Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 grehnhewe Feb 20, 2010 14:20:18	I am looking forward to the release of Gamma World as I am a fan of the 4e game system, but I miss running games in other genres.  When I heard about the release of Gamma World this fall I began thinking about a campaign.  (I prefer creating campaigns and adventures rather than running stock modules.)    I have been reading the Genesis of Shannara trilogy by Terry Brooks.  A post apocalyptic series that I think could be adapted to Gamma World with little effort.  It begins approximately 100 years in the future after a world-altering disaster, and the world is now overun by demons who are attempting to exterminate the last vestiges of humanity whom now reside mostly in fortified compounds. Some of the things that make this trilogy an ideal fit are as follows:   A desolate world in which humanity lies upon the brink of extinction   The existence of advanced technology (slightly more advanced than the present day) left over from before the disaster (such as lasers, vehicles and robots), which are scavenged from the ruins by the remaining humans.   The exisence of many types of mutants (such as once-men, croaks and giant centipedes)   The remaining humans are banded together in fortified compounds, outlaw milias or clan-like organizations. This trilogy also has a aspect of fantasy to it.  If these ideas are not represented in the Gamma World rule set, then hopefully they could be adapted from 4e D and D:   Magic   Knights of the Word (staff wielding magic-using warriors)   Elves   Demons and shapechangers   Fey The story itself from this trilogy I believe could be adapted to serve as an adventure path for a group of heroes.  The setting itself could also be an interesting background to create original stories and adventures. I am interested to hear any specifics and comments from gamers who have read this series and think it would make a good campaign.  I am also interested to here about any other books or movies that gamers are considering adapting to Gamma World.
#2 ian.thomson Feb 20, 2010 16:01:47	I haven't read Terry Brooks, but he's not Terry Goodkind (*shudders*) and what I've seen of his work (especially after reading your post and checking Wikipedia articles relating to some of the stuff you've mentioned), I think it would not hurt to try at all.  (Gonna have to look into reading Shannara). Depending on what sort of fire arms rules they include, Stephan King's Dark Tower would be fun to adapt.  Regardless of how good the fire arms rules are, here's to hoping they release Boot Hill next!  Races would probably be just human, although a servants of the red campaign including NCP androids, can-toi, and maybe taheen would be fun.
#3 grehnhewe Feb 20, 2010 16:17:55	I agree that the Dark Tower would be fun to adapt, in particular some parts of The Wasteland and Wolves of the Calla.  I actually stumbled upon this Terry Brooks trilogy, and I have found it quite enjoyable. I read his first book long ago in high school (a very tolkienesque fantasy) , and I admit when I tried to re-read it recently, I just couldn't get through it.
#4 strand0 Feb 20, 2010 19:44:31	Ralph Bakshi's WIZARDS Mutant Nazi vs Faeries Good stuff from 1975. Someone on the Campaign Board said... Pirate! Now I want... Mutants of the Caribbean!
#5 grehnhewe Feb 21, 2010 7:26:24	Wizards!  Fantastic idea.  As with my idea for Genesis of Shanarra, I hope magic will be represented in Gamma World.  I believe I read that Wizards was one of the original inspirations for Gamma World. While on the subject of old school animation, how about this one: Thundarr the Barbarian
#6 grehnhewe Feb 21, 2010 10:13:48	So in synopsis, a good setting adapted from books, television and movies for Gamma World should contain most of the following criteria:   A post apocalyptic world   Multiple races for the players to choose from   Multiple races to be used as antagonists   Creatures   Mutants and mutations   Tech and future-tech   Magic/Psionics Ideas thus far:   The Genesis of Shanarra (a book series by Terry Brooks)   The Dark Tower (a book series by Stephen King)   Wizards (an animated movie by Ralph Bakshi)   Thundarr the Barbarian (an early eighties Saturday morning cartoon) I have other ideas myself, but I am more interested in other peoples input.
#7 ian.thomson Feb 22, 2010 13:19:34	After seeing Strand0 describe the hawkoid as a bird man in the other thread, and seeing Thundarr, I'm contemplating trying to run a Harvey Birdman campaign.
#8 grehnhewe Feb 22, 2010 18:26:41	After seeing Strand0 describe the hawkoid as a bird man in the other thread, and seeing Thundarr, I'm contemplating trying to run a Harvey Birdman campaign. I have to admit I am not familiar with Harvey Birdman.  Isn't he supposed to be a lawyer?  So much for my hopes of a post apocalyptic world free of litigation (lol)
#9 ian.thomson Feb 23, 2010 12:29:33	It's not post-apoc (well, last couple of episodes head towards that, but nothing serious, just the timeline being messed with so today and 10,000 BC crash into each other). Harvery Birdman was a result of the folks at Adult Swim realizing that they could use all the Hanna Barbara cartoon characters however they wanted and not get sued because they're both owned by AOL Time Warner.  They have plots like Scooby and Shaggy getting busted for possession, Race Bannon fighting for custody of Johnny and Hadji, and Grape Ape getting in trouble for steroid use. If nothing else, I will imitate Mentok the Mind Taken whenever playing a psionic character ("MIND-taking!  Ooo-eee-ooo!")
#10 grehnhewe Feb 23, 2010 18:45:17	It's not post-apoc (well, last couple of episodes head towards that, but nothing serious, just the timeline being messed with so today and 10,000 BC crash into each other). Harvery Birdman was a result of the folks at Adult Swim realizing that they could use all the Hanna Barbara cartoon characters however they wanted and not get sued because they're both owned by AOL Time Warner.  They have plots like Scooby and Shaggy getting busted for possession, Race Bannon fighting for custody of Johnny and Hadji, and Grape Ape getting in trouble for steroid use. If nothing else, I will imitate Mentok the Mind Taken whenever playing a psionic character ("MIND-taking!  Ooo-eee-ooo!") Sounds hilarious, I need to check it out.  Was Thundarr or Ookla in an episode? Here is another post-apocalyptic campaign ides, what about the Dorian Hawkmoon series by Michael Moorcock.  It takes place in post apocalyptic Europe, where the evil empire is Granbretan and it's legions of masked warriors.  It also has a half-giant character, cool creatures like giant flying flamingos that can be ridden, magic and tech like ornithopters and flame lances.
#11 ian.thomson Feb 23, 2010 19:10:21	Sounds hilarious, I need to check it out.  Was Thundarr or Ookla in an episode? There wasn't an episode specifically about them, but I'd be surprised if they didn't appear in the background at some point.  Checking Wikipedia, Thundarr does apparently appear as a goon working for Fred Flintstone (who is a mobster). Here is another post-apocalyptic campaign ides, what about the Dorian Hawkmoon series by Michael Moorcock.  It takes place in post apocalyptic Europe, where the evil empire is Granbretan and it's legions of masked warriors.  It also has a half-giant character, cool creatures like giant flying flamingos that can be ridden, magic and tech like ornithopters and flame lances. *Wikis for further info* This, too, I will need to read.
#12 ultimate_cap Feb 25, 2010 8:49:46	I admit, I am cautiously optomistic to Gamma World myself.  Not sure I like this whole card idea, but I do love the idea of the post-apoc setting. An idea I've been toying around with is using the Cthulhu mythos as the trigger that started a nuclear disaster.  Whispers from agents of Cthulu into the minds of powerful and influential leaders around the world led to a nuclear disaster, and what we have now is a post-apoc setting combined with urban fantasy/horror.  The creatures of Cthulhu (and thus Cthulhu himself) feed off the fear and chaos of the world they've created. Goodman Games put out Critter Cache 6: Lovecraftain Bestiary, which would provide backgroud material and creatures for use in such a setting and combined with the rules for demons and such from 4e monster sources, along with the creatures provided in Gamma World, I think you'd have a truely unique and hopefully terrifying setting.
#13 ian.thomson Feb 25, 2010 13:10:37	I admit, I am cautiously optomistic to Gamma World myself.  Not sure I like this whole card idea, but I do love the idea of the post-apoc setting. An idea I've been toying around with is using the Cthulhu mythos as the trigger that started a nuclear disaster.  Whispers from agents of Cthulu into the minds of powerful and influential leaders around the world led to a nuclear disaster, and what we have now is a post-apoc setting combined with urban fantasy/horror.  The creatures of Cthulhu (and thus Cthulhu himself) feed off the fear and chaos of the world they've created. Goodman Games put out Critter Cache 6: Lovecraftain Bestiary, which would provide backgroud material and creatures for use in such a setting and combined with the rules for demons and such from 4e monster sources, along with the creatures provided in Gamma World, I think you'd have a truely unique and hopefully terrifying setting. Cthulhutech wouldn't be a bad resource, although society is actually strengthened by the apocalypse, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that (although now that the world is mostly united under one world government, that just means there's one target to take out to knock us back to the dark ages).
#14 ultimate_cap Feb 25, 2010 20:54:53	I am looking forward to the release of Gamma World as I am a fan of the 4e game system, but I miss running games in other genres.  When I heard about the release of Gamma World this fall I began thinking about a campaign.  (I prefer creating campaigns and adventures rather than running stock modules.)    I have been reading the Genesis of Shannara trilogy by Terry Brooks.  A post apocalyptic series that I think could be adapted to Gamma World with little effort.  It begins approximately 100 years in the future after a world-altering disaster, and the world is now overun by demons who are attempting to exterminate the last vestiges of humanity whom now reside mostly in fortified compounds. Some of the things that make this trilogy an ideal fit are as follows:   A desolate world in which humanity lies upon the brink of extinction   The existence of advanced technology (slightly more advanced than the present day) left over from before the disaster (such as lasers, vehicles and robots), which are scavenged from the ruins by the remaining humans.   The exisence of many types of mutants (such as once-men, croaks and giant centipedes)   The remaining humans are banded together in fortified compounds, outlaw milias or clan-like organizations. This trilogy also has a aspect of fantasy to it.  If these ideas are not represented in the Gamma World rule set, then hopefully they could be adapted from 4e D and D:   Magic   Knights of the Word (staff wielding magic-using warriors)   Elves   Demons and shapechangers   Fey The story itself from this trilogy I believe could be adapted to serve as an adventure path for a group of heroes.  The setting itself could also be an interesting background to create original stories and adventures. I am interested to hear any specifics and comments from gamers who have read this series and think it would make a good campaign.  I am also interested to here about any other books or movies that gamers are considering adapting to Gamma World.  OK, so after reading your initial post, I went and looked up this series.  Question for ya, Armageddon's Children is book 1, and it sounds interesting, but as someone whose obviously read the series, am I going to be lost if I started with that one?  I've not read the prior Shanarra books, but Armageddon's Children does interest me. Thanks!
#15 grehnhewe Feb 26, 2010 7:49:22	Ultimate_cap:   In the chronology of the Shanarra series, there is one trilogy that occurs before these books that takes place in contemporary times.  It does relate directly to Genesis of Shanarra, and there are some characters that straddle the two trilogies.  I have not read them, and they are not neccessary to enjoy or understand the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.  As for later books, I have not ready any since I was in high school, and again are not neccessary to understand or appreciate the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.  It is a great post-apocalyptic series that contains magic, fantasy, a desolate world and left over technology that would make it a great source to adapt for GW.  (I initially bought the first book on cd for a road trip, really enjoyed it and then bought the other books)
#16 gfenske Feb 26, 2010 10:22:31	grehnhewe / Ultimate_cap: There is another of Terry Brooks series that has the Fantasy - Sci-Fi link. The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara (books: 1 Isle Witch, 2 Antrax, 3 Morgawr). The basic idea of these three books is that they characters take a flying ship(magic powered)  to a island that has robots, laser's, and computer. These books are later in the chronological order for his world but to tie back to the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.
#17 Salamandyr2000 Feb 26, 2010 10:48:27	I once ran a GW campaign based, loosely, on The Planet of the Apes, only replace apes with mutants.  The PC's were astronauts who had been lost in hypersleep for a few hundred years, only to come find Earth a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  They had their knowledge of lost technology, faced against the strange powers and mutated monsters of new Earth.  It was pretty fun.
#18 grehnhewe Feb 27, 2010 12:36:53	grehnhewe / Ultimate_cap: There is another of Terry Brooks series that has the Fantasy - Sci-Fi link. The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara (books: 1 Isle Witch, 2 Antrax, 3 Morgawr). The basic idea of these three books is that they characters take a flying ship(magic powered)  to a island that has robots, laser's, and computer. These books are later in the chronological order for his world but to tie back to the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.    Thanks for the tip, I had assumed the Shannara books went strictly fantasy after the first two trilogies.  While the Genesis of Shannara series deals with a post-technological society dealing with the emergence of magic, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series seems to deal with a fantasy society coming into conflict with technology.
#19 grehnhewe Feb 27, 2010 12:42:52	I once ran a GW campaign based, loosely, on The Planet of the Apes, only replace apes with mutants.  The PC's were astronauts who had been lost in hypersleep for a few hundred years, only to come find Earth a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  They had their knowledge of lost technology, faced against the strange powers and mutated monsters of new Earth.  It was pretty fun. Great idea!  Planet of the Apes would make a great GW adaptation.  How about the sequel when the protagonists are confronted with mutants who live underground in the ruins of civilization and worship an atomic bomb! Ideas thus far: Genesis of Shannara, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara (Terry Brooks) The Dark Tower series (Stephen King) Thundarr the Barbarian (old cartoon) Wizards (Ralph Bakshi movie) Dorian Hawkmoon series (Michael Moorcock) Future Cthulhu Planet of the Apes movies
#20 strand0 Feb 27, 2010 22:41:35	The Postman (Novel) The Postman (movie) The novel has some wild elements to it. But both are a little soft for GW. The Stand It would be neat to have guidelines so that the players could make themselves. The Day of the Triffid (printed 1975) The book is all England. But it would be possible to figure out the modern tech and part of USA that the characters are trying to survive in.
#21 grehnhewe Feb 28, 2010 12:10:19	The Postman (Novel) The Postman (movie) The novel has some wild elements to it. But both are a little soft for GW. The Stand It would be neat to have guidelines so that the players could make themselves. The Day of the Triffid (printed 1975) The book is all England. But it would be possible to figure out the modern tech and part of USA that the characters are trying to survive in. The Postman (I actually liked this movie), The Stand (strongly related to the Dark Tower), Day of the Triffids (scared the heck out of me when I was a little kid) are all great ideas to spawn a GW campaign.  These suggestions also made me think about broadening my horizons as far as what books, movies, etc. might make an interesting GW campaign.  These sources do not neccesarily have to contain mutants and tech for example.  That is the fun of creating a campaign, figuring out how all these things fit in. How about Escape from New York?  In the near future New York City (or some other city) has been turned into a gigantic walled prison.  Perhaps the inhabitants inside are not just prisoners, they are mutants.  They scrounge about in the prison city for tech, there could be wars and skirmishes between the prisoners.  Why are they mutants? Who controls the prison?  What is it like on the outside?  Mutants rounded up and put in a prison might actually make sense with GW mutation cards.  There are also some cool characters and scenes from the movie that could be adapted to a GW adventure.
#22 ultimate_cap Feb 28, 2010 14:17:20	Ultimate_cap:   In the chronology of the Shanarra series, there is one trilogy that occurs before these books that takes place in contemporary times.  It does relate directly to Genesis of Shanarra, and there are some characters that straddle the two trilogies.  I have not read them, and they are not neccessary to enjoy or understand the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.  As for later books, I have not ready any since I was in high school, and again are not neccessary to understand or appreciate the Genesis of Shanarra trilogy.  It is a great post-apocalyptic series that contains magic, fantasy, a desolate world and left over technology that would make it a great source to adapt for GW.  (I initially bought the first book on cd for a road trip, really enjoyed it and then bought the other books) Great, think I know what series I'll be shifting gears to next.  Thanks!!!
#23 grehnhewe Mar 06, 2010 12:28:26	Bump