The d20 modern feel

[Crothian]

So, what cool tricks can a DM do to give a modern game the modern feel. We have such a wealth of information via radio, cable, internet, newspaper, etc. it seems very difficult to represent that in the game. There is also the wide amount of transportation to allow players to get anywhere fast. Getting a party together as well seems difficult. It's not like they can all meet at the local pub and go "adventureing". So, how will you do it?

 

[Eternalknight]

. It's not like they can all meet at the local pub and go "adventureing". So, how will you do it?

Actually, why not? A bunch of mates having a cold beer and playing a game of pool have some sensitive information given to them by a mysterious stranger who says guard this at all costs. They then find themselves hunted and have to find the right person to give the information too.... yada yada yada. Or, they could all meet via an internet messageboard community that posts quests for "adventurers" to follow up on...

 

[Azure Trance]

The two ones that come into my head first is that their either part of an organization and must work as a team, or they have a similar past or special ability (magic, frex)

 

[Bagpuss]

Common enemy or problem/situation to overcome is also a good one.

All the characters are on the same cruise liner when it is taken over by terrorists. They are then forced into working together to overcome the first situation, the shared history perhaps gives them a reason to stay together in future.

But really for an long term campaign you are going to need a solid reason for why they party stay together. Usually its because of occupation (they are all cops, in the military, members of SG-6, a secret coven, etc) around which your campaign is based.

Its usually harder to working in 'any old character' into a modern campaign so you should really get players to design characters to suit your planned campaign and with reasons why they stay together.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's not like they can all meet at the local pub and go "adventureing". So, how will you do it?

In the supermarket.
In the commercial gym.
At the Y (YMCA and/or YWCA centers).
Discotheque and/or rave.
County pool.
School/College campus, library, and/or gymnasium.
Public library and/or building.
Cultural center.
X-treme game events (suspicious about Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam Tours).
White-collar workplace.
Construction site.
Sunday brunch.
Football home barbeque/tailgate party.
Tupperware party.

Oh, I almost forgot ... a RPG session meeting. How do you think the Evil Nerdy Trio in Buffy got together to take over the world?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Getting a party together as well seems difficult. It's not like they can all meet at the local pub and go "adventureing". So, how will you do it?

isn't that the point of the "department 7" idea?

 

[Bagpuss]

Bible study group

 

[Fenes 2]

I would go with the designed reasons - like a team. Can be detectives, researchers, soldiers, spys etc. The problem is mostly not so much as to why the join, but often more to find a reason why they would not just leave after the first adventure.

Another problem is how to keep the party together with all the modern transportation and distractions available.

(I GM Shadowrun, and a recently rejoining player had pretty strict guidelines for his PC in order to get him integrated in the campaign - either be a member of the mob, or be in debt to the mob. Further, the PC had to have a reason to hang around with the other PCs - I do not GM a game where the PCs just meet for runs.)

 

[Henry]

Bible study group

Imagine the look on any NPC outsider's face when you tell them where the group of PC's actually first met.

 

[Sunglar]

Young man!

They could met at the YMCA, and happen to be construction worker, a biker, a native American and a soldier. They could form a band… My God, Imagine it now… Village People D20!

Pardon the irreverence, I just could not get the picture out of my mind