Alright I get real tired of looking at the WORLD OF DARKNESS books that sit on our shelves.

Think I sold my first one in several weeks this past Saturday. That universe never quite appealed to me - no matter how much it was explained to me by the V:TM or V:tR players.

How about we 'flip' that universe ? ...and make a new RPG setting?

Let's call it the "World of Brightness". In this setting there is an uipcoming big change that will improve the world and humankind in general. Some experrts (NPCs) have found clues and hints of that ....and are trying to recruit others to help bring about this change or encourage it.

Of course there are "bad guys" - those that also kjnow some kind of big change is coming  - but they don't want it to happen. They like the status quo.

There might be what Kyle aaron calls "kool powerz" - but there doesn't have to be. If there are special powers and abilities - then they are a bit unpredictable or need a technological device of some kind to help control or limit them.

Thats another facet of the setting : Science and scientists are seen as the good guys or at least as the usual ally of the good guys.

This sort of setting would be sent in the near future or even VERY near future of 'just next year'.


- Ed C.

One way could be "The 4400" or "Heroes" route.

Or maybe the 2001 or David Brin's Uplift style?

Awesome. The Big Transformation is beginning to leak into our world, giving some brave forerunners nifty powers in the process. But where would the Global Cabal be when peace reigns on Earth? No more arms or drugs trades, or people trafficking for starters...so it's on.

Scion would work perfectly with this.

You want a "World of Brightness"? OK:

The stars were shifting in alignment, and slowly, but surely, it was happening. People were manifesting wonderful powers: some to heal, some to protect, some to find truth, others to have visions of the future. And every single one of us could fly.

And we knew, those of us who had been affected, that the great change was going to come to ALL mankind, because all of us were created equal.  None of us is more special, though our gifts may be different.

For some few, knowledge of this drove them mad; thinking that they were the only "special ones" who deserved to be gifted (because they thought of themselves as greater thinkers, or better artists, or prettier, or simply superior) they have now banded together in the shadows and seek out sinister ways of trying to stop the gifting, so that only they will get the power and get to keep it for themselves. They will try to use dark magic and fringe religion, and drive the world into a superstition where only they have power and they are the "natural elite".

We are the Lodge. In it, we are all equal, and everyone who is free and of good report may join.  We are dedicated to make sure that the next step in human evolution goes to ALL human beings, to rid ourselves of popes and kings and tyrants, and not let a band of criminal pretentious elitists try to become the new tyrants peddling a lie that they are better than everyone else and that other human beings are just their chattel in a pointless world.  We have Science and Reason as weapons to help us, we work in the light, not in the darkness, and Democracy is our strength. And we're going to kick these Swines' asses.

RPGPundit

To explain MY world of brightness, Koltar:

Quote from: Koltar;275352How about we 'flip' that universe ? ...and make a new RPG setting?

Let's call it the "World of Brightness". In this setting there is an uipcoming big change that will improve the world and humankind in general. Some experrts (NPCs) have found clues and hints of that ....and are trying to recruit others to help bring about this change or encourage it.

Ok, I'm with you there.

QuoteOf course there are "bad guys" - those that also kjnow some kind of big change is coming  - but they don't want it to happen. They like the status quo.

Here's where you miss an important point. In the WoD, the whole point is that the change happens, but only to the Special Secret Few, the ones who are just better than the rest of mankind (who are nothing more than chattel).  This feeds into the pathetic fantasies of the Swine wankers in thinking that they were born better and are more artistic and more intellectual and think deeper thoughts and are just generally more "Special" than anyone else.
However, they get persecuted by the rest of the world which "doesn't understand" them and "envies" them.

So in a World of Light, what you have to have is that "the change" is known and revealed to the world by a group of people who want to be sure that "the change" will belong to everyone.  And the big bad guys obviously have to be the elitists that want to be Special, and want to keep the "unwashed masses" from having it.

Just like in WoD the "Bad guys" are a thinly-veiled cover of the bullies and "conformists" and evil parents who "don't understand" how cool and special the Swine are, in the WoL the bad guys would have to be the Swine themselves, trying to set themselves up above their fellow human beings by virtue of things that in fact are not special at all, but everyone has or will have, unless the Swine STEAL what is not theirs by right.

QuoteThere might be what Kyle aaron calls "kool powerz" - but there doesn't have to be. If there are special powers and abilities - then they are a bit unpredictable or need a technological device of some kind to help control or limit them.

Again, no. In WoD, Kool Powerz are rare and belong to the special few. In the WoL, you would want everyone to be getting powers (albeit possibly start while this is still slowly happening). And the powers should NOT be unpredictable at all. They should be completely consistent and predictable, because they are a quantifiable natural force, and not a supernatural anti-science "weirdness" that proves science wrong somehow.

QuoteThats another facet of the setting : Science and scientists are seen as the good guys or at least as the usual ally of the good guys.

Yes.

RPGPundit

I kind of have something like this in the works (albeit on the back burner). Let's see....Cover:

Concept:

QuoteSo, the basic premise:

The world ended in 1944 when a Nazi scientist named Johann Eckhert detonated a super weapon. He thought he was testing it but it turned out the Gestapo had linked vast amounts of spiritual energy to it in hopes of enhancing its power. Despite the apparent lack of a nuclear like explosion, merely the destruction of the lab and all his staff, the actual effect was far larger. The universe, in a blink of an eye, was wiped out. Like a fading echo, the aftershocks are the reality we currently live in.

If you question it too closely, you will slip out of existence.

If you believe something strongly enough, it will be so (UFOs, witchcraft, ghosts). This is called the "Echo Effect" by those who know better.

Before all this, many universes lived in parallel but subordinate space with our (the Prime) universe. Individuals from those worlds could sometimes manifest themselves in our world, as ghosts or supernatural beings. However, this was a rare and exceptional event, both short lived and usually fatal for those attempting it. Since the End, the Echo People as they are called, have an easier time of it. They are able to pass to our world both as ghostly "spirits" and some, as corporeal beings. Some are on our side to save our world while others work against us.

Meta Discussion
The players would be:
Paranormal investigators fighting individual Echo People with no knowledge of the grand scheme of things. They could have powers but there should be a system where you can "believe" your weapons/equipment are more powerful. Essentially, mind over matter. This would be the Dresden Files that Jim was talking about.

Part of an organization (there would be several) of individuals fighting for calming the Echo and stabilizing our universe if not outright restoring it. Some theories on this point would include getting to Eckhert, he is somehow the key to all this. Reassembling Eckhert's machine which should have Echo effects built into them. Defeating as many of the Echo people and forcing them from our reality as possible. Related to this would be that the Echo People are believed to have a machine that is increasing the Echo.

Magic casters in the real world. Essentially, runnign around with Echo Effects causing problems. This would be the most boring idea in my opinion but hey, I could see some folks getting off on it.

So, you I could see it easily being a "battle for light" kind of thing.

I think it'd involve something like Care Bears.

Really, really intense Care Bears.

This is The World of Brightness.

Pundit, I think your version and my half-baked idea can meet somewhere in the middle. You did help refine my thoughts.

 What I'm looking for is a Positive! setting thats fun to play in....and set in contemporary times.

Also, I am kind of sick of WoD.


- Ed C.

Quote from: KenHR;275405I think it'd involve something like Care Bears.

Really, really intense Care Bears.

I was going to say smurfs, but Ken is right: Care Bears.

Care Bears with mad skillz.

Quote from: HinterWelt;275389I kind of have something like this in the works (albeit on the back burner). Let's see....Cover:

Concept:

So, you I could see it easily being a "battle for light" kind of thing.

That sounds like a really interesting premise for a game, Hinterwelt, but it also sounds more like the kind of thing that would belong in the WoD than the "opposite" of the WoD.  

I would think that one essential element of the WW games is that things are heading toward an inevitable doom.  It was in Vampire, Werewolf, Wraith, and more or less in Mage.

So a "World of Light" game is one where the world is heading toward a new Golden Age, as long as the PCs can make sure that it doesn't get prevented by the Swine.

RPGPundit

Isn't this Azumanga Daioh?

Quote from: Koltar;275447Pundit, I think your version and my half-baked idea can meet somewhere in the middle. You did help refine my thoughts.

 What I'm looking for is a Positive! setting thats fun to play in....and set in contemporary times.

Also, I am kind of sick of WoD.


- Ed C.

A positive setting in contemprary times.

That gave me a headache just thinking about it.

It also illustrates just how negative most game settings are. Most of the time PCs are struggling to maintain the status quo (LotR, for example).

Of course, a negative setting gives a scenario-rich environment. I'm working on my next campaign, using Flying Mice's 'modern alternate' setting, and I'm getting my ideas from the news.

I think the difficult part would be establishing a positive that is widely accepted. Its easy to sell the idea of something as bad (they kill you/enslave you/use you as breeding hosts), but good? Tough sell.

An interesting concept. It'll give me something to think about at work.

Quote from: Koltar;275447Pundit, I think your version and my half-baked idea can meet somewhere in the middle. You did help refine my thoughts.

 What I'm looking for is a Positive! setting thats fun to play in....and set in contemporary times.

Also, I am kind of sick of WoD.


- Ed C.

I suppose I'm the only one who thinks this would be boring. No conflict = no fun.

And Koltar, you don't have permission to be sick of WoD. You can hate it with a fiery passion, but since you don't actually play the game, you can't really be sick of it in the same manner that, for instance, I am.

So there!

Even before I worked at a game store I was 'sick' of it.

(That would be a LONG story better done maybe in off-topic)

It got worse with people trying to 'sell' me on it at the store.

- Ed C.