Hopefully none of the players are gonna read this; I know they're forum-averse, but you never know.

So anyway, as the title states, this is a Golden Girls game in the style of Charmed. Essentially, the PCs will be old ladies in a retirement community who are suddenly dragged back into their old duties as paranormal investigators and monster hunters. I'm gonna run it as you'd think: lots of jokes, light humor, but serious when needed. Death is probably off the table, but failure is imminent and expected. They're going to have a wealthy benefactor who is basically Jessica Fletcher, so add a Charlies Angels aspect as well. Each session will be episodic, with a clearly defined mission, wrapped up neatly in 60 minutes (or 3-4 hours). I'll probably pull plots wholesale from Scooby Doo, with the assumption the villain is actually a legit vampire, zombie, whatever.

I'm having some trouble with what system to use, though. I thought about GURPS or HERO due to the universal aspect, but those are both way too weighty for this sort of thing. I think I decided on the new BRP system, mostly because I can add magic and super powers easily as needed. Still, Silent Legions could work, as could the old Chill game or Cryptworld. However, since the PCs are probably going to manifest powers and abilities during a session they may never use again (classic crappy TV trope) I don't want to get bogged down in hard to use systems; so again BRP seems logical.

Anyway, suggestions would be appreciated. This will probably last a couple months before we start a new D&D game, so it needs to be fast and loose but mechanically interesting.

Well you could always use a system built around paranormal investigation and monster hunting, and modify character creation to reflect the increased age of the PCs.

Such as Hunter: The Vigil, Call of chulthlu / Delta Green, or if you hate yourself, GURPs.

Quote from: Brad on June 08, 2024, 08:59:04 PMHopefully none of the players are gonna read this; I know they're forum-averse, but you never know.

So anyway, as the title states, this is a Golden Girls game in the style of Charmed. Essentially, the PCs will be old ladies in a retirement community who are suddenly dragged back into their old duties as paranormal investigators and monster hunters. I'm gonna run it as you'd think: lots of jokes, light humor, but serious when needed. Death is probably off the table, but failure is imminent and expected. They're going to have a wealthy benefactor who is basically Jessica Fletcher, so add a Charlies Angels aspect as well. Each session will be episodic, with a clearly defined mission, wrapped up neatly in 60 minutes (or 3-4 hours). I'll probably pull plots wholesale from Scooby Doo, with the assumption the villain is actually a legit vampire, zombie, whatever.

I'm having some trouble with what system to use, though. I thought about GURPS or HERO due to the universal aspect, but those are both way too weighty for this sort of thing. I think I decided on the new BRP system, mostly because I can add magic and super powers easily as needed. Still, Silent Legions could work, as could the old Chill game or Cryptworld. However, since the PCs are probably going to manifest powers and abilities during a session they may never use again (classic crappy TV trope) I don't want to get bogged down in hard to use systems; so again BRP seems logical.

Anyway, suggestions would be appreciated. This will probably last a couple months before we start a new D&D game, so it needs to be fast and loose but mechanically interesting.

Ghost Hackers

My own and very much WIP The Gang Hack

Monster of the Week.  This is the sort of thing that PbtA actually does well.

Quote from: Brad on June 08, 2024, 08:59:04 PMI thought about GURPS or HERO due to the universal aspect, but those are both way too weighty for this sort of thing.

If I only knew this I'd say Savage Worlds. But the below argues against it, unless you rebuild characters every session.

Actually I guess that could work, if you leave one or two edges open every session, but it still relies on system fluency by the whole group.

Quote from: Brad on June 08, 2024, 08:59:04 PMHowever, since the PCs are probably going to manifest powers and abilities during a session they may never use again (classic crappy TV trope)...

What comes to mind now is Whitehack. Character shticks can be defined by players, they're open enough to find new uses but still defined thematically. And it's flexible for the GM as well.

Quote from: Brad on June 08, 2024, 08:59:04 PMStill, Silent Legions could work

I'm a big fan of Silent Legions, and it would give you some ruleset support for setting and adventure ideas. It doesn't strike me as hitting your light and humorous and one use powers requirements, but there's probably a way to hit all those beats as GM rather than leaning on ruleset. It strikes me that's what you'd be doing in BRP anyway.

Consider working through a Silent Legions campaign/setting workup whether you actually run it in SL or not.

Quote from: yosemitemike on June 08, 2024, 10:07:49 PMMonster of the Week.  This is the sort of thing that PbtA actually does well.

I'd agree with this. MotW is one of the most well-developed of the PbtA games. The magic is pretty flexible, and anyone roll magic to represent a one-off power. The one thing is that there isn't an easy way to represent that the characters are all old ladies. If you use the standard playbooks, then they'll be roughly as physically tough as when they were young.

If you really wanted to emphasize the low physical stats, you could use the Buffy the Vampire Slayer system - which is lighter than BRP or most other generic systems. It is set up for paranormal investigators, and the PCs could all take low physical stats. It also has a pretty hand-wavey flexible magic system, which allows for one-off powers.

Brad, it seems to me you're asking for Call of Cthulhu. 

The original Beyond the Supernatural RPG.

I lean towards GURPS because the breadth of the magic system matters in a game where everyone's a wizard.

Ars Magica or Mage the Awakened might serve as well.

TSR's Marvel Superheroes game had a fairly broad but simple magic system where you could cast general spell effects with a given rating.

I'd suggest D6 system but I dunno how much dialing in you would need to make it work...like is beating a guy with a walker melee combat, fighting, diplomacy, or a move action if you are are old and arguably demented enough to see ghosts?

You could do the old guy in a pickup version i guess, (instead of old lady in shady pines) where everyone thinks you are a korean war vet collecting a gov check that he blows on pill addicted prostitutes that love your medicaid and indian doctors, but the truth is when you pick the girls up on the first of the month you are actually going ghost hunting or bigfoot trapping...but nah, you're just a dirty old man with some whores if anyone asks. I'd go as far as to say part of your objective is to eliminate the supernatural without anyone finding out because they aint gonna believe you no damn how and will think your drug habit has gone too far and have you committed.

and then sumbitchin dracula pulls you over disguised as a state trooper...everyone knows the dui charge is the forces of evil trying to eliminate you by any means necessry but they wont say it because they will get down voted.

ICRPG

the master edition already has magic, and superpowers, a super hero system.  it also has a lite lovecraft scenario with rules for the horror/madness effect and other items.

you could build up some monster, antagonist characters, some goals and objectives and hit the ground running.

the system is easy to learn and quite adaptable.

and cheap.  take a look at the free rules pdf version for the basics.

+3 for Rose to distract a monster with a St Olaf story.....player must recite story in full. haha.

Quote from: BadApple on June 09, 2024, 06:08:29 AMBrad, it seems to me you're asking for Call of Cthulhu.

That would get my vote on it. If you stip out the Cthlulu mind melting 'unnatural insanity' and lean into the 'fune' of your setting, it would still work.

You may have to do a bit of home brew on magic and spells for them, but that isn't very difficult. I home brewed some lower bang spells from ole D&D / Castles and Crusades etc for my girls game.

Oh yeah, I also took out the 'unnatural' skill and expanded occult/religion skills. I use it as the skill(s) needed for their limited magic use - increase religion and study with someone of deep faith, and now you learn some limited miracle / read some ole Germanic tome dealing with early mix if Chrisitan and pagan beliefs, any you leant how to case 'It is Written' etc

Fiddle around with CoC a little like that, and you could have something that works.

Quote from: Omega on June 09, 2024, 11:00:23 PMThe original Beyond the Supernatural RPG.

I used to LOVE that game. My best friend in HS ran an amazing BSN game back in the day. It might be too crunchy for me now, but back in the day it was great.

Quote from: yosemitemike on June 08, 2024, 10:07:49 PMMonster of the Week.  This is the sort of thing that PbtA actually does well.

I hate to sound like a noob but what system is Pbta / Monster of the Week ... What rule system does it use?

Quote from: Lurker on June 10, 2024, 10:03:41 AM

Quote from: yosemitemike on June 08, 2024, 10:07:49 PMMonster of the Week.  This is the sort of thing that PbtA actually does well.

I hate to sound like a noob but what system is Pbta / Monster of the Week ... What rule system does it use?

PbtA are games that are variants of the Apocalypse World system, like D20 games are variants of D&D. (It stands for "Powered by the Apocalypse".)

PbtA are rules-light class-based systems, where players choose an archetypal playbook, and roll 2d6 for various moves that activate when appropriate during game play.

Monster of the Week was designed to emulate TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural, with Charmed being closely related if not the same genre.

Since you've had suggestions for a bunch of systems, I'll add another one Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's based on monster hunters, with a "monster of the week", and the show veered from jokes and light humour to serious, with failure being common.

The RPG captures that well, as well as having a system for using unique spells to deal with each problem, rather than spamming the same spell over and over again.

I've certainly no suggestions any better than already mentioned as far as systems used go, but I think your idea is a hoot.

"Blanche!  Hurry up and get rid of that demon; "Matlock," is on soon and we've gotta stop by J&S Cafeteria* 'cause it's apple cobbler night and they run out of that green bean casserole quick too!"

* = it's a spot not far from where I live that old folks just flock to in droves.  Food was, to me, not far removed from boot camp fare and I loathed when it came up as a destination suggestion when the kids were younger.