Inception Needs to be an RPG

[Scribble]

It just does.

I mean the setting is PERFECT for RPG goodness.

If you haven't seen it, well-

1 GO NOW.

why are you still here??? GO!!!

2. You might not want to read this as there are (sort of) minor spoilers...





Cool setting concepts (Levels, vaults, kicks, labyrinths, and Limbo!!!!)
Mutable reality that still feels cohesive.
Adventure starting points and ideas as the whole reason for the film...
Several Archetypes and classes already mentioned in the film.
Several abilities and such characters could have already depicted in the film.
Built in "monsters."
Built in "Raise Dead" function

And I think most importantly of all, unlike other films turned RPG the heroes of the film don't even have to factor into your campaign at all (since it wasn't a world spanning meta-plot so much as just one story in the inception universe.)

This one is perfect for RPGs.

Anyone else agree?

 

[Crothian]

It does seem fairly doable with most modern games like most liscense games it doesn't need something unique for it to work. Just take your favorite system and go for it!

 

[TarionzCousin]

If you haven't seen it, well-

1 GO NOW.

why are you still here??? GO!!!

I am ostensibly working at the moment and am chained to my cubicle.

 

[Scribble]

It does seem fairly doable with most modern games like most liscense games it doesn't need something unique for it to work. Just take your favorite system and go for it!

I'm lazy though...

I want the "big concepts" of the film translated into game for for me.

Like rules on how good your architect character is, or how much you can mess with the dreamworld before the subconscious fightback (or even how you accomplish doing that in the first place, as obviously it's a learned skill...) or how kicks work, or how time functions, yadda yadda...

I COULD do it.. I mean a friend of mine and I put together a fairly workable Matrix game in d20 modern... But still.

I would love to see an Inception game on the shelf.

Just basically saying that if some enterprising game company out there was able to put one together, they would almost certainly get my money.

 

[Beginning of the End]

It does seem fairly doable with most modern games like most liscense games it doesn't need something unique for it to work. Just take your favorite system and go for it!

While true, I'd note that to really do the movie justice you want a system that allows character creation to directly impact the reality of the dream / game world.

And, at the same time, you want the Architect to be able to influence the actual content / structure of the dream, as well.

Of course, you'd also be looking at cracking the heist movie RPG nut: The heist genre is driven by incredibly clever protagonists putting together incredibly clever plans and the enjoyment we get when "a good plan comes together". Is there a way to duplicate that despite the fact that your players probably aren't strategic geniuses? (Narrative retcon mechanics would probably help, so that players can launch cleverly conceived counter-strategies with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.) Is there a way to make the planning itself game-able?

I feel like I need to crack out my Mage: The Ascension, Burning Empires, and Shock: Social Science Fiction manuals and start giving this some serious thought.

 

[lin_fusan]

I think there should be a mechanic in the system where the player have the freedom to choose their level of escalation and risk.

For example, in the beginning of an inception/(what was the name they gave for a regular job stealing unconscious secrets?), the mark would be "Unaware/Dreaming" so long as the characters maintain the normal level of reality and physics.

In a tough situation, a player could choose to up the ante and bend physics a little. This would raise (either automatically or increasingly difficult randomness) the mark's level to "Aware of the Dream" which will make the mark passively hostile to the dream and make further actions harder.

After that, the player could up the ante again and do something really outrageous, and increase the mark's level to "Aware of the Incursion" which will make the mark actively hostile to the dream.

So the players will have the freedom to decide if they want multiple dreams, since each level of awareness only effects the current dream.

Edited to add:
Oh, and I forgot to mention that an Inception RPG would be great as a story game since it literally puts the narrative/world building the hands of the players since they will be designing the dreams and the heist themselves.

In a weird way, you don't need a GM. The players would be doing all the work!

 

[Wycen]

Changeling the Dreaming, would that work?

 

[TarionzCousin]

At the end of the campaign, do the PC's wake up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette?



/too obscure?

 

[Crothian]

While true, I'd note that to really do the movie justice you want a system that allows character creation to directly impact the reality of the dream / game world.

So give the players more narrative control.

And, at the same time, you want the Architect to be able to influence the actual content / structure of the dream, as well.

The architect then gets unique narrative control

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I don't know...the mechanics could be a real nightmare.

It sounds like more a setting than a stand-alone RPG- bet you could run it fairly easily in HERO or M&M. And it might even work in something like Everway or even Primal Order.