Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject: Savage Setting: Men of Respect

After browsing a pair of reviews for 'crime family' RPGs and seeing neither of them to be favorable, the wheels started turning on the setting machine. Maybe this one will be one I send over to Shark Bytes Smile

*What time period(s) would you like to see a mob game set in?

*Play it straight or with some twists? I think a cyberpunk mafia game might be interesting "Chrome and Respect", perhaps?

*Who/what is this "Bones" setting that I saw in the Savage FAQ on the mailing list? Is that guy still around?

What do you think, sirs?

SlasherEpoch · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:53 pm Post subject:

"Chrome and Respect..." I like it. Reminds me of the SCUD spinoff, La Cosa Nostroid.

http://www.urbangeek.net/timelines/scud.html
http://www.scud.com/pages/About.html?51,49

I voted for the 20s, myself.
_________________
Proud Savagepedia contributor.

Evil Wig Enterprises Minion #15 - "The
Machete"

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:07 pm Post subject:

Ideas..forming...must write them down....

*The Roaring 20's...2020's....players war for a futuristic cityscape. Think scarface with cyberguns...oooh....maybe add in a tactical element where players control territories ala Birthright....

*Space Mafia: Everybody knows Earth is run by the corps. That's why folks come out to the rest of the System. Strange ideas of freedom pushed people out the the colonies. Those folks that buy into the commercials don;t realize that the families run the colonies.

"What the hell is this?"
"It's a Sicilian message. It means Spce Cadet Brazzi went out with a leaky spacesuit."

SlasherEpoch · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:15 pm Post subject:

Poor Brazzi. Gone to sleep with the comets.
_________________
Proud Savagepedia contributor.

Evil Wig Enterprises Minion #15 - "The
Machete"

RooksGambit · Veteran Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 958

That's a great idea for a setting. The roaring 2020's, heh.

It's kind of reminiscent of that cartoon C.O.P.S. from the early 90's.

So, my vote's for the Cyber Crimepunk rout. Good stuff.

_________________
Go Play!

Pure Evil Model: D · Heroic Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1053

I'm working on a 1920's setting actually....
_________________
***LOADS OF NEW DESIGNS!!***

Printfection Store! Tons of new designs and styles
CafePress Store!

bighara · Veteran Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 941 Location: MoCoMD

I voted 30-40's, largely because it's the period of the 1st Godfather movie. Very Happy

The Depression, WWII, and the immediate post-war period are a very cool time for a mafia campaign. Things aren't as wild as they were in the 20's, money's tighter, you need to be smart as well as tough to survive.
_________________
"Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane." -H.P. Lovecraft

Ashikaider · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

I'm all for 20's-30's myself. Mainly because these decades were the height of the pulp ere, and the gangster mystique is a big part of that.

screenmonkey · Veteran Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 750

i like a twist thrown into a 20s or 30s setting, something along the lines of say . . . .

Takanak City?

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:41 am Post subject:

Speaking of which, when is Takanak City supposed to be coming out?

screenmonkey · Veteran Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 750

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject:

Ok..I think I like the idea of Chrome and Respect best of all. The Roaring 20's seems to be covered by Takanak City's pulpy goodness..best to expand the SW worlds than tread over areas already handled. Who knows, maybe if some of the Higher Ups have been watching this or Aces High, maybe they'll let me take a pass as Takanak City and get it done for them.

/shameless plug off

So I'm thinking of instead of races, choosing families that give you 'racial' bonuses. I think the default setting should be a big city with plenty of big glass towers to cast shadows and dirty sections of town to scum around in....New York? The different families work together against non-criminal enterprises but there's still room for mob wars....

Cyberware would probably work best using the supers rules but I think there's also room for biotech and what not.

Anyone have any good ways to counteract 'the decker syndrome'? Invariably, PC hackers suck up a huge mountain of time when they go into the 'Net and run their little miniadventure to get the info. And what danger is there if the decker stays back at the HQ while the other PCs risk their necks?

I was also thinking of a tactical element like a Risk or birthright, where families war for territories and set up illegal businesses. You know, run an adventure then go "Okay, now we head over to the board and play a turn of the game"

I admit I was also inspired by a couple mafia board games out recently that I wish had some more...options....

any idears/suggestions?

Clint · Site Admin Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 16264

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

Clint · Site Admin Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 16264

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:21 pm Post subject:

jblittlefield · Legendary Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 7472

Clint · Site Admin Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 16264

Well, let me backtrack here a second.

It could work for your setting with some tweaking (of the setting and rules).

First, make the setting Las Vegas instead of New York. It's a classic; the city created by the mafia. Even a perfect name...

City of SIN-less

Using SIN for System Identification Number. Vegas has become a free city run by the mafia. It's the only city where folks who aren't part of the system (the SIN-less can make the big league... but the odds are always with the house.

Now, Blackjack makes for a good mechanic for hackers or "Jackers," as they are called. Blackjack is the casino game where the house has the least advantage; all the better for the Jackers who are always "betting against the house."

As far as the rules, I'd make it one game of Blackjack; winner controls the system. Then a simple Computer roll to access files, sub-systems, etc. as needed. The "success level" of the game can determine how easy or hard that is.

Jacker wins = -2
Jacker gets 21 = 0
Jacker gets Blackjack = +2

System busts = Additional +2 modifier

Deck is "Stacked" (system has SOTA countermeasures) = Additional -2

For the actual mechanics of the deal, the Jacker makes a Computer roll against the Toughness of the System (half Computer skill of their programmer + 2). On a success, he gets in a dealt the hand. On a raise, he gets an "ace in the hole," a second face down card. When making his hand, he can use either of the face down cards to determine his total.

Just a thought...
_________________
Clint Black
Savage Worlds Core Rules Brand Manager

www.peginc.com

Mr. Bob Dobolina · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

Dangit..now I want to change my poll to:

Which is your favorite mafia city?

There's got to be a mini-game somewhere in between our two ideas.

I agree it should be one hand but there should be a little more to it than just "You play blackjack. If you win, you get a bonus to your comp rolls"
But I do appreciate the insight.

I want jackers (yoink!)to shine the same way the chromed-out street sam does when the corp cops come crashing through the ceiling.

Speaking of which, any good idea on how to 'limit' PCs and their cyberware? The "it makes you creepy/crazy" thing is a bit cliche. Twists anyone?
_________________
"In this world, there are two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig."

Clint · Site Admin Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 16264