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Please don't even think of turning this into a RPG

Started by David R, September 01, 2006, 12:54:06 PM

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David R

September 01, 2006, 12:54:06 PM
Pretty simple. What are your favourite books/films/comics that you don't want to see turned into an rpg and why?

For me it was Gene Wolf's Books of the New Sun. I always thought that there was no way an rpg could ever capture the tone/concepts of those books. And IMO the rpg failed to do just that.

So, what are your "Please don't even think of turning this into an RPG" books/film/comics etc.

Regards,
David R

mearls

#1
September 01, 2006, 12:56:31 PM
Agreed about New Sun. The GURPS version was a good case of completely missing the point.

I think Earthsea falls into that category, too. I can see mining it for ideas and approaching the tone in a game, but the setting itself is best served simply by enjoying the stories.
Mike Mearls
Professional Geek

Vellorian

#2
September 01, 2006, 12:57:49 PM
Roots, The Color Purple, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Amistad, etc.

Anything by Danielle Steele, Joan Collins or with a Harlequin imprint...

I could go on for days.  I think I'll stop here...

EDIT: Oh!  You said "favorites!"

Scratch the Danielle Steele, et al line, then... :o
Ian Vellore
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry

Zachary The First

#3
September 01, 2006, 12:59:01 PM
Yeah, Earthsea is great for inspiration, but it'd be a tall undertaking for any company to get right.
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JongWK

#4
September 01, 2006, 01:15:15 PM
Schindler's List.
"I give the gift of endless imagination."
~~Gary Gygax (1938 - 2008)

David R

#5
September 01, 2006, 01:33:24 PM
Has there ever been any adaptation of a setting form a book/film where there were no rules, just the designers ideas as to the possible theme(s) of the book/film, examples of systems that would emulate said themes, suggestions as to how to turn the setting into a viable rpg etc.

Regards,
David R

Caesar Slaad

#6
September 01, 2006, 01:33:50 PM
Between my general disdain of feeling like I am not "living up" to the source material, and generally poor batting average of adaptations and selection of systems that I wouldn't care to play (coff*serenity*coff), it really don't care so much if my favorite shows never get adapted.
The Secret Volcano Base: my intermittently updated RPG blog.

Running: Pathfinder Scarred Lands, Mutants & Masterminds, Masks, Starfinder, Bulldogs!
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ColonelHardisson

#7
September 01, 2006, 01:47:29 PM
Y'know, I get the feeling that the best science fiction/fantasy literature and movies are going to have a large number of fans saying it would be impossible to adequately cover them with an RPG. It may be that less literary stuff makes for the best RPG fodder - stuff like Brian Daley's "Coramonde" books, Lawrence Watt-Evans's "Garth the Overman" books, etc.
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4e definitely has an Old School feel. If you disagree, cool. I won\'t throw any hyperbole out to prove the point.

Dr Rotwang!

#9
September 01, 2006, 02:11:02 PM
Quote from: David RHas there ever been any adaptation of a setting form a book/film where there were no rules, just the designers ideas as to the possible theme(s) of the book/film, examples of systems that would emulate said themes, suggestions as to how to turn the setting into a viable rpg etc.

Regards,
David R
The Willow Sourcebook came close.
Dr Rotwang!
...never blogs faster than he can see.
FONZITUDE RATING: 1985[/font]

hgjs

#10
September 01, 2006, 02:13:12 PM
Lord of the Rings
 

Vellorian

#11
September 01, 2006, 02:14:12 PM
Wheel of Time.

Oh, wait, you said, "...something we like..."  ;)
Ian Vellore
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry

blakkie

#12
September 01, 2006, 02:33:00 PM
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I can see that working out at least as poorly as it did coming to the silver screen. A pale immitation of the triology in five parts that was painfully predictable as such. :(
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

Caesar Slaad

#13
September 01, 2006, 02:35:47 PM
Quote from: blakkieHitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I can see that working out at least as poorly as it did coming to the silver screen. A pale immitation of the triology in five parts.

We homebrewed a "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" game. Never played it, but it was an interesting though experiment.

We even had an early version of player dramatic editing (this was mid 80s as I recall). We had "no way" points, which were there to represent the various bits of florid exposition in the books which end up having no bearing on the story.
The Secret Volcano Base: my intermittently updated RPG blog.

Running: Pathfinder Scarred Lands, Mutants & Masterminds, Masks, Starfinder, Bulldogs!
Playing: Sigh. Nothing.
Planning: Some Cyberpunk thing, system TBD.

blakkie

#14
September 01, 2006, 02:43:48 PM
Quote from: Caesar SlaadWe even had an early version of player dramatic editing (this was mid 80s as I recall). We had "no way" points, which were there to represent the various bits of florid exposition in the books which end up having no bearing on the story.
I must admit that particular part does sound intreging. If someone pulled off the whole game I'd be more than a little impressed.  I assume anything you had has been lost to time with the only copy existing in your dusty memory?
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity
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