Comments on: Doctor Who RPG – Could this really work?

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:56:12 +0000

About the only thing I can think of is one, play in the original series era prior to the Last Great Time War when you have a Lot of Time Lords to play with. Two is to use the Time Agency, the Chula, love the ship, the Doctor's Daughter, or similar branch from the series. Third is the Celetis, the Gallifreyan Celestial Intervention Agency that created Mictian, a planet outside the Universe (Space and Time) and became beings of energy who would monitor the time stream. They left Gallifrey before the last great time war. It makes an easy story to say the ruling council are energy beings but flesh and blood agents still exist and are used for missions. They would be Gallifreyan, could have TARDIS, could pick up companions, would try to operate in secret. It presents possibilities. It could be fun to read.

By: Felipe

Felipe — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:41:28 +0000

It would very VERY tough. The Doctor Who universe depends very little on physical resolutions. It's always some idea or Time Lord knowledge that saves the day. For a Gamemaster, coming up with clever plot devices like these is very challenging and players can grow frustrated at having to sit around and always think about things their non Time Lord brains aren't as capable of coming up with.

Furthermore, there's the whole thing about the Doctor Who universe, at least of late, being so dependent on the Doctor and not the setting. Without a rich setting, GMs are forced to come up with not only story, but also everything else that goes around it. Overall, Doctor Who is just not well built for a paper-pen rpg with continuous replay value.

By: Stargazer

Stargazer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:32:01 +0000

There's also a slightly newer RPG called TIME LORDS that is now available for free on the internet after the authors managed to have the copyright reverted back to them. You can check this game out here.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:31:30 +0000

Way back when, I think it was in the mid-80's, FASA did a Dr Who RPG. I'm really hazy on those old rules and their buried in a box somewhere. But I do remember that they were more entertaining to read than play. In that old version, players could be a Time Lord or a Companion. Chucks last blog post..Savage Bloggers Unite!

By: Hammer

Hammer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:40:43 +0000

No, you never really find out anything about the Time Agency other then Spike...sorry, Captain John also worked for them and they all have one of the nifty wristband-timemachines. Oh, and they carry a lot of weapons. There is a wee bit about them on the Doctor Who wiki: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Time_Agency Hammers last blog post..Tofu & Mushroom Stroganoff

By: Stargazer

Stargazer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:29:15 +0000

Hmm, I haven't seen all Torchwood episodes yet. So can you tell me if Captain Jack ever gives some details on that Time Agency he had been working for? Being a Time Agent from the 51st century could be an interesting premise for a Dr. Who setting if you want go the Torchwood route, don't you think?

By: Hammer

Hammer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:00:56 +0000

I'm pretty sure that was one of my first articles on the network, so it kind of got buried

Not spoiling anything at all. I'm a big Torchwood fan I'm just imaging that by 500 years in the future or so, Jack will probably be overseeing operations (and it does away with the whole immortal PC if he doesn't get involved).

I also thought that Torchwood 4 (which is 'lost' according to the Torchwood tv series) could be used if you wanted to keep things present day.

Hammers last blog post..Tofu & Mushroom Stroganoff

By: Stargazer

Stargazer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:33:07 +0000

Too bad, it seems I have missed your article. I will have to check out that post immediately.

And I hope that I am not only spoiling anything, but Captain Jack Harkness will be around for a long, long time.

By: Hammer

Hammer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:44:04 +0000

I actually did a post with ideas for a Doctor Who themed RPG back in November (http://www.gamesofstate.net/2008/11/doctor-who-setting-1/).

Basically, a party packed full of Time Lords wouldn't be that much fun IMO (unless it was set prior to new Doctor Who, where it could be amazing – entire party of Doctors a-la The Five Doctors). Other then the war with the Daleks, a non-canon war with an enemy known as The Other and rogues like the Master and the Rani they don't like fighting that much, which could lead to things being very WoD or Cthulhu-esque.

I liked my idea of using Time Agents/Torchwood as the basis for a setting so much that I'm still working on designing a campaign for Chaosium's BRPG system based around it.

Set in the moderate future, with Captain Jack still alive as an NPC, all you need to do is give Torchwood some form of timetravel device and you have a very adaptable basis for fun.

Hammers last blog post..Tofu & Mushroom Stroganoff