Channeling Terry

[subplotkudzu]

Over dinner Rachel and I were discussing possible scenarios for a Diskworld based game on the next prospectus. It's not likely to happen, as too few of the play group have read the series and one really needs exposure to pure Pratchett to "get it". Still, it's fun to speculate.

I'm a big fan of the books that include some aspect of Ankh-Morpork's cultural and technological revolution (The Truth, Going Postal, any of the Watch books, etc.) so I'd likely try to emulate one of those. The ideas that we felt had legs were introducing Mass Transit (some elevated rail lines running across the city - likely cars on ropes pulled by horses on treadmills on either end - and perhaps some tunnel lines under the city), Continental Transit (developing an actual rail line or the equivalent from Ankh Morpork to Genua) or an ER styled game in the city's new hospital. Any or all of these might work as a storytelling vehicle, even if they defy the usual concept of "adventure gaming".

Does anyone have other suggestions?

Comments

[kriz1818.livejournal.com]

I suspect that tunnels under Ankh-Morpork could be interesting, in a wet and dodging falling rocks sort of way. Though I suppose dwarves could tunnel through anything.

Personally, I'm partial to the witches.

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm partial to the witches.

Understandable, but as a gaming venue I think they're tapped out. Granny and Nanny are too well defined to turn into PCs for a longer game and too capable to not overload any other witch based plot. Even the next witch generation has been too clearly established inn the Tiffany Aching for me too feel comfortable messing around in it.

That's problem one - problem two is that inside of the ramtops the Witch based plots are a little predictable. Carpe Jungulem is little more than a rewrite of Lords and Ladies, and after that Pratchett found a better venue for the themes of growing into your responsibilities, seeing the world clearly and maintaining your sense of self against outside forces by focusing on the younger witches. Maskerade is a better book, but that's because it takes the witches outside of Lancre.

As you can see, I have thought about using the Witches, but I just don't have an inspiration for a plot.

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I'm doing a Discworld campaign in my next cycle. The premise is that King Verence has learned about the Ankh-Morpork Night Watch and thinks that as a modern, progressive Kingdom, Lancre should have one too—and assigns Shawn Ogg to set one up. Shawn promptly acquires and reads a popular novel about the heroic adventures of Captain Ironfoundersson of the Night Watch, and sets out to imitate the model.

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

With, one hopes, hilarious results.

I remember seeing this on your prospectus but I didn't think it had been voted in. I'll be interested to hear how it goes. Still, I'd much rather splash around Ankh Morpork than Lancre if I ever dip my toe in these waters.

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I can see that. But in some ways I'm a miniaturist; I enjoy running games in toy settings that provide miniature models of larger social milieux. Manse, for example, has an entire social hierarchy, with seven officially recognized classes, in a community of about 1500 people.

Fire Department

[(Anonymous)]

The early Discworld books reference a rather disastrous fire department (that house over there...looks awfully flammable, doesn't it...)

Combine that with Captain Carrot's prisoner rehabilitation program, and you've got Ankh-Morpork's first Involuntary Fire Department.

[adoxograph.livejournal.com]

I think you should set this game in Atlanta... um, physically.

What about the City's first fast food chain? And I don't mean the dash to the toilet after eating one of you-know-who's sausages.