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Post by wardog on Feb 28, 2020 23:38:33 GMT
Hi all,
I'm thinking about trying to put together a Gangster Era Campaign using the rules from Urban Renewal as a base for a version of New Hope City set in the 1920s/1930s.
Of course I would add a private investigator using NHCPI. Then, cherry pick from other rulesets to add other details.
As I see it, most of the components are already there: The Criminal Element, Police, Detectives, gambling, companionship, party favors [aka bootleg liquor], Robbery [for outlaws like John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde] etc. the weapons list would need to be modified to fit the period pretty much in name only: Submachine Gun = Tommy Gun, AR = BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), etc. Pistols and shotguns would be about the same. The only thing really missing is rules for Organized Crime Families like Lucky Luciano's Organization in New York or Al Capone's in Chicago. Oh, and vehicles. Gotta have some cool period cars for getaways and trucks for hauling illegal booze, etc. If I remember correctly, there are no vehicle rules in Urban Renewal.
I'm also thinking about a cross-country version of the City Transit rules from Urban Renewal to represent train travel between cities as this was the heyday of passenger railroad travel.
Has anyone else ever tried anything like this? Thoughts and suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Wardog
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Post by Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy on Feb 29, 2020 2:45:20 GMT
That'd be pretty cool.
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Post by gonefishing on Feb 29, 2020 19:17:36 GMT
I should think that would work very well. Like you say, most of the bits are there already. Not sure if you have the newer Working Grave set, but the chase rules are one of my favourite parts of that game, and could come in very handy when chasing bootleggers, hoods and their dames, etc. The gambling rules, also perfect for your period, could also come in handy, though I think the they might be in other titles as well(Back Alleys, Bright Lights?).
One of the things I like about THW games is their tweakability. I'm currently working on doing Judge Dredd (post-apocolyptic Sci-Fi), mainly using Working Grave, but supplemented with all sorts of other ideas from Future Tales, Back Alleys and so on, and am finding they work great, with all the edgy feel required for the setting. Things still feel a little sloppy (I don't yet have a clear sense of which rules I'll keep and which jettison), but I'm working on it...One of the things you might want to do is to customise the encounter tables a little more for your setting. I've been meaning to do this for my own project but haven't got round to it yet. You might consider taking a peek at Future Tales if you haven't already. I think it has one of the best campaign set-ups of all the THW rules, one that could be used in nearly any modern setting, so if you haven't got it you might consider a new purchase! It would be perfect for an Untouchable type or PI to follow leads to get the crime boss and his syndicate.
Those are my thoughts for now. Please keep us posted on how things go!
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Post by crinklechips on Feb 29, 2020 19:26:13 GMT
Larger Than Life is the ruleset for pulp fiction gaming. Its set at around The 1930’s - 1940’s and is the template from which the campaign set up for Future Tales was created. I think it would be of much use to you. Its now sold by Rebel Minis’s. A new version is in the pipeline I believe which is tremendously exciting for those of us that prefer the new battle board style of gaming! Check it out...
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Post by gonefishing on Feb 29, 2020 19:47:16 GMT
Larger Than Life is the ruleset for pulp fiction gaming. Its set at around The 1930’s - 1940’s and is the template from which the campaign set up for Future Tales was created. I think it would be of much use to you. YES. Can't believe I forgot to mention LTL! (Sound of palm slapping forehead...) |
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Post by crinklechips on Feb 29, 2020 20:02:55 GMT
Larger Than Life is the ruleset for pulp fiction gaming. Its set at around The 1930’s - 1940’s and is the template from which the campaign set up for Future Tales was created. I think it would be of much use to you. YES. Can't believe I forgot to mention LTL! (Sound of palm slapping forehead...) Cool it! ;-) |
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Post by stryderg on Mar 1, 2020 5:38:20 GMT
For the crime families, you could add an affiliation to the character's stats (ie. friendly with the Capone family).
Then add a modifier if interacting with with a friendly or opposing family. Any not listed as affiliated would be opposing.
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Post by Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy on Mar 1, 2020 19:46:49 GMT
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Post by wardog on Mar 1, 2020 23:14:50 GMT
I should think that would work very well. Like you say, most of the bits are there already. Not sure if you have the newer Working Grave set, but the chase rules are one of my favourite parts of that game, and could come in very handy when chasing bootleggers, hoods and their dames, etc. The gambling rules, also perfect for your period, could also come in handy, though I think the they might be in other titles as well(Back Alleys, Bright Lights?). One of the things I like about THW games is their tweakability. I'm currently working on doing Judge Dredd (post-apocolyptic Sci-Fi), mainly using Working Grave, but supplemented with all sorts of other ideas from Future Tales, Back Alleys and so on, and am finding they work great, with all the edgy feel required for the setting. Things still feel a little sloppy (I don't yet have a clear sense of which rules I'll keep and which jettison), but I'm working on it...One of the things you might want to do is to customise the encounter tables a little more for your setting. I've been meaning to do this for my own project but haven't got round to it yet. You might consider taking a peek at Future Tales if you haven't already. I think it has one of the best campaign set-ups of all the THW rules, one that could be used in nearly any modern setting, so if you haven't got it you might consider a new purchase! It would be perfect for an Untouchable type or PI to follow leads to get the crime boss and his syndicate. Those are my thoughts for now. Please keep us posted on how things go! Well, wouldn't you know it. I have 16 - 20 THW titles and Working Grave and Future Tales are not among them - LOL. I'll have to check them out. Thanks for the suggestion. I do plan on customizing encounter tables and a few other components - Great minds think alike!. Thanks again for the feedback. I will keep you posted on my progress. |
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Post by wardog on Mar 1, 2020 23:20:08 GMT
Larger Than Life is the ruleset for pulp fiction gaming. Its set at around The 1930’s - 1940’s and is the template from which the campaign set up for Future Tales was created. I think it would be of much use to you. Its now sold by Rebel Minis’s. A new version is in the pipeline I believe which is tremendously exciting for those of us that prefer the new battle board style of gaming! Check it out... Darn it, I don't have Larger than Life either. I was under the impression that was more fantasy based and have never really been interested in hunting dinosaurs or giant gorillas. I will have to give it another look. I'm excited to hear there is a new version in the works. Will keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the recommendation. |
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Post by wardog on Mar 1, 2020 23:21:43 GMT
For the crime families, you could add an affiliation to the character's stats (ie. friendly with the Capone family). Then add a modifier if interacting with with a friendly or opposing family. Any not listed as affiliated would be opposing. Good idea, thanks! |
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Post by wardog on Mar 1, 2020 23:26:55 GMT
Wow, thanks Ed, this is a perfect starting point. Covers a lot of the areas I've been mulling over/trying to work out. CR 3.0 was the first THW ruleset I ever downloaded. Don't know how I missed this supplement. Any chance there is an updated version in the works? Thanks again! |
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Post by Ed the Two Hour Wargames Guy on Mar 3, 2020 3:58:37 GMT
Wow, thanks Ed, this is a perfect starting point. Covers a lot of the areas I've been mulling over/trying to work out. CR 3.0 was the first THW ruleset I ever downloaded. Don't know how I missed this supplement. Any chance there is an updated version in the works? Thanks again! Possibly. So much opportunity. |
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Post by whiteface on Mar 3, 2020 5:16:14 GMT
Hah! I just had been thinking about this one a few days ago (probably triggered by this thread). Thank you very much 👍🏻😎 |
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