I’m going to run a couple one-offs of Fickle RPG soon, and was thinking of settings/genres. Realistically I think we’re just going to rock and roll some Star Wars.
BUT there are two I came up with that I’d love to explore with the right group at some point. They are a bit more player-vs-player in terms of the intrigue and distrust involved, so that could be refreshing and an interesting stretch of the rules too (mainly because players allocating against each other instead of the Storyteller would add a whole new level of tension).
The Thing
First of all an Arctic base with the alien creature from John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). I think they remade the movie, but come on, as if you’re gonna beat Kurt Russell and the amazing and unique soundtrack.
Anyway after a suitable stable of scientists, engineers, and other blue collar personnel were created, I’d hand out secret Personal Goals. All would be blank but one, which would simply say “You are The Thing”.
Then let the chaos ensue!
Witch Hunt
The second setting follows a similar pattern. Not really based on a certain movie, but more the dark ages of witch hunts and burning at the stake, with maybe a bit of Warhammer-fantasy-esque low/gritty magic thrown in to have ACTUAL witches. Maybe a bit would be drawn from the cheesy Nicholas Cage movie Season of the Witch (hate him all you want, I still like a few of his clearly-for-a-paycheck movies, such as Drive Angry).
Anyway the session would open with the players (who are a mix of inquisitor/priest/commoner types) burning a witch at the stake. Then having to carry documents of the deed to some central library…or whatever…just some excuse to travel. But before they head out, I hand everyone a secret Personal Goal and tell the players it will say if they are a witch or not.
The M. Night Shyamalan twist? No one is a witch. And go!
:: Horizon Games :: 