Adrian Tchaikovsky "Insect-Kinden" series

[SJE]

It seems to me that Adrian Tchaikovsky (www.shadowsoftheapt.com) has a very gameable fantasy series called “Shadows of the Apt”. Not only is the author a LARPer, but its fantasy setting has 2 interesting twists – the setting is going through an industrial revolution after the technically Apt species overthrew the dominion of the magical species 100 years ago, and the only actual race is human, but they have subdvivided millenai ago by following certain Insect totems. These totems give them access to different abilities related to their Totem – i.e. Ant Kinden are warlike but can access a hive mind and work well as groups, Wasps can fly and fire energy sting-blasts, Beetles are strong and enduring and build things.

So you have a setting with ready made fantasy races, an Evil Empire of the Wasps conquering the good guys, a mix of play styles from the intrigues of the Spiders to the martial bad-assery of the Mantis and an ideal gaming setting with ancient conflicts, race hatreds, magical mysteries and giant insects! I think it’d be perfect for an RPG adaptation.

SJE

 

[SnowDog]

I agree that the setting would suit very well for an RPG although I didn't read the (first) book through, yet. Somehow protagonists being quite young put me off but then again there is nothing in the setting why you should play a youngster...

 

[SJE]

I agree that the setting would suit very well for an RPG although I didn't read the (first) book through, yet. Somehow protagonists being quite young put me off but then again there is nothing in the setting why you should play a youngster...

Well the impression I get is that the 4 intial protagonists are college age - around 18-19. And they are all grown up by the second book. Oh boy, are they adults. But the rest of the cast are all adults, including such major protagonists as Thalric, Stenwell, Tisamon etc.

SJE

 

[SnowDog]

Yes, I never thought that they were actually kids but somewhere around 15-18 was my impression. Then again English is not my native language and it has been a while since I read (the beginning of) the book.

If the protagonists are adults at the 2nd book, I can live with that and might give the book another spin when I have finished my other book projects.

 

[Clanger]

The setting is an excellent one. I am just starting to plow through book 4. It is a very enjoyable well written series. It does beg for an RPG setting. It has a good mix of "steampunk" and magic. A win win situation

Runequest would be an option for a system.

 

[Destriarch]

I've never read the books in question, but I do love insects so the idea has some kind of appeal to me. Not sure if I wouldn't prefer something a little more overt in the ways of funky weirdness though.

Actually, I once pitched an insect-based fantasy to an RPG publisher (NOT Mongoose) and the immediate response was that gamers 'wouldn't be able to relate to insects'. Whether that's right or wrong I couldn't say, but I do yearn for more originality in the RPG industry. I'm tired of the same-old-same-old.

-Ash