A Night In a Haunted Hospital?

[SyrianHamster]

I was watching some mundane horror film the other day, and it was okay, usual stuff. Shaky cam, people doing stupid stuff, walking around an abandoned hospital and slowing getting deaded.

Whilst the film was a 5/10, it did give me an interesting idea for an RP. By now you've already guessed the premise, and it's probably already been done, but hear me out:

So you've got a group of people gathered at a derelict hospital, for one reason or the other. Could be that they're just friends messing around, or a paranormal investigation team trying to catch evidence - or maybe they're strangers, who've been lured there with the promise of money. Standard, run of the mill horror intros I guess.

The scary things happen in phases, and gradually get worse. As the RP progresses, I will upgrade the 'scare level'. So for example, we'll start with "feelings of unease" and "fluctuating temperatures in certain places", and then progress to "seeing glimpses of patients/nurses/doctors in reflections, or at the end of hall ways" etc. Before long, these glimpses manifest themselves physically, and start to cause harm to the players - or try to anyway. The hospital might start shifting around, or it might bar the players from leaving through whatever means.

So in essence I guess, a horror film, but in RP form. It would be free form, and down to the players to steer the story, with regards to the hospital's past and the intentions behind the scary stuff.

If I do go ahead and do it, it wont be right away because I currently have other RP commitments (although these tend to die down quite abruptly). However, if there is a desire for this sort of thing, I can go away and start working on the OOC so that when the time comes, I can just put it up straight away.

A thought for your thoughts?

[yosh]

This sounds great! I'd definitely join.

The only other idea I have is maybe letting one or two people have a ghost character, so they can spy on the people in the hospital until the scare level is high enough for them to start messing around.

[SyrianHamster]

yosh said
This sounds great! I'd definitely join. The only other idea I have is maybe letting one or two people have a ghost character, so they can spy on the people in the hospital until the scare level is high enough for them to start messing around.

It's an interesting idea, but I always worry that people will get stupid. You know, a ghost will try to eat someone's face, and then that someone will PM me with crying and god modding accusations.

I'd rather the supernatural was kept NPC, HOWEVER, I would be open to the idea of player controlled paranormal stuff if everyone felt this was necessary. It would need to be someone sensible though.

[Tokki]

Interesting idea. I'm into horror movies so I'd like to see how this would grow further as an RP.

I'm definitely in.

[manapool1]

9intrested

[YamiCuoreLaroux]

I'm definitely curious. I think I might join.

[Automaton]

Okay, I'm in this, no fighting it, just let it happen.

[Automaton]

I can't wait for the OOC.

[raleighallynn]

I'm with the others. I'm interested.

[ribcageroses]

I really like this idea! I'd totally be interested.

[SyrianHamster]

Thanks to all for showing interest. I'll get working on the OOC.

[SyrianHamster]

Do you guys have a preferred scenario on how this starts and why the characters would be at the hospital in the first place? Scribbling down some ideas, I've got the following:

- Each member of the group has been approached by a well dressed and mysterious gentleman, who has convinced them to go to the hospital and stay the night. The people who remain inside all night, will receive a huge monetary reward. When pressed on why he's picked them, and what he's up to, he will tell them that he is the host of an up and coming TV game show. This would allow for a wide variety of characters, but all would be linked by one thing: the need for money.

- A group of kids/young adults, looking for a good time, stumble upon the hospital out of happen chance. Bored, and with not much else to do on a Saturday night, they decide to have themselves a booze/drug fuelled party. What could go wrong?

- A team of policemen/women are sent to investigate reports of strange events surrounding the hospital. Such complaints have been long standing from the local residence, but police are finally are forced to respond when a couple of teenagers vanish shortly before being seen entering the building. This team would include a couple of detectives, perhaps a forensics man, and a few regular officers.

- A team of paranormal investigators arrive at the hospital after hearing of its rich haunted history. Equipped with the latest in ghost-finding technology, they hope to finally prove that their field of science is more than just theory and fantasy. Team would likely consist of a professor of some kind, camera/sound people/person, one or two computer-geeks (for operating the more complex machines) and perhaps a 'bodyguard' type character there for their protection, you know, in case they run into a crack den. This would require us to do a tiny bit of reading on what things ghost hunters actually do use, because although I've seen them in a bazillion films, I don't actually know what they're called, what they do or how they work. (I know it's electrical field related)

That's all I got so far, but totally open to anyone else's ideas. If you like any of the above, give us a shout out. Quicker I know what kind of characters you guys wanna play, the quicker I can start getting everything written out :)

[Tokki]

I'm leaning in more towards the second choice involving a bunch of rowdy kids looking for some fun- since they'd generally be pretty easy to target and mess with.

It also gives the characters some more space for development and such.

However the other suggestions seem good too, looking forward to see what the other guys'll suggest.

[raleighallynn]

I agree that the second scenario would most likely be the easiest to develop.

[Automaton]

I think our characters should be from all senarios, maybe an investigator goes to investigate while some rowdy kids go to have some fun and the police get called because of all the noise going on. Also, I have an idea of what would be inside the hospital if your interested.

[SyrianHamster]

Automaton said
I think our characters should be from all senarios, maybe an investigator goes to investigate while some rowdy kids go to have some fun and the police get called because of all the noise going on. Also, I have an idea of what would be inside the hospital if your interested.

That's not actually a bad idea. Perhaps I should leave it up to the players to decide their character's purpose at the hospital? Just go total free-form and hope everything slots together?

And sure, by all means share.

[Automaton]

I mean how hilarious would it be if the investigator started freaking out when he hears the teenagers partying and thinks its a ghost.

[SyrianHamster]

Automaton said
I mean how hilarious would it be if the investigator started freaking out when he hears the teenagers partying and thinks its a ghost.

I'll create two differing versions; one covering the "young people doing stupid s**t at a creepy building" scenario, and one covering the "no holes barred" option. I'll post them here for public scrutiny when I'm done.

[Automaton]

Ahh yes, scrutiny the best way to find out if something is good, best place to get it is 4chan, or a Catholic church.

[Tokki]

Hell yeah- that sounds great!

EDIT: "catholic church"
ROFL Auto