[D20 Modern] TV Shows
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evildmguy
Explorer
Interesting Question!
Very interesting question.
My first response to this may sound negative against d20 but I don't know how else to say it.
In the end, I don't think that d20 will work for every genre. I think Spycraft has done a very good job of being a d20 game within a specific genre that works. It also had to redo many areas and make it specific to its campaign setting. That's fine. My point was that it took changes.
On to your show ideas:
Friday the 13th: I think this one is the overall best fit for d20 Modern. None of the main characters would be very high level, they probably don't have advanced classes and all of them probably have several levels of Smart or Dedicated hero. This is probably a good example of a Shadow Chasers type campaign with having the chosen one.
The only thing I can't figure is combat. There were many times that they had to resort to overpowering their enemy and it usually took all of them on *one* person to do it. In an actual game setting, the dice might betray them and make this more bloody than the GM wants.
TbaA: I don't know as I haven't seen the show. Won't stop me from commenting! *grin*
Could be that Angels are relative to humans as far as abilities. In that case, it would fit, although Tough and Strong would probably be out. Dedicated and Charismatic? XP then would be based on who is saved?
TP: No idea. Haven't seen it before.
Other shows.
Dukes of Hazard:
Yes, this fits with d20 Modern, probably very well. Weapons were rarely used and hand to hand combat lasted a long time, when it was done. Could be d20 Modern Lite!
Boston Public: Could be done but it would be pretty boring!
Law and Order: Obvious split between classes. Could be done, either playing one half or the other, but I would think the Order side would get boring as it is mostly arguments. Just playing the Law side could be easily done.
Hmm. As I think of TV, it seems that most shows are "obvious" as to whether they fit or not. Then, it is a question if the rules can do it or if it would be fun.
Dr. Who: Okay, this is why I responded and why I said my earlier statements. The old Dr. Who RPG, by FASA, allowed supporting characters that could be as good in one subject as a Time Lord was in five or six. That, to me, made them playable. I don't think that d20 Modern, as it is, could handle this well. Also, d20 Modern isn't trying to do futuristic, which is a lot of what Dr. Who was about. For example, how do you handle the differences in technology levels? (Progress levels? ) How does a 17th century person react to 25th century tech, much less the advanced tech of the Gallifreyans? What are the rules for a 17th century person using advanced tech? Yes, a gun works about the same but what about a computer? a car?
Buffy/Angel: I think one of the problems that these type of game conversions must overcome is that there is only supposed to be one slayer or one vampire with a soul. To do that again, makes it cliched. So, the bigger question would be how to do it and allow the players to play the slayer.
To that end, I think the Buffy game itself is a very good system, giving the Slayer advantages but also making it possible to play a muggle like Xander. Buffy can do some impressive things that Xander can't do but Xander has some advantages as well in that system.
I think d20 Modern could handle it as well but I don't think there would be quite the difference in ability, without adding a template for the Chosen One. In other words, all d20 Modern characters of equal level are about the same. Therefore, it would take some special abilities, more than an advanced class that anyone can take, to really create the Chosen one. I think it can be done, but then there is the problem that the main characters would be 8th level, while the others are 4th level. That's the only way I can think of, off the top of my head, to accurately show how much better a fighter Buffy is, with a level difference. But, I don't think that d20 does that very well. Things that challenge the main character, then, could easily kill the supporting cast.
Not a bad question! Thanks!
edg
"That's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Dennis Miller
Very interesting question.
My first response to this may sound negative against d20 but I don't know how else to say it.
In the end, I don't think that d20 will work for every genre. I think Spycraft has done a very good job of being a d20 game within a specific genre that works. It also had to redo many areas and make it specific to its campaign setting. That's fine. My point was that it took changes.
On to your show ideas:
Friday the 13th: I think this one is the overall best fit for d20 Modern. None of the main characters would be very high level, they probably don't have advanced classes and all of them probably have several levels of Smart or Dedicated hero. This is probably a good example of a Shadow Chasers type campaign with having the chosen one.
The only thing I can't figure is combat. There were many times that they had to resort to overpowering their enemy and it usually took all of them on *one* person to do it. In an actual game setting, the dice might betray them and make this more bloody than the GM wants.
TbaA: I don't know as I haven't seen the show. Won't stop me from commenting! *grin*
Could be that Angels are relative to humans as far as abilities. In that case, it would fit, although Tough and Strong would probably be out. Dedicated and Charismatic? XP then would be based on who is saved?
TP: No idea. Haven't seen it before.
Other shows.
Dukes of Hazard:
Yes, this fits with d20 Modern, probably very well. Weapons were rarely used and hand to hand combat lasted a long time, when it was done. Could be d20 Modern Lite! Boston Public: Could be done but it would be pretty boring!
Law and Order: Obvious split between classes. Could be done, either playing one half or the other, but I would think the Order side would get boring as it is mostly arguments. Just playing the Law side could be easily done.
Hmm. As I think of TV, it seems that most shows are "obvious" as to whether they fit or not. Then, it is a question if the rules can do it or if it would be fun.
Dr. Who: Okay, this is why I responded and why I said my earlier statements. The old Dr. Who RPG, by FASA, allowed supporting characters that could be as good in one subject as a Time Lord was in five or six. That, to me, made them playable. I don't think that d20 Modern, as it is, could handle this well. Also, d20 Modern isn't trying to do futuristic, which is a lot of what Dr. Who was about. For example, how do you handle the differences in technology levels? (Progress levels?
) How does a 17th century person react to 25th century tech, much less the advanced tech of the Gallifreyans? What are the rules for a 17th century person using advanced tech? Yes, a gun works about the same but what about a computer? a car? Buffy/Angel: I think one of the problems that these type of game conversions must overcome is that there is only supposed to be one slayer or one vampire with a soul. To do that again, makes it cliched. So, the bigger question would be how to do it and allow the players to play the slayer.
To that end, I think the Buffy game itself is a very good system, giving the Slayer advantages but also making it possible to play a muggle like Xander. Buffy can do some impressive things that Xander can't do but Xander has some advantages as well in that system.
I think d20 Modern could handle it as well but I don't think there would be quite the difference in ability, without adding a template for the Chosen One. In other words, all d20 Modern characters of equal level are about the same. Therefore, it would take some special abilities, more than an advanced class that anyone can take, to really create the Chosen one. I think it can be done, but then there is the problem that the main characters would be 8th level, while the others are 4th level. That's the only way I can think of, off the top of my head, to accurately show how much better a fighter Buffy is, with a level difference. But, I don't think that d20 does that very well. Things that challenge the main character, then, could easily kill the supporting cast.
Not a bad question! Thanks!
edg
"That's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Dennis Miller
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
Shiv said:
Speaking of which, I was just watching an interview with the creators of South Park, and they were saying that they based the Cartman character on Archy Bunker.
South Park d20M anyone? Kenny gets 24 instant ressurection, up until he is cremated (in which case his soul gets to inhabit anyone who consumes his ashes). We already have a list of the classes the kids WANT to be, from the lord of the rings episode...
While I wouldn't try to do "Angel", I think that it maps really well to d20 Modern. Gun is a Strong/Tough, Cordy is a Charismatic/Dedicated, Lorne is a Charismatic/Dedicated with different skills, Fred is a pretty straight Smart, and Wesley is a Smart/Dedicated, with a few levels of Fast in there as he gets better with weapons.
Angel is about twice the level of anyone else, with levels of Dedicated, Charismatic, and either Fast or Strong -- but mostly Dedicated and Charismatic. Most of his abilities come from being a vampire.
But yeah, it's no fun to play a game where one person is the best at everything, the obvious protagonist.
d20 CSI would be really fun, if you could make it work. Lots of specialized rules for Synergy bonuses between Spot/Search and Knowledges...
Firefly -- a low-tech future makes it easily translatable to d20 Modern.
Definitely agree on the Invisible Man... that would be a great one to do -- although again, one player would get to have a lot more fun.
That's the real problem with doing a game based on a TV show -- almost all TV shows have a main character, which is just what you don't want in ANY roleplaying game.
-Tacky
Angel is about twice the level of anyone else, with levels of Dedicated, Charismatic, and either Fast or Strong -- but mostly Dedicated and Charismatic. Most of his abilities come from being a vampire.
But yeah, it's no fun to play a game where one person is the best at everything, the obvious protagonist.
d20 CSI would be really fun, if you could make it work. Lots of specialized rules for Synergy bonuses between Spot/Search and Knowledges...
Firefly -- a low-tech future makes it easily translatable to d20 Modern.
Definitely agree on the Invisible Man... that would be a great one to do -- although again, one player would get to have a lot more fun.
That's the real problem with doing a game based on a TV show -- almost all TV shows have a main character, which is just what you don't want in ANY roleplaying game.
-Tacky
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
takyris said:
Of those you mentioned, Firefly stood out as NOT having a necessary main character. A Captain, pilot, doctor, brawler, gunslinger, psi-character, preacher, and courtisan. The PCs could safely play any of those, and have fun. I don't think the focus on the Captain is necessary.
Stargate SG-1 has the same advantage.
evildmguy
Explorer
Firefly
Mistwell: I do agree that Firefly does seem to have done a good job of not having a main character. (Perhaps the ship?) They have had very good stories dealing with all of the characters.
Having said that . . .
takyris: I don't agree that Firefly is a low tech future. This is highly subjective but having been reading some other settings, I think this will make sense.
Assumptions: They travel between stars. Weapons are not laser type. They have computers. They have genetic manipulation. They have some form of ESP or telepathy or -cognition. In general, with the exception of weapons, technology seems to have advanced. (And perhaps we just aren't seeing how weapons have advanced.)
Therefore, they have to have some sort of "hyperdrive" or "gate" technology. Since ships don't seem to be restricted, they must be able to go from star to star on their own, which implies the former. That alone is significant tech. (Otherwise, it would be years to travel the distances they have traveled.)
Computers - When they have shown them, the computer are quite sophisticated. Capable of touch screen, portable. While we do have most of that now, we can probably infer that their computers are better. (Moore's law)
River, the sister, is evidence of genetic manipulation as well as some sort of psionic ability.
So, this is quick (for me) but I think that it at least makes an okay argument about how Firefly does have the technology there, but the creators are just not dealing with it. Also, there have been hints of much bigger things but they haven't been dealt with yet.
Really, the best SciFi is about the characters and people and not the science. Or, at least, not centered on the science. Babylon 5 had science and some shows were very heavy with it, but most of the show was about the characters and the events they lived through.
The other problem with converting shows, besides the main character syndrome as takyris pointed out, is that the shows usually go for drama in a completely different way than what RPGs allow. Not all, but most.
For example, how many times (although I am specifically thinking of the Firefly episode) have we seen it where someone is dying from a fatal wound but still manages to make it long enough to save the day? It makes for very good drama, especially when it isn't the main character. The problem is, that I have yet to see a d20 system that would allow a GM to simulate this. If you have hit points, or wound points, you can act, with little or no penalty. If I am wrong and there is such a system out there, let me know.
edg
Mistwell: I do agree that Firefly does seem to have done a good job of not having a main character. (Perhaps the ship?) They have had very good stories dealing with all of the characters.
Having said that . . .
takyris: I don't agree that Firefly is a low tech future. This is highly subjective but having been reading some other settings, I think this will make sense.
Assumptions: They travel between stars. Weapons are not laser type. They have computers. They have genetic manipulation. They have some form of ESP or telepathy or -cognition. In general, with the exception of weapons, technology seems to have advanced. (And perhaps we just aren't seeing how weapons have advanced.)
Therefore, they have to have some sort of "hyperdrive" or "gate" technology. Since ships don't seem to be restricted, they must be able to go from star to star on their own, which implies the former. That alone is significant tech. (Otherwise, it would be years to travel the distances they have traveled.)
Computers - When they have shown them, the computer are quite sophisticated. Capable of touch screen, portable. While we do have most of that now, we can probably infer that their computers are better. (Moore's law)
River, the sister, is evidence of genetic manipulation as well as some sort of psionic ability.
So, this is quick (for me) but I think that it at least makes an okay argument about how Firefly does have the technology there, but the creators are just not dealing with it. Also, there have been hints of much bigger things but they haven't been dealt with yet.
Really, the best SciFi is about the characters and people and not the science. Or, at least, not centered on the science. Babylon 5 had science and some shows were very heavy with it, but most of the show was about the characters and the events they lived through.
The other problem with converting shows, besides the main character syndrome as takyris pointed out, is that the shows usually go for drama in a completely different way than what RPGs allow. Not all, but most.
For example, how many times (although I am specifically thinking of the Firefly episode) have we seen it where someone is dying from a fatal wound but still manages to make it long enough to save the day? It makes for very good drama, especially when it isn't the main character. The problem is, that I have yet to see a d20 system that would allow a GM to simulate this. If you have hit points, or wound points, you can act, with little or no penalty. If I am wrong and there is such a system out there, let me know.
edg
