I started out by watching The Quick and the Dead, followed that with the original True Grit and wrapped it all with A Fist Full of Dollars. Very different movies but all had a similar theme of redemption.
Then again, westerns are American mythology, so I can understand the similarity in themes between westerns and RPG adventures: revenge, justice, gaining some gold, etc.
This could make for an interesting series of posts, if I ever get to all the other posts I want to get to ;)
I've always found Westerns to be great inspiration for both fantasy and sci-fi RPGs. I'd definitely be interested in reading more about your thoughts on them.
ReplyDeleteI have always had a soft spot in my heart for westerns and have long sought to bring western elements into my games, whatever genre they might be. The tropes found in the western are so often strong and black and white that they are easily transferrable to an RPG.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are some westerns, like the Professionals, which are literally an RPG scenario. Team of mercenaries hired to retrieve the wife of a railroad baron from a Mexican revolutionary turned bandit, but things are not what they seem. Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, and a great scenery chewing Jack Palance as the bandit leader.
ReplyDeleteI recently noted while skimming the DMG that Gary actually pointed this out back in the day; there's an obscure note on p91 (left side, middle paragraphs) where he compares the dangers adventurers bring to the social order to gunfighters in a Wild West town.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about how to incorporate those ideas as well.