Are there already games available where the South Pacific (Fabled) is the setting? Some addendum to an existsing Pulp game maybe?
Something where games along the lines of "Tales of the Gold Monkey" (http://www.goldmonkey.com/) can be played?
How about games set in the same region but earlier times?
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Odd that you ask that at this time, as my currently prepped FtA! campaign setting "Kopikala" will have a definitive Pacific Island bent in the southern regions - heck, I even chose Hawai'ian as the language for the title.
I've rather gone for cliché than for authenticy, though (although I researched a bit of history and mythology about Pele, the Tongan Empire, King Kamehameha etc.), and liberally mixed in stuff from other cultures and misconceptions (like natives who sacrifice visitors pulp-Aztec-style in volcanos). So, I have no clue what good it would be to you, even if I translated these portions from the campaign from German.
And as someone who has been _born_ around the time when Gold Monkey has been aired, StarTropics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarTropics) has been a bigger influence to me in my view of a gameable South Sea.
I've played games set in the South Pacific - notably my Aces And Angels games which revolved around the Bismark Archipelago and New Guinea - but I doubt they would help you any. It was all WWII wartime stuff, not civvie.
-clash
Quote from: Greentongue;287461Something where games along the lines of "Tales of the Gold Monkey" (http://www.goldmonkey.com/) can be played?
Holy fuck, I loved Tales of the Gold Monkey! Which game would you recommend for that?
I was getting ready to start compiling info to use as a game setting and thought it would be wise to check if I was re-inventing the wheel.
I think that the "South Seas" is close to perfect for a Pulp setting. It is familiar enough to be "a comfortable exotic" and yet unknown enough to allow a wide range of possibilities. Islands allow things to change and characters to flee their mistakes, keeping a game fresh.
It is a real place and yet has enough accepted misconceptions to be "Fun".
Guess I better get to work. I will welcome any assistance sent my way, as it will end up as an addendum to my Tramp Steamer doc.
(Figured that since I had done a ship, time to find a place to float it.)
*I had started before but lost my hard drive. :(
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Quote from: Claudius;287508Holy fuck, I loved Tales of the Gold Monkey! Which game would you recommend for that?
Naturally I would recommend Savage Worlds. ;)
So far I have info on ...
cannibals, pirates, spices, rubber, cotton, "Blackbirders", pineapples, coconuts, cocoa, plantations, military outposts of various nations, various religious missions, opium, ancient treasures, "extinct" and exotic species, traders, escaped prisoners, etc ...
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Post a link when you get this together. I would love to see it! I myself have a South Pacific Pulp setting that I have put together. I have yet to be able to run a game in it yet though. Its got cargo cults, Imperial Japanese Navy, flyingboats/floatplanes, air pirates, mercenaries, mad science, and other good stuff. Kind of a cross between Tales of the golf monkey, and Crimson Skies. I actually published an adventure in it, in my dead tree fanzine I publish. If your interested shoot me a PM with your e-mail. I'll send you a PDF of the issue. Oh and I used HEX for the system if your wondering.
Speaking of media resources for Oceanic pulp adventures and of imperial Japanese navy, how couldn't I mention A Friend Is A Treasure (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085327/)? It has even a combat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAjlturN3As&feature=related) versus a Japanese soldier, who wasn't aware that WW2 has ended and the Americans are friends now.
I have no clue if Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill are popular enough in the US to be yet on TV and/or DVD, but Youtube is also full with scenes from it in Italian and German (what shouldn't bother too much, Fist is an universally understood language).
SW would be good.
Some GURPS fan has had this book cover up forever. I'm not sure how hard he is working on it.
http://www.geocities.com/area51/corridor/2298/monkey/index.html
Quote from: Claudius;287508Holy fuck, I loved Tales of the Gold Monkey! Which game would you recommend for that?
The only correct and rational choice is Two-Fisted Tales.
RPGPundit
Do you think things like Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean (http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/films/japanese/lorelei/index.htm) belong in a Pulp "Between the Wars" setting?
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Quote from: Greentongue;287694Naturally I would recommend Savage Worlds. ;)
You and me both. :hatsoff:
-=Grim=-
Sure. I would think that you would want it to be rare though. I mean not every ship in the Imperial Navy should have this system. Perhaps even have the technology lost in an accident and this is the only one left. Or its the only successful one they have developed after a string of failures.
Hello Everyone:
Warning: Shameless Plug Ahead
I recently published Heroes of Rura-Tonga in PDF format, essentially a Tales of the Gold Monkey style adventure collection with a bit of source material up front. Basic civilian scenarios in 1938, focused around the Bismark Archipelago (oddly enough like flyingmice's Aces and Angels game, which sounds interesting for WWII action). You can find information on Heroes of Rura-Tonga at http://griffonpub.home.att.net, including a free adventure outline.
Aside from the looming Japanese menace, you have a setting rife with potential for exploration, with nearly anything having washed up ashore from around the world. Throw in some pulpy technology and supernatural powers and anything goes.
The source material and adventures use the Any-System Key, an easy set of notes that allows you to customize the stats to your favorite game engine. My personal favorite is, of course, West End Games' trusty D6 System, but I've heard of folks having success with Spirit of the Century. Use whatever system you prefer.
Hope that helps.
Best regards,
Peter
Interesting
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Any opinions on This Page (http://home.earthlink.net/~djackson24/Islands.pdf) from the doc I'm creating?
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Quote from: Greentongue;288612Any opinions on This Page (http://home.earthlink.net/~djackson24/Islands.pdf) from the doc I'm creating?
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Interesting and useful. What time period are you thinking about? Depending on that may rule out some of the results. The one suggestion that I do have (well sort of three suggestions) is that the "Is it Inhabited" table be modified by the size of the island, which means that you need a table for Island size. And I'd also suggest a table for Population size (also modified by Island size).
An excellent start without a doubt.
Nice start, interesting tables.
Quote from: SionEwig;288627Interesting and useful. What time period are you thinking about? Depending on that may rule out some of the results.
I was figuring the late 30's to early 40's. Figured the modes of transportation are increased and the Japanese make a good threat. (Like the Germans in Africa and South America.)
I had considered the 1880's but there was not a well reconized major opponent during that time. Still not a bad time, but more restrictive with transport.
I was figuring high population areas would not be random islands but I am open to argument.
Also, feel free to suggest any idea seed I missed.
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Quote from: SionEwig;288627The one suggestion that I do have (well sort of three suggestions) is that the "Is it Inhabited" table be modified by the size of the island, which means that you need a table for Island size. And I'd also suggest a table for Population size (also modified by Island size).
Would a ratio of native to non-native population be helpful, or would that be best done by the GM as needed?
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Quote from: Greentongue;288949Would a ratio of native to non-native population be helpful, or would that be best done by the GM as needed?
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While I think it would be best adjudicated by the GM. I think an optional table would be nice though. Even if your not going to use it. It would be nice reference.
Quote from: KathulosRobert E. Howard wrote a series a stories dealing with the adventures of "Sailor Steve Costigan". Almost all of them take place in various ports located in the South Pacific. They center on the troubles the character gets himself into because of either chasing after a woman, or, letting his pride get in the way of his common sense.
You will be able to find a number of them online at Sailor Steve Costigan.
This got me wondering. Are there any games run where fist-fighting was the norm, and lethal weapons rarely used? (besides Kung-Fu games)
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I dont know of any game especially set out like that. I think it is more of a style of play.