TheRPGSite

Ok, you've got your dream game company, now what would you produce with it?

I'd like to start with a basic system that was based on the chaosium system, especially the version used in ringworld. I'd want a percentile based one as understanding percentages is quite easy and more direct than trying to figure out your chances of rolling  a 5 on 2 or 3 d6's is.

I'd use the skill system from ringworld, including the skill check system for advancement, plus experience points as well.

I just have to have hit locations, and the RW system had them for all creatures.

Once the basic system was done, I'd try to get the rights to do the known space setting, with ringworld as a sourcebook for it. The man-kzin wars would make an excellent sub setting too. I think an official kzinti players guide would be nice as well.

I'd also want to try redoing living steel, if I could get permission, that was a great setting. Also there should be a Nonorverse setting and a hammer's slammers book.

If I got permission, I'd want to do a setting for "Traveller: The long night."

For another major release, I'd want a "Don't dream it, build it!" book for making pretty much everything, a'la "Stuff!" for EABA.

So what would you do with your dream company if you got it?

If I owned my dream company I'd use the biogenetics division to create a supersoldier serum and turn me into a superhero.
 
(If it was as pedestrian as an rpg company...who knows.)

Defenders of Justice
Hero System
Every Adaptation and Conversion ever posted on the forums.



Cheers

QM

I'd use BRP as the base for a range of historical rpgs.

Quote from: BalbinusI'd use BRP as the base for a range of historical rpgs.

I knew the word historical would come from your fingertips :p

Don't stop there, Balbinus! I'd like to know which ones!

Quote from: Consonant DudeI knew the word historical would come from your fingertips :p

Don't stop there, Balbinus! I'd like to know which ones!

The Italian Renaissance, above all others
19th Century adventure and exploration
The 17th Century wars of religion
Social intrigue in the grand courts of 18th Century Europe
Vikings
A cold war game from the 1950s to the 1970s
Republican, not Imperial, Rome
Edit:  Elizabethan/Jacobean London

Edit:  and also probably a contemporary police procedural rpg

There are probably others, but those are the ones that leap out.

Well the lead designer in my dream company would design a game based around killers,spys, charlatans, prophets and thieves all connected with The East India Company. The game would be called Rogue Traders or maybe Wages of Sin... ripping of other games and movie titles is no problem for my company :D

Regards,
David R

Well, as I said before a modular build your own action figure set by the best sculptors in the industry.  Since money's no object we can do this at a better price point than say, GW who have to service the debt incurred by major purchases.  Also, I think it has excellent mainstream market penetration potential that should help to keep the price down.

There'll be a simple game system in the core box and then there'll be setting kits.

Also, an Mmporg where anyone can kill anyone / group with anyone because there won't be any levels.

First I'd make a comic book game that let people play the villains without being stupid ... a game that supported gloating at your rivals, putting them in a death-trap and walking away to "attend to other matters" and generally winding the heroes up to the point where they're morally vested in beating you.

Next I'd make a shoujo anime/manga game that encouraged people to play characters who are emotionally vulnerable, and made it a better strategy than simply sitting back and being diamond-hard and untouchable ... one that would help people to create the kind of twists of emotion and expectation that typify Kare Kano and Veronica Mars and the like.

QuoteThe Italian Renaissance

I'd really like to play this some time.

Quote from: Balbinus19th Century adventure and exploration

What to explore? Adventure where? By what kind of characters? Does this tie into David's idea of the BEI Company?

Quote from: David JohansenAlso, an Mmporg where anyone can kill anyone / group with anyone because there won't be any levels.

This has been done at least once. It's called Ultima Online although now there are entire non-PvP worlds in it. Didn't start out that way though.

Quote from: David RWell the lead designer in my dream company would design a game based around killers,spys, charlatans, prophets and thieves all connected with The East India Company. The game would be called Rogue Traders or maybe Wages of Sin... ripping of other games and movie titles is no problem for my company :D

Regards,
David R

And I'd buy it.

Quote from: blakkieI'd really like play this some time.

What to explore? Adventure where? Done by who? Does this tie into David's idea of the BEI Company?

Have you read the Flashman novels?

Gun running in South-East Asia, exploring Africa (though the excellent Dark Continent covers this amply), intrigue in the courts of Europe, skullduggery in the East End of London, anthropology in Latin America.

There is tons in the 19th Century.

As for the Italian Renaissance, it's a great setting, I've run it using WFRP to reasonable effect and have some Risus notes on a set of NPCs (any of which could be PCs) for a Florentine game.

Quote from: BalbinusHave you read the Flashman novels?

Gun running in South-East Asia, exploring Africa (though the excellent Dark Continent covers this amply), intrigue in the courts of Europe, skullduggery in the East End of London, anthropology in Latin America.

There is tons in the 19th Century.

Not all of them. But yeah. I was just curious what angle you were thinking of. The reason I asked is that this Sunday I'm suppose to be getting together with a couple of people to map out what direction we are going to take within a mid-19th century set game and I still haven't picked out which 3 pitches to make. I'm just trying to load up my head with ideas to give the best shot of finding a fit for everyone.

Quote from: blakkieNot all of them. But yeah. I was just curious what angle you were thinking of. The reason I asked is that this Sunday I'm suppose to be getting together with a couple of people to map out what direction we are going to take within a mid-19th century set game and I still haven't picked out which 3 pitches to make. I'm just trying to load up my head with ideas to give the best shot of finding a fit for everyone.

Cool, what system are you using?  Any ideas so far?  If so, I'd suggest a spin-off thread to which I'll try to contribute (probably tomorrow).

I'm not much into the fantasy setting, but one thing I'd like to do would be to have a game set in mythical greece instead of basing it on medival europe like D&D.

I got Nox on my IL, but I gather that money's no concern in this exercise?  In such a case...


STEP 1. Acquire "Star Wars" game license from Hasbro ("Gimmie!"  "No!"  Money."  "Hokay!")

STEP 2. Acquire D6 license.

STEP 3. Save the world.

Balbinus, if you direct me at the man who is keeping a Republican Rome game from being published, no matter how remote his fastness, how vigilant his sworn defenders, how perilous the route and how skilled his kung fu...that man shall die.

Though I fear they are less murder-able factors than some dude. Even a dude who apparently has bodyguards, a fortress, and some kung fu.

I really don't know what I'd want to publish...I've got ORE, REIGN is coming up, there's a new Delta Green printing...maybe I'd revitalize the boxed set market with modern technology; snap-together modular minis, a CD of digital support products, etc.

Oh, yeah.  And I'd also publish the fabled, long-lost Encounter Critical 2nd Edition, out-of-print for over 20 years.

I'm aiming a bit low here but what I really, REALLY want these days is the Tekumel equilivant of City State of the Invincible Overlord.  I know big Tekumel (history, politics, religion).  I know small Tekumel (how to develop an interesting character).   What I'm having difficulty with is the middle-level of Tekumel -- day to day life, city politics, shopping, stuff like that.

The GoO version and the newer novels go a long way of handling that.  Some material in the previous version, Gardasiyal, helped a bit too. But what I want is an all-in-one book of a city, going district by district, building by building detailing what people are doing in Tekumel.  And have sweet, sweet maps to go along with it.

Quote from: Dominus NoxI'm not much into the fantasy setting, but one thing I'd like to do would be to have a game set in mythical greece instead of basing it on medival europe like D&D.

You're obviously looking for Mazes & Minotaurs (http://storygame.free.fr/MAZES.htm).

I would hire a small army of energetic, strong-willed big-sister types to enslave the Japanese shutin fantasy/SF artist population.  This geek army would be put to work illustrating new editions of Call of Cthulhu (with two-fisted-action and creepy-little-girl-ghost sections!), Dungeons and Dragons (same as above, except with vanilla and kitchen sink sections), and World of Darkness (super-gonzo-Hellsing and porcelain-skinned brooding).  These would be marketed largely to kids at or near their early teens.  I'd be sure to stuff in great quantities of art of willowy, girlish males (especially in the "horror" titles) so as to ensure sales in the squealing fangirl demographic.

Shit, I'd even put a LARP supplement out that encouraged dressing up in costumes.  That would paint a nice bullseye on the cosplay market (which would is small and rabid.)

Buried under a tidal wave of revenue, I would sell out before retiring to a penthouse suite in Las Vegas where I would subsist on naught but Bling h2o (http://www.blingh2o.com/) and Ketel One until my life of ghastly consumption was cut tragically short in a freak Chateaubriand accident.

Alternatively the whole enterprise ends with me living in an alley, my brain so rotted from Cisco wine that I spend my days talking into a shoe.
(You know, like Chaosium now.)

Quote from: droogYou're obviously looking for Mazes & Minotaurs (http://storygame.free.fr/MAZES.htm).

Nox, seriously, check this out.  Old school Grecian goodness, it's written as if it were the first rpg ever released because it is in part satirical, but the actual game is good and just what you are looking for.

I personally rate it very highly, tastes vary so you may not take to it but you should definitely check it out.

Quote from: BalbinusNox, seriously, check this out.  Old school Grecian goodness, it's written as if it were the first rpg ever released because it is in part satirical, but the actual game is good and just what you are looking for.

I personally rate it very highly, tastes vary so you may not take to it but you should definitely check it out.

As I said, i'm not into the FRP genre, but if I were I'd think that ancient greece was better than medival europe.

Warlords of Alexandria is probably the best historical as opposed to fantasy Greek rpg out there.  I host it for the author at //www.balbinus.com

I would take some nice old gamery public domain movies and bundle them on dvds featuring .pdfs of all the characters statted out, vehicles, maps, counters--what have you--and artwork and music in a similar vein, all indexed and linked. Maybe even a die roller and a hyperlinked "solo dungeon" style adventure set up as some kind of sequel or alternate ending to the film.

If Rick Loomis would do me a deal, I'd use Mercenaries, Spies, and Private Eyes or Tunnels and Trolls for rules. Hey--it's my company! Or I could do some rules--call them Psychotronic or Grindhouse or Drive-in or whatnot--with a built-in studio mechanic like Hong Kong Action Theater! or Extreme Vengence.

Quote from: BalbinusWarlords of Alexandria is probably the best historical as opposed to fantasy Greek rpg out there.  I host it for the author at //www.balbinus.com

Wow, I found a game called Chronicles of Babel on your website which is kind of interesting! Don't want to derail the thread but was it done by Mithras as well?

I'd love to have this little sucker as a .pdf!

Quote from: Consonant DudeWow, I found a game called Chronicles of Babel on your website which is kind of interesting! Don't want to derail the thread but was it done by Mithras as well?

I'd love to have this little sucker as a .pdf!

They're all Mithras, though I'd happily put Third Level Fighter's Saga game up there too which is a rather good Vikings game.  Must let him know that.

Quote from: Dominus NoxI'm not much into the fantasy setting, but one thing I'd like to do would be to have a game set in mythical greece instead of basing it on medival europe like D&D.

ICE's Mythic Greece supplement for Rolemaster/MERP/Fantasy Hero
Mongoose's OGL Ancients
Lee Gold's Land of Adventure.

Quote from: Dominus NoxI'd use the skill system from ringworld, including the skill check system for advancement, plus experience points as well.

Exactly how does the  skill check system work in the ringworld rpg??



.

Quote from: JaegerExactly how does the  skill check system work in the ringworld rpg??
.

It's the BRP advancement system. If you use a skill, you put a check against it. At the end if the adventure, if you roll over your percentage on the checked skill, you increase your percentage.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceIt's the BRP advancement system. If you use a skill, you put a check against it. At the end if the adventure, if you roll over your percentage on the checked skill, you increase your percentage.

-clash

Yes, I really like this idea for two reasons:

1. The skills you use should advance more than those you don't.

2. The better you are the harder it is to advance.

I'd have some XP to, for advancing stats, skills and perks/advantages.

Quote from: flyingmiceIt's the BRP advancement system. If you use a skill, you put a check against it. At the end if the adventure, if you roll over your percentage on the checked skill, you increase your percentage.

-clash

Is there any defined criteria for getting a skill check?

How do you avoid someone using a skill repeatedly (for no reason) to advance it faster?

How do you avoid people finding  stupid reasons to use skills just to get checks?

Wouldn't being able to also use XP on skills/stats undermine the check system? If not how is that avoided?

  The reason I asked so many questions is that I am looking to use a XP-less advancement system in my homebrew (who doesn't have one...)  And I am looking for something a bit more simple than the Burning Wheel system that I have played.

I have never played BRP or any of its incarnations.... I know, I know, woe unto me.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria for getting a skill check?

How do you avoid someone using a skill repeatedly (for no reason) to advance it faster?

How do you avoid people finding  stupid reasons to use skills just to get checks?

Wouldn't being able to also use XP on skills/stats undermine the check system? If not how is that avoided?

  The reason I asked so many questions is that I am looking to use a XP-less advancement system in my homebrew (who doesn't have one...)  And I am looking for something a bit more simple than the Burning Wheel system that I have played.

I have never played BRP or any of its incarnations.... I know, I know, woe unto me.

GM's judgement.

The GM calls for skill rolls to succeed, if you make one or more during the adventure, at the end of the scenario you get to make a skill roll to advance.

Good GM's will watch for players trying to use skills is a fallacious manner and not give them skill checks.

Some nice GMs allowed for skill rolls if you made a catastrophic failure, on the theory you learned from your mistake.

My company?

Dungeons & Dragons 15th Edition (Which is what we're up to in all reality.)

•Four Character Classes with vocations for differentiation.
•Social classes treated as social classes.
•A world to adventure in.
•No damn feats!

You want to play a barbarian? You can play a barbarian. A barbarian fighter, a barbarian wizard, a barbarian cleric, or a barbarian rogue. You could even play a barbarian hunter, a barbarian merchant, a barbarian scout, a barbarian mercenary, so on and so forth. But you won't play just a barbarian.

Your character will have friends and family who play an actual role in his life. He will have enemies and allies. He will suffer setback as well as triumph. He will earn his reputation instead of having it handed to him on a porcelin platter.

And combat will be confusing.

Finally, my advertising will feature illoes of knock-down drag out fights and include these lines from Runyard Kipling,

You can talk of gin and beer
When you're quartered safe out here
And you're sent to penny fights and aldershot it

But when it comes to slaughter
You'll do your work on water
And you'll lick the bloomin' boots of him who's got it.

Advertising slogan?

mythusmage

I find your views interesting and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria for getting a skill check?

Succeeding on a skill check.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria How do you avoid someone using a skill repeatedly (for no reason) to advance it faster?

Throw dice at him.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria How do you avoid people finding  stupid reasons to use skills just to get checks?

The "Golf Bag o' Weapons" is a known problem with BRP. It relies on GM vetting of the skill check - i.e. "You have to use the skill for real, not practice" and "I'm not allowing you a skill check for that!" and the ever popular "While you are fumbling around switching from your Flashlight Laser to your rail gun, the bad guys smoke you." Munchkins will munch, no matter what the system, so the GM deals with it.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria Wouldn't being able to also use XP on skills/stats undermine the check system? If not how is that avoided?

I would think so, but that is Nox's system, not BRP.

Quote from: JaegerIs there any defined criteria The reason I asked so many questions is that I am looking to use a XP-less advancement system in my homebrew (who doesn't have one...)  And I am looking for something a bit more simple than the Burning Wheel system that I have played.

I have never played BRP or any of its incarnations.... I know, I know, woe unto me.

You really should try it. If you are looking for an XP less system of advancement, my StarCluster System also doesn't use XPs.

-clash

While it does have xp, Ars Magica uses them in a different way to most games - closer to the BRP version.

After an adventure the character is awarded n xp.  Each of these is then put into a skill used on the adventure - not necessarily one rolled, so awareness would usually be allowable, or Area Lore - when X+1 xp are accumulated in the skill (where X is the current skill level) the skill is increased and the xp reset to zero.

(more complex in 5th Ed)

May be of use.  Or not.

Or use the Amber system of advancement.

V.

I haven't played it but I know Lejendary Adventures some of it's XP (forget the name he used for it) awarded for a specific action can be allocated towards the character skill involved. Generally it is a small percentage of the overall award and ment as exceptional rather than normal.

P.S. I've heard BW's skill/attribute advancement described as "BRP but fixed". Which likely refers to both the influence from Let It Ride, the differentiation between and requirement for both low and really tough attempts, and the removal of the single roll random factor. Maybe the addition of the ability to Practice?

Quote from: blakkieP.S. I've heard BW's skill/attribute advancement described as "BVP but fixed". Which likely refers to both the influence from Let It Ride, the differentiation between and requirement for both low and really tough attempts, and the removal of the single roll factor. Maybe the Practice mechanic too?

Hi Blakkie! What's BVP? I'm not familiar with that abbreviation.

Thanks!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceHi Blakkie! What's BVP? I'm not familiar with that abbreviation.

It stands for lakkie is a [V]ery [P]oor typist. :hmm: Original post has now been corrected. If you'll please excuse me while I take care of some business. :seppuku:

Quote from: blakkieIt stands for lakkie is a [V]ery [P]oor typer. :hmm: Original post has now been corrected. If you'll please excuse me while I take care of some business. :seppuku:

OK! Thanks for the clarification! I was racking my poor brain trying to figure it out. Makes sense in a way.

BTW - I love that seppuku smiley! :D

-clash