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[D20 Modern] Anyone using it for a not-so Modern game?

JeffB

Legend
I'm curious what kinds of campaigns in general people are using D20 Modern for.

In addition I was wondering if anyone was using it for more "historical" game...say Pulp-Era, WWII, 20s/30's etc...?

I picked it up today, and thought about using it for a Pulp Era game..using equipment, vehicles,and weapons from D20 CoC probably...I know Poly had a cool pulp game, but I don't have the issue anymore.
 

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I'm doing a very pulpy steampunk adventure later this month.

Hong Kong, 1890: A band of stalwart adventurers faces the twisted devil-doctor Hanoi Xan as he launches a nefarious plan to awaking a sleeping legion of warriors!

I originally planned to run this as a Victorian version of "Street Fighter"...the old tournament of champions schtick...which is still a pretty interesting idea, come to think of it...
 

JPL said:
I originally planned to run this as a Victorian version of "Street Fighter"...the old tournament of champions schtick...which is still a pretty interesting idea, come to think of it...
Have you seen the movie, "The Quest"? It's set in 1925 and features a world fighting tournament. Not quite the same time period, but maybe it will give you some ideas. I personally wouldn't recommend it as heavy entertainment, as isn't a really good movie. Once it gets to the tournament part it's fairly entertaining though. ;)
 

I've been thinking of running a lot of "near-past" campaigns, but I just can't decide which I like the best.

Fighting nazis while trying to prevent them from completing a super-weapon or before they can use the occult to turn the tides of war in their favor...
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Getting the PCs mixed up in an archaeological expedition during Lord Carnavan's Egyptian exhumations. :) Is it the curse of the mummy when people start dropping like flies, or is it foul play perpetrated by grave robbers and unscrupulous collectors?
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Maybe something set in the "wild west" of the US. Around the time that the west was still unruly but out east they were creating the first automobiles and motorcycles. Mmm, six guns and motorcycles. What's not to like about that?
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Gangland prohibition era...
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Depression/dust bowl era tall-tale farce. Think O Brother, Where Art Thou and you wouldn't be far off.
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Even as far back as civil war era would be cool.
I'm hoping to see source books on any number of these time periods from the numerous third party companies.

That's not even the tip of the iceberg. Any one of these ideas could be developed into a long running campaign, if I ever decide...
 
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Bamphalas said:

Have you seen the movie, "The Quest"? It's set in 1925 and features a world fighting tournament. Not quite the same time period, but maybe it will give you some ideas. I personally wouldn't recommend it as heavy entertainment, as isn't a really good movie. Once it gets to the tournament part it's fairly entertaining though. ;)

Oh, yes indeed. And I recently argued to a friend that it would have been a fine movie had they just swapped in , say, Ray Park for Jean-Claude. He remained unconvinced.

But the colorful cast of fighters was very nicely done, I thought, and I always enjoy seeing the different styles clash.

Hmmm....this idea still appeals to me...I just want to see the boxer with the handlebar mustache administer a thrashing to a Shaolin warrior-monk...
 

My D20 Campaign Idea

I am thinking about using D20 Modern to ressurect my old "Ice World" campaign that I used to run with 1st Edition AD&D. Here are some tidbits about the campaign.

  • The world is covered with ice and snow (duh)
  • The main method of transport is by ancient ships known as 'ice riggers'
  • Humans survive by hunting huge animals called leviathans
  • There is a powerful clergy with telepathic powers
    [/list=a]
    Yes, it's loosly based on an old Michael Moorcock novel.
 

It would be fun to run a 1950s Atomic Communist Alien Invaders type thing, too.

There was a good article in Dragon a few years back covering the period for Alternity...
 

Sharpe's Rifles

I was thinking about a Napoleonic Sharpe's Rifles game. I just need to decide the stats for black power firearms. It would be so cool! Anyone of has read the books or seen the TV series will know what I mean.

Mike
 

So far i am unimpressed with D20 Modern. Its probably just because i dont ever see myself running a Modern Campaign ( why'd i buy the book? i dunno, i must be an ethical klepto or a D&D addict). I have thought aobut usign it to run a less that superpowers WWII or Victorian Era/Harry Flashman/Colonial era secret agent game...but i wonder if Spycraft isnt better suited to the latter.

But to be honest the WWII game could be played with either Godlike or Wierd Wars ( minus the wierdness).

man, i sound like i hate the Modern book. i dont i just dont see me using it very often

Actually...hmmm...dune.....depending on what you are suing/movie or books) you could easily use Godlike!! mentats as Super-Brains, Wierding way ....hmm...it would work nicely www.godlikerpg.com
 

I have an idea for a Lost World campaign. 1890s-1920s explorers uncovering a hidden realm in the Antarctic where volcanic activity keeps the climate warm and dinosaurs still roam.

I was thinking that Call of Cthulhu might work better as a rules set than D20 modern, though. Just have to excise the sanity issues, plus the magic and slimy things :)
 

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