What's your definition of pulp?

[Express]

I think like with some much in our post modern world, pulp/noir is short hand for a certain kind of adventure, but it doesnt really mean what it meant exactly in the 1930's. Hallmarks certainly are hardbitten heroes with moral ambiguity, over the top action and evil with a capital E.

/slight hijack:
To be honest, while I like the vibe of Eberron, the main reason for me is because its such a transparent application of 3.5, not necessarily a pulpy/noirish place. You could really run such adventure in any setting, (but Eberron seems hardwired for such adventure) although the disconnect between 40's type noir with swords and scorcery fantasy seems sometimes hard to overcome.

BTW my favorite fantasy/noir/ Lovecraftain movie is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101550/

EDIT: Just noticed theres a trailer to the movie too. I might have to find this movie.

A bit cheesy but cool. /end hijack

 

[JPL]

Will a smiley help?

Right back atcha.

Like I said...Sam Spade and Indiana Jones are an odd mix, even when they are only seasoning for a big plate of D&D. Yet now that I've read the book...I think it works. To me, it all hangs together somehow. An adventure in Eberron should have the scope of a Doc Savage or Indiana Jones adventure...but you can throw in some shades of grey amidst all of the bright colors, too.

 

[Glyfair]

Well, the problem is that "pulp" isn't, properly, a genre--it's a medium. Trying to make accurate generalizations about pulp stories is like saying "animation is for children"--it's, at best, true of a subset.

Looking for a good "definition" of pulp (as in Pulp Fiction) I found this site -

I think this hits on the main thing that the "pulp fiction" had in common. "Though many respected writers wrote for pulps, the magazines are perhaps best remembered for the fast-paced, lurid, sensationalistic and exploitive stories often featured in their pages. Pulp covers were famous for their half-dressed damsels in distress, usually awaiting a rescuing hero.
"

While I think a majority of the magazines people think of when they refer to "pulp" are the pulp action heroes (the Shadow, Doc Savage, the Spider, etc.), I do think Conan and some of the pulp fantasy has a connection through the tyupes of stories. The "fast-paced" stories were essential given the pulps were collections of stories, rather than a single story.

 

[Von Ether]

Facinating
*scratches the fur on his arms*

 

[Von Ether]

Facinating
*scratches the fur on his arms*

 

[FireLance]

Pulp meets Noir!

Check out this online comic by Phil Foglio.

 

[madelf]

BTW my favorite fantasy/noir/ Lovecraftain movie is here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101550/

EDIT: Just noticed theres a trailer to the movie too. I might have to find this movie.

A bit cheesy but cool. /end hijack

Oh, if there was ever a movie that needed to be licensed for a roleplaying game...

Totally cheesy. And very cool.
Don't miss the sequel "Witch Hunt", not quite as good as the original but definitely worth watching.