An RPG inspired by a piece of music - Competition Idea

[Rob Lang]

Yes, I know, we're not done with the old compo. This is a new idea. I rather like listening to classical music or heavy/new metal when I work. I prefer stuff without words. I was listening to Snot (don't ask) and was inspired to write a angry, filthy, nasty game where you want to die in 5 days and those last 5 days must be the most incredible days ever. I imagined you would do a Grand Theft Auto style escalation against cops, government agencies and so on while living for just 5 days.

But it was inspired by the music, the feel of it. We could ask people to design an RPG that feels like a piece of music. Perhaps revive Game Chef to do it?

[Chainsaw Aardvark]

I've written short stories based on music for creative writing classes, so there is certainly merit in the idea. Many of the old 24 hour games list what music and foods were consumed during the course of the game, though perhaps as much to stay awake as for inspiration.

Of the older games on 1km1kt.net at least two involve music. "Arbitrary" uses music as an in game resource. (you get a bonus to one scene if you play the character's theme, another if you quote the lyrics) "Heavy Metal Magic" castes the players as demon fighting rockers, using power chords to cast magic.

As yet another item on my list of projects I'm working on a game that fits in a CD case, based on the similarities between spies and roadies. Still working on the character sheet and how to mark it up, since neither dice nor a pen fit in one of those boxes. (Current idea - either paperclips sliding across numbered bars on the side, or series of cuts and flaps so you just fold or hide the numbers.)

RPGs inspired by music would have merit as a competition. I'm wondering if there should be any other qualifiers (specific style of music, notation has some affect on play, should also have album art as an inspiration) since its kind of a broad idea. But bringing back Game Chef is a worthwhile endeavor.

[kumakami]

I say limit it to either 1 band or composer or to just 1 SONG........

[Corone]

Groovy idea.

I often write adventures taking song lyrics as a base to get me started.
Often I'll use 1 album to make a campaign which gives the whole thing a certain cohesiveness for theme

[Rob Lang]

Thanks for the comments -

@kuma I think that putting too many restrictions might make it a slightly more difficult.

@Corone - did you use music to help write Doom and Cookies?

@CA, I think the only other restriction we might put on is that it should be an instrumental so that lyrics don't affect the game.

[Starglim]

I'm reminded of Sean Williams' Astropolis, in which one character talks entirely in lyrics from a particular band.

It should allow any music that people like and own. I agree that it should be instrumental-only tracks, to display the designer's free interpretation rather than just repeating back the songwriter's narrative.

[liquid_elf]

Me and Wolfboy have often kicked around the idea of running a game togethor one of us GMing while the other creates a soundtrack on the digital composing software called Buzz that we play around with.

[Rob Lang]

@liquid_elf,
I have the mental image of you and Wolfboy living in a laboratory somewhere conducting mad experiments in roleplay.

[liquid_elf]

your basically right

[Kinslayer]

It is difficult for me to imagine a roleplaying game that is NOT inspired by music. Or maybe that's just how my brain is wired. Midian was inspired by a weird playlist of mostly baroque and heavy metal. In an early diceless effort of mine (post-apocalyptic cyberpunk) playing metal music was mandatory. I'm pretty sure that Blood River is all Tom Waits. It just has that sort of vibe.