I''ve been thinking about an RPG setting that isn''t fantasy or science fiction for a while now... in essence, a non-cliche RPG setting. Its just struck me as to how few there are. This theoretical setting, would feature the feel and mood of the 1970''s, in a gunslinging crim running amok sense. (think something like Pulp Fiction). You''d play the part of a young man just fighting for his part in the world - maybe he''s got some kinda vendetta, or he''s just trying to get away from criminal life, etc. Nothing world saving, but still kinda worthwhile nonetheless. I''ve also thought about what kinda combat mechanics this world would feature... well, no magic for one.. but instead of letting this be dominated by guns, I''d also want a hand to hand combat emphasis as well (kinda like HK action movie RPG). So to balance the two, gun combat would be useful, but not immediately lethal (characters sustain multiple shots). Movement into hand to hand combat would be quick. And melee fighting recieves a substantial bonus over a gun once in hth combat. Magic would be replaced by skills however - nothing really flash, but maybe a throw skill, or a leg sweep skill, or things that could be imagined but exaggerated to give it some decent effects. Its and idea when refined could be quite a cool game I think

Zaptrudr, have you played the Fallout series and Arcanum? Fallout games are set in the future where guns are predominent, Arcanum is set in between with a mix of tech and magic. Shadowrun is another good example of a futuristic RPG. Personally I would love to see a Wild West RPG. I agree that there still aren''t enough RPGs in other setting being explored by developers. But that trend of course can start with one of us indie developers.

mmm. Funk, afros, platform shoes. Keep it tongue and cheek, action oriented, and it would rock. Maybe the player could take the role of a cop/detective?

I liked Fallouts moments when it had that 1950s feel, but it was definitely sci-fi. I personally would love to see more games take on the victorian era.

They''re coming for you!

If you do something like Pulp Fiction ( which i think would be cool ) two thoughts immediately occured to me.
1) Offensive material: drug dealing skills, pimping skills, etc. I''m not advocating one way or another with censorship/what sort of content anyone is comfortable with, but some people might not enjoy a game that flew in the face of their day-to-day ethics. I don''t know whether FPS popularity is relavant.
2) Greater LA police / FBI. I think you indicated a aversion to super powerful weapons or a reliance on weapons. If the cops were to swoop down on you everytime you used a weapon in more than a single kill instance, this would push hand-to-hand and other skills / fighting styles in a beliveable manner.

Misc other thoughts: this would easily allow for playing styles besides Duke-It-Out. If you have to deal with other gangs on a consistent basis, you can either fight your way throught the "puzzle" or finesse your way through with your "Lie/Diplomacy" skills, or sneak around through the back, or bluff your way through.

I applaud the entire Non-Fantasy RPG premise you started with.

You''ve just basically described Grand Theft Auto, specifically 3. One of the coolest games known to man.

Heh heh...it would be funny, but you do realize that you rejected one set of cliches for another, right?

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"It''s groin-grabbingly transcendent!" - Mr. Gamble, my teacher, speaking of his C++ AP class

Cold War... The seventies was the pinnacle of the cold war between US and Sovjets. Make A spying RPG.
Where the player is a CIA/KGB/MI5 spy. Focus on the stealth/spying rather that hack/slash.

"A witty and slightly sarcastic quote from an unkown source"
-- The generic SIG

/trysil

Edited by - trysil on March 1, 2002 1:31:26 AM

Ugh, writing up a spy RPG would be a B1T@H!

But it would be awesome as anything.

Maybe a mafioso thing.

You are Luca to Fat Man, associate to Don Giovantineo''s family. You gotta work ya way up to the top, ya know? Be loyal to the boss, but you gotta get yaself noticed. Move some of this, whack that guy with the thing, have some mannagot with prosute, and some rigot (spelled phonetically not actually, as in ricotta is rigot). And if ya get yuself whacked ont he way, fuggetahboutit.

Sorta work you way up, converse with the other family members, bribe cops and control them, send em fruit baskets. Attend funeral (big political events), etc. Jsut a day in the life of a mobster.

A Wild west one would be awesome too.

I would love this game, especially if i can create a custom character to look like what i want