Iconic ideas and situations for published settings?

Itachi · December 08, 2017, 03:07:13 PM

Say I want to play Exalted. I've never read or played it but I'm very curious about it. What kind of adventure or situations should I, as a player, engage with, to understand what the setting is about?

This was just an example, I don't have any interest in playing Exalted Lol. But you got the point. Instead of "adventurers in the tavern" waiting some generic quest, what do you boys and gals think are good ideas of adventures for exploring each setting particulars and central themes?

Voros · December 10, 2017, 01:02:04 AM

Dragons of Dreams for DL.

Itachi · December 10, 2017, 09:23:25 AM

Quote from: Voros;1012590Dragons of Dreams for DL.

What is it about, Voros, and why do you think it's iconic for Dragonlance?

For Shadowrun, I would say having at least one player being an ork and amping up the racism. Suggest ties to the Ork Underground and the occasional bully from Humanis. This would make players understand that, while the game has this crazy mix of fantasy and cybertech, in the end it's all about human struggles. An Amerindian or Awakened would also do it, but in a less blatant fashion, I think.

Oh, and make Mr. Johnson betray the team at the end. This may be cliché and never happen again in the campaign, but its useful for setting the feeling of paranoia characteristic to the genre.

Bedrockbrendan · December 10, 2017, 09:56:52 AM

I think for Ravenloft, the setting doesn't really shine until you've played in a monster hunt or monster investigation, with a GM using one of the TSR Van Richten books.

Voros · December 11, 2017, 01:48:54 AM

Quote from: Itachi;1012651What is it about, Voros, and why do you think it's iconic for Dragonlance?

To me DL is all about Hickman and this is the most Hickmanish module in the series. It has the randomized system that Hickman was so interested in experimenting with (as seen in the first Ravenloft novel); a trippy mix of reality, visions and dream that is a repeated theme; a very experimental structure and an ambitous attempt to tie in character to the actions within the adventure. And of course there is a prominent dragon at the end and the strong moral sense that you find in Hickman's work.

Spinachcat · December 11, 2017, 04:05:59 AM

Classic Traveller.

You should die or almost die...during chargen.

You should get a ship whose economics force you into committing crimes for money.

You should play a PC on a spaceship with a Old West revolver, a pirate's cutlass and a computer the size of truck.

RPGPundit · December 14, 2017, 03:13:56 AM

Well, thanks to Cults of Chaos, one iconic setup for Dark Albion is "band of inquisitors hunting witches and heretics".

Iconic ideas and situations for published settings?

Itachi

Voros

Itachi

Bedrockbrendan

Voros

Spinachcat

RPGPundit