Gorbash Kazdar
2006-09-09, 10:10 PM
I often find that when I GM an RPG my players are not familiar with - particularly in a genre they aren't familiar with - that giving them a reading or viewing list can really help them out. This thread is for suggesting such lists for specific games or wider genres of RPGs.
When you post a list, please specify what game or games it is useful for, as well as why each specific title/series/what-have-you is appropriate, and how it can be beneficial. Also, if you use a list posted here either for your own benefit or suggest it to other players, it'd be great to get feedback from the experience!
My first list is a a few anime titles I find help set the tone and themes of Shadowrun, as well as give a better idea of how the cyberpunk elements of the world work. So, without further adieu...
Akira - A classic title in the cyberpunk genre, Akira includes quite a bit of more "mystical" elements (though in this case, of psychic rather than magical origin). In particular, the biker gangs that many of the main or supporting characters are from could be directly cribbed as go-gang for an SR game. Neo-Tokyo is also a classic cyberpunk style city - a massive urban center with substantial slums and a vast gap between the haves and have-nots. The government facility would work well as an example for the most secure corporate sites, and the government itself is a fitting analogy for many SR governments as well as some of the megacorps. All in all, Akira gives a good look into a mix of cyberpunk and scifi/fantastic elements and the plot could easily be that of an SR game. The manga is also worth checking out, as it has even more to offer in the same veins (the latter portions could easily describe SR urban barrens, or could work well for a city devestated by some sort of magical attack, like Chicago).
Ghost in the Shell - The film. Includes a great deal more of cybertechnology, as well as computer interaction, including rogue AIs. Though cyber-ization occurs to a much more substantial degree than is feasible for SR characters, it does present an excellent look at cyber-ized characters, and they personal issues they may face. Again, the plot could easily be that of an SR game, and the Section 9 team has many of the hallmarks of team of 'Runners.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex & 2nd Gig - The series. Much as the above, but even more so. The series delves deeper into how cyber-ized characters work, and cyber-brain sclerosis is a useful analogy for essence loss. The slum areas depicted are perfect for urban barrens and SINless slums. The refugee problem in 2nd Gig would fit perfectly as a plot line for SR characters interested in hooding (being heroic, basically). Some of the plots & episodes are better at displaying how anti-runner teams work, but runners could do the missions the bad guys do in the series. Most particularly, SAC does a fantastic job of demonstrating the concept of Augmented Reality as well as full immersion VR; these elements could be directly ported from the anime to the game and give players a real handle on how they should be picturing things. Lastly, the series gives more screen time to secondary characters and provides an even better blueprint for a team of runners.
Black Lagoon - It's not cyberpunk, but the main characters are a perfect example of many basic 'runner teams. Revy very much fits the profile of a street samurai or other gun-slinger, while Benny is a rigger through and through. Dutch and Rock are good examples of different kind of face characters, while Balalaika is a perfect example of both a fixer and a SR style mob boss. If you need an example of a Mr Johnson, look no further than Rock's superior in the first few episodes. In fact, one could steal wholesale the plots, missions, setting, and characters from Black Lagoon, mix in some magic and cyber-tech, and an SR group would feel right at home for the whole ride. If you want to get theme and tone across, this series will do the trick. Plus, the action elements work perfectly for SR combat.
I have a few more, but I need to think about exactly how to present them.
When you post a list, please specify what game or games it is useful for, as well as why each specific title/series/what-have-you is appropriate, and how it can be beneficial. Also, if you use a list posted here either for your own benefit or suggest it to other players, it'd be great to get feedback from the experience!
My first list is a a few anime titles I find help set the tone and themes of Shadowrun, as well as give a better idea of how the cyberpunk elements of the world work. So, without further adieu...
Akira - A classic title in the cyberpunk genre, Akira includes quite a bit of more "mystical" elements (though in this case, of psychic rather than magical origin). In particular, the biker gangs that many of the main or supporting characters are from could be directly cribbed as go-gang for an SR game. Neo-Tokyo is also a classic cyberpunk style city - a massive urban center with substantial slums and a vast gap between the haves and have-nots. The government facility would work well as an example for the most secure corporate sites, and the government itself is a fitting analogy for many SR governments as well as some of the megacorps. All in all, Akira gives a good look into a mix of cyberpunk and scifi/fantastic elements and the plot could easily be that of an SR game. The manga is also worth checking out, as it has even more to offer in the same veins (the latter portions could easily describe SR urban barrens, or could work well for a city devestated by some sort of magical attack, like Chicago).
Ghost in the Shell - The film. Includes a great deal more of cybertechnology, as well as computer interaction, including rogue AIs. Though cyber-ization occurs to a much more substantial degree than is feasible for SR characters, it does present an excellent look at cyber-ized characters, and they personal issues they may face. Again, the plot could easily be that of an SR game, and the Section 9 team has many of the hallmarks of team of 'Runners.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex & 2nd Gig - The series. Much as the above, but even more so. The series delves deeper into how cyber-ized characters work, and cyber-brain sclerosis is a useful analogy for essence loss. The slum areas depicted are perfect for urban barrens and SINless slums. The refugee problem in 2nd Gig would fit perfectly as a plot line for SR characters interested in hooding (being heroic, basically). Some of the plots & episodes are better at displaying how anti-runner teams work, but runners could do the missions the bad guys do in the series. Most particularly, SAC does a fantastic job of demonstrating the concept of Augmented Reality as well as full immersion VR; these elements could be directly ported from the anime to the game and give players a real handle on how they should be picturing things. Lastly, the series gives more screen time to secondary characters and provides an even better blueprint for a team of runners.
Black Lagoon - It's not cyberpunk, but the main characters are a perfect example of many basic 'runner teams. Revy very much fits the profile of a street samurai or other gun-slinger, while Benny is a rigger through and through. Dutch and Rock are good examples of different kind of face characters, while Balalaika is a perfect example of both a fixer and a SR style mob boss. If you need an example of a Mr Johnson, look no further than Rock's superior in the first few episodes. In fact, one could steal wholesale the plots, missions, setting, and characters from Black Lagoon, mix in some magic and cyber-tech, and an SR group would feel right at home for the whole ride. If you want to get theme and tone across, this series will do the trick. Plus, the action elements work perfectly for SR combat.
I have a few more, but I need to think about exactly how to present them.