So my kids have been watching Jurassic Park movies and The Mysterious Island and reading books like The Hollow Earth and King Solomon's Mines and The Lost World, and I was thinking about how much fun could be had in that setting and wondering which game would be most useful (among those I already have, as I don't want to spend any money on a campaign that may go nowhere). I have Daredevils, which seems like a good option, and Justice Inc. and whatever that lost civilization supplement was called, but i also have GURPS, GURPS Cliffhangers, GURPS Dinosaurs, and GURPS Aztecs (which I thought could be cribbed from for whatever lost people are discovered either in the mysterious jungles or inside the hollow earth). Now, Daredevils and Justice Inc. both assume it's the 1930s and have nothing to support other eras, and Daredevils doesn't have anything for dinosaurs at all. Justice Inc.'s supplement has some dinosaur material if I recall correctly.  Has anyone run a lost world sort of game set in the 1890s or thereabouts? Got any ideas for adventures beyond getting from the civilized world and entering the lost world of dinosaurs and tribesmen who survive among them?  I can see a handful of sessions getting the expedition together and some shenanigans en route, some betrayals and treachery by rival explorers  (for instance), fending off natives and being abandoned by porters fearful of your destination, but haven't come up with too much for what the PCs might do once they are in the thick of things, and what prevents them from going back for reinforcements and equipment, etc. Any sage wisdom on this genre?

What prevents them going back to civilisation immediately is some sort of impassable terrain that requires a vehicle (usually an aeroplane), which they no longer have access to. It might have crashed, or it needs repair, or they were driven away from the landing zone by dinosaurs, or rival explorers have stolen it. Thus the primary goal becomes finding a way to fix their escape route, or looking for an alternative one that is already present somehow. Perhaps there's a lost temple with an air balloon from a previous expedition hidden there or something.

Since you're looking at 1890s, a regular plane doesn't exist, but you could always draw on the likes of Jules Verne - such as the flying machine used by the titular character in Robur the Conqueror.

Check out the Hollow Earth Expedition and Airship Daedalus RPGs.

Quote from: 3rik;972991Check out the Hollow Earth Expedition and Airship Daedalus RPGs.

As I said, I'm not checking out new games for a campaign that may not go anywhere,  but thanks for the suggestions.

I have seen H.E.X. but did not care for it in the least. It felt like "pulp by people who haven't read actual pulps and based their concept on stereotypes found in pulp since the 1980s when pulp meant Indiana Jones." Plus I didn't like the mechanics.

Quote from: Dumarest;973017As I said, I'm not checking out new games for a campaign that may not go anywhere,  but thanks for the suggestions.

I have seen H.E.X. but did not care for it in the least. It felt like "pulp by people who haven't read actual pumps and based their concept on stereotypes found in pulp since the 1980s when pulp meant Indiana Jones." Plus I didn't like the mechanics.

I'll disagree with that. The fluff is good. Lots of good stuff to steal. I don't care for the mechanics though either.

This, The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island is an awesome resource for a lost world game. Wonderful book.

I have a Daredevils lost world adventure, let me see...

Quote from: S'mon;973052I have a Daredevils lost world adventure, let me see...

Found it - Daredevil Adventures Vol 2 No 4 "Lost World Tales". I've only read it, it seemed pretty good.

Quote from: Ronin;973029This, The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island is an awesome resource for a lost world game. Wonderful book.

Out of my price range. I have the original novel, though.

Quote from: S'mon;973052I have a Daredevils lost world adventure, let me see...

If there is one, I must have it as I have all the Daredevils modules including the new one from a couple years ago. I'll have to check my shelf. I have no memory of it, though!

Quote from: S'mon;973053Found it - Daredevil Adventures Vol 2 No 4 "Lost World Tales". I've only read it, it seemed pretty good.

Cool, thanks, I know I have that module somewhere. I'll have to check it out!

Lands of Mystery for Justice Inc was advertised as a "Lost World" style adventure wayyyyy back. Never seen it so cant say how useful it is?

Its supposedly compatible with Daredevil.

Lands of Mystery for Justice Inc was advertised as a "Lost World" style adventure wayyyyy back. Never seen it so cant say how useful it is?

Its supposedly compatible with Daredevil.

Quote from: Omega;973167Lands of Mystery for Justice Inc was advertised as a "Lost World" style adventure wayyyyy back. Never seen it so cant say how useful it is?

Its supposedly compatible with Daredevil.

Yeah, that's the one. I'll have to re- read and reevaluate as it has been years since I've looked at it.

For a fantasy version of this there's always Mystara's "Hollow World".