Help me decide what game to run next!

[ethandrew]

I'm heading out of town this weekend, but right now I'm thinking about combining Troupe and Rivets. There's really not a steampunk game on the boards, and most people seem to be interested in the party makeup of Troupe as opposed to the actual setting.

That's pretty accurate for the most part, but like Jemal said, steampunk isn't really everyone's favorite (I know for me it's just because I've never played it, so that's my current hangup), but the mummer's group idea is very novel as well, and combined, could be very interesting indeed.

 

[-SIN-]

THE DARK AND THE MEMORY -- A post-apocalyptic fantasy setting. Humanist in nature, this setting is the result of the sort of magical arms race that I think would develop in a D&D world. Dwarves presumed to be forever locked in their underground strongholds, Elves long disappeared, Gnomes and Halflings exterminated, mere men seek to eke out an existence in the ruins of what was. Isolated settlements, lots of horrific mutations, a big focus on the scarcity of, well, everything: weapons, armor, equipment, food, medicine. Lots of horror elements as well as just good ole' fashioned humanist drama.


That would get my vote. Not enough post-apoc pbp games on enworld IMO...

 

[Rathan]

every single chara I have here on enworld now is some sort of caster... so no matter what I think I'm going.. for the most part noncasting.... a rogue would be nice.. it's what I was starting on for NPC Lords steampunk game.... I'd like to make one as their skills tend to be relied on in alot od situations.. so I'll gear a chara based on that for whatever setting is picked here

 

[Jemal]

That would get my vote. Not enough post-apoc pbp games on enworld IMO...

Hey, I feel the same way. If it make's ya feel better, don't forget my prison campaign's basically set on that type'o world.
Just wish I could PLAY in one. Same way I feel about Epic.

 

[GlassEye]

Troupe gets my first place vote. While I'm not a big fan of steampunk, a Troupe/Rivets combo would be interesting.

 

[Avalon®]

A The Dark/Rivets world would be interesting. I'm waiting for that game by flagship studios called Hellgate: London and something like that would be right up my alley.

 

[Ambrus]

I'm heading out of town this weekend, but right now I'm thinking about combining Troupe and Rivets. There's really not a steampunk game on the boards, and most people seem to be interested in the party makeup of Troupe as opposed to the actual setting.

The idea sounds interesting, but I'm left to wonder how it might play out in-game. What I mean is that, with there being so few populated settlements in your Rivets campaign setting it seems likely that such a underworld-centered group as the Troupe party would have to pretty much remain in the criminal underbelly of Trenchtown to remain effective. I can't imagine there's much political intrigue, covert infiltration and assassination going on out in the wilds. That's all fine in and of itself, but it pretty limits the need to travel around by airship. Likewise, if you prefer a roleplay-centered campaign with the the PCs playing the part of covert operatives it seems unlikely that we'll have the need or the means to use steam-powered constructs and armor ourselves. Even the use of firearms amongst the party would likely be curtailed due to their being loud and rather crass for a Troupe of covert operatives.

Maybe I'm reading your intention wrong, but so far it seems that we'd end up playing a local group of underworld mercenaries posing as performers of some sort with the steam-punk aspects of the campaign being largely in the background. There's nothing wrong with that concept; I'm just curious to know if it's accurate. Also, would PC choices be limited to human, dwarf, gnome, goblin and elven slaves? Are their any other PC race options in Trenchtown? Just curious.

 

[dave_o]

The idea sounds interesting, but I'm left to wonder how it might play out in-game. What I mean is that, with there being so few populated settlements in your Rivets campaign setting it seems likely that such a underworld-centered group as the Troupe party would have to pretty much remain in the criminal underbelly of Trenchtown to remain effective. I can't imagine there's much political intrigue, covert infiltration and assassination going on out in the wilds. That's all fine in and of itself, but it pretty limits the need to travel around by airship. Likewise, if you prefer a roleplay-centered campaign with the the PCs playing the part of covert operatives it seems unlikely that we'll have the need or the means to use steam-powered constructs and armor ourselves. Even the use of firearms amongst the party would likely be curtailed due to their being loud and rather crass for a Troupe of covert operatives.

Maybe I'm reading your intention wrong, but so far it seems that we'd end up playing a local group of underworld mercenaries posing as performers of some sort with the steam-punk aspects of the campaign being largely in the background. There's nothing wrong with that concept; I'm just curious to know if it's accurate. Also, would PC choices be limited to human, dwarf, gnome, goblin and elven slaves? Are their any other PC race options in Trenchtown? Just curious.

If I combine Rivets and Troupe the origins of the troupe would be a little different. While if I use Forgotten Realms the troupe would be a legitimate acting troupe, in Rivets they'd begin as an acting troupe but would also use their powers of pretending in other aspects, masquerading as a zeppelin crew, a steamcraft armor operator and this retinue, etc.

Essentially the PCs would use their acting prowess to be professional fakers. Moreover, there would be room in the party for characters who aren't so good at the whole thespian aspect and instead are more thug types, infiltration types, mechanical types, and the like.

Rivets / Troupe is looking really good. If I get some time I might post a recruitment thread today!

PC choices would be limited to: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Goblinoid (including Bugbears, etc.), and Elves (which are slaves nearly exclusively).

 

[Ambrus]

Essentially the PCs would use their acting prowess to be professional fakers. Moreover, there would be room in the party for characters who aren't so good at the whole thespian aspect and instead are more thug types, infiltration types, mechanical types, and the like.

I'd thought of a campaign along these lines once. If I could make a suggestion, perhaps it'd be better to have the Troupe be a group of carnies who perform in a kind of carnival side-show. It'd allow for more performing character types beside simply thespians. Characters could include an acrobat/rogue, a strongman/fighter, a barker/bard, a fire-swallower/sorcerer, an animal-tamer/druid, a fortune-teller/cleric, a mind-reader/psion, etc.

PC choices would be limited to: Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Goblinoid (including Bugbears, etc.), and Elves (which are slaves nearly exclusively).

That's a fairly narrow spread for a guy who was all gung-ho to play an ogre himself.

 

[DralonXitz]

Rivets Eternal to me looks to be a very promising, and exciting game to take part in. The Steampunk atmosphere of it is something I've been longing to see ran for a while (akin to Iron Kingdoms of sort), and you have appeared to have crafted some intricate racial storyline behind it as well.

One thing I really like about it is the twist you've presented, with Humans and Dwarves as the elite aristocracy and the Elves, a race we usually see as the more affluent and respected, as a subjugated peoples. If I were to play, I'd be interested in making a gallant bravado Human Swashbuckler, or something of the sorts (think Edmond Dantes from Monte Cristo). I'm obviously unaware as to what the PC's roles would be, but that's where I cast my vote personally.