James Bond RPG

[lastbesthope]

After all he was military, spec ops even and volunteered to get to the assassination program (I'm talking about the new films here). Then something went wrong, he lost his memory and have been just trying to survive while his former masters have been trying to eliminate him.

Technically, in the movies anyway, not sure about the books, David Webb volunteered for the program, Jason Bourne is what they turned him into, and who he is, the essence of who he is, after the memory loss is up for discussion.

LBH
(Getting a bit philosophical and wishy washy. Must be getting hungry :lol: )

 

[TrippyHippy]

After all he was military, spec ops even and volunteered to get to the assassination program (I'm talking about the new films here). Then something went wrong, he lost his memory and have been just trying to survive while his former masters have been trying to eliminate him.

It's not like he walked out of the service because he wanted to but because what happened. I don't see any political in that character. But then again I don't see that in Bond either.

Care to shed some light on that one?

Well, the director is a progressivist lefty that has commented as such already, so it kinda helps! But besides, Bourne is an action-hero-as-statement against U.S. foreign policy. He may have been trained as a U.S. assassin, but his consequent actions as chronicled in the movies, starts with amnesia due to some bout of conscience on the job, and he then progressively exposes and attacks the military hawks that are driving U.S foreign policy as the Trilogy progresses. Heck, even one of his contacts works for The Guardian newspaper! If that doesn't suggest where his sensibilities lie, then nothing will!

In the case of Bond, I think he's been the topic of media studies analysis for years! He's an establishment figure - an agent of western imperialism in the original novels. And he's sexist!

 

[SnowDog]

Issues I'm having at the moment, having been re-inspired to run a James Bond Rpg is the anachronistic nature of a 'modern' game. The Victory Games version, particularly the Q-manual for obvious reasons, are well and truly tied to the '80's. It's like "Wedding Singer - the Roleplaying Game".

So although I want to run something that feels like Bourne/Craig's Bond, I'm currently thinking about doing a retro game set in the '80's. The advantage is that there is loads of history to utilise, not to mention the Cold War. I'm thinking of starting with Iranian Hostage Crisis and moving through Grenada/Libya/Beirut/El Salvador; and all the stuff is on t'internet!

It seems a rewarding alternative to trying to create loads of weapons and vehicles for today.

Ah, okay. Now I see where you're coming from (sort of). It's very true of the modern kit and in the 80's setting you can use variations of modern equipment as gadgets and still keep the sort of realism you want (if you want that). The history part is also a good reason.

Like it has been said, this is the place to bring the needs of everyone to surface. I don't want to go back to 80's (or even further back) in an espionage game but that is just my opinion...

 

[SnowDog]

Well, the director is a progressivist lefty that has commented as such already, so it kinda helps! But besides, Bourne is an action-hero-as-statement against U.S. foreign policy. He may have been trained as a U.S. assassin, but his consequent actions as chronicled in the movies, starts with amnesia due to some bout of conscience on the job, and he then progressively exposes and attacks the military hawks that are driving U.S foreign policy as the Trilogy progresses. Heck, even one of his contacts works for The Guardian newspaper! If that doesn't suggest where his sensibilities lie, then nothing will!

I was not aware of the director's political alignment but granted that usually shows in the movies (and books). On the other hand script writer had some sort of impact to the story too, I hope.

Yes, come to think of it Bourne botched his job because of his conscience and his downfall began.

Still, I don't buy that he is attacking military hawks just because they are driving the U.S. foreign policy, like you said. I still think that he is trying to survive and find out who the heck he is. He's not killing them because they are the right wing.

The Guardian was too subtle hint to me (I'm a blody foreigner after all) But if you were in his shoes would you use the reporter to get as much intelligence as possible no matter the paper?

In the case of Bond, I think he's been the topic of media studies analysis for years! He's an establishment figure - an agent of western imperialism in the original novels. And he's sexist!

Yes, he has been covered already, in detail. Quite perfect PC, if you ask me...

Anyway, thanks for the answers. Although we still disagree on some points, it's a matter of perspective...

 

[Cleombrotus]

Still, I don't buy that he is attacking military hawks just because they are driving the U.S. foreign policy, like you said. I still think that he is trying to survive and find out who the heck he is. He's not killing them because they are the right wing.

He's not talking about the character as he exists in the movie - it's the character as a symbol. Bourne represents the inevitable backlash of the everyman against a system geared to the exploitation of violence for political ends. He is also the embodiment of the idea of creating a monster which returns and destroys the creator - Bourne as Frankenstein's monster.

Although if the director has claimed a progressive lefty bias, he's done a fairly comprehensive job of creating an archetypal Nietzchean superman. You will also note that his Guardian reporter is more or less played as a panicking idiot who is playing his lefty politics so completely naively that when he discovers the real world of covert ops that he practically shits himself - Bourne as Cthulhu.

I, however, like the fights and the car chases...

 

[SnowDog]

He's not talking about the character as he exists in the movie - it's the character as a symbol. Bourne represents the inevitable backlash of the everyman against a system geared to the exploitation of violence for political ends. He is also the embodiment of the idea of creating a monster which returns and destroys the creator - Bourne as Frankenstein's monster.

Ah, then we were talking about a different thing. I was talking about the story, action and character while he was talking about the symbolism (I'm not too good at that department).

Although if the director has claimed a progressive lefty bias, he's done a fairly comprehensive job of creating an archetypal Nietzchean superman. You will also note that his Guardian reporter is more or less played as a panicking idiot who is playing his lefty politics so completely naively that when he discovers the real world of covert ops that he practically shits himself - Bourne as Cthulhu.

Yes, the reporter was a panicking idiot and I would have loved to put such a character as an NPC to my game. Besides that was one of the best scenes that show how Pointman in Spycraft works (although I have not played the game actually), IMHO.

I, however, like the fights and the car chases...

Me too Personally I think they are done very well. Close combat is very fast and brutal without going to wire-fu extremes.

 

[Standing-Stone]

Not sure if the blonde haired Danial Craig is a credit to the Bond image, then again I not sure if Sean Connery and Rodger Moore were either. Even though I'm accustomed to them.

Was Bonde meant to be Blonde?

Was that how he was described in the original novels?

Got nothing against Danial Craig.

I actulley beleive he would make a great Doc Savage.

 

[Cleombrotus]

For the cover of the Victory Games James Bond Rpg they created a Bond that was an amalgam of Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Ironically it ended up looking like George Lazenby.

I think Daniel Craig is a great Bond. It's all in the eyes. Somehow he's got the 'thousand yard stare' from somewhere. Don't know what his background is, but he does it very well.

 

[lastbesthope]

Was Bonde meant to be Blonde?

Was that how he was described in the original novels?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_(character)#Description_and_personal_life

LBH

 

[kwheatonca]

I have played this system on and off for years. It took a bit of effort to update the technology from the 80's and I hosted a website for a time with many more modern vehicles included. However, besides this the mechanics of the system are elegant, have cinematic results an are easily added to. If I were to take over this game I wouldn't touch its central mechanics. After years of play it worked perfectly. Eventually I added more advanced rules for martial arts, jet fighter combat, poisons, new fields of expereince, animals, etc. All these additional rules could be added in a modular way and often could be added to bring a certain aspect of the game into greater focus using the elegant central game mechanisms. In the offical basic rules these modular aspects included gambling, Fame, Interaction with NPCs, Covers and Impersonation, etc. However,they could just as easily be left out to suit your personal taste.

Incidently, the technology and gadgets were well integrated into the game, and were never game breaking. Character skill was by far more important. For example just because your character had a great car, didn't mean he was going to dominate a chase, it gave him an edge certainly, but without a high driving skill you were in trouble.

Lastly the basic rules included an entire organisation of bad guys called TAROT. These were invented by the game designers because victory games couldn't use SPECTRE for contractual reasons. This Organization bent on world domination worked behind the scenes much like the more modern incarnation in the movies: Quantum. Additionally, the rules outlined the basic forumale of the bond film by NPC design. Each adventure included, The major villian, the priveleged henchman, the beautiful foil, etc. My favourite supplement for the game was the Villians supplement which included all types of unique badies, with full character descriptions and motivations.

Any way it would be wonderful to see this game come back from the ashes. I would certainly leave the central game mechanics intact however... this game could have crunch added but it was nice to have it optional.

 

[Supplement Four]

I seem to say this a lot on this board but the Victory Games system was so so so cool. It's still the one system that I search for scanned copies on google on random browsing days.

The James Bond RPG System is Amazing.

If you want to learn more about it (anyone), check out this thread over at CotI: http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=15274

A general wiki on the game can be viewed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_007_%28role-playing_game%29



There's a generic system, based on the JB RPG system, called Double Zero. The system is almost excatly the same system as the original JB RPG system, with just a couple of tweaks. There used to be a web page devoted to it, but it looks like its disappeared. You might find some luck doing a search for "Double Zero rpg uncle bear". "Uncle Bear is who wrote the rules.



You can find some JB RPG supplemental stuff here: http://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=19&Itemid=26; and here: http://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=22&Itemid=26

The From Russia With Love download from that second link is exceptional.

More stuff here: http://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=21&Itemid=26



Wiki on the JB novels here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_bond_novels