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Urban Fantasy general discussion thread
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<blockquote data-quote="VelvetViolet" data-source="post: 8314491" data-attributes="member: 6686357"><p>So I'm noticing at least three broad trends in the design of urban fantasy and adjacent games. I'll refer to these as "shadow hunters", "modern occult conspiracy", and "supernatural soap opera".</p><p></p><p><strong>Shadow hunters.</strong> Urban fantasy meets horror. Under this play style, the PCs investigate spooky paranormal events or even hunt monsters as their vocation. PCs are typically normal humans that may or may not be members of a larger organization, but some games offer options for psychic powers or being part-monster. This style goes back to at least the 80s and 90s with games like <em>Chill,</em> <em>Call of Cthulhu</em>, <em>Nightbane</em>, <em>Necroscope</em>, <em>Dark•Matter, </em>etc but continues into the present with reboots, retroclones, and new games like <em>Monster of the Week</em> and <em>Hunter: The Vigil</em>.</p><p></p><p><strong>Modern occult conspiracy.</strong> Urban fantasy meets mystery and adventure. Under this play style, the PCs are involved in the conflicts between secret societies going back thru human history. The PCs are often paranormal investigators, modern wizards, or even immortals whose adventures inspired myths. Campaigns typically involve fighting for the fate of humanity or achieving mystical transcendence,. This style goes back to the 90s with games like <em>Immortal: Invisible War</em>, <em>Legacy: War of Ages</em>, <em>Nephilim</em>, and <em>Mage</em>, although many such games were supposedly developed during the 80s and demonstrate obvious influence from the <em>Highlander </em>movie.</p><p></p><p><strong>Supernatural soap opera.</strong> Urban fantasy meets dark fantasy. Under this play style, the PCs are occultists, immortals, or some manner of supernatural predator that live a secret existence from the muggles. Campaigns typically focus on politics or melodramatic pursuits. This style goes back to at least the 90s with <em>Nightlife</em>, <em>Vampire</em>, <em>The Everlasting</em>, <em>WitchCraft</em>, etc and continues into the present with games like <em>Monsterhearts</em>, <em>Urban Shadows</em>, <em>Liminal</em>, etc.</p><p></p><p>These are very broad trends and many games often straddle multiple at once. <em>Dark•Matter</em> straddles shadow hunters and modern occult conspiracy. <em>The Everlasting</em> and <em>WitchCraft </em>straddles modern occult conspiracy and supernatural soap opera. Etc.</p><p></p><p>Has anybody else done analyses of the genres?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="VelvetViolet, post: 8314491, member: 6686357"] So I'm noticing at least three broad trends in the design of urban fantasy and adjacent games. I'll refer to these as "shadow hunters", "modern occult conspiracy", and "supernatural soap opera". [B]Shadow hunters.[/B] Urban fantasy meets horror. Under this play style, the PCs investigate spooky paranormal events or even hunt monsters as their vocation. PCs are typically normal humans that may or may not be members of a larger organization, but some games offer options for psychic powers or being part-monster. This style goes back to at least the 80s and 90s with games like [I]Chill,[/I] [I]Call of Cthulhu[/I], [I]Nightbane[/I], [I]Necroscope[/I], [I]Dark•Matter, [/I]etc but continues into the present with reboots, retroclones, and new games like [I]Monster of the Week[/I] and [I]Hunter: The Vigil[/I]. [B]Modern occult conspiracy.[/B] Urban fantasy meets mystery and adventure. Under this play style, the PCs are involved in the conflicts between secret societies going back thru human history. The PCs are often paranormal investigators, modern wizards, or even immortals whose adventures inspired myths. Campaigns typically involve fighting for the fate of humanity or achieving mystical transcendence,. This style goes back to the 90s with games like [I]Immortal: Invisible War[/I], [I]Legacy: War of Ages[/I], [I]Nephilim[/I], and [I]Mage[/I], although many such games were supposedly developed during the 80s and demonstrate obvious influence from the [I]Highlander [/I]movie. [B]Supernatural soap opera.[/B] Urban fantasy meets dark fantasy. Under this play style, the PCs are occultists, immortals, or some manner of supernatural predator that live a secret existence from the muggles. Campaigns typically focus on politics or melodramatic pursuits. This style goes back to at least the 90s with [I]Nightlife[/I], [I]Vampire[/I], [I]The Everlasting[/I], [I]WitchCraft[/I], etc and continues into the present with games like [I]Monsterhearts[/I], [I]Urban Shadows[/I], [I]Liminal[/I], etc. These are very broad trends and many games often straddle multiple at once. [I]Dark•Matter[/I] straddles shadow hunters and modern occult conspiracy. [I]The Everlasting[/I] and [I]WitchCraft [/I]straddles modern occult conspiracy and supernatural soap opera. Etc. Has anybody else done analyses of the genres? [/QUOTE]
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