Author  Message [bottom]
Tortuga
 member, 1838 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 18:50
 msg #1
Time Travel Game
Wrote a long historical timeline incorporating a lot of different RPGs, Movies, TV Shows, Comics, Literature, and Games. It was for a modern game, but I'm thinking about using it for a time travel game.

I'll probably run it in GURPS, but if you're interested and don't know the system or have the books that's fine.

What I need help with is narrowing the idea down. Here are the options:

1. The players are obviously chrononauts of some kind, but they don't remember why they're traveling through time. They've got some advanced tech to help them assimilate - translation program, for example - and can observe each other/communicate from their time machines. The metaplot is all about trying to figure out why they're traveling and learning to control the machines.

2. The players were helping crazy old Doc Brown/HG Wells/Local Basement Mad Scientist build a time machine when something WENT HORRIBLY WRONG sending them spinning through time and space. The goal is, explicitly, to get home again by getting a handle on the mechanics of time travel.

3. Literally Quantum Leap, minus the restrictions about only traveling within your own lifetime.

In all cases the players will be scattered through time and space. Each is basically solo, but PCs will have the means to observe each other and communicate to some degree or another.

If you're intrigued, let me know which of these scenarios appeals to you.

edit:
Option 4: The players are Junior Time Lords at University who were on a field trip when the Time War broke out, and have since been stranded in Earth's history.

This message was last edited by the user at 22:27, Wed 05 Dec 2018.

Bornite
 member, 52 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 19:06
 msg #2
Time Travel Game
In reply to Tortuga (msg # 1):

Either #1 or #2, slightly leaning towards #2.  Definitely not #3.
Surgere
 member, 27 posts
 Rise
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 20:37
 msg #3
Time Travel Game
#1 sounds really interesting, but I’m down for any of them!
12th Doctor
 member, 45 posts
 History is a burden.
 Stories can make us fly.
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 21:45
 msg #4
Time Travel Game
#1 sounds fascinating.
Tortuga
 member, 1839 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 22:03
 msg #5
Re: Time Travel Game
12th Doctor:
#1 sounds fascinating.


Oh, I guess another option would be "Players are junior time lords on a field trip when the Time War started, and now their TARDIS has somehow split into different uncontrollable versions of itself."
LonePaladin
 member, 775 posts
 Creator of HeroForge
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 22:45
 msg #6
Re: Time Travel Game
Tortuga:
They've got some advanced tech to help them assimilate - translation program, for example - and can observe each other/communicate from their time machines.

This part reminds me of "Day of the Tentacle".
Gareth3
 member, 22 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 22:45
 msg #7
Time Travel Game
In reply to Tortuga (msg # 1):

#1 is an interesting premise, but the amnesia would interfere with character creation, so I'll go with #2.
Tortuga
 member, 1840 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 22:50
 msg #8
Time Travel Game
Yeah, I'd go with Partial Amnesia; you remember enough about yourself to know roughly who you are, but the details of your mission and who you work for are vague at best.
OakMaster
 member, 107 posts
 "Choose you this day
 whom ye will serve..."
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 23:13
 msg #9
Time Travel Game
#1 is #1 for me, followed by #3 and #2.  :)
Gareth3
 member, 23 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 23:28
 msg #10
Re: Time Travel Game
Tortuga:
Yeah, I'd go with Partial Amnesia; you remember enough about yourself to know roughly who you are, but the details of your mission and who you work for are vague at best.


OK, I'll change my vote to #1.
Tortuga
 member, 1841 posts
Wed 5 Dec 2018
at 23:58
 msg #11
Re: Time Travel Game
If I go with 1 I'll use the Amnesia to justify a character improvement mechanic where you can "remember" parts of your past to add skills to your sheet.
Bornite
 member, 53 posts
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 04:20
 msg #12
Re: Time Travel Game
Thinking it over more today, I'll go firmly with #2.  Never really liked the amnesia or partial amnesia thing.
Tortuga
 member, 1842 posts
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 04:55
 msg #13
Re: Time Travel Game
Development:

Option 1: Players will be 150 point characters. They will be able to add skills and other abilities through "flashbacks" where they remember some aspect of their life, mid-play, representing their lives before becoming time travelers as well as the training they received for the mission. Players will, generally, be prepared, because they can define their capabilities as needed. Need to forge a sword? Good thing you were in the SCA. Find yourself in Renaissance Italy? Oh hey, you spent a weekend in Tuscany.

Option 2: Players are closer to "Marty McFly" than "Timecop." 100 point characters. Players are far less likely to be prepared for adventures in the past, which is its own sort of fun. This doesn't mean that the game is going to be comedic - the focus is going to be adventure - but that the character arc is going to be more of a "zero to hero" arc.
OakMaster
 member, 108 posts
 "Choose you this day
 whom ye will serve..."
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 06:09
 msg #14
Re: Time Travel Game
I like #1 Option 1.  :)
Gareth3
 member, 24 posts
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 06:43
 msg #15
Re: Time Travel Game
Option #1 for me too.
Tortuga
 member, 1843 posts
Thu 6 Dec 2018
at 17:01
 msg #16
Re: Time Travel Game
Decided to lean in on the amnesia thing - I found a way to tie the themes and mechanics together in a way that really works.

quote:
You are an elite operative sent into the past by a mysterious organization using prototype time-travel technology. You're well trained, well equipped, and in contact with other temporal operatives throughout time and space.

Only...

None of you remember why. None of you remember who sent you back, or what it is you're supposed to be doing. You don't remember how you were even recruited, or when it was that you were trained. Your memory - all of the operatives memories - are swiss cheese. Delicious. Full of holes.



In Chrononauts players explore a cinematic timeline built from popular fiction - movies, TV Shows, comic books, literature, and games. It's part mystery, part sandbox, as players explore the eras in which they find themselves while trying to unravel the secret purpose behind their mission, and their own selves.

Chrononauts is a GURPS 4e game in which players define their characters as their memories return. No familiarity with the system or access to the books is required.


Character creation has become a game unto itself rather than an exercise in number crunching. This may turn some players off, but I feel this works very well with the overall theme.

If you're interested, go in and RTJ at link to another game. I'll only be taking 1-2 players before the winter break due to end of year time constraints, but everyone else will go on a waiting list to be contacted in January when I'm ready to take on new players.
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