Author Topic: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games  (Read 377420 times)

Tim

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #240 on: June 19, 2015, 02:26:06 PM »
So when is RPPR going to be running Katanas & Trenchcoats ?

With the car wizard add on I am quite interested in living my live a quarter mile at a time.

http://ryanmacklin.com/2015/05/kt-car-wizards/

fearjunkie

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #241 on: June 20, 2015, 03:59:37 PM »
4chan's /tg/ board created an RPG based on the idea 'What if the Disney villains won? What would the world be like?'

In Disney Villains Victorious, "It is a world in which Ursula rules the seas, defied only by the uncatchable Pirate Lords and the might of Atlantis. It is a world where the grasslands, the jungles and the forests are prowled not only by fearsome primal beasts like Shere Khan and Scar, but also by the ruthless, tireless hunters that stalk them. It is a world where Europe has been divvied up between sorcerous queens like Maleficent, inquisitorial clergymen like Frollo, and dark gods like Hades and Chernabog.

It is not, however, a world completely devoid of courage, heroism or hope. Around the world, the Player Characters and their allies plot, plan, fight, strive and win their own victories against the villains that would rule them. The time to fight and to be free is now."


Twisting H

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #242 on: June 27, 2015, 12:44:00 AM »
So, I have an idea for a mini campaign - something like 3 to 6 sessions max.  Fallout setting because I can't figure out any other setting that would work with this set up - I don't want fantasy, I don't want super high tech sci-fi and I don't want real history because of the research requirements

Yaaaaaay. More post apocalypse!

Background Ideas

Here are some Fallout resources.

Van Buren was the code name for the original Fallout 3, designed by Black Isle. It focused on the American Southwest.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Van_Buren

Here are a bunch of design documents from the first three Fallouts including Van Buren.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Van_Buren_design_documents#Van_Buren

In terms of fan made projects, /tg/ had a couple of interesting threads.

Fallout: the Tangle, covers Florida.

https://warosu.org/tg/thread/25921621

Have a neat map.



Some anon wrote up some ideas about Fallout: Birmingham

https://archive.moe/tg/thread/25019792/#q25021762

Everyone lives as a normal person in a city built over a vault - life is tolerable but the government is very corrupt. People who speak out against it are exiled, tortured, or shot. Still better than living in the Wastes.

Modiphius Entertainment (Achtung! Cthulhu) publishes Mutant: Year Zero developed by Free League Publishing (Swedish).

The political situation in the vault you are describing is similar to the one described in Mutant: Year Zero.

http://www.modiphius.net/collections/mutant-year-zero/products/mutant-year-zero-corebook-map

Quote
Mutant: Year Zero goes back to the origins of the Mutant franchise: role-playing after the Apocalypse. In this game, you play as one of The People - heavily mutated humans living in The Ark, a small and isolated settlement in a sea of chaos. The outside world is unknown to you, and so is your origin.

Mutant: Year Zero has two major game environments, each with its own style of play:  The Ark, your home in the dawnworld. A nest of intrigue and Lord of the Flies-style power struggles, it's far from a safe haven. But it's the only home you know, and just maybe the cradle of a new civilization. The game rules let you improve and develop the Ark in the areas of Warfare, Food Supply, Technology, and Culture. It is up to you, the players, to decide which projects to embark on.

There was a free excerpt of Mutant: Year Zero I found somewhere but I don't recall if it discussed intrigue games in the Ark. First 40 pages I think.

A new school opens up that teaches technological skills. Your characters are the most adept students there. You earn the trust of the teachers there and they tell you that they are part of the Brotherhood of Steel.

This in itself could be a game. You could run it similar to the video game  Academagia, which is a Hogwarts simulator.  Wacky and half-baked professors of ruined tech.  Students balancing classes on cooking molerats with sneaking off to the ruins to fight super mutants. That sort of thing.

Academagia

http://www.academagia.com/

RPS review

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/24/pottering-about-academagia-impressions/

Emphasis on the game is actual spywork - i.e. building a network of assets, getting blackmail/secrets on important people and not getting caught. If you get caught before the Brotherhood rolls in, your character will almost certainly die. Combat will be super brutal and should be not seen as a good idea.

Interesting. Two thoughts on how to build up the cast of NPCs that players will have to cajole, charm or threaten into becoming their agents or voting for them in vault political matters.

Some time ago I had the idea of running a game in a simulated city for a party of evil players. The campaign was planned to revolve around players who were members of a demonic cult who entered a new city with the goal to establish a powerbase and ultimately take over the government.  I designed NPCs to populate the city, each with some sort of weakness that a savvy player could identify and exploit. For example, some NPCs were secret addicts, others were born followers and craved external leadership, some had dependents you could threaten/kidnap to gain leverage over the NPC, still others were abuse survivors with a phobia of a specific thing savvy players could identify to threaten them with so they crumbled to the player's will, etc.

Anyway, having the NPC's weakness front and center would be too boring, so I borrowed a page from (classic) White Wolf, namely Nature and Demeanor. Nature was the true self (ie designed weakness) and Demeanor was the personality mask the NPC presented to the world. So, for example a paladin may try to portray himself a hard charging leader (Demeanor) but in truth they were a born follower (Nature). 

My second thought: if you are looking for quick and easy NPCs and NPC relationships to make up the vault, I recommend the book Jerusalem by Night (classic World of Darkness, Vampire the Dark Ages).  There is anywhere from 15-20 NPCs all with fleshed out backgrounds and secrets and most importantly relationships with each other and particular factions. It is a very well done book, and the division of NPCs by Vampire clans makes it easy to determine what archetype you can present the character as (Gangrel=Aggressive Warriors, Ventrue=Snooty Aristocrat, etc.).

The Classic World of Darkness city book line in general is very good at presenting well designed NPC's and their organizations.  There were some city books in the modern line that had organizational charts with lines drawn to NPCs signifying who had influence over whom and who was an ally/rival of whom.  So essentially a majority of your NBA conspiracy pyramid is done for you. The names of those specific city books escapes me however.


I see 2 options with system and feeling for the game: Night's Black Agents with Dust, Burn, and Mirror options enabled - you're a skilled person, not Bourne or Bond.

Think more like post-apocalyptic Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Hillfolk - emphasis is more on character development and morality - more like post-apocalyptic Game of Thrones

The main thing for me is the actual spywork procedural aspect and morality - I already did the tactical/commando/investigative NBA game with Tribes - I want it be more about the morality and interpersonal stuff.

I don't have a lot of helpful opinions about the mechanics you are going for.

Tinker Tailor was a fantastic movie and I'd love to see RPPR's take on it.  However, with every Smiley you need an equally devious Karla.  I expect a fantastic monologue from Smiley's (Caleb's) to an empty chair.

In terms of the methods of intelligence officers/recruiters use, like Smiley; I recommend the nonfiction work Spy Handler by ex-KGB officer Victor Cherkashin.

http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Handler-Officer-Recruited-Hanssen/dp/0465009697

I can't really think of a good reference for spy techniques, let alone modern ones.  I'll hazard a guess and suggest looking up GURPS Espionage. Might be useful.

Other post apocalyptic games

Sine Nomine publishing (Silent Legions) also makes Other Dust, a post apocalyptic game with a futuristic slant as it is designed to be compatible with Stars Without Number.  Don't own it (yet) but I expect the fantastic tables that Sine Nomine is known for.

Degenesis (German, English translation published by Transhuman Studios) is a fantastic post apocalyptic setting. I'm not really sold on the mechanics yet but holy crap the art and writing of the book are absolutely stellar.  It is a very different setting than Fallout so I'm not sure of it's utility to your project specifically Ross, but I can't not include mentioning it.  Short story: Five meteors hit Europe, one hits Africa, triggering the Apocalypse.   Hundreds of years later, Europe becomes a cold wasteland full of vault ruins, Africa flourishes as the center of civilization scavenging tech from Europe.  On top of this interesting cultural/economic reversal the meteors brought an invasive form of "life" that turns certain species and humans into this ecstatic hivemind.  It appears this invasive alien "viral kudzu" is intelligently trying to conquer the ecosystem and compete with homo sapiens for dominance. On top of that, the writing works in European myths, magic, numerology and faerie tales.  It's pretty damn cool.

Art here:

http://www.degenesis.com/

http://marko-djurdjevic.deviantart.com/


Like so many, Zak S of D&D with pornstars (http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2012/01/mustorganizeuselessideas.html) saw Fury Road and was inspired. 

He recommended the (free) rules of Atomic Highway for a Fury Road type game.  The post dealing with Fury Road is slanted towards post apoc vehicle wars so I don't know how much use they will be to you Ross.

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/70124/Atomic-Highway--Post-Apocalyptic-Roleplaying

« Last Edit: June 27, 2015, 01:03:44 AM by Twisting H »

fearjunkie

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #243 on: July 05, 2015, 09:45:51 PM »
Remember how someone said that MaOCT would be good for a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure game? Someone made a quick & dirty d100 system specifically for JJBA games.

clockworkjoe

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #244 on: July 06, 2015, 03:39:35 AM »
Not sure when I will run the spy/informant game - there has been some 'mehs' from the group on the proposed use of the Fallout setting. I'll shelve it for now.

Instead, I'll probably run a NBA game based around an art museum heist. It should be fun.

Recently Dan's run a MAOCT playtest of a scenario. I've run another DCC funnel scenario called STEAL DRACULA'S GOLD.

Kamen

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #245 on: July 06, 2015, 09:22:53 AM »
Not sure when I will run the spy/informant game - there has been some 'mehs' from the group on the proposed use of the Fallout setting. I'll shelve it for now.

Instead, I'll probably run a NBA game based around an art museum heist. It should be fun.

Recently Dan's run a MAOCT playtest of a scenario. I've run another DCC funnel scenario called STEAL DRACULA'S GOLD.

http://noahlathotep.tumblr.com/post/116515516244/rppr-podcast-shistosomula-noahlathotep

fearjunkie

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #246 on: July 07, 2015, 04:40:11 PM »
There's a book available on Amazon called Dead Inside: Do Not Enter — Notes from the Zombie Apocalypse that's basically notes left during an outbreak. Some of them would be good plot hooks/side details for a Red Markets game.

Some sample pages:








clockworkjoe

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #247 on: July 07, 2015, 06:49:47 PM »
I have that book. Very good. I think I reviewed it for the podcast a while back.

Twisting H

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #248 on: July 11, 2015, 05:58:10 PM »
So. Imagine a space station somewhere in the solar system.  Players get to be demons(!) tasked by their High Infernal Administrator with attacking the human colony to 1)take over the space port and shoot themselves to another colony 2) try to do this in a way that is subtle so the marines and other humans don't know what is going on 3) collect blood and souls along the way. 

Three fourths of the way through their campaign, there is a space station wide sound of a shotgun racking.

! No longer available


The game now turns into Slasher Flick where DOOM GUY is coming for the demons.  He only has two modes. Rip and Tear. 

Maybe the demons have to work together (?) with their corrupted/turned/reanimated human thralls to push explosive barrels in positions to delay DOOM Guy so they can accomplish their tasks.  Did the demons leave any humans uncorrupted? Uh oh for them!  My creativity ran aground when I reached this point. Add more ideas guys.

I was immediately thinking of Ross's Synthtopia game (and Capitalocracy's idea) when I was watching the Doom 4 preview.

Moto42

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #249 on: July 23, 2015, 12:40:29 AM »
I rubbed some player character logic on that scenario and this came up...

"Human, awaken. Return from this near-death slumber!"
"I told you, they go bad if you don't use them. You should have kept it in the refrigerator."
"So, if mild cold keeps humans fresh; maybe if we put it in the freezer for a few minutes..."
"I HAVE IDEA!"

Samuel Ashton was ripped back into consciousness by a shock of ice-water and a chorus of inhuman screeching. Gray, scaly things were writhing in shock and anger, also soaked in near-freezing water.

"Dammit MoonMoon! I'll rip your..." "But it worked! But it wo..."
"Just, just. Just go. Go and put the other one in the freezer, ok?"

Two of the beasts skulked away, as a third pulled a chair across from Samuel. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear gunfire.

"Human, we have a problem. You must fix it.  A doom walks these halls and we must return home before it takes us all."

"What? How. You have a problem?"

"Yes pink, oily thing. A warrior, who is also oily, has arisen, and you must repair the machine that opens the way to Hell before he lays waste to us all.  When you have opened the way, we will drag you into the pits with us; you have my word."

"Wait, why would I want that? You just said a soldier is coming to the rescue."

"I don't think you understand. We, as in you and I, have a problem.  The doom-bringer did not become this kind of hyper-efficient killing machine by rescuing people."
« Last Edit: July 23, 2015, 12:44:36 AM by Moto42 »

Morbid

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #250 on: August 12, 2015, 01:33:29 PM »
I was looking through "Blood on the Snow", the second Hillfolk book of advice and scenarios and noticed that "Against Hali" seems like it would have a similar emotional feel to the Fallout game described above but with a different setting.  It's about undermining a banal and very stagnant regime with groups of young people and artists, but that creativity/non-conformity risks bringing them into contact with the King in Yellow.

That said, you might want to make some modifications to the setting.  For some reason, I suspect that some of the RPPRegulars might be suspicious of a Carcosa/Hastur connection even in a DramaSystem game..

I do hope you get to run one of these DramaSystem mini-campaigns - from Caleb's Vice reporters to the post-apocalyptic resistance, I think they'd all be pretty great.

fearjunkie

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #251 on: August 14, 2015, 09:39:23 PM »
I was reading up on the Little Bastard', the car that James Dean died in and brought death and misfortune to anyone who came across it or any of its parts. When I read about how the car disappeared in 1960, my mind immediately went to the idea of a Delta Green game in the 60s where the players have to hide the car (which has been cursed by a mythos sorceror) followed by a modern CoC game where the players have to find the car, and how the players of the first game hid the car affected how hard it was for players to find the car in the second game.

fearjunkie

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #252 on: August 20, 2015, 12:56:37 PM »
The guy who made Channel A also made a dark Madoka Magica-style magical girl RPG called Magical Burst. I will be sadly unsatisfied until someone runs a game of fighting Lovecraftian abominations in frilly dresses and being miserable.  :P

BeyondSandrock

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #253 on: August 20, 2015, 02:45:09 PM »
The guy who made Channel A also made a dark Madoka Magica-style magical girl RPG called Magical Burst. I will be sadly unsatisfied until someone runs a game of fighting Lovecraftian abominations in frilly dresses and being miserable.  :P

I'll take a look at it. Thanks for pointing this out!
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Review Cultist

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Re: Upcoming RPPR One Shot games
« Reply #254 on: August 20, 2015, 02:49:47 PM »
The guy who made Channel A also made a dark Madoka Magica-style magical girl RPG called Magical Burst. I will be sadly unsatisfied until someone runs a game of fighting Lovecraftian abominations in frilly dresses and being miserable.  :P

So "Nyaruko: Crawling with Love" the RPG?
Liquid Water?