rpg - Selling hardboiled technoir versus shiny chrome action in a cyberpunk RPG?

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Selling hardboiled technoir versus shiny chrome action in a cyberpunk RPG? Anonymous 2015-11-13 19:14:06 ID: ef426 No.3210

I'm getting ready to run a cyberpunk noir game via virtual tabletop.

I've found that most potential players that contact me are more interested in playing Ghost in the Shell type shiny chrome action cyborgs. I however want to run a high tech living low life noir game where superhuman cyborgization is very rare (well outside the PC's hands) black op super soldier stuff, and things like illegal cranial data links and interfaces, hacking, and hustling in a world of the 0.00001% corp elite is the setting. Yeah sure there are corp retreat space station paradises, with high end systems, and maybe even laser toting mech men guards. But meat low teks trapped by gravity in the metro grid's sprawls don't get to go there unless it is one Hell of a courier run of sensitive material. And then it is hardly going past customs waiting area.

Any advice for how to get players interested in embracing being a mover and shaker on the lower end of the dystopia lainon RPers?

Anonymous 2015-11-13 19:21:38 ID: 955d7 No.3211

>>3210
Let me play the game?

I am VERY interested in the game you are talking about. I think that once it gets out there the right demographic will eventually find it and provide you a foothold on which you can expand.

Anonymous 2015-11-13 20:55:07 ID: 381dd No.3212

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>>3211

Sure lainon, but still working out where I'll run it. Looks like it will be Roll20.net unless I can find a more /cyb/ virtual tabletop (little weary of Roll20 and their community).

Was going to use 'Technoir' as the system, http://www.technoirrpg.com/

But may switch to 'Fates Worse Than Death: Spare Change Edition' if it is a better fit for the group. http://www.vajraenterprises.com/new/?p=435

Will post the join details here when I have them.

Anonymous 2015-11-18 02:42:01 ID: 4b85b No.3244

>>3211

Link to Roll20 game, hope I see you there lainon.

https://app.roll20.net/join/1109683/8yCYEA

Anonymous 2015-11-18 17:36:56 ID: 1b68d No.3246

Try advertising it as 'futuristic noir' rather than cyberpunk? Focus on how the characters will try to survive in the dirty streets of the Sprawl?

As for cybernetics? Players will expect them, especially since they've been a part of cyberpunk since Gibson's works. If you really need to make the point of 'this soykaf is rare', have an early mission involve moving a cyborg arm (and attachment stuff) to some backalley organic mechanic's shop for high pay, having everyone and their granny after them for it as well.

Anonymous 2015-11-18 20:36:25 ID: 381dd No.3247

>>3246

Thanks, will try adding that as a tag. Was gonna rely on Technoir's setting and item pricing to more so keep super cyber chrome under wraps. In the game's background and system, outside headware, bodywear super soldier stuff is pricey as Hell, and even more so expensive to get 'spliced' (slang in the game for surgery or grafting) so unlike Shadowrun you really need to have a connection favor to burn for getting cybertech. But do have a plot point in the Seattle node map I generated for prototype snatching/guarding of a bleeding edge cyber prothstetic.

Anonymous 2015-11-19 03:55:10 ID: 8979f No.3248

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I tried to run a campaign like this. Had them be basically kicked out of a corp, hunted down by assassins, some real shady soykaf going down in the corp...

They ended up selling drugs and street racing. Starting a gang. It was a great campaign, but with the guys I run it with every time I'd try to get them to be all detective noir they'd just end up out eviling the bad guys.

So I'd suggest pre rolling the characters and assigning them. Make them fun and interesting, with secrets to keep from the other players, but it's easier to set a tone with pre-rolled characters.

Anonymous 2015-11-19 07:19:52 ID: 6bbf8 No.3249

>>3248
>The player's avatar is an ideal model citizen, but once the player takes control, their avatar turns into the perfect psychopath
Virtual Reality is such a joy.

Anonymous 2015-11-19 17:53:24 ID: 90722 No.3251

>>3249
Well they were mercs who were framed by their corp, I had expected them to want revenge, and to get their nice lives back. Instead they wanted to race cars in the underground and own a cyborg strip club.

Anonymous 2015-11-19 18:45:08 ID: 6bbf8 No.3252

>>3251
Probably because both of those are far more amusing than taking control of an avatar only to return them to their "storybook" state.

This is a problem I see in many videogames, where the developers/ writers have all of these convoluted things planned for the player to do, but as it turns out the player would much rather "jiggle" the game engine for funny glitches and bugs, because that is more fun than the chores that the designers have directed them towards.

If you want to hold water in your hands, you mustn't try to hold onto it. A lot of things in life are like that.

Anonymous 2015-11-20 06:06:47 ID: e9ecd No.3255

>>3252

Agreed, too few games, vidya and tabletop, avoid laying down a railroad to boredom. Despite not needing to.

Anonymous 2015-11-21 22:07:04 ID: 8979f No.3256

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>>3252
I think what you're saying is one of the reasons fallout new vegas was such an awesome game. I never once felt restrained by really anything, and always felt like I was doing what I wanted to do how I wanted to do it.

Except I couldn't kill Caesar and take his place.