Primetime Adventures

[Rawrster]

First of all I am new here so... Hello everyone! Like many of you I have several RPG Systems setting on my shelf waiting to be played. Primetime Adventures is one of them and I am looking to fix that.

About Primetime Adventures
Primetime Adventures is a game where the players play through episodes of a TV Show. The TV Show is created by the group and then each player plays one of the main characters on the show. One player (me) is the show's producer and takes care of controlling the villains, setting up the scenes, etc.

During scenes Conflicts occur. When this happens the conflict is resolved with a card system, with the producer and the character's involved in the conflict drawing a certain number of cards based on a couple of different factors. Each red card the player is dealt scores that player 1 point. Whoever has the most points wins the conflict. The interesting part however is that whoever was dealt the highest value card gets to narrate out how things actually went down.

So say for instance player A and player B are cops in a shootout with some crooks. So Player A, Player B, and the Producer get their cards. Player A gets the most red cards, but Player B has the highest value card. So Player B is then tasked with finishing up the story of how Player A saves the day (though input from the rest of the group is welcome as well).

That gives a quick and dirty rundown of things. I'm willing to go into greater detail of how mechanics work a bit later. If you have the rulebook already, then great! If not, don't sweat it. The rules are pretty simple and so is character creation. Plus the last time I checked the book was out of print, so finding it may be tough.

About Me
So, I guess I'll give you a quick background on my gaming history so you know I'm not completely new at this whole thing. Campaigns I have run in the past consist of a D&D 4th edition campaign I wrote myself which lasted about a year and a half. I also ran a WFRP 2nd ed. campaign for about two years. I have run some one-shots and the like in D&D and Dark Heresy. I've played in quite a few other systems as well including 3.5, Savage Worlds, Call of Cthulu, Rogue Trader, and various homebrew systems.




So, that's me and that is the game I would like to run. If you have any questions feel free to ask and, again, no book required to play. As far as the type of TV Show I would like to run for this, I don't really have a strong preference so if you have an idea feel free to toss it into contention and we can brainstorm a bit and decide what we like best. I would say 4-6 players would be ideal.

[zachol]

No book required? I'd be a fool to pass this up!

First, minor question, how are you handling the card thing as a pbp? Something like roll 1d4 for suit, 1d13 for number, or something else?

Second, are we playing characters in a television series or is there a sense in which we're actually playing the actors?
Like, let's say we're running a show about H.P. Lovecraft investigators dealing with unnameable horrors and such. I'm assuming it's not just going to be CoC with playing cards instead of d100s, but is it more that we're playing actors acting as investigators or somehow playing the characters in a tv show or what?
Not sure how well I'm expressing this, but I'm definitely interested.

[Mercutio]

I vaguely remember reading through the rules at some point in the past. You are the character in a tv show. Picture Batman the animated series. You get to play Batman and Robin, but you play them through the conceits of the tv show, not necessarily the rules of the world they created, but the rules of the show they created. At minute 1 the Joker breaks out of Arkham. At minute 5 Batman and Robin are just finishing their meeting with Commissioner Gordon when a news flash comes over the radio - the Joker's commandeered GTHM - Gotham's News Radio station - and is encouraging residents to drink the tap water. At minute 9 Batman and Robin have finally discovered the toxin supply at the water treatment plant only to realize that the Joker is working with Poison Ivy, who is supplying the toxin.

Etc.

It's far more free-form than rules-heavy, although it definitely has rules.

[Rawrster]

Yes Mercutio is correct. You play the character in the show.

As far as handling the cards I was planning on just making a program to do it for me. So I can enter in how many people are involved, how many cards they get, and it will generate it for me. This way allows for a more realistic simulation of cards being drawn then a d13/d4 die rolling as I can make it account for cards that have already been drawn, so there isn't a chance of two people having the Queen of Diamonds or something.

There are ways for players to influence their card draws (doing things to get more cards, putting yourself into the scene so you actually get cards, doing things to give a different player more cards, etc.) that I don't think the players will feel left out if I handle the card dealing on my end.

[zachol]

Hmm well I am interested definitely yes.

No idea what sort of show I want though.

Edit: Wait, I've got it. Hammy 60's Batman-esque Call of Cthulhu show. Yesss.

Actually no.

[Lune]

I'm sorta waiting to see what show people are interested. I might just troll. I heard of this kind of thing before. Had a friend that made a game similar to this idea as well.

[zachol]

Problem for me is any ideas I can think of are either totally ridiculous (hammy 60's Call of Cthulhu) or maybe better served by some other system.

...adapt the rules for radio, run a pulpy 30's Call of Cthulhu radio drama?
Why am I suddenly so focused on CoC? Odd.

[Mercutio]

I don't know but that pulpy 30's CoC radio drama is pretty close to what I had intended for the M&M Noir game I gave as an option before you all chose Pirates.

[zachol]

Why the hell didn't I push for that then?

I mean besides the fact that pirates are awesome.

[Linklegacy77]

Because pirates are awesome.

[-J-]

I don't know - pirates are cool and all but noir has the best hardboiled slang.

[Mercutio]

Rawrster - did you have a particular TV genre in mind as a GM? Knight Rider, A-Team, Law and Order, Hawaii Five-O, Fringe, Avatar: The Last Airbender?

[Rawrster]

No, I don't really have a preference. I am pretty open to whatever. Looks like Noire is being tossed out there, which would work for me just fine. We could easily mix it with other things too to have something unique (Firefly in a Sci-Fi/Western mix for example). I suppose the only thing I wouldn't really be up for is an Anime type show. I don't watch anime and would probably do a poor job running something like that.

And, just to be clear Mercutio, we wouldn't be doing a show that actually exists. The show would be one we create. I think you were just using those shows as genre examples, but I just want to make sure.

The book gives some Example shows that I could post of people need a little jump start to get ideas flowing. Would it help if I post a few of those?

[zachol]

Sure.

Personally I'd push for an odd mashup of noir, Call of Cthulhu, Angel, Supernatural, and Dresden Files.
Like private investigators in a less hopeless Lovecraftian setting I guess.

Or something in that general area.

[Mercutio]

Yes, I was just using them as genre examples. I figured you would be doing your own type of show. I just wasn't sure it you had a preference for show type.

z - that sounds like an interesting show, but with the kind of overwhelming odds in Lovecraft, I'm not sure the concept of a show with recurring characters works. In my mind, Lovecraftian tv show would be more like Tales from the Crypt or The Twilight Zone. Otherwise, I'm not sure how you deal with the hopelessness of the setting.

Just something to think about. Now, if you did it more Dresden/Supernatural style and less Cthulhu, or -- brainstorm -- the show is Dresden/Supernatural that progressively gets darker as the apocalypse approaches and ends in destruction as Cthulhu finally awakens. (Note, Cthulhu is a place-holder for BBEG, but I think the idea is that things start off manageable, becomes less so until the show ends in catastrophe. I, for one, would love a show that lacks a happy ending.

Color me intrigued now...

[zachol]

I think I am shooting more for Dresden/Supernatural in a Lovecraftian setting, but without the complete hopelessness. So not actually a horror feel.
I don't think the ultimate enemy should be something like a great one, or even that "a great one awakening" is the ultimate plot.
More that we have PIs in a mildly supernatural setting that mostly runs on the Lovecraft rules, but the PCs are all purely human and the enemies are things like cultists or minor spawn.

Edit: I think the "feel" that I want the most is something like Angel.
Like a 20's era Angel, but Angel isn't a vampire and none of the investigators are really special either (maybe someone knows enough mythos to cast some rituals or is the type that eventually will), and instead of "vampires" and "demons" you've got "ghouls" and "spawn."
I don't know what would replace Wolfram. Nyarlathotep? Just stick with Cthulhu?

Edit 2: "No happy ending" is pretty awesome too.
Maybe just a straight-up CoC show, except we try to fool the viewers into thinking the good guys will probably win at the start?

[Mercutio]

I think I am shooting more for Dresden/Supernatural in a Lovecraftian setting, but without the complete hopelessness. So not actually a horror feel.
I don't think the ultimate enemy should be something like a great one, or even that "a great one awakening" is the ultimate plot.
More that we have PIs in a mildly supernatural setting that mostly runs on the Lovecraft rules, but the PCs are all purely human and the enemies are things like cultists or minor spawn.Understood. I'm halfway through the first season of Supernatural, so I have a feeling I know what you're saying. I'm also almost through Grave Peril and I have a few other Dresden books on their way to me.


Edit 2: "No happy ending" is pretty awesome too.
Maybe just a straight-up CoC show, except we try to fool the viewers into thinking the good guys will probably win at the start?That's the idea I was thinking.

[Rawrster]

The premise of PI's slowly uncovering some great unknown evil could be interesting. Essentially I would see the "great unknown evil" as being something that mainly provides background with the majority of on-screen stuff being "normal". If the show was to go on long enough more could be revealed with the "great unknown evil" playing a more prevalent role and with an increase in abnormal activities. And with the freeform nature of the system we wouldn't even have to flesh out much about this great evil now. It could kind of develop naturally as we go.

I should also note that the game will be quite character driven. All characters have their own goals and motivations that they are striving towards. I'll post some of the examples from the book up in a bit. It seems like we have a pretty good start, but it could help us with nailing things down a bit.

[Lune]

+ some Hellboy?

[zachol]

Sort of hoping to stick with "pure human" PCs if possible.

What parts are you thinking?
I'd definitely like the idea of a world were the Hellboy stuff is happening in the background.
Maybe the "Mythos" would be sort of a mix of Cthulhu and Hellboy?

[Lune]

I guess I was thinking of everything except Hellboy and Abe. Well, I dunno... at parts there were an aweful lot of supernatural stuff at once. So I could see all the things in Hellboy but perhaps more spread out and easier to go by unnoticed. Anyway, still not sure if I wanna join but I like the brainstorming.

[zachol]

Well I was shooting for some 20's action.
BPRD wasn't even around until the 40's...

...so wait, so it would be happening in the past of Hellboy?
Oh that's good.

Edit: Ok the more I think of this the better it sounds.
20's noir private investigators in the Hellboy-verse.

Edit 2: And the ultimate evil is Rasputin aahahahahaha yes!

[Linklegacy77]

I vote for House MD.

Do it.

[Lune]

I know this likely sounds juvinile but inspiration often comes from the oddest places. Most recently for me was a movie I just watched with my wife and son: Despicable Me.

I sorta wanna play a mad scientist (or more acurately, a scientist who desperately wants to be a mad scientist but often ends up tripping over his own ego - or sometimes super ego - on his way there). Hrm, maybe I'd save the idea for a game where I have more direct involvement in the character though... I just dunno.

Also House = my idol. ;)

[Rawrster]

Mad Scientists are always fun. Like I was saying earlier, the game is pretty character heavy. You shouldn't worry about a lack of involvement with your character. Things will definitely be more clear one I post all of the rules, but I'd like to get a forum first, and it looks like I still need another player or two before I do that.

Let's not worry too much about characters yet though. The important thing right now is to get the Premise, Tones, Conventions, etc. of the show nailed down. I'll go ahead and post some example shows from the book.

Bridgewater
Premise - A mysterious substance has affected a small percentage of students at Bridgewater College, giving the an extraordinary power they call "the Blur".

The show focuses on a group of students who have each discovered they have this strange power, manifests differently in each of them. Unknown to them, a professor at the college has caused the Blur with his diabolical experiments, and is doing his best to keep them from finding out. While the Blur is an extraordinary power, the show explores how it becomes a burden to the protagonists.

For the Queen
Premise - The show takes place in the late 19th Century in England. The characters are working as secret agents for Queen Victoria, precursors of the famous double-0 agents. The show is over the top with its character abilities and strange age-of-steam inventions, almost Jules Verne in nature. Each week, the heroes travel the globe to defeat mad scientists and Victorian-era terrorists with plots to take over the world.

What would set this show apart from other shows of its kind would be the moral and ethical decisions the characters face from episode to episode. What will the do out of loyalty?

Moose in the City
Premise - This is a children's show about Moose, who has moved to the city and is trying to make his way. He works as a temp for the horses who pull carriages in Central Park when they get sick.

Episodes in this series would focus very purely on relationships, belonging, and wants, with plot almost always playing a minor role. This is possibly the most issue-driven series of the examples.

Note: This show was actually created and played before it was used as an example show in the book

Rescue 2313
Premise - The crew of a rescue spacecraft risk their lives to save spacefarers in trouble.

Episodes would revolve around the three protagonists performing perilous rescues in dangerous environments. Each of them has a troubled past and uncertain future. As the series develops, they turn to one another for support. The format would be a steady mix of action and drama.

Spartans
Premise - The show focuses on a warrior training show in ancient Greece. Many episodes will focus on the daily life of the students and teachers. There will probably be some anachronisms to allow for additional character development. To get characters off campus, one assumption about the setting might be that Greece's army is currently insufficient to protect it from threats, so the students and trainers need to take action themselves. Troy meets One Tree Hill?

Spies for Hire
Premise - Unbeknownst to their friends and families, a group of single women, wives, and moms has formed a secret agency of covert operatives. Behind the backs of their families, they recover stolen files, fight terrorists, crack codes, and disarm warheads. Meanwhile they are sworn to secrecy and appear to live normal lives.

The key to this show is to contrast an empowering secret life with a hard struggle in the domestic world. Think Charlie's Angels meets Thelma and Louise. Or maybe Mission: Impossible meets Sex and the City.

[Linklegacy77]

I think a medical comedy/drama would be the best call.

Think Scrubs meets House.

[Mercutio]

I've seen all of Scrubs and am a faithful watcher of House. But I'm completely not interested in it as a game.

[-J-]

What if you made it into a musical? ;)

[Linklegacy77]

Hrm, should definitely do Firefly.

[Rawrster]

Firefly the medical musical?! I'm down.

In all seriousness though, Firefly is awesome so if we wanted to go that route we could, though the noir we have been pitching around interests me too.

[Mercutio]

Firefly holds my interest nearly as equal as noir. Medical dramedy does not. I have no desire to roleplay a doctor/nurse/other healthcare worker.

[Linklegacy77]

I'm not really interested in a Noir personally, but I might play if we went with a firefly type show (sci-fi western).

[Rawrster]

There's nothing to say that we can't do a Sci-Fi western with a bit of Noir tossed into the mix either. I actually just read a Sci-Fi book that had some Noir mixed in and it worked really well.

[Mercutio]

I'm good with that or just straight Firefly style scifi western.

[zachol]

So a noir scifi western. With Mi-go as an alien threat.

Also it's a musical.

[Linklegacy77]

Sounds like a go. I can just picture the song of the first episode, entitled:

"Spaceships, Saloons, and the Fungus Among Us"

Episode two would have a song called

"Exactly WHAT killed the sheriff at the spaceport?"

I even have a perfect picture for a noir Mi Go

http://members.shaw.ca/csstrowbridge/Tulzscha/MiGo.jpg

[Mercutio]

That picture is most excellent.

[Rawrster]

Ok, so if we go the Firefly route what we are looking at is a small crew manning a small, rickety ship. There will likely be a few technoligically advanced and a lot of backwater planets thrown into the mix as well.

What is the crew doing though? Do the just run on jobs? Are they Mercenaries? Pirates? Smugglers? Spies? Scouts for some Military/Government Agency? Traders? Something entirely different?

We will also need a ship name :)

[zachol]

Uh... maybe the PCs are investigators, with primary source of revenue tracking down people, objects, information or whatever on behalf of private parties?
Like actually licensed and generally legit PIs.

So like Firefly, but replace the western feel with a noir feel.
I guess.

Argh everything is meta now. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q3pdj9p6yI)

[Rawrster]

We could do investigators.... or we could do bounty hunters

[Mercutio]

You guys ever watch Dog, The Bounty Hunter? Yeah, let's not do it that way. The better model (and far more fictional) is the one from the cheesy Lorenzo Lamas show "Renegade."

[Rawrster]

Yeah... no Dog the Bounty Hunter.

[Linklegacy77]

Boba Fett the Bounty Hunter?

In the wild west of space?

With Mi-Go?

Attempting to solve a murder?

IN A MUSICAL

[Mercutio]

Yes - The Star Wars Cthulhu Firefly CSI Picture Show.

[LeadPal]

I don't own a TV but I would buy one just to watch that.

[zachol]

A later story arc will briefly turn it into a rom-com.

Edit: Alright serious time.
How do people feel about Cowboy Bebop? Have people seen it?
Ignoring the anime part, the premise and tone seems like what we're heading toward.

[Rawrster]

I cannot say I have seen Cowboy Beebop. I actually think I may have seen one episode a LONG time ago, but remember nothing about it.

[Mercutio]

Not seen Cowboy Bebop, although Netflix keeps trying to force it on me.

[Lune]

Hrm, this is sounding more interesting as we go.

I've seen Cowboy Bebop. At least several parts of it. Good original anime. And it seems fitting. Adding just the proper amount of humor needed in the Noir Star Wars Cthulhu Firefly CSI ... thing. + a bit of Futurama? Or is that too loony for you all? Honestly if it has Cowboy Bebop then thats enough lunacy for me.

Can I play a toaster?

[Psychoclown]

Just saw this, and I might be interested. I haven't seen a lot of the shows being referenced here, but a noir/sci fi setting would be really cool I think. Still got room for another player?

[Rawrster]

Yep, sure do. Welcome aboard psychoclown. And Lune, not sure about a toaster... but a Robot? Sure thing! Maybe he even has a toaster built in.

Ok, so it is looking like we have enough player interest and enough of an idea to request a forum. But, before I do that can everybody post just saying for sure that you are playing. Also include an idea for a ship name!

[zachol]

Pretty sure I'm playing.
I'm heading toward something like a reporter. Male, thin, very good with computers and small technology, cybernetics, etc. Snoops.
For the ship name, I was thinking Icarus.

[Mercutio]

I'm in.

I'm thinking of a human - it is scifi western, so I'm picturing someone dedicated to the art of gunplay. A guy who used to be a loner until hooking up with this particular crew, which both lets him have his personal space and also allows him to open up a bit.

Icarus is an awesome name.

[Rawrster]

Icarus works for me. Also, I'll be putting up Rules and Character Creation info once the forum is up, so feel free to brainstorm until then.

[Linklegacy77]

I'm looking to play an incredibly naive youth who stowaways in the Icarus and winds up joining the crew to see the world by basically doing whatever work the captain wants her to do, from cooking to cleaning to spying and sneaking around. The show's gotta have a girl on it.

[zachol]

I guess reporter guy could be more of a down-to-earth detective guy, also the owner of the ship?
What size crew are we talking, anyway?

[Linklegacy77]

Well, we need a ships mechanic too.

[Mercutio]

Well, Lune still has to chime in with character type and psychoclown too.

[Lune]

I want to play a techno demon who has the ability to possess electronic devices. ...unfortunately he sorta lost his original body in an unfortunate accident that involved trying to fix a broken toaster (a highly advanced toaster, though!). Since then he had found some poor soul to con into helping him out of his predicament by helping him attach a K.H.A.N! (Kitchen Helper Arm Neuro-prosthetic) so that he can do the rest of the work himself. He has added a lot to his "body" since the unfortunate accident and was never able to find his original body again. Unfortunately because of technological limitations of the hardware he has had available he has not been able to upload his consciousness permanently to any other system due to throughput bottlenecks, system ROM capacity and permanent storage capacities. Because of this he has had to keep the toaster as part of his body.

Dispite his best efforts to cover the toaster device up with other hardware, he had let this story slip early on and ever since the crew has refered to him as "Toaster". At first this really injured his pride but has come to accept the title as a term of endearment. Besides, his demon name is much too hard to pronounce anyway.

Toaster spends most of his time looking for a suitable replacement body and being generally dour about the intergalactic zone that he is stuck in with such limited supplies of suitable replacement parts. He has made a place for himself as ship's mechanic which makes him happy as he has resigned himself to a life of permanent techno-possession so this position gives him the best chance to find suitable replacement parts (and hopefully find some way to get rid of his dreaded toaster).

OOC: Think Bender (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpO-OvJU74) (from Futurama fame) + MARVIN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxp1AqWleT4) (from Douglas Adams fame) + Fiend of Possession (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20030411a) (from the Fiendfolio).

Picture:
http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/a/a9/ToasterBotEjector.jpg

[zachol]

Ahahah okay then.
So, Toaster as mechanic. Maybe also the pilot?
My guy as detective/owner/"guy with his name on the cards."
Mercutio's as the muscle.
Link's as young spunky girl.
Still need psychoclown's.

Ship is Icarus. Somewhat small, can really only support five or six people comfortably. Can be managed by a single pilot in a pinch, better with two (or Toaster, alone) for maneuvers. Icarus can carry up to two other small one-person combat ships.
Basically I'm going to base the Icarus off of the Bebop.

The company tracks down people and information and does odd jobs. To some extent we handle bounties, but we try to go more for targets that are harder to find but less dangerous.
Lots of courier work.
Not in a constant state of running from the law, most of things we do are basically legal.

Edit: Thinking "Cale" for a name.

Edit 2: This guy.

http://i.imgur.com/EBBZ2.jpg

This guy needs to be one of the npcs. Like the guy we get some of the more shady jobs from. Seriously.

[Rawrster]

I have applied for a Forum, so hopefully we will be up and running soon.

[Lune]

Actually I would sorta rather Toaster not be the main pilot. Having it as a secondary role is groovy though. I was thinking of him more as a mechanic/muscle (and definately comic relief). Merc's character seems more like a ranged specialist to me?

For his personality I'm going to be pulling heavily from pop culture idioms much like SCUD the Disposable Assassin did (if you are familiar) as well as the above referenced characters.

Courrier service? Much like Planet Express? Sounds right up Toaster's alley! ;P
"Basically legal" sounds like a term that Toaster would frequent.

Oh, and Rawrster... I think you need to get an avatar. I'm having trouble visualizing what I think a Rawrster looks like.

[zachol]

Personally in my mind he's "The Rawrster."
Name like that needs a good avatar.

So maybe Cale is the main pilot?
Or maybe Psychoclown's character?

[Rawrster]

There, I now have an avatar. I hope everyone likes it.

[Lune]

You sound so sincere. I approve. ...not that you care!!! ^^

[Mercutio]

In case it wasn't obvious enough, I envision my as-yet nameless character as a sort of cross between Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name, Malcolm Reynolds, and Caine from Kung Fu (replace the martial arts with regular old street-brawling a la Captain Kirk), and toss in a bit of John Constantine for good measure. Basically a guy who served some sort of military and he was on the losing side, and then he became a professional vagabond/gun for hire until he came in contact with the Icarus, which seemed to do on a larger scale what No-Name had been doing on a smaller scale.

I picture a certain affinity for "Toaster" because of the moral gray areas they inhabit.

[Psychoclown]

I'll be the pilot!

My character would be a former smuggler who's now more or less legit as the pilot of the Icarus. He's proficient with fire arms, hand to hand, and mechanics, but not as talented as Toaster at mechanics and not as capable as Mercutio's character in combat. But behind the controls of a ship, he's at the top of his game.

He does spend a lot of his spare time rewiring or modifying or otherwise tinkering with the ship, often working with Toaster. Also, being a former smuggler, he's got loads of contacts with gamblers, con men, shady business men, fellow smugglers, and other fringe characters.

[Lune]

"moral gray areas": Who says that just because someone has a total lack of a moral code that he will typically do evil things? ;) He is just as likely to randomly do good as he is to do evil. muahaha

But yeah, I think they'd get along well. And perhaps the little girl he would see as a young mind he can corru...er, help build character under his tuttalage. Mostly Toaster now sees the fleshy beings as a means to an end. Just tools to be used to accomplish his goals. The crew of the Icarus has just been a very good tool for him so far so no reason to not use it.

I think he would see Psychoclown as a particularly useful tool as he will likely need help if he is ever to get rid of this dreaded toaster. It torments him to no end! And besides, Toaster doesn't have an innate knack for electronics and mechanics. If something isn't working right he typically just possesses it to troubleshoot or fix the problem. If it weren't for his ability then he wouldn't make a very good engineer.

[Linklegacy77]

Just to be clear, by youth, I meant more of a 15-16 year old, not a little girl.

[Lune]

Is she small?

[Linklegacy77]

A little bit on the short side, but not particularly small. About 5'3"-5'4".

[Lune]

*nod* Little girl. lol

[Rawrster]

Ok, Forum is up now... though it looks like most of you have figured that out already.