Boardgame into RPG conversions....

Koltar · September 03, 2008, 06:38:08 AM

There are a couple of Boardgames out there that straddle the fence between being a boardgame and being a full-fledged RPG. I'm talking about games like: WHEN DARKNESS FALLS by Twilight Creations, TANNHAUSER by Fantasy Flight Games, LAST NIGHT ON EARTH - those kinds of boardgames.
All three of those have some sort of character stat cards and miniatures included that match up with player's characters in the game.

Have any of you folks played those as straight RPGs and ignored the more boardgame-oriented aspects of them?

Are there any other board games that with a little help could be converted easily into an RPG?

...OR Board games that have parts that are very easily borrowed into use with a Role Playing Game.

- Ed C.

Age of Fable · September 03, 2008, 07:03:49 AM

I think Settlers of Catan and the spin-off games would make a good role-playing game. There's one which is 'rpg-like', where you control a single character. The implied setting has lots of the sorts of things which go well with rpg's - barbarian raiders, knights, lands which are mostly wilderness, bandits etc. There's no mention of magic, but there's a herbalist in one of the games who makes things like healing potions (the way you get the potions would actually work well in an rpg I think - the herbalist will make the potion for you for free, but you have to go into the wilderness and get the ingredients).

There are also spin-offs which don't have the same setting.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Catan_series

Koltar · September 03, 2008, 07:06:37 AM

I didn't know that.

And Hell My store SELLS most of the Catan variations.
Do you remember the specific title or what color the box is ?
(There are like 9 variations of Catan, its almost becoming a brand name)

- Ed C.

David R · September 03, 2008, 07:33:17 AM

Well I used Car Wars for a postapoc roleplaying campaign. The gaming/roleplaying aspect was powered by Savage Worlds but for the tactical road carnage stuff we used CW.

Regards,
David R

droog · September 03, 2008, 07:44:19 AM

Quote from: David R;243595Well I used Car Wars for a postapoc roleplaying campaign. The gaming/roleplaying aspect was powered by Savage Worlds but for the tactical road carnage stuff we used CW.

My friend Colin used Car Wars + Aftermath many years ago. I've used Dragon Pass (AKA White Bear & Red Moon) in RQ, but of course that relationship is already there, ie I didn't have to do any conversion to speak of.

[EDIT: Actually, scratch that last part. I expended a lot of brain juice trying to get relationships between the DP and RQ mechanics happening.]

Greentongue · September 03, 2008, 08:22:31 AM

What about Succession, Intrigue in the Royal Court?
http://www.yourmovegames.com/succession_index.html

A great source of adventures with a purpose.
=

Koltar · September 03, 2008, 08:34:45 AM

Quote from: Greentongue;243603What about Succession, Intrigue in the Royal Court?
http://www.yourmovegames.com/succession_index.html

A great source of adventures with a purpose.
=

Not quite what I was thinking of. Thats more of an idea generator for maybe a campaign story. Not really an easy board-to-RPG convert.

Plus, I played a demo of that 2 years ago at GenCon - that was one of the worst demos I ever saw or played in.

- Ed C.

Silverlion · September 03, 2008, 09:03:07 AM

Car Wars is a wonderful setting for that, one of the better ones (although I think it counts a bit closer to a wargame with cars than a board game myself.

The dueling wizards game "Shapeshifters", is pretty solid, I mean really its a mini RPG. The entire theme of Talisman could be ported over to an RPG. "Go on quest to get this.." is pretty standard RPG plot. Unfortunately I'm not big on board games so that is about it for me.

I think the last boardgame that I totally loved was Gammarauders, although I think Heroscape is pretty neat. (again wargame "ish")

Koltar · September 03, 2008, 09:26:48 AM

CAR WARS I did run as an RPG once or twice . You guys just remided of that. Specifically that scenario that ADQ did of a truck journey through parts of Kentucky. Cincinnati being right smack dab next to Kentucky - many of us had actually driven or ridden through parts of that adventure map.

Bought my first copy of GURPS because I wanted to run an RPG version of CAR WARS that was about to come out that was called GURPS: AUTODUEL.

- Ed C.

Age of Fable · September 03, 2008, 09:29:33 AM

Quote from: Koltar;243594I didn't know that.

And Hell My store SELLS most of the Catan variations.
Do you remember the specific title or what color the box is ?
(There are like 9 variations of Catan, its almost becoming a brand name)

- Ed C.

The rpg-like one is called 'Candamir: the First Settlers', and looks like this:

I've only played the original game though.

Age of Fable · September 03, 2008, 09:47:25 AM

By the way this is the cover to another expansion. It reminded me of some older rpg artwork, where the party is just about to turn a corner and run into trouble.

brettmb · September 03, 2008, 10:06:36 AM

There was an actual roleplaying game book for Twilight Imperium if that counts.

REZcat · September 03, 2008, 10:07:58 AM

I haven't played it, but doesn't Descent fit this description?

Also, didn't Savage Worlds come about via rules-tweaking Deadlands: Great Rail Wars, or something similar? (RPG by way of boardgame, by way of RPG type thing)

Koltar · September 03, 2008, 10:24:12 AM

Yes, DESCENT does fit into this category.
It also costs an arm & leg even with my store discount. The other games I mentioned are somewhat affordable.

But yeah you're right.

I was aiming for within financial reach of most people.

- Ed C.

REZcat · September 03, 2008, 10:38:21 AM

Quote from: Koltar;243646Yes, DESCENT does fit into this category.
It also costs an arm & leg even with my store discount. The other games I mentioned are somewhat affordable.
- Ed C.

That's certainly true (and also why I have never played it). It, and others similar, like the Warcraft boardgame, do look really cool though.