geordiekimbo
Mongoose
Thanks Ant, not only have you given us some ideas, but also what to call the adventures
Cinematic inspiration
- Thread starter Scorpion13
- Start date
Scorpion13
Mongoose
The Evil Dead- Really perfect for any game. The PCs, on the run from some sort of enemy force, hole up in a secluded castle or keep. One of them is a scholar and stumbles upon a book...and thats all she wrote.
King Kong-The PCs come into possestion of a map of an island the supposed to contain the ruins of an ancient civilazation. The rest pretty much writes istelf....
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly-Three groups are searching for a tomb, hidden within are the riches of kings long past....
Saving Private Ryan-The PCs are charged with retrieveing a local noble's son from the field of battle after the rest of this sons are killed.
Die Hard-The PCs are, for once, being treat like heroes after helping win a monumental battle. Unarmed (and more than a little drunk), they are ambushed by bandits who snuck into the castle. The rest of the city is partying, and the guards are hammered. Its up to the PCs to stop them from getting to the crown jewels. Whether they would want to steal them for themselves is up to them. :wink:
King Kong-The PCs come into possestion of a map of an island the supposed to contain the ruins of an ancient civilazation. The rest pretty much writes istelf....
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly-Three groups are searching for a tomb, hidden within are the riches of kings long past....
Saving Private Ryan-The PCs are charged with retrieveing a local noble's son from the field of battle after the rest of this sons are killed.
Die Hard-The PCs are, for once, being treat like heroes after helping win a monumental battle. Unarmed (and more than a little drunk), they are ambushed by bandits who snuck into the castle. The rest of the city is partying, and the guards are hammered. Its up to the PCs to stop them from getting to the crown jewels. Whether they would want to steal them for themselves is up to them. :wink:
Hello Folks,
I have found after 20+ years of playing and running games that three sources are goldmines for source material on the quick.
1) Westerns! Ignore the desert enviroment in most. They were often filmed their but most (in the books they were based on, Zane Grey ect.) actually took place in the Rockies or Great Plains story-wise. Most these days are actually filmed on the proper location now. Also so many were filmed that I've never had to use the same movie twice.
2) Crime flicks. With the typical goals of the party this genre works very well from any angle. I did in fact run a recent campaign based on "Ocean's Eleven" crossed with the "Italian Job" and no one caught on.
3)Real life history. Truly truth is stranger than fiction. We ran in a OGL medieval setting (not real Europe, an anology rather) campaign of gathering up a truly odd ransom for a count and then delivering it to a ruthless and fearsome sultan who held him. Worse his lady was a truly admiriable and beautiful but the count was a hot-headed lout, if charming. This is actually based on the real ransoming of Count Baldwin of Edessa from the Zengi of Mosul, a eccenttric and dangerous Seljuk Turk ruler of Mosul. Yes the ransom was very odd.
My two cents.
I have found after 20+ years of playing and running games that three sources are goldmines for source material on the quick.
1) Westerns! Ignore the desert enviroment in most. They were often filmed their but most (in the books they were based on, Zane Grey ect.) actually took place in the Rockies or Great Plains story-wise. Most these days are actually filmed on the proper location now. Also so many were filmed that I've never had to use the same movie twice.
2) Crime flicks. With the typical goals of the party this genre works very well from any angle. I did in fact run a recent campaign based on "Ocean's Eleven" crossed with the "Italian Job" and no one caught on.
3)Real life history. Truly truth is stranger than fiction. We ran in a OGL medieval setting (not real Europe, an anology rather) campaign of gathering up a truly odd ransom for a count and then delivering it to a ruthless and fearsome sultan who held him. Worse his lady was a truly admiriable and beautiful but the count was a hot-headed lout, if charming. This is actually based on the real ransoming of Count Baldwin of Edessa from the Zengi of Mosul, a eccenttric and dangerous Seljuk Turk ruler of Mosul. Yes the ransom was very odd.
My two cents.
Yogah of Yag
Mongoose
Korppis said:
Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis, Wes Studi and Madeline Stowe is perhaps the best version I have seen to date. Be sure to get the original theatrical release and not the "director's cut" as I have heard some scalding criticism of it. Great inspiration for the Picts! I also loved that spiked club that is thrown about in the beginning of the film. I was trying to think how to stat it as a Conan RPG weapon. Probably as 'war-club' 2d6, x2, AP 4, and using it as thrown (with incr of 10 ft) would require Exotic Weapon Proficiency. I might even amp up the crit to x3 (but only when thrown?). :twisted: I probably saw LotM 20 times in the 90's! Great stuff!
Raven Blackwell
Mongoose
Ltlconf said:
Also the primary source of Howard's inspiration.....
Raven Blackwell
Mongoose
Don't forget Horror guys- Howard didn't. Alien and Aliens would work well in Hyboria using demons in place of the Aliens. Predator would work for the same reason- something now hunts the player, not the other way around. For those wanting to use Temptress style horror there's Species. How about a version of The House on Haunted Hill in one of those abandoned castles abounding in Hyboria? Instead of a million silver luna for spending the night thought, rumors of a great treasure within it might prove a more genre temptation and cause the PCs and NPCs involced to turn on each other in addition to being hunted by the restless horrors about them. I adapted Lovecraft's The Dunwich Horror to Lovecraft ignorant players. WIlbur's twin certainly scared the s*** out of them and they had to turn to a cursed tome for the spell to banish it. A vampire assassian like Lilith Silver in Razor Blade Smile would be an interesting opponent- or ally for that matter. 8)
I have more ideas in that vein- pun intended- I'll post 'em when I have more time.....
I have more ideas in that vein- pun intended- I'll post 'em when I have more time.....
geordiekimbo
Mongoose
A few more ideas for film based adventures.
The Great Escape..The characters find themselves prisoners of war in a ruthless enemies prison. Trying a variety of ways to make their escape.
Star Wars: A New Hope.. One of the characters comes into possession of a fiesty slave who has memorized the plans for a new warship. The wayward slave runs to an old warrior/hermit who lives in the desert whom he thinks will be able to aid him. The characters give chase only to be attacked by bandits who are chased away by the old hermit...etc etc
North By Northwest.. One of the characters is mistaken for a spy and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive, the other characters tag along with him. They are being chased by a sinister, technologically and numerically superior enemy.
Some Like It Hot..The character while down on their luck nd penniless and weaponless witness an assassination, they are forced to flee the province hiding in a harem and must assume the idenitied of dancing girls.
Jaws..The rag tag characters set out to kill a man-eating leviathan like sea creature that is menacing a seaside community on the Isles of Pearl.
The Great Escape..The characters find themselves prisoners of war in a ruthless enemies prison. Trying a variety of ways to make their escape.
Star Wars: A New Hope.. One of the characters comes into possession of a fiesty slave who has memorized the plans for a new warship. The wayward slave runs to an old warrior/hermit who lives in the desert whom he thinks will be able to aid him. The characters give chase only to be attacked by bandits who are chased away by the old hermit...etc etc
North By Northwest.. One of the characters is mistaken for a spy and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive, the other characters tag along with him. They are being chased by a sinister, technologically and numerically superior enemy.
Some Like It Hot..The character while down on their luck nd penniless and weaponless witness an assassination, they are forced to flee the province hiding in a harem and must assume the idenitied of dancing girls.
Jaws..The rag tag characters set out to kill a man-eating leviathan like sea creature that is menacing a seaside community on the Isles of Pearl.
Zul Daire
Mongoose
First off the Harryhausin (sorry mispells are a given) movies im particular Jason and the argonauts.
When they finally get to the island where the golden fleece is the priest very much reminds me of a Hyborian Age Sorcerer.
If you have a bunch of nobles in your party who are concerned for their reputation scores and status in society then just pop in "Dangerous Liasons" for some inspiration.
Want a little more action in your nobles plots? Then throw in "The Scarlet Pimpernell".
hey I'm just trying to throw ideas other than what everyone else beat me on.
Alot of inspiration for me comes from the various History channels in particular when there is a special on Rome, Greece, Eygpt, the middle east, barbarians.
And then specials on Leaders like Xerxes, Attilla the Hun, Vlad Drakula, Constatine, Alexander, the list is continuous... (I know I am a horrible speller)
Even the Old and New Testament has some great ideas for plots. There were some wicked kings in those texts.
I think Dale Rippke even made a reference from Exodus when writing about the eastern race that settled in Elder Stygia after the Lemurians overthrough them.
When they finally get to the island where the golden fleece is the priest very much reminds me of a Hyborian Age Sorcerer.
If you have a bunch of nobles in your party who are concerned for their reputation scores and status in society then just pop in "Dangerous Liasons" for some inspiration.
Want a little more action in your nobles plots? Then throw in "The Scarlet Pimpernell".
hey I'm just trying to throw ideas other than what everyone else beat me on.
Alot of inspiration for me comes from the various History channels in particular when there is a special on Rome, Greece, Eygpt, the middle east, barbarians.
And then specials on Leaders like Xerxes, Attilla the Hun, Vlad Drakula, Constatine, Alexander, the list is continuous... (I know I am a horrible speller)
Even the Old and New Testament has some great ideas for plots. There were some wicked kings in those texts.
I think Dale Rippke even made a reference from Exodus when writing about the eastern race that settled in Elder Stygia after the Lemurians overthrough them.
Yogah of Yag
Mongoose
Zul Daire said:
I immediately thought of that (with Leslie Howard in the lead) when I read the Fop multiclass in Finest!
Damien
Mongoose
I did an experiment a few months ago. I have on my computer a giant list of movies that I have seen and enjoyed and want to own. Whenever I go out to the store I copy four or five titles and see what's around (often choosing the cheapest two or three I find).
Anyway.. I used that list and turned every single movie (something like 300 movies) into a basic premise for a game of D&D (or Conan, or Iron Heroes, or Arcana Evolved.. whatever).
My conclusion, then, is that ANY film can be excellent inspiration for a game. Strip the elements of the film like technology and setting to bare bones necessary-to-the-plot stuff, and consider the plot. Not only will you find a lot of similarities in the most disparate films, but you'll also find that watching or thinking about virtually -any- film can give you a complete outline for a game.
Take Event Horizon, for example. Totally NOT a suitable storyline for a medieval fantasy game. Or is it?
Think about it.
Anyway.. I used that list and turned every single movie (something like 300 movies) into a basic premise for a game of D&D (or Conan, or Iron Heroes, or Arcana Evolved.. whatever).
My conclusion, then, is that ANY film can be excellent inspiration for a game. Strip the elements of the film like technology and setting to bare bones necessary-to-the-plot stuff, and consider the plot. Not only will you find a lot of similarities in the most disparate films, but you'll also find that watching or thinking about virtually -any- film can give you a complete outline for a game.
Take Event Horizon, for example. Totally NOT a suitable storyline for a medieval fantasy game. Or is it?
Think about it.
geordiekimbo
Mongoose
Of course any film can be turned into some sort of adventure. But I think its more fun actually coming up with names of a few.
Some people just need a little push, an inkling of an idea. I think this topic does just that. Besides its a laugh, I had a nice chuckle to myself when I gave Some Like It Hot as an example. Admittedly it doesnt seem very Conanesque, but as a vaguely comedic "I can't believe whats happening" adventure it could probably work quite well, due to the absurdity of it.
Damien
Mongoose
I didn't mean to say that the thread itself was a waste of time or anything like that. I just meant to say that you can derive storyline ideas from -any- film, which in itself, I feel, should push some people who had never really thought of that to reconsider some of their favourite movies.
The King
Cosmic Mongoose
I would add:
- Troy
- Alexander the great (for the big armies and battles and the life of conquerors)
- Jason and the Golden Fleece (great sword & sorcery with a few divine intervention)
- Spartacus (slave revolt against the Roman Republic, showing also the decadent Rome slowly giving way to the Tyrants, i.e. Caesar)
- Genghis Khan (with Antony Quinn) for the Hyrkanian horde
- Most of the episodes from the Xena and Hercules TV series
- Troy
- Alexander the great (for the big armies and battles and the life of conquerors)
- Jason and the Golden Fleece (great sword & sorcery with a few divine intervention)
- Spartacus (slave revolt against the Roman Republic, showing also the decadent Rome slowly giving way to the Tyrants, i.e. Caesar)
- Genghis Khan (with Antony Quinn) for the Hyrkanian horde
- Most of the episodes from the Xena and Hercules TV series
geordiekimbo
Mongoose
I know, didn't mean to sound like I said I thought that.
toothill man
Mongoose
another one which is a mine of information is stargate both movie and far more the series 8) yes it is sci-fi but the plots are good and their use of the bad guys colouring the series even if stage left is a great idea
Yogah of Yag
Mongoose
John Carpenter's The Fog (with Adrienne Barbeau...meeoow! 8) ), except instead of undead lepers on the ship, make them undead pirates. (I haven't seen the recent remake--I've heard its utter rubbish.)
I've known about the legend of the ship Mary Celeste and there have been many literary and probably a few cinematic renderings of this legend. Very creepy, spooky....! :shock:
Master and Commander is a superb nautical flick, but perhaps too modern (early 19th c.)...
Captain Horatio Hornblower with Gregory Peck is also great although, again, too modern. I suppose it could be 'stripped down' for ideas...
Logan's Run with Michael York and Jenny Agutter (meeeoow! Okay, I've gotta stop doing that!
:lol: )
An American Werewolf in London, except make it A Cimmerian Werewolf in Tarantia!
8) ), except instead of undead lepers on the ship, make them undead pirates. (I haven't seen the recent remake--I've heard its utter rubbish.)I've known about the legend of the ship Mary Celeste and there have been many literary and probably a few cinematic renderings of this legend. Very creepy, spooky....! :shock:
Master and Commander is a superb nautical flick, but perhaps too modern (early 19th c.)...
Captain Horatio Hornblower with Gregory Peck is also great although, again, too modern. I suppose it could be 'stripped down' for ideas...
Logan's Run with Michael York and Jenny Agutter (meeeoow! Okay, I've gotta stop doing that!
:lol: )An American Werewolf in London, except make it A Cimmerian Werewolf in Tarantia!
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