Looking for a Jurassic Park themed RPG

Thegn Ansgar · February 27, 2014, 11:56:53 PM

So I know there's the Jurassic Park RPG that was made for the second flim; The Lost World that has three short adventures in it, but I've been looking for an RPG is a little more substantial. Something that is longer than just three short adventures. Maybe not a grand campaign length, but at least one that I can run for a little while.

I doubt there's any others that are actually set in the Jurassic Park world (since that would need to gain the rights from Universal pictures and whatnot), but at the very least does anyone know of possible RPGs which have settings that would work well with this sort of thing?

Maybe just some kind of generic dinosaur park setting where things go wrong.

Chivalric · February 28, 2014, 12:15:09 AM

This is very niche, so I'm not sure how much there would be. You may already have all of it.

Are you only interested in pre-published settings and adventures, or do you want suggestions on using a given system to make more of this sort of stuff, or perhaps suggestions on how to take non-dinosaur park modules and move them into the dino-park?

LibraryLass · February 28, 2014, 12:26:16 AM

It's not exactly Jurassic Park, but Cubicle 7 made a Primeval RPG using the same system as their Doctor Who game. You might look into that.

arminius · February 28, 2014, 12:35:28 AM

Maybe the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs RPG by GDW.

Thegn Ansgar · February 28, 2014, 12:50:58 AM

Quote from: NathanIW;733561This is very niche, so I'm not sure how much there would be. You may already have all of it.

Are you only interested in pre-published settings and adventures, or do you want suggestions on using a given system to make more of this sort of stuff, or perhaps suggestions on how to take non-dinosaur park modules and move them into the dino-park?

Either would work. I'm not set on pre-published settings and adventures. Just a suggestion would perhaps be the most likely thing. I'm fairly creative when it comes to making my own adventures and campaigns, but I'm not sure what system I could use (I'm really only familiar with AD&D, D&D 3.5, and MicroLite 20).

Quote from: LibraryLass;733564It's not exactly Jurassic Park, but Cubicle 7 made a Primeval RPG using the same system as their Doctor Who game. You might look into that.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check it out.

Quote from: Arminius;733566Maybe the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs RPG by GDW.

As above, thanks for the recommendation, I'll also check that out.

Chivalric · February 28, 2014, 02:54:01 AM

Quote from: Thegn Ansgar;733569Either would work. I'm not set on pre-published settings and adventures. Just a suggestion would perhaps be the most likely thing. I'm fairly creative when it comes to making my own adventures and campaigns, but I'm not sure what system I could use (I'm really only familiar with AD&D, D&D 3.5, and MicroLite 20).

What about if you went with something like d20 Modern. There are a few books you could get or just use the free online SRD. Here's one copy of it, but you can find others with a google search:
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/modern/smack/basics.html

Guns (someone's going to want to shoot a dinosaur eventually):
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/modern/smack/weapons.html

You already have stats for dinosaurs in the form of their D&D stats:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dinosaur.htm

As well as using things like giant lizards and whatnot as other dinosaurs. Basically as part of prep you could make a list of all the different types of dinosaurs the zoo happens to have and get stats for them from somewhere.

YourSwordisMine · February 28, 2014, 05:51:14 AM

I'd recommend either Savage Worlds or Hollow Earth Expedition. I think both could do it very well, though I would probably lean more toward HEX personally.

Exploderwizard · February 28, 2014, 09:21:12 AM

Quote from: Thegn Ansgar;733559Maybe just some kind of generic dinosaur park setting where things go wrong.

In this eventuality, do really think a half dozen Marlboro men are gonna make a difference?

Endless Flight · February 28, 2014, 09:24:43 AM

I have to agree with YSIM. HEX is a good choice.

mcbobbo · February 28, 2014, 09:49:09 AM

I don't know hex but I do think d20 is probably a bad fit because those characters tend to be too durable. JP was all about staying away from the predators, not going toe to toe with them.

So something with more splat factor is recommended, IMO.

jan paparazzi · February 28, 2014, 09:55:35 AM

Hex is an awesome setting and one of it's supplements Mysteries of the Hollow Earth gives more additional dino's. And you can always use the game later for other stuff of course.

Chivalric · February 28, 2014, 01:21:54 PM

Quote from: mcbobbo;733617I don't know hex but I do think d20 is probably a bad fit because those characters tend to be too durable. JP was all about staying away from the predators, not going toe to toe with them.

So something with more splat factor is recommended, IMO.

I was actually thinking something along these lines when I recommended it. Then I went and looked at the dinosaur stats and then looked at early HP levels. Once a character has a few levels though, the dinosaurs become far, far less of a threat. There's always the old Grim & Gritty mod for 3.5 you could add:

http://riivo.talviste.ee/dnd/grim-n-gritty/GrimNGrittyHitPointRules3.3.pdf

When you prepare the dino stat blocks, you'll want to modify them appropriately.

If I were to run this game, I'd go with BRP/Call of Cthulhu or something like that, but if I was already really comfortable with d20, I think you could make it work.

3rik · February 28, 2014, 03:46:00 PM

I'd second the recommendation for Primeval. It's got everything you could need for something like Jurassic Park. It's modern tech but doesn't get bogged down in technical detail, you can equip your organisation/headquarters (or dinosaur research center/dinosaur zoo), there's dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures and rules for making your own prehistoric creatures. The system allows for some "cinematics" but is still pretty gritty when push comes to shove.

The only things in there that you don't really need would be characters from and references to the TV show and information regarding temporal anomalies.

HEX could do the job, but in Primeval most of the work has already been done for you.

Kravell · March 01, 2014, 05:45:13 AM

Broncosaurus Rex from Goodman Games is another option. The PDFs are not expensive and there are a lot of dinosaurs.

jan paparazzi · March 01, 2014, 04:38:42 PM

Quote from: 3rik;733697I'd second the recommendation for Primeval. It's got everything you could need for something like Jurassic Park. It's modern tech but doesn't get bogged down in technical detail, you can equip your organisation/headquarters (or dinosaur research center/dinosaur zoo), there's dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures and rules for making your own prehistoric creatures. The system allows for some "cinematics" but is still pretty gritty when push comes to shove.

The only things in there that you don't really need would be characters from and references to the TV show and information regarding temporal anomalies.

HEX could do the job, but in Primeval most of the work has already been done for you.

You are right. I didn't know Primeval. It has everything you need for a game with dinosaurs. Hollow Earth Expedition is more of an adventure game.