Author Topic: Game idea looking for comments & suggestions  (Read 1384 times)

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archangel.arcanis

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Game idea looking for comments & suggestions
« on: September 08, 2009, 12:08:15 PM »
I decided i wanted to break from our normal d20 games and began seeking out an idea that would fit better in a different system. My group already had the core GURPS 4e books from a couple of guys who came in and ran all of 2 sessions in that system, so i was going to give it a try.

Here is the game concept: It is turn of the century Russia Tzar Nicholas II sits on the throne and Rasputin is still a close adviser.  The game will diverge from history in a "secret wars" or alternate past kind of way.  The party will be gathered by Rasputin to deal with the "tales of old", they will be dealing with mythical creatures such as werewolves, vampires, and perhaps even dragons. Obviously the Tzar doesn't want the populous to know about such things as it would cause a panic, so a small group that wouldn't be associated with the royal family could act with impunity against such creatures.

Things i'm looking for:
1. What to watch our for in the GURPS system, i know the disadvantages can be abused to gain lots of extra points and that the modifier on a cheap ability could be an issue as well.
2. More creatures for them to deal with, any other boogyman type creatures from in or near the lands controlled by Russia at that time.
3. a good historical reference for that time period, i need a better idea of technology and weapons in particular. I was considering having their contact scoff at a truck saying they will never catch on.
4. Maps. I need maps of the lands controlled by the Tzars at that time.
5. How to not kill the party that is used to high adventure games like D&D? I know that one good hit from the weapons of the time or even one of the tough bad guys could kill almost any character they will make.
6. General advise that isn't covered under those already listed.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys offer.
Clerics and Druids are like the 4 and 2 in 42. Together they are the answer to the ultimate question in D&D.
Retire the character before the DM smacks you with the Table as the book will feel totally inadequate now.-Hazren

Alea_Iacta_Est

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Re: Game idea looking for comments & suggestions
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2009, 06:15:26 PM »
2. More creatures for them to deal with, any other boogyman type creatures from in or near the lands controlled by Russia at that time.
3. a good historical reference for that time period, i need a better idea of technology and weapons in particular. I was considering having their contact scoff at a truck saying they will never catch on.
4. Maps. I need maps of the lands controlled by the Tzars at that time.
5. How to not kill the party that is used to high adventure games like D&D? I know that one good hit from the weapons of the time or even one of the tough bad guys could kill almost any character they will make.
6. General advise that isn't covered under those already listed.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys offer.

@2: The Boba Yaga would be an extremely interesting antagonist.
This http://englishrussia.com/?p=251 is also a cool idea.
A Vlad the Impaler type vampire is much more fighting than a Dracula styled vampire.
Go for Werebears. In my group we actually had a fight with Rasputin, and he was a werebear (that is why he doesn't die).
Not to be racists, but you could also send them hunting Jewish Russians and have them fight golems. That would be really cool.
Also, play on this sort of stuff: http://www.gnostics.com/newdawn-1.html
Go on witch-hunts, except the witches are communists/democracts.
@3: The tech would be about WW1, and the Russians did not have enough weapons to go around. Weapons would be hard to come by. Carbines are common and large machine guns are available but make sure they keep track of ammo. Also, WW1 Russia still used 1 shot rifles, because they did not have the materials and power to make new weapons fast enough.
@4: Maps:
http://www.wall-maps.com/Classroom/HISTORY/World/ExpansionOfRussianEmpire187.gif
http://www.uoregon.edu/~kimball/images/frn.MPR.1801-1914.1st.jpg
@5: First, explain that the game is not going to be Heroic Fantasy like D&D. Tell them they must be careful and smart. Don't fudge the dice, and if one of them dies off the bat, don't actually kill them and keep them alive (they fall unconscious). Since they are fighting against occult monsters, they must work together and do 'legwork' (research) on what they are up against.

The players could play as Tsarist secret police (search Fontanka 16).
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archangel.arcanis

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Re: Game idea looking for comments & suggestions
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2009, 12:47:24 PM »
thanks for the suggestions and links.

They essentially will be the secret police but only be dealing with the more mystical things that the Tzar can't admit actually exist.

Oh and BTW Vlad the Impailer and Dracula are historically one in the same. His father was Dracul and the 'a' on the end meant 'son of'. His real name was Vladamire Tepes (spelling is wrong) son of Dracul.
Clerics and Druids are like the 4 and 2 in 42. Together they are the answer to the ultimate question in D&D.
Retire the character before the DM smacks you with the Table as the book will feel totally inadequate now.-Hazren

Alea_Iacta_Est

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Re: Game idea looking for comments & suggestions
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2009, 11:53:01 AM »
No problem, I just lurk the non-D&D forums, and you have a wonderful idea presented.
Lol, I know, I know, I meant the movie Dracula, not Vladimir Dracul. The stories about Vlad do give him some supernatural qualities and a vampire like him would create a much more interesting opponent than a cinema Dracula. I know he comes from the house Dracul. Tepes means 'The Impaler' in Romanian. I have to learn that people on the other side of the screen don't know the context I'm talking in.

I get the secret police thing, and you are already messing with history, so you could make the secret police only do the hunting and dealing with mystical things.

Just a suggestion, if GURPs doesn't work for your group after a few sessions, try playing this in Hunter: The Vigil (H:tV), Fate, or Savage Worlds (SavW). SavW has a good mechanic for Fear and is a Heroic game without being as shiny as D&D. Fate is very gritty if you need it to be, and compels are an amazing aspect (see what I did there?) of the game. H:tV is supposedly a horror game, but isn't, however it does make for an amazing hunt the monster game. You could change whatever H:tV's Mortality system around so that if they see gory and crazy things they have to roll for morality in addition to whenever they do something a little less nice.
Seldom Affirm, Never Deny, Always Distinguish
My Gaming Blog, Reviews, and Design at: Laughing Jack Wilton
The Barely Legal Podcast: An AP Podcast From The Wednesday Night Gamers

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Game idea looking for comments & suggestions
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2009, 12:29:35 PM »
I think there were 1st or 2nd edition D&D stats for Baba Yaga. She utterly humiliated a high level party I was in back then... and this party had taken out a low ranking deity or two by that point, also. (We were like 15 at the time, so yeah...). Her chicken-legged hut is hilarious.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2009, 12:31:40 PM by PhaedrusXY »
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]