Settings and their lack of differentiation

[Lhynn]

But you are the guy above.

 

[Lhynn]

Why are you brofisting me CryptRat ? i also think yer dumb.

 

[CryptRat]

Retard who has brofisted retarded opinions publicly shows his inability to differentiate between causation and correlation? Well who would have thought...

Can you develop? The poll is stupid because of the lack of multiple votes. I wouldn't be surprised if with multiple votes some of the 45/58 players who didn't choose High Fantasy would vote for (almost?) everything but High Fantasy (including me) only to get something else.
And about my brofists I like fantasy because of magic, and honestly I don't think that another Dark Sun, Torment or Arcanum would count as a totally generic and boring High Fantasy game.

 

[Dorian Black]

I'm urgently looking for anyone out there who can help me with expanding the scope of what I can do in a contemporary/modern setting. I'm completely lost and I'm not sure what kind of Races or Classes I can use (I already have Human, as well as a variety of Ethnicities, and I'm totally open to including virtually anything as long as it feels organic enough to the setting so no Fantasy creatures, no aliens--those are separate). I have a few ideas for what TO DO in the game, but it's not going to go very far.

I'm also looking for someone to help me figure out the game mechanics: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/help-with-gameplay-mechanics.103836/ (ONLY respond, if you intend to be any kind of help; if not, you will be blocked)

 

[Keldryn]

Games have always been easy to pirate since day one. Twenty years ago people pirated it on usenet. Ten years ago on torrents.

Some of us remember pirating games using floppy disks and a nibbler like Fast Hack'em. Or downloading via a 2400 baud modem. I felt like a pirate king with my 14.4k HST modem.

How about a CRPG where you play the sysop of a pirate BBS in the early 90s? Earn XP by couriering zero-day warez into your local area code, discover new treasures like custom ANSI graphics, and learn the secret techniques like disconnecting 2400 bps users when they start a batch download at 5pm. Featuring challenging turn-based gameplay when the cops arrive with a search warrant and you need to delay them while your brother races to your computer and types FORMAT C:/

 

[upwardlymobile]

like uplink with rp? that sounds pretty awesome

 

[Night Goat]

I'm urgently looking for anyone out there who can help me with expanding the scope of what I can do in a contemporary/modern setting. I'm completely lost and I'm not sure what kind of Races or Classes I can use (I already have Human, as well as a variety of Ethnicities, and I'm totally open to including virtually anything as long as it feels organic enough to the setting so no Fantasy creatures, no aliens--those are separate). I have a few ideas for what TO DO in the game, but it's not going to go very far.

So you want virtually anything as long as it isn't fantasy creatures or aliens. So...humans? If you don't have your own vision for this project, why are you doing it?

I'm also looking for someone to help me figure out the game mechanics: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/help-with-gameplay-mechanics.103836/ (ONLY respond, if you intend to be any kind of help; if not, you will be blocked)

That's some thin skin you've got.

 

[Neckbeard Shitlord]

Please do my job/homework for me, and if you don't u r prick.

 

[Mustawd]

I'm urgently looking for anyone out there who can help me with expanding the scope of what I can do in a contemporary/modern setting. I'm completely lost and I'm not sure what kind of Races or Classes I can use (I already have Human, as well as a variety of Ethnicities, and I'm totally open to including virtually anything as long as it feels organic enough to the setting so no Fantasy creatures, no aliens--those are separate). I have a few ideas for what TO DO in the game, but it's not going to go very far.

I'm also looking for someone to help me figure out the game mechanics: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/help-with-gameplay-mechanics.103836/ (ONLY respond, if you intend to be any kind of help; if not, you will be blocked)

please go ahead block me. dumbass

 

[Damned Registrations]

can only be explained if you are some kind of omega manchild who thinks that wielding an Enchanted Vampirelord Dagger with -5 LIFEFORCE PER TURN BECAUSE OF MAGICK is somehow more AWSUM than equipping a Poisoned Janbiya with -5 HP PER TURN BECAUSE, WELL, POISON.

What if I think it's more AWSUM because the concept of a poisoned weapon injuring you constantly by virtue of being poisoned is about as retarded as a weapon constantly harming you because it is pointy?

 

[Night Goat]

Well, it looks like we're getting a stone age setting:

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/far-cry-primal-aka-far-cry-with-cavemen.103858/

 

[CyberWhale]

What if I think it's more AWSUM because the concept of a poisoned weapon injuring you constantly by virtue of being poisoned is about as retarded as a weapon constantly harming you because it is pointy?

You're still a retard unfortunately, just of a different kind.

 

[laclongquan]

Unreal World is stone/bronze age setting. If you can get past the graphic, it's a great game.

 

[DavidBVal]

One of the big advantages of Fantasy is melee. Close combat makes little sense when you can fight from a distance more efficiently, so a medieval-like setting will enjoy both melee and ranged, increasing the tactical options. You can also come up with thingamajabbes that justify melee combat (lightsabers, dune shields) but if they are not exceptions, it will not feel realistically like modern or future combat, IMHO.

 

[V_K]

If you can get past the graphic, it's a great game.

If you can't there's a graphics update in the works, theoretically to be released by the end on the year.

 

[laclongquan]

Theoretically is a very big word, especially relating to Unreal World. We shall see what we shall see.

 

[Neanderthal]

I'm urgently looking for anyone out there who can help me with expanding the scope of what I can do in a contemporary/modern setting. I'm completely lost and I'm not sure what kind of Races or Classes I can use (I already have Human, as well as a variety of Ethnicities, and I'm totally open to including virtually anything as long as it feels organic enough to the setting so no Fantasy creatures, no aliens--those are separate). I have a few ideas for what TO DO in the game, but it's not going to go very far.

I'm also looking for someone to help me figure out the game mechanics: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/help-with-gameplay-mechanics.103836/ (ONLY respond, if you intend to be any kind of help; if not, you will be blocked)

In a modern setting you can do almost anything and add amazing amounts of detail, though this may require exhaustive research, the important thing is what tone do you want to set and what are your themes? Detective Noir, 90s action, Lovecraftian investigation, H. Rider Haggard adventure, use films and books as your inspiration, and adapt common pnp adventures into modern day ones.

Classes are easy, you simply base them on the AD&D archetypes but brought up to date, Fighter - War Veteran, Thief - Cat Burglar/Safecracker, Magic User - Scientist, Cleric is a difficult one depending on your setting, however if it has supernatural elements then an Exorcist or maybe even a Druid can really fit in well, i'd also add an investigative reporter of some kind as an almost purely conversation class. You can do the others yourself.

Races, just use the common races of Humanity, but give them statistical bonuses as tropes dictate or you want, and do some research on their cultures and peculiarities. Though you can just go with cliches, because they work, stiff arsed Brit, loudmouth Yank, practical German, fiery Italian etc. I don't know whether you wnat to include different species, creatures that cannot mate with Humans and are of a far different strain of animal, but introducing such a creature into the setting might be a good spur to adventure. The rise of a competitive species is always trouble, because of competition and the inherent dangers of that.

Minute to minute gameplay will remain the same, sneaking through abandoned warehouses or offices replaces dungeons, sewers are the same, rooftop pursuits can become exhilirating chase sequences if you have helicopters, snipers and other shit. Crap even rough neighbourhoods can play out the same as in AD&D, thugs, muggers and conmen along with more dangerous enemies. Car chases, drive by shootings, drug use forced or consensual, banging pros, picking locks, finding forensic evidence, gunfights, knife, knuckle or bat fights if you're in an area where guns are not allowed or commonly carried, hacking into security cameras and networks, placing explosives, planting evidence, picking pockets, interviewing witnesses, beating info out of a witness, consulting a snitch, etc. It's the same as in any good game of AD&D again.

Your enemies can vary depending on the campaign, mercenaries hired to get rid of any and all problems, street thugs who can't aim for shit but are high on crap, ex cops working as muscle and advice, SWAT teams, fanatical members of a secret society, terrorists etc. However the lethality of guns makes me suggest you use a fate point system like WFRP does, so your players can escape death but still be marked by it, and they only have so many lucky chances.

Bone up on guns and weapons, this is your loot as well as plain old hard cash, and don't forget the finer things in life, fast cars, apartments, high end escorts, designer drugs, nice threads, gadgets. Let the players buy and make themselves a place in the world, that does half your work for you and can spur adventures on its own.

Just design an adventure and setting the same way you would any other game, it's just in a different time period with far more source and reference material and different tools. You can still have villains, the CEO in his high rise with private security and strings around every major player is a fairly good trade off for the Wizard in his tower. The demonic slayer is now a fucked up serial killer, who you want personally. The terrorist working to assemble a dirty bomb that destroys the city is little different from a crazed zealot trying to open a gateway to the hells, you track him down and stop it before it occurs. A besieged city, shelled and ruined is little different from the same city a thousand years ago, starvation, desperation, violence, cooperation, snipers and disease becoming rampant.

I've always wanted to do an RPG based on the Shield, has so much potential.

 

[Space Insect]

What I want to see is a city-based Arab-steampunk mashup. Something like Athkatla except bigger and better. Another thing that I think would be great would be a developing steampunk world. You always see games with a full, pre-made steampunk setting. I want something with a view of the steampunk world being created.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Just because you can imagine a character archetype doesn't mean it would make for a viable game. You can be a 'scientist' or a 'doctor' in fallout, but you're not going to get fucking anywhere without either guns or speech cranked way up there. Feel free to load up Fallout and spend 20 hours making use of your doctoring skill around the wasteland when you aren't too busy reloading from your certain demise to everything hostile.

 

[laclongquan]

Any wouldbe "scientist" or "doctor" thinks (s)he doesnt need presentation skills and a tongue to sweet-talk sponsors into granting their research grants (or lots of other things) are going to get horribly disillusioned in the real world.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Any wouldbe "scientist" or "doctor" thinks (s)he doesnt need presentation skills and a tongue to sweet-talk sponsors into granting their research grants (or lots of other things) are going to get horribly disillusioned in the real world.

Well, this is why they work in teams right? Only need one guy to convince all the morons why curing cancer is a better idea than boner pills. Rest of the team can be full blown autists.

 

[laclongquan]

Everyone can use boner pills, even women (buying for their partners). A very tiny number can use cancer cures.

 

[V_K]

Any wouldbe "scientist" or "doctor" thinks (s)he doesnt need presentation skills and a tongue to sweet-talk sponsors into granting their research grants (or lots of other things) are going to get horribly disillusioned in the real world.

First, grant applications are mostly done in writing, it's a very different skillset. Second, the US thankfully aren't the whole world, in some places research is state-funded, which makes for somewhat more reasonable distribution.
I can't say for natural sciences, but at least in the humanities you can absolutely be a successful scholar and a complete autist at the same time.

 

[Carrion]

Just because you can imagine a character archetype doesn't mean it would make for a viable game. You can be a 'scientist' or a 'doctor' in fallout, but you're not going to get fucking anywhere without either guns or speech cranked way up there. Feel free to load up Fallout and spend 20 hours making use of your doctoring skill around the wasteland when you aren't too busy reloading from your certain demise to everything hostile.

Something like a doctor class might actually be really interesting to play if it wasn't limited to just healing wounds but also had other tools at its disposal. You might have access to different types of sedatives (syringes, pills, chloroform, knock-out gas etc.), drugs and poisons, get unique speech options, be able to cause critical wounds with scalpels or knives if having to resort to violence, use the fact that you're a doctor to get into places that other classes wouldn't have access to, and so on. Alternatively you could make it into a broader scientist/MacGyver class with a skillset that could also include hacking, repairing or reprogramming stuff, the ability to otherwise sabotage mechanical equipment or security systems, crafting unique weapons (and bullets) or modding existing ones, creating traps or bombs from household materials, going all CSI in quests that require investigation... Arguably New Vegas already allows you to build a viable scientist character, although you need something more than just the Science skill for that (but not necessarily any weapon skills or Speech). Age of Decadence has the Loremaster background which, too, works well, even though you could say the actual gameplay (skill check, skill check, skill check...) isn't all that exciting.

In general I dislike the idea that a non-fantasy setting would still use the same fantasy archetypes in character building, or directly replace dungeons with sewers or office buildings (with some exceptions like Shadowrun where that structure makes sense, fantasy elements or not). If you're going for a modern-day setting, the challenges you face should be very different compared to a fantasy setting. Killing everything, for instance, should carry heavier consequences and therefore create a need for a larger set of tools. I'm thinking along the lines of Fallout, Arcanum, Deus Ex, Bloodlines, AoD, also some non-RPGs like Hitman or Commandos, which have stuff ranging from different non-combat skills to non-lethal weapons, stealth and disguises, with combat usually being just one of the many available tools and rarely the best one. Most games tend to just dodge this aspect by giving you a license to kill right away by making you a soldier or a secret agent or something along those lines, because it's harder to justify ludicrous body counts in a supposedly realistic setting than in fantasyland.

 

[Night Goat]

Well, this is why they work in teams right? Only need one guy to convince all the morons why curing cancer is a better idea than boner pills. Rest of the team can be full blown autists.

So, the one guy who didn't dump Charisma is the only one who does anything in social encounters? Sounds like a typical RPG party.