1. RPG Themes
All,
I've been thinking yet again about RPG (role-playing game) programming.
I would love to do a simple RPG, but one thing I find is that I don't
want to just produce another fantasy-themed clone.
Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of fantasy. Some do the
"cyberpunk" thing... together, these two seem to make up the bulk of
computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
I'm considering, but are there any others?
Rod
2. Re: RPG Themes
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rod Jackson" <rodjackson_x at hotmail.com>
> I've been thinking yet again about RPG (role-playing game) programming.
> I would love to do a simple RPG, but one thing I find is that I don't
> want to just produce another fantasy-themed clone.
>
> Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of fantasy. Some do the
> "cyberpunk" thing... together, these two seem to make up the bulk of
> computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
> virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
> only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
> I'm considering, but are there any others?
>
Historical: either a period, specific character or specific event. For
example, the Middle Ages, Robin Hood, Alexander the Great, Neanderthal times
(ala 'The Clan of the Cave Bear'), Queen Elizabeth I, Feudal Japan,
Operation 'Market Garden', Marco Polo, the Illiad and Odessey...
Military: WWI, WWII, Viet Nam, Special Forces/SAS, Joe Haldeman's "The
Forever War", American Civil War, Spanish Civil War, ...
Explorers: Captain Cook, Shackalton(?), Burke & Wills, ...
Crime: Detectives, Police, Cat Burgler, Smugglers, Pirates...
Others could include Corporate Leader, Political Leader, Average Family, ...
Anyhow, have fun doing it.
----
Derek
3. Re: RPG Themes
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<P>>From: Rod Jackson <RODJACKSON_X at HOTMAIL.COM><BR><BR>>Subject: RPG
Themes <BR>>Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2001 17:03:47 +0000 <BR>> <BR>>All,
<BR>> <BR>>I've been thinking yet again about RPG (role-playing game)
programming. <BR>>I would love to do a simple RPG, but one thing I find is
that I don't <BR>>want to just produce another fantasy-themed clone. <BR>>
<BR>>Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of fantasy. Some do the
<BR>>"cyberpunk" thing... together, these two seem to make up the bulk of
<BR>>computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
<BR>>virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
<BR>>only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
<BR>>I'm considering, but are there any others? <BR>> <BR>>Rod </P>
<P>What about an educational RPG? One that teaches a subject as you play, and
you have to learn about the subject to win? I've been contemplating an RPG
with an I Ching theme, one in which solving the puzzles and winning the game
would require an understanding of the basic principles of the Book of Change.</P>
<P>Remember the t.v. show "McGyver?" Everything he did was based on genuine
scientific principles and could be done in real life ... how about a game based
along those lines?</P>
4. Re: RPG Themes
- Posted by rforno at tutopia.com
Nov 16, 2001
Very good idea, Cassidy. Maybe consulting "Games People Play" and "What do
you say after you say hello?" by psychiatrist Eric Berne would be a helpful
step.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cassidy Napoli" <gonzotek at yahoo.com>
To: "EUforum" <EUforum at topica.com>
Subject: RE: RPG Themes
>
>
> Mmm..On the Superhero concept...what about Super Villians? I've watched
> the first few episodes of "Smallville" and the lex luthor character is
> interesting, to say the least. Actor's always say it's more fun to be
> the bad guy.
>
> My other thought is something a little different. A game where the goal
> is to die a happy man. It would take you through the different stages
> of life, from birth to death, and you would meet various people and
> either become friends or enemies. You could find someone to marry, have
> children, pets, whatever. Your career wouldn't come into play in the
> game and neither would material possesions, except perhaps housing
> because of the marriage/family thing. Basically the concept be winning
> by being a good person, and not winning by acquisition (money, objects,
> points).
>
> Rod Jackson wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > I've been thinking yet again about RPG (role-playing game) programming.
> > I would love to do a simple RPG, but one thing I find is that I don't
> > want to just produce another fantasy-themed clone.
> >
> > Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of fantasy. Some do the
> > "cyberpunk" thing... together, these two seem to make up the bulk of
> > computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
> > virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
> > only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
> > I'm considering, but are there any others?
> >
> > Rod
> >
> >
>
>
>
5. Re: RPG Themes
Kat,
Postman wasn't *by* Kevin Costner, it was *with* Kevin Costner; I think the
credits said it was by David Brin, but the "Postman" book (or short story?)
I remember which I think was by him wasn't *anything* like the movie, it was
set on another planet, inhabited by ursine sapients, and centered around
indigenous mail carriers.
Rod,
How about something based on the "Amber" series by Roger(?) Zelazney(?);
besides being a sadly missed opportunity for a sequence of movies, it has
infinite options for scenarios, since it's sort of based on parallel
worlds(one world "morphs" into another *slowly* as certain characters walk
with intention to travel from one to another). Copyright problems might
negate it, though.
Another thought might be something based on that sapient "cat" series by
Cherrah(?), where humans play a secondary role, with main characters drawn
from a *variety* of other sapient species, with species characterized and
characters individualized with rare excellence.
Dan Moyer
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kat" <gertie at PELL.NET>
To: "EUforum" <EUforum at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 10:33 AM
Subject: RE: RPG Themes
>
> On 16 Nov 2001, at 12:27, Matthew Lewis wrote:
>
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Rod Jackson [mailto:rodjackson_x at hotmail.com]
> >
> > > Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of fantasy. Some do the
> > > "cyberpunk" thing... together, these two seem to make up the bulk of
> > > computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
> > > virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
> > > only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
> > > I'm considering, but are there any others?
> >
> > You could try something post-apocalyptic. One of my all time favorites
was
> > Wasteland (OK, so maybe you could argue this is a little fantasy and
cyberpunk
> > together) by Interplay, where you uncovered a robot conspiracy around
> > post-nuclear war Las Vegas. Or, you could come up with something that
relies on
> > a familiar backdrop, but with unorthodox goals. For instance, rather
than
> > focusing on fighting, you could be a merchant roaming around the
country,
> > building trade routes (and bank roll) and commercial/political
relationships.
>
> See "The Postman" by Kevin Costner.
>
> Strange this email should cross my desktop just now, as i was thinking
that
> as a person's body fails with age, their "life" is spent more and more in
their
> mind, like daydreams, re-living the past, playing what-if with memories,
> wondering where people went, etc.. As boring as it sounds, if you could
> make normal memories into a RPG, you might have a market. Like Matrix.
>
> Kat
>
>
>
>
6. Re: RPG Themes
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<P>>From: Dan Moyer <DANIELMOYER at PRODIGY.NET><BR>>Rod, <BR>>
<BR>>How about something based on the "Amber" series by Roger(?) Zelazney(?);
<BR>>besides being a sadly missed opportunity for a sequence of movies, it has
<BR>>infinite options for scenarios, since it's sort of based on parallel
<BR>>worlds(one world "morphs" into another *slowly* as certain characters
walk <BR>>with intention to travel from one to another). Copyright problems
might <BR>>negate it, though. <BR></P>
<P>A great idea Dan, but maybe a bit difficult to do. Alternate realities would
be more accurate in describing the setting(s); the characters in the books
travelled by using techniques very similar to that of guided meditation, only
what they imagined became real as they travelled (i.e., a reality with a green
sky and two moons, where the plantlife was a form of living metal). Copyright
infringement could be avoided by negotiating a licensing agreement, but Roger
Zelazny passed away some years ago, so I don't know who one would have to
approach on that subject.</P>
7. Re: RPG Themes
- Posted by euman at bellsouth.net
Nov 16, 2001
GOLD RUSH
from Boy to Man
a trip from NewYork to California
in search of gold
along the way, met with many challenges
in the end, it's not Gold he gets but
an orange "fruit" orchard
naahh, that's already a book!
8. Re: RPG Themes
Hi Rod,
----------
> ïÔ: Rod Jackson <rodjackson_x at hotmail.com>
> ëÏÍÕ: EUforum <EUforum at topica.com>
> ôÅÍÁ: RPG Themes
> äÁÔÁ: Friday, November 16, 2001 20:03
<snip>
> computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust the possibilities of
> virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on other theme ideas? The
> only non-typical one that comes to mind is a "superhero" theme, which
> I'm considering, but are there any others?
>
> Rod
I think, if EU stands for End User, that "superhero"
may be just Eu-programmer.
This theme is new, I think, and may be very
useful as a tutorial in very complex area.
With Eu we found the bugs in Watcom, Windows, Lcc ...
Is it interesting ? At least for Eu-programmers ?
I think, yes, it is.
If you'll make such the game then you'll be a good
expert not only in Euphoria, but in GNU C, DJGPP,
Watcom C, Lcc C, Dos-32, Win-32, Linux and so on.
You can use all RDS Archive packages as the
new tasks for and feats of such the "superhero",
same as the list's archive.
As Russians say, the wonderful things are
just near us, no ? 
But this is not a simple work, I think.
Just the crazy ideas of an old loafer, sorry.
Regards,
Igor Kachan
kinz at peterlink.ru
9. Re: RPG Themes
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<p><i>On Fri, 16 Nov 2001 17:03:47 +0000, Rod Jackson wrote:<br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>All,</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">></FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>I've been thinking yet again about RPG
(role-playing game)</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>programming.</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>I would love to do a simple RPG, but one thing
I find is that I</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>don't</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>want to just produce another fantasy-themed
clone.</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">></FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>Typically, most RPGs fall into the category of
fantasy. Some do the</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>"cyberpunk" thing... together, these
two seem to make up the bulk of</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>computer RPGs. But I *know* that can't exhaust
the possibilities of</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>virtual worlds. Does anyone have any ideas on
other theme ideas? The</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>only non-typical one that comes to mind is a
"superhero" theme,</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>which</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>I'm considering, but are there any
others?</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">></FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">>Rod</FONT></i><i><br>
</i><i><FONT COLOR="#000080">></FONT></i><i><br>
</i><br>
How about a western theme, with Cowboys, Indians, etc . . .</p>
