Enhancing roleplay in Dead Reign
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:28 pm
I am sure you could run Dead Reign as an arcade game, but I think a Zombie Apocalypse campaign could be something much more. Like a good Chaos Earth campaign, there are many interesting stories to be mined away from the monsters based on the sudden breakdown of society and coming of the impossible into our reality. Here's my thoughts.
1) Do not let characters (either PC or NPC) exist in a vacuum. They were not born yesterday. They have lives that stretch back many years with friends, foes, families, commitments and ties to other human beings. Even orphans have relationships.
2) Make mercy killings hard on characters. People should freak out around "hard core" merciless PCs who simply shoot the infected or anyone who gets in their way. NPCs will be using phrases like "you are no better than them!" against such PCs and certainly turn away assistance. Few of the PCs are going to be people with experience killing another human being. Take that into account. Billy the Software Engineer is not going to become Mista Killzone on day one. That would mean your character has some pretty messed up internal psychology.
3) Just because the players know they are playing Dead Reign does not mean that the PCs should be "ZOMG! Zombies!" and instantly go into video game mode. The players should be encouraged to roleplay their characters learning about what they are facing and what that means. Remember, zombies are Things That Should Not Be and break all accepted laws of everyone's normal life. We live in a society where science trumps the supernatural. The Wave flips that on its head. That should not be an easy logic jump for anyone.
4) The Stages of Grief might be an interesting tool to use for NPC reactions to the Wave and the aftermath. Some people may progress through the stages faster than others, some will get stuck at a stage for a long time and some will never reach acceptance.
STAGES OF GRIEF
Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)
What are your thoughts on enhancing roleplaying in Dead Reign?
1) Do not let characters (either PC or NPC) exist in a vacuum. They were not born yesterday. They have lives that stretch back many years with friends, foes, families, commitments and ties to other human beings. Even orphans have relationships.
2) Make mercy killings hard on characters. People should freak out around "hard core" merciless PCs who simply shoot the infected or anyone who gets in their way. NPCs will be using phrases like "you are no better than them!" against such PCs and certainly turn away assistance. Few of the PCs are going to be people with experience killing another human being. Take that into account. Billy the Software Engineer is not going to become Mista Killzone on day one. That would mean your character has some pretty messed up internal psychology.
3) Just because the players know they are playing Dead Reign does not mean that the PCs should be "ZOMG! Zombies!" and instantly go into video game mode. The players should be encouraged to roleplay their characters learning about what they are facing and what that means. Remember, zombies are Things That Should Not Be and break all accepted laws of everyone's normal life. We live in a society where science trumps the supernatural. The Wave flips that on its head. That should not be an easy logic jump for anyone.
4) The Stages of Grief might be an interesting tool to use for NPC reactions to the Wave and the aftermath. Some people may progress through the stages faster than others, some will get stuck at a stage for a long time and some will never reach acceptance.
STAGES OF GRIEF
Denial (this isn't happening to me!)
Anger (why is this happening to me?)
Bargaining (I promise I'll be a better person if...)
Depression (I don't care anymore)
Acceptance (I'm ready for whatever comes)
What are your thoughts on enhancing roleplaying in Dead Reign?