War of the Worlds

[Andrew D. Gable]

Methinks a game based in modern times, but in a timeline in which the events of either Wells' novel or the 1953 version happened, along with recovery of Martian technology and weaponry, would be rather nifty. Maybe with genetically engineered critters made from preserved Martians mentioned in Wells' book.

Alternately, a D20 past game (when it comes out) set back during the invasion would be cool, too.

 

[Ranger REG]

Heh. Make it a 1950's camaign setting inspired by X-Files and the Roswell Incident.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Along these lines I was thinking of running a D20 Modern game based on the mixture of three series: Roswell, Sliders and Tracker.

 

[ecliptic]

Just a note, theres a new War of the Worlds movie coming out.

http://movieweb.com/movies/film.php?2660

 

[Turanil]

Just a note, theres a new War of the Worlds movie coming out.

Another film with Tom Cruise No question I am going to see this film as any other featuring Tom Cruise. (Well, since explaining my motives would enter the religious field, I won't go any further into it.)

Along these lines I was thinking of running a D20 Modern game based on the mixture of three series: Roswell, Sliders and Tracker.

There is a TV series called "Roswell", about this whole subject only?

 

[Stormborn]

The War of the Worlds aftermath sounds great. The old Marvel comics series Killraven was set in such a world (IIRC) in which humanity had degenerated into barbarism, with gladiatorial arenas and slavers. League of Extraodinary Gentlemen 2 was about the invasion and is an excellent book (don't judge the books by the movie). There was another comic, maybe called Red Horror, that i saw in Previews but never actually saw in print. GURPS Horror 3rd Ed. has a small section on a horror-scifi campaign that is set on an earth after the War of the Worlds. There was another game, a minis or wargame I think, that was set during an American Civil War foguth with martian weapons.
There was a short lived TV series (early days of FOX I think) that featured martians that had been stored in drums waking and control the minds of the millitary and startign a 2nd invasion in modern times.

What direction do you have in mind?
Personally I think it would be kinda cool to set it in the early 20th century of an earth where the martians invaded the indsutrial centers of earth in the late 19th century. London and most of Europe fell but the US survives with only a few pockets of martian control. The germs that killed them off in various scenarios might not have wiped them out, but instead slowed there advnace and gave earth a chance to regroup. The game could be set in a retro-futuristic New York of the 1930s, with Tesla-Edison Retro Engineered weapons and walkers, where the heroes are part of an elliete martian Responce Team. Use tech from d20 Future, but give it retro names and feel.

 

[Turanil]

Alien should be more intelligent than that (i.e.: than simply firing around, destroying, then taking place). Do it the other way around:

Common people on Earth one day (of 2004) realize that aliens are among us (the grey, see my pic? heheh). Politicians and governments said they are inoffensive and willing to help us. They say that there are too much problems (pollution, economical crisis, and what not), and people have been lied about them: the world is in dire jeopardy and close to the big catastrophe. They say that the aliens are willing to aid save us, and that we really need their help. So the alien now appear here and there, they erect buildings in various cities of Earth, are sometimes seen in the streets among humans, etc. Then, it appears they have got some hand in the industrial, are buying companies, etc. Soon, they pervade all aspects of western society, though they remain in very few numbers and the commo people seldom meet one personally. Only third world nations are spared the alien "peaceful" presence.

Now, this is Earth and d20 Modern (and you could use d20 Future too). How will your players react to that? IMO: it would be much more exciting than urban arcana...

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EDIT: Sorry, but i am responding to this thread believing it to be another one of this forum Well, at least I am not too far from the subject.

 

[Emiricol]

Sounds like a good cross between Alien Nation and They Live!, Turanel. ("I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum. And, I'm aaall out of bubblegum.")

Anyway these are interesting ideas. Wish I had more time to play different campaigns or I'd start a game along these lines.

 

[Jim Hague]

There's been a couple takes on the aliens among us theme in the past few years that might bear looking at:

'Brother Termite', about classic Grays helping humanity. Except that they're not - they're slowly sterilizing the population under the guide of improved medicine and things like baby food. The Grays are semi-public, with the title character acting as the President's advisor.

There was also the excreable (but mineable for ideas) 'Earth: Final Conflict'. First season was watchable, but after...yuch.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

There is a TV series called "Roswell", about this whole subject only?

Yep. The pilot episode of Roswell is going to be on SciFi today. Check your local listings.