The closer that Stone Horizons gets to completion, the more i find myself wondering what i'm going to do next.
At the moment i have no idea. It seems as though all my creative juices have been eaten up by SH. I'm not sure that i can follow it up with anything, and if i can, what that something will be.
Any ideas?
Something historical maybe. There aren't nearly enough games set between around 1500 and 1970. Or something fantastical, but with renaissance-era or later technology.
Quote from: noisms;345718Something historical maybe. There aren't nearly enough games set between around 1500 and 1970. Or something fantastical, but with renaissance-era or later technology.
Yeah, no one does stuff like that! How about a game of intrigue, espionage and magic set in Elizabethan England? :O
Nah! No one would pay any attention to it!
How about Stuart England? Between the Charleses, Jameses, and Cromwell, you'd have an awesome background, and I've never seen a game using that setting. With magic, of course! Otherwise who would buy it besides doddering old curmudgeons like me?
-clash
Take a break. Recharge. Buy those porno movies you've had your eye on for a while now. Drink heavily. Fall down and spill those porno movies out of your bag in front of a horrified group of school children. Slur your words as you try to angrily pick up those movies only to spread them further out and around as your inebriated senses can't just get together on this. Get pelted by laughter by those kids make fun of the "drunk, dirty old man," as they aim kicks to your movies, knocking them further from your feeble, uncoordinated grasp. Reel drunkenly as you stand to bawl out those little bastards from kicking any more of your collection of "Tranny Bangers vol. 4-10," and "White Whore Amateurs," into the street and under the nearby parked cars. Get the cops called on you as you grab one by the collar and start choking him/her. Go to jail where you then have to contemplate calling friends/family for bail while battling a hangover and trying to think of a way to explain your way out of this.
You know; the usual stuff you do after a big project.
Hard-ish SF, set on an ice planet whose inhabitants are going through an Islamic Reformation.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: flyingmice;345725Yeah, no one does stuff like that! How about a game of intrigue, espionage and magic set in Elizabethan England? :O
-clash
That's an awesome idea! I wonder why it hasn't been done before. :D
What do you want to publish from me next, Mr. Bowley?
Quote from: One Horse Town;345763That's an awesome idea! I wonder why it hasn't been done before. :D
What do you want to publish from me next, Mr. Bowley?
Something that capitalizes on your obvious strengths - high concept, brilliant create-your-own-setting tools, and understated, but elegant and evocative, writing. Hmmmmm....
How about a non-steampunk late 19th century-ish setting? Something where life is cheap but a good cigar isn't? Something less urban than SH, but not rural... Non-historical, just the feel - H. Rider Haggard plus Dickens plus Kipling maybe? You could pull it off.
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;345765Something that capitalizes on your obvious strengths - high concept, brilliant create-your-own-setting tools, and understated, but elegant and evocative, writing. Hmmmmm....
How about a non-steampunk late 19th century-ish setting? Something where life is cheap but a good cigar isn't? Something less urban than SH, but not rural... Non-historical, just the feel - H. Rider Haggard plus Dickens plus Kipling maybe? You could pull it off.
-clash
Flashman?
Quote from: One Horse Town;345767Flashman?
Yes! That too! That's the feel I would love to see you go for. I would roll Flashman right into that big Ball o' Influences.
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;345769Yes! That too! That's the feel I would love to see you go for. I would roll Flashman right into that big Ball o' Influences.
-clash
I'm seeing boys' own adventures, kipling, the man who would be king, flashman, Sir Richard Burton's African adventures, derring-do, cads, stiff upper-lips, courtesans, exotic foreign beauties, cricket, rugby, afternoon tea, theatre & travelling carnivals, pea-soupers, berry-berry, dropsy, spear-chucking, canoes, peelers, zulus, darjeeling, the kyber pass, the new world, the Pinkertons, plantations, work-houses, gentlemans clubs, upper class twits, working class heroes, Oliver Twist.
The most important is, of course, cricket. :)
The humble cricket bat is long overdue for a proper statting up in an rpg if you ask me :)
Quote from: One Horse Town;345772I'm seeing boys' own adventures, kipling, the man who would be king, flashman, Sir Richard Burton's African adventures, derring-do, cads, stiff upper-lips, courtesans, exotic foreign beauties, cricket, rugby, afternoon tea, theatre & travelling carnivals, pea-soupers, berry-berry, dropsy, spear-chucking, canoes, peelers, zulus, darjeeling, the kyber pass, the new world, the Pinkertons, plantations, work-houses, gentlemans clubs, upper class twits, working class heroes, Oliver Twist.
The most important is, of course, cricket. :)
Of course! Anything else just wouldn't be... well... you know!
But yes! Those are exactly the images in my mind. Not all the world is known, and there are strange things in the odd corner.
-clash
Quote from: Broken-Serenity;345773The humble cricket bat is long overdue for a proper statting up in an rpg if you ask me :)
According to Casey Jones in TMNT "Cricket ain't a sport!" though it proved most effective in pacifying the Foot Clan IIRC.
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;345777According to Casey Jones in TMNT "Cricket ain't a sport!" though it proved most effective in pacifying the Foot Clan IIRC.
-clash
I have no idea why anyone would think that a game that lasts for 5 days and has breaks for lunch and tea is not a sport!
I will not countenance it, i tell you! I demand satisfaction! (hey, i'm getting into character already)
Ooh, i forgot the noble art of pugilism too.
In true OHT style, i work backwards...I start with a title and a rough idea and work from there, usually in the form of random tables that express my thoughts - which i then flesh out.
How about
For King and Country! as a working title?
Quote from: One Horse Town;345781I have no idea why anyone would think that a game that lasts for 5 days and has breaks for lunch and tea is not a sport!
I will not countenance it, i tell you! I demand satisfaction! (hey, i'm getting into character already)
Ooh, i forgot the noble art of pugilism too.
In true OHT style, i work backwards...I start with a title and a rough idea and work from there, usually in the form of random tables that express my thoughts - which i then flesh out.
How about For King and Country! as a working title?
I love it! Perfect!
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;345783I love it! Perfect!
-clash
Groovy!
I think that the inspirations we are talking about are pretty optimistic in tone generally. Things that we consider as negative character traits today are positive and useful in the faux time period we are talking about.
So i'm already thinking that personality traits are quite important and not always having an effect that you'd intitially think about.
*spitballing*
So "haughty" might actually give you a plus to impressing certain classes of folk. "Hoarder" might give you bonuses to noticing pick-pockets etc. "Speaking in a loud voice" might intimidate some folk.
Quote from: One Horse Town;345787Groovy!
I think that the inspirations we are talking about are pretty optimistic in tone generally. Things that we consider as negative character traits today are positive and useful in the faux time period we are talking about.
So i'm already thinking that personality traits are quite important and not always having an effect that you'd intitially think about.
*spitballing*
So "haughty" might actually give you a plus to impressing certain classes of folk. "Hoarder" might give you bonuses to noticing pick-pockets etc. "Speaking in a loud voice" might intimidate some folk.
Agreed! Traits should always work in a positive as well as negative manner. That fits nicely!
-clash
you could have traits with alternate versions so the talk in a loud voice would have the alternate side to it of Blaggart which would give negative conotations with certain people and even ridicule in higher society, love the title btw it pretty much sums up the whole setting in 4 words.
Quote from: Broken-Serenity;345804you could have traits with alternate versions so the talk in a loud voice would have the alternate side to it of Blaggart which would give negative conotations with certain people and even ridicule in higher society, love the title btw it pretty much sums up the whole setting in 4 words.
Well that's what we were getting at - every trait has a positive and a negative side. In some circumstances it helps, and in others it harms. Sometimes being a gentleman is a thoroughly frustrating thing, and a cad has a much easier time. Sometimes it's the reverse.
Magic - if any - should be rare, ancient, inexplicable, and
not for PCs. Since it wouldn't have any mechanical/systemic basis, it could be left entirely up to the group as to whether it exists.
-clash
Maybe its just not for the likes of no good adventurer types?
Quote from: flyingmice;345807Magic - if any - should be rare, ancient, inexplicable, and not for PCs. Since it wouldn't have any mechanical/systemic basis, it could be left entirely up to the group as to whether it exists.
-clash
Indeed. Magic is the province of heathens. It may have a physchological effect on those that believe in it, but otherwise there are no mechanics.
Oh shit! That shamans curse has put a dampener on your Moxie!
Sorry, i love the term Moxie, gotta get it in there somewhere.
Don't forget about the East India Company, lads.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: Broken-Serenity;345808Maybe its just not for the likes of no good adventurer types?
I'm not sure I follow?
-clash
magic, maybe its not for the likes of no good adventurer types?
Quote from: David R;345810Don't forget about the East India Company, lads.
Regards,
David R
Maybe you could fill me in on it as it's your part of the world? PM me if you're interested.
We're ultimately talking about a faux historical setting and timeline, but you're right, an East India Company facsimile is required. :)
Quote from: Broken-Serenity;345812magic, maybe its not for the likes of no good adventurer types?
Ah! Yes indeed! Sorry for the brain cramp!
-clash
no problem we all get those sometimes :)
Quote from: One Horse Town;345809Indeed. Magic is the province of heathens. It may have a physchological effect on those that believe in it, but otherwise there are no mechanics.
Oh shit! That shamans curse has put a dampener on your Moxie!
Sorry, i love the term Moxie, gotta get it in there somewhere.
Hoo-yeah! :D
-clash
Quote from: David R;345810Don't forget about the East India Company, lads.
Regards,
David R
You mean John Company? Of course! I'd say a good few of our stout fellows are employed by HMEIC.
In fact... That might make a sweet hook to build the game around...
-clash
John Company. I knew you would pick up on it, clash :D
OHT, I was thinking about traits and magic and figured you could have a dodgy company whose members learnt things from the Mysterious East, such as hypnotism (Mentalist) and drugs (truth serums, memory loss etc) and members dabbling in the arts of reading microexpressions (Lie To Me). Just a few little tricks that would add a little mystery to the setting.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;345818John Company. I knew you would pick up on it, clash :D
OHT, I was thinking about traits and magic and figured you could have a dodgy company whose members learnt things from the Mysterious East, such as hypnotism (Mentalist) and drugs (truth serums, memory loss etc) and members dabbling in the arts of reading microexpressions (Lie To Me). Just a few little tricks that would add a little mystery to the setting.
Regards,
David R
Ah yes, certainly!
Quote from: One Horse Town;345820Ah yes, certainly!
I don't know about that, though. You don't want to be just another pulp game. About the only author in this ouvre who moved in this direction was Conan Doyle. With Kipling or Haggard, you had none of this. I'd be careful!
-clash
Make it a rumour and that should cover it and fit the idea of magic being nothing major aswell.
Quote from: flyingmice;345823I don't know about that, though. You don't want to be just another pulp game. About the only author in this ouvre who moved in this direction was Conan Doyle. With Kipling or Haggard, you had none of this. I'd be careful!
-clash
That's true and i don't want to step on pulp's toes, as i'm far from an expert on it.
Quote from: One Horse Town;345826That's true and i don't want to step on pulp's toes, as i'm far from an expert on it.
Basically, this genre was one of the sources of pulp, but pulp took things a lot further. Everything was ever so much more so, and over the top was the preferred direction. This genre - I don't know what it's called - Adventure Stories? - was written by a much better set of writers, and subtlety is not a dirty word. I love my pulp, but I know what it was, and love it anyway. :D
-clash
Quote from: One Horse Town;345711The closer that Stone Horizons gets to completion, the more i find myself wondering what i'm going to do next.
At the moment i have no idea. It seems as though all my creative juices have been eaten up by SH. I'm not sure that i can follow it up with anything, and if i can, what that something will be.
Any ideas?
How about you write a few articles and supplementary material to support it in Chaos Ex? :)
Quote from: flyingmice;345827Basically, this genre was one of the sources of pulp, but pulp took things a lot further. Everything was ever so much more so, and over the top was the preferred direction. This genre - I don't know what it's called - Adventure Stories? - was written by a much better set of writers, and subtlety is not a dirty word. I love my pulp, but I know what it was, and love it anyway. :D
-clash
I'll take that comment as a compliment!
I've had some thoughts, but admit that they might have negative connotations that rile some folk up...
Social class, for example. I'm thinking that we have 4. Upper Class Twits, Middle Class Drones, Working Class Heroes and Johnny Foreigners & Ne'er Do Wells. Those are working titles and might give impressions that i'm not after, but they seem to sum up the genre tropes pretty well.
There is no such thing as equipment, there is only Luggage.
Oh, and the skill governing magic and mystical pursuits is called Mumbo-Jumbo.
Quote from: One Horse Town;345883I'll take that comment as a compliment!
I've had some thoughts, but admit that they might have negative connotations that rile some folk up...
Social class, for example. I'm thinking that we have 4. Upper Class Twits, Middle Class Drones, Working Class Heroes and Johnny Foreigners & Ne'er Do Wells. Those are working titles and might give impressions that i'm not after, but they seem to sum up the genre tropes pretty well.
There is no such thing as equipment, there is only Luggage.
Oh, and the skill governing magic and mystical pursuits is called Mumbo-Jumbo.
That's pretty well nailed it. They're not hard and fast limits, but as general descriptors, they work very well.
And Mumbo-Jumbo is inspired! :D
-clash
I think the social titles work perfectly for the time period your going for, if people dont like the names you've chosen they can always change them themselves since thats what all good gm's do anyway :)
I'm also toying with the idea of 'Entourage' being a stat of sorts. These are the folk that hang around you, go on expeditions with you etc. You know, the expendibles. However, if you give them a name, they are no longer an expendible. Sort of mooks, i guess, that get a way out of mookness if they are named by the player - there's a limit to the number of named characters in your entourage (yet to be determined) and an Entourage is easier to intimidate, scare off or kill - you know, like the literary and filmic sources.
So, Sir Phillip Ross is an Upper Class Twit Professional Gambler. He has an Entourage rating of 4 (3 street toughs, 1 accountant & aide). Whilst on the notorious River Stentforth pleasure-cruise with the Gentleman Spy Roger Manforth, he comes under attack by some Johnny Foreigners! (Barge-People). The ensuing caffuffle sees Sir Phillip's life saved by his aide! In a rare moment of charity, he enquires of his aide "What exactly is your name, sonny?" Peter Corry is the reply. From now on Peter gets a larger Stipend and is no longer considered as part of Sir Phillip's Entourage when trouble next strikes.
Quote from: One Horse Town;345924I'm also toying with the idea of 'Entourage' being a stat of sorts. These are the folk that hang around you, go on expeditions with you etc. You know, the expendibles. However, if you give them a name, they are no longer an expendible. Sort of mooks, i guess, that get a way out of mookness if they are named by the player - there's a limit to the number of named characters in your entourage (yet to be determined) and an Entourage is easier to intimidate, scare off or kill - you know, like the literary and filmic sources.
So, Sir Phillip Ross is an Upper Class Twit Professional Gambler. He has an Entourage rating of 4 (3 street toughs, 1 accountant & aide). Whilst on the notorious River Stentforth pleasure-cruise with the Gentleman Spy Roger Manforth, he comes under attack by some Johnny Foreigners! (Barge-People). The ensuing caffuffle sees Sir Phillip's life saved by his aide! In a rare moment of charity, he enquires of his aide "What exactly is your name, sonny?" Peter Corry is the reply. From now on Peter gets a larger Stipend and is no longer considered as part of Sir Phillip's Entourage when trouble next strikes.
Very good! I like it! Upper Class Twits should have at least one body servant as well, with a name and a "presence". I would personally have some other player play the servant as a sort of troupe character, whatever the rules say! If a servant goes down - nobly, one would hope - another can be appointed from the entourage. Servants should be one of the following:
Old Family Retainer
Trusted Native
Former Batman
Native Royalty in Hiding
What do you think? Servants are always important in the literature.
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;345929Very good! I like it! Upper Class Twits should have at least one body servant as well, with a name and a "presence". I would personally have some other player play the servant as a sort of troupe character, whatever the rules say! If a servant goes down - nobly, one would hope - another can be appointed from the entourage. Servants should be one of the following:
Old Family Retainer
Trusted Native
Former Batman
Native Royalty in Hiding
What do you think? Servants are always important in the literature.
-clash
Ha! You're reading my mind!
I have trusted native and Batman (not former) scribbled down on my pad next to the PC!
Quote from: One Horse Town;345933Ha! You're reading my mind!
I have trusted native and Batman (not former) scribbled down on my pad next to the PC!
Haha! We're both working from the source material is all! You are right, and that should be (Former) Batman, as the character could very well still be in the Army. I was just thinking of a retired officer, for no particular reason. :D
-clash
Quote from: One Horse Town;345883...Johnny Foreigners & Ne'er Do Wells. Those are working titles and might give impressions that i'm not after, but they seem to sum up the genre tropes pretty well.
'Hoi Polloi' would probably work better.
It almost sounds like 'the fucking Irish' the way you have it. ;)
Which I am sure wasn't your intent.
Quote from: StormBringer;345944'Hoi Polloi' would probably work better.
It almost sounds like 'the fucking Irish' the way you have it. ;)
Which I am sure wasn't your intent.
There is always that risk, but it seems to sum up the genre. I'd characterise it as a colonial adventure game.
Quote from: flyingmice;345929If a servant goes down - nobly, one would hope - another can be appointed from the entourage.
Which is so importantly British.....
QuoteServants are always important in the literature.
As
Lady Chatterley's Lover demonstrates.....
Very cool so far OHT.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: One Horse Town;345883Social class, for example. I'm thinking that we have 4. Upper Class Twits, Middle Class Drones, Working Class Heroes and Johnny Foreigners & Ne'er Do Wells. Those are working titles and might give impressions that i'm not after, but they seem to sum up the genre tropes pretty well.
What about someone who operates without (ahem) class ? The Eccentric.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;345982Which is so importantly British.....
Well, a gentleman can't be without a servant, now, can he? It just isn't done!
-clash
Quote from: David R;345984What about someone who operates without (ahem) class ? The Eccentric.
Regards,
David R
Excellent point, David! Mad Dogs and Englishmen!
-clash
If you release this game in pdf, I demand it have a page of cut-out moustaches (handlebar & otherwise) at the back.
I am totally serious.
And now I want to re-read Kim again.
Oh, if you haven't read The Great Game, you should. :)
Quote from: VectorSigma;346040If you release this game in pdf, I demand it have a page of cut-out moustaches (handlebar & otherwise) at the back.
I am totally serious.
And now I want to re-read Kim again.
Oh, if you haven't read The Great Game, you should. :)
I have the edition of Kim with the gorgeous marble bas-relief illustrations his father did. One of these days, I will get In Harm's Way: The Great Game off the ground! I did a lot of research on it...
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;346049I have the edition of Kim with the gorgeous marble bas-relief illustrations his father did. One of these days, I will get In Harm's Way: The Great Game off the ground! I did a lot of research on it...
-clash
And I have got an adventure for it. You could use it as a sample adventure !
(It's also troupe play)
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;346054And I have got an adventure for it. You could use it as a sample adventure !
(It's also troupe play)
Regards,
David R
Sweet, David! I'll take you up on that when I get IHW: TGG going!
-clash
Quote from: David R;345984What about someone who operates without (ahem) class ? The Eccentric.
Regards,
David R
I was planning to tackle that sort of thing with Traits, but a classless Eccentric career is a brilliant idea!
Quote from: David R;346054(It's also troupe play)
Fucking hippie.
Quote from: One Horse Town;346179I was planning to tackle that sort of thing with Traits, but a classless Eccentric career is a brilliant idea!
I agree. If any PC would know Mumbo-Jumbo, it's an Eccentric. :D
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;346185I agree. If any PC would know Mumbo-Jumbo, it's an Eccentric. :D
-clash
Indeed! They probably have plenty of widgets and flibberdygibbets coming out of the wazoo too! Goobledegook and gibberish indubitably raises its head.
If you base it on that eccentric old man character from the fast show even better! :)
I alomst forgot this. What about
The Royal Geographical Society ? From wikipedia :
QuoteThe Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is a British learned society founded in 1830 with the name Geographical Society of London for the advancement of geographical sciences, under the patronage of King William IV. It absorbed the 'Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa'--also known as the African Association--(founded by Sir Joseph Banks in 1788), the Raleigh Club and the Palestine Association. It was given a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1859.
This has loads of possibilities.....
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;346288I alomst forgot this. What about The Royal Geographical Society ? From wikipedia :
This has loads of possibilities.....
Regards,
David R
I'm planning on having a career of Company Man/Woman that covers various societies, organisations etc.