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Post by thedragonmaster on Feb 21, 2007 18:56:21 GMT -5
Having been volunteered by my gaming group to GM a MURPG campaign, I was looking for some advice. I want to do something a la H.P. Lovecraft, but wasn't quite sure how to handle it in the MURPG format. Does anyone out there have some advice on this? Or on how to maintain the feel of a Lovecraftian story?
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Post by Brainstem on Feb 22, 2007 11:44:58 GMT -5
Hm, I'm not too familiar with Lovecraft specifically, but I have played Eternal Darkness and I've read the Wiki. Basically I'm not too much of an authority, but I'll give it my best. Lots of it will be in the tone of the game. Make the characters normal people; how often does Lovecraft focus on extraordinary characters in his works? A prevailing theme to his writing deals with man's near-futile attempts to control their own lives while there are dark overlords basically deciding everything going on. Throw in a lot of fantasy-type monsters, too. Chances are, all those dark gods have underlings that they'll be sending to do their dirty work.
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Post by thedragonmaster on Feb 22, 2007 17:21:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. I was figuring on the lower power characters. I was thinking about 30 stones, the idea being that Cthulu is screwing with the DNA of humans thus creating mutants, even to the point of most people being mutants, but being fairly xenophobic none the less. Each city having it's own dark secret that it is willing to kill to protect.
The problem is that when I presented the idea to the group, they started off with trying to develop power armor characters. I offered them the option of steam punk style armor, they countered with "I'll just take a high intelligence and invention and invent computers", I then tossed out the option of PA characters.
Next I'm bombarded with "I want my character to be the product of government genetic experimentations", I pointed out that that technology simply didn't exist at the time, they tried the "but human experimentation was happening then" argument, I left the room.
I'm thinking this group may simply not be capable of this style of game. It's a real shame too, I was looking forward to it.
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Post by Neros on Feb 22, 2007 18:40:50 GMT -5
Ah, they just saw another Super Powered game... However, Marvel can be used to so much more... It is possible to make normal characters... Fantasy, horror, heroes, science fiction, ect... It can all be done in marvel cause the rules in marvel is easier to morph and change to fit a character concept, story and theme...
So all you need to do is make it clear to them what type of scenario you want to play... If they still dont get it, then start beating them with a Cthulu puppet...
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Post by minotaursrage on Feb 22, 2007 18:42:42 GMT -5
are you planning on running a game of it on the boards? because I would try to play.
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Post by thedragonmaster on Feb 22, 2007 22:47:33 GMT -5
I probably wouldn't since it would be my first time GMing any system (much less playing MURPG). It was meant as a proof of concept for my ability to GM or to write a campaign... I might still write up an issue or two, but the odds of me ever actually running it are fairly slim. If I write up an Issue I'll post a link here for those who want their groups to try it out. Who knows, maybe I can convince them that it is worth trying out once I have the concept a little more hammered out. It was late when I presented it to them, and I didn't really feel like arguing with them on why the Universe of Lovecraft didn't include secret government organizations trying to create super soldiers through genetic augmentation (though in fairness there was mention of a government organization trying to cover up the realities of the world).
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Post by Brainstem on Feb 22, 2007 23:33:53 GMT -5
Maybe try out a one-shot and see if it works out. You sound like you've got it down; your group just doesn't want to play a game that won't involve them destroying lots of buildings.
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Post by Scriptus on Feb 23, 2007 0:31:33 GMT -5
there are so many games that I would love to run in our home game that deal with lower stone characters but my players just don't like the idea. i've found that it is sometimes better to play on the level they want to play. as one of our astute board members is fond of saying, to be a great GM you need players.
that sucks sometimes. after you've cut your GMing chops maybe then your players will be a little more interested in doing something your interested in but don't count on it. sorry.
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Post by Brainstem on Feb 23, 2007 0:39:58 GMT -5
Along the lines with Scriptus, try presenting something in a different light. It may be a bit tougher considering they've already known about the Marvel system, but still possible. Just explain the rules of the game in a different way and don't ever actually call it a Marvel game. The only problem would be if they require a book, but even this isn't unthwartable. From my experience, MURPG doesn't require the books beyond the occasional glance from the GM regarding judgment. You could print out some bogus specs from a website that are the same as the Marvel specs and just chalk them up to being something you found on-line that they would like. This is, of course, assuming you could trick them long enough to get them into the game.
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Post by beryl on Mar 17, 2007 19:50:12 GMT -5
Ugh. Talk about disruptive players... no offense.
Were it me, I'd just put my foot down and say "No, you can't invent computers because you don't have the equipment necessary to create something with such intense precision. Hell, it'd be difficult making a UNIVAC by hand, let alone technology that isn't even feasible in today's modern times."
But, if they're that determined to fight you at every turn, I don't think they'd lie down and play the setting the way you intended it to be played, even if you did lay down the law on them. Pity.
I'd be interested to hear what you come up with for the handling of the characters' sanity. Lovecraftian RPGs traditionally involve some kind of "sanity check" that indicates the character's present state of mental well-being as it slowly goes down the crapper.
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Post by thedragonmaster on Mar 21, 2007 16:56:50 GMT -5
Actually, one of the players had come up with an interesting take on it. Just a modification on the Techno-Organic Virus. They have to keep a couple of stones in a Sanity Action at all times. If they don't then they are slowly "infected" with insanity. Never did see how it would have worked out though. We are going to be doing an MiB (Mutants in Black) themed game. The PC's will be part of a secret government organization whose goal is to protect the US from "threats to the safety of the nation". I think of it as being a middle ground between the level of power they want, and the low-key type of game that I want (no one knows that mutants exist, and the MiB has the goal of keeping it that way... at least, until it can be done in a way that doesn't involve a mutant destroying three city blocks)
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