Subverting other sources for D&D. . .

[jdrakeh]

Asmor's Warforged origins thread (specifically Rechan's first post) got me thinking. . . there's literally a whole world full of great adventure concepts, bad guys, and monsters out there that aren't designed for the fantasy genre by default but that can be easily subverted for use with D&D by ignoring the genre-specific fluff and substituting fantasy-ish bits for it.

For example, The Complex of Zombies mini-adventure from Dream Machine Productions is a clever spin on modern zombie survival horror in a fantasy setting. Likewise, I've run a short campaign that was essentially Roninhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronin_(film) with an ivory scroll case, competing adventuring parties, and feudal spy agencies.

What cool ideas outside of fantasy can you find that tickle your fancy and that can be subverted for use in D&D? And how how would you subvert them?

 

[Shroomy]

I always wanted to do Alias or James Bond in Eberron.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I've stolen quite a bit from comic books in my time. I created a race of avarial elves based on Angel losing his wings in the Mutant Massacre X-Men story. I've also used various X-Men organizations as inspiration for organizations in my games.

TV, movies, comics, and other forms of media have tons to offer.

 

[Doug McCrae]

The whole concept of Eberron is a D&Dised version of the 1920s-30s.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The James Bond and Indiana Jones movies can be translated into any genre RPG, including D&D.

 

[Rechan]

You mean like Psionics? Or Barrier Peaks? Also, I had no idea that my idea was not fantasy. I mean, I've never heard of Cybermen.

I've been tinkering with a setting, or at least an area, to capture the feel of Post-WWII Berlin - that "We're occupied, crushed under the boot heel of our enemies, and now there's all this intrigue around us", with one of the occupiers being psionic bugs.

I've wanted to run a zombie survival game - not like Resident Evil so much as Night of the Living Dead - just some regular commoners in a tavern in a town that gets flooded by undead, and must escape to get the real heroes (The regular game's PCs).

Cyberpunk can be done in Eberron, if you alter it just a little (Using grafts of various types, heavy on the artificer, etc).

There was a post recently on the boards about using the Aliens' imagery and style for Kobolds. You could do similar with the roach thrall in the Sharn: CoT book.

I think Superheroes is easy to do in Fantasy. Even using rules for superheros, but instead of having them running around the city stopping crime, they're just solo or small-team heroes with unique abilities.

 

[jdrakeh]

You mean like Psionics? Or Barrier Peaks?

No, not really -- both showcase elements from other genres in their original form, rather than disguising them as more traditional fantasy elements.

Also, I had no idea that my idea was not fantasy. I mean, I've never heard of Cybermen.

The Cybermen of Mondas

I've been tinkering with a setting, or at least an area, to capture the feel of Post-WWII Berlin - that "We're occupied, crushed under the boot heel of our enemies, and now there's all this intrigue around us", with one of the occupiers being psionic bugs.

I've wanted to run a zombie survival game - not like Resident Evil so much as Night of the Living Dead - just some regular commoners in a tavern in a town that gets flooded by undead, and must escape to get the real heroes (The regular game's PCs).

Cyberpunk can be done in Eberron, if you alter it just a little (Using grafts of various types, heavy on the artificer, etc).

There was a post recently on the boards about using the Aliens' imagery and style for Kobolds. You could do similar with the roach thrall in the Sharn: CoT book.

I think Superheroes is easy to do in Fantasy. Even using rules for superheros, but instead of having them running around the city stopping crime, they're just solo or small-team heroes with unique abilities.

All good example of what i'm talking about. Incidentally, I've introduced a number of NPCs who worked as super heroes in larger fantasy cities, usually in the vein of Batman or The Punisher. There is a lot of good fodder there.

 

[Rechan]

No, not really -- both showcase elements from other genres in their original form, rather than disguising them as more traditional fantasy elements.

I disagree. Look at what Rolemaster did with Psionics - they have the "Indian Yogi/Eastern Mystic" feel to them. The Speakers in Dune was pretty psionic than magic. Also, Soulknives = Jedi, who are just Gishes. I say that Star Wars is more fantasy than Sci-Fi; Ninjas and Cowboys in space, really.

Psionics just is sci-fi because it's featured more prominently in sci-fi, and the powers have Parapsychology names and new-agey crystal fluff, as opposed to fantasy fluff.

All good example of what i'm talking about. Incidentally, I've introduced a number of NPCs who worked as super heroes in larger fantasy cities, usually in the vein of Batman or The Punisher. There is a lot of good fodder there.

Another great source is The Shadow. That's easily doable, either with a Beguiler or a Psion.

Other thoughts:

Power Armor. Not Mecha, but just a full body suit of armor with magical abilities.

I always wanted to convert Headcrabs from Half-Life into D&D, but never could work out the rules right for them.

Yautja (Creatures from the movie Predator) make great extra-planar hunters. Fantasy worlds are rife with Big Game. They could hunt anything from Beholders to Illithids to Dragons.

Firefly is So Easy to do in Eberron it hurts.

 

[jdrakeh]

I disagree. Look at what Rolemaster did with Psionics - they have the "Indian Yogi/Eastern Mystic" feel to them.

I'll give you that, but. . .

I say that Star Wars is more fantasy than Sci-Fi; Ninjas and Cowboys in space, really.

Star Wars is a good example of the opposite thing that I'm talking about here -- Star Wars took a lot of fantasy tropes (notably the whole 'princess in peril' plot and orders of knights) and put them in a sci-fi setting. I think I see where we got our wires crossed on psionics, though, and I conceed that point.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I disagree.

I think that it would be hard to argue that the starship in Barrier Peaks (as presented) is anything but a sci-fi starship, and its police bots as anything but artifacts of science.

Had they been altered as per the OP's suggestion, the "fluff" would mention the Aether catching starsail and the golems that patrolled the ship.

Power Armor. Not Mecha, but just a full body suit of armor with magical abilities.

Actually, I've used "Tinker Gnomes" in arcane steampunk armor as Medium sized Mecha jockeys. It worked out fine.