What's it like to play Lucidian? Is it fun?

Lucidian was created for players to experience challenges in teamwork, including working across functional silos and making smart collective choices with imperfect information under time pressure. Each team member faces the (sometimes steep) learning curve of their own role. And, together, each team faces the challenge of syncing up and communicating effectively ... and dealing with other teams who may be helpful or hostile. Lucidian was designed to create a provocative experience of teamwork, with highs and lows, cheers of joy and howls of frustration, not simply to be fun. That said, players who appreciate engaging in these challenges often find the experience fun--sometimes incredibly fun.

How are teams formed? Can I pick my teammates?

In a standalone game of Lucidian, teams are formed during the session. You'll have the opportunity to pick your team and teammates. Most teams are 5-6 people. Note that during the game, players spend some time interacting with teammates as well as time interacting with those in the same roles from other teams (that is, Councilors spend a good deal of time with Councilors, Engineers with Engineers, etc.)

Do I get to pick my role?

In a standalone game of Lucidian, you and your teammates will have an opportunity to talk among yourselves and select your roles early in the session.

Is Lucidian a roleplaying game (aka LARP)?

No. In Lucidian, players are not assigned to, or asked to adopt, a particular character with a personality, backstory, and so forth. Players act as themselves but in a particular role (Leader, Navigator, etc.) in this situation (a space-mining mission to save their home colony).

What ages are appropriate?

In general, teens and older. Some roles involve working through numerical results and reports or solving electrical circuit puzzles after a brief tutorial. Part of the game involves each player coming up to speed on their own role, variously dealing with ambiguity, information overload, and time scarcity, all while coordinating with teammates experiencing their own challenges. Regardless of age, players who wouldn't enjoy such challenges may not appreciate the experience.