Medical/Cop Drama RPG

Yamo · November 30, 2006, 11:55:03 PM

Quote from: David RWe were talking about medical dramas such as House, and yeah most of the time the trauma and surgery is window dressing for the real meat of the show...the drama.

Regards,
David R

So you would disagree that ample (but not overwhelming) versimilitude with regard to medical terms and prodecures would be a plus in this genre for some gamers?

droog · November 30, 2006, 11:56:35 PM

I do think there's a significant element of detective story with the disease-of-the-week in House as well as the character drama (actually I'm not very interested in whether House gets together with whatsername, but I do find it fun to see House improbably solve every medical mystery).

David R · December 01, 2006, 12:02:34 AM

Quote from: YamoSo you would disagree that ample (but not overwhelming) versimilitude with regard to medical terms and prodecures would be a plus in this genre for some gamers?

I wouldn't disagree (I certainly would welcome it) but I don't think it's all that important. If you wanna to run a game like House, the drama would be the focus. I don't think any amount of medical detail would help in a game like this, it may if you had players who were interested in the subject (medicine) but it would be easier to execute the drama stuff.

Regards,
David R

Yamo · December 01, 2006, 12:14:21 AM

Quote from: David RI wouldn't disagree (I certainly would welcome it) but I don't think it's all that important. If you wanna to run a game like House, the drama would be the focus. I don't think any amount of medical detail would help in a game like this, it may if you had players who were interested in the subject (medicine) but it would be easier to execute the drama stuff.

Regards,
David R

I guess I feel that the drama is better achieved with a solid, authentic-feeling backdrop.

Research is a big is a big part of what ER did so well, actually.

droog · December 01, 2006, 12:38:41 AM

Sounds like a fuck of a lot of work to me.

Yamo · December 01, 2006, 12:56:17 AM

Quote from: droogSounds like a fuck of a lot of work to me.

Gotta do some work in any at least semi-realistic modern or historical game. This is actually one of the most oft-cited reasons that fantastic settings are so much more popular (the other is magic and powers).

pspahn · December 01, 2006, 02:07:13 AM

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!SOLD

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The players shouldn't have to do the work. I would say that the reason most people might play a House RPG (as opposed to a Surgery RPG) would not be to explore medical procedures and terminology. A brief overview of such in the game would be enough for the average player.

Pete

David R · December 01, 2006, 02:51:31 AM

Quote from: YamoI guess I feel that the drama is better achieved with a solid, authentic-feeling backdrop.

Research is a big is a big part of what ER did so well, actually.

You're right. It is hard work though, worth it if you got players who would be interested in something like this. I know as a GM I wouldn't mind running a series of adventures in this genre...but after my Doctors Without Borders fiasco, I doubt I will unleash anything like this any time soon.

And btw, House is more investigative med than drama - so you're right

- I some how mistook House for Grey's Anatomy, which is more drama or at least drama in the sense that there are a lot of scenes of the doctors in their underwear...

Regards,
David R

pspahn · December 01, 2006, 02:58:57 AM

Quote from: David RAnd btw, House is more investigative med than drama - so you're right - I some how mistook House for Grey's Anatomy,

I think I did, too.

Pete

Dr Rotwang! · December 01, 2006, 08:45:02 AM

Medical dramas and surgery stuff are fun to watch, but you'd have to make them visceral in order for them to be fun to play.

Pun unintended, but approved.

Samarkand · December 01, 2006, 12:09:02 PM

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Medical dramas and surgery stuff are fun to watch, but you'd have to make them visceral in order for them to be fun to play.

Pun unintended, but approved.

Emulating "Third Watch" is the easiest to do in traditional RPG's. Police or medic characters deal with a sudden explosion of violence or crisis--riot, murder investigation, chasing burglars, etc.--while the "personal stuff" happens in the interludes between the action. The old cliche of "you're in an inn" as a mission starting point becomes "you're all in the station/firehouse". For "Third Watch" in particular, mix in troupe-play focusing on both cops and EMT's with multiple plot threads and crosscut between them.

Andrew