The Witcher: Metaverse

[Red7VII]

The classic Jumanji movie is one that I certainly love but, in this game, I'd be borrowing more from its successors.

The Witcher has had a following for quite some time through the books, the video game adaptation, and, most recently, through the Netflix series and spinoffs.

What I am proposing is a Jumanji type situation where a small group of people (would prefer 5 or less) in the modern world get sucked into the world of The Witcher. Virtual reality just becomes actual reality as these modern people find themselves in the bodies of witchers, mages, warriors, elves and even dwarves alike.

Faithful to the Witcher lore, a single campaign would be composed of a mystery or entanglement that the players have to fight through and figure out. Their only hope of return to the 'real world' is to accept their roles and solve the mystery behind their campaign.

If successful, this game would most definitely have a sequel that would lead to bigger settings and more complex plotlines, but I want to dip my toe in the water first. I want to keep it tonally loose, while still exploring the world of The Witcher. I want to see players battle beasts and pay attention to detail. I want the gang to put on their Scooby Doo hats and solve a mystery. I want to see an actual end to an RP on this site!

Ruh roh!

If you're in, I'll be in. If you stay to the end, so will I. We can create something amazing together that can spawn other amazing things!

So here's what one ought to know:
- This RP will be mostly linear with some sandbox opportunities as it pertains to your characters' development. Any character arcs you want to incorporate ought to be discussed ahead of time, but I am not rigid - I'm sure I can accommodate.

-You can choose from several types of characters. You can be a knight, mage, witcher, elf, dwarf, human and perhaps even a sentient creature. I thought about vampires, but those will create some travel limitations that should probably be avoided.

-You will be a modern person piloting a Witcher-World character, which makes you a bit of a fish out of water. There will be no "I already know how to do everything and now I am an unstoppable killing machine" archetypes here. You're a strange person in a strange land inheriting strange abilities that you are not well versed in controlling. That puts everyone on a level playing field and creates a system of gradual experience and power progression that I think will serve the RP well.

- You need to come up with a bio for your Modern Character as well as a bio for their Witcher World counterpart. Modern characters are going to have to know eachother, even if the witcher-world avatars don't. In this instance, everyone will be a senior in the same high school in the modern world. In the Witcher world, you're limited only by your imagination

-Once the Witcher-side of the game starts, everyone will start in the same city and, while there is plenty of time for player-created side quests, I will be making the main questline prominent and obvious. Everyone is free to diverge from the main path now and again, but I will make sure the main path is conspicuous and can provide story elements to guide wayward players back towards it, if needed.

I think that's it! (at least it's probably enough for an interest check). Does anyone want to play this type of game?

[KZOMBI3]

Dude, this sounds sick!!

[Dark Cloud]

@Red7VII As a fan of both the books and video games I am definitely interested, I'd like to ask though when exactly in the chronology are we? Is this pre-Blood of Elves? Or during the aftermath of Baptism of Fire where the conflict with the empire came to pitch?

Also definitely want to play a witcher character.

[Red7VII]

when exactly in the chronology are we? Is this pre-Blood of Elves? Or during the aftermath of Baptism of Fire where the conflict with the empire came to pitch?

@Dark Cloud

Good question and, in truth, I haven't decided, yet. That decision will certainly be a part of Step 2. In this stage, I just wanted to see if there are enough interested people to justify putting forth the effort to build this game. Since this is a campaign leaning toward the linear, but still open to unplanned events, it means I've got a lot of work to do once it is decided that we're going to move forward.

Afterward, once it is built, I'll get the OOC up to explain further and flesh out more of the pertinent lore, bestiary, playable character perimeters and spell out some more information about what to expect once the game starts.

As represented in the tags, I'm really only looking for a small group (maximum of 5 players) and I really want players who are excited about the adventure we're about to go on. I want to avoid drops at all cost and, because of that, there will be a light screening process. Not all applicants will be accepted and first come is not necessarily first served, so to speak. That said, I really look forward to seeing if we can get a great group of interested players together so I can start getting to work!

[Dark Cloud]

@Red7VII Okay. Good to know.

[Jumbus]

This looks great yeah. A mage who has to refigure things out while pretending he's an experienced mage sounds fun

[OddnessApproved]

This sounds fun! tries to nonchalantly flip a blade and it cuts me and drops to the ground What do you mean I don't handle weapons like a usual Witcher? I'm from the Bronx, we do it differently there.

[Dark Cloud]

Tries casting Igni, lights self on fire.
I meant to do that, you wouldn't understand it's a witcher thing.

[Fetzen]

The idea sounds awesome!

However I would like to ask first how much in-depth knowledge of the whole lore (books, games, etc.) is needed or recommended ?

[Red7VII]

I've been pondering on that quite a bit lately. While I do intend this to be a love letter to Witcher fandom, I also want it to be pretty accessible. Very likely, what I'm going to do is both offer up sources for lore (wikis, etc.) as well as highlight/summarize the lore that will be vital within the OOC post.

Beyond that, I'll likely have my NPCs explain situations and events as they arise. Afterall, the characters are going to be learning about how all this works, too, in-game.

I suppose the short answer is: Prior knowledge is a plus, especially if you intend to branch off from the linear quest for character development/explorative purposes. However, if you don't have prior knowledge, I will be providing the knowledge you need in one format or the other both at the very beginning and as we go along.

In the meantime, here is a broad introduction to the world of the Witcher that does a decent job of touching on a little bit of everything:

[Jumbus]

Just a quick clarification on Jumanji mechanics. Would the bodies the characters go into be established figures with their own existing reputations? Or would they be blank slates that spawned in when the characters were sucked in?

[Neianna86]

Sounds like a wonderful spin on the 'get sucked into different world'. I am in and very curious to are what you'll set up.

[Dark Cloud]

Really? I would beg to differ that you'd need to know a striga from a kikimora to be able to appreciate the Witcher because really having a knowledge of the series as a whole would be beneficial. But I understand wanting to make the rp accessible to people unfamiliar with it.

[Fetzen]

Really? I would beg to differ that you'd need to know a striga from a kikimora to be able to appreciate the Witcher because really having a knowledge of the series as a whole would be beneficial. But I understand wanting to make the rp accessible to people unfamiliar with it.

@Dark Cloud

I never said I was 'unfamiliar' with the lore. All I did ask was a question :)

[Dark Cloud]

@Fetzen I didn't mean to insinuate you weren't familiar with the Witcher, I was expressing my criticism of making it more accessible and was just being stupid too.

[Red7VII]

Just a quick clarification on Jumanji mechanics. Would the bodies the characters go into be established figures with their own existing reputations? Or would they be blank slates that spawned in when the characters were sucked in?

@Jumbus

Initially, I was thinking the former or, at least, the avatars wouldn't be anyone of renown. However, their station within the world (be that Witcher or Mage or whatever else) may come with certain prejudices that they'd have to endure from NPCs. However, if a player has an idea for an avatar with some fame or notoriety, I'd be open to hear the idea.

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Well it looks like we have a quorum of interest. I'll get to smithin'! Thanks, all!

[Starlance]

I'd love to throw my hat into the ring if you still have room.