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08:41, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

Posted by Faceplant
Faceplant
member, 31 posts
Sun 18 Feb 2018
at 22:10
  • msg #1

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

Sort of.

The players will be companions of a Time Lord, though not The Doctor - someone different, in temperament and capability, so as to not overshadow the group. Someone less apt to involve themselves unless absolutely necessary, but still feels compelled to surround themselves with non-Gallifreyan companions.

I'm also open to crossing over with other science fiction fandoms that could conceivably fit into the Doctor Who universe. A Judge Dredd, Blade Runner, Aliens, or even Star Trek or Star Wars crossover is possible; a Marvel or DC - creating widespread changes to the "now" status quo - is less so.

That said, the general conceit is that players will be "people who know the Time Lord" from different points in time and space who, through plot contrivance, are endangered through this friendship. Out of guilt, duty, or compassion, the Time Lord scoops 'em all up in a TARDIS for safety's sake - as long as they keep moving, they're (relatively) safe.

This gives us with our adventure generator; the Time Lord brings everyone somewhere/when, stops to repair the rickety ol' TARDIS, admonishes everyone to stay out of trouble, then the PCs get into trouble until it's time to jump through time and space again.

FUN OPTION: While the Time Lord is initially an NPC, when they regenerate one of the players takes over the role with a new appearance, personality.

Thoughts? Declarations of interest?
Faceplant
member, 33 posts
Wed 21 Feb 2018
at 00:29
  • msg #2

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

Refinement:

Throughout time and space a select group of individuals know a singularly interesting woman, Robin. While a bit cold and detached at times, perhaps even arrogant, she is nevertheless possessing of an undeniable intensity and blistering intellect. She is, above all else, immensely handy, acting as a sort of patron to her friends and helping them resolve their problems with grace and style.

Unbeknownst to her companions, Robin - full name Robinexashtridov - is a Gallifreyan Time Lady, survivor of the Last Time War. And there's something after her, and everyone she's close to. To save her friends, Robin is going to take them through a series of adventures throughout time and space.

I'm breaking out the OldWho lore for this, though I'm not sure if I'll be going by the audiodrama and novels - I just haven't read them. Modern 2018 Who-Earth is probably around TL 9 - they've got a lot of advancements from the alien races that have set up tech companies in an attempt to take over.

I'm thinking Hobby Skill (Doctor) might be appropriate for characters who've been obsessed with what little information has been leaked or recorded in history about the Doctor - half conspiracy theory, half folklore. Legends. There's probably a Hidden Lore variant, but I don't think anybody is going to start with that.

I'm still wavering on whether or not to mix other fictional worlds into the game. Some of the 70s shows did include some Lovecraftian mythos, but there's probably other sci fi series that wouldn't bend DW reality too much through their inclusion. As said, I could even see doing Star Trek in the future, or Star Wars in the past.
Faceplant
member, 39 posts
Mon 26 Feb 2018
at 21:47
  • msg #3

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

No bites yet? I'll give it one more go before shelving the idea.

Current question is whether to mix in other fandoms in the past/present, and if so, which ones.

* Doctor Who has always incorporated some elements from Lovecraft (prehuman reptilian races, literal Great Old Ones). This also gives us Howard's Kull and Conan.
* Star Trek. This would give some structure to the somewhat nebulous 22nd-24th century Earth future, and there's little reason the Federation couldn't exist alongside Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors, etc. The Time Lords replace the Q and other arrogant god-alien sorts, though some of the DW's ultra corporate future is at seeming odds with The Federation.
* The Aliens/Predator/Blade Runner franchise slips in fairly easily and without so much as a ripple.

Other suggestions for what would/wouldn't work are welcome. I'd be willing to run this with 1-4 interested parties.
BadCatMan
member, 289 posts
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 03:57
  • msg #4

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

I'd be interested, but I don't know a jot of GURPS, I'm afraid. Cubicle 7's Doctor Who RPG is rather good and adaptable to crossovers, as it's vague, covers a lot of possibilities, and is easily refluffed.

Crossovers with Doctor Who are easily explained as alternate universes. That's how it's been done in the comics, with the IDW Star Trek crossover, and when Doctor Who was a part of the Marvel comics and had some tenuous links to both Marvel and Transformers universes. Then there's the times the novels ripped off Dredd and other franchises, changing the names and specifics, adapting to the Who chronology and feel, but keeping the general style and theme. Judges to Adjudicators in 30th century overcities. Or copying the Lovecraft Mythos outright. That's all off-television, expanded-universe stuff, however.
Faceplant
member, 40 posts
Tue 27 Feb 2018
at 15:43
  • msg #5

GURPS Doctor Who (ish)

I don't really like the C7 system very much, but I'd be willing to go with FATE core or accelerated.
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