 "The name's Constantine; John Constantine, asshole, Bringing another comic hero to SR |
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 Apr 1 2005, 04:10 AM
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#1
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Running Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840  |
Alright, I just saw the movie "Constantine" a few weeks ago. Absolutely loved it.
What I really liked was the hero. Constantine's an absolute dick, but that's part of his appeal. And of course, as usually happens when I see movies, I try to transfer them to one of the game's I play so that I can play a character somewhat close to them. Well, I've run into an impasse with the Constantine character: I've got no idea where to begin with him. All I've figured out so far is that he's going to be a magic-type character. The biggest problem I have is this: the whole concept of life after death isn't really explored too much in SR. Plus, to my knowledge, there's not many totems known for trucking with the dead. I guess I could make him a mage, but I'd also like some shamanic ideas. So my question is this: how would you suggest I proceed? Like I said, I'm not sure how to make this guy into an SR character becuase the concept of Hell (which, from what I saw in the movie, is central to the character) isn't really as much explored in SR as it is, say, in the World of Darkness. Yet Shadowrun provides the perfect gritty, urban backdrop for this guy. Any ideas on anything relating to this character? |
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Apr 1 2005, 04:05 AM
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#2
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
First instincts, make him a free spirit with the astral gateway power trapped in a human body. Hell as a metaplane, various custom shedim as the demons. Going by the PS2 game anyway.
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Apr 1 2005, 04:23 AM
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#3
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
Simply make it such that what he thought as hell to be a metaplane. Dragonslayer or Firebringer would make a good totem for Constantine.
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Apr 1 2005, 04:52 AM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 199 Joined: 22-March 05 From: vancouver Member No.: 7,215 |
You could go the Adapt way. Make him a magical adapt. Give him astral sight and magical resistance at a high level. Only a two or three points in magic. Give him a couple of small/low power spells (mainly detection) all geased up so he has to use items, etc... to cast them.
As for the setting, heaven/hell that's up to the GM. Just make him an occult investigator. That's about as close as you could get to the comics version of Constantine. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I'm not sure how much they have changed him. |
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Apr 1 2005, 04:57 AM
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#5
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
See, I've never read the comic, though after seeing the movie, I'm gonna try to find them. So all I've got is the movie.
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Apr 1 2005, 05:10 AM
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#6
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
Don't forget Borrowed Time and Hunted (by the Devil).
"You are the one soul I'll come up to collect myself. Ah hah..." *claps* |
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Apr 1 2005, 05:45 AM
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#7
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
Y'know, I just thought of another one (Addiction (High level; Cigarettes)), but to my surprise, there's no such flaw in SR! At least not one I could find.
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Apr 1 2005, 05:54 AM
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#8
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Target Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 25-March 05 Member No.: 7,229 |
Well, when you can just buy yourself a new set of lungs every few years cigarettes become WAY less of an issue.
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Apr 1 2005, 06:10 AM
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#9
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
I mean, there's no addiction flaw at all.
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Apr 1 2005, 06:26 AM
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#10
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Yeah I know. It's silly that the Addiction Flaw isn't listed. That being said, I just use the Compulsion Flaw to reflect it, at vaying levels. |
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Apr 1 2005, 06:42 AM
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#11
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,156 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Fresno, CalFree Member No.: 4,252 |
I think the addiction flaw was replaced by addiction rules.
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Apr 1 2005, 07:33 AM
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#12
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,116 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,449 |
Haven't seen the movie, and doubt I will - replacing the witty, blonde Brit with Keanu Reeves is... bleah. But if you want someone like John Constantine as a Shadowrun character, then I would recommend Totems such as Trickster, Dark King, or maybe Wild Huntsman. He's more of a good guy than a bad guy, but he can be ruthless, and an asshole. For spells, get the subtler ones, and get a high Charisma and social skills. John's main strength is his ability to mess with people's heads. For the look, you need cigarettes, a trenchcoat, and manly stubble.
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Apr 1 2005, 07:44 AM
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#13
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I haven't heard a bad thing about it from anyone who has seen it. Even overly critical people who hate Keanu with a passion say that he does a superb job in the film.
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Apr 1 2005, 10:00 AM
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#14
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,133 Joined: 3-October 04 Member No.: 6,722 |
I read the comic adaptation. As I expected, it bears absolutely no relation to the original Hellblazer comics past the names (no surprise there, few comic to film adaptations do). What was more of a surprise was that it looked like a pretty good story. My only concern was Keanu Reeves playing a Liverpudlian hard-arse street mage, but I'm told he does well so I shall go see it if I get the chance (not many cinemas out here :/ )
EDIT: As to being a SR character, I can only go by the comics. Constantine would be a hermetic magus with a higher rating in Ritual Sorcery than Spellcasting. Most important would be a very high charisma, lots of Negotiation and Intimidation (Mental specialisation), and high ratings in magical knowledege skills. If you liked the films and want to get into the comics, I recommend going for some of the graphic novels for complete story arcs. Son of Man, Damnation's Flame, Haunted (very good and very street level), any of that. |
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Apr 1 2005, 06:56 PM
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#15
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Constantine is a mage more than anything else.
That leaves the other problem though: the mystical side of things. Have you guys ever been in a game where this side of things (Hell and the other dark things about Shadowrun's mystical side) get explored? |
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Apr 1 2005, 07:10 PM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 571 Joined: 9-January 05 From: In the 9th circle of hell Member No.: 6,950 |
As to the movie and Mr. Reeves acting, yes, I enjoyed it as well.
This is one of the few movies I've seen him in where I didn't want to punch him repeatedly. He did a fine acting job in this one. |
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Apr 1 2005, 07:29 PM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,133 Joined: 3-October 04 Member No.: 6,722 |
I've used themes of Hell in my games before, usually tangentially and without any real "proof" from the players' point of view. In real terms, there's nothing to stop you from having Hell and Heaven in your game, since it's an area left quite deliberately blank in Shadowrun. Or you could have Heaven and Hell as metaplanes spawned from the collective subconcious (along with the other variations from other religions). |
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Apr 1 2005, 07:56 PM
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#18
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
How was the game? I got a good review from someone or other but I usually don't trust games that pop up right around the movie release as the tend to be slap-dash, at best. |
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Apr 1 2005, 09:25 PM
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#19
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
The Horrors and their metaplane would make a pretty good hell. You've already got agents like Darke and some of the lower level less intelligent ones that can get through. |
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Apr 1 2005, 10:36 PM
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#20
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Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600 |
I'm seeing Sin City tonight. Now THERE'S a bunch of characters to convert to SR!
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Apr 1 2005, 10:47 PM
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#21
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Traumatizing players since 1992 Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,282 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 220 |
Not possible, there's not enough karma in the universe to make Marv. |
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Apr 1 2005, 11:06 PM
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#22
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,353 Joined: 5-June 02 Member No.: 2,840 |
And charisma couldn't go high enough to make Jessica Alba :eek: (I've never read the comic, but I saw Jessica Alba in the previews. YOW! :eek: :D ) |
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Apr 1 2005, 11:47 PM
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#23
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
Modest. Linear gameplay and levels (expected with a movie plot). A little more interesting story than I expected, but nothing unique in terms of style and graphics. Reminded me of Silent Hill. |
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Apr 2 2005, 01:41 AM
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#24
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Thanks. :)
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Apr 2 2005, 06:39 AM
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#25
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Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600 |
I just got back from seeing it and, I TOTALLY agree with that statement :eek: 8) |
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