Resident Evil Idea - My Peeps STAY OUT!!
- Thread starter Angelsboi
- Start date
Bagpuss
Legend
Problem is if the players get infected..... then they find an antidote the campaign is pretty much over, they don't find one and its also pretty much over.
If they have a sample of the virus why don't they just give it to the CDC and your campaign is over again.
Do you really think giving them a sample of the virus this early on in the campaign is a good idea? Better to have a brief case with lots of documents that point towards a virus something to investigate.
If they have a sample of the virus why don't they just give it to the CDC and your campaign is over again.
Do you really think giving them a sample of the virus this early on in the campaign is a good idea? Better to have a brief case with lots of documents that point towards a virus something to investigate.
If the PC's find an antidote it doesn't mean that the adventure/campaign is over. They might just locate enough to cure themselves. Also, just because they have it doesn't mean that they can synthesize it and cure the population at large.
Also, the CDC could show up, but what's to say they are successful in curing it. Sure, the could quarantine the town take a sample of the virus and attempt to create a vaccine but they might not be able to. There are plenty of viruses that we haven't a cure for.
And even with the PC's being cured and the CDC showing up there would still be plenty of people already zombified to fight through. Also, who's to say that the CDC are friendly to the PC's. Perhaps the CDC think the PC's started the infection and want them for questioning. The CDC might just be another obstacle to overcome.
Finally, I don't know about you but if some multi-national corporation tried to turn me into a zombie I might want to get a little revenge on the board of directors and that could be a whole new adventure.
Also, the CDC could show up, but what's to say they are successful in curing it. Sure, the could quarantine the town take a sample of the virus and attempt to create a vaccine but they might not be able to. There are plenty of viruses that we haven't a cure for.
And even with the PC's being cured and the CDC showing up there would still be plenty of people already zombified to fight through. Also, who's to say that the CDC are friendly to the PC's. Perhaps the CDC think the PC's started the infection and want them for questioning. The CDC might just be another obstacle to overcome.
Finally, I don't know about you but if some multi-national corporation tried to turn me into a zombie I might want to get a little revenge on the board of directors and that could be a whole new adventure.
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Bagpuss
Legend
The less game is to do with battling zombies, survival, investigation and being isolated & alone, the less the game has in common with the themes of Resident Evil.
To have thoses themes, you have to isolate the characters from other living people early on. Giving them the virus in their home town creates problems.
For example, guy comes into the coffee bar with a vial, lights go out and the players help protect the guy from attackers.
End of fight the players are alive with the vial, lab coat guy is dead or alive and the villans have either fled or died. First thing the characters do is call the police and hand everything over to them. The responsiblity and the clues immediately goes away from the characters.
If they don't contact the police, not only are they acting pretty much out of character they are now fugatives and the campaign is no longer about the virus and zombies but about the characters avoiding being arrested.
On the other hand if you have the characters come into a strange town, after the out break and cut them off from communication and transport then (like in the game) then the players are forced to take responsibility for their own survival.
To have thoses themes, you have to isolate the characters from other living people early on. Giving them the virus in their home town creates problems.
For example, guy comes into the coffee bar with a vial, lights go out and the players help protect the guy from attackers.
End of fight the players are alive with the vial, lab coat guy is dead or alive and the villans have either fled or died. First thing the characters do is call the police and hand everything over to them. The responsiblity and the clues immediately goes away from the characters.
If they don't contact the police, not only are they acting pretty much out of character they are now fugatives and the campaign is no longer about the virus and zombies but about the characters avoiding being arrested.
On the other hand if you have the characters come into a strange town, after the out break and cut them off from communication and transport then (like in the game) then the players are forced to take responsibility for their own survival.
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Bagpuss
Legend
Saracen said:
Fair enough, but I doubt it will even get that far.
It doesn't matter if they can cure it or not, they turn up and you have taken the responsibility away from the players. The national guard can surround the place and drop a themobaric bomb on it if it looks like it will go out of control. The players can hand everything over to the authorities and get on with their boring and ordinary lives, which would not make for a good campaign.
Why? According to the set up information no outbreak has even happened yet so there are no zombies.
Which is fair enough but then the campaign is about avoiding / fighting the US administration and not fighting zombies its not a Resident Evil game anymore.
Right so your character will want to not use normal legal channels (even though he's a coffee shop owner, not Batman) and will instead use vigilante justice and become a wanted felon, and then again the campaign changes its mood and themes.
Angelsboi
First Post
umm ok, you know, i asked for some help, not asking for nearly everyone saying that im wrong.
I would like to point out that the virus was around since the 50s and 60s. It was until 98 the virus broke out. It was in Racoon City for 30+ years before ANYONE knew anything about it.
Also, Chief Ironside Burns (RCPD) KNEW what was going on. So whose to say the cops wouldnt take it and then hand it over to their chief, who, hands it to Umbrella (RE 2).
Also, one of the PCs is a criminal. They get the cops involved, they will immediately be suspicious and try to blame him.
An if anyone can recall, the virus mutates rather rapidly. So while they may get an antidote, it may not always work. And i never said the man had an antitode. Just a vial. What the vial contains is still unknown
I would like to point out that the virus was around since the 50s and 60s. It was until 98 the virus broke out. It was in Racoon City for 30+ years before ANYONE knew anything about it.
Also, Chief Ironside Burns (RCPD) KNEW what was going on. So whose to say the cops wouldnt take it and then hand it over to their chief, who, hands it to Umbrella (RE 2).
Also, one of the PCs is a criminal. They get the cops involved, they will immediately be suspicious and try to blame him.
An if anyone can recall, the virus mutates rather rapidly. So while they may get an antidote, it may not always work. And i never said the man had an antitode. Just a vial. What the vial contains is still unknown
Bagpuss
Legend
You asked for help I'm giving it, I'm just saying with a start like that you are creating problems for yourself.
As for what the vial contains you said...
Also
And if he does why should the players care, they have done their duty as citizens, and as far as they know the police are handling the matter and they go about their business as normal.
Which is the main difficulty with modern day campaigns, what stops the players just handing over everything to the appropriate authorities?
Cyberpunk/Shadowrun takes care of this by the players generally being involved in illegal stuff.
Superhero games take care of this by the players having more power and responsibility than the actual authorities.
Vampire take care of it by the Masquerade.
The zombie horror gains take care of it by either isolating the characters or having the authorities already swampped fighting zombies so its everyone for themselves.
From what you have discribed of your setup, you have no army of zombies at the start and the characters arn't isolated. What reasons are they going to have to do things themselves, when if they acted in character they would probably just hand it all over to the police or medical personal to deal with it.
As for what the vial contains you said...
Angelsboi said:
Also
And if he does why should the players care, they have done their duty as citizens, and as far as they know the police are handling the matter and they go about their business as normal.
Which is the main difficulty with modern day campaigns, what stops the players just handing over everything to the appropriate authorities?
Cyberpunk/Shadowrun takes care of this by the players generally being involved in illegal stuff.
Superhero games take care of this by the players having more power and responsibility than the actual authorities.
Vampire take care of it by the Masquerade.
The zombie horror gains take care of it by either isolating the characters or having the authorities already swampped fighting zombies so its everyone for themselves.
From what you have discribed of your setup, you have no army of zombies at the start and the characters arn't isolated. What reasons are they going to have to do things themselves, when if they acted in character they would probably just hand it all over to the police or medical personal to deal with it.
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Angelsboi
First Post
well when RE started out, there were no army of zombies. It was all isolated at the mansion. When the virus got out, it leaked to Raccoon City, which, it started nfecting the humans and thats when Jill had o get out as well as Clair and Leon.
And my bad about the virus. im still working on it.
Anywho, i want them to get involved from the very beginning and have them play a big part in either causing or stopping another Raccoon City incident.
And since it seems you keep downing D20 Modern (b/c in D&D, the PCs can do the same thing.
"Orcs? Oh, they are weak. We'll let the city guards take care of it."
So what do you suggest i do bagpuss? Im looking for help and so far it seems i gkeep getting dont do this, dont do that, dont do this, dont so that.
so what SHOULD i do?
And my bad about the virus. im still working on it.
Anywho, i want them to get involved from the very beginning and have them play a big part in either causing or stopping another Raccoon City incident.
And since it seems you keep downing D20 Modern (b/c in D&D, the PCs can do the same thing.
"Orcs? Oh, they are weak. We'll let the city guards take care of it."
So what do you suggest i do bagpuss? Im looking for help and so far it seems i gkeep getting dont do this, dont do that, dont do this, dont so that.
so what SHOULD i do?
Bagpuss
Legend
I'm not 'downing' D20 Modern for this (I have a downer on it for other things) the setting is fine. I'm just saying modern campaigns no matter what system or game you use need something to keep the characters involved and the focus of the plot.
In D&D players don't hand things over to the city watch as they are often, down dungeons where their is no watch or the city watch is all 1st level warriors and not able to handle even a small secret cult of 4th level sorcerers. Its sort of like the gimick superhero games use to keep the players the focus, with power comes responsibility. Also in a medieval setting the authorities is no where near as clear or reliable as in a modern setting.
A modern setting introduces problems especially if your characters are everyday joe's. If the characters are a SWAT team sent to raid Umbrella labs, thats easier to handle since they have to follow orders and once they are in the lab its much like a Dungeon so you can control where they go and what they encounter.
If your character are everyday joe's and in a normal town environment then they have way more options. For a start they can pass the buck to the authorities. In fact, if they are acting in character, most of the time thats what they should do. You find a dead body on the street and your a convience store clerk you contact the police, you don't investigate the murder yourself.
Now there are a number of tricks you can use to limit the characters options and keep them involved. Ways to force everyday joe's to 'be all they can be' instead of just passing the buck to the police, fire service, etc. Most of these you will recognise from horror movies, disaster movies and computer games.
The most important one is isolate them from any assistance. There are a number of ways to do this.
a) Limit the environment - put them in an enclosed space where help is not available so they have to depend on themselves. Trap them in a tunnel / tall building / underground lab.
b) killing off everyone else
c) making the authorities impossible to contact and/or distant
d) Make it personal - Kidnap a relative, infect them, demons only after them, etc.
e) Make them wanted by the authorities, wanted for a crime they didn't commit, mistaken idenity, etc.
Now as far as I can see in your example their is no reason for them (except the criminal) to not contact the police and let them deal with it. This more than anything can de-rail any game in a modern setting.
In D&D players don't hand things over to the city watch as they are often, down dungeons where their is no watch or the city watch is all 1st level warriors and not able to handle even a small secret cult of 4th level sorcerers. Its sort of like the gimick superhero games use to keep the players the focus, with power comes responsibility. Also in a medieval setting the authorities is no where near as clear or reliable as in a modern setting.
A modern setting introduces problems especially if your characters are everyday joe's. If the characters are a SWAT team sent to raid Umbrella labs, thats easier to handle since they have to follow orders and once they are in the lab its much like a Dungeon so you can control where they go and what they encounter.
If your character are everyday joe's and in a normal town environment then they have way more options. For a start they can pass the buck to the authorities. In fact, if they are acting in character, most of the time thats what they should do. You find a dead body on the street and your a convience store clerk you contact the police, you don't investigate the murder yourself.
Now there are a number of tricks you can use to limit the characters options and keep them involved. Ways to force everyday joe's to 'be all they can be' instead of just passing the buck to the police, fire service, etc. Most of these you will recognise from horror movies, disaster movies and computer games.
The most important one is isolate them from any assistance. There are a number of ways to do this.
a) Limit the environment - put them in an enclosed space where help is not available so they have to depend on themselves. Trap them in a tunnel / tall building / underground lab.
b) killing off everyone else
c) making the authorities impossible to contact and/or distant
d) Make it personal - Kidnap a relative, infect them, demons only after them, etc.
e) Make them wanted by the authorities, wanted for a crime they didn't commit, mistaken idenity, etc.
Now as far as I can see in your example their is no reason for them (except the criminal) to not contact the police and let them deal with it. This more than anything can de-rail any game in a modern setting.
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