Has anyone used TFT in an academic setting?

[bat]

This Fall Semester I will be teaching Mythologies as a TA with a professor and one of my suggested/volunteered tasks is running an rpg and I have chosen The Fantasy Trip for a variety of reasons, not the least of which this game is easy to teach and run. The rpg sessions are to become a small graphic novel that the students will get as a memento of the semester (I am combining three classes into this one, two are graphic communications). To this end I am wondering if anyone else has run TFT for college students and how the game played out.
I won't be running the default setting, but one I have used for the Palladium Fantasy RPG since the '90s and will use most of those species in the game with mythological flavor from around the world and utilizing Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey as a rough model for the game.

Thank you for any replies!

[hcobb]

Space Gamer Issue #16 March-April 1978
Page 8, "Classics Simulated" by Glenn L. Williams

• I. THE TRIALS OF BEOWULF
• II. ARISTEIA, HOMERIC CHALLENGE COMBAT
• III. ODYSSEUS IN THE CYCLOPS' CAVE

[bat]

Thank you! Drat! Not an article in The TFT Companion.


Edit: Found it in a box of issues that I had bought years ago on eBay in a lot. Thanks again!

[TippetsTX]

If you want to reinforce the 'zero to hero' aspect, consider beginning play as teenage characters... ST 7, DX 7, IQ 7 plus 7 to assign as desired.

XP costs from 28 TAP remain low and will provide an immediate sense of achievement (as well as a bit more runway for progression).

[hcobb]

I wonder if the game could illustrate the process of turning events into myth? The gods specified that triple damage roll, etc.

[DeadParrot]

To aid with the conversion of game action to mythic graphic novel, watch both of the '300' movies. Pay attention to how the narrator describes the scenes.

Since this involves training a bunch of folks how to play, might start with Melee first. Both for the simplified rule set plus each student can download a copy for free.

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by hcobb

I wonder if the game could illustrate the process of turning events into myth? The gods specified that triple damage roll, etc.

ITL P 85 "Apotheosis is the process of becoming a god. Throughout history there occur occasional reports of heroes who have returned after their deaths to lead their people to victory or perform other similarly unlikely feats."

As an alternate, a powerful PC could be selected by the GM to be turned into a demi-god while still alive and removed from the game. This is a true honor of renown that will become a myth in its own right.

--------------------------------

Also, TFT Companion P 43 has an article Mythological Monsters for The Fantasy Trip that includes The Harpy, The Mummy, The Minotaur, The Lamia, The Chimera, The Gorgon.

[bat]

I would like to thank everyone for the replies, there is a lot of great information there to consider. Due to time constraints I will probably give them pre-made characters that are average, although my new in person group could start off with teenagers, that is a neat idea. Since The Fantasy Trip is easy to teach I will be using Melee and Wizard mainly because it seems that some of the students are aware of/have played D&D and selling them on an easier game will hopefully encourage roleplaying. I will be stressing strong male and female roles to tie in with the Jungian analysis towards the semester's end and I am tying this idea with Wagner's Ring Cycle later on. I really want the students to think beyond the pages.

[ldorn]

Depending on what culture you want to run I would also suggest the following Space Gamer articles

Oriental

Harmonious Fists in Melee by David James Ritchie #16 pg 12-13
More Harmony for Fists in Melee by Ronald Pehr #18 pg 17
Again, Harmonious Fists by David James Ritchie #25 pg 16-18

Nordic

Vikings in Melee - TSG #23, Ronald Pehr. "Fitting Norsemen into TFT" Scenario setup for MELEE, Vikings and Saxons. #23 pg 26

Miscellaneous

Reality in Melee by Ronald Pehr #20 pg 23-24

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by bat

I would like to thank everyone for the replies, there is a lot of great information there to consider. Due to time constraints I will probably give them pre-made characters that are average, although my new in person group could start off with teenagers, that is a neat idea.

You can try this: Give them pre-made characters. and then after about 5 gameplays, when they are familiar with the game, let them each make an additional character to run in the game. You could have them run them simultaneously or run separate but parallel games addressing a different story arc that may collide the characters together.