RPGDX > Forums > Story and dialogue > Genres- exploration of the RPG into different Genre's

Mandrake

This topic is a basic idea thread. Most RPG's fall into the fantasy Genre. Nothing wrong with that, but most explore only three sides of this genre: scifi (and I mean fantasy scifi, not hard scifi which is sort of futuristic realism), post-apocalyptic scifi and medieval (ie what most people consider "classical") fantasy.

There seems to be a few coming out that are Steam Punk (a term I hate- it's basically mooching off of the word punk to gain a following. The creator of Steam Boy called his movie "Retro Futurism" and I think it sounds cooler and more fitting) like Anacrhonix (or however it's spelled), and few that are cyberpunkish have come out (Dues Ex, Shadowrun), but it seems that most fit between into either scifi, post-apocalyptic or medieval fantasy.

So let's brainstorm some plots and ideas for people to use in there games that can be outside of the common RPG genres. The point here is to give people a bounding board into new concepts, new genre's left unexplored.

One I think would be neat would be either magical realism or urban fantasy. Magical realism might be harder to pull off- it would have to be a game based on modern-magic practices and occultism with very little fantasy thrown in. Although, Urban Fantasy could be fun. Instead of wizards and fighters you could have street punks (who fight with crow bars and skate boards), goths (who cast Gnostic spells against their enemies), street shamans who mix a combo of voodoo and brawling.
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XMark · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:47 pm Post subject:

I really like the Urban Fantasy setting myself (if you read my Lord of the Rings fanfic you know this, heh). Fantastical stuff happening, but based in a world that we can recognize, kind of a "best of both worlds" situation. I'm surprised there isn't much of this genre, in video games or otherwise... Well, I should be more specific; there isn't much of this genre that isn't vampire-related :)
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Mark Hall
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Mandrake · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:59 pm Post subject:

yech, vampires.

Anyway- there are some good writers in the genre. Most did comics in the 90's (Neil Gaimen, Allen Moore, etc) and are doing novels now. Neil Gaimen is perhaps the best. There is also canadian writer who is excellent is Charles DeLint.

Maybe we should write an urban fantasy RPG together? COuld be fun.
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"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark

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Terry · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:47 pm Post subject:

My current RPG project is set in a kind of post-industrial era middle eastern city, inspired by Budapest.

Basically, it's a semi-modern world with quite a few examples of advanced technology (a local telephone system, trams, sanitation), but conviently (from the point of view of game design), as a isolated city, they've made few advancements in weaponry.

It was always my intention to try and make a modern 2D final fantasy style game, and thankfully this setting allows me to do so. Though I've got no magic system, it makes a lot of sense for my characters to use swords and shields, and I've got a believable skill system in place.

There are a few other things I had in mind once I've finished this project. For example, I think the supernatural is underexplored in videogames (I was going to do something like this for the Guardian).

BTW, Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I've just finished reading 'Neverwhere'. Spectacular.
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Mandrake · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:13 pm Post subject:

Did you ever see the British series that the book is based on? The show is very good. Very Neil Gaimen. If you like him, pick up Onion Girl- very similiar writing styles.

Anyway- Persona and Persona 2 explore supernatural stuff in a nifty way (persona starts off with you playing a little girl using an ouija board and two deals with you playing a reporter covering a story on a highschool urban legend), but other than that, not much else.

I think it would be neat if it was done in a way like Urban Fantasy is done- some small rural town in modern day place, with fantasy trappings and combinations. Could be really unique and fun.
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Rainer Deyke · Demon Hunter Joined: 05 Jun 2002 Posts: 672

I have to say that I am generally not a big fan of "modern" fantasy settings, although Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and Charles deLint has also produced some interesting books. Too often it just ends up as a generic mish-mash of ideas that don't really fit together. Square is somewhat guilty of this, although they pull it off better than most.

Something I'd like to see is realistic medieval fantasy without all of the AD&D cliches. Or better yet, historical fantasy in non-European or pre-medieval settings.

Mandrake · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:36 am Post subject:

I watched a special on Easter Island a week ago. Fascnating history. The natives originally lived in a peacefull artistic paradise until in about 200 years they used up all of the resources on the island. Then cam the first history of weapons and even acts of cannibilism and destruction of Moi. (Mana, btw, is a word that comes from the early Easter Islanders as a source of magic). After that great time of fear cam the rise of the bird cult. After that came westerners and slave trade.

But, I was watching it thinking that most of those time periods would make for a fascanating fantasy game.
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"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
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LeoDraco · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:45 am Post subject:

Mandrake · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:00 am Post subject:

My bad.
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"Well, last time I flicked on a lighter, I'm pretty sure I didn't create a black hole."-
Xmark

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white_door · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:30 am Post subject:

There also the genre of alternative history. Although I never got a chance to play it; I believe Lionheart (a black isle game) used this. What if something else happened a some key point in the history of earth?

Personally I would not classify Anachronox as steampunk, it was of the scifi/superhero genre. Maybe you're confused with Arcanum. At some level it would be possible to do a steampunk game as alternative history if one chose to set it on earth with a "what if electricity wasn't invented" kind of question.

DestinMancer · Lowly Slime Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 1

Well, my main RPG trilogy DiusFantasia has three worlds with different genres that have varied cultures. Migard is the typical universe that is like our world(it's parallel.) Edith is the main world that is like a highly magical fantasy world with many kingdoms that have different settings and is highly historic. Judith is like FFVI's world only more futuristic and chaotic.

BadMrBox · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject:

Replying in a three year old thread?
Interesting thought :)
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XMark · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:59 am Post subject:

Mandrake needs to come back here :(
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Mark Hall
Abstract Productions
I PLAYS THE MUSIC THAT MAKES THE PEOPLES FALL DOWN!

BadMrBox · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

Indeed he does.
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