Blast From The Past, Modern Horror in the 1980's

[Denaes]

Okay, not related to the most awesome movie with that guy from Kids in the Hall, The Mummy and a Dr Pepper Boiling Walkins.

I was planning on a modern game, but slightly annoyed by technology. We have access to all sorts of stuff in a today modern game!

So it hits me to base a modern game in 1980 or 1981! You have most modern conventions you could think of, only they're pretty rudimentary.

You still have
- The internet but... it's slow, cumbersome, not very fleshed out, B.B.S.'s ruled the day.
- Cell Phones but... Zach Moris to backpack sized huge, actual car phones, expensive
- Guns but... well they're guns, just with more limited accessories.
- Audio Recording but... well it's a tape player, not an 8 gb ipod touch that can record days of audio
- Computers but... well only nerds or pro's use them

I'm running with 4-6 Geniuses, each having a specialty. So the guy into computers can not only use them well (not a common skill back then) but maybe let his personal rig be like an 1987 computer. The tech guy could mayhaps rig something more advanced with cell phones, etc.

I also like the idea that I can go to a page like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981. Just looking at January, I'm seeing something about the largest cavern being discovered by englishmen, The Iran hostage release and the Yorkshire Ripper is "caught".

This is just a broad global level, there is information on movies, music, pop culture, etc. It helps that I don't mind doing a little research to have a lot of background information and plot devices on hand and the players are interested to at least some degree in the 80's.

I wouldn't go so far as to make it a total 80's exploitation game, but I'm looking at incorporating some elements from 1980's movies and interests into the game.

I also plan on taking advantage of local maps, floorplans, pictures (people/places) and whatever else I can find online for the area we're playing in (LA)

[Natasha]

Early 1980s had some leaps forward in computing.

Although the computer guy is still likely to have a heavy mainframe background, but certainly he could still be on the PC frontlines.

[mrloucifer]

Fans of the Movies would also start digging the gun toting maniacs films that starting cropping up at the time as well (Arnold and Sylvester and other started their tough man films in this era).

Oh... and thick beards is a must for many of the men.

[mrloucifer]

Heavy Metal and glam rock was getting its start as well in early 1980's... get that hair band heritage in full view gang!

[mrloucifer]

OOH! DeLorean's first came off the assembly lines in 1981!!! Someone has GOT to drive one of those.

[Natasha]

Look up Jupiter Effect.

[mrloucifer]

I looked up a few history notes on 1981 and he's a few other thoughts on the year...

-Pac Man came out that year and made arcades cooler than ever to hang out at. I can see the PC's meeting to talk and paly pac man together. Imagine the arcade is playing "Pac Man Fever" in the stereo somewhere.

-A terrible fruit fly outbreak destroyed tons of crops in Callifornia (and parts of the surrounding states) I can see supernatural involvement for the infestation and the players dealing with it would be fun.

- Shows like Dallas and Dynasty are in full swing at this time, quoting the show should be worth bonus points. the "Who Shot JR?" story line had just been wrapped up in late 1980.

-Post it notes started coming out, have player make refereces to them when leaving or taking notes.

-John Lennon was assinated less than a year ago. People may still be in memorial of him in the same vein as Micheal Jackson.

As much fun as I am having with this, I may do a one shot game in the early 1980's.

[Natasha]

I've played in some "retro" games. Always a good time.

The Pope was shot in the early 1980s.
As was President Reagan.

Supernasty infiltration attempts? You bet your ass!

[Denaes]

oooh, so many nice ideas!

I don't plan on spinning it so far as White Wolf had done where humans haven't done anything bad, it's always something else supernatural...

But it's always fun to have that moment where the players are trying to stop some supernatural event from happening and realizing that their characters are directly or indirectly responsible for some piece of history. Not something to be overdone.

Oh, I *do* plan on bringing the pacman out. A player still has that pacman song on vinyl.

I have a supernatural race of demons who materialize on the human world based on human energy. Sort of like a D&D Deity, they derive power from thought,worship, devotion, etc. So if one had come to earth a few weeks ago, it would have scanned the local area and taken on michael jackson as a form. If it comes to earth at the height of Pac Man Fevor... well the players might be taking on a demonic Pac Man

[Natasha]

Demonic pac...that's good stuff.

It seems our games always ends up as some kind of mixture going on.
For example: in the case of the assassination attempts it would be a human, deranged and crazy if taken alive, but only because he's being possessed or otherwise coerced by the supernasties.
We also tend to have a noticable governmental presence in the supernasty; indeed, one of our longest campaigns had us being government agents.

[Denaes]

Demonic pac...that's good stuff.

It seems our games always ends up as some kind of mixture going on.
For example: in the case of the assassination attempts it would be a human, deranged and crazy if taken alive, but only because he's being possessed or otherwise coerced by the supernasties.
We also tend to have a noticable governmental presence in the supernasty; indeed, one of our longest campaigns had us being government agents.

govt agents is a good take.

It makes sense the ease they can be transported around, asked to check things out they might not have immediately chosen for themselves and they're in a good position to notice/defend supernatural from within the govt as well.

I struggle a bit there as my group won't be involved with the Govt. They're going to be normal citizens who have their abilities awoken/granted by a supernatural event. If they're tooling around the valley of LA, it's not likely they're going to be picking up and flying to Canada or Georgia for a quick stint.

So most of the supernatural needs to be local without being pervasive (ie, everything is supernatural). Luckily it's LA, so there really is a bunch of demons living out here to make it realistic

Maybe at one of the Season Breaks we'll jump the shark and they'll get a backer who will help extend their scope

[Natasha]

Yea each approach has its own challenges, which is cool. As long as the characters are able to come together though is what's important. BtS is very much a team game.

One of my favourites was when we were a university paranormal geek club. The only real funding we got was the university paid for our t-shirts and a monthly dinner.

[vika]

Early 1980s had some leaps forward in computing.

Although the computer guy is still likely to have a heavy mainframe background, but certainly he could still be on the PC frontlines.

Could be the unix guy and maybe the guy who created the Free Software Foundation. I hope that he will sing better than Richard Stallman.

[Natasha]

Early 1980s had some leaps forward in computing.

Although the computer guy is still likely to have a heavy mainframe background, but certainly he could still be on the PC frontlines.

Could be the unix guy and maybe the guy who created the Free Software Foundation. I hope that he will sing better than Richard Stallman.

Oh Viktoria I forgot all about it.

The Free Software Song

[vika]

Yes this is the song. Thank you.

Denaes, is there any update you can share?

[Denaes]

Right now the game is still some time off.

I'm looking for online resources for maps/blueprints of specific locations and generic locations. Like having the layout of a generic grocery store. Looking for some 1980's disney maps... going to set a storyline leading up there.

Aside from just "the 80's" the general theme will be similar to the TV shows Supernatural/Reaper where the players are comming up against the occult/ghosts/souls and I want there to be little straight combat (I shoot until it's dead), more focus on weaknesses.

The main plotline will focus around a clan of demons who's powers revolve around manifesting in our world based on worship, but with a far less religious turn. TV/Movie/Commercial icons, real people and fictional people/things. I know I want one part to be the players in old school Disneyland dealing with demons who are drawing energy from children

[vika]

I like the sound of this campaign. I cannot help you with the resources though.

I look forward to it, if you can keep updates on the game when it begins.

[Natasha]

Maybe this will have something useful.

[vika]

Maybe this will have something useful.

Oh loads of fun!

[Denaes]

Maybe this will have something useful.

Thanks a bunch! Exactly what I was looking for for Amusement Parks.

I'll be looking for similar for sports stadiums, stores, buildings, etc. Aside from the iconic locations (disney, Dodger stadium) it doesn't matter that I have the floorplans to a 1980's LA office building or supermarket or a 1990's or even one located in Houston.

So long as the flavour is there. Also planning on grabbing lots of images that capture the feel of the early 80's, what their version of "new and cutting edge" was, etc.

I was born in 1977, so I lived through the 80s, but aside from seeing all 3 Star Wars movies in the theaters, I don't remember much of anything until 84/85 and thats limited... and I grew up in San Diego, not LA. I want to skim a lot of the culture rather than go into exacting detail on a little.

I'll post some finds I have. The game is still a bit off, but I heard the next GM who was going to run D&D 4e is chickening out, so I might move 1+ slots closer to running again.

[Denaes]

• Map of Paranormal Happenings in LA.
• Site about creepy things in LA
• The Shadowlands - a site that seems to have listings of supposedly reported phenomena. I found a listing for California which is just wicked long. Just going through the A's I saw at least 40 entries for Alhambra and Arcadia (in LA county, about 10 minute drive from downtown LA) with at least 15 inspiring immediate hook ideas. This site looks like it has entries for all states but the nav is just awful. I found other categories before I could find other hauntings in other states.
• Haunted Holywood, a child site of American Huntings, but while the parent site focuses on recent and grand scale hauntings, Haunted Holywood focuses on Holywoods history, from the suicides at the HOLLYWOODLAND sign to studios to the death of Superman! George Reeves, not Christopher Reeves, haunting his old residence as recent as the early 80's while a show was being filmed there. And most of this history took place prior to the 80's so there is plenty for present day and 80's LA to work with.

[vika]

Oh very cool!

I will read them now.

[Lord Z]

Thanks for the excellent archive of amusement park maps, D.

It isn't free, but I can recommend the very cheap series called Modern Floorplans. I've used the bank, nightclub, and the diner in my SenZar game. These are small e-books distributed by the publisher 12 to Midnight which focuses on modern horror.

[vika]

Thanks for the excellent archive of amusement park maps, D.

Wasn't D. Was N.