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When I was much younger and consequently a lot more ambitious in my roleplaying plans, I discovered a heavy metal band called Manowar. For those who don't know, Manowar's music centers around Norse and fantasy themes of fighting, killing and glory. The album in question was "Kings of Metal," probably the biggest, most lush release they ever had, with a full orchestra and choir for some tracks and eardum-blistering metal everywhere else. One track consisted entirely of a spoken-word tale of four Warhammer-styled super-warriors who come to lay some serious carnage down on their enemies. This stuff was and is catnip for the fantasy-minded.
I quickly nabbed other Manowar albums and really soaked up their aesthetic. They like to tell stories on their albums, though they don't do concept releases. There are just tracks here and there that are roleplaying plot nuggets simply waiting to be picked up.
I got very interested in doing a Manowar-inspired story-cycle using some roleplaying game or the other. Unfortunately the only real fantasy alternative at the time was 2e D&D and I... well, I just didn't care for that. Making my own game was out of the question; I didn't even think that way back then.
So my idea of Manowar: The Roleplaying Game never came to pass, though the desire has remained. I'm still not sure what would handle it. Maybe Burning Wheel if I could figure out how to run it.
Anyway, I relate this story because I'm wondering what music you've wanted to turn into a roleplaying experience, or just what tracks/albums make you want to game in a certain vein. Are you the kind that can't listen to Queensrÿche's "Operation Mindcrime" without going to the gaming shelf looking for the right system to bring that story to life. Are you a devotee of Blind Guardian or Hammerfall, trying to create roleplay that could use them as a soundtrack? Whaddaya got?
The gods of True Metal are listening. -
A long time ago, we had taken Dio's "Sacred Heart" and used that as the back story/plot of an AD&D adventure. I also remember Uriah Heep's "Lady in Black" or Manowar's "Master of the Wind" becoming an NPC concept/personality. I'd still like to try "Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Seven Parts" as a setting/adventure.
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- CommentAuthorZac in Davis
- CommentTimeDec 19th 2009
I would like to run my game-in-playtesting, La Familia, with Norse or Germanian protagonists, while listening to Isengard or Darkthrone. Serious Viking-metal stuff, man ^_^ -
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CommentAuthorColin_Fredericks
- CommentTimeDec 19th 2009
Manowar was inspiration for my whole high-school games club. In the early days of the World of Darkness, Sisters of Mercy's Slight Case of Overbombing was our soundtrack of choice. One of my friends more recently considered using Dragonforce before hearing that they suck in concert and becoming disillusioned.
These days it's typically individual songs that do it, though I have plotted an entire Exalted campaign around Bad Religion's Process of Belief album. -
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I'd wanna play something that's more 70's styled. Uriah Heep, Rainbow, Hawkwind, Jethro Tull, etc. Hence I've had a hard time understanding why playing D&D in the basement while listening to Led Zeppelin is presented as something bad. I know that the music is awesome, but maybe the gaming wasn't as fantastic as I'd like to think...?
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Judd Karlman mentioned listening to Kyuss albums as a soundtrack for Dictionary of Mu.
For myself, I never really found I could get into metal (I prefer the term metally challenged). -
I was on a Dragonforce kick for a while (and I've queued up much Dragonforce + Leave's Eyes to prep me for D&D).
Multiple games have been made/started due to excessive inspiration from Coheed and Cambria, which are similarly epic. At the very least, Empire of Dust + two of my game chef entries from 2006. -
Hawkwind.
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Posted By: Sam H
So my idea ofManowar: The Roleplaying Gamenever came to pass, though the desire has remained. I'm still not sure what would handle it. MaybeBurning Wheelif I could figure out how to run it.
Beast Hunters.Posted By: Sam Hjust what tracks/albums make you want to game in a certain vein
A flash drive of the greatest hits of Man... or Astro-Man? ought to be included with every copy of Danger Patrol. -
Well, half of the power metal tracks ever recorded start me thinking about either creating a new game or some character in a fitting system. There are three which I hear frequently and always get me to this state though:
Sonata Arctica's Broken
Within Temptation's Hand of Sorrow
Demons and Wizards' Path of Glory -
Posted By: johnzo
Posted By: Sam H
So my idea ofManowar: The Roleplaying Gamenever came to pass, though the desire has remained. I'm still not sure what would handle it. MaybeBurning Wheelif I could figure out how to run it.
Beast Hunters.
You know, I want to like Beast Hunters for its concept, but goddamned if I can figure out the rules. It's like they're written in Sanskrit. I only get so far and then splat!, I hit the wall. -
Posted By: DevPI was on a Dragonforce kick for a while (and I've queued up much Dragonforce + Leave's Eyes to prep me for D&D).
I wasn't sure how I felt about DragonForce at first, but I'll admit they're starting to grow on me. The way they wear their video-game music influences on their sleeves probably has something to do with it. -
And for those still on the fence: how could you not want to play a game like this?
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Posted By: Sam HMaybe Burning Wheel if I could figure out how to run it.
Luke and Dro's Under a Serpent Sun was based on Slaughter of the Soul by At the Gates.Posted By: Sam HAnd for those still on the fence: how could younotwant to play a game like this?
To me, this says In a Wicked Age or S/Lay w/Me. -
One thing is certain: there has to be some benefit for dying in battle. Perhaps play 3:16 and make killing and dying for Earth in to something righteous will get the feeling right?
If I made a Manowar game design goal #1 would be finding a way to create the feeling of "oh man we kick ass, we are such mighty warriors" in an unironic manner which probably means gameplay that is actually challanging a at least a little skill based. Playing a little Dungeons & Dragons (4e) I never got that feeling since death never seemed threatening at all and the optimal use of powers and maneuvering was pretty straight forward. -
Music is the most influential aspect of RPG inspiration for me. A proto-design of mine was entirely inspired by King Diamond's Them, mechanics of which have made it into everything I've done since.
To answer the question, we listened to Manowar while playing WHFRP 1st Ed back in the day. I was under the impression Manowar had almost reached "official soundtrack" status for that game. I have a hard time seeing a superior implementation but perhaps I'm just blinded by prior experience. -
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CommentAuthorAndrew Kenrick
- CommentTimeDec 22nd 2009
And here was me thinking you were following up your Battlefleet Gothic thread with a thread about Man O' War. Ahoy! Thar be Skaven off the port bow and a dragon astern! -
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I've had various songs from The Tea Party's The Edges of Twilight album turn up in an Amber game I co-ran and a Shadowrun game run by a fellow TTP fan.
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- CommentAuthorFigureFour
- CommentTimeDec 23rd 2009
Posted By: Andrew KenrickAnd here was me thinking you were following up your Battlefleet Gothic thread with a thread aboutMan O' War. Ahoy! Thar be Skaven off the port bow and a dragon astern!
I thought the same thing actually. -
Showdown? I played an Amon Amarth-inspired game a month or two ago, which got me thinking in this direction.
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Posted By: FigureFour
Posted By: Andrew KenrickAnd here was me thinking you were following up your Battlefleet Gothic thread with a thread aboutMan O' War. Ahoy! Thar be Skaven off the port bow and a dragon astern!
I thought the same thing actually.
Hey, I can't help it if you guys haven't been inducted into the Army of Immortals. -
This is a great intro to a Fantasy campaign:
Dark Avenger
[R. Friedman / J. Demaio]
He broke the laws of the elders
So they plucked out his eye,
Took his land and fortune,
Left him to die
Bound on the shoreline,
Left for the tide,
Sees his life-blood leaving...
Circling lower, the vultures fly
His bones may be broken
But the spirit can't die
And the Gods see his anguish
And give him a sign
From the floor of the ocean
The ship of the lost souls rise
And they take him where no one sleeps while the undead cry,
Where no one sleeps while the undead cry...
And in the world above
The elders sing,
On his land they live...
Let death's bell ring
Narration:
He was met at the gate of Hades
By the Guardian of the Lost Souls,
The Keeper of the Unavenged
And He did say to him:
"Let ye not pass
Abaddon
Return to the world
From whence you came
And seek payment
Not only for thy known anguish
But to vindicate the souls
Of the Unavenged"
And they placed in his hands
A sword
Made for him
Called: Vengeance
Forged in brimstone
And tempered
By the woeful tears of the Unavenged
And to carry him up on his journey
Back to the upper world
They brought forth
Their Demon horse
Called: Black Death
A grim steed
So fiercely might
And black in colour
That he could stand as one: Darkness...
Save from his burning eyes
of crimson fire
And on that night
They rode up from Hell
The pounding of his hooves
Did clap like thunder ! -
I thought every fantasy game is meant to be played like Manowar.
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CommentAuthormax.lambertini
- CommentTimeDec 26th 2009
Must be the odd one here, 'cos I always used the likes of U.N.K.L.E. and Massive Attack as my soundtrack during gamemastering. Hell, I've even used Run, Lola, Run! movie soundtrack more than once... And yet, the idea of a Manowar-based roleplaying game, hits some hidden chords in me.... -
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I never grew into the hardcore hair rock. I was always more into punk, techno, and new age. Also, grindhouse gangsta like ONYX. After listening to Shut Em Down '98 about a Million Times (phenomenal album, BTW), I ran a Shadowrun game that knocked the shit down. I actually used lyrics from the songs in the game, complete with orc gangers that sniffed a mix of cocaine and gunpowder.
-Andy -
Posted By: AndyI never grew into the hardcore hair rock.
I hope you're not calling Manowar a hair-rock band. They are totally power metal and, as they say themselves in "Kings of Metal": True metal people want to rock, not pose / Wearing jeans and leather, not crackerjack clothes.
Let Manowar never be lumped in with the likes of Poison herewith and forevermore. -
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CommentAuthorKeith Fyans
- CommentTimeDec 29th 2009
Perhaps play 3:16 and make killing and dying for Earth in to something righteous will get the feeling right?
Funny you should mention this because I thought "Carnage amongst the Tribes" is upcoming (and 3:16 was going to be my choice of system for a Man'o'War based game).
I'd also check out the Dethclok track "Better Metal Snake" - so much fun! -
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Posted By: Sam HLet Manowar never be lumped in with the likes of Poison herewith and forevermore.
Ah, I apologize: I actually knew that, but for some reason I was mentally lumping them in with "other things the teens around me in Jersey tended to listen to". You're totally right, they would be better grouped with the likes of Iron Maiden or early Metallica, true metal, than flashy cock-rock.
-Andy -
At o e time Cro-Mags were my gaming soundtrack of choice.
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CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJan 1st 2010 edited
You know, I clicked on this thread hoping that you were making this game:
I hope you're not calling Manowar a hair-rock band. They are totally power metal and, as they say themselves in "Kings of Metal": True metal people want to rock, not pose / Wearing jeans and leather, not crackerjack clothes.
Oh, the irony.
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Posted By: Joshua A.C. Newman
I hope you're not calling Manowar a hair-rock band. They are totally power metal and, as they say themselves in "Kings of Metal": True metal people want to rock, not pose / Wearing jeans and leather, not crackerjack clothes.
Oh, the irony.
Hey, if you had Joey DeMaio's abs you'd wear a leather loincloth, too. -
I also feel compelled to offer an album-cover counterpoint.
Behold:
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CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJan 3rd 2010
Methinks they doth protest too much.
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That could be said of just about any band with a heavy fantasy element to their album covers. The oversized themes are like a genre of fantasy all to themselves, as the video game Brütal Legend demonstrated to good effect.
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CommentAuthorJoshua A.C. Newman
- CommentTimeJan 3rd 2010
I'm just sayin', it's about as straight as the Village People.
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I see, you're talking about the lame cover and not the cool ones. I'll admit that wasn't their finest hour, but their music is still maximum groovy.
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- CommentAuthorLaughingJackWilton
- CommentTimeJan 4th 2010
If you made a fantasy game like Conan while adding awesome metal tropes (giant skeletal mastodons) and had to play metal in the background it would kick ass and I would play it. -
God bless you, son.
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- CommentAuthorwhiteknife
- CommentTimeJan 4th 2010
Yeah, it has to be a written rule that metal must be played in the background AT ALL TIMES. Put in some kind of penalty for not following it too, so they don't go soft on ya' -
- CommentAuthorLaughingJackWilton
- CommentTimeJan 4th 2010
What would it be called? Master of Revenge and the Army of the Immortals? -
Maybe ... Metal Opera? http://www.harlekin-maus.com/games/metalopera/metalopera.html#
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As cool as Metal Öpera is — and I have touted its goodness elsewhere — it supports a very specific kind of game. It does so very well, but I think what William suggested is something with a broader, more fantastic scope that would fall outside the borders of a Metal Öpera game as designed.
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- CommentAuthorLaughingJackWilton
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Metal Öpera is cool, but it doesn't capture the flavour of Manowar. While Öpera is sci-fi space opera Codenamed Manowar would be fantasy set in a Northern Germany/Norway that is akin to Conan. You would ride flaming horses, fight Aesir and Vanir, Satan, sacrifice(or save) lambs of god, avoid the dreaded Sandman, fight shapeshifters, explore the cradle of filth, argue about the differences between wolf and man while being all around epic.
I am seriously considering designing a game like this.
Currently in my campus game since this thread started we are playing in a Burning Wheel mod called Burning Pentacle. These are my notes from our world building / character creation section.
Genre: Fanatasy - Conan, splashed with Metal themes. (Manowar)
Musts- Must play metal all the time during the game.
PC musts- All combats are started with the players showing 'metal horns'.
Things we (The players) want to happen:
Fight with a skeleton mastadon.
Kick Satan's ass to 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'March for Revenge' (at the same time to not break the rule)
Ride a flaming horse across the night sky.
Kick an angel.
Find a shield of ultimate power with an upside down pentacle.
Work for a group of good Wiccans.
Find the lamb of Odin. Sacrifice it to complete a ritual.
Then I add my smear:
Wiccans is fine. The want the lamb of Odin to dethrone him to empower the Vanir.
Satan is the villain, it doesn't make sense but whatever, the music fusion is fine.
Skeleton mastadon is the mount of Battleaxe the Burner, lord of the Roxcaliber tribe.
The angel they kick is a walkyrie.
Flaming horses belong to the Behemoth tribe.
The lamb is in a southern land of sand and *censored*
The characters are barbarians of the north -> To become men they must go on a quest called Hammer Fall. **
They are of the... Paragon tribe. The mightest of heroes to ever shred orcs and the fae sprites.
**The Wiccans tell them of the Lamb.
They fight Cassians (French, Cassius, like Stardust and Daft Punk) -> *censored* Must play Harder Better Faster Stronger. The leader is Daft Carlmane.
Fight the British, which are a crude blend of Britpop and British Rock.
Italians are Opera. Milanians.
The sand lands are a combination of Middle East and India. Bolly Wood all the way and yiddish pop.
Final boss battle against hot wiccans. -
A true Manowar game has to be like this: Gloves of Metal (the good parts is from 3:30 or so). ;)
Makes me think of Warhammer 1st ed.
WE WEAR LEATHER, WE WEAR SPIKES. WE RULE THE NIGHT! -
- CommentAuthorLaughingJackWilton
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
I'll have to bring that video for my players. We definitely need to incorporate it. -
Posted By: LaughingJackWiltonMetal Öpera is cool, but it doesn't capture the flavour of Manowar. While Öpera is sci-fi space opera Codenamed Manowar would be fantasy set in a Northern Germany/Norway that is akin to Conan. You would ride flaming horses, fight Aesir and Vanir, Satan, sacrifice(or save) lambs of god, avoid the dreaded Sandman, fight shapeshifters, explore the cradle of filth, argue about the differences between wolf and man while being all around epic.
I am seriously considering designing a game like this.
William, I sincerely hope you don't stop there. The little bits you've already brought up sound like pure awesome. -
- CommentAuthorLaughingJackWilton
- CommentTimeJan 18th 2010
Once I'm done the design contest I'm doing and the Space Vampires project I will devote a lot of my time to designing it and making it something wicked to play. I'm thinking of using a percentile system, but I'm not sure.
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