X-Com Campaign Ideas

This page is to discuss possible campaigns for XCOM:_The_RPG. Please use the individual sections for discussion about them specifically, or the discussion tab for ideas or comments relevant to the entire concept or multiple scenarios.

Campaign Types

The following section details ideas for campaigns in this setting.

Normals: Gray Dawn

This type of campaign would revolve around normal people struggling to do anything they can to impede the process of the alien invasion. It would be in the style of Red Dawn[1] or Price of Freedom[2]. These characters would be lower powered, but could have very interesting and diversified backgrounds. Victories might be difficult, but would be very satisfying.
.......--Dieter the Bold 12:09, 20 November 2009 (MST) I'd most prefer this campaign, with clear agreement before hand that PCs are totally going to get killed in the course of play.

Normals: Unified Resistance

This campaign would entail characters who are recruited into a resistance organization. These characters would have specific skills which have made them targets for the organization. They would probably also have some kind of support via information, equipment or possible manpower from the central organization.
...........--Dieter the Bold 12:11, 20 November 2009 (MST) This would be my second choice. Like the Goldilocks campaign: a little of everything to make it just right. Sorta' normal people but sorta' military with danger, go-get-'em action and possible politics and scheming.

Military Resistance Cell

The characters in this campaign are military personnel who have somehow come into contact with one another and work together to disrupt the alien invasion.
......... --Dieter the Bold 12:14, 20 November 2009 (MST) This would be my third choice. I'd prefer the social situation be a little more fluid, but I could totally get into a military resistance cell trying to hold on to the pride and professionalism that makes them military elite, while trying to research, attack and defend against the aliens. And still having to run some zealous (maybe overly so) Internal Security department to weed out collaborators and psychic thralls.

Survivalists

This would entail players being members of a militia or other anti-establishment type organization which then resists alien incursion, but does little to specifically go out and dislodge what they have already captured.
........ --Dieter the Bold 12:15, 20 November 2009 (MST) Not too excited about this idea, as I'd prefer to be more active against the aliens. It could make for some fun one-shots as we play out people about to get devastated or something as a prelude to them being introduced into the main campaign as a new third-party.

Alien Collaborators

Here is the chance to be a real shyster. These Quislings are working with the aliens to ensure the conquest is successful. There could be many motivations here: religious prophecy, neighbor hatred, power mongering, or a genuine belief that this is the best course to ensure humanitys survival.
.........--Dieter the Bold 12:07, 20 November 2009 (MST) I wouldn't want to play as collaborators, but I would love for them to be a continuous and major nemesis in whatever campaign we play in. Sorta' like the Terminator setting. You're never entirely sure who you can trust, because even if they are human, the might have sold out to those who aren't...

Pulp Heroes

This would be a higher powered game in any of the above genres. The characters would be more capable, the action more common and intense, and the stories more fast-paced.
.....................--Dieter the Bold 12:05, 20 November 2009 (MST) This would be my least favorite option. I prefer my alien-invaded worlds dark, gritty and deadly.

Systems

There are many possibilities for the system to use in this game.

Hero

This makes a lot of sense because I know it well and its flexible. Its far from perfect, however. I think its very workable, and we could probably mitigate any issues as they arise.

White Wolf

The new system is decent, but has some real problems with grappling. I bet we could find a middle ground that works.

Twilight: 2000

This is a game made in the mid-80's wherein the characters are soldiers in the field when both governments collapse during WWIII. It has extensive foraging, mechanical and coolness under fire rules. I am not certain I have ever played a campaign in this, but I have run a few games in some episodic games.

Gear Krieg

This would work well for a pulp hero style game because of script immunity and daring dice.