posted 04-19-15 02:52 PM EDT (US)
This post is a response to comments from the Star Wars trailer thread. I didn't want to clutter that one up further. But, if you've seen that thread, you've got the gist of my ideas so far. This should expand upon them.
Essentially, there would be two main factions here, with the possibility for maybe one smaller one depending on how you guys want to do it. Then you have the two greater powers meddling and trying to accomplish their own goals. Hopefully, these factions can be represented with only one or two characters each, since we're not talking about the entire faction, just whomever is chose to represent that faction on this planet. Then we'll of course have the loner characters, and perhaps a few characters representing outside forces, like crime syndicates. So, we only really need multiple characters to populate the two main factions. The rest can be filled up with maybe two at the least, perhaps even one.
Also, I've given thought to how the RPG should actually go. We've had several types over the years. The Clone Wars was a big, long, massive war. The goal there was to, well, win the war. Unfortunately it was so ambitious that the only way for it to end was to fade away. I do believe there were several incarnations of a Clone Wars RPG, so if I'm thinking of the wrong one, my bad.
Then we've had ones like A New Empire, where the plot started off more as a framework, and things coalesced into a driving narrative as we went on. But still, there wasn't really an end in sight there beyond what each player had in mind.
Finally, we've had ones like KOTOR II which, I must admit, was slightly ill-conceived. Perhaps it was due to the lack of players, but we were all spread too thin there. Eventually, the story was finding itself, but by that time it was too far gone.
In this instance, I already have an endgame in mind. One side wins, one side loses. Since this is a planetary conflict, and not the Clone Wars, I think the scale is already reduced tremendously. And, as Moff said, there would be plenty of room for character interactions, but also room for factions, major events and battles. I see three phases: Act I - things go to hell. The planet starts off fractured, but intact. Alliances form, sides are drawn, outside help is perhaps taken, perhaps rejected. Everyone outside the main factions are scrambling to protect their own interests. Perhaps even conferences and summits are held with many of the major characters in attendance. Eventually, this devolves into subterfuge, backstabbing, etc. Finally, one event, or a series of them, turns this into an armed conflict. But there is plenty of room for people to ignite the powder keg as they so choose. Act II - warfare. Warfare, atrocities, land/air/sea and space? battles. All that good stuff. Maybe attempts at peace are made. The outside factions further dig in and give support, perhaps leading to an expanded conflict. Act III would of course be the endgame - one side wins, one side loses. Of course, it would be up to see exactly what happens. Eventually, there would be some cleanup and a bit of post-war stuff, with space for characters to complete their arcs, as it were.
Now, I know that there's a lot of planning to involved to set an RPG on an entirely unheard of planet. Since I have a lot of free time lately, I'd be willing to do the bulk of that, with help and input from you guys. I'm no world builder, or at least, not a very good one, but I think we can put a fun playground together that isn't so hyper detailed as to bog us all down, but enough to be immersive and enjoyable. And, of course, I have a feeling that people thinking up their characters would shape how this planet would eventually pan out.
Now, I know it seems like I already have the whole plot planned out, and I might as well just write a story instead of doing an RPG. I just wanted to give you guys ideas and put mine out there. A new RPG can go whichever way we want it, and I wouldn't mind if this idea is completely set aside or modified into something new. I just felt that giving it a structure would get people interested, and add a bit more security to what is usually a big undertaking for those that decide to join up. Of course, I'd be happy to watch the players and their characters tear down this structure and do completely unexpected things. That's half the fun.
As I said before, everyone would be welcome - especially our newcomers, and the guys like Dallows who haven't been too heavily involved in these before. Every post doesn't have to be a mini-novel, but one or two of those would be welcome when the time is right. Fortunately, there is room for all types of characters.
So yeah, discuss, I guess. I just hope we can get some of the RP'ers that haven't been here lately (Sol, Fyyar, Orrion and others) to take a look.
Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Ted, that's a dumb question... skip that. - Captain Rex Kramer
This is a vegetarian restaurant only, we serve no animal flesh of any kind. We're not only proud of that, we're smug about it. - Michael Palin
L.A. 15, 7 Adam. 10-5 to Mary 3, I've got a blue van in the RV storage lot, 1600 North Willow. 10-35, 7 Adam is rolling.
I know it seems like that will reduce the scale, but I think you'll find that it won't. There's plenty of detail to be had even on a planet.In this instance I don't quite mean scale, but complexity. Usually, our RPGs are galaxy spanning with us in control of entire empires with massive armies and such. We also have characters which are doing their own thing, and characters in control of minor factions. Unfortunately, if one of the critical players leaves these massive factions, the whole thing gets hung up.
Essentially, there would be two main factions here, with the possibility for maybe one smaller one depending on how you guys want to do it. Then you have the two greater powers meddling and trying to accomplish their own goals. Hopefully, these factions can be represented with only one or two characters each, since we're not talking about the entire faction, just whomever is chose to represent that faction on this planet. Then we'll of course have the loner characters, and perhaps a few characters representing outside forces, like crime syndicates. So, we only really need multiple characters to populate the two main factions. The rest can be filled up with maybe two at the least, perhaps even one.
Also, I've given thought to how the RPG should actually go. We've had several types over the years. The Clone Wars was a big, long, massive war. The goal there was to, well, win the war. Unfortunately it was so ambitious that the only way for it to end was to fade away. I do believe there were several incarnations of a Clone Wars RPG, so if I'm thinking of the wrong one, my bad.
Then we've had ones like A New Empire, where the plot started off more as a framework, and things coalesced into a driving narrative as we went on. But still, there wasn't really an end in sight there beyond what each player had in mind.
Finally, we've had ones like KOTOR II which, I must admit, was slightly ill-conceived. Perhaps it was due to the lack of players, but we were all spread too thin there. Eventually, the story was finding itself, but by that time it was too far gone.
In this instance, I already have an endgame in mind. One side wins, one side loses. Since this is a planetary conflict, and not the Clone Wars, I think the scale is already reduced tremendously. And, as Moff said, there would be plenty of room for character interactions, but also room for factions, major events and battles. I see three phases: Act I - things go to hell. The planet starts off fractured, but intact. Alliances form, sides are drawn, outside help is perhaps taken, perhaps rejected. Everyone outside the main factions are scrambling to protect their own interests. Perhaps even conferences and summits are held with many of the major characters in attendance. Eventually, this devolves into subterfuge, backstabbing, etc. Finally, one event, or a series of them, turns this into an armed conflict. But there is plenty of room for people to ignite the powder keg as they so choose. Act II - warfare. Warfare, atrocities, land/air/sea and space? battles. All that good stuff. Maybe attempts at peace are made. The outside factions further dig in and give support, perhaps leading to an expanded conflict. Act III would of course be the endgame - one side wins, one side loses. Of course, it would be up to see exactly what happens. Eventually, there would be some cleanup and a bit of post-war stuff, with space for characters to complete their arcs, as it were.
Now, I know that there's a lot of planning to involved to set an RPG on an entirely unheard of planet. Since I have a lot of free time lately, I'd be willing to do the bulk of that, with help and input from you guys. I'm no world builder, or at least, not a very good one, but I think we can put a fun playground together that isn't so hyper detailed as to bog us all down, but enough to be immersive and enjoyable. And, of course, I have a feeling that people thinking up their characters would shape how this planet would eventually pan out.
Now, I know it seems like I already have the whole plot planned out, and I might as well just write a story instead of doing an RPG. I just wanted to give you guys ideas and put mine out there. A new RPG can go whichever way we want it, and I wouldn't mind if this idea is completely set aside or modified into something new. I just felt that giving it a structure would get people interested, and add a bit more security to what is usually a big undertaking for those that decide to join up. Of course, I'd be happy to watch the players and their characters tear down this structure and do completely unexpected things. That's half the fun.
As I said before, everyone would be welcome - especially our newcomers, and the guys like Dallows who haven't been too heavily involved in these before. Every post doesn't have to be a mini-novel, but one or two of those would be welcome when the time is right. Fortunately, there is room for all types of characters.
So yeah, discuss, I guess. I just hope we can get some of the RP'ers that haven't been here lately (Sol, Fyyar, Orrion and others) to take a look.
This is a vegetarian restaurant only, we serve no animal flesh of any kind. We're not only proud of that, we're smug about it. - Michael Palin
L.A. 15, 7 Adam. 10-5 to Mary 3, I've got a blue van in the RV storage lot, 1600 North Willow. 10-35, 7 Adam is rolling.
) I like writing and I don't think I'm terrible at it? So that's a start I suppose. 
