Discuss RPG Advice, Please

[GuyYouMetOnline]

i've got an idea for an RPG, but seeing as how the last few RPGs I''ve tried haven't even made it out of the Inn, I thought I'd get some advice here before starting the recruitment thread. Oh, one thing: This RPG takes place 20-30 years from now, so the world is more technologicaly advanced, but not by leaps and bounds.

The concept is actually one I've tried before. Basically, there are two worlds. There's our world, the one we live in, and then there is another. This other world is a basic fantasy world. It's got all the basics: magic, low level of technology, all the standard fantasy creatures, etc.

This other world was discovered, like many things, by accident. An R&D team in Washington (the state) that is attempting to create a quantum computer discovers it completly by accident. The government immediatly goes into cover-up mode, removing the original team, making sure they don't tell anything to anyone, then asigning its own scientists to figure out just what the hell is going on. Eventually, this government research team discovers a way to access this other world, to travel to and from it.

Following this discovery, the government creates a new, top-secret organization by the name of the Extra-Dimensional Research Institution, or EDRI. The EDRI facility is located underground in the Nevada desert. It's so secret that only a very few people who don't live there even know that it exists.

The purpose of EDRI is to conduct research on this other world, figure out why it's the way it is. Of course, one goal is to devise a way for people in our world to use the magic abilities found in the other world, but nobody at EDRI believes this will actually happen, despite what's said in their extremly confidential reports.

Now, there are four types of people at EDRI. First, there are the ones in charge of running the place. Second, there are the ones who manage all the equipent and stuff, keep the place working properly. Third, there are the researchers themselves. And then there are the feild agents.

EDRI field agents are carefully selected from all branches of the armed forces (though few are ever taken from the Air Force). They're taken to live at the EDRI facility, while their deaths are expertly faked in order to remove any question of what's happened to them. Once at EDRI, they're put through the most intense training program even devised. These people are good when selected, and after going through the EDRI training program, they are truly the best. Their job is to get whatever the researchers need from the other world, be it a piece of information, some kind of artifact, or even a live specimen. They also make sure that nothing happens which has the potential to affect our world. They have access to the most advanced equipment, from weapons and armor to transportation to obscure gadgets. They'd be the people we play as (though I plan to allow people to sign up as characters from the other world, as well).


So, any thoughts?

[2010DigitalBoy]

In my professional opinion, that is the coolest RPG idea I have heard in my entire time here at OB. Go for it, dude, I'll definetally join!

[Dragon Speaker]

*Thinks hard, then grins* That is so twisted... Count me in! :smirk:

I really like this idea. The first time I read through it, it was like..."Okay...?"
But I've really gotten attached to it! I say do it!

[Zhara]

[COLOR=Gray][FONT=Garamond]Ohmigod, this sounds so cool! (For all of you that have read some of my OoC posts before, yes I DO have to start every single one with OMG.) The only bad thing I can find id that not many Air Force people are chosen...I love the Air Force, it's what I'm doing after high school. I would so join your thread! Make it soon![/FONT][/COLOR]

[Frankie]

Yes right good idea you got there.

I do however see one small problem (or perhpas two)

One would be this: There could be a pague or some whack uncurable sickness they could end up dragging back to 'earth' and infecting people spreading tons of sickness. I think you should mention the extra precations that would have to go into preventing that (though Im sure if it was some UNKNOWN uncurable sickness that precautiuons might not even work.

Secondly: Are your agents and people considering the effect this might habe on their world? Some sicknesses we masstered a cure for here might be seriously deadly there.

Thirdly (just thought of it): Have you considered what effect it might have on the people of this new world. Going in and just trespassing onto their lands to get their historical artifacts, to take their creatures, or to even kidnap them in the process of finding info.

I dont deny that if this were to happen for real that a team would possibly be made. I dislike the fact that humans think they have th e right to just bardge in and take what they want and what they see they link just for knowlege.
(If i played in your rpg i would be one ofthe characters from this world you earthlings found and beleive you me I wouldnt be a happy campter to learn that some people think that jsut because they have more technology that they can just come and go and do as they please without any permission and so on.)

Overall good idea though! I just dont normally join rpgs with the term "field agents" and "secret teams that no one knows about"... This is mainly because I know pretty much ZIP about military terms and junk like that... "missions" and such like that also havnt really gotten my intrest... But if i were to play a nativ of this new found world id join..

[GuyYouMetOnline]

As it happens, I've already considered all those points, and here's what I've come up with:


1: The EDRI facility has an extremly effective quarintene (sp?) system. Though you do have a valid point in that nobody could know how to treat a new disease, that disease could most certainly be detected. The virus, or bacteria, or whatever could be detected in a scan of the body (remember, this is set 20-30 years in the future, and EDRI is ahead of pretty much everyone in terms of technology), and identified as not belonging in the body. At that time, the infected person or people would be quarintened immediatly, and kept there until they die, or until a cure is found. Whichever happens first (oh, all field agents are aware of this procedure).

2: Just as EDRI doesn't let any new diseases into our world, they don't let any of our diseases into the other world. I forgot to mention the physical screening process all new recruits have to go through. If a person has a curable disease, the cure is given. If a disease is incurable, the infected person is not allowed to cross to the other world (unless it's something like AIDS, which can only be transmited under certain conditions).

3: Well, consider a scenario that pops up more than once in the history of the world. When the people from Europe or wherever sail across the ocean and come into contact with the primitive natives, the natives treat the newcomers as supernatural beings. It's a concept I like: any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Now, add to this the fact that the other world is a fantasy-type world, and has dragons and mages and all that stuff. People there alreadly believe in magic, so when people show up doing things nobody else knows how to do, they just see it as some new form of magic.

As for people's reactions to EDIR's actions, well, first of all, EDRI doesn't exactly advertise what they're doing. Our world doesn't know about them, while the other world knows they exist but doesn't know who they are or what they want. As always, there are differing beliefs. The vast majority believes that these people with the strange 'powers' are just mages who've mastered a new type of magic (and among these people, oppinions of the EDRI people's actions differ: some are all right with the removal of artifacts and creatures [many of which are dangerous to humans], some are indifferent, and some are against it). However, there are always other beliefs. Some believe that the EDRI people are divine beings, while others believe they are agents of Hell. Strictly small groups, but they exist. There are also other beliefs, of course. Too many to list.


Well, I think that's about it. Now, I'm going to go ahead with the idea, though I probably won't have time to until next week. Oh, and Frankie, I will allow playing as people from the other world.

[Frankie]

Then pm me when you got the sign up ... up! Dont worry I wont be like some "go back home trespassers of evil!" She will be a little more like "Well... I guess I could help... We all benefit... i guess"


She can be the unsure helper if thats ok. If not run some ideas by me in a pm so i can put together a character that can suit the RPG well.

[Dragon Speaker]

Yes, are the sign-ups going to be sometime soon? *starry eyes expression*
I'd be happy to play as a character from the magic-y world place. Like Frankie, I barely know anything about military terms and the like...

Hehe! Finally, a role-play that brings military, futuristic sci-fi, and fantasy together! :animesmil

[Darker Alucard]

when you you mix high tech sci-fi with low tech fantasy alot can happen. definitly count me in. are the sign-ups soon?

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Sign-ups are now open. Look for the RPG under the title of 'Duality' in the Adventure Inn. I hope to see all of you there.

[Guest Detestable~Evil]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Wow... I'm new to this place and this is the first forum I've read and... that is quite interesting!

The idea is quite nice and I must ask... where's the Adventure Inn? :animeswea
I hope that the RPG you're making turns out well.

So... again... I must ask... where's the Adventure Inn? I want to try it out.
:animecry:

And one last thing... and I don't think anyone will believe it though... I had a smilar idea in my head for like a story or something about 2 different worlds, but... thats about all the similarities.[/COLOR]