I had an idea for a homebrew game; I just wanted to know if I'm going in the right direction. Basically, it's a massive urban sprawl inhabited by robots with advanced technology, but everything is modeled after the aesthetics of Chicago circa the 1920s.I picture robotic sleuths and metallic dames sporting laser pistols and holo-cams as they track down gang shipments or investigate the disappearance of a precious jewel. I wanted it to have a pulpy vibe with a touch of the whimsical. Wealthy bots live in massive zeppelin estates that hover in the night sky. Gangs have taken their territorial wars to the sky as aviators clash in a hail of gun/laser fire.
There are no humans, no creators, robots just seem to pop of out these massive factories every once in a while and over time they develop a unique personality. There's some kind of undercity filled with primitive and hostile bots, the farther down you go the more primitive they become.
Could be fun. It's a bit gimmicky, perhaps, but if you explore what differences there would be between a robotic world and our own it could be quite good. e.g. the economy is probably quite different since food is largely irrelevant. (Although they will need fuel of some kind.)
What should be avoided is a pure 1920's carbon copy with humans substituted with robots.
Good luck with it!
Makes me thing of certain parts of Samurai Jack. That is never a bad thing :)
You'll need an alcohol equivalent to fuel prohibition-era gangsterism. Illegal programs that get you high? Some kind of energy?
The era is also drenched in sex (flappers, burlesque dancers, etc etc). How does that get squared with the fact that everyone's a robot?
Quote from: Kindling
Makes me thing of certain parts of Samurai Jack.
There was an actual episode about a robot hitman in classic hard-boiled pulp style.
Anybody who knows me knows this is right up my alley! It's kind of in my name...
I think this could be very cool if it is done right.
It does sound like an interesting concept. Would probably not something I would like to play too often, but once in a while it might be fun...