For my Pulp-ish game I'm developing a bestiary, so far I've got:
Cryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AM
For my Pulp-ish game I'm developing a bestiary, so far I've got:
Cryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
Outposts of lost civilizations/hidden cities (Romans, Aztek, etc)
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 03, 2023, 01:10:40 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AM
For my Pulp-ish game I'm developing a bestiary, so far I've got:
Cryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
Outposts of lost civilizations/hidden cities (Romans, Aztek, etc)
Well, those are there, it's just that they aren't always the villain, depending on the setting/GM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 01:14:46 AM
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 03, 2023, 01:10:40 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AM
For my Pulp-ish game I'm developing a bestiary, so far I've got:
Cryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
Outposts of lost civilizations/hidden cities (Romans, Aztek, etc)
Well, those are there, it's just that they aren't always the villain, depending on the setting/GM
Well they're going to be villains some of the time (I'd argue that with Pulp the more martial civilizations should be antagonists most of the time) so they belong in the bestiary.
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 03, 2023, 01:22:53 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 01:14:46 AM
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 03, 2023, 01:10:40 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AM
For my Pulp-ish game I'm developing a bestiary, so far I've got:
Cryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
Outposts of lost civilizations/hidden cities (Romans, Aztek, etc)
Well, those are there, it's just that they aren't always the villain, depending on the setting/GM
Well they're going to be villains some of the time (I'd argue that with Pulp the more martial civilizations should be antagonists most of the time) so they belong in the bestiary.
Point taken, yes, you're correct.
Anything else you think is missing?
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AMCryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
How about a category for Monsters? Werewolves, Zombies, Vampires, Bunyips, Purple People Eaters, Ghosts, Demons or w/e.. You could split them into monster and supernatural as well and make 2 categories?
Quote from: Summon666 on May 03, 2023, 02:00:50 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 12:59:21 AMCryptids
Prehistoric beasts, from dinos to saber tooth tigers and even some older than dinos like the gorgonopsids.
Regular animals
Nazis, Commies, Cultists, evil geniuses, mafia (and similar) goons...
Aliens
No category is finished IMHO but I was wondering if I'm missing something. So the question is:
What else would you like to see in a Pulp-ish game?
How about a category for Monsters? Werewolves, Zombies, Vampires, Bunyips, Purple People Eaters, Ghosts, Demons or w/e.. You could split them into monster and supernatural as well and make 2 categories?
Some supernatural monsters do fit with Pulp, not that many tho, the classical universal ones including Gillman who might not be supernatural but a cryptid.
Bunyips, aren't those the bigfoot from Straya?
The defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings? (Purple People Eaters)
Since it's not a horror/supernatural game I'm not sure about ghosts, demons, etc. But those are easy to include by the GM since they're already stated everywhere.
Maybe Serpent people?
Brain monsters?
Constructs? (Robots and cyborgs)
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 02:11:12 AMBunyips, aren't those the bigfoot from Straya?
Ambush predator cryptids that live in bodies of water in Straya.
Why they need a made up version, when a croc already exists there and does the same thing, who the hell knows. At least with Kelpie legends they lure people with greed in pretending to be a horse, which is interesting.
"Don't get near the billabong, there's a Bunyip lives there, and it'll get ya!"
"Thanks for the heads-up. I thought only crocs lived here, so my guard was lowered around the water."
Quote from: World_Warrior on May 03, 2023, 03:08:53 AM
Maybe Serpent people?
Brain monsters?
Constructs? (Robots and cyborgs)
Serpent people, yes, they abound on Pulps
Brain monsters are more the B-Movie monster IIRC but fuck it, yes they'll be there
Robots are a must, Cyborgs... I seem to remember at least on story with those so yes.
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 03, 2023, 03:12:04 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 03, 2023, 02:11:12 AMBunyips, aren't those the bigfoot from Straya?
Ambush predator cryptids that live in bodies of water in Straya.
Why they need a made up version, when a croc already exists there and does the same thing, who the hell knows. At least with Kelpie legends they lure people with greed in pretending to be a horse, which is interesting.
"Don't get near the billabong, there's a Bunyip lives there, and it'll get ya!"
"Thanks for the heads-up. I thought only crocs lived here, so my guard was lowered around the water."
Right, right... Yes, I'm not sure what need does any Australian have for fictitious monsters when everything wants to kill you around there.
Quote from: World_Warrior on May 03, 2023, 03:08:53 AM
Constructs? (Robots and cyborgs)
I onetime pathed an entire pulpy game arc (got the notes somewhere, I swear). First "enemy," from the
Evil Mastermind the group would deal with were to be robotic duplicates of high-placed people in the starting city - the mayor, the captain of industry, etc. Think I called them "Duplicons,"** or somesuch.
** - Apparently, there is an actual usage of the term as found googling and in a PubMed document online: "
Chromosome-specific low-copy repeats, or duplicons,...." Neat.
Robot, Basic
Armor Class: 5[15]
Hit Dice: 2d10
No. of Attacks: 2 claws/Weapon
Damage: 2d4x2 or weapon
Movement: 90' (30')
No. Appearing: 1d6
ST: 15
Morale: Not Applicable
Treasure Type: Nil
XP: 250
Thoughts?
The one thing I can see that's missing: ordinary people for the heroes to save, or the villains to kill.
In most games, that should be just a default character, but still.
Bonus points if the NPCs have useful abilities that player characters probably won't take, so they can be Native Guides or contacts for networking, or have useful trade skills.
Quote from: Lurkndog on May 04, 2023, 06:12:17 PM
The one thing I can see that's missing: ordinary people for the heroes to save, or the villains to kill.
In most games, that should be just a default character, but still.
Bonus points if the NPCs have useful abilities that player characters probably won't take, so they can be Native Guides or contacts for networking, or have useful trade skills.
Those are neither villains nor monsters, but those are already done, it's the easiest part.
You gotta have an uplifted talking gorilla that is the evil scientist's lab assistant / bodyguard.
Quote from: Almost_Useless on May 05, 2023, 12:31:43 AM
You gotta have an uplifted talking gorilla that is the evil scientist's lab assistant / bodyguard.
Monsieur Mallah & The Brain?
Uplifted animals, yes and mutants too.
Ninjas?
I know people usually think of ninjas as an 80s thing, but You Only Live Twice was published in the 60s.
Maybe spies and bureaucrats separate from goons.
Animated statues/graven images.
Mummies (raised by magic or technology/alchemy)
Scientific mistakes/accidents (Man slowly melting, and driven to kill by the pain. Man given the senses of a wolf...but also their bloodlust!)
Gadget villains ("No-one can stop Television Man!")
Keep it comming those are all great ideas!
In other news I've now got 4-5 Robots including the Duplicon (re-skinned doppelganger) and the upgrades/weapons.
Also done the elevated beasts (re-skinned monsters from the SRD)
Working on the rest.
Organized crime (Mafia, Tong, Triad & Yakuza) done
Cultists, Done
Nazis/Commie Scum, Done
Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Kushites, Aztecs & Atlanteans Done
Still need the mutants and the mutant generating rules Think there was a M20 gamma world clone, not sure it exists or if it has mutant generation rules.
How about a setting/location as the bad guy? Peep the movie "Death Ship," (or hell, "Ghost Ship," works too) for an evil setting in action.
Not sure how one would "pulp it up," to avoid becoming just a murder-hole-one-shot for the PCs, but damned if I don't love those sort of movies.
Quote from: Danger on May 06, 2023, 07:53:17 PM
How about a setting/location as the bad guy? Peep the movie "Death Ship," (or hell, "Ghost Ship," works too) for an evil setting in action.
Not sure how one would "pulp it up," to avoid becoming just a murder-hole-one-shot for the PCs, but damned if I don't love those sort of movies.
I'm scratching my head as to what this has to do with pulp.
Sure Pulp had rough justice, even anti-heroes, but the line between hero and outright villain was clear, and they had no sympathy for the villains.
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 06, 2023, 08:10:13 PM
I'm scratching my head as to what this has to do with pulp.
Sure Pulp had rough justice, even anti-heroes, but the line between hero and outright villain was clear, and they had no sympathy for the villains.
Sure, but Pulp is broadly about heroes vs. _ and coming out on top after a few rounds. Why couldn't a "haunted location," also count as a villain? Granted, such a villain like this would only be useful once or twice at best before coming trite, but still I think it'd be a viable option.
Quote from: Danger on May 06, 2023, 08:54:06 PM
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 06, 2023, 08:10:13 PM
I'm scratching my head as to what this has to do with pulp.
Sure Pulp had rough justice, even anti-heroes, but the line between hero and outright villain was clear, and they had no sympathy for the villains.
Sure, but Pulp is broadly about heroes vs. _ and coming out on top after a few rounds. Why couldn't a "haunted location," also count as a villain? Granted, such a villain like this would only be useful once or twice at best before coming trite, but still I think it'd be a viable option.
Well, if someone finds a way to write that up they are free to use it, I've got plenty in my plate as it is. Maybe after I publish it I can have the time to think it up.
Quote from: Grognard GM on May 06, 2023, 08:10:13 PM
Quote from: Danger on May 06, 2023, 07:53:17 PM
How about a setting/location as the bad guy? Peep the movie "Death Ship," (or hell, "Ghost Ship," works too) for an evil setting in action.
Not sure how one would "pulp it up," to avoid becoming just a murder-hole-one-shot for the PCs, but damned if I don't love those sort of movies.
I'm scratching my head as to what this has to do with pulp.
Sure Pulp had rough justice, even anti-heroes, but the line between hero and outright villain was clear, and they had no sympathy for the villains.
This is IMHO one of the defining characteristics of Pulp, together with larger than life heroes a black and white morality, protecting/avenging the innocent against all odds.
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 12:01:15 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Ah OK, sorry I missed that. Sounds interesting!
Quote from: Mistwell on May 08, 2023, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 12:01:15 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Ah OK, sorry I missed that. Sounds interesting!
No need to be sorry, I hadn't said that in this thread (if at all in the forum).
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 08:58:45 PM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 08, 2023, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 12:01:15 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Ah OK, sorry I missed that. Sounds interesting!
No need to be sorry, I hadn't said that in this thread (if at all in the forum).
I am madly addicted to the pulp detective radio classic "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar." Any of the 1955-1956 Bob Bailey 75 minute 5-episode runs (15 mins each episode) were superb. A lot of good pulp villains in there. No monsters though - all human villains.
Quote from: Mistwell on May 09, 2023, 12:51:14 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 08:58:45 PM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 08, 2023, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 12:01:15 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Ah OK, sorry I missed that. Sounds interesting!
No need to be sorry, I hadn't said that in this thread (if at all in the forum).
I am madly addicted to the pulp detective radio classic "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar." Any of the 1955-1956 Bob Bailey 75 minute 5-episode runs (15 mins each episode) were superb. A lot of good pulp villains in there. No monsters though - all human villains.
Do you know if it's available somewhere?
This guy has lot's of Pulp radio shows
https://www.youtube.com/@nikolateslawirelessradio (https://www.youtube.com/@nikolateslawirelessradio)
Are your dinosaurs the fast modern paleontology type or the slow style they used in the pulp days? And what of little green men? Was that a post pulp thing?
Quote from: Ruprecht on May 09, 2023, 02:30:52 PM
Are your dinosaurs the fast modern paleontology type or the slow style they used in the pulp days? And what of little green men? Was that a post pulp thing?
I think the dinos are fast, but I might be wrong, need to double check. Little green men with huge heads in a fishtank, yes, I've got my totally-not-Mars-Attacks martians
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 09, 2023, 01:00:59 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 09, 2023, 12:51:14 AM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 08:58:45 PM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 08, 2023, 08:19:25 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 08, 2023, 12:01:15 AM
Quote from: Mistwell on May 07, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
Loving this list.
I feel like pulp coincides somewhat with the Spiritualism movement or at least the tail end of it. So ghosts and poltergeist. Then there are religious movements that can spawn bad guys, like zombies (Voodoo/Hoodoo), golems (Judaism), demons (Christianity).
There is a lot of fiction around WW2 magical combatants that overlap with the pulp era. Soviet witches and psionicists, German necromancers, etc..
There's lots of stuff that could fit into a Pulp game, it all depends on what Pulp Genre you want to tackle. I'm trying for Indy + Quattermain + Spy Hunters + Detective with MAYBE some Mystery Men added for good measure. There's a different game I'm working on for Pulp Sword & Planet. That last one will be Flash Gordon + John Carter + Carson but with an original world/setting and afterwards others.
Ah OK, sorry I missed that. Sounds interesting!
No need to be sorry, I hadn't said that in this thread (if at all in the forum).
I am madly addicted to the pulp detective radio classic "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar." Any of the 1955-1956 Bob Bailey 75 minute 5-episode runs (15 mins each episode) were superb. A lot of good pulp villains in there. No monsters though - all human villains.
Do you know if it's available somewhere?
This guy has lot's of Pulp radio shows
https://www.youtube.com/@nikolateslawirelessradio (https://www.youtube.com/@nikolateslawirelessradio)
Oh yeah every episode is available free on YouTube. It's all public domain these days. Here is one (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLneoVXdPCzrdWseDyu84akHkr9E2-9hKH).