Gotham City Concept Thread

[Saved]

This is a Gotham RPG. You can write a compeling story as a dirty cop, a good cop, or a DA doing their part just as much as you can write a compelling story with Ra's Al Ghul or Joker.

If you're a good writer, it doesn't matter who you play. It matters how you play them.

 

[Batman]

Which is what Sensei's point is. As long as Batman and his rogues are allowed to be playable, then the spotlight won't be on the cops in Gotham, it'll be on Batman and his villains, since the majority of the characters being played will be Batman and his villains.

One of Sensei's counter-arguments, just recently used, was that making the majority of characters being regular people would make the RPG experience fairly un-unique and unsatisfactory. Now, you're arguing that the majority being superheroes and supervillains would make those same regular people obscure and uninteresting to play.

Homestly, I want to know which one it is. Because until that, I can't help you with whatever your concerns may be.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

The thing is, it can go either way. It's my opinion that if the majority of the characters were 'normal' people, then I wouldn't find it very interesting in the long run. Assuming this RPG would last many seasons, I just don't see myself being interested in the long run.

On the flipside, because Batman and his villains are available to play, then they will ALWAYS be the preferred ones. If give the choice between a crooked cop in Gotham, or an honest one, and someone who will get to interact and even fight with Batman himself, then 9 out of 10 players will go for the supervillain.

 

[Saved]

The supervillains will be taken down by cops too. The idea isn't "wait your turn, Batman will stop you."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

How well did that work out last time?

 

[Eddie Brock]

People like Batman too much. There's plenty of fun you can have without the Caped Crusader.

 

[Blacklight]

One of Sensei's counter-arguments, just recently used, was that making the majority of characters being regular people would make the RPG experience fairly un-unique and unsatisfactory. Now, you're arguing that the majority being superheroes and supervillains would make those same regular people obscure and uninteresting to play.

Homestly, I want to know which one it is. Because until that, I can't help you with whatever your concerns may be.

All I was saying is that if the Gotham superheroes and villains were allowed to be playable, then the RPG just might go from a Gotham City RPG to a Batman RPG.

 

[Saved]

How well did that work out last time?

How did Gotham Central work out? It got a lot of awards and nods from other creators.

 

[Eddie Brock]

All I was saying is that if the Gotham superheroes and villains were allowed to be playable, then the RPG just might go from a Gotham City RPG to a Batman RPG.

And if we didn't allow Bat-Rogues to be played, this RPG would die quicker than RoM - for the same attitudes brought up tonight.

 

[Blacklight]

How did Gotham Central work out? It got a lot of awards and nods from other creators.

It may have gotten alot of awards, but the difference between that book and this RPG is that Batman WILL be a huge part in this RPG. Batman isn't even in Gotham Central.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

How did Gotham Central work out? It got a lot of awards and nods from other creators.

That's not even almost what we're debating here. We're talking about whether THIS RPG RIGHT HERE would work, not Gotham Central.

Plenty of things work great as a comic series, that wouldn't survive two days as an RPG. 'True Story Swear to God' is a romantic comedy comic series that has garnered amazing praise. Let's start that as an RPG!

 

[Batman]

All I was saying is that if the Gotham superheroes and villains were allowed to be playable, then the RPG just might go from a Gotham City RPG to a Batman RPG.

I think the first season of Why So Serious? stands by itself as a testament to the opposite. Infact, we were having a hard time finding people willing to play villains over cops, or vigilantes over supporting characters.

 

[Saved]

It may have gotten alot of awards, but the difference between that book and this RPG is that Batman WILL be a huge part in this RPG. Batman isn't even in Gotham Central.

Who said Batman WILL be a big part? The idea is that Batman isn't a big part. He is simply a part, just as Gordon, Bullock, etc.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Who said Batman WILL be a big part? The idea is that Batman isn't a big part. He is simply a part, just as Gordon, Bullock, etc.

That might be the idea, but don't think for a moment that's what's going to happen.

 

[Batman]

That's not even almost what we're debating here. We're talking about whether THIS RPG RIGHT HERE would work, not Gotham Central.

Plenty of things work great as a comic series, that wouldn't survive two days as an RPG.

The very characters that appear in Gotham Central are being played and written and used in other RPG's as we speak.

Why is cutting out the middle man and just devoting an RPG to those characters and the city they inhabit so hard to understand? They're already being used! It's as if you're trying to say that these characters don't work by themselves, when all signs have pointed to the fact that not only are these interesting characters, but they're characters that people would play, given that many here have already used them.

 

[Saved]

Plenty of things work great as a comic series, that wouldn't survive two days as an RPG. 'True Story Swear to God' is a romantic comedy comic series that has garnered amazing praise. Let's start that as an RPG!

That wasn't my point...but it's my mistake for taking it to a place where it could be misconstrued.

 

[Blacklight]

That might be the idea, but don't think for a moment that's what's going to happen.

I agree. Especially if Keyser gets the role. Then I doubt any villain that isn't being played when he does won't get picked up after that. I know I'd probably even pick up Armless Tiger Man just to RP an arc with Keyser as the protagonist to my antagonist.

 

[Batman]

That might be the idea, but don't think for a moment that's what's going to happen.

Of course that's not going to happen. And that's the point. For all intents and purposes, Syn was wrong in that aspect - Batman is going to be a driving force in this. But again, that's the point. He always inspires Gotham City as a whole to act, whether it be in a good or bad way. That's what makes alot of these characters interesting to begin with - they're driven, by some part, by the symbolism or acts that Batman inflicts in order to combat evil.

And that's not the horrible, bad thing you're making it out to be. That's worked for some of the greatest stories and posts I've seen in the comics, these RPG's, and cinema. Batman drives them, and he might damn well drive them in this RPG aswell. But don't think for one second that that aspect deters the quality of these characters, because if you do, you'll have insulted half of the stories I've ever held in very high regard.

 

[Saved]

Of course that's not going to happen. And that's the point. For all intents and purposes, Syn was wrong in that aspect -

I didn't get the memo.

 

[Eddie Brock]

This should be put into one of those faux-inspirational posters.

Of course that's not going to happen. And that's the point. For all intents and purposes, Syn was wrong in that aspect - Batman is going to be a driving force in this. But again, that's the point. He always inspires Gotham City as a whole to act, whether it be in a good or bad way. That's what makes alot of these characters interesting to begin with - they're driven, by some part, by the symbolism or acts that Batman inflicts in order to combat evil.

And that's not the horrible, bad thing you're making it out to be. That's worked for some of the greatest stories and posts I've seen in the comics, these RPG's, and cinema. Batman drives them, and he might damn well drive them in this RPG aswell. But don't think for one second that that aspect deters the quality of these characters, because if you do, you'll have insulted half of the stories I've ever held in very high regard.

BATMAN ARGUMENTS
Don't get into them with MB.​

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Edit, double post.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Yes, I've read some fantastic stories that fit to what you just mentioned MB, about the little people and how their lives are affected by Batman (or other heroes), and they make for great reading. Yes I have read Gotham Central. It was fantastic, it was very well done, it had amazing characterization, and it was near perfect. Also? It didn't last.

If you want to look at how Batman affects the lives of the people of Gotham, how what he fights for and what his symbol means to the citizens of a soulless, corrupt city, then how about helping out a barely surviving RPG and doing that in the Ultimate DC Universe, instead of making an entirely new one dedicated to just that, which would only serve to once again clutter up the boards with a RPGs destined for death. RPG Ban round 2, anyone?

 

[Blacklight]

If you want to look at how Batman affects the lives of the people of Gotham, how what he fights for and what his symbol means to the citizens of a soulless, corrupt city, then how about helping out a barely surviving RPG and doing that in the Ultimate DC Universe, instead of making an entirely new one dedicated to just that, which would only serve to once again clutter up the boards with a RPGs destined for death. RPG Ban round 2, anyone?

However Sensei, I'd much rather that they make a seperate RPG for only Gotham to avoid Ultimate DC becoming Ultimate Gotham. Like I brought up a few days ago, Gotham is a small part of the Ultimate DC Universe, and it shouldn't steal the spotlight from Metropolis, Keystone, Central City, Hub City, Coast City etc. by being overflooded with Gothamites.

 

[Saved]

However Sensei, I'd much rather that they make a seperate RPG for only Gotham to avoid Ultimate DC becoming Ultimate Gotham. Like I brought up a few days ago, Gotham is a small part of the Ultimate DC Universe, and it shouldn't steal the spotlight from Metropolis, Keystone, Central City, Hub City, Coast City etc. by being overflooded with Gothamites.

The people choose who they want to play. You can't help that.

 

[Batman]

If you want to look at how Batman affects the lives of the people of Gotham, how what he fights for and what his symbol means to the citizens of a soulless, corrupt city, then how about helping out a barely surviving RPG and doing that in the Ultimate DC Universe, instead of making an entirely new one dedicated to just that, which would only serve to once again clutter up the boards with a RPGs destined for death.

Or, how about, I just delete the Ultimate DC Universe RPG? You know, let World Of Heroes be the only RPG in the DC section. Because I just recently read a slew of posts driven by the same character in that RPG, and they were stunning. They were spectacular. They were, frankly, some of the best things I've read on here in a long time. And all of it was inspired by one man, one character. Guess who he was?

Oh, but since that won't last, I guess I better delete that RPG too. Given that all good stories and all good series' involving Batman as an inspirational pull don't tend to last.