D&D + Reality Show = Gaming Fun?

[Aeson]

It would work well in Eberron I think. It seems more advanced tech wise than other fantasy settings.

 

[Tinner]

It's been done. http://www.pandahead.com/Xcrawl/index.php
And it's a great game too! I played in the last Origins Crawl in 2004, and had a blast.
I'm sorry support for X-Crawl fell off as they pursued other projects, but I highly reccomend this game.

 

[fba827]

I actually had a plot like this in a regular campaign. The PCs were recruited to help someone that claimed their child was kidnapped and being held on this (big) boat. The PCs went to investigate - there were all sorts of traps, etc along the way. At the end they don't find a child but in the room find the person taht hired them in the first place where it is revealed that they have been 'taped' the entire time -- throughout the boat (light fixtures, etc) were magical devices that were projecting their images and actions to displays in some taverns across town for entertainment. Then they were offered a prize for their trouble. The PCs did not take kindly to having been tricked though (with the exception of one who was more than happy just taking a prize but it fit his character so it was all good).

On one hand, it fell as little short in that the _players_ felt a bit too duped. On the other hand, it was a good break from the usual more obvious plot lines and allowed for very plausible explainations for some of the outlandish traps that i had on the boat.

So, sort of what you are talking about except that the PCs didn't know (sort of like Punk'd I guess rather than Survivor in that regard).

 

[Brain]

I'd be seriously annoyed if this sort of scenario popped up in a game I was playing in.

 

[Psychotic Jim]

Hmm. For the House thing, what if the characters were caught in a Haunted House like the House of Lament from Ravenloft. Those people who were voted out of the House were to be the first ones to be sacrificed to the House to fulfill its demand for blood. Takes Survivor to a whoe new level .

 

[loki44]

You could do a "Bachelorette" version.....the eligible princess sets tasks for would-be suitors who are then weeded out one by one. Or the "You're fired!" Trump version.....a high level wizard is looking for a new apprentice, etc....

 

[Macbeth]

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...

Not only that, but in the introductory adventure (called Mr. Bubbles) in Paranoia XP, the Troubleshooters actually run into a crew that's supposed to be filiming a reality TV show. The PCs are offered extra credits for taking on 'roles' to better fulfill the viewer's expectations. Not having fun in such a situation is treason.

 

[Umbran]

Maybe a struggling bard needs a "bit hit", if you will, to break into the limelight at mainstream performance locations.

Note how "limelight" and "mainstream" are more modern terms. Unless you have large, frequently used performance halls, you don't have limelight. You don't have "mainstream" unless there's a river of media for people to choose from. Neither are home to the archetypal troubador.

If we stick to our pseudo-medieval roots, the bard isn't looking for big audiences, or big hits, because that isn't how he makes his money - remember, we're talking about the days before copyright and royalty payments. If he wants to be comfortable and rich, he's angling to play instead for a small group of nobles, hoping that one of them will choose to be his patron.

Now, a hero, adventurer, or noble hiring a bard to come along and chronicle and sing his adventures makes sense - it's a good PR move for the employer. But that's not the same image, a different dyamic altogether.

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.

Yes, but that's more making a documentary than "reality TV". Thoroughly different style.

And it's not cliche since it hasn't been done in a fantasy genre.

"Reality programming" is cliche in and of itself. Doesn't matter what genre you inject it into, it will bring the cliche along for the ride.

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

I was thinking a bunch of gamers in a room 24/7. I thought "Cool!"


And then I realised. Those shows deliberately weed out personality types that mix well.

So we get -


Power-Gamer. Likes Sci-fi. Hates fantasy and modern.

Social Outcast. Likes anything/ complains about not being right. Common motivator for the rest of the group to unite againt.

Actor/Actress. Likes Epic fantasy. Tends to play "The Young and the Restless" characters.

Pretentious book nerd. Likes S+S. Deals badly with anything not S+S, yapping on about how modern fantasy is glut, etc etc. Interjects comments about particular scenes being stolen from books all the time.

Rules Lawyer. Hates life. Second to be voted off.

Chaotic Insane. Ruins party for the hell of it. Might also be Social Outcast.

Slowly-going-insane DM.