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13:13, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

“The Warriors” as an RPG.

Posted by eamiddleon
eamiddleon
member, 11 posts
Tue 28 May 2019
at 05:17
  • msg #1

“The Warriors” as an RPG

I saw RedLetterMedia’s review of The Warriors the other day, and tracked the movie down. Fantastic.

Basically: 8 members of the gang “The Warriors” need to make it back to Coney Island from the Bronx while every other gang (and the cops) are trying to get them. Couldn’t help but think it would make a great one-shot game, D20 Modern or summat. Anyone done something like this?
Bornite
member, 64 posts
Tue 28 May 2019
at 16:26
  • msg #2

“The Warriors” as an RPG

It's been used multiple times that I can remember over the past 40 years (saw the movie in the theater when it came out).  My preference has been the scenarios that go back to the original source (Anabasis by Xenophon) or even the multiple adaptations written by numerous other authors.

And yes, it can be a great adventure in various different times/genre/etc.
praguepride
member, 1404 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Tue 28 May 2019
at 16:35
  • msg #3

“The Warriors” as an RPG

The Warriors is essentially just the Odyssey with a modern twist on it.

As for RPG systems if you want it in modern times then the big three would be GURPs, Fate or a d20 system like d20 modern or Mutants & Masterminds.

You could also easily do it in a non-magical cyberpunk setting like Shadowrun. Just remove magic from the equation and you already have a system full of gang bangers with cybernetic implants and a brutal and gritty combat system.

For fantasy you could also do it with a d20 system like Pathfinder or D&D. There are rules for non-magical settings in both games.
Der Rot Konig
member, 209 posts
Educated Pirate
Tue 28 May 2019
at 16:56
  • msg #4

“The Warriors” as an RPG

Just wanted to add my two-cents...

THE WARRIORS RULE!!!

Bornite
member, 65 posts
Tue 28 May 2019
at 17:03
  • msg #5

“The Warriors” as an RPG

In reply to praguepride (msg # 3):

No, The Warriors is not The Odyssey.  It's Anabasis by Xenophon (aka The Ten Thousand/March Upcountry).

As to systems, you got pretty much the ones best suited to use for most any genre.  I do like the idea of using Shadowrun, good thought.
praguepride
member, 1405 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Tue 28 May 2019
at 18:23
  • msg #6

“The Warriors” as an RPG

I hadn't heard of Anabasis before but you're right it is very familiar and the obvious tie-in to Cyrus seals the deal.

The reason I thought it was the Odyssey was the Sirens aka LIzzies as well as the whole "God (aka DJ) is putting out a hit on you".  I don't know Anabasis so I can't comment on things like that although the easiest explanation is that the director took heavy inspiration from classic greek stories, period, with a blending of elements from several famous ones.

Definitely the obvious connection to Anabasis as the primary source though.
Bornite
member, 66 posts
Wed 29 May 2019
at 01:11
  • msg #7

“The Warriors” as an RPG

In reply to praguepride (msg # 6):

I think that you've got something there about Walter Hill (and probably Sol Yurick who wrote the novel of the same title in 1965) making use of other classical Greek stories at least for some of the imagery.

You might take a look at Anabasis, it is a fascinating read and readily available.

But heading somewhat back to the OP, I'd certainly love to play this kind of scenario (modern movie/book or some version of the original story) if it was the right system.
praguepride
member, 1409 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Wed 29 May 2019
at 02:12
  • msg #8

“The Warriors” as an RPG

As for playing out "the warriors' I'd be a little cautious just because like 75% of the movie is just "run for your lives!!!"

The setting is fascinating and it has a real comic book vibe to it with all the gangs having their own unique schticks and colors and face paints.

For the video game 1/2 the game was about the rise and formation of the Warriors. How it got started, recruiting the different people you see in the movie, beefing with a rival to take over Coney Island.

The actual night itself would be tricky to play at lower levels just because most systems have a finite amount of combat encounters you can have in one night. While there are plenty of gauntlet scenarios without magical "healing" you'd have to make sure the system allows for some kind of recovery of resources in a reasonable time frame. No "4 minute adventuring days" systems.

In that regards I think of all the systems, Mutants and Masterminds at very low levels would work out. Say PL 2-4. It's a d20 system so its familiar enough, you can customize people with cool combat moves as "powers" and because you don't have HP per se you can get away with recovering between encounters to a certain degree that you can't do with games like Pathfinder that requires healing or rest.
Bornite
member, 67 posts
Wed 29 May 2019
at 03:30
  • msg #9

“The Warriors” as an RPG

You've got some very good points there.  I personally think that Gurps would work well for the scenario, though it could turn very deadly quickly if the players are not careful.  But the characters should be trying their best to avoid combat where possible.  EABA would be another choice, but it's not as well known as many of the others.

As an aside, given all the movies that have been remade in the last decade or so, I'm kind of surprised that The Warriors hasn't been (of course they would probably ruin it).
pdboddy
member, 648 posts
EST/EDT [GMT-5/GMT-4]
Wed 29 May 2019
at 11:51
  • msg #10

“The Warriors” as an RPG

In a somewhat creepy tangent, YouTube started spamming my YT suggestions with "The Warriors" clips last night. :O
Gaffer
member, 1560 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Wed 29 May 2019
at 14:27
  • msg #11

“The Warriors” as an RPG

Biggest problem I'd anticipate is the mindset of the players. They're liable to try to stand and fight when they should be avoiding/fleeing. There a very few opportunities for rewarding players short of the ending.

Also, it may be tough getting players to make the sort of characters they need to play the story.
This message was last edited by the user at 14:27, Wed 29 May 2019.
Bornite
member, 68 posts
Wed 29 May 2019
at 15:02
  • msg #12

“The Warriors” as an RPG

In reply to Gaffer (msg # 11):

You are very correct.  This is where the GM would need to choose the players and characters very carefully.  Not as big a problem in a FtF game, but online, yeah it's a concern.

That said, with the right group of players (and the right system), this could be a really fun game.
praguepride
member, 1413 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Wed 29 May 2019
at 15:11
  • msg #13

“The Warriors” as an RPG

Easiest answer to that is to just literally make them pick up characters from the story. You pick Swan and make me a Swan-type character.

Swan is a leader, Ajax is the musucles, Rembrandt is the "heart", Fox is the scout etc.
12th Doctor
member, 95 posts
Laugh Hard. Run Fast.
Be kind.
Wed 29 May 2019
at 19:30
  • msg #14

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

Bornite:
In reply to praguepride (msg # 6):
I think that you've got something there about Walter Hill (and probably Sol Yurick who wrote the novel of the same title in 1965) making use of other classical Greek stories at least for some of the imagery.


The Warriors is 100% a modern adaptation of Anabasis. The 1965 book by Sol Yurick that was the basis for the movie begins with a quote from Anabasis. Throughout the novel, the character Junior reads a comic book version of the story. Yurick himself said "I wanted to show a dream of uniting, and the real conditions people lived under. I wanted the book to be exciting and popular but to parallel the Greek classic, Anabasis. I also wanted to depict these kids as they really were. One the one hand they could be horrifying and frightening. One the other, they were scared stiff because they were outside their turf. There is a constant play between what they want to be and the world they really live in."
eamiddleon
member, 12 posts
Thu 30 May 2019
at 03:51
  • msg #15

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

Re: mortality

Maybe pick a little from Paranoia and have players run a “six-pack” set of characters; each controls more than one. So the player isn’t eliminated at the loss of one PC, and things can be lethal for tension and mood-setting. It’d help the players be willing to abandon PCs for the sake of the group if they’re not fretting over a player.

Thanks for the responses, glad to hear others think it’d be worthwhile!
evileeyore
member, 191 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Thu 30 May 2019
at 11:46
  • msg #16

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

eamiddleon:
Maybe pick a little from Paranoia and have players run a “six-pack” set of characters; each controls more than one. So the player isn’t eliminated at the loss of one PC, and things can be lethal for tension and mood-setting. It’d help the players be willing to abandon PCs for the sake of the group if they’re not fretting over a player.

That's exactly what I was about to suggest.  They play a good portion of the gang, say half og it, trying to get home.  As they lose characters of course it rougher and more tense and they'll work harder to avoid combat, culminating in a final showdown reunited with the other half of their aging against the villains of the piece.
12th Doctor
member, 96 posts
Laugh Hard. Run Fast.
Be kind.
Fri 31 May 2019
at 15:37
  • msg #17

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

Seems like Dungeon Crawl Classics might be an option as well, if you run it as a 0-level funnel.
praguepride
member, 1419 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Fri 31 May 2019
at 15:45
  • msg #18

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

12th Doctor:
The Warriors is 100% a modern adaptation of Anabasis.


My understanding is that Anabasis is pretty grounded in reality as the real, if dramatized, version of what happened.

The Warriors has a fantasy feel to it. The colorful and eclectic gangs, the fairly 2-dimensional characters all around and the "challenges" that they face reminded me a lot of the Odyssey. Basically "morality vignettes" where those who chose to be terrible people get bumped off.

I'm not denying Anabasis, I just think that there is a broader look at greek myths in general as opposed to a direct and pure re-telling of a single story.
Gaffer
member, 1561 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Fri 31 May 2019
at 22:08
  • msg #19

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

eamiddleon:
Maybe ... have players run a “six-pack” set of characters; each controls more than one.

If there are, I don't know--36 player characters?--I think you water down the story a lot. Instead of six archetypical individuals, you have a conglomeration of barely-distinguishable, fairly generic guys. Not to mention making a lot more work for the players or the GM controlling the backups.

Remember, this is supposed to be a small band far from home struggling to get past more numerous enemies. If it's now about a large group, it makes it a lot less dramatic and more likely to become a slug fest.
praguepride
member, 1420 posts
"Hugs for the Hugs God!"
- Warhammer Fluffy-K
Fri 31 May 2019
at 22:15
  • msg #20

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

Have a couple of back up NPCs. Say 4 players but 7 characters in the group. Spend a bit of time establishing Cleon as a real character and leader of the group before brutally murdering him.

Then if the players are dumb you can kill off one or two and hand them the back-ups to say both "This is going to be a rough game" as well as "no reinforcements. this is it. If you're out, you're out." That would add quite a bit of caution to a lot of players when they realizing there is no resurrection or new character coming in. They can only play so long as they keep their character alive...
Bornite
member, 69 posts
Fri 31 May 2019
at 22:50
  • msg #21

Re: “The Warriors” as an RPG

Personally, I'd go with one character per player (and keep the number of players low).  If they get killed, then them's the breaks.
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