Need help - modern New Orleans campaign

Rincewind1 · December 06, 2015, 08:05:01 PM

Hello everyone,

I have recently decided on running a Kult campaign, featuring paranormal "journalists" investigating conspiracy theories and getting more than they bargained for. I loved True Detective's Louisiana aesthetic and decided to set the action in New Orleans. Trouble is, barring a read of Confederacy of Dunces, I jave never been to the place. Any chance anyone would have some easily digestable pills of knowledge about that city?

Spinachcat · December 07, 2015, 12:21:38 AM

Combine reading Wikipedia (clicking on links and wandering down odd trails) and watching YouTube videos of the city.

Pre-Internet, my go-to for all modern gaming was buying a travel guide from the Friends of the Library sale table. They had lots of info, pictures and great maps.

Are you using the Kult system or just setting? I couldn't get the system to work for me at the table, so I ran it as CoC/Kult.

yabaziou · December 07, 2015, 02:19:01 AM

The T.V. show Treme is set in New Orleans (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treme_%28TV_series%29).

Given the facts is done by David Simon, the guy who did the Wire, you can expect an accurate picture of the city there.

yosemitemike · December 07, 2015, 02:35:03 AM

There are a number of travel guides available. Frommer's is the old standby.
http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-EasyGuide-Orleans-2015-Guides/dp/1628870761
I have heard good things about the Lonely Planet guides but never read one. They are designed for travelers so they are focused on usability and digestibility.

There are also lots of on-line resources like the travel/tourism sites.
http://www.neworleansonline.com/
They tend to present things in a rather rosy way though.

Rincewind1 · December 07, 2015, 08:42:45 AM

Quote from: Spinachcat;867661Combine reading Wikipedia (clicking on links and wandering down odd trails) and watching YouTube videos of the city.

Pre-Internet, my go-to for all modern gaming was buying a travel guide from the Friends of the Library sale table. They had lots of info, pictures and great maps.

Are you using the Kult system or just setting? I couldn't get the system to work for me at the table, so I ran it as CoC/Kult.

I am consudering also tacking on the magic system from Kupt onto CoC's mechanics (I tried playing it as itcis written but yes, the system is definitely a bit unwieldly).

RPGPundit · December 08, 2015, 01:49:06 PM

Quote from: Rincewind1;867572Hello everyone,

I have recently decided on running a Kult campaign, featuring paranormal "journalists" investigating conspiracy theories and getting more than they bargained for. I loved True Detective's Louisiana aesthetic and decided to set the action in New Orleans. Trouble is, barring a read of Confederacy of Dunces, I jave never been to the place. Any chance anyone would have some easily digestable pills of knowledge about that city?

I only lived in New Orleans long long before the Hurricane (where I had studied magick, tarot-reading and voodoo), but from what I understand, you really need to divide New Orleans into pre- and post- Katrina. The city today is a haunted shadow of its former self. Or a ridiculous parody ("NewOrleansLand theme park"), depending on who you ask.

Dimitrios · December 08, 2015, 05:27:54 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;867968I only lived in New Orleans long long before the Hurricane (where I had studied magick, tarot-reading and voodoo), but from what I understand, you really need to divide New Orleans into pre- and post- Katrina. The city today is a haunted shadow of its former self. Or a ridiculous parody ("NewOrleansLand theme park"), depending on who you ask.

I was just about to recommend (the author formerly known as) Poppy Z. Brite's Liquor books (a series of comic/crime novels featuring a pair of gay New Orleans chefs as the main characters). Then I remembered that, after Katrina, he not only stopped the series, but has AFAIK refused to write about New Orleans altogether.

Those books do paint a nice insider's portrait of pre-Katrina NO, though.

RPGPundit · December 09, 2015, 08:06:42 PM

I don't think I'd go back now, it was an awesome place once; I think it'd be sad now.

Teazia · December 10, 2015, 12:38:23 AM

Make sure you have people eating Nutria:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu

And lots of white people calling each other yats, trouts and coon asses. Camaro Al should make an appearance as well as the Manning Clan and their Isidore Newman High School Deal with the Devil (lets not forget Harry Connick Jr., Anne Rice's son, and Michael Lewis).

Dimitrios · December 10, 2015, 10:25:42 AM

In terms of RPG resources, Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity has a chapter detailing a clan of ghouls in post-Katrina New Orleans. In addition to that chapter, the whole book is good.

RPGPundit · December 11, 2015, 07:23:15 PM

Quote from: Teazia;868199Make sure you have people eating Nutria:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu

And lots of white people calling each other yats, trouts and coon asses. Camaro Al should make an appearance as well as the Manning Clan and their Isidore Newman High School Deal with the Devil (lets not forget Harry Connick Jr., Anne Rice's son, and Michael Lewis).

Nutria is delicious. But I didn't actually eat it until I was in Uruguay.