Discworld Discussion (Nothing Concrete Just Yet)

[Jadeling]

Okay, I've been debating this within my own head for a while, but I've finally decided to let the rest of ya'll into my head. As the title says, I don't have anything concrete yet, because this is kind of a difficult topic for me: A Discworld group game. It's difficult in that I really, really like PTerry's writing style, but as far as I can remember the closest thing to sexual activity he's every described is "The bedsprings went gloink" so I don't really have much of a guide in this area. I also feel that treating sex in a... well, how can I put it? "Typically pornographic fashion" would definitely not be the way to roll in any game set on the Disc.

Okay, okay. Hold up. Back up a bit. What I'm saying is that - unusually for a game based on Elliquiy, I know - sex, or even romance or whatnot wouldn't be the focus. I mean, yes, it would happen maybe, that's why it's not in the non-adult roleplaying forum - but it's not the focus at all. I just want to RP on the Disc with people who can write, and this seems like the most likely place that's going to happen.

The game would definitely be set in Ankh-Morpork - it's the greatest city on the Disc, you know, as well as the best-described. In terms of Canon characters, I'd ask that they be treated in the way that, say, Vimes or William De Worde are treated in the Moist stories; from a distance, in-character, and you would definitely not be playing as them. On a social level, we'd be thinking somewhere around the 'capable of going to the Mended Drum and participating in a bar brawl without arousing comment' level, so say, Student Assassins, lower-level/student wizards, Thieves' Guilds (or otherwise), Thugs, Lower-ranking Watchmen, Seamstresses (hem-hem!), and other types likely to be hanging around such a reputable disreputable pub. As far as plot would go... I don't currently have any ideas for a party to gather. Maybe a group of people are caught up in a bar brawl or something, the Watch grabs them all, and Vimes or Vetinari sets them a 'special assignment'? Or perhaps that's too similar to the Von Lipwig situation for comfort.

The game would be set about 'now' in Canoncity, i.e. after Unseen Academicals (don't worry, the only thing that changed on the social scale in UA was that people like football now). That's to say: the Watch is fairly strong, Newspapers exist, the Clacks exists, the Royal Mint and the Post Office are working again, distant Borogravia is avoiding being drawn into yet more conflicts, the Golem Trust is in operation, Dwarfs, Trolls and the Differently Alive can go around the streets without being immediately lynched.

Thoughts? Ideas? I will be endevouring to make this game accessible to people who haven't read Discworld (or haven't read Discworld to the extent that I have), but I'm looking for people who have right now so I can start plotting properly.

[Callie Del Noire]

Heh.. I did something like that before (Mage before an accident in the HEM Labs during the events of Hogsfather.)

It involved several rubber bands, a rubber chicken, a bottle of doublemalt, a bannanna peel, a fall into a book storeage unit ¹ and access
to the L-Space annex. (everyone who tried it since has ended up dead, terribly embarrased, or both)


¹A tome on <harrum harumph!> by A Lady

[Callie Del Noire]

Let's see.. Other players included...

-A decadent of Cohen who figured being a cop was the 'coming things'. Had a bad habit of smashing things flat.
-A relative of CMOT Dippler.. got dragged along for the adventure when he came in to pay a fine.

[Remiel]

Discworld? Did I hear Discworld?

We cannot have a Discworld campaign on E and NOT include Remiel.

As for suggestions --
1. The watch hires new recruits, who inadvertently happen upon a plot to assassinate Vetinari (again!). Hilarity ensues.
2. Equal Opportunity arrives at Unseen University with its Tyrant-mandated acceptance of its first witch (Eskarina doesn't count!)  We could take turns playing the befuddled faculty.  Whoever plays the Librarian would probably have an easy time of it (although I don't see an entire post consisting entirely of "Ook."
3. In the style of "Pyramids", three neophyte Assassins are sent on their first assignment.  Unfortunately, the task is a bit more than they bargained for...

Just some ideas.

[Callie Del Noire]

I don't think he (the PAtrician) wants to cause TOO much problems with the UU.

Of course I'm still reelling from some of the consequences of Unseen Academicals.

[Jadeling]

I think at the very least a sembelance of magic would be the way to go, just to get the watch out of the picture. Everybody knows Vimes won't touch the stuff. Of course, the question then would be why aren't the Senior Wizards doing anything, but that can be easily solved by making them go off and do something stupid.

I think plots to assassinate or unelect the Patrician are outward bound, personally, but I'm struggling to come up with an equivilent concept.

Magical disaster is probably the way to go.

[Callie Del Noire]

I think at the very least a sembelance of magic would be the way to go, just to get the watch out of the picture. Everybody knows Vimes won't touch the stuff. Of course, the question then would be why aren't the Senior Wizards doing anything, but that can be easily solved by making them go off and do something stupid.

I have to agree.. the only way I see Magic in the Watch (at least OFFICIALLY) is after they carry a very dead Sam Vines out of his office (most likely with his hands around the Patrician's throat)

[Tad]

I'd be up for playing if this gets off the ground.  So many wonderful possibilities!

[Jadeling]

In between what seems like my eleventy-billion other projects I'm working on this, but I would appreciate any ideas or questions that anybody who is interested has. :)

[Remiel]

Tad, <3 <3 for the Pratchett quote in your sig.

Jadeling, I would suggest coming up with a basic, bare bones  plot idea first.  That way we don't have the characters standing around making small talk and such while waiting for something to happen.

[Jadeling]

At the moment I'm thinking that everybody meets in the Mended Drum (IT'S TRADITION) coincidentally. They get caught up in a Bar Brawl, but they somehow manage to do something extraordinary, either destructive or just spectacular, which lands them in front of the Patrician and Vimes the next morning. Vimes isn't happy about it, but the watch can't interfere, because of Politics. Vetinari needs people to do something which is beyond the scope of his dark clerks...

hrmmm...

but what?

It might depend on the types of characters we get, especially ones who are foreign or magical or something along those lines. That's an alright starting point though. I have a sneaking suspicion the situation might involve either Agatean, Klatchian or Ecksian Wizards, or even just UU, to be plain and simple.

[Tad]

Would a werewolf along the lines of Delphine Angua von Uberwald be acceptable?  She'd be moral in the same manner... vegetarian 3 weeks a month and all.  Beyond that I'd be willing to bend to whatever you'd need for the game.

Or if that idea doesn't pan out, I'm sure I can conjure up another character.  There's just a few different types of them in the books...

[Jadeling]

I think that's completely fine. I just don't want an entire party of werewolves or whatever. If you're planning on getting kinkay, then I think most of you are going to want to stick to the more humanoid lifeforms of the disc; Humans, Vampires, Werewolves, and (maybe) Igors/Igorinas in the main.

I'd also want to avoid similarities to canon characters, so I'd appreciate it if your werewolf wasn't a member of the Watch. :3

Any more interest out there? Come on, there's gotta be more of you...

[Callie Del Noire]

How about a small god (it was something mentioned in the Gurps Discworld Too! supplemnent)

You like the idea we can hammer out in PMs if you like

[Tad]

No worries... I didn't figure you'd want things quite that similar.

[Jadeling]

How about a small god (it was something mentioned in the Gurps Discworld Too! supplemnent)

You like the idea we can hammer out in PMs if you like

Sure, let's talk it out. I've got what I have on the table; PM me with what you have, and we'll start forging away.

[Callie Del Noire]

That is one pissed off mon... er.. Librarian.

[Tad]

Since the UU has been represented, I figure the Undead should have the same right.  Though I'm still not sure werewolves should qualify as such.  I guess the popular opinion is "they're big and scary, they come from Überwald, and if you stab them with a sword they don't die. What more do you want?"

[Remiel]

I think this would be the perfect place to showcase my character, Walter Cupcake.  He's an assassin, but isn't very good at it.  He'd much rather be an artist instead.  Unfortunately, his paintings all tend to look like they should have titles such as "Death of a Canvas" or "A Crime Against Paint."

He's got a little too much Captain Carrot in him, but perhaps he could pick up some unique quirks along the way...

[Callie Del Noire]

I think this would be the perfect place to showcase my character, Walter Cupcake.  He's an assassin, but isn't very good at it.  He'd much rather be an artist instead.  Unfortunately, his paintings all tend to look like they should have titles such as "Death of a Canvas" or "A Crime Against Paint."

He's got a little too much Captain Carrot in him, but perhaps he could pick up some unique quirks along the way...

Sounds  promising. I am reminded of the scene from Pyramids.. the guy tosses his xbow away, it goes off and kills his 'target'.

[Jadeling]

I really did like Pteppic.

[Ramael]

I'm.....

....yeah, I'm....gonna go ahead....and bump this, because it so deserves a bump. S'been a while.

In terms of what you originally said about sexuality on the Disc Jadeling, you're right. However we do get some very in-depth descriptions, and I'm sure the power of suggestion was used very heavily with Carrot and...(I forget her name...the werewolf chick?) in Night Watch.

Anyway, expressing interest.

Odd the lack of female interest. I know a coupla chicks in RL who read Discworld.

[Callie Del Noire]

Angua von Überwald.

:-D