Modern-day game settings and 9/11

[johnsemlak]

For some people, 9/11 remains a topic that is taboo for a subject like RPGing.

For others, I'm sure, it's a potentially interesting one.

I personally do not play any modern-based RPG, D20 Afganistan, and I haven't used any 9/11 themes in my fantasy games. But I don't find it offensive.

Doubtlessly, many people do find such games offensive, and they have a right to their opinion and the right not to play such games. However, I hope people avoid making judgements about people who do.

In America, we have a huge amount of computer games, wargames, etc. which simulate a whole manner of horrible situations: WWIII, bombing Iraq, Lybia, Iran, Leningrad, Saigon, etc., hunting Russian subs, the Vietnam War, modern day espionage, and of course WWII. Not to mention fantasy games that simulate devils, demons, necromancy, etc. I'm sure that many people both outside and inside the US find some of these games offensive.

I'm sure, somewhere in the world, people are playing games that involve role-playing terrorist acts. Just as in Fantasy RPGs, people play chaotic evil assasins, drow fighters, orc heros, demons, etc. Nobody who is doing any of the above is endorsing such activity in real life, they are just playing a game. Just a game.

As for cashing in on 9/11, so many people have already cashed in on 9/11 that I don't think its worth debating anymore (9/11 themed books, memoribelia, movies with 9/11 themes, etc). Anyway, I don't think an RPG involving the war on terror will make anybody rich.

 

[blaster219]

Especially since after looking through the book in our local "catalogue" store (expensive book store, we buy from the cheap store that shrink wraps RPG books) I can say that without a doubt Afganistan d20 is one of the biggest piles of steaming donkey dodo I have even seen.

 

[Maraxle]

I am reluctant to post to this thread, but I will anyway.

I wouldn't touch on playing a game involving 9/11 with a ten-foot pole. The company that's cashing in with the D20 Afghanistan game is, in my opinion, run by people who are greedy and lack conscience. I would not sell my integrity, as they have done.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Do you ignore it? Do you refer to it or even base a campaign around it?

I might make passing reference- as in an increase in airport security, but I would not base a campeign around it.

I live close to the city and know people who have suffered great losses. Finding entertainment in the source of their suffering would be a horrible act on my part.

FD

 

[Neowolf]

I am reluctant to post to this thread, but I will anyway.

I wouldn't touch on playing a game involving 9/11 with a ten-foot pole. The company that's cashing in with the D20 Afghanistan game is, in my opinion, run by people who are greedy and lack conscience. I would not sell my integrity, as they have done.

Agreed. You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[blaster219]

Unfortunatly our groups favourite genre for RP'ing is the present day. I feel that ignoring it or pretending it did'nt happen would be disrepectful. We do'nt go out of our way to mention it as most of our games are set withing the EU and Austrialia/New Zealand (have a soft spot for the ozzies and kiwi's) but we don't shy away from mentioning if 9/11 would impact on the module i'm runing at the time.

 

[blaster219]

Its just occured to me, both versions of Call of Cuthulu (Chaosium and d20) mention it and Unknown Armies second edition mentions it several times.

 

[Prince Atom]

I, too, would talk with your group. Some people might not want to touch on it for various reasons. I know that I already live 9/11 every day for the past year, and it's driving me batty because everyone in the media has to weigh in on the topic.

They might as well make a new calendar. Forget BD and AD, or BCE and CE, or whatever; now it's pre-9/11 and post-9/11.

So I guess if I had my druthers, I'd rather not play a game that had a high focus on The Event.

As for comics... I read Marvel, and mostly online (disappointing, really, but I don't have the money), and the only people I've seen online who touched on it were J. Michael Straczynski in ASM, and another team working on a Captain America series. In both, none of the heroes could prevent it; all they could do was clean up after it. Straczynski even interrupted his own story arc to present ASM #37 (or so). It's all narrative from Parker's head. The scenes are inspiring; it's not often you see so many heroes together in one place, and even villains were helping. There was Dr Doom and Doc Ock, but I can't say if there were any more. But the narrative is full of invective against the Terrorist.

The Captain America is better, somewhat. Cap helps clean up the Site, and one evening he goes for a walk and passes a young Arab man out in the street. The youth says he's not going to stay indoors because this is his city too, he was born in New York. Right after that the youth is assaulted by a group of white men, and Cap steps in to prevent a stabbing. The encounter ends with the Arab youth helping the injured white man to the hospital. I don't know, but somehow that's a better message than the Spidey mag.

I don't know what DC is doing. Was Metropolis attacked?


Arg... I'm rambling. I'll stop now.


TWK
Why can't we agree to share this planet?

 

[Eternalknight]

...most of our games are set withing the EU and Austrialia/New Zealand (have a soft spot for the ozzies and kiwi's)...

Thanks! We have a soft spot for the poms too, especially when we are beating you in the cricket. Just out of interest, what sort of games do you run in Australia?

 

[blaster219]

The most often reason for our games to visit the land down under is well, the same reason that American TV shows and movies vists Europe. AUS/NZ is very distant and although on the surface it appears familer. Underneath both its culture and soceity seem different. Also, theres the sun and palm trees aspect

The most recent game was based around a joint British-Federal Republic of Australia space agency called BASE (stood of British-Australian Space Engineering). Admitdly, the picture of AUS/NZ that we portray in our games is most likely very different from reality in the same way the real england is very different from the Hollywood version.

Thanks! We have a soft spot for the poms too, especially when we are beating you in the cricket. Just out of interest, what sort of games do you run in Australia?