[Reverse Dungeon] The House of Monsters

Started by WyzardWhately, March 14, 2008, 04:12:07 PM

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WyzardWhately

This sounds ridiculous, but stay with me, please.  Many of you have probably played that old staple, D&D, or its many cousins and descendants.  Under the skin of the earth, a short distance from the town, there is a great stone-walled complex full of monsters, who have hoarded treasure.  An entire ecosystem of adventurers, pawn-shops, and specialized magical creatures has grown up around this common niche.  And, of course, there are the monsters.  These are their stories.

You throw in some shapeshifters, succubi, a vampire, werewolves, and the wildly varying other creatures of the FRPG genre into this big windowless mansion.  They apparently manage to get along and live together.  Who's to say they might not be friends?  They have to get up to *something* between periodic raids by the sword & sorcery set.  Who knows what could happen with that amount of free time?  Let alone what they might do with any hapless treasure-hunters who might fall into their clutches. 

I picture this as a sort of ensemble-cast erotic dramedy, played as straight as possible within the limits of the premise and the tropes.  There should be strong elements of fantasy, dark fantasy, sexuality, human drama, and horror.  The players just oftentimes happen to possess winges, tentacles, scales, and inhuman lusts.  I think what we make of it would depend greatly on the GM and the other players, and who chooses to play what.  I think there's even room for the innocent barmaid from town, the dashing rogue swordsman, and various other less 'monstrous' characters.

If someone feels up to running such a thing, I think we should riff on it and see where it goes.  I would prefer that there be some kind of game system underpinning the whole undertaking, even if we keep it fairly loose and roll dice only with the greatest irregularity.  I'm not terribly particular about what that might be, I just like having numbers attached to characters in this sort of deal.
Look!  I have an ons and offs list now!  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=13580.0
It's still really sketchy, though.
Here are my dice rolls: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/player/WyzardWhately/

VandalSavage

The Surreal Life set in an "ad absurdum" D&D dungeon. 

I love it. 

That having been said, I could not run it.  I only have inclination and opportunity to write in it.

I will watch this thread expectantly.

Jefepato

The actual Reverse Dungeon module was a total mess, but this could be a lot of fun.  I'm not sure if I could manage the GMing, though...

Jeramiahh

*sticks fingers in ears* Lalalalala I can't hear you...

This is actually akin to a system I've been working on, on and off, for the past three years or so, a 'turn based' dungeon building competition, with some interesting roleplaying elements tossed in. I could SO run this... though I'm mighty discouraged from group games; my last five or so have died horrible, painful deaths, which irritates me to no end.

However, I would love to play something like this.
I'm not shy. I'm silently stalking my prey.
There are two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not quite sure about the first one.

kongming

To be fair, Jere, I'd be happy to continue the game I was in, should you ever get it going again. I actually liked taking a simple core-book deity for a basic cleric, no real frills, the kind who has the jobs of "Heal" and "Kill", then making that interesting and fun.

Anyway, I'd also be interested in playing, but not running. (Although currently, feeling a bit run down and all, there aren't many games of mine I have the energy to post in at all, so would possibly slow things down a little. That being said, one of those games I do have the energy/mood for is Maiden of Pain, Jere *cracks whip, makes the basic assumption no-one has anything to do to keep me entertained*
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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DreadD

#5
Hrmm...  Yeah, I think I could have some fun running this.  Pardon the earlier message, I do believe I missed the point a bit on my first try...

Hrm, so would you want it more like a Monster "Big Brother" where no one could leave, and conflict stems from there, or will they have to balance their social lives and driving out various heroes?

HairyHeretic

Reminds me a bit of Dungeon Keeper. That was a fun game.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Stattick

Oh, if I wasn't already in the stages of starting a multi-player game, I'd volunteer to run it w/ Cinematic Unisystem. It's the simplist point buy system that I've liked and is very GM friendly. Plus, I've found that players like having Drama Points to spend (automatic successes, temporary plot or NPC control, etc), plus as the GM, you get to hand them out everytime you need to screw over the party for some reason, or someone does something particularly cool.

So, it gives you the ability to start off play with... "Everyone slowly comes too and discovers much to their chagrin that they're in a large dungeon cell without their equipment and can't remember how they got there. On the good side, everyone gets a drama point!"  ;D
O/O   A/A

DreadD

#8
Is that a public system?  For if people wanted to run system for this game that sounds like it could be pretty nifty >_>  Assuming they let me run it, anywho >_>  And I could find uses for it otherwise, too, I suspect.

WyzardWhately

Quote from: DreadD on March 15, 2008, 04:43:40 AM
Hrm, so would you want it more like a Monster "Big Brother" where no one could leave, and conflict stems from there, or will they have to balance their social lives and driving out various heroes?

The way I picture it, it's not so much that anyone is somehow prevented from leaving, as that this is their home.
Look!  I have an ons and offs list now!  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=13580.0
It's still really sketchy, though.
Here are my dice rolls: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/player/WyzardWhately/

Stattick

Quote from: DreadD on March 15, 2008, 07:23:35 AM
Is that a public system?  For if people wanted to run system for this game that sounds like it could be pretty nifty >_>  Assuming they let me run it, anywho >_>  And I could find uses for it otherwise, too, I suspect.

http://www.edenstudios.net/

They're the ones that publish unisystem. The Witchcraft basebook is free for download, but it uses classic unisystem which is more complicated and clunky then ceni-uni. For ceni-uni, I believe the only basebook currently in publication is Army of Darkness, as sadly, Eden lost the license to continue publishing Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel.

The core mechanic for both systems is the same. Stat + Skill + any modifiers + 1d10 vs fixed target number. Most of the time there's no modifiers. It damn close the system I'd have designed if I'd had time. It's a lot like oWoD system without the buckets o dice problem that makes me twitch when someone says "dice pool".
O/O   A/A

Jefepato

I like Cinematic Unisystem.  It seems a little odd to use it for a mostly-monster game, but it could work pretty well.

WyzardWhately

I've got Buffy sitting around somewhere.  Not Angel, though.
Look!  I have an ons and offs list now!  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=13580.0
It's still really sketchy, though.
Here are my dice rolls: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/player/WyzardWhately/

Jefepato

I have both, which is very helpful for this sort of game, since Angel is a lot more clear on how racial templates and demon powers work.

Stattick

dungeons an zombies would be useful for this setting too from AFMBE (which i have), as would the free 'net expansion for it (which i have on my hd somewhere if you can't find it)........

*taps foot impatiently and looks at Eden, wanting Beyond Human months ago*
O/O   A/A

DreadD

Okay, after some discussing with Wyzard, I have a general idea where this is going.  The cast will live in a dungeon that is their home, there's no powerful NPC boss or anything, but if they want to have a bit of a pecking order that's up to them.  They're generally getting settled, they know each other, but real meeting and relationship developement shall be handled in character.  Theirs is the only truly habited part of the dungeon, but ther are other things below, ancient powers, tools, etc. in the deeper levels.

As for a system...  It seems he wants to just have it to be referanced occasionally, because of that I'd like to use as simple a system as posisble (if I end up running it, and I have yet to see anyone else chomping at the bit to do so >_>)

Now, honestly, I don't know Unisystem, and perhaps I am not quite understanding, but it looks a touch complex for something that's just going to be referanced once in a while.  I propose, as such, an alternative:

http://futaformation.pbwiki.com/

It's very simple, though I would not have the players starting out at first level.  Maybe more like third or so, with as many "special attacks" and abilities as seem logical for your race.  Of course, that's if people like the look of it >_>

Jefepato

#16
AFMBE isn't the same Cinematic style, but it could still be a good source.  Armageddon and Witchcraft might also be useful for this, I haven't read them in detail yet.

DreadD, Unisystem really isn't complex at all, especially not the cinematic version...and honestly, I wouldn't touch the Futaformation system with a standard-issue 10-foot pole.  Straight d100 rolls are way too random for me.

VandalSavage

I am easy going when it comes to systems, having survived the rigors of running 'Phoenix Command' and 'Middle Earth Role-Playing', but I generally shy from the puerile, unrealistic "level based" systems.

I would greatly prefer something as simple as those proposed Unisystems or RuneQuest (where most everything is percentile chance).

That all having been said, I will acquiesce to the comfort of whoever is good enough to fill the role of GameMaster.

Jefepato

Quote from: VandalSavage on March 15, 2008, 12:26:19 PM
I am easy going when it comes to systems, having survived the rigors of running 'Phoenix Command' and 'Middle Earth Role-Playing', but I generally shy from the puerile, unrealistic "level based" systems.

Honestly, just because they're not your style doesn't make them puerile...and "unrealistic" is hardly a criticism.  This game's concept is about as far from realistic as you can get.

Stattick

A download of Uniforge, a free chargen program that someone wrote for unisystem would help w/ character generation as well... um, again it's free, but i don't recall the URL. i can pass it along if it's desired...

No, i don't have any sort of association w/ unisystem other then being a fan. depending on who joins up and how things are set up, i might be tempted to bring in a character. I'm not a d20 fan, but if that's the system chosen (which WOULD make a degree of sense in a Gygaxian dungeon, and it already has everything needed for the individual characters.... if you can deal w/ the ultra high crunch factor and what people like me that aren't fans would call the "wiff factor") i'd need help w/ chargen as I've never successfully written up a d20 character ever and don't have the books...

hmm, i dunno what i'd play, i think it'd depend on other players, but the idea of a roper or cloaker appeals to me.  ;D
O/O   A/A

kongming

I will raise my head here (again) and say I've played a game of Witchcraft, and I found the system to be nearly as bad as that of oWoD - and for the sake of comparison, most fans of WoD (and the designers themselves) admit that oWoD was a shocking system.

And seriously, realism isn't a good thing in fantasy games. When we want realism, there's this game called "Real life". It's a pretty shit game, though. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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Jefepato

Quote from: kongming on March 15, 2008, 09:35:00 PM
I will raise my head here (again) and say I've played a game of Witchcraft, and I found the system to be nearly as bad as that of oWoD - and for the sake of comparison, most fans of WoD (and the designers themselves) admit that oWoD was a shocking system.

I'm not sure what bothered you about it, but Cinematic Unisystem is much simpler than the Unisystem used in Witchcraft.  (The same basic mechanic is still there, though...)

kongming

The core mechanic itself was fine - of what I remember of it. It was the Witchcraft specific aspects. For instance, in a game about spellcasters, heaven forbid you actually cast a spell. Doing so punishes you worse than Mage does.

So I doubt Unisystem inherently suffers from those flaws that were probably specific to Witchcraft.
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I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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Jefepato

It doesn't.  In the BtVS game (which uses the Cinematic version), for example, casting spells doesn't screw you over like that.  (Side effects do happen if you flub a spellcasting roll, but it doesn't rise anywhere near the level of Mage's Paradox, unless you're trying a really high-level spell or using it for crazy evil purposes.)  If anything, magic is broken in that game.

I should read Witchcraft again.  I didn't realize it was that harsh.

kongming

In the first session I played, no-one managed to cast a spell without backlash. So we all took injuries and fatigue. One person was effectively disabled.

I then attempted a healing spell to heal the backlash, and ended up causing an effect where, in a few hours, one of my magic types (randomly rolled, and water control was rolled. Water also includes things like blood) would activate on me, at full strength. So I had managed to give my character a death penalty count down.

The only magic system I actively think is awesome is the Ars Magica one, where either you cast the spell (no cost), you cast it and become a little fatigued (this can wear off by resting for a round) or you fail to cast the spell and become a little fatigued. After that, I accept the D&D and Rifts methods as acceptable and decent, though not completely awesome.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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Jefepato

Ars Magica seems a bit complex for most of the games I want to play; otherwise, I'd be all over it.  (It's notable for being the only game book that I ever got as an impulse buy, without knowing anything about the system beforehand.)

However, I must admit that my days of playing FF games have left me with a certain affection for death penalty countdowns.

I think we're getting a little off-topic, though...

kongming

Yeah, I think we are. Oh, and I like Death Penalty countdowns, but as something people inflict on each other, not as something you accidentally inflict on yourself with no way to prevent.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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DreadD

I dare say.  Okay, here's the run around from my understanding.  Whatever system we choose will generally not come up with the exception for when success or failure is particularly dramatic.  With this in mind, making DnD characters, particularly messing with the monster rules, is a severe waste of effort.  If everyone wantes to run CUni, I'll look through it and figure it out, but again, the system is not going to be coming up a ton, or at least, that was my intent.  We will likely go for pages without a single die roll, so how much work you want to put into the system of choice is something that's kind of up in the air.

Oh, though the system will likely also come up when it comes to any sort of player VS player combat/conflict, it's a nice, easy way to keep that sort of contention short, as free form combat can last a looong time.

VandalSavage

Quote from: DreadD on March 16, 2008, 05:36:59 AM
Oh, though the system will likely also come up when it comes to any sort of player VS player combat/conflict, it's a nice, easy way to keep that sort of contention short, as free form combat can last a looong time.

Given this, how about using the d20 system, choosing a particular "Challenge Rating" (CR) of monsters and selecting among those? 

By that method, even if someone wanted to play a monster type of a lower Challenge Rating, they could just add character levels to them until their Challenge Rating reaches that of the standard set.

I am sure finding a list of monsters and appropriate System Resource Documents would not be difficult on the internet.  I could even send a copy of the appropriate books in pdf format to any who require them.

However, for simplicity's sake and for an additional element of enjoyment in character creation, I would advocate the Amber Diceless System.  It seems ideal for this kind of closed environment.  An article describing it and the character creation process in particular is located here on Wikipedia.

DreadD

Er, as for using a diceless system, this seems like it would require even more work for me to adjust to, and I believe part of WyzardWhately's desire to have that feeling of numbers and dice underlying what's going on.  Again, I think because we're not going to be referancing it constantly, I'd prefer something simple, rather than using a more complex basis than DnD.  If people really want to run in 3.5 or something, though, I suppose I can handle it.

VandalSavage

I would be fine with any system - I leave it to the discretion of whoever's good enough to run it.

DreadD

Well I was planning on running it, as I said before, unless there was some objection to that >_>

VandalSavage

Quote from: DreadD on March 17, 2008, 10:12:16 PM
Well I was planning on running it, as I said before, unless there was some objection to that >_>

And your preference is for 'futaformation', yes?  I will compose a character in that for you.

DreadD

Well, I'd prefer that one because of how very simple it is, but I don't want to lose players over it.

The Great Triangle

How about Risus, the anything rpg?  A simple game where players define their characters by a series of cliches which act as their abilities.  The game is incredibly simple, designed for comedy, and available as a free download:

http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/downloads.htm#Risus  (Scroll about halfway down the game)


I've had sucess using the game to run an in person game pitting random video game characters against each other.  The party consisted of, The Combine from half life, A Space Marine, Samus, and the main character from Harvest Moon.  The game worked perfectly as the party confronted  challenges like the Yeti from ski free, a glitched sewer puzzle, Revolver Ocelot, and being a bad enough dude to save the president.
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DreadD

I could, indeed, run with that as well...  That is quite easy to understand, and as we're using monster archetypes, the cliche's would come easily...

So, uhm...  Interest check/voting time.  Post if you're still interestead and what system you'd prefer to use, methinks.

Jefepato

Still interested.  I like Cinematic Unisystem, but Risus is fine too.

kongming

If a link was posted or Cinematic Unisystem's rules, I think I missed it. Anyway, I'm not too worried, so I'll say Risus because it's so simple you can do it in your sleep.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

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VandalSavage

Risus works fine for me.  I will compose something in that.

VandalSavage

#39
Here we have a possibility:

.Xanthiflex the Profligate.

Description:  The former scribe of a warrior drone in the service of the Hivething of Golgoth, Xanthiflex was summoned by the Dungeon Keeper via a portal to his demonic realm.  Given his ability to lay hosts of parasitic eggs in nearly any other being, he was conscripted as the dungeon's source of cannon fodder, a role he feels neglects his more extraordinary abilities - his social skills and political acumen.  Nevertheless, he acknowledges it's hard to look beyond the carapace, and has resigned himself to a disgruntled existence as the dungeon's eight foot tall menacing hypnotic bug, rather than its insectile precursor to Tom Wolfe.

Cliches:  Giant demon mantis (4), News Junkie (2), Casanova Courtier (3), Demonologist (1)

DreadD

Ookay, well, I'll run it, it looks like Risus is the system of choice, people PM me character ideas, etc. we'll talk them over and when I have a few finished I'll start up the thread, sound good?

DreadD

I haven't heard from anyone with character ideas or anything, have people lost interest in this?  Toss me a line anyone who's up for it.

Jefepato

I'm still interested, but I have yet to get any inspiration for a specific character idea.

The Great Triangle

Well, the bored porn-star succubis, the non union dragon, the being of 10,000 templates (if you're familiar with D&D 3.5), and the scary teenage girl all make good archtypes to appear in a reverse dungeon scenario.
Meow!  I'm a kitty; made of fire.

Ons and Offs

Jefepato

Scary teenage girl...hm...

It might be amusing to go with a crazed-up, perky goth necromancer.  Are double-pump dice allowed?

DreadD

Double pump dice?  I don't think I'm familiar with the term.  I'm willing to play along with just about any character design, though remember, if you plan on getting raunchy, you'll either have to appeal with your dungeon mates...  Or find out how the dungeon deals with rapists.

Jefepato

Quote from: DreadD on March 30, 2008, 12:58:15 AM
Double pump dice?  I don't think I'm familiar with the term.

They're described on page 5 of the Risus PDF.

(You know you have a simple game when, by page 5, you're well into the optional rules.)

The Great Triangle

Double pump dice are used to allow players to pick particularly strong cliches like "Sorcerer"  and "Thunder God."  A double pump cliche costs twice as much as a normal cliche, but provides two bonus dice when pumping.  This, along with the powerful description of double pump cliches, often makes them very powerful, but not gamewreckingly powerful as they might be if they cost the same as regular abilities.

(For example, I once played a game of risus in a fairytale setting where a player was able to get the cliche "Fairy Magic" at level 6, and therefore overshadowed pretty much every other character in the game because the cliche, based on the theme of the game, could effectively be used in any type of combat as an innapropriate cliche.)
Meow!  I'm a kitty; made of fire.

Ons and Offs

DreadD

Well, I might permit it, but only for very strong specializations.  Anything like that should more than define your character in and of itself...  Succubi and something like Sex Magic, for example.

Videospirit


Jefepato

If people are still on board with this, character idea:

Name: Kiandra du Nekros

Description: Kiandra's father, the dread necromancer Marcellus du Nekros, was exiled from civilized lands long ago, and forced to live among monsters to study his arts.  Perhaps unfortunately for his new "roommates," he brought his daughter with him.

Almost a year ago, though, the aged Marcellus was killed when his attempt to become a lich turned out badly.  Kia's stuck around, though, and apparently has no problem with the fact that everyone she knows is a terrible monster.  It's certainly more fun hanging out in the dungeon than living under human laws ever was.  She's generally quite friendly unless provoked, but she's still tormenting the souls of the last bunch of adventurers who thought she needed to be rescued...

Cliches: Necromancer [3], Goth Chick (2), Problem With Authority (2)

DreadD

Whelp, I've got at least two full character sheets now, send me some more, folks, and I'll... Get started.

PurpleBlasphemy

Reverse Dungeons rock.

Name: Muz (pronounced like "Moo")

Description: It is theorized that Muz was born in the dungeon. Nobody remembers when it got there, and it is just as likely that it sprung up from the ground (or from one of the inhabitants) as anything else. The funny thing about Muz is that it never stays in one shape, but even though it appears different every day, it's instantly recognizable (even if it is impersonating one of the other inhabitants). To this day, Muz has neither confirmed nor denied any gender identity.

Muz has minor telepathic powers and takes great joy in taking the forms of creatures and people from the minds of people around it. The only problem is that this telepathy is hard to control, so Muz sometimes assumes the form of its targets' greatest fears, and sometimes of their greatest joys (in the latter case, such as appearing as a puppy to a dog-lover, Muz can be a very good distraction).

Clichés: Shapechanging [3], Telepathic (2), Mischievous (2)