Author Topic: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG  (Read 3829 times)

Offline galadgawyn

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Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« on: August 01, 2012, 07:07:19 PM »
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I'm short on time so I'll have to give more details later, for now:

We are using the D20 Modern as our core rulebook with hopes of getting some supplemental material and borrowing from other books where appropriate (martial arts, monk, etc).

The basic idea is a mix of shows like Supernatural, X-Files, Fringe, etc.   It is set in current or slightly future America but with the boundary/reality stretching things possibly being true. 

It is not necessarily a "Christian" rpg but it will be told from a Christian worldview perspective.  So the characters don't necessarily have to be Christians and be missionaries (though they can if they like) but unlike the Supernatural show, demons will be evil, angels will be good and not jerks, there is only one real God, etc.   Sort of like Tolkiens writing. 

The heros belong to an organization and go investigate weird paranormal stuff and help protect innocent people from various dangers.

Would like some thoughts on story ideas, worldbuilding, etc.

One issue is how to deal with "magic" and supernatural abilities.  The heros will obviously not want to be part of occultic activity but like LotR they will need some options to combat the monsters.  Not sure if I'll do this allegorically like in Narnia or what.  While it is set in the real world it is also supposed to be crazier than normal life with the spiritual warfare more physically manifested and obvious.   For example, demons don't just tempt people but might bring out vampires, zombies, krakens, and mutated plague spreading robot monkeys (because all heros want a chance to take them out).  If the only options the heros have is pistols then I don't think they are going to last long.

any constructive feedback welcome

Offline wyatt_marcum

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2012, 07:15:04 PM »
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could be where it isnt magic that the Heros use, but where Angels bless their weapons so that they work on the Supernatural, but not where they have to use Magic for it.
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Offline JSB23

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2012, 07:43:07 PM »
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Go the Call of Cthulhu/Arkham Horror route on magic, it exists, anyone can use it, but it has corrupting effects and; remember the near-future RPGer's mantra "When in doubt, use techno-babble."
An unanswered question is infinitely better than an unquestioned answer.

Offline wyatt_marcum

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2012, 11:05:51 PM »
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Or you can pull what Doctor Who said in the episode where they meet Shakespeare, and magic is advanced Science that isn't understood by humans yet.
これは現実の生活ですか。これはただのファンタジーですか。土地のスライドは、現実からの脱出でキャッチ。あなたの目を開きます。見て、空とを参照してください。私はちょうど貧しい少年、同情は要りませんので、私

Offline Minister Polarius

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2012, 10:06:49 AM »
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You wouldn't necessarily need to have "magic" of any form on the good side. Van Helsing has been dealing with that kind of thing for a long time with just crossbows and holy water.
I am not talking about T2 unless I am explicitly talking about T2. Also Mayhem is fine now somehow!

Offline galadgawyn

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2012, 11:44:48 AM »
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Quote
Van Helsing has been dealing with that kind of thing for a long time with just crossbows and holy water.

Maybe but what I recall from the movie (which is the only version I've seen) he does things that are beyond normal.  Didn't he have supernatural help of some form in that movie?  Frankenstein, a werewolf, ?  been a while. 

Part of the issue here is balancing that idea with the mechanics given in the rulebook.  This is from memory but the vampires get something like Damage Reduction of 15, regenerate 5 Hit points a round, get large bonus to strength and dexterity, have a paralyzing gaze, have a "vapor" form that can fit through cracks and not take damage, and a couple other abilities I can't remember.  Crossbows might do 12 damage on a good shot.  If the heros only have that and holy water then I think the heros would be very likely to die anytime they confronted a vampire.  The vampires do have a couple weaknesses but they would still have a pretty good chance of killing the heros before they could exploit them enough.  Keep in mind that the monster manuals also have lots of enemies that would be a lot more dangerous than a vampire.  The story should have a somewhat dangerous dark feel to it but not so much that they stand no chance or if they live they know it is because the GM cheated for them.

The d20 games seem to deal with this by having options like the wizard, sorcerer, cleric, druid, paladin, monk, etc with various very powerful "magical" abilities available to the heros.  The fighters have a chance to keep up because they get magical weapons/armor.  The other part is that if the heros do die, they have several ways to keep bringing them back from the dead like your character "dying" in WoW or other video games.  Since this will be a semi-realistic story and there is only one ressurection power, that won't be happening here.  For the other stuff I'm not sure.  I could potentially see the cleric and monk making sense but I haven't found a way for socerers, etc to fit for the heros (no problem with that for the villains). 

I also plan on taking advantage of advanced science and techno-babble but coming up with that stuff is not so easy.  I want it to be plausible or at least sound scientific.  I hope to get a couple of the supplemtal books like Future Tech to help with that but I'm not sure if they have what I want. 

Quote
magic is advanced Science that isn't understood by humans yet.
The apparent problem here is that could make sense to me with very advanced science but with near future stuff?  The list of Wizard spells include things like fireballs, lightning bolts, teleportation, transmutation, etc.  I've seen that idea with characters in books or comics but they were supposed to be from thousands of years in the future.  If a guy walks in throwing those abilities around without a huge lab then it seems pretty hard to explain even in sci-fi Fringe like way. 

Offline Minister Polarius

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2012, 11:50:21 AM »
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Well, if you don't want to go the route of a more technologically advanced Vatican, look into Qi. It's not incompatible with Christianity (though it may seem like it is since it's mostly known in Eastern religions), and an artificially-developed extra Chakra could explain the massive increase in power.
I am not talking about T2 unless I am explicitly talking about T2. Also Mayhem is fine now somehow!

Offline wyatt_marcum

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Re: Modern Sci-fi, Supernatural RPG
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2012, 04:27:27 PM »
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If you want to try to pull the technological approach, it could be like top secret Military Technology or something like that. Or where time is irrelevant to the angels, so they have more futuristic Technology because they can go wherever they want in time.
これは現実の生活ですか。これはただのファンタジーですか。土地のスライドは、現実からの脱出でキャッチ。あなたの目を開きます。見て、空とを参照してください。私はちょうど貧しい少年、同情は要りませんので、私

 


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