Strategies/Televisionary

The Televisionaries are the most truthful, honest liars in the entire Mess. They will tell you the truth, but only the parts you actually ask about. They use art as a grenade, and thought as a bomb.

Society is their battlefield, and other Factions are both enemies and allies.

Televisionaries occasionally will join multiple Factions, just to prove they don't have conflicting ideals, natures, or other such things. They don't even really consider themselves a Faction as much as a mystic society, or perhaps just a group of philosophers with similar ideals.

Of course, not all Televisionaries have the same ideals, but their intent is always the same. To educate, teach, and in general prevent complacency. And that is enough.

These are really the only rules they live by:

• When you go to mix things up, do not stir up trouble. Stir up thought.
• When you go to play games, do not play with minds. Play with thoughts and offer suggestions.
• When you ask a question, be honest and up-front.
• When you speak, do not lie.
• When you lie, do not speak.

They have themes, as well. Propaganda, artwar, sex, and thought grenades. Their idea of a successful attack is when everybody in the room says: "Wait. What?" Declaring multiple winners to an endless debate is a wonderful way to do this. Start discussing destiny and fatalism, play devil's advocate. Then give out prizes. Everybody loves prizes.

Never gloat about your victories, either. Unless, of course, the whole room shares in it. The victory is the end of the story for now, and not worth dwelling on. It's time for a new story, until the other one comes up by accident. Never on purpose. As far as anybody else knows.

And whatever you do, don't manipulate people unless you have a seriously good reason. If you are going to manipulate people, point out the rather obvious but easily missed detail off in the corner. Without it, they will grow up to be a nurse. With it, they will unite the whole world.

Don't care what others think, either.