Some RPGs are written by people who are true students of a centuries-old classic literary work of art, and make the rules and gameplay as close a match for the source material as possible.
King Arthur Pendragon RPG, based on the literature surrounding King Arthur.
True20 Tales of the Caliphate Nights, based on the stories of the One Thousand and One (Arabian) Nights.
Inferno RPG, based on Dante's works. (yet to read through)
Charles Dickens novels would make a great RPG - Has nobody made one yet? I also have my eye on Heroes of the Mythic Americas, hoping it will closely follow the stories it's based on. I'm interested in finding out more about RPGs based on any great literary or oral traditions from around the world. Surely there are other RPGs that also explore their source novels or legends and try to faithfully and exhaustively represent the spirit and the details of the work? Do you have any leads for my search?
Edit: I just finished looking at Sina Una. Richly described, based on pre-colonial oral stories of the Phillipines, but changed when a lot of d&d (and some modern sensibilities, but not much) was shoehorned in. Not really what I'm looking for - but it could have been! The writing team loved and respected the source material, but it's very mixed with standard d&d 5e.
King Arthur Pendragon RPG, based on the literature surrounding King Arthur.
True20 Tales of the Caliphate Nights, based on the stories of the One Thousand and One (Arabian) Nights.
Inferno RPG, based on Dante's works. (yet to read through)
Charles Dickens novels would make a great RPG - Has nobody made one yet? I also have my eye on Heroes of the Mythic Americas, hoping it will closely follow the stories it's based on. I'm interested in finding out more about RPGs based on any great literary or oral traditions from around the world. Surely there are other RPGs that also explore their source novels or legends and try to faithfully and exhaustively represent the spirit and the details of the work? Do you have any leads for my search?
Edit: I just finished looking at Sina Una. Richly described, based on pre-colonial oral stories of the Phillipines, but changed when a lot of d&d (and some modern sensibilities, but not much) was shoehorned in. Not really what I'm looking for - but it could have been! The writing team loved and respected the source material, but it's very mixed with standard d&d 5e.
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