So happy in fact I went back and this last weekend in 3D.
Between this, playing a lot of Pokemon with my kids and this past weekend's gaming I came up with an idea.
Why not have a D&D-ish game (it really could be any system) where the characters are not out to be murder-hobos and instead be something else. The characters can work for a mage school or something similar with high ideals, to collect various magical creatures and bring them back to their employer.
I am thinking that the entire idea revolves around the premise that these creatures are to brought back alive for study and care. So not killing them and not even really seeing them as evil; more as something that would be collected and studied. I would include monsters like Owlbears, Basilisks, Leucrottas, Perytons and the like. I would certainly use the Baby Bestiaries vol 1 & vol 2; the books are too good not to use.
I'd have to figure out some non-fatal means to capture monsters. Magic ropes, cages and the like. Plenty of hazards would be manifest too. Bandits, other monsters, not to mention the competition from other groups hired by the same employer or competition.
Sounds like a lot of fun to be honest.
Although the focus is a bit different, Cryptworld has the ISCX -- The International Society of Cryptozoology and Xenobiology. Although CW is a horror-themed game, the society could be reskinned for another game system where the players are scientists trying to find and confirm the weird and unusual.
ReplyDeleteCryptworld is actually a good choice too. I was thinking more D&D-like since the non-fatality would seem a bit more different.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Something like it is on my short list (which is actually rather long) of games I'd like to run at some point, although I've usually imagined it set in our world (sort of Ghostbusters meets Urban Arcana). I actually hope to get a Monstrous Monday post up today where I return to the theme of Underground Elemental Beastfighting for a while. Ultimately, I think some sort of campaign where the PCs oppose the brutal sport of monster battling would be fun...especially if the monsters can be "used" in some noncombat fashion (as in the Pokemon Ranger games).
ReplyDeleteOkay, sorry to ramble...love the idea and hope you'll keep us updated if you develop and run it!
Brilliant idea. Not much to add to the others' enthusiasm. Look forward to reading more as you develop the idea.
ReplyDeleteI just had a great idea!
ReplyDeleteMore on this later.