Detectives
Spies
Cops
Criminals
Soldiers
Historical versions of the above
Near-future versions of the above

Those are all the options that come to mind. There are hundreds of settings and worlds for each option, so it might work a bit better if you narrowed it down first before looking for a world.

Quote from: KoltarInstead of Jack Bauer, you're playing uber-agent/superSpy!/Problem solver extraordinaire James Roberts.

LOL! :haw:

Quote from: KoltarInstead of Jack Bauer, you're playing uber-agent/superSpy!/Problem solver extraordinaire James Roberts.

He's already playing James Roberts in my game!

-clash

I think you're designing backwards.  You and your GM should be trying to decide what type of character you're going to play and the setting will conform to what the character is trying to achieve.

Quote from: Tom BWhat is your take on modern settings with a supernatural element?  If that's acceptable, there's a whole range of stuff available.

I'm not sure. In principle I like them, but in practice many turn lame; the supernaturalness becomes the whole story. I'd like the people to be the story.

Quote from: droog#1 sounds a bit boring, or maybe I should say 'undefined'. Actually they both sound too undefined for my liking. What's this guy's thing? What's he good at? What does he know about?

That would require characterising him as an individual. After recent game group implosions resulting from doing that in response to questions here, I'm a bit leery of it. "I'm sorry, sir, I cannot answer that question."

I can say that they're vague because we decided we wanted to game together, and only after that began talking about what sort of game to play. So each of us is equally vague on the stuff, and are just tossing ideas out there to riff off.

Quote from: AnemoneYou know what's wrong, or incomplete, about those two ideas from the GM is that they are both external to the PC. While they can make for great stories, they also put a hell of a lot of work on a new GM, which means he's likely to burn out.

This is very true, and makes a nice segue to what was said below...

Quote from: GunslingerI think you're designing backwards. You and your GM should be trying to decide what type of character you're going to play and the setting will conform to what the character is trying to achieve.

But remember that as well as the approaches of,

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and

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there's also the approach of, player tosses out character idea, GM tosses out setting idea in response, player adjusts character idea in response and makes new comment, back and forth until both character and setting come up together. In practice of course almost always one of you will lead it, but it can be a lot of back-and-forth and exchange of ideas. Because it's a one-on-one game, it can be a lot more like a real conversation than is traditional.

Quote from: AnemoneIn fact, it might make the GM's life a heck of a lot easier if you came up with a few thumbnails of characters your PC interacts with (contacts, allies, enemies, etc.) or places and organizations.

I think that's an excellent idea. In the past with one-on-one games, I've generated NPC ally/dependents, and the GM was surprised when I wanted to write them up myself. But the GM of the time went with it, and it worked well.

Quote from: The Good AssyrianTaking the action from the point of view of a security consultant for a NGO struggling to deal with the human crises as well as the corruption and moral failings of local and Western officials would give you a wide range of options.

Another excellent idea. I might have to point him to this thread

Quote from: KoltarWell how about pseudo-realistic?

Something like "24" ?

God forbid! I don't want to play the Loner Badarse. My character, I hope, will have friends and relatives who aren't just plot twists.

This may be bad form -suggesting your own campaign pitch -but maybe this could be interesting as a single player game :

Title : Goodnight Where Ever You Are

I got slammed with this idea when I saw the movie Fallen, where Denzel Washington's character says, that "Cops are the Chosen people".

Somewhere along the line, Harlan Ellison creeped into the picture - as he normally does - and it got mixed up with that old TV show, The MidNight Caller with Gary Cole.

The idea is called, Good Night Where Ever You Are. All the pcs are cops who wake up one morning, and find themselves the only souls left on the face of the earth. Everyone else has just dissapeared (except animals -think of the scene in 12 Monkeys with the lion). Everything still works - utilities, transport etc - but there is not another person in sight. It's as though they just dissapeared. Think of the opening credits of the 4400.

There is only a radio show. A call in radio show. They can't seem to figure out where the broadcast is coming from. The DJ interacts with them. Sometimes he tells them to go to some place usefull. Sometimes he leads them into danger. Always with the hint, that they may find out what the hell is going on.

With his help they may find other survivors or they may not...I'm thinking that this should be a long term campaign, so, they should be other npcs (good or evil), in the long run.

But at it's core, it's just a conversation between them and this strange fellow on the radio -who may be their salvation or doom.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RThis may be bad form -suggesting your own campaign pitch -but maybe this could be interesting as a single player game :

Title : Goodnight Where Ever You Are

I got slammed with this idea when I saw the movie Fallen, where Denzel Washington's character says, that "Cops are the Chosen people".

Somewhere along the line, Harlan Ellison creeped into the picture - as he normally does - and it got mixed up with that old TV show, The MidNight Caller with Gary Cole.

The idea is called, Good Night Where Ever You Are. All the pcs are cops who wake up one morning, and find themselves the only souls left on the face of the earth. Everyone else has just dissapeared (except animals -think of the scene in 12 Monkeys with the lion). Everything still works - utilities, transport etc - but there is not another person in sight. It's as though they just dissapeared. Think of the opening credits of the 4400.

There is only a radio show. A call in radio show. They can't seem to figure out where the broadcast is coming from. The DJ interacts with them. Sometimes he tells them to go to some place usefull. Sometimes he leads them into danger. Always with the hint, that they may find out what the hell is going on.

With his help they may find other survivors or they may not...I'm thinking that this should be a long term campaign, so, they should be other npcs (good or evil), in the long run.

But at it's core, it's just a conversation between them and this strange fellow on the radio -who may be their salvation or doom.

Regards,
David R

Wow that is a really sweet idea. Consider this stolen.

Quote from: JimBobOzthere's also the approach of, player tosses out character idea, GM tosses out setting idea in response, player adjusts character idea in response and makes new comment, back and forth until both character and setting come up together. In practice of course almost always one of you will lead it, but it can be a lot of back-and-forth and exchange of ideas. Because it's a one-on-one game, it can be a lot more like a real conversation than is traditional.

Yeah, that one.  I have yet to master the nuances of internet discussions.  It still strikes me as odd.  It's like you asking us for some help fishing because you like fish.  Which basically leaves us in a position to rattle off every type of fish we know until you find something you like.  I'm asking what type of fish you like so I can direct you to a spot.  

You want to have a realistic character and the GM is planning on throwing that character into a crisis situation.  What type of character would you be interested in playing through that crisis?

Quote from: David RThis may be bad form -suggesting your own campaign pitch -but maybe this could be interesting as a single player game :

Title : Goodnight Where Ever You Are

I got slammed with this idea when I saw the movie Fallen, where Denzel Washington's character says, that "Cops are the Chosen people".

Somewhere along the line, Harlan Ellison creeped into the picture - as he normally does - and it got mixed up with that old TV show, The MidNight Caller with Gary Cole.

The idea is called, Good Night Where Ever You Are. All the pcs are cops who wake up one morning, and find themselves the only souls left on the face of the earth. Everyone else has just dissapeared (except animals -think of the scene in 12 Monkeys with the lion). Everything still works - utilities, transport etc - but there is not another person in sight. It's as though they just dissapeared. Think of the opening credits of the 4400.

There is only a radio show. A call in radio show. They can't seem to figure out where the broadcast is coming from. The DJ interacts with them. Sometimes he tells them to go to some place usefull. Sometimes he leads them into danger. Always with the hint, that they may find out what the hell is going on.

With his help they may find other survivors or they may not...I'm thinking that this should be a long term campaign, so, they should be other npcs (good or evil), in the long run.

But at it's core, it's just a conversation between them and this strange fellow on the radio -who may be their salvation or doom.

Regards,
David R

David R.,

 May I also have permission to "steal"  that as well ?
Don't know when I'll ever get to implement  that - but its just too cool not to have as a back-up campaign setting.  Hell man, you could sell that as a series premise to a cable channel.

- Ed C.

Quote from: GunslingerYou want to have a realistic character and the GM is planning on throwing that character into a crisis situation.  What type of character would you be interested in playing through that crisis?

The default would be the "ordinary guy." I mean, Superman gets thrown by surprise into a crisis, so fucken what? That's a normal day for him. What's the worst that could happen, he tears his tights? But an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation - now that's a story.

How about something set in 19th-century India? Lots of Englishmen running around having adventures, with lots of social structure (English and Indian), lots of mystery, lots of internal and external enemies (Thuggee and unconquered nations, and Afghans/Chinese/Russians respectively). Also lots of source material (Gunga Din, Flashman, Kipling, etc.).

For a slightly different steampunkish take, set it in the world of Peshawar Lancers.

Quote from: JimBobOzThe default would be the "ordinary guy." I mean, Superman gets thrown by surprise into a crisis, so fucken what? That's a normal day for him. What's the worst that could happen, he tears his tights? But an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation - now that's a story.

::excited::  Absolutely!  Once you define your character it's easier (to me) to define the parameters of the success, failure, or in between of the crisis.  A crisis to Superman usually has little to do with physical harm.  It's about making the date with Lois, keeping the credibility of the mild mannered Clark Kent, or the morality of having the power to alter life to his wishes.  With Wolverine it's about taking care of young ones or trying to establish a lasting romantic relationship.  

For the "ordinary guy" that sort of thing is the ordinary.  You and your GM seem to be looking to take the ordinary character into an extraordinary situation.  Sweet!  There are many examples I could give you that do this.  Stephen King, in my opinion, bases his entire writing style off of that theme.  The character is a mechanism for the players to empathize with the game you're playing.

Honestly JimBobOz, I'm trying to help.  If you think I'm a distraction, let me know, I'll stop posting on this thread so others can help you.

No, Gunslinger, I welcome your comments, they're good. Everyone's have been great so far. It's particularly good for me because the smart rpg comments here are something which pulls me back into therpgsite, while one or two other things push me away. So I get to value therpgsite, as well as get ideas to toss towards my GM.

Stephen King's a good example. I was just at the video store, and saw lots of movies there that reminded me of themes I think I'd enjoy. Already I'd said to the GM something like, "real life has enough dark and crazy shit without bringing anything supernatural into it." He'd responded mentioning the Nic Cage movie 8mm. I noticed in the store also other movies like Training Day, Dark Blue, A History of Violence, Animal Factory, and Copland. These are movies which explore the nasty shit of the world, of a man. Sort of like Unknown Armies without the spooky-chooky. That and survival stories like Touching the Void really appeal to me. Things which offer characters real moral, ethical and personal dilemmas, but still with the occasional time where you might have to put an axe through someone's head.

I think I'm getting thespy in my old age. I have to admit to some hesitation at sitting down at the game table without dice.

Actually, I don't know how appealing this would be for you, but I was just thinking about Eric Ambler (as one does). A lot of his novels are high-octane international spy thrillers, except that the protagonist is a fairly ordinary guy who has unwittingly or unwillingly fallen in with various spies, gunrunners, hitmen or other dangerous types.

IIRC, "The Care of Time" was a good example of that.

Quote from: JimBobOzHe'd responded mentioning the Nic Cage movie 8mm. I noticed in the store also other movies like Training Day, Dark Blue, A History of Violence, Animal Factory, and Copland. These are movies which explore the nasty shit of the world, of a man. Sort of like Unknown Armies without the spooky-chooky. That and survival stories like Touching the Void really appeal to me. Things which offer characters real moral, ethical and personal dilemmas, but still with the occasional time where you might have to put an axe through someone's head.

I think I'm getting thespy in my old age. I have to admit to some hesitation at sitting down at the game table without dice.

Okay, here's a few movie concepts that may be interesting as settings.

Serpico : A cop battling corruption amongst his own kind. Lots of action, betrayal and paranoia. Since Serpico is a one man show, perhaps it's appropriate in your case

Midnight Express : Life in a Turkish prison :eek: ...Nah I don't think you want to go there...

Castaway : Hmmm, Wilson should be easy to play. Don't really think it's appropriate, firstly it was a crap movie that tried to explore the mundanity of survival but failed..., but more importantly it lacks the action adventure aspect of Touching The Void, which I would concentrate on if I was running a pure survival game.

Also for more escapist fare, you could do something like Nick of Time, the Johnny Depp film which had him playing an average Joe dad being menaced by the ever reliable Chris Walken into killing a senator (I think) in real time -(one hour)

Three Days of the Condor, was a spy flick with a very "average" intelligence researcher, thrust into the belly of the espionage beast.

What I want to know is, what kind of GM is your friend? Does he like the thesp stuff? Because a lot of this depends on how the GM can establish tone and "play" characters, not to mention he has to press the verisimilitude pedal quite hard This last part sometimes requires a lot of research but I've seen some talented GMs pull it off with minimal research.

Also Ronin and Koltar, feel free to steal the idea, I've been trying to get it off the ground for a couple of years now. If you ever do run it, I would be very interesed in hearing your explanation for why everyone but cops have vanished

Regards,
David R