Ok, you've got your dream game company, now what would you produce with it?

I'd like to start with a basic system that was based on the chaosium system, especially the version used in ringworld. I'd want a percentile based one as understanding percentages is quite easy and more direct than trying to figure out your chances of rolling  a 5 on 2 or 3 d6's is.

I'd use the skill system from ringworld, including the skill check system for advancement, plus experience points as well.

I just have to have hit locations, and the RW system had them for all creatures.

Once the basic system was done, I'd try to get the rights to do the known space setting, with ringworld as a sourcebook for it. The man-kzin wars would make an excellent sub setting too. I think an official kzinti players guide would be nice as well.

I'd also want to try redoing living steel, if I could get permission, that was a great setting. Also there should be a Nonorverse setting and a hammer's slammers book.

If I got permission, I'd want to do a setting for "Traveller: The long night."

For another major release, I'd want a "Don't dream it, build it!" book for making pretty much everything, a'la "Stuff!" for EABA.

So what would you do with your dream company if you got it?

If I owned my dream company I'd use the biogenetics division to create a supersoldier serum and turn me into a superhero.
 
(If it was as pedestrian as an rpg company...who knows.)

Defenders of Justice
Hero System
Every Adaptation and Conversion ever posted on the forums.



Cheers

QM

I'd use BRP as the base for a range of historical rpgs.

Quote from: BalbinusI'd use BRP as the base for a range of historical rpgs.

I knew the word historical would come from your fingertips

Don't stop there, Balbinus! I'd like to know which ones!

Quote from: Consonant DudeI knew the word historical would come from your fingertips

Don't stop there, Balbinus! I'd like to know which ones!

The Italian Renaissance, above all others
19th Century adventure and exploration
The 17th Century wars of religion
Social intrigue in the grand courts of 18th Century Europe
Vikings
A cold war game from the 1950s to the 1970s
Republican, not Imperial, Rome
Edit:  Elizabethan/Jacobean London

Edit:  and also probably a contemporary police procedural rpg

There are probably others, but those are the ones that leap out.

Well the lead designer in my dream company would design a game based around killers,spys, charlatans, prophets and thieves all connected with The East India Company. The game would be called Rogue Traders or maybe Wages of Sin... ripping of other games and movie titles is no problem for my company

Regards,
David R

Well, as I said before a modular build your own action figure set by the best sculptors in the industry.  Since money's no object we can do this at a better price point than say, GW who have to service the debt incurred by major purchases.  Also, I think it has excellent mainstream market penetration potential that should help to keep the price down.

There'll be a simple game system in the core box and then there'll be setting kits.

Also, an Mmporg where anyone can kill anyone / group with anyone because there won't be any levels.

First I'd make a comic book game that let people play the villains without being stupid ... a game that supported gloating at your rivals, putting them in a death-trap and walking away to "attend to other matters" and generally winding the heroes up to the point where they're morally vested in beating you.

Next I'd make a shoujo anime/manga game that encouraged people to play characters who are emotionally vulnerable, and made it a better strategy than simply sitting back and being diamond-hard and untouchable ... one that would help people to create the kind of twists of emotion and expectation that typify Kare Kano and Veronica Mars and the like.

QuoteThe Italian Renaissance

I'd really like to play this some time.

Quote from: Balbinus19th Century adventure and exploration

What to explore? Adventure where? By what kind of characters? Does this tie into David's idea of the BEI Company?

Quote from: David JohansenAlso, an Mmporg where anyone can kill anyone / group with anyone because there won't be any levels.

This has been done at least once. It's called Ultima Online although now there are entire non-PvP worlds in it. Didn't start out that way though.

Quote from: David RWell the lead designer in my dream company would design a game based around killers,spys, charlatans, prophets and thieves all connected with The East India Company. The game would be called Rogue Traders or maybe Wages of Sin... ripping of other games and movie titles is no problem for my company

Regards,
David R

And I'd buy it.

Quote from: blakkieI'd really like play this some time.

What to explore? Adventure where? Done by who? Does this tie into David's idea of the BEI Company?

Have you read the Flashman novels?

Gun running in South-East Asia, exploring Africa (though the excellent Dark Continent covers this amply), intrigue in the courts of Europe, skullduggery in the East End of London, anthropology in Latin America.

There is tons in the 19th Century.

As for the Italian Renaissance, it's a great setting, I've run it using WFRP to reasonable effect and have some Risus notes on a set of NPCs (any of which could be PCs) for a Florentine game.

Quote from: BalbinusHave you read the Flashman novels?

Gun running in South-East Asia, exploring Africa (though the excellent Dark Continent covers this amply), intrigue in the courts of Europe, skullduggery in the East End of London, anthropology in Latin America.

There is tons in the 19th Century.

Not all of them. But yeah. I was just curious what angle you were thinking of. The reason I asked is that this Sunday I'm suppose to be getting together with a couple of people to map out what direction we are going to take within a mid-19th century set game and I still haven't picked out which 3 pitches to make. I'm just trying to load up my head with ideas to give the best shot of finding a fit for everyone.

Quote from: blakkieNot all of them. But yeah. I was just curious what angle you were thinking of. The reason I asked is that this Sunday I'm suppose to be getting together with a couple of people to map out what direction we are going to take within a mid-19th century set game and I still haven't picked out which 3 pitches to make. I'm just trying to load up my head with ideas to give the best shot of finding a fit for everyone.

Cool, what system are you using?  Any ideas so far?  If so, I'd suggest a spin-off thread to which I'll try to contribute (probably tomorrow).