Where to Draw when the Well is Dry

This month’s RPG Blog Caravel ask’s the question:

“What non-game media have most inspired your games and how?”

Johnn responded to the question listing his favorite Saturday morning cartoons, using them to draw inspiration due to the simple plots and environments.  For me though Saturday morning cartoons just don’t spark me in the same manner.  Sure, I have used them in my games or drawn from some of the side characters as sources for my NPCs, but it’s never been a touch stone for me.

TV Tropes

I’m a bit of a TV nut.  I’ve seen more then my share of TV for a given lifetime so for me it’s the place where I pull much of my design ideas and plot. I use TV Tropes as a reference for pulling out specific bits of style when I need it.  If I’m feeling a bit lost on a villain or need to spice up a story I sprinkle in some tropes to put some kick back in my jams.  Cause really, what couldn’t be more inspiring then borrowing a trope or two from the likes of Doctor Who or Star Trek?

Blog Posts

My RSS list can be pretty varied, I follow a ton of RPG blogs (of course) but also follow many gaming, tech, and movie blogs.  For me reading many of these can be uncommon sources of inspiration.  Lifehacker’s McGuyver tricks or any of their DIY stuff has lead to some interesting character responses when I’m playing a someone that’s a bit more mechanically inclined.  I’ve even been known to leverage social media and other trends covered on Mashable to spice up a more modern game.  Not to mention the sheer quantity of gaming related blogs, but that’s neither here or there.

What non-game related media do you draw your inspirations from?

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  • Dave Przybyla

    I have three main sources of inspiration.

    1. History. I read a lot of history books, and these influence how I present people and societies.

    2. Certain Fantasy authors such as Fritz Leiber, Gene Wolfe, and Robert E. Howard. Although these authors have very different styles, the way they used words and the situations they created are memorable in unique way.

    3. Personal Experience. It is not uncommon for me to include physical extremes in my roleplaying material. That is, people near the limit of their physical capabilities. This is probably in part due to the endurance sports in which I participate. I know what it's like to keep going for hours, even when I'm suffering.

  • http://www.apathygames.com Tyson J. Hayes

    I definitely like the idea of drawing upon history for NPCs and events. Though I definitely don't know enough history to really do it any justice. Do you have any periods or stories do you like drawing from?

    I've also never read any of those authors, do you have any books you'd recommend by them so I can check them out?

  • Dave Przybyla

    I have been most interested in ancient Greece, particularly the Greco-Persion wars. I also like to learn about Medieval Europe and the settlement of America for the frontier aspects. However, I don't think I directly take historical incidents and use them in adventures. History just affects the way I view things and the way I write them, hopefully adding verisimilitude to parts of the adventures.

    Robert E. Howard wrote the Conan stories, as well as Soloman Kane. Although he has weaknesses as a writer, his stuff has a lot of energy and is still exciting to read.

    Fritz Leiber wrote the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories. These are amazingly good and have a wonderful sense of humor. I first read them when I was pretty young and enjoyed them. But i have read them again over the last couple of years and find some very clever adult elements that increase my appreciation. I have actually adapted some ideas from these stories for adventures.

    Gene Wolfe has written a ton of books. The books that most influenced me were The Book of the New Sun. There are four main books, beginning with The Shadow of the Torturer. The odd word choices, imaginative situations, and amazing style have greatly affected my approach to adventure creation. It may also be that Wolfe was inspired by Jack Vance's Dying Earth.

  • Dave Przybyla

    One additional note. The title of White Haired Man's first adventure, Well Met in Kith'takharos, is a play on the title of one of Lieber's stories, Ill Met in Lankhmar. There is no other connection between them.

  • Dave Przybyla

    I have been most interested in ancient Greece, particularly the Greco-Persion wars. I also like to learn about Medieval Europe and the settlement of America for the frontier aspects. However, I don't think I directly take historical incidents and use them in adventures. History just affects the way I view things and the way I write them, hopefully adding verisimilitude to parts of the adventures.

    Robert E. Howard wrote the Conan stories, as well as Soloman Kane. Although he has weaknesses as a writer, his stuff has a lot of energy and is still exciting to read.

    Fritz Leiber wrote the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories. These are amazingly good and have a wonderful sense of humor. I first read them when I was pretty young and enjoyed them. But i have read them again over the last couple of years and find some very clever adult elements that increase my appreciation. I have actually adapted some ideas from these stories for adventures.

    Gene Wolfe has written a ton of books. The books that most influenced me were The Book of the New Sun. There are four main books, beginning with The Shadow of the Torturer. The odd word choices, imaginative situations, and amazing style have greatly affected my approach to adventure creation. It may also be that Wolfe was inspired by Jack Vance's Dying Earth.

  • Dave Przybyla

    One additional note. The title of White Haired Man's first adventure, Well Met in Kith'takharos, is a play on the title of one of Lieber's stories, Ill Met in Lankhmar. There is no other connection between them.

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