(Mongoose) Licences and RPGs

[trancejeremy]

Well (unless I'm presuming wrong, which is possible), that would qualify as the Movie part, but you still have the TV series part, which brings us back to Gil Gerad, right?

Gil Gerard was Buck Rogers, not Flash Gordon.

Both from the same era, originally, and both were originally comic strips (like in the paper), I believe, but Flash Gordon was a lot better, IMHO. Buck Rogers almost sort of a post apocalyptic adventure - he mostly fought against the mongols or huns or something from the east, who had invaded the US in the future (after the government collapsed, IIRC).

Flash Gordon OTOH was from Earth, but it was mostly set on Mongo, which was sort of another planet. It was sort of dorky in that most of the regions of Mongo were named after their main terrain. The forrest kingdom was called "Arboria", and ruled by Prince Barron. The artic/cold kingdom was called "Frigentia" or something like that. There was a kingdom of blue people called "Argentia".

If you read the early Flash Gordon comic strips (there's a collection of them in a book), there's a lot of stuff borrowed from it used in Star Wars. Princess Leia's hair, for instance. A lot also shows up in Japanese RPGs for some reason. (They also really seem to have liked the 1980 Flash Gordon movie. And Queen).

If I could write, and design games, and had a lot of money, that would be what I would license for an RPG. Seems very well suited for it. Combination of exploration, combat, and intrigue/plotting. And a bit campy (not as much as the 80s movie, though.)

 

[Wolv0rine]

Gil Gerard was Buck Rogers, not Flash Gordon.

Both from the same era, originally, and both were originally comic strips (like in the paper), I believe, but Flash Gordon was a lot better, IMHO. Buck Rogers almost sort of a post apocalyptic adventure - he mostly fought against the mongols or huns or something from the east, who had invaded the US in the future (after the government collapsed, IIRC).

Flash Gordon OTOH was from Earth, but it was mostly set on Mongo, which was sort of another planet. It was sort of dorky in that most of the regions of Mongo were named after their main terrain. The forrest kingdom was called "Arboria", and ruled by Prince Barron. The artic/cold kingdom was called "Frigentia" or something like that. There was a kingdom of blue people called "Argentia".

If you read the early Flash Gordon comic strips (there's a collection of them in a book), there's a lot of stuff borrowed from it used in Star Wars. Princess Leia's hair, for instance. A lot also shows up in Japanese RPGs for some reason. (They also really seem to have liked the 1980 Flash Gordon movie. And Queen).

If I could write, and design games, and had a lot of money, that would be what I would license for an RPG. Seems very well suited for it. Combination of exploration, combat, and intrigue/plotting. And a bit campy (not as much as the 80s movie, though.)

*nods* Yep, all quite correct. I had been talking abour Buck Rogers when I mentioned Gil Gerard (friggin typo on that name a few posts back, too lazy to fix it, hehe). Flash Gordon I was never really into until the 80's movie, with the arse-kicking soundtrack by Queen, yes. The movie was fast, fun, and goofy. If it was taken more seriously, it probably would make a great game world, yeah. I didn't know about Leia's hair, though. While the actor in the 80's Flash Gordon movie never really inspired me at all, Dale was a ballsy lady, and the guy they had playing Ming was perfection itself. It should have run with the caption "You will believe an alien emperor will destory the earth". hehe (begging forgiveness from the Superman movie)

 

[tensen]

The sad part is, I was a full-blown Buck Rogers fan back then. I named my dog Tweeky, even. hehe Now granted, the show was low, yes. And Gil Gerard and Erin Gray aren't the best actors in the world, and the plots were tres weak.. but it was better than the redux when they left earth for the space ship (only saving grace: That killer-cool hawk-guy).

Yeah!.. Hawk was the coolest then...
Of course my concept of cool has evolved a bit since then.

 

[Wolv0rine]

Yeah!.. Hawk was the coolest then...
Of course my concept of cool has evolved a bit since then.

Well yeah, naturally. But he's still tres cool (although even then, that character himself kind of sucked, he just *looked* cool)

 

[SilentJay]

Just to point this back at potentially being B5. Matt said film, he didn't say whether or not is was theatrical or made-for-TV.

As for Stargate SG-1. I'd assume that d20 Modern would fit the bill almost perfectly for it, and since Matt said that Mongoose is using d20 standard as d20M wouldn't work for it....

 

[Pagan priest]

As for Stargate SG-1. I'd assume that d20 Modern would fit the bill almost perfectly for it, and since Matt said that Mongoose is using d20 standard as d20M wouldn't work for it....

But when he said that, he was refering to the flexability of the system. Like Pinnacle's Wierd War 2, being able to create a core class (or five) that a character can start in at 1st level allows a writer to spread abilities over 20 levels rather than try to say a character has to go do something else for 3 or 4 levels before being able to multiclass into an advanced class that could justify being part of an SG-1 team.

Of course, I'm still hoping that he can at least tell us WHEN he can tell us what the license actualy is! If it is not Stargate, then I will get moving on my own campaign notes for a Stargate game. (Just as soon as I can see some episodes of this SG-1 thing I keep hearing mention of...)

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Has anyone guessed Mission Impossible ?

Admittedly You could probably do that with other systems already out there, but they may be looking for Brand Recognition to make their game stand out

 

[Sulimo]

Just to point this back at potentially being B5. Matt said film, he didn't say whether or not is was theatrical or made-for-TV.

Yeah. The other choice I'd like to see (though not as much as B5) is Dune which had the Lynch film and the recent mini-series...with another one due next year.

 

[SilentJay]

Yeah. The other choice I'd like to see (though not as much as B5) is Dune which had the Lynch film and the recent mini-series...with another one due next year.

Well, Dune would be nice, but to be honest, I'm not actually interested in a B5 game, even though I did make the TV show/movie link for it. SG-1 is what I'm hoping for.

Pagan Priest: I'd have to say that standard d20 would be good if you're talking about the SG-1 team itself as they're the 'heroes', but the other SG teams aren't the 'heroic' ones and the d20 Modern Occupation rules could cover those teams and the support personnel of the SGC.

Also, this SG-1 is the Stargate TV series, and the first season or two are available on DVD.

 

[Pagan priest]

Pagan Priest: I'd have to say that standard d20 would be good if you're talking about the SG-1 team itself as they're the 'heroes', but the other SG teams aren't the 'heroic' ones and the d20 Modern Occupation rules could cover those teams and the support personnel of the SGC.

Also, this SG-1 is the Stargate TV series, and the first season or two are available on DVD.

Someday I hope to learn that my humor does not carry over into message boards. Yes I have seen a few episodes of SG-1. A friend with a VCR showed me the first few shows from the first season. A couple of the local libraries have a video tape or two as well. Where I live there is no television reception and cable is an overpriced monopoly, so I have not seen the majority of the show, or any show for that matter...

Now, back to the topic at hand. I would like to state the obvious, to any publishers reading this, there are some great ideas getting tossed out here, stuff just begging to be written.

Re: Mission Impossible. Isn't that what Shadowforce Archer is about? while name recognition is good, just how many spy technthrilers can the market support?

Re: Babylon 5. While I love games of diplomacy and intrigue, most of the gamers I know need a chance to kick butt now and then, and if the game is set on B5 itself, the security forces are the only folks who really get the chance to do the kicking. A game set during the war would require dragging armies and fleets into the game, even if the PC's are some type of elite team. I would certainly take a good long look at a B5-D20 game, and if I could rally some support in my gaming group, I would want it.

Re: Stargate SG-1. Once I saw a couple of episodes I realized that this show was a game waiting to be played. From the GM's perspective, you get to order the team into what ever situation you want to devise. If the party manages to accuire some overly powerful nifty toy, the government takes it away for study. Want to go weird with the campaign? Assume that the folks pretending to be ancient Egyptian Gods really are ancient Egyptian Gods, and use the stats from Dieties and Demigods!

Some of the other things mentioned do have problems with things like a narrow focus. I think this is the biggest problem with Dune. Solve that, and it could be a good game.



It just came to me!


I think I know just what this is!


There is a show that has not been mentioned, but it has a theatrical released movie.


It is not pure science fiction, but elements of SF do appear from time to time.


Be afraid. Be very afraid.


That show is...



South Park!