It's been a while since I read the comics and saw the film, but the basic premise is pretty cool. Everyone plays an extraordinary character based on (or inspired by) literature from about 100-150 years ago. It's all very steam punk, but also very much set in its era (not so much modern sensibilities nor mixed with D&D fantasy)
How would you run such a game?
I have been giving this some thought for a while and if I got the chance to run it, I would probably use Call of Cthulhu Pulp with the setting in Cthulhu by Gaslight.
Quote from: Starglyte on October 29, 2021, 02:25:49 PM
I have been giving this some thought for a while and if I got the chance to run it, I would probably use Call of Cthulhu Pulp with the setting in Cthulhu by Gaslight.
In case you know: How does that one compare to Astounding Adventures? (also by Chaosium)
Now this is an awesome question in my opinion. Some musings on this:
How much gonzo is enough? Should the adversaries of the league only be inspired by existing villains and their aftereffects or can outside canon be introduced? Must the whole thing adhere to the model the movie and the comics presented, may the players extrapolate their own deviations from the established characters cannon? What should the tone be like, serious in its presentation like in the comics, with some ugly realism/fridge horror thrown into the mix?
On another note, the french jeu de role ''Brigade Chimerique'' is very similar to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, concentrating on the ''superheroes of europe'' and their existance between the world wars. The ''forgotten history'' angle is what drew me into that game.
I might go Savage Worlds Dead Lands reloaded, or Space 1889 Red Sands, but stay on earth. Savage Worlds is great at pulp.
https://peginc.com/savage-settings/ (https://peginc.com/savage-settings/)
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:38:47 PM
Quote from: Starglyte on October 29, 2021, 02:25:49 PM
I have been giving this some thought for a while and if I got the chance to run it, I would probably use Call of Cthulhu Pulp with the setting in Cthulhu by Gaslight.
In case you know: How does that one compare to Astounding Adventures? (also by Chaosium)
Or Devi's Gulch for a more western flair. Astounding Adventures is more 30's pulp, but easy to adapt.
I think both are out of print if you want physical copies.
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:17:25 PM
It's been a while since I read the comics and saw the film, but the basic premise is pretty cool. Everyone plays an extraordinary character based on (or inspired by) literature from about 100-150 years ago. It's all very steam punk, but also very much set in its era (not so much modern sensibilities nor mixed with D&D fantasy)
How would you run such a game?
As straight from the comics as possible, you'll need Mr Hyde, a Vampire, Nemo, Quattermain, the invisible man.
The Vampire is easy, there's lots of vampire races out there to choose from.
Nemo... A two fisted scientist, if you need a weird science gadgets table let me know, I have one.
Quattermain: The great white hunter, change it to hunter and you're done.
The Invisible man... Drawing a blank here, since it has to be nude to be invisible I guess it's not really OP, A mix between chemist/thief?
Mr Hyde... Chemist, Shapeshifter, https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/242725/PC15--The-OSR-Chymist (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/242725/PC15--The-OSR-Chymist)
For inspiration:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/2177/OGL-Steampunk (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/2177/OGL-Steampunk)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/328119/Dark-Horrors--Hidden-Places-RPG-OSR-Edition?src=hottest_filtered&filters=45582_0_230_0_0 (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/328119/Dark-Horrors--Hidden-Places-RPG-OSR-Edition?src=hottest_filtered&filters=45582_0_230_0_0)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200487/White-Box-Gothic-Swords--Wizardry (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/200487/White-Box-Gothic-Swords--Wizardry)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/329066/Engines--Empires-Core-Rules (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/329066/Engines--Empires-Core-Rules)
Now create a world threat, a secret organization, and have it recruit the PCs.
Leagues of Adventure is another good option:
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2012/07/mini-review-leagues-of-adventure.html (https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2012/07/mini-review-leagues-of-adventure.html)
The OSR library also has some usefull stuff:
https://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/victorian-and-pulp-classes-swords.html (https://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/victorian-and-pulp-classes-swords.html)
https://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/2021/09/pulp-gaming-with-osr-rules.html (https://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/2021/09/pulp-gaming-with-osr-rules.html)
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:38:47 PM
Quote from: Starglyte on October 29, 2021, 02:25:49 PM
I have been giving this some thought for a while and if I got the chance to run it, I would probably use Call of Cthulhu Pulp with the setting in Cthulhu by Gaslight.
In case you know: How does that one compare to Astounding Adventures? (also by Chaosium)
I do not know to be honest. I have never heard of Astounding Adventures till now. I will have to take a look about it.
A: Complain about other peoples lack of creativity and about a lack of respect for my creations.
B: Use already existing characters and have them fuck each other or animals if possible.
C: Whine about dem kids some more.
Quote from: Shrieking Banshee on October 29, 2021, 09:49:34 PM
A: Complain about other peoples lack of creativity and about a lack of respect for my creations.
B: Use already existing characters and have them fuck each other or animals if possible.
C: Whine about dem kids some more.
Well, I didn't know Alan Moore was a part of the forum! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Shrieking Banshee on October 29, 2021, 09:49:34 PM
A: Complain about other peoples lack of creativity and about a lack of respect for my creations.
B: Use already existing characters and have them fuck each other or animals if possible.
C: Whine about dem kids some more.
(Scribbling notes).... does this include any and all animals?
Quote from: Shrieking Banshee on October 29, 2021, 09:49:34 PM
A: Complain about other peoples lack of creativity and about a lack of respect for my creations.
B: Use already existing characters and have them fuck each other or animals if possible.
C: Whine about dem kids some more.
You forgot "D: Have zero respect for the characters I'm stealing and have them act horribly out of character at all possible moments."
TBH I'd totally dig some mix of League and Penny Dreadful. And while I dislike Moore, I'd probably too be irreverent towards Captain Nemo canon (for once I'd make him Polish again)
DC Heroes could do it.
I'd think Castle Falkenstein might be hacked slightly for LoEG.
Astounding Adventures does seem perfect. Hopefully a report on it could drop here for us?
Quote from: Wrath of God on October 30, 2021, 07:28:46 AM
TBH I'd totally dig some mix of League and Penny Dreadful. And while I dislike Moore, I'd probably too be irreverent towards Captain Nemo canon (for once I'd make him Polish again)
Polish? Is that from the old film?
Jules Verne original plan for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas was to make Captain Nemo Polish nobleman motivated by vengeance against partition of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by Russia, Prussia and Austria - apparently seeing Russians as his nemesis. However it was in time when Russians were massive francophiles, and French books were commonly selling well in Russia.
So to avoid censorship as Russian Empire was very.. . fragile when it's reputation was in line, the editors of Verne convinced him to change Nemo to Hindu with English animosity - which apparently suited both French and Russian readers well, and I guess Anglosaxon world has not cared much.
Quote from: Wrath of God on October 30, 2021, 04:58:11 PM
the editors of Verne convinced him to change Nemo to Hindu with English animosity - which apparently suited both French and Russian readers well, and I guess Anglosaxon world has not cared much.
We love it! We're anti-fragile. ;D
I'd run it with Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying (the "gold book").
If you wanted to emphasize the "extraordinary" part of the milieu, you could use a superhero game. It would have to be a gritty one though. Like maybe Villains & Vigilantes?
GURPS 3e-4e. No rpg system offers the level of customization that GURPS does and you need it for this story.
Quote from: Godsmonkey on October 29, 2021, 02:40:36 PM
I might go Savage Worlds Dead Lands reloaded, ..
https://peginc.com/savage-settings/ (https://peginc.com/savage-settings/)
Of use the parts of the Rippers campaign that fit your style & setting.
Quote from: Philotomy Jurament on October 31, 2021, 03:21:47 AM
I'd run it with Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying (the "gold book").
This has been my go-to option when I don't feel like learning a new system. As weird as it seems (given most people's view of BRP) I have found that you can easily run almost anything with BRP. It's ridiculously easy to scale things using the different starting point options for instance. Doesn't mean it's the BEST at everything but it usually works.
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:17:25 PM
It's been a while since I read the comics and saw the film, but the basic premise is pretty cool. Everyone plays an extraordinary character based on (or inspired by) literature from about 100-150 years ago. It's all very steam punk, but also very much set in its era (not so much modern sensibilities nor mixed with D&D fantasy)
How would you run such a game?
I would go with Marvel FASERIP and replace Excellent with Extraordinary.
I guess I'd use Mini Six, power level is right for the comics at least. The film 'Australian Vampire' version of Mina Harker is a bit OP.
Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 29, 2021, 02:45:44 PM
As straight from the comics as possible, you'll need Mr Hyde, a Vampire, Nemo, Quattermain, the invisible man.
The Vampire is easy, there's lots of vampire races out there to choose from.
Mina is human in the comics, more of a high INT/WIS/CHA character. They made her a vampire in the film.
Quote from: S'mon on November 02, 2021, 05:50:44 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on October 29, 2021, 02:45:44 PM
As straight from the comics as possible, you'll need Mr Hyde, a Vampire, Nemo, Quattermain, the invisible man.
The Vampire is easy, there's lots of vampire races out there to choose from.
Mina is human in the comics, more of a high INT/WIS/CHA character. They made her a vampire in the film.
You are correct, and 10 years ago I wouldn't have mixed the two together, but age does funny things to your brain.
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:17:25 PM
It's been a while since I read the comics and saw the film, but the basic premise is pretty cool. Everyone plays an extraordinary character based on (or inspired by) literature from about 100-150 years ago. It's all very steam punk, but also very much set in its era (not so much modern sensibilities nor mixed with D&D fantasy)
How would you run such a game?
Quote from: Theory of Games on October 31, 2021, 03:12:26 PM
GURPS 3e-4e. No rpg system offers the level of customization that GURPS does and you need it for this story.
I think a key point of the premise is that the system has to be able to handle unique individuals like Jekyll/Hyde, the Invisible Man, as well as new individuals if one is running a campaign with player-created PCs. It's not just GURPS, but among other systems only superhero systems generally cover this sort of uniqueness.
Quote from: jhkim on November 02, 2021, 03:42:39 PM
I think a key point of the premise is that the system has to be able to handle unique individuals like Jekyll/Hyde, the Invisible Man, as well as new individuals if one is running a campaign with player-created PCs. It's not just GURPS, but among other systems only superhero systems generally cover this sort of uniqueness.
FWIW, the BRP Gold Book (that I mentioned, above) includes super-powers (originally from Chaosium's
Superworld game) as well as magic, tech, sanity/horror, et cetera. Like GURPS, it's kind of like a "toolkit" that can be used to customize a set of rules for a particular game/campaign, covering a variety of genres, tech levels, and so on.
I could run this is MSH without a hitch. Most of those characters are statted up already. Those that aren't I could do in literal minutes.
DC Heroes is a good choice as well.
With the Daredevils game from Fantasy Games Unlimited.
Amazing Adventures by Troll Lord Games would have you covered:
https://www.trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Amazing-Adventures/c/11639154
Quote from: THE_Leopold on January 11, 2022, 09:56:21 AM
Amazing Adventures by Troll Lord Games would have you covered:
https://www.trolllord.com/tlgstore/#!/Amazing-Adventures/c/11639154
You might want to supplement it with the
Companion for Victorian-era material and the
Book of Powers for superheroic/supernatural PCs.
Victorious by Troll Lord Games might be even closer to the original concept...
The BRP Gold book is so "completist" ... a good toolkit and tons of options, dials to set, etc.
Amazing Adventures does seem spot on.
The Vampire, p. 76f of Manual of Monsters.
Nemo, I'd make him a 15th level gadgeteer (submarine is massive and cool gadget).
Quattermain, the pugilist/raider multiclass, or from the Companion, either a gunslinger or soldier?
The Invisible man, a hooligan, probably, with gadgeteer multiclassed for the chemistry, or just hack the arcanist to be an alchemist type
Mr Hyde, arcanist like the I-man, probably with psionics though, activated from his weird past. Maybe feral in the mix.
Perhaps their society has the general aspect of The Guardians.
Quote from: Trond on October 29, 2021, 02:17:25 PM
It's been a while since I read the comics and saw the film, but the basic premise is pretty cool. Everyone plays an extraordinary character based on (or inspired by) literature from about 100-150 years ago. It's all very steam punk, but also very much set in its era (not so much modern sensibilities nor mixed with D&D fantasy)
How would you run such a game?
Maybe Pulp Cthulhu.
Depending on my mood and players' rules preferences I'd suggest Victorious (Troll Lords C&C style), Pulp Cthulhu (if I didn't want it to feel DnDy), or Mercenaries, Spies, & Private Eyes (for a more light approach).
I would definitely use Amazing Adventures by TLG for this.
Or possibly Savage Worlds.
Both would be great for it.
Nevermind. I already posted in this thread... Lol...