Last night I was trying to come up with a genre for the game. I started to latch onto this idea that the air ship was like an Ironclad that has gyrocopter propulsion. This means that the air ship is ocean worthy, and can fly. It runs on coal, much like a locomotive. This means the airship, and everyone thing on it is covered in black soot all the time. There is no such thing as being clean. You must wear goggles, you probably should wear a large overcoat to keep the soot off of you, you should wear a hat like a conductor.
That alone creates an awful amount of interest. We now know how the airship works, and have a general idea of the situation it would be like to be on one. But I still wanted to put a name to the genre so I can read a book or two about it, watch a film, or find a comic book that will help me fill in the blanks.
I found the genre, it’s called Steampunk, much like cyberpunk (The Matrix, or Neuromancer), but set in an industrial revolution (or Victorian) time period.
I still think the idea of creatures is worth keeping, and Janelle helped me out with finding some literary examples of creatures or animals in fiction. Rats of Nimh jumped to mind immediately, and she led me to the series called Redwall, there is also another classic book called Watership down which I have read half of (but put it down because it didn’t interest me all that much). All these examples use animals and then give them human emotion, features, and language. I think it may be easier to pick an animal than to create a whole species.
Example:
Rats are evil, they are dirty, scheming, vicious, and militaristic. They can also see in the dark really well and can survive on just about any food source.
I think it would be wise to stick to woodland animal, small animals too. A raccoon or beaver is about as big as we should go. Don’t pick something smaller than a mouse, unless you have some really strong reason. Oh, and no birds! Remember the story revolves around the airship…
I need to speak with you Janz about your role. If you are going to be the islander who’s property the aeronaut crashes onto we need to figure out how you can refuel his ship. Perhaps you are a coal miner, or own a coal mine.
Below I put some links to site relating to Steampunk. The Youtube link is for a 30 minute short animated film that looks really interesting. Think about this genre, think about the stark difference between the pastoral life (clean, open fields, fresh air, working the land) in juxtaposition with city life (dirty, industrial, factories, machines). Pick an animal that suits your role, and would also have some aspects that lend themselves to being an aeronaut or miner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vORsKyopHyM
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Let me know if you are struggling. I keep thinking that this game has no real hook just yet. I really like the idea of the college fiance who's father was a general in another country. She was rather liberal in her college days, and it created a rift. She is a occasional thorn in your side, but you keep her around for some reason (maybe you still care, maybe it's just selfish). The firefighter sounds fun, but he has no depth yet. I can weave a story with these two, but unless it sounds really exciting let me know. Maybe we are making something out of nothing here and we need to take a step back and start over.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you both just need to be PI's and you are strapped for cash and take this case. Maybe the situation is the "hook" and not the characters.
What do you guys think?
I went to the bathroom. I thought about it. It feels to heavy. The whole concept. It's too heavy and big, and hard for a 4 session 'warm-up'.
ReplyDeleteWe need something light, something fun. An adventure... it can still can be an investigation, but it really needs to be lighter. There is too much character depth, its to forced right now. It feels wrong. Anyone wanna second that?
Maybe I'm over-reacting, but I don't see this only taking 4 sessions, and its too serious for a first game together.
Adam, I am agreeing with you. Isn't it amazing how you can come to grips with things just by taking a dump?
ReplyDeleteI read through the list of questions you wanted to ask of our characters, and I couldn't help but think that half of the questions were bullshit. I agree that if we want to keep this a simple four session game, we need to simplifiy the characters and the world around it. Perhaps we are just two private dicks looking for money. I would be ok with that just to keep a good, engaging story. Creating an elaborate background for everyone that feels "forced" might end up to be more painful in the end.
What do you think about being an aeronaut and a coal miner?
ReplyDeleteWhat animals would suit either role really well?
There will be another member of the airship that travels with the aeronaut. He will work the engines, make the aeronaut a navigator or conductor, you don't need to worry about making the ship go, only worry about steering and navigation.
Some animals to think about:
ReplyDeletemole - digger
rat - mischievous
mouse - sneaky
cat - inquisitive
badger - fighter
raccoon - thieves
weasel - liars
squirrel - nimble
rabbit - fast
beaver - builder
Janz, you will be the islander. Bauer has decided to take the aeronaut.
ReplyDeleteYour character is going to have to have a way to aquire coal for the airship. It could be that you steal it from a neighbor, or have it yourself. If you can't think of anything I can give you some ideas. Think about it.
What if he doesn't have coal, but another fuel that would do the trick?
ReplyDeleteAlso, is the island far enough that a boat trip would not be feasible?
I looked yesterday for coal subsitutes for steam engines and the only option is wood, but it doesn't last very long, and it take a hell of a lot more to power the engine. My guess is that you would need several trees to power a steam engine for a day or so.
ReplyDeleteThe island is not that far, a boat ride would be feasible if you had coal to burn! Think about the friction caused by cutting through the water. Flying is probably 8x more efficient. Since it would take a large amount of coal to sail back it would rule sailing out.
While the airship is sea worthy she was not designed as a ship... she can float, yes, but she has no sail. It's a terrible waste of resources.
One last thing about the airship. It is roughly 28' long. It is shaped like an German U-boat, but made of wood, with a smoke stack (for engine exahust) centered in its body. There are two rooms below deck and they are rather cramped. One is the engine room, the other is the crews quaters. This airships designer (the aeronauts employer) boasts that the ship can fly a crew of 2 around the world. However he doesn't boast that it would be all that comfortable to do so. There is a large balloon that is strapped to the sides of the craft that gets filled with hot air created by running the engine (much like a hot air balloon). The engine's exahust goes up into the balloon, while it powers a two fan motors out the rear. The stearing mechanism is located in front of the ship, any thing in the rear of the ship gets covered in soot (unless the winds are unkind and they blow from the rear, then the pilot gets it too!)
One quick thing about aquiring the coal. I am counting on you two having somewhat of an adventure when you go to get the coal. I would suggest that you plan to steal it, borrow it, or bargin for it. Don't plan to have it on hand as I mentioned before. That's too easy. Part of the adventure is figuring out how to get the airship back in the air.
Bauer: Find a reason you decided to take the ship out really quick ("I'll have it back in no time", the boss won't even know). Also think about if you see your character as being the man who is sopposed to take this ship on the world's first circumnavigation trip. Maybe the ceremonial launch is set in a few days! Also I think your age is critical, choose it carefully.
Janz: Find a reason why your character would be willing to help the aeronaut and take a ride to Industria (the city the aeronaut lives in). Maybe you plan to move there, maybe you are running away, maybe you just seek adventure. Either way, the trip is a one way, so whatever reason he has he has to accept the fact that he is on his own if he cares to return to the island.
Perhaps I am a famous aeronaut, or at least a well-respected one. If that is the case, then I have fame, and thus, fortune as well. Perhaps I could use that clout (monetarily or otherwise) to repay Janz.
ReplyDeleteI think my character should be older, but not too old. The Mercury astronauts were seasoned test pilots. John Glenn was in his early 40s when he went aboard Friendship 7. If age is similar to human years, I think I should be in my early to mid 30s.
Also, what if my character was a skunk? Forget about the stank for a minute. Lockheed Martin has their Skunkworks program (top-secret flight research). It would be a cool analogy.
Okay, I like where you are going with this. Skunk, I can dig it. Try to think of other things that skunks are known for. Also having the ability to spray a foe would be pretty cool, not to mention a really good intimidation or threat!
ReplyDeleteAge, yes, if you are a seasoned aeronaut lets go older with you. I like that idea. Also, about the fame and fortune. I like the idea of fame, but not of fortune. I think your employer would be the one who funds and benefits from your flights. Drop the fortune, but being well known is very cool.
How about you are famous, but not because of what you have done, instead you are famous for what you haven't been able to do. Maybe you have tried to circumnavigate the globe (several times even) but have never done it. You have made it further than any other animal in all of Industria. You are renowned for your bravery and relentlessness.
Nothing against your character but it just seems infeasible to circumnavigate the globe with such a limited crew, limited resources, and limited window of opportunity each year (because of weather issues).
I kind of see him as a test pilot for new craft. His employer and him have been working towards this goal for years now, and everyone knows you will be the animal to do it... it just hasn't happened yet.
What do you think of all that? Any changes or suggestions? What I am proposing works really well with the plot. I think it would be great if you and your employer are a famous pair who are breaking new ground in flight. Good suggestion!