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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kronovan" data-source="post: 9689705" data-attributes="member: 6775134">Well considering all 3, I wouldn't necessarily agree that Leverage or Firefly aren't distinct enough to justify their own TTRPG books.The problem with Tomb Raider IMO, is it falls squarely in the Foreign Adventure and Lost World pulp subgenres, and doesn't do much to raise itself out of them. Yes, there's a bit of the crimefighting subgenre blended in, but not much. Even the Croft Manner side-setting is cliche - just another take on the wealthy heir/heiress using their fortune to pursue interests that official channels are reluctant to, or ignorant of. The best thing about TR is its cool and attractive heroine, who in the original trilogy of videogames is revealed as a bright, witty and at times compassionate woman when you finally get to hear her voice in cut scenes. As well, it's those pulp subgenres reset within a modern timeline, which allows the player to play with some modern, cool tech like sophisticated PDAs, firearms and exploration gear. The challenging puzzles disguised in architecture and relics and are also a nice twist on the genre.That said, such clever puzzles can be found in many TTRPG campaigns and adventures - not nearly as unique as they are, or were, to videogames. Not to mention there's many modern era TTRPGs with all of that cool gear ready to be cherry-picked from tables. The team/party-of-characters aspect is also wanting in much of TR series, with it only starting to become significant in TR Legends. Based upon many player's complaints at the time about having to listen to comm chatter among characters though, it wasn't exactly welcomed by all. IMO it's only the latter trilogy of games, that emphasizes the team element effectively, but even then, the vast majority of the game is still a solitary Lara out exploring and fighting on her own. So, in other words, as a series and setting, not exactly the best foundation to build a TTRPG from - at least one that emphasizes party play. Contrast that with Firefly and Leverage, both of which feature a team of interesting, unique and quirky characters, all of them drawing from distinct character archetypes to make their party work. As well, for their genres, neither tread on well-worn ground. Space Western series like Firely are almost the sole domain of anime and cartoons, with Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Trigun and The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers probably some that are better known. But how familiar are TTRPG fans with them?  And Firely embraces the styles and themes of the genre full on, with some scenes looking like vistas taken right out of a John Ford western. Whereas Leverage seems like some strange twist on the Crimefighting subgenre. I certainly remember in my youth, charming thieves featured in movies like To Catch a Thief and the It Takes a Thief TV series, who were presented more as protagonist than the antagonist. But I wouldn't exactly categorize Leverage's ensemble of characters as "charming."Bottom line...Firefly and Leverage, due to their emphasis on a party of off-beat characters (Firefly sometimes has a sex-worker wading into the action, while you're never sure Leverage's mastermind will drunkenly stumble into a scene), of differing archetypes, does better justify a book that can present tools and ideas to build them. As well, their setting and genre twists, does make the case for a book that could give some ideas on how to set the scene and get the tone right. IMO Magaret Weiss games did well with both books.Tomb Raider on the other hand, is mostly well-worn pulp, with only the fact that its protagonist is female and that it’s pulled forward into a modern timeframe, giving it any kind of uniqueness.</blockquote>

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