Modern-day game settings and 9/11

[AlphaOmega]

Before I begin, I didn't start this thread to offend a single soul. So if it becomes a problem I'll be the first to admit I made a mistake and a mod can come along and close her down.

Ok, with d20 modern on the way, several superhero settings and Spycraft already here how do people handle the events and fallout in their modern day game settings. I wonder how other DMs of these types of games feel about Sept 11th. Do you ignore it? Do you refer to it or even base a campaign around it? I heard something about a Afghanistan d20 game so some people must want to explore the idea.

Right now, I'm DMing a Spycraft campaign and I found myself thinking what, if any, references should I make to it. In the end, my plan for the campaign avoids the subject, at least it will directly. I believe most people roleplay for the reason to have fun and "get away from it all." But maybe some might find playing/running a game using 9/11 somehow as therapeutic. I know others feel its still way too early for that; however most other forms of entertain have begun to address that tragic day in some manner.

well, I'm done... once again my intention with this is to have a civil, focused discussion...

take care everyone

 

[Crothian]

First off, if I intended to make any references in game about 9/11, I'd talk to all my players out of game first. 9/11 effected a lot of people in different ways. Just becasue I'm comfortible placing it in a game, doesn't mean everyone is. I'd also talk to them about how much they would like it envolved. Do they just want it to happen and then deal with the after effects, or do they want to be more envolved?

On a related note: How did the Comic world deal with this? We have many super groups and heroes centered in NYC. It might not be a bad idea to take a look at how some of them dealt with this issue and use that as an example.

 

[Ranger REG]

My group's blended Spycraft/Afghanistan d20 campaign put our focus on the war in the Middle East region. We simply avoid talking about the tragic event that happened on American soil within.

 

[RangerWickett]

Regarding comics, J. Michael Straczynski wrote a Spiderman issue that addressed the attacks. Basically it came down to the fact that superheroes fight supervillains, but they can't be everywhere, or hope to know the machinations of madmen. It was a really vengeful sounding piece that didn't sound like it should've been coming out of Peter Parker's head. And having Doctor Doom, evil overlord, shedding a tear at the site of the tower wreckage didn't help. I thought the issue was a reasonable effort, but flaws in its execution ruined it.

 

[Numion]

Since I'm a non-american, the 9/11 is fair game in my games. (no pun intended.) It'd be kind of cool to iclude it in a d20 Cthulhu game. Maybe the old ones had some say in the matter? Or maybe the attacks were to prevent something more horrible.

 

[Eternalknight]

I personally wouldn't use something from real-life in a game, as I like my games to be fun and not touch on some serious stuff. Although, if you handle it in a mature way, and take the advice of previous posters, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Buttercup]

I think it's still too close. Were I running a CoC game, I might include the Pearl Harbor attack, because none of us who game together were alive then. But I spent many of the summers of my childhood in NYC and had relatives there. This means that using the attack as entertainment would be anything but. I haven't even looked at the D20 Afghanistan game, because the very concept struck me as being in poor taste. I won't ever buy anything from that company.

I like my games to be in the far past or far future. That way, they're truly escapist.

 

[Eternalknight]

I haven't even looked at the D20 Afghanistan game, because the very concept struck me as being in poor taste. I won't ever buy anything from that company.

Actually I agree Buttercup. IF, by chance, someone did want to play out the War on Terror, I don't think a games company should provide it and cash in on it.

 

[Ashtal]

Be *very* careful with this thread, kay folks?

(Not saying it's bad now, just saying ... well, you know.)

 

[ninthcouncil]

In the "One-Shots" adventure collection, published 2 or 3 years ago for Atlas Games's modern occult RPG "Unknown Armies", there is an adventure in which a corrupt magician attempts to achieve Ascension as the archetype of The Terrorist, by hijacking a passenger jet and flying it into the Sears Tower in Chicago.

I'd guess it's pretty well unplayable now.

There's also some flavour text in the original edition of Target Games's horror RPG "Kult" in which something very similar happens.

However horrible your imagination, real evil is capable of worse....