Part 1 - Kicking around questions

I am wrestling around with making a game based on them and some additional movies I happen to like.  In fact, I am calling it Destroy All Evil as a working title  What needs to be in such an rpg?  A light-hearted romp against evil?  Strictly shock and awe gore fests?  Moralistic tales?  Iconic figures? Anything in particular "genre" wise absolutely have to be in there?
All in all, what would have to be in the game for you to even consider buying it.

Part 2 -recap of what I am doing

Right now, I am working on general rules, specific rules for determining when someone goes over the edge with handling cursed items and the actual items themselves.  Eventually, classic foes needs to be addressed and I want to include iconic figures w/o breaking copyright.  Organizations will be there but not consciously made from any particular TV show or movie.  

I want to add a common thread to the characters.  Specifically, everyone has had their vision readjusted and can "see" evil in its hidden forms.  Right now, I am just looking at simplistic morality, good and evil are active forces in the world...

Anyway, I won't ramble on unless somebody brings up a good point or has a question:)

What movies/TV shows are you looking at....

Regards,
David R

I think some humor and action would be nice. I've seen a LOT of gore fest/dark supernatural (so called horror) games but few RPG's with the humorous touch that held up. Mind you, I've been re-reading the Bureau 13 novels so I may be slanted.

The big horror series of the 80s would be:

Halloween (1978, 1981, 1982, 1988)

Friday the 13th (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)
There are a couple recent games that emulate these -- though not so much A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Scared Stiff (2002) is a bit of a parody, though a good one.  Dead of Night (2005) is a more serious take, thoug still definitely self-conscious.  I'm not very familiar with Dread (2005) or Don't Look Back: Terror is Never Far Behind (1995), but they seem to be in the genre.

Quote from: jhkimThe big horror series of the 80s would be:

Halloween (1978, 1981, 1982, 1988)

Friday the 13th (1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)
There are a couple recent games that emulate these -- though not so much A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Scared Stiff (2002) is a bit of a parody, though a good one.  Dead of Night (2005) is a more serious take, thoug still definitely self-conscious.  I'm not very familiar with Dread (2005) or Don't Look Back: Terror is Never Far Behind (1995), but they seem to be in the genre.

Most of these movies are teen horror slasher pics. ancientgamer, are these the type of films you are talking about ?

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RMost of these movies are teen horror slasher pics. ancientgamer, are these the type of films you are talking about ?

Regards,
David R

No, not exactly.  I probably didn't make that clear enough.  I am thinking of TV shows like friday the 13th:  The series, Freddy's Nightmares, Tales from the dark side, Twilight Zone (they tried to revive in the 80s so I am taking it), Tales from the Crypt (in the 80s but 90s bleedover...again I am taking it), Monsters, etc.  I chose them because of their episodic nature and ability to have different stories in them.  For instance, one game could have someone used a cursed item to make money and the next could have a knife wielding maniac.  

I figured the films mentioned above would have been done in other games.  I am not ignoring them but they won't be the main focus.

At one time I thought of doing an RPG campaign or setting based on the original Black & White TWILIGHT ZONE.

Somehow I was going to link it all with the "RAt Pack" crowd and that whole mindset. There were 1 r 2 episodes wehere Serling interacted with the characters in the story - turn that into a group of cigarette smoking, suit wearing hip guys - and you might have an adventuring group with timeline and dimension visiting abilities. (Maybe add an Emma Peel like character as well)


- Ed C.

Koltar,

I know the first revival of the Twilight Zone mainly re-done the original episodes and weren't the same without Rod Sterling.  I think the game would have a far different flavor if you tried to include them as a major focus.  Especially when thinking about Weird Tales horror stories and The Outer Limits (60s original version) as two other cool examples that would alter a game:)

There's an rpg reviewed on this very site that is meant for playing gore films from the 70s and 80s, called Blood.  It uses something very similar to the BRP system but includes pages and pages to critical hit tables for every weapon you could think of.  It also adds some optional energy rules which have you tracking how exhausted you are.  In the bestiary is a bunch of famous movie monsters with the serial numbers filed off- slashers, zombies, cenobites, etc.

From reading it over I think it would do well for a Friday the 13th or Freddy's Nightmares kind of show.  It's meant for one-shots because it's very deadly.

Besides Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, I'm not too familiar with the TV series you mentioned. However I think you're going for a more action type game and I do remember the Crypt movie Demon Knight.

I'm thinking you could use the Keys, Guardians etc from the Knight movie as the basis for the game's mythology and scavage other interesting ideas from the series you mentioned.

I'd keep the pcs fairly mundane. Pehaps have a willpower stat which allows them to handle magical artifacts and during times of stress, perform super (or rather action movie) stunts/feats of strenght, dodge, luck etc.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RBesides Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, I'm not too familiar with the TV series you mentioned. However I think you're going for a more action type game and I do remember the Crypt movie Demon Knight.

I'm thinking you could use the Keys, Guardians etc from the Knight movie as the basis for the game's mythology and scavage other interesting ideas from the series you mentioned.

I'd keep the pcs fairly mundane. Pehaps have a willpower stat which allows them to handle magical artifacts and during times of stress, perform super (or rather action movie) stunts/feats of strenght, dodge, luck etc.

Regards,
David R

I remember that movie too, much better than Bordello of Blood, IMO.
Right now, I am thinking that the PCs are part of a loose association of lightseers (or some other name).  They can see goodness and evil and tell when someone is a member of the group and if someone has Corruption.  I can definitely see some people eye's being open by the methods the Guardians used in Demon Knights.  Keys might be things to be kept out of the hands of evil.  The items could be cursed or not meant to be used by mortal hands.  Kinda like the reversal of that movie...i.e. the Forces of Darkness can never get their hands on the whip that used on Jesus.  

Perhaps there are different ways to be brought into the struggles...some are born to be lightseers, some are baptized in blood and battle, others have been caught with in with evil but somehow broke away.  

Also, I have them using a "spirit" stat for resisting corrupting influences and for minor magic.  As far as "magic", I am thinking of things like minor protection, bolstering the soul or other stats for a short while, exorcisms, and unreliable divination

Quote from: newtmonkeyThere's an rpg reviewed on this very site that is meant for playing gore films from the 70s and 80s, called Blood. It uses something very similar to the BRP system but includes pages and pages to critical hit tables for every weapon you could think of. It also adds some optional energy rules which have you tracking how exhausted you are. In the bestiary is a bunch of famous movie monsters with the serial numbers filed off- slashers, zombies, cenobites, etc.

From reading it over I think it would do well for a Friday the 13th or Freddy's Nightmares kind of show. It's meant for one-shots because it's very deadly.

I finally found that review of Blood.  Without reading the book, I think you could do it but you would get a different kind of experience than I am after.  I am imagining the players getting tempted as much as gore based terror.  Just mucking around facing evil should change someone, so I am thinking a short series of related scenerios vs. deadly one-offs.  Nothing wrong with one-offs...just trying to make a relationship difference between what I am thinking for my own game and what I thought the review for Blood said.