Gotham City Concept Thread

[Harlekin]

That's when the first RPGs got started.

Wow, I've been here for five years now...

 

[Keyser Soze]

Hmm......seems like I missed the fireworks.

I'd like to weigh in on a couple of issues, even if I'm doing so belatedly. First, I disagree strongly with the idea that "normal people" can't make for compelling RPG characters. Anyone who says that is essentially writing off half my contribution to the Hype RPGs as a waste of time. I've played as Jim Gordon for 2 seasons in DC, I'm on my second season in 1U as Harvey Dent, pre Two-Face, even my time playing Ultimate Nick Fury and Lex Luthor was filled mostly with office meetings and press conferences. When done right, you can get just as much drama and excitement from a conversation as you can with a fight scene.

Then there's the assumption that ordinary cops will have nothing to do in an RPG where Batman is the focal point. Erm... really? Isn't this following on from "The Dark Knight"? And I'm not sure if I saw the same movie as everyone else, but I believe the film ended by setting up Batman being actively pursued by the police as a murderer. Bearing that context in mind, I'd not only say there's a place for cops in this RPG, but we NEED people playing cops - the more, the better!

But finally, I don't think we need to attack Sensei. It's not like he's trying to stop the RPG from going forward. He's merely saying he doesn't want to be a part of it.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I think the only motivation for WSS 2.0 is for those who won't play a cop character to finally be able to play some of the Bat related characters who are unavailable for whatever reason in the other RPGs.

In UDC, yea there are some PC Bat characters? But MB orchestrates what happens with their mythos just about. He has been putting a lot of passion and thought into what does and does't happen in UDC GOtham and you gotta run it by him first. I'm not knocking on you, MB, but that is infact how it is.

In DC? As we saw earlier in the OOC thread and such, if you mention the Gotham Underworld situation and twy brings up how Black Canary cleaned it out (and then didn't do anything after that but you still cannot do as you please necessarily without consulting her first because "BC took over"); further preventing other players from getting to shape and mold what happens in Gotham unless it is a big massive supevillain like Brainiac attacking.

With the only motivation for WSS 2.0 being "I can finally play Batman!" or "I can finally play Joker!" or "Nightwing, SWEET!" it is doomed to fail. Those few who finally get to play the big Bat characters they have always desired will be crazy active? But not the others who joined hoping to do the same. Because not everyone here, as was seen in the first WSS, was drawn to the Gotham Cop Noir feel that the RPG was intended for. When I first saw WSS? start up? I thought it was going to be mainly consisting of Mob and Cop characters.

What did we see instead? Everyone was trying to see how they could bring in the more abstract Bat characters and make it fit the realistic and noir setting. Which of course, isn't surprising. Not everyone has read Gotham Central or other stories similar to that and not everyone is thrilled to play "civilians".

 

[Keyser Soze]

I think the only motivation for WSS 2.0 is for those who won't play a cop character to finally be able to play some of the Bat related characters who are unavailable for whatever reason in the other RPGs.

In UDC, yea there are some PC Bat characters? But MB orchestrates what happens with their mythos just about. He has been putting a lot of passion and thought into what does and does't happen in UDC GOtham and you gotta run it by him first. I'm not knocking on you, MB, but that is infact how it is.

In DC? As we saw earlier in the OOC thread and such, if you mention the Gotham Underworld situation and twy brings up how Black Canary cleaned it out (and then didn't do anything after that but you still cannot do as you please necessarily without consulting her first because "BC took over"); further preventing other players from getting to shape and mold what happens in Gotham unless it is a big massive supevillain like Brainiac attacking.

With the only motivation for WSS 2.0 being "I can finally play Batman!" or "I can finally play Joker!" or "Nightwing, SWEET!" it is doomed to fail. Those few who finally get to play the big Bat characters they have always desired will be crazy active? But not the others who joined hoping to do the same. Because not everyone here, as was seen in the first WSS, was drawn to the Gotham Cop Noir feel that the RPG was intended for. When I first saw WSS? start up? I thought it was going to be mainly consisting of Mob and Cop characters.

What did we see instead? Everyone was trying to see how they could bring in the more abstract Bat characters and make it fit the realistic and noir setting. Which of course, isn't surprising. Not everyone has read Gotham Central or other stories similar to that and not everyone is thrilled to play "civilians".

I don't exactly see what you're trying to say here. I'll ignore the veiled jabs at other players in other RPGs, as it's best the people you allude to reply for themselves. But those aside, your point against a new Gotham RPG is that people would want to play so they could have a chance to play iconic characters on a clean slate. This is hardly a new and horrifying phenomenom. It was the driving force behind every RPG after the original Marvel and DC RPGs. And some of those have survived quite nicely.

Did "Why So Serious" fail? Yes, it did. But the fact that its demise upset so many people, and the fact that these people are now determined to recapture the spirit and high-quality writing of the game can only be a positive indicator for this RPG's future. Of course, it could fail. But what's the harm in giving it a try. It's not like the Hype RPG community will have anything to lose, particularly not those members who decide not to play.

 

[trustyside-kick]

I worded it better when talking to Harl last night.

 

[Eddie Brock]

I'm this close to going for Detective Ramirez instead of Joker - just so that fingers can't be pointed at me in all of this. On the other hand, why the Hell should I give a damn? My loyalty to this concept has never been in question.

 

[Harlekin]

I don't think trusty meant to attack either MB or twy.

Fact is, just like the first WSS?, some of the enthusiasm for this game stems from a desire to play high-profile Batman characters such as the Joker.

 

[Eddie Brock]

I don't think trusty meant to attack either MB or twy.

Fact is, just like the first WSS?, some of the enthusiasm for this game stems from a desire to play high-profile Batman characters such as the Joker.

I really can't come up with a better response than Keyser's, so I won't try:

But those aside, your point against a new Gotham RPG is that people would want to play so they could have a chance to play iconic characters on a clean slate. This is hardly a new and horrifying phenomenom. It was the driving force behind every RPG after the original Marvel and DC RPGs. And some of those have survived quite nicely.

 

[Harlekin]

I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I'm just pointing out that going that route A) basically makes this UDC, part II and B) will lead to the same ending as the original WSS?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I'm just pointing out that going that route A) basically makes this UDC, part II and B) will lead to the same ending as the original WSS?

Hence my suggestion to tie this RPG more closely into the world of the Nolan movies, and make it follow on directly from "The Dark Knight". It sets a firmer line than "Well this is a game kinda inspired by the grittiness of the Nolan movies and Gotham Central, and it's set in Gotham," and establishes a solid boundary between this game and Ultimate DC.

 

[Batman]

In UDC, yea there are some PC Bat characters? But MB orchestrates what happens with their mythos just about. He has been putting a lot of passion and thought into what does and does't happen in UDC GOtham and you gotta run it by him first. I'm not knocking on you, MB, but that is infact how it is.

Actually, alot of stuff that jived with what I originally had in mind has been allowed into the game, and it was approved by myself, personally. Because I realized the importance of letting people do their own thing, rather than strictly following one person's adherence and storylines. It doesn't make for a fun game.

Everything I've came up with has been turned into a sort of precaution for if a certain character or player doesn't know what to do, because then, I can easily just point out "Well, here's some ideas I had. Use them as you wish.".

 

[twylight]

Five years ago? Jesus. Isn't that close to the dawn of the Hype itself?

.....Way to make me feel old I remember that one..Danger Mouse actually played in that one.

 

[Keyser Soze]

.....Way to make me feel old I remember that one..Danger Mouse actually played in that one.

I'm a near four year RPG vet, and yet I find myself asking... who the hell was Danger Mouse?

 

[Matt Murdock]

Subscription: engaged.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

It just didn't feel like a heated argument without you, PP.

 

[Batman]

Alright, by my last count, we have eight interested players, not counting those on-the-fence. That should be enough to warrant turning the thread from a concept thread into an application thread. However, I won't do it until we've narrowed everything down, so let me see if I've got this straight:

Continuity: One month after the events of The Dark Knight, close to eight months following Batman Begins.

Characters: Players can choose anyone from Batman continuity such as Batman himself, The Joker, Crispus Allen, Michael Atkins, Commisioner Gordon, and others, regardless of medium exposure and obscurity. But there will also be the option of creating custom characters, be they vigilante, villain, or GCPD officer.

Guest Policy: None. We're focusing on Gothamites and Gothamites only, with small mentions being permitted depending on their context.

Additional Rules: * All previously unintroduced characters (IE: Those besides Batman, Joker, Two-Face, Gordon, Scarecrow, ect.) will have to be modified to accommodate the world of the Nolan Batman movies. This includes the option to defy strict continuity and take up characters like Nightwing and Azrael long before their mythologically canonical introductions.

* As said, Gotham City is to be the focus. Characters with outside involvement such as Ra's Al Ghul and Deadshot (who was introduced as a Batman villain) will have to come to Gotham in order to be rendered playable.

* Customized characters cannot be anything completely randomized or extreme, such as the long lost twin brother of Bruce Wayne or The Joker's nephew twice removed. If at all possible, custom characters should be avoided to be in direct relation to others, unless previously discussed with the player playing said character.


I'll update this post as things are further narrowed down.

 

[Eddie Brock]

So, unlike WSS? - which was vaguely connected to BB, this will solidly be a continuation of TDK? Nice. My Joker sample picks up right after the end of TDK, anyway.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

I just want to apologize if what I said earlier. I know I came off as just sh****ng on 'normal characters' and the people who write them across the board, and I honestly didn't mean that. Hell, I did enjoy WSS? while it lasted.

I will be joining this RPG, because I want to be proven wrong. I want this RPG to survive, and in order for it to do that it needs all the players it can get, and if I just sat back and barked about it beign destined to die, I'd be a part of the problem instead of the solution.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Even if people aren't looking to play 'normal' characters, let's not forget that the Bat-Rogues extend past Joker and Two-Face. There's still Scarecrow, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Bane, Ventriloquist, Zsasz, Firefly, Deadshot, Hush, Wraith, Ra's al Ghul, Black Mask, Clayface, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, or Mr. Freeze.

Now, I know most sane people wouldn't play half the characters on that list...but isn't that all the more reason to do it?

 

[twylight]

Geez This is actually starting to sound interesting....*wants to play a cop*

 

[Matt Murdock]

It just didn't feel like a heated argument without you, PP.

I'm not that argumentative.

 

[Batman]

...



That's a good one, Parker.

 

[SenseiofCheese]

I'm not that argumentative.

You're right, you're right, just put the gun down!


I jest, I jest.

 

[Harlekin]

So I've been thinking about, and I might join if this gets off the ground as your new D.A.

 

[Eddie Brock]

So I've been thinking about, and I might join if this gets off the ground as your new D.A.

Man, Gotham's hurting in the DA department after the events of TDK, huh?