Need help with campaign setting!!

[bardolph]

Okay, here's the scoop:

I want to start a home-brew modern day campaign setting, but have no idea where to start.

I'm a veteran DM, and most of my experience is with D&D (pick your edition) and Call of Cthulhu.

However, I'm getting kind of tired of the "D&D Fantasy" genre, and my players don't particularly dig it, either. Don't get me wrong, they LOVE roleplaying, and they can get into D&D if that's the game that I'm playing, but none of us are really chomping at the bit to be wizards and sword-swingers.

The main reason I usually play D&D is because it's so durn easy to find source material for it. So, it's part inertia, and part laziness.

Call of Cthulhu works basically the same way. I like the horror genre, and CoC has some really great scenarios set in the 1920's. My gaming group really digs the 1920's, but I'm only luke-warm for it.

I want a modern-day campaign setting. Why? Because it's so easy to figure in all those little details that brings a setting to life. I don't have to think about what kind of hose a noble is wearing, and I don't have to describe what's in the local liquor store on Tattooine (or wherever).

But "modern-day" does not a campaign make.

I've thought about trying to run one of the White Wolf "World of Darkness" games, but nobody in our group has ANY desire to be a vampire/werewolf/wizard/blah/blah/blah. To be honest, they are MOST interested in playing "normal" people, like "limousine driver" or "cocktail waitress." (no kidding!)

So, how do I weave an interesting campaign around "normal" people?

I suppose Call of Cthulhu (modern day) is an option. But my players aren't even that interested in "investigation" adventures. They don't care that much about finding clues and solving mysteries, they mostly like getting into trouble, and then trying to get out of it.

SO.......

I need ideas. I'd like some kind of conspiracy/xfiles/horror/cyber/camp kind of campaign, but I don't know where to start.

Any thoughts?

 

[CWD]

One word.

Spycraft.

 

[FDP Mike]

Hmm . . .

Well, I've not actually read it, but from what I've heard and seen (mostly on these boards and on RPG.net), you might like to try AEG's Spycraft game and the companion Shadow Force Archer setting. (I hope that I'm getting the titles correct!)

I need ideas. I'd like some kind of conspiracy/xfiles/horror/cyber/camp kind of campaign, but I don't know where to start.

Any thoughts?

Spycraft is an espionage game, so according to your list, it seems to fit the bill. If you've already been playing 3E/d20, you and your players should be able to get into the game fairly quickly.

Now, of course, I wish Fiery Dragon had something to offer you, but we're full into high fantasy these days . . . .

Take care.

 

[FDP Mike]

One word.

Spycraft.

Ah, see, there you go!

 

[Voneth]

We want to be normal people who don't go looking for trouble ... why is your group role-playing again?

It would easier for them to find trouble if they went looking for it or if they were part of the trouble "wizards, hidden monsters, etc ..."

On the other hand, we have plenty of "unwilling heroes" set up to chose from, but they ususaly have a limited lifespan before it gets old. Here are some ideas:

We Trapped! This is the classic B-Movie thing, something has trapped the party and is eating all the extras around them. How this pans out over the long run.

You Know Too Much! This one is probably the best bet for your campaign. The heroes stumble into the world of the supernatual and then to silence them, the elements chase them.

Framed! Hey they had a whole series on the Fugitive concept.

Perhaps meld these two ideas togther, where they find out "The Truth" and then they are framed for a murder so they can't run to the authorities for help (and might even end up institutionalized).

Alternate Reality: What happened if the world did come to an end as the finale of your B-Movie plot?

If you want to keep it moderns and you don't want to do an alternate set up, then you probably want to have "Hidden Monsters" or hidden socieites be your villians. Though NightBreed and Special Unit 2 had some good ways of showing hidden societies of out and out monsters.

Some suggested monsters beyond the usual vamp/werewolf stuff.

Faye Folk (illusions and inhuman desires)
Ticked off Angels (Prophesy)
demons (Hello Buffy)
Doppleganers (Hello Monster Manual)
Psionist or Psy Warriors
Wizards
Mind Flyers (illusions and inhuman hungers)

uhhh I ran out.

 

[bardolph]

Ah. Spycraft. I have it. Maybe I should read it Though it's mostly rules, not story ideas. Sooooo, I spose I should pick up "Shadowforce Archer," too, eh?

 

[rounser]

If playing normal folks, a game based on the Illuminatus! trilogy could be fun. I think there's a GURPS book (GURPS IOU?) which covers that territory, but may be mistaken...

 

[bardolph]

We want to be normal people who don't go looking for trouble ... why is your group role-playing again?

No, no! They do go looking for trouble! That's their favorite activity. I just need to give them half a chance to find it, that's all.

We Trapped! This is the classic B-Movie thing, something has trapped the party and is eating all the extras around them. How this pans out over the long run

Yup. Sounds pretty good, and would probably be a good place to start.

You Know Too Much! This one is probably the best bet for your campaign. The heroes stumble into the world of the supernatual and then to silence them, the elements chase them.

Again, good idea. Now I just have to cook up what that something is..

Framed! Hey they had a whole series on the Fugitive concept.
...
Perhaps meld these two ideas togther, where they find out "The Truth" and then they are framed for a murder so they can't run to the authorities for help (and might even end up institutionalized).

Wow! Instant campaign! So obvious, I can't believe it didn't occur to me before! Hey, while you're at it, you got any Nefarious Plots up your sleeve to get my creative juices flowing?

Alternate Reality: What happened if the world did come to an end as the finale of your B-Movie plot?

The world turns into a post-Apocalyptic Mad Max-esque wasteland. Sounds great! Yes. This is what I'm looking for. You're just a fountain of good ideas, sir!

If you want to keep it moderns and you don't want to do an alternate set up, then you probably want to have "Hidden Monsters" or hidden socieites be your villians. Though NightBreed and Special Unit 2 had some good ways of showing hidden societies of out and out monsters.

Okay, this is starting to pan out in my head...

Here's what I need:

1) some sort of "opening incident," where a random group of strangers who "just happen to be around" in some public place when something life-threatening and really weird happens. The PC's are forced to work together in order to survive, and of course, after the incident is over, it is completely covered up.

2) life appears to go back to normal, but the PC's start to notice weird things going on around them, and some of them think they're being followed or watched (which is true).

3) the PC's get involved with some sort of "shadow war," and of course some bizarre knowledge gained from the initial encounter is key, to both the "good guys" and the "bad guys." The PC's are forced to choose sides.

4) the PC's become targets for assassination by the "wrong side."

5) the "hidden strangeness" becomes more overt.

...something like that. Should provide plenty of ammo for a campaign. Just have to work out the details.

Any ideas?

 

[bardolph]

If playing normal folks, a game based on the Illuminatus! trilogy could be fun. I think there's a GURPS book (GURPS IOU?) which covers that territory, but may be mistaken...

What's that? Who's the author? What are the titles?

 

[rounser]

What's that? Who's the author? What are the titles?

You're not cleared for that. Fnord.