TV series with ideas for GURPS

Nymdok · 12-08-2015, 09:51 AM

When discussing GURPSable TV shows the limiting factors are normally small cast, overly iconic characters, and uneven character balance.

Other key points to look for are large casts, welll built worlds, and a fairly high level of internal consistency especially where abilities are concerned.

I know Buffy/Angel, Xena/Hercules and Doctor Who gets a lot of love from the fans, but Id never game in those worlds, because they have centerpiece characters and everyone else is kind of along for the ride. Good for TV. Not so great if your a character in the supporting cast. This eliminates ALOT of the Superhero TV shows we see these days (DD, JJ, Flash, Arrow, but not necessarily GOTHAM or Agents of Shield)

Star Wars is a big wide open world, but for my taste its a mess and I would have to apply so many external restricitions that it would quickly diverge from what star wars is to many people which is largely just a 'Plot calls all shots' imagination playland.

Farscape was an amazing show, but its SO character driven (as opposed to world driven) that once you try to insert your own characters it quickly looses alot of its charm. Add to that there's alot going on in the world, but little if any of it ever gets explained and again, you have to bring so much to the table that it rapidly changes the setting and is bound to disappoint.

Vikings for example is a great show, but its also so character driven that if those characters are removed (or even changed just a bit) then it completely hollows out the world and you dont really have a lot left.

Most Cop, Doctor, and Lawyer shows, Id probably dismiss out of hand as being too repetitive and mundane but the REAL problem again is the overly iconic characters.

Nymdok

p.s. You didnt really think I was going to post without saying Exo Squad, Visionaries, Mission Impossible/The Man From UNCLE, Warehouse13, Alien Nation, Firefly, did you?

12-08-2015, 09:51 AM	#9
Nymdok Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston	Re: TV series with ideas for GURPS When discussing GURPSable TV shows the limiting factors are normally small cast, overly iconic characters, and uneven character balance. Other key points to look for are large casts, welll built worlds, and a fairly high level of internal consistency especially where abilities are concerned. I know Buffy/Angel, Xena/Hercules and Doctor Who gets a lot of love from the fans, but Id never game in those worlds, because they have centerpiece characters and everyone else is kind of along for the ride. Good for TV. Not so great if your a character in the supporting cast. This eliminates ALOT of the Superhero TV shows we see these days (DD, JJ, Flash, Arrow, but not necessarily GOTHAM or Agents of Shield) Star Wars is a big wide open world, but for my taste its a mess and I would have to apply so many external restricitions that it would quickly diverge from what star wars is to many people which is largely just a 'Plot calls all shots' imagination playland. Farscape was an amazing show, but its SO character driven (as opposed to world driven) that once you try to insert your own characters it quickly looses alot of its charm. Add to that there's alot going on in the world, but little if any of it ever gets explained and again, you have to bring so much to the table that it rapidly changes the setting and is bound to disappoint. Vikings for example is a great show, but its also so character driven that if those characters are removed (or even changed just a bit) then it completely hollows out the world and you dont really have a lot left. Most Cop, Doctor, and Lawyer shows, Id probably dismiss out of hand as being too repetitive and mundane but the REAL problem again is the overly iconic characters. Nymdok p.s. You didnt really think I was going to post without saying Exo Squad, Visionaries, Mission Impossible/The Man From UNCLE, Warehouse13, Alien Nation, Firefly, did you?