(this is one small part of an upcoming work of mine, the Cosmogonicon, which deals with creating "realms" using very powerful thoughtforms [and other stuff too])
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Preface: Alternate Reality Games
2 Setting Up Your ARG
3 Using Your ARG, Part I: Egregore Creation
4 Using Your ARG, Part II & III: Social Engineering
Preface: Alternate Reality Games
Alternate reality games are
Looking at ARGs from the realm of the occult, we see that they are a form of thoughtform (like most works of fiction), and can be extremely useful in several ways, not all occult-related. One way is to create extremely powerful and self-evolving egregores. And another is to use it to create desireable social conditions for your magical work (or non-magical work). And yet another way is to bring attention to something of interest.
I'll discuss all of these and more later on.
Setting Up Your ARG
I can sum up the creation of an ARG in three simple sections: the hook, the catch, and the kill.
The Pre-Hook
Before you start any of this, have it all written and fleshed out! Think of everything possible. Nonlinear gameplay creates an immersive enviorment for those who participate in the ARG and, as previously discussed, is a must!
The Hook
The hook is what gains attention. This could be something as simple as putting up some cryptic flyers, or setting up a cryptic website (maybe a blank / black screen with a timer on it), or something elaborate, like a huge street art stunt. This usually leads into a puzzle of some sort. Always make sure you have ultimate authority over your game! Otherwise, someone else could take "control" of your ARG, and you'll have no use for it. This is easier if you use a website.
The Catch
The catch is the actual "gameplay" of the ARG, and is of extreme and utter importance. This is usually through puzzles or wild goose chases (either around the world or around your town: your pick). These puzzles or goose chases should always lead to another puzzle or goose chase.
The Kill
The kill is the "end point" of your game. This could be anything, and it's pretty simple to write one. E.g., if your ARG is about a certain mysterious individual, reveal the "identity" of the individual. If you want to go extreme, keep the hypersigil going until after your intent is manifested, and reveal the actual occult nature of your ARG!
Using Your ARG, Part I: Egregore Creation
This is probably the more creative (and complicated) uses for your ARG. I'm going to explain this one chronologically because it's a bit easier to understand that way.
1. Develop your egregore. Write out it's name, it's attributes, and maybe even it's appearance.
2. Slowly release the defining features of your egregore to the public, one by one.
3. Optionally, add a small evocation ritual. This adds an air of authenticity, increases the immersiveness of your game, and "charges" the egregore.
After the structure of your egregore is known or defined, you can begin work with it.
Using Your ARG, Part II & III: Social Engineering
Here's two more interesting uses for your ARG: creating advantageous social conditions for your magical (or non-magical) works, and large-scale paradigm shifting (not to be confused with the chaos magic conception of paradigm shifting).
Think of it in the terms of : you're creating favorable conditions for something to happen; essentially "tipping the scale".
With creating social conditions, it's a bit tricky to give a tutorial. Maybe you want something to happen that has a better chance of happening with large groups of people in an area. Maybe you want to pull an Inception and "seed" an idea. Maybe you want to tip the stock markets a little bit. It's all very touchy and slightly chaotic, but I think you guys get the picture.
For paradigm shifting, it's much simpler. I'll give an example (it makes it easier to explain) and you guys can adapt it to whatever. Let's say I have a new magical system and I want more and more attention for it.
First, I create a blank website with a timer and a pseudo-occult name. Maybe it's or something else interesting-sounding.
Next, I post it to a multitude of occult websites (like /x/) under cryptic usernames.
Next, I let the timer run out and replace the timer with a puzzle, a text box, and a submit button. They solve the puzzle, type it in the text box, and submit it to get another puzzle, et cetera. This goes on for some time.
Lastly, the last puzzle leads to a .zip file that contains a PDF of your new magical system. You've sucessfully diverted a shit ton of attention to your paradigm and have probably shifted a number of people to use it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Preface: Alternate Reality Games
2 Setting Up Your ARG
3 Using Your ARG, Part I: Egregore Creation
4 Using Your ARG, Part II & III: Social Engineering
Preface: Alternate Reality Games
Alternate reality games are
Looking at ARGs from the realm of the occult, we see that they are a form of thoughtform (like most works of fiction), and can be extremely useful in several ways, not all occult-related. One way is to create extremely powerful and self-evolving egregores. And another is to use it to create desireable social conditions for your magical work (or non-magical work). And yet another way is to bring attention to something of interest.
I'll discuss all of these and more later on.
Setting Up Your ARG
I can sum up the creation of an ARG in three simple sections: the hook, the catch, and the kill.
The Pre-Hook
Before you start any of this, have it all written and fleshed out! Think of everything possible. Nonlinear gameplay creates an immersive enviorment for those who participate in the ARG and, as previously discussed, is a must!
The Hook
The hook is what gains attention. This could be something as simple as putting up some cryptic flyers, or setting up a cryptic website (maybe a blank / black screen with a timer on it), or something elaborate, like a huge street art stunt. This usually leads into a puzzle of some sort. Always make sure you have ultimate authority over your game! Otherwise, someone else could take "control" of your ARG, and you'll have no use for it. This is easier if you use a website.
The Catch
The catch is the actual "gameplay" of the ARG, and is of extreme and utter importance. This is usually through puzzles or wild goose chases (either around the world or around your town: your pick). These puzzles or goose chases should always lead to another puzzle or goose chase.
The Kill
The kill is the "end point" of your game. This could be anything, and it's pretty simple to write one. E.g., if your ARG is about a certain mysterious individual, reveal the "identity" of the individual. If you want to go extreme, keep the hypersigil going until after your intent is manifested, and reveal the actual occult nature of your ARG!
Using Your ARG, Part I: Egregore Creation
This is probably the more creative (and complicated) uses for your ARG. I'm going to explain this one chronologically because it's a bit easier to understand that way.
1. Develop your egregore. Write out it's name, it's attributes, and maybe even it's appearance.
2. Slowly release the defining features of your egregore to the public, one by one.
3. Optionally, add a small evocation ritual. This adds an air of authenticity, increases the immersiveness of your game, and "charges" the egregore.
After the structure of your egregore is known or defined, you can begin work with it.
Using Your ARG, Part II & III: Social Engineering
Here's two more interesting uses for your ARG: creating advantageous social conditions for your magical (or non-magical) works, and large-scale paradigm shifting (not to be confused with the chaos magic conception of paradigm shifting).
Think of it in the terms of : you're creating favorable conditions for something to happen; essentially "tipping the scale".
With creating social conditions, it's a bit tricky to give a tutorial. Maybe you want something to happen that has a better chance of happening with large groups of people in an area. Maybe you want to pull an Inception and "seed" an idea. Maybe you want to tip the stock markets a little bit. It's all very touchy and slightly chaotic, but I think you guys get the picture.
For paradigm shifting, it's much simpler. I'll give an example (it makes it easier to explain) and you guys can adapt it to whatever. Let's say I have a new magical system and I want more and more attention for it.
First, I create a blank website with a timer and a pseudo-occult name. Maybe it's or something else interesting-sounding.
Next, I post it to a multitude of occult websites (like /x/) under cryptic usernames.
Next, I let the timer run out and replace the timer with a puzzle, a text box, and a submit button. They solve the puzzle, type it in the text box, and submit it to get another puzzle, et cetera. This goes on for some time.
Lastly, the last puzzle leads to a .zip file that contains a PDF of your new magical system. You've sucessfully diverted a shit ton of attention to your paradigm and have probably shifted a number of people to use it.