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Post by simonw on Mar 25, 2020 4:43:02 GMT -6
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Post by stevemitchell on Mar 25, 2020 13:10:12 GMT -6
Hi, it's nice to see that the X-series is still getting some support! Would love to see a swords-and-sorcery game using this approach. Not that there were a lot of Golden Age swords-and-sorcery comics (I can only think of Gardner Fox's Crom the Barbarian off the top of my head), but the genre did exist in the pulp magazines of the time.
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Post by simonw on Mar 26, 2020 2:48:52 GMT -6
I couldn't really find anything like swords & sorcery. However, I might have a go at Biblical Tales X! as there's a few comics of that genre
Simon
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Post by stevemitchell on Mar 26, 2020 14:40:31 GMT -6
Hmm. Here's an idea for an X-series game that I jotted down a while back, which is kind of in the direction you are talking about:
STRONGMAN THEATRE X, representing a cinema genre that has never been given the RGP treatment before, at least in a fashion that I think captures the key elements of that genre. I’m referring to the (mostly Italian) sword & sandal/peplum movies that hit the English-language markets beginning with the Steve Reeves titles Hercules and Hercules Unchained.
Now, there are several RPG systems or supplements that cover various aspects of the ancient world—mainly Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia—but none of these, in my view, give the gamer the tools needed to become the Son of Hercules, Maciste, Ursus, Colossus, Samson, Atlas, Goliath, or the other primary heroes from the peplum world.
So—for a setting I would recommend just a “generic Ancient” world, that encompasses Greece and the Aegean, Asia Minor, the Near East, Egypt, and the Fertile Crescent. These movies were not exactly rigorous in their handling of chronological or geographic lore, so a “generic Ancient” setting would cover most of the bases, except for the odd outliers where our beefy strongman encounters the Incas or the Mongols. Personally, I would avoid Rome, though—that’s getting too close to “history” and too far away from “legend.” You almost need a separate GLADIATORS X game to cover the Roman-based peplum films.
For a more specific default, I would recommend the period from about 1200 to 800 B.C., the so-called “Ancient Dark Ages.” Troy has fallen, the Hittites have been overthrown (and I can’t think of a peplum film that ever included the Hittites, so you aren’t missing anything there), the Sea Peoples and other barbarians are on the rampage, and new races like the Philistines are appearing. A time of great flux and change, with a pretty spotty record in “real” history, but just right for wandering adventurers who might be in Babylon one week, and then in some entirely made-up city-state or pocket kingdom the next week (and with plenty of wide-open wastelands and wilderness areas available for monsters to roam around in).
For character classes, you could have:
First and foremost, the STRONGMAN: the son of Vulcan, Taur the Mighty, Colossus, Samson, or whoever. He should have pluses to his STR and CON, and he would definitely get the Mighty Surge ability, enabling him to perform cinematic feats such as toppling false idols (take that, Moloch!), ripping the gates off temples or palaces, picking up a chariot and tossing it across the market square, etc. He should get benefits as a close-in fighter, probably able to deal more damage with his bare fists that with a normal melee weapon, but maybe gaining an advantage with improvised weapons like chains, doors, tables, logs, etc.
But the STRONGMAN was often accompanied by non-STRONGMAN types, so here are some other folks that could join his roving band:
The SPECIALIST or WEAPONS MASTER, receiving substantial to-hit and damage bonuses with one chosen weapon, usually a ranged weapon: chiefly a bow, but could also be a sling or spear. He would likely have bonuses to his INT and DEX. He might also be a master of a particular fighting style, say from horseback or chariot. (Or possibly all this could be combined under a WARRIOR class, again with some bonus for a chosen weapon.)
The WEASEL (terrible name, I know, but I can’t think of anything better), the little scrawny guy who often accompanies a STRONGMAN, sometimes a bit of a coward, but usually pretty wily, knowing his way around the local environment, and good with sneaky weapons like daggers.
The VIRTUOUS GIRL, usually the STRONGMAN’S girlfriend, with blonde or light brown hair, not necessarily a great fighter, though sometimes adept with a bow, and often able to repel the forces of darkness with her own virginal purity.
The TEMPTRESS, with jet-black hair and lots of mascara, possibly the only magic-user in the bunch. She’s usually the STRONGMAN’S enemy, but in some cases (well, at least in the case of Medea in Jason and the Argonauts), she could be an ally.
And I suppose, for more magic, of a divine nature, you could add in a PRIEST/PRIESTESS class.
For foes, you would have the customary enemy warriors, brigands, evil priests, tyrants, pirates—all kinds of wild animals—and lots of monsters from ancient mythology.
Why STRONGMAN THEATRE X as a title? Well, that’s just provisional, but when I was a kid, one of the local TV stations broadcast a weekly feature called “Strongman Theatre,” which provided my first introduction to the sword-and-sandal cinematic world.
And all of this is just off the top of my head, so if it seems ridiculous to you, feel free to have a good laugh.
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Post by simonw on Mar 26, 2020 16:38:50 GMT -6
That's really good - I like it!
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