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Hellraiser: The Roleplaying Game; It doesn't exist, but could it?
Tweet Topic Started: May 11 2007, 06:38 PM (2,270 Views)
suffer4love May 11 2007, 06:38 PM Post #1
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Hey everyone,

I've been talking to a couple of new potential seriously good friends, and I have found that we have some common interests... one of which is extreme horror, and extreme horror movies.

While these people are familar with rpgs, they haven't actually been involved in playing, and I would like to introduce them (there are two, my main friend and her friend) to the concept.

Now, I admit that I love Vampire, but sometimes I have a problem with it... sometimes, it is just too bright and cheerful for my style of play. :devil:

I love the Hellraiser movies, and number two (unrated version), especially.

I have a concept in my head... Hellraiser: The Roleplaying Game. Even though this is an 80's franchise, I think I could get my friends to enjoy this as a game... first we'd watch the movies (at least one and two), then next visit play the game.

The problem is, all I have is the idea as a concept. I don't actually have an idea.

I'm not looking for a plot... if I just ran a one shot, the plot is simple... PC finds Lament Configuration, PC opens Lament Configuation, PC has to escape being pleasure/pained by Pinhead & Co.

And I'm not looking for rules... I'm sure one of these books around here will give me a system that will function for this.

No, what I'm looking for is, how would I make the concept of Hellraiser an open ended series... obviously, the first one would be a "one-shot" but I would need a concept that can be left open, so that the series can continue.

So, does anyone have any ideas? What would be the roles of the PCs? What would be a good time setting (I don't like the one set in the future, but setting it in the past could be cool for the lack of communication devices... that makes the chance of isolation much greater... and much scarier). Or, maybe this is best played in the modern day?

Should the PCs be in a group that studies the occult? Maybe they study the puzzle boxes specifically? Maybe they already know about what's in the other dimensions? Are there other occult mysteries in this world than the puzzle boxes (things like Vampires and whatnot could be added in as variety, perhaps given a Hellraiser twist, if applicable to the story).

Like I said, I have tons of ideas as concept, but not a single one is substantial and concrete.

There's a lot of great gamer minds here... does anyone have any ideas they'd be willing to put on the board for me? Anything and everything will go into the mill.

Thanks in advance!

In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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kismetrose May 11 2007, 08:24 PM Post #2
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You know, I hate to say this but I missed the Hellraiser movies entirely. Didn't see a one of them, so I don't know that I'd be much help here. I do hope that someone else around here has seen them and can give you some ideas.
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suffer4love May 11 2007, 08:36 PM Post #3
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kismetrose
May 11 2007, 07:24 PM
You know, I hate to say this but I missed the Hellraiser movies entirely. Didn't see a one of them, so I don't know that I'd be much help here. I do hope that someone else around here has seen them and can give you some ideas.

The first two are a bit dated, but are the best of the series.

They still aren't nearly as dated as much of the material from that era, however.

If you can handle older movies (and like over-the-top horror films), I am certain you will enjoy the first two.

See the Unrated version of #2... the rated version is much too tame.

And you must see the slower moving #1 first, or you'll be totally lost. The first two are kinda like one long movie, actually.
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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kismetrose May 11 2007, 08:42 PM Post #4
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If you can handle older movies (and like over-the-top horror films), I am certain you will enjoy the first two.

Define older movies and over the top horror films, por favor.
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Freston May 11 2007, 09:47 PM Post #5
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Both the Book of Vile Darkness and Heroes of Horror have taken some of their influence from the Hellraiser movies. If you want to use the DnD system as a base. Ruleswise, you have a go.

Setting, premise (if you like to work with these nasty things), and plotline are a different matter. Hellraiser gives some details, but it'll be some work to transport it to gaming terms. Could be fun.

I think the choice between futuristic or historical setting isn't all that important if the whole thing takes place in a different dimension. Could be both. Could be neither. I wouldn't limit myself on this point. I mean, what good is a fully loaded 44 when you're in hell?

Do you want to use DnD as the base system, or do you think another system more appropriate? What to do with magic, character classes, that sort of thing?

Just some questions, I'm off to the Real World earning my money :rolleyes:
said the fool, and he showed his suntanned teeth.
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GrimGent May 12 2007, 04:10 PM Post #6
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Kult really is the quintessential Hellraiser RPG in all but the name. For a slightly different angle, though, the PCs themselves might be the Cenobites rather than their victims: this works particularly well with such games as The Whispering Vault or Nobilis.
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suffer4love May 12 2007, 04:50 PM Post #7
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GrimGent
May 12 2007, 03:10 PM
Kult really is the quintessential Hellraiser RPG in all but the name. For a slightly different angle, though, the PCs themselves might be the Cenobites rather than their victims: this works particularly well with such games as The Whispering Vault or Nobilis.

Hell yeah... I used to play Kult years ago... I had to sell a bunch of stuff, and Kult, unfortunately, got thown in the box... I even had the GM screen and everything.

I really had a hard time finding players that wanted to stick with it long term, though. I figure that'll probably be the same issue I'll have with this, but these two (friends) do seem more into the genre than the people I was gaming with back then.

I wonder if Kult's still in print (or, more correctly, in print again)? Or if Kult d20 is out yet?

Players as Cenobites has crossed my mind... I'm not sure if I can keep a horror game running with that, though... I don't have the slightest idea how. (Unfortunately, I am not familiar with either of those two games you mentioned, although I plan to hit up rpg.net's reviews when I get a minute). Thanks for the input... please continue to post as ideas come to you... I really need all the help I can get.

PS Although I probably will go with Cenobites as NPCs (it's easier), I really would be interested in how a Players As Cenobites campaign could work... if you have ideas on that, please share. Thank you!
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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suffer4love May 12 2007, 04:54 PM Post #8
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Freston
May 11 2007, 08:47 PM
Both the Book of Vile Darkness and Heroes of Horror have taken some of their influence from the Hellraiser movies. If you want to use the DnD system as a base. Ruleswise, you have a go.

Setting, premise (if you like to work with these nasty things), and plotline are a different matter. Hellraiser gives some details, but it'll be some work to transport it to gaming terms. Could be fun.

I think the choice between futuristic or historical setting isn't all that important if the whole thing takes place in a different dimension. Could be both. Could be neither. I wouldn't limit myself on this point. I mean, what good is a fully loaded 44 when you're in hell?

Do you want to use DnD as the base system, or do you think another system more appropriate? What to do with magic, character classes, that sort of thing?

Just some questions, I'm off to the Real World earning my money :rolleyes:

Freston, you gave me so much to reply to, I really need more time than I have right now. :(

If I start replying to this, I will look up and an hour will have passed in about five minutes. So, I need to wait until I have a straight hour to devote. Dammit.

Thanks for the input. If you have anything to add, please don't wait until I reply... just put it down now so I can keep working on stuff.

And thanks!
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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suffer4love May 12 2007, 05:12 PM Post #9
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Freston
 
Both the Book of Vile Darkness and Heroes of Horror have taken some of their influence from the Hellraiser movies. If you want to use the DnD system as a base. Ruleswise, you have a go.

kismetrose
May 11 2007, 07:42 PM
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If you can handle older movies (and like over-the-top horror films), I am certain you will enjoy the first two.

Define older movies and over the top horror films, por favor.

Well, I hesitate to name names, as one person's nightmare on celluloid is another person's cure for insomnia...

... but I do think that any movie who's influence made it into the Book of Vile Darkness should qualify! :lol:

I think this is the sort of thing that probably should be opened up to the gang... my opinion will only show my biases... a larger cross section of "extreme" horror movie titles will give a wider range of what the genre entails.

So, whaddaya think, everybody/anybody? What is your idea of an "extreme" horror movie? (Give us some titles, please).
Your definition may vary, but here's mine: I define a movie to be "extreme" horror if:
1) It scares the living shit out of you even though you continually admonish yourself that "it's just a movie," or,
2) It makes you say "Dayum! That was cool!" with such a big cheesy grin on your face your friends all think you just got laid. :D

Hellraiser isn't my, you know, favorite movie of all time bar none or anything like that... although fans of the movie will probably "get" my board name a little more now. But I definitely tend to favor movies with demons anyway (well done movies, I mean). Demons are Scary, Evil, Cruel, and Like Getting Their Freak On With Mortal Women. What more could you want in a movie?

Yeah, okay, so I'm projecting.... :devil:
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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Freston May 13 2007, 02:04 AM Post #10
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"suffer4love"
 
So, whaddaya think, everybody/anybody? What is your idea of an "extreme" horror movie?

I watched a lot of horror movies, and I became convinced about 99% is really bad. But between the good movies, one might find some common ground I like. Demons for starters, yeah I like demons. But I'm a sucker for the Big Bad Evil Guy if he's just plain human trying to overcome his weaknesses (like fear, withering strength and so on) by turning to the dark side. I like that.

"suffer4love"
 
although fans of the movie will probably "get" my board name a little more now

Nope.... But it's been a while since I saw them.

My own board name, dunno If I told this before, comes from the book 'Don Quixote de la Mancha', in which the evil necromancer Freston gets blame for transforming the giants Don Quixote is fighting into windmills, thus depriving the nobleman of his chance of victory. And I like necromancers forthe reasons posted above. They seem to me frightened people, willing to do anything for a chance to live live without fear. Yet, their methods are making it impossible to do so, and they are trapped in their own devices.

Come to think of it, the model I used for a recurring BBEG-necromancer in my campaign is based on that vision and the main character in Darren Aronofsky's Pi. (If you're worried about copyright, I own this movie in real life)
It's the uncompromising obsession for the technical side of the world, as well as the feeling of being close to a breakthrough, that's enough to tear any man apart.
said the fool, and he showed his suntanned teeth.
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Freston May 13 2007, 03:10 AM Post #11
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"suffer4love"
 
Freston, you gave me so much to reply to, I really need more time than I have right now.

If I may? I guess you want to have things differently? Perhaps on a basis of DnD, so you get to use the dice, DM screen and DM guide without having to rewrite all the rules. But setting and premise being different enough to feel like a different game all together.

A couple of scenarios come to mind. All PC's start out as commoners. They find the puzzle box and unexpectingly open the gate to hell. This involves some risk from the side of the DM. The players might not feel like heroes, and worse might feel railroaded. I mean, what if they see through the puzzle box and discard it? They just be commoners in a fictitious world :( This can be overcome, just need a plan, that's all....

They could be the badguys themselves. That could be fun. I play in a DnD game where we are all vampires, and it's very exciting. Much more difficult than one might expect, getting away with murder and worst...

Oh! It just strikes me. If you want darkness and angst in your game, there are two ways to go. Either PC's as good guys in a conflict with the bad guys, ór the PC's as bad guys in a conflict with the good guys.

So how about this? The PC's are the bad guys, doing their evil thing within the safe confounds of hell. But they get summoned to earth by the puzzle box. They are now on earth, being very evil and all that, but need to get back. They need to find the puzzle box for that. You could even use the DnD character classes for the PC's. Yet, the setting is modern. No NPC has ever seen magic before. Yet, a firearm weapon proficiency or an explosive device weapon proficiency might be just as lethal. And a F16 Fighter/Bomber or an Apache is just as difficult to battle as an adult Red Dragon.

Just some random thoughts, though. Feel free to dislike 'm. At least, what's missing is the link to Hellraiser specific atmosphere and details. But then, I kept my posting time under 20 min ;)
said the fool, and he showed his suntanned teeth.
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suffer4love May 13 2007, 10:25 AM Post #12
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Freston
May 13 2007, 02:10 AM
"suffer4love"
 
Freston, you gave me so much to reply to, I really need more time than I have right now.

If I may? I guess you want to have things differently?

TELEGRAM TO FRESTON

at work really busy stop the first post you gave has excellent material to reply to stop the second post also has excellent material to reply to stop maybe i should get you to GM this damn game for me and i can be a player stop if you have anything else to add before i can get online to reply don't stop!
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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suffer4love May 13 2007, 03:38 PM Post #13
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Freston
May 13 2007, 02:10 AM
"suffer4love"
 
Freston, you gave me so much to reply to, I really need more time than I have right now.

If I may? I guess you want to have things differently? Perhaps on a basis of DnD, so you get to use the dice, DM screen and DM guide without having to rewrite all the rules. But setting and premise being different enough to feel like a different game all together.

A couple of scenarios come to mind. All PC's start out as commoners. They find the puzzle box and unexpectingly open the gate to hell. This involves some risk from the side of the DM. The players might not feel like heroes, and worse might feel railroaded. I mean, what if they see through the puzzle box and discard it? They just be commoners in a fictitious world :( This can be overcome, just need a plan, that's all....

They could be the badguys themselves. That could be fun. I play in a DnD game where we are all vampires, and it's very exciting. Much more difficult than one might expect, getting away with murder and worst...

Oh! It just strikes me. If you want darkness and angst in your game, there are two ways to go. Either PC's as good guys in a conflict with the bad guys, ór the PC's as bad guys in a conflict with the good guys.

So how about this? The PC's are the bad guys, doing their evil thing within the safe confounds of hell. But they get summoned to earth by the puzzle box. They are now on earth, being very evil and all that, but need to get back. They need to find the puzzle box for that. You could even use the DnD character classes for the PC's. Yet, the setting is modern. No NPC has ever seen magic before. Yet, a firearm weapon proficiency or an explosive device weapon proficiency might be just as lethal. And a F16 Fighter/Bomber or an Apache is just as difficult to battle as an adult Red Dragon.

Just some random thoughts, though. Feel free to dislike 'm. At least, what's missing is the link to Hellraiser specific atmosphere and details. But then, I kept my posting time under 20 min ;)

As noted in my telegram, all of your thoughts are great things to mull over, and I appreciate every one of them. I appreciate any thoughts anyone has to offer, because I really don't have many of my own.

All I keep doing in my head is Call of Cthulu, but with Cenobites ("Call of Cenobites?" Hmmm). I'm actually perusing my Call of Cthulu D20 (and my older version too), looking for more thoughts in this direction. I really want some connecting thread that will allow us to keep playing other stories, if everyone has fun and wants to. For that reason, I need them to have skills that will help them survive in a World of Horror. Also, since they will have seen the movies first, they know what's coming up... the box won't be a surprise. They would probably choose character "types" that would be suited for this game (based on what they saw on the movie). I know I would!

What I don't want to happen is for this to become just a pedestrian horror campaign... the original source material is too original to become just another Chill campaign with Pinhead as a guest star.

Railroading isn't too big an issue with this game. For one thing, neither of these ladies have actually played an rpg before... they are familiar with them from hearing people talk (geeks of a feather...) but they haven't actually been in one. So, they won't really even know what they can and cannot do within the rules of the game... having a plotted course (I prefer a simple beat chart) will keep things going smoothly when we start bogging down.

Also, a game based on Hellraiser would probably be expected to have some structure pre-built into it: The story doesn't start until the characters open the box. Therefore, if the characters don't open the box, there is simply no story. If they throw the box out the window, and it lands on a hobo living under the bridge, and he opens it... then the story is about him, not them. Since he isn't in the story, I can describe all this in a cutscene, then we can fold up all our notes and go out for pizza! (For this reason, again, the characters they play would have to be someone who would willingly open the box knowing full well what's going to happen when they do).

Also, I just plain suck at freeform games... I have to have some sort of plot outline or things tend to drag.

Two peoples have now suggested PCs as Cenobites. That idea is getting tasty, especially when I think of each character having a prelude where they play though the experience that turned them into a Cenobite. Having them create their own Cenobite character (and push for originality) could be a lot for them, and show a little bit of the player's own personality, as well (a quiet person might create one with her lips sewn together, for example... or a quiet one might create on who has two mouths and talks constantly...).

Please continue tossing more stuff into my grinder every chance you get, anybody and everybody... you can see already how your ideas are helping me form thoughts... even if, so far, they really aren't the most original (so far!).

And, while I've got you here, the talk about freeform vs. structured got me so curious about gamer attitudes between these two opposites, that I've created my very first poll, if I did it right. I hope you'll jump over there and vote!
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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Freston May 14 2007, 04:11 AM Post #14
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*telephone rings*

*You hear the nicest womans' voice*
Mr. Freston wants to confirm that he received your telegram. He likes me to give you the following message. Mr. Freston asked me to tell you to feel free to answer it at your own discretion.




If you like, there are rules for being exposed to severe evil. I haven't had the chance to use 'm, but they look interesting. Little bonuses for offering to an evil god, whilst preforming a ceremony.

Also, a non-evil character might get affected by the evil surrounding it. I don't like to impose mayor penalties on players, but you might use it for the flavor of the campaign. If yuo like, that is.


By the way, how close do you want to stick to the original movies? I can, for example imagine the PC's being turned into bad guys against will or thanks. But as time progresses they are lured into the ways of evil, so that at first they feel victim, but they start feeling their metamorphoses as a liberation in the end. :devil:

Dunno if you want this for your new players though. It depends on them, and you know 'm better ;)
said the fool, and he showed his suntanned teeth.
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suffer4love May 17 2007, 02:49 PM Post #15
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Freston
May 14 2007, 03:11 AM
If you like, there are rules for being exposed to severe evil. I haven't had the chance to use 'm, but they look interesting. Little bonuses for offering to an evil god, whilst preforming a ceremony.

Also, a non-evil character might get affected by the evil surrounding it. I don't like to impose mayor penalties on players, but you might use it for the flavor of the campaign. If yuo like, that is.


By the way, how close do you want to stick to the original movies? I can, for example imagine the PC's being turned into bad guys against will or thanks. But as time progresses they are lured into the ways of evil, so that at first they feel victim, but they start feeling their metamorphoses as a liberation in the end.  :devil:

Dunno if you want this for your new players though. It depends on them, and you know 'm better ;)

This topic has become sidelined because apparently the whole damn game is being sidelined. College is over and both of my players are out of classes... and both are leaving for the summer.

I was hoping that I could get this game going on before they left, but I am having a hard time even getting hold of them... packing to go home seems to be their primary concern. Dammit, why do people have to have lives??? Everyone should exist only for the purpose of playing roleplaying games with me!!! :angerbounce:

I briefly bounced around the idea of locking them up in the basement and only letting them loose to play my game (and it only takes one arm free to roll dice anyway), but I realized that would never work... I don't have a basement. :crazy:

Anyway, I was holding off replying so I could get a little more details and ideas going, but now with it permanently on hold, there's not much point.... :argh: Once school begins I might be able to get 'em back together to play, but by then it is likely that I'll be moved... I'm planning to move from here in a month or two.

Sincere thanks to everyone who has given me ideas... the idea isn't dead... it's kinda like dead... but not really dead. Like, undead. It's a Living Dead idea. :wacko:
In death's eyes sorrow lingered once, seeing her life torn apart
The shackles fell to see her free to walk the earth
In her eyes life is present still, through the day I watch her sleeping
I hold her close forever more
(Bella Morte)
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