D&D + Reality Show = Gaming Fun?

[Napftor]

So I'm watching a commercial for one of the many reality shows out there and I think: "Why not include something like this in an adventure?" (or words to that effect). Perhaps a bard or group of scribes is following the PCs around during a "routine" adventure--repelling orc raiders--and chronicling their efforts in detail. Maybe the PCs are under orders, or even paid, to keep the 'reality crew' with them and to keep them safe. I see all kinds of potential from roleplaying during combat (reporter asks "how did it feel to kill that orc?!") to keeping the crew out of harm's way (a scribe blunders first into an obvious ambush just to see how the PCs respond).

This seems like a good idea for a one-shot game. Thoughts?

 

[EricNoah]

I like it.

Now do one with Survivor! Keep in mind that voting a PC off the island makes for an unhappy player -- what do we do with the booted PCs to keep them in on the action?

 

[PJ-Mason]

Whew. I thought for sure you were going to suggest a reality show where a group of gamers live in the same house and have to deal with each other 24/7!

 

[Napftor]

Whew. I thought for sure you were going to suggest a reality show where a group of gamers live in the same house and have to deal with each other 24/7!

Nah, you can get enough of that at GenCon.

 

[Umbran]

This seems like a good idea for a one-shot game. Thoughts?

Paranoia has had this in it since before reality TV. One of the biggest problems a troubleshooter can face is the member of his team that carries the multicorder, taping their collective exploits. Needless to say, being the multicorder operator is either deadly, or lucrative, or both...

In other modern games, it's okay, but "reality shows" have been so done to death that it's cliche long before you introduce it.

I don't think it fits well in the fantasy genre, as there's no mass media to make use of the story.

 

[Napftor]

I don't think it fits well in the fantasy genre, as there's no mass media to make use of the story.

Maybe a struggling bard needs a "bit hit", if you will, to break into the limelight at mainstream performance locations. Or perhaps a sage sends apprentices to catalog the PCs' exploits because he has done so for other adventuring groups from the same geographic area. You can come up with a reason easily enough without needing/having "mass media." And it's not cliche since it hasn't been done in a fantasy genre.

 

[Storyteller01]

LOOVING IT!! Consider this stolen for my DS campaign!!

 

[Thunderfoot]

<SNIP>Paranoia has had this in it since before reality TV. One of the biggest problems a troubleshooter can face is the member of his team that carries the multicorder, taping their collective exploits. Needless to say, being the multicorder operator is either deadly, or lucrative, or both...<SNIP>

* in the middle of a fire fight* CUT!!! You! on the other side, could you stop hiding behind that synthafud vat? I can't get a good lighting angle on you. Big-O-DUD-3, please tell the rest of the team not to run through my shots, I can't edit this out and it's just ruining my scene flow. Suk-R-GUY-4, could you leap over that downed B3 dispenser again? Suk-R-GUY-4?. Oh well, *grenade lands in vacinity of BAL-O-SUP-3(multicaorder op)* Hey! I didn't say action yet!
*BOOM*

 

[Turanil]

Thoughts?

I really HATE the idea in a D&D/d20 Fantasy setting.

On the other hand, I really LOVE the idea in a sci-fi setting...
Lets say the PCs need to get money for an adventuring endeavour of their own; no bank want to help them (too risky), and in the end, they must accept to have a TV show accompany them on the adventure. The guys never interfere when it would be useful, letting them die if it's going to happen; however they will interfere at some inopportune moments to ask the PCs to do some advertising for the sponsors' show. I mean: in the middle of a fight, a PC must lose one or two round saying "Oh yeah, the TELGHAR X-025 fusion-gun works really good when trying to hit hidden targets, dudes; look!".

 

[Napftor]

I really HATE the idea in a D&D/d20 Fantasy setting.

On the other hand, I really LOVE the idea in a sci-fi setting...

To each his own, then.