When to set a "historical" supers game? (read OP before answering poll)

[Reynard]

ETA: The difference between "dawn of civilization" and "mythic age" is the difference between Gobekli Tepe and Ur -- or about 4000 years.

First: this isn't really "historical" because the world will not be Earth. But I am going to use familiar eras/periods to make life easy.

Second, the question is: which of the listed periods do you think would be interesting and fun for a supers TTRPG set when supers FIRST appear in history. That is, if you were to play this game, which among the listed time periods do you think would make for a good supers game.

Finally, note that this is NOT supposed to a "fantasy game" -- it is a supers game set significantly earlier than what we tend to think of as supers settings.

 

[grimmgoose]

I voted for Mythic, but I was part of a semi-Supers game set in the American Revolution, which was also pretty fun.

(I say 'semi' because the Powers were unlocked over time, and generally only scaled to street-level)

 

[monsmord]

I feel that the earlier the setting, the less like "supers" it will be (ETA: costumes, capes, secret identities, lairs, plans for world domination, petty street crime, bank robberies every day, etc.), and more like gods, angels, demons, monsters, pacts with outsiders, raw/dark magic, etc. The Age of Steam might be closest to a "supers" feel, with "science fiction" opening the door to other sources of powers. But every period mentioned sounds fun.

 

[Aldarc]

Demigods were basically ancient mythic/classical superheroes, but it would be fun to see it approached as a supers game.

 

[Micah Sweet]

First: this isn't really "historical" because the world will not be Earth. But I am going to use familiar eras/periods to make life easy.

Second, the question is: which of the listed periods do you think would be interesting and fun for a supers TTRPG set when supers FIRST appear in history. That is, if you were to play this game, which among the listed time periods do you think would make for a good supers game.

Finally, no0te that this is NOT supposed to a "fantasy game" -- it is a supers game set significantly earlier than what we tend to think of as supers settings.

Sounds awesome! I voted for Age of Exploration/Empire because I think inserting supers there, fighting both for and against the colonial powers, would make for a fun setting.

Any idea what system you'd want to use?

 

[Reynard]

Sounds awesome! I voted for Age of Exploration/Empire because I think inserting supers there, fighting both for and against the colonial powers, would make for a fun setting.

Any idea what system you'd want to use?

I will be using Savage Worlds SWADE with its Super Power Companion.

 

[TwoSix]

Demigods were basically ancient mythic/classical superheroes, but it would be fun to see it approached as a supers game.

"Truth, Justice, and the Athenian Way!"

 

[Laurefindel]

early civilisation and « mythic » age is ripe for supers, who will likely engender myths and religions in the future. Works well for a grand-scale plot, with powerful god-like beings and dark forces as villains. Harder to separate super-powers from religious believes however, if only in the eyes of onlookers.

Otherwise, late renaissance/age of sail/imperial era is best for dramatic villains, and better for « save the neighbourhood » or « save the country » rather than « save the world from annihilation or enslavement » types of games.

 

[J.Quondam]

Obviously,

Spoiler: the first superhero

But I voted mythic and classical, since regular people cavorting with gods and all that seems a good time for true superheroes to emerge, and to do so in spectacularly weird ways.

 

[billd91]

I feel that the earlier the setting, the less like "supers" it will be (ETA: costumes, capes, secret identities, lairs, plans for world domination, petty street crime, bank robberies every day, etc.), and more like gods, angels, demons, monsters, pacts with outsiders, raw/dark magic, etc. The Age of Steam might be closest to a "supers" feel, with "science fiction" opening the door to other sources of powers. But every period mentioned sounds fun.

I largely agree, and so I answered toward the end of the historically inspired eras in the poll. I might have set my minimum to Steam Age, but Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602 makes for a really good example of how supers might translate into an Age of Exploration/Empire setting.