Need Some inspiration

Megamanfan · August 31, 2008, 11:33:22 PM

So after a year away from any gaming I have the itch to run/play something.

For my first venture back, I wanna make an action-packed fantasy setting. Something like D&D meets Two-Fisted Tales, sans the pulp gimmick.

To leave a long story short, I'm seeking some inspiration that'll get me started onto the path of creation. Perhaps some of the things you think should be included in such a setting?

As a total aside, I was wondering if would Savage Worlds do this well? I've been reading about it and it sounds like it just might.

Damn I'm ramble-y tonight.

VBWyrde · September 02, 2008, 10:00:34 AM

Quote from: Megamanfan;242551So after a year away from any gaming I have the itch to run/play something.

For my first venture back, I wanna make an action-packed fantasy setting. Something like D&D meets Two-Fisted Tales, sans the pulp gimmick.

To leave a long story short, I'm seeking some inspiration that'll get me started onto the path of creation. Perhaps some of the things you think should be included in such a setting?

As a total aside, I was wondering if would Savage Worlds do this well? I've been reading about it and it sounds like it just might.

Damn I'm ramble-y tonight.

Maybe a good way to start would be for you to give some ideas you already have ... ? That might provide some grist for the mill and give some ideas to respond to.

TonyLB · September 02, 2008, 10:25:06 AM

How do you feel about wuxia and wire-fu movies?

No, I'm not going to sell anyone on Exalted. I think, contrari-wise, that it'd be pretty easy to houserule 4e to that sort of high-action fantasy feel. Many of the at-will powers seem already there, but for a change of name.

walkerp · September 02, 2008, 12:40:05 PM

D&D + Two-Fisted Tales ~= Savage Worlds definitely.

I like things like this that take place on docks. Rundown bars that sell only the cheapest, blinding rum. Stevedores unions who don't like people snooping around. Giant rats under the wharf. Mysterious cargos being loaded secretly at night. Something big and dangerous trapped in a cage in the hold of a ship. Exploding boats.

TonyLB · September 02, 2008, 01:41:33 PM

Mousy clerks who are supposed to be keeping track of everything that comes into and out of the port, but who are smart enough to preserve their health by being conveniently busy elsewhere when boats from certain merchants tie up at the piers.

Megamanfan · September 03, 2008, 10:37:20 AM

Quote from: walkerp;243114.... Exploding boats.

YES! Now we're talkin'!

My ponderings as of late have swung to something like Iron Kingdoms; shootouts, leaping from the roof of a tall building as it explodes and frees the young dragon from the dungeon below, train heists at breakneck speeds, shanghaied airships...

Big action, big adventure.

Malcolm Craig · September 03, 2008, 10:50:10 AM

You might find some good inspiration in the novels of China Mieville, such as Perdido Street Station. Certainly sounds like there are elements in the books that may well provide inspiration for the kind of game you are thinking of.

Cheers
Malcolm

GrimJesta · September 03, 2008, 12:58:04 PM

Savage Worlds indeed.

-=Grim=-

jswa · September 03, 2008, 07:44:18 PM

Oh yeah. Savage Worlds is where it's at for the pulp-esque style you're looking for.

Paka · September 05, 2008, 10:52:46 AM

Quote from: Malcolm Craig;243652You might find some good inspiration in the novels of China Mieville, such as Perdido Street Station. Certainly sounds like there are elements in the books that may well provide inspiration for the kind of game you are thinking of.

Cheers
Malcolm

From Perdido Street Station:

"Apparently, there's a few serious adventurers in town right now, claiming to have just liberated some major trow haul from the ruins in Tashek Rek Hai. May be up for a little paid work."

Derkhan looked up. Her face creased in distaste. She shrugged unhappily.

"I know they are some of the hardest people in Bas Lag," she said slowly. It took some moments for her to turn her mind to the issue. "I don't trust them, though. They court danger. And they're quite unscrupulous graverobbers for the most part. Anything for gold and experience."

From China's interview in Dragon #352:

"With the adventurers, I was simply aware of that and I was playfully and affectionally but critically say, 'You know, if adventurers really wandered around a coherent world with coherent societies and coherent politics, this is what they'd look like.' They go wandering into other people's barrows and steal jewlery off their dead kings. This is not okay. They wander around looking for fights, they kill people at a drop of a hat... As I say, I was that soldier, I'm not casting aspersions. But its a playful way of saying, 'this is what we play.'

"It's an affectionate critique."

VBWyrde · September 07, 2008, 09:47:25 PM

Quote from: Paka;244684"Fairy tales don't teach children that monsters exist. Children already know that monsters exist. Fairy tales teach children that monsters can be killed."

-G.K. Chesterson

I absolutely adore that quote.

Here's another fabulous quote of his I just found on wikipedia:

"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected."

I never heard of him before (but I think his name is spelled G.K. Chesterton). In any case thank you for the tip; I'm definitely going to read his works.