A Vision of the Future: RPG Settings Celebrating American Democracy, Pop Culture, Sports, and Consumerism
When seeking an RPG setting that reflects a bright, optimistic future filled with the spirit of American-style democracy, pop culture, sports, and consumerism, traditional settings may not fully capture the vibe you're looking for. Let's explore how various gaming worlds and settings can help bring your vision to life.
Exploring Diverse RPG Settings
Fiasco stands out as a storytelling role-playing game that often centers on everyday people with grand dreams and the humorous, chaotic outcomes of their ambitions. Although not explicitly a future setting, Fiasco allows players to create scenarios that reflect contemporary American life, including consumerism and pop culture elements.
Downfall, on the other hand, sets players in a near-future dystopia, which doesn’t align with the hopeful tone you desire. For a more positive take, consider a setting where humanity has colonized the solar system. This can provide a framework for an expansive, advanced society filled with the excitement of progress and exploration, which aligns well with your vision of a bright and innovative future.
Another option is Small Town America, captured in games like Sinister Secret of Canticle Cowl. This RPG offers a nostalgic, adventurous perspective of small-town life in the 1980s or 1990s, allowing players to explore themes of community, wonder, and the spirit of exploration, often combined with elements of optimism and fun.
Creating Your Own Custom Setting
If existing settings fail to fully meet your criteria, you might consider crafting a custom RPG world that incorporates elements of American democracy, pop culture, sports, and consumerism. The concept of an underground consumerist utopia or a pop culture-driven future can form the core of your setting. With this approach, you can tailor the experience to your vision and ensure that every aspect of the game aligns with your desired future.
Modern and Future Settings
Some RPGs already offer settings set in a modern or near-future era that might appeal to you:
Super Hero RPGs often feature present-day settings where characters can explore themes of democracy and consumerism. TMNT offers a modern-day New York City setting with elements of both pop culture and consumerism. Hunter, Mage, Vampire, and especially Changeling: The Lost from the World of Darkness series provide modern settings with rich narratives and diverse cultural influences. Shadowrun in its corporate-controlled capitalism version offers a complex blend of future technology and societal issues.An interesting take might be an RPG based on the satirical novel Jennifer Government by Max Barry, which explores capitalism taken to extremes.
Designing Your Future World
At its core, the premise of the game is straightforward: We have a world, there are problems, and our adventurers are heroes working to solve them. However, the setting can be anything you create. The beauty of RPGs lies in their flexibility, allowing you to design a world that reflects the values and ideals you wish to explore.
If you opt for an advanced iron age society with working magic and alchemy, you have the freedom to shape a society that embodies American democracy, vibrant pop culture, and a flourishing consumerist lifestyle. The key is to balance the fantastical elements with relatable aspects of modern life.
Remember, the style of society you create can be anything you imagine, even a world where these elements are taken to the extremes. This custom world can serve as a platform for your players to experience and engage with a future that reflects the American spirit, intertwined with the excitement of progress and exploration.