Tabletop RPGs That Would Conform To The True Tabletop RPG Campaign Model: Part One

Following up on yesterday's post, there's one game on my shelf that--at first glance, or even a casual inspection--you may not think would conform to the True Campaign model.

I had discussed this a few years ago at this post, so long time readers will see that I am not coming at this out of nowhere. TORG is a wargame. That means you can run it exactly like we see with Trollopoulos and other campaigns, and the rules as well as the setting support this.

Furthermore, the original business model made a backhanded (and wholly unwittingly) acknowledgement of this; players were encouraged to submit their reports to West End, who would sift through them and update the setting--and thus the map--accordingly over the game's lifetime and influence future product releases. (That didn't work out as planned, but at least they tried.)

There was another, later, game and setting that attempted something similar.

The base game was a blend of James Bond and Mission: Impossible, but the setting turned it into full on G.I. Joe and--for those who love their guns and their gonzo--is exactly what the doctor ordered. You absolutely can play this game, especially in this setting, by the True Campaign model. By extension, FantasyCraft also conforms and so does--in a different direction--Top Secret, Ninjas & Superspies, and obviously Twilight 2000.

Every one of these games would work very well if played with 1:1 time, Patron-level players, Rules-As-Written, etc. because they are rooted in the wargaming tradition despite any literary or film/TV influences and pretensions otherwise. Most people, if they take some time to think this through, will agree on this point. The only thing I will say that is at all controversial is that the gameplay experience would be improved by conforming to the model.

However, tomorrow I'll get into some games that I think would conform and benefit from doing so despite a lack of wargaming roots.