Interludes involve two (and only two) characters with a pre-existing
relationship. Neither of these characters needs to be the director’s scenes
character. The director determines the location and sets the scene based
on the cards drawn. The scene runs as long as the director likes, without
being self-indulgent, calling “scene” when the characters have said
or done enough. An interlude involves only one location. Should the drama points
characters leave the location, the scene ends. Spend one to end or extend an ensemble
All players not involved in the scene gain one drama point at the end of Spend one to resolve conflict
the interlude. Spend one to shift the conflict to an existing NPC
ensembles (spades ♠) Spend two to shift the conflict to a new NPC
Ensembles involve all of the characters. Like an interlude, the director Spend one (during an Interrogation) to avoid answering a question
determines the plot of the scene, as well as the location. The director
Spend during final narration
may preempt the scene as much as he likes, but once the ensemble
starts, the players should let things develop organically. The director
still has the right to call “scene” at any moment, but any player may
override the director by spending one drama point to end a scene early,
or to extend a scene longer.

character sheet

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)

 helper monkey Clayton Falconpunch Laura Scott Sophia Brandt
Diana Kwolkoski Stoll Daniel C Leslie Weatherstone Scott Jamieson
David Margowsky Lin Liren Sean Cameron Crane
regular backers David McGuire Malk sehmerus
Catherine
David Terhune Marc Majcher Seth Harris
Dale Murchie
Derek Guder Marcus Johnson Seth Johnson
Daniel Boles
Descendingform Mark Kilfoil Shane Hensley
Ed Pegg
Diana Stoll Mark Nau Solid Art Labs
Fernando
DivNull Productions Martijn Tolsma Stephen Kilpatrick
Hana Kucharova
Ed Possing Martin Blake Steve Bean
James Wood
Felix Girke Michael Bergh Hansen Steve Dulson
José Luis Porfirio
FelTK Michael Leader Steven Lord
Julian G Hicks
Filthy Monkey Michael McNeal Steven Watkins
Keith Brake
flashbytes Michael Wight Stew Wilson
Stras Acimovic
George Panopoulos Morten Berg Svend Andersen
George VanMeter Natalya Alyssa Faden T. Anthony Moore
irregular
George Vasilakos Nate Miller Teppo Pennanen
supporters
Alejandro Albert Garcia Glazius Nathan Hillen Tijn Rams
Alex W Glen Conolly Nathan Lax Tim Clouse
anderland Greg Chapin Nathanael Cole Timothy Hidalgo
Andrew Wells Happion Laboratories Nathaniel Brengle Tobie Abad
Ben Woerner irrion Nils Kullberg Tom Pleasant
Benjamin Tham Jack Gulick Owlglass Tomer Gurantz
Bernard Gravel Jake McGrath Pablo Martinez Trevor Smith
Black-Thing James Glover Paco Garcia Jaen Tristan Zimmerman
BlackWyrm Publishing James Stuart Pete Vic Smith
Brett Easterbrook Johan Kristian Milde Philip Espi Volker Jacobsen
CP John A W Phillips Philip Reed
Caoimhe Ora Snow John Diffley Richard Carter
Charley Brandum Judd M. Goswick Robert Carnel
Chris Carlson Kairam Ahmed Hamdan Robert Mull
Chris Schoenthal Ketwyld Robert Posada
Chris Shorb Khyron Ross Isaacs
Christian Nord Lars Erik Larsen Ruth Phillips

Andrew Haufe (order #8887983)