Claw & Stake (Buffy/Gargoyles Fan d20 Project)

[Talaysen]

So. As some of you know, I've been rediscovering my love for Gargoyles and giving some thought to putting the universe in d20 terms. Well, more recently I've decided to incorporate the Buffyverse into the idea and launch a campaign set in the new, melded universe sometime after I move to Iowa this fall.

I was going to just write everything up myself, put it in PDF format for my players, and maybe post it to the Web, but I got to thinking...I'm not sure I can do all this myself. For one thing, I can't handle all the illustrations I'd like to include (for example, one set woud show various sample gargoyles from each of the known "subspecies" - English, Scottish, Oriental, Mayan, Aquatic/Loch Ness, plus some new ones - the pics in question wouldn't show existing chars but some new and different ones instead; and there'd also be pics of Mutates, robots, vehicles, locations, etc.), because I suck at art...but for another, I'd love to have some help on the writing end of things. I'm only one person: I can't create everything on my own, and even if I COULD, even if I HAD to (for some reason), it would be nice to bounce some ideas off of people.

Bear in mind that any and/or all of this may change as things develop, but my current thoughts are running along these lines:

The primary focus of the campaign setting would be neither Sunnydale and the Scoobs nor New York and the Manhattan Clan; rather, it would be based on the premise that the forces of evil have started to learn their lesson and are beginning to avoid those particular strongholds. Gargoyles are being called upon once again to protect humanity; and once again they are doing so primarily in secret - after all, most people are only aware of the ones in New York, and even then, some folks consider it a hoax or urban legend. The gargs have allies this time - Mutates (turns out Dr. Sevarius created a few more), mages, fey-blooded, normal humans, and others - but theirs is a secret fight. The tone of the campaign will be dramatic, with some elements of humor, and our "iconic clan" will be the Boston Clan, a new group of gargoyles composed of young gargs from all over the world. Certain changes will be made to the melded setting which will divorce it somewhat from its sources - for example, while the Initiative has left Sunnydale, it is still very active elsewhere, fighting "Hostile Sub-Terrestials" in such supernatural hotspots as Arkham, MA, Sleepy Hollow, NY, etc.

The setting will use the Shadow Chasers rules primarily, but will incorporate other material (and generate new material) and make modifications as necessary. I'm thinking, for example, that the magic system will need to be redone: neither Buffy nor Gargoyles would seem to fit well with the classic "fire and forget" system.

Phew! Well, as I said, this may change, depending on how things go and the Will of the Developers, so please don't be scared off by all that. Really - very little of this would be set in stone; it's just a basic framework.

So if you'd be interested in helping with art or writing, or both, or if you'd like to give this project a home (if worse comes to worse I can probably post it on my personal homepage - but said page is hosted by a site whose owner is currently missing, so I may have to find a new host soon), or if you want to be involved in some capacity I haven't thought of - drop me a line, please. My e-mail address is beyond@gamingadvocacy.org

 

[plodnik]

Dude, I am so there. Whatever you need help on, I'm in! I'm a Buffy freak who's been working on a CoC campaign of a similar nature. Can do the illos as well.

Post yer needs

 

[Morrus]

Y'know, the upcoming supers book from Nat 20 (later this week, PDF) is perfect for Buffy.

 

[Talaysen]

Heh heh. Well, I don't know if we'll be able to work any actual Slayers into the game (though I *am* thinking of ruling in my own campaign that Faith died in a prison riot - or so they say - and there's a new Slayer now, or that Buffy's death summoned a new Slayer after all...or both), but I'll certainly keep that in mind.

Incidentally - I wasn't sure whether I wanted to advertise this right away, but I have established a list for the project in question. Y'all can access it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/claw-and-stake/

 

[Hand of Vecna]

I'd definitely like in on this, since Gargoyles is IMHO the best thing Disney's ever put out. That, and over the pat year or so, I've been immersed in the glory of Buffy (before then, I'd never seen a full episode).

 

[Talaysen]

Gonna give this thread one bump for the benefit of the daytime crew and then I'll let it slide away. At this point, anyone who's interested should just join the Yahoo! Group I mentioned above. If you're uncomfortable with such groups, e-mail me privately and I'll see what I can do.

 

[Umbran]

Gargoyles was a great show, but I think you're doing it an injustice by linking it to the Buffyverse. The thing is good enough to stand on it's own.

So, as a suggestion - make it so that it is possible to separate the two fairly easily, for those who want the stony guys, but not the stake-wielding girls.

 

[Talaysen]

It'll be easy enough to separate the two; just pull out the Gargoyle rules and put them in your own setting. I think the two universes are quite compatible, actually - so while the magic system, for example, will be influenced by both shows (ignoring, assuming the others agree, the "magic as an addictive drug" angle on Buffy, which I don't like - POWER can be addictive, but magic itself isn't, IMHO), it should work just as well in a Gargoyles-only game. (And the rules for Gargs and Mutates and Steel Clan Robots and such shouldn't be influenced at all by Buffy, obviously.) Most of the melding will take the form of setting detail, not rules information.

And yes, I agree that the Gargoyles universe can stand on its own. It was one of the best shows on television (prior to Goliath Chronicles, anyway), and one of the most complex and interesting settings I've ever seen. I just like the idea of putting the two together (and I'm apparently not the only one), and hey - it might get fans of both shows thinking in ways they hadn't before. At any rate, don't worry: there probably won't be too many cheerleader vampire hunters running around. I rather suspect that Buffy is (or was, seeing as she's matured somewhat) unique in that regard. Really, at this time, I think the tone will be closer to Gargoyles than Buffy: dramatic with the occasional bit of humor as opposed to a more even mix of drama and camp.

Umbran, if you'd like in on the Gargoyles part of thing, but not the Buffy part, perhaps you could help with that end - and even write something for the finished manuscript showing readers how to extract the elements required for Gargoyles d20 alone. Again, everyone is welcome.

 

[Horacio]

It can be a very good idea, but I don't now if mixing Buffy and Gargoyles will work...

 

[Talaysen]

I think it can if we're careful; and really, there's nothing to prevent us from altering details if we want to. I think a more accurate description of this project might be "Gargoyles with Buffy mixed in" - the demons will be out in force, there will be a Slayer (well, more than one at this point) but she's not around that often, etc. And this gives the gargoyles yet another opportunity to do what they do best: protect.

So I believe it can be made to work. If worse comes to worse, we can always drop Buffy altogether and focus on Gargoyles alone.

Seriously, as I said, anyone who just wants to work on the Gargoyles aspect is welcome to; likewise anyone who just wants to work on the Buffy aspect. The melding really takes the form of setting detail.