TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't)
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I discovered MUs early on in life as many of us did - and it's influenced the kind of TTRPGs I've bought for years, thinking this or that might make an interesting MUs experiment or, they were games that my local group didn't have an interest in/time for.
Sadly, I've never touched a good 90% of them, so I thought I'd list my top few and see what others had sitting in their mental/shelf queue/wishlist!
To me, this is more of a SYSTEMS conversation than setting - but both are welcome! Also, chime in if you'd tried a ruleset and its level of success. Please try to be constructive about it, though!
Atomic Highway/V6 System has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, as one of those games that I'd potentially like to see how it worked out. System and setting. I a good Mad Max setting.
Dragon Ball Z RPG/Instant Fuzion. I always thought this system/setting would be amazing for LOLs (and a nice break away from Ansty Games). Plus, I think Online is the only place where you can obtain enough dice for some later powers. Problem: Running out of planets eventually.
Jadeclaw Alas. I don't think I'd ever really been able to handle the crowd it would attract.
Tunnels & Trolls I've always enjoyed how simple MOST of the rules are for this game. Originally made as a solo RPG, I've always thought this would make a good hybrid game or an L&L that needed a quick, GMless combat system.
Mekton Zeta/MTS Because we all need more giant robots in our lives. Though this one, I think is just a matter of time for me. I have a hankering for some Mecha based Space Opera in my life.
Inspired by the MU*s That we Would Love To Make (But Won't)
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D&D 3.5e "The Biggest Damned Dungeon". Love the setting, wish I could be in another campaign of it.
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@Cobaltasaurus You mean The World's Largest Dungeon?
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Tribute to the Largest Dungeon in the World
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@Kumakun said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
Atomic Highway/V6 System has been sitting on my shelf for a long time, as one of those games that I'd potentially like to see how it worked out. System and setting. I a good Mad Max setting.
I loooove Atomic Highway! I've tried to float it here as a MU* a few times over the years... in that extremely lazy way where I just babble about it enthusiastically and hope someone else will do all the work.
But really, the base systems are super easy to grok, mutations are super fun to roll and strike that sweet spot of unique, amusing and actually useful, and the scavenging and vehicles systems seem like they would flow very well in this format.
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Another +1 for Atomic Highway here. I think it's a great system!
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Unknown Armies - for a different sort of urban fantasy game. The system is quite simple, but allows (almost demands) creating your own skills, so I don't know how easy it would be /to code/. Weird, lethal, great trauma mechanics, fun setting with some optional NPC factions that should be light in the world, if at all - PCs should be street-level players in the Occult Underground, and graduate up and out of the game when they reach global or cosmic levels.
7th Sea - Preferably set in Montaigne, with the political and swashbuckling shenanigans in the city above ground, and the ancient dungeon full of horrors and fun artifacts to find in dungeon crawl heisty fun below ground.
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@Wizz said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
I loooove Atomic Highway! I've tried to float it here as a MU* a few times over the years... in that extremely lazy way where I just babble about it enthusiastically and hope someone else will do all the work.
But really, the base systems are super easy to grok, mutations are super fun to roll and strike that sweet spot of unique, amusing and actually useful, and the scavenging and vehicles systems seem like they would flow very well in this format.
I thought the scavaging rules would be hella fun online. It would be interesting tying in the Salvage rules to stronghold upkeep, It'd also be a great reason to get players on-grid and actually exploring.
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Another system I'd always wanted to try - I was looking at my shelf again, this thread has made me nostalgic. I'm adding a few more to my list:
Scion I love the concept, but I don't think it'd work very well as a MU without some serious modification as much as I love to play TT.
Supernatural/Cortex I've been really tempted to try this one. Especially now. I've also always been curious as to how well Cortex would translate to MU play as well!
Chaosium Basic Roleplaying game Though I've never liked the lack of a link between stats and skills in systems like Chaosium, but the rest of the rules are pretty solid. It'd also take QUITE some time for anyone to 'max out' a character under these rules too.
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@Kumakun said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
Mekton Zeta/MTS Because we all need more giant robots in our lives. Though this one, I think is just a matter of time for me. I have a hankering for some Mecha based Space Opera in my life.
Honestly, I'll take The Jovian Chronicles or Heavy Gear.
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@Ganymede said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
Honestly, I'll take The Jovian Chronicles or Heavy Gear.
Silouhette was pretty good too! For the longest, I had the Shilouette 'generic' game system as well as Heavy Gears and Jovian Chronicles. You're right, that'd totally be fun.
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@Paradox said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
@Cobaltasaurus You mean The World's Largest Dungeon?
Huh, yes. I always thought it was the biggest damned dungeon b/c that's what my group called it. But apparently that was the name of the knight's of the dinner table parody.
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Quest - This is a beautiful game in both content and appearance. I'd love so very much to see it's mechanics used online. I'm not sure how well it would survive MU, but the premise, simplicity, and accessibility are top-notch.
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I think most TTRPG systems just don't translate well to online environments, whether that's in video game RPGs or MUs. For instance, chargen mechanics usually have a lot of complexity that's easy(ish) for humans to deal with but hard to code, and typically more burdensome than most MUs need. Adventure mechanics are geared for arbitration by a central narrator and don't work well in decentralized settings.
The settings often don't adapt too well either. Whether it's a dungeon-crawling adventuring group, a Firefly crew, or a Shadowrun team, most TTRPGs are geared around 'troupe' play. You can do the whole "second life" thing living in that world in a MU, but IMHO that loses a lot of what made the setting cool in the first place.
Some settings I wish could adapt well to MUs would include Shadowrun, Top Secret/spies, and 7th Sea/pirates.
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@faraday I wonder if some of those settings would work out better doing shorter stints with a tighter focus? Sort of like (apologies to which place this is) the Horror MU* that has archetypes that are played by players and given a new character for each story.
Overall I think any game setting and mechanics can be used to measure and describe characters and circumstances, but should not be used to arbitrate results. Sort of trait based but based on written rules.
Perhaps there is some way to use game-like means to arbitrate results, but I don't think that fits most players.
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Rifts or TMNT. Both Palladium games which means people have a strong knee-jerk reaction but I've had fun playing both since the 80s/90s.
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I like TMNT because I've always wanted to be a mutant cuscus.
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@ZombieGenesis said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
Rifts or TMNT. Both Palladium games which means people have a strong knee-jerk reaction but I've had fun playing both since the 80s/90s.
I entertained a Rifts game for a few minutes - even conferred with someone who'd run one for a while. It was the thought of having to deal with the vastness of the Rifts universe that would kill me. So many classes, so much data.
TMNT or Robotech would be much easier I think since their rules are contained - or maybe even a gateway into a more robust Palladium system. Who knows, haha. My problem is with level-based systems though. I've never been a fan of MU + levels.
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If you wanted to explore the sheer immensity of all that is Rifts, I think it'd be best to do PDF sheets on the wiki/web portal. There's just too much to think about in terms of code otherwise.
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@Ganymede said in TTRPG's You've Wanted to MU* (But Probably Won't):
I like TMNT because I've always wanted to be a mutant cuscus.
Mutant Cuscus Likes Bananas
Mutant Cuscus Likes Bananas
Mutant Cuscus Likes Bananas
Hero with shiny eyes
Cuscus Power!