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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bagpuss" data-source="post: 797558" data-attributes="member: 3987">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 elsec) 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.</blockquote>

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