Using Leverage RPG for a Spy Drama

[Arcmagik]

I will be attempting to use the Leverage RPG to run a game that is less about a team of modern robin hoods and more about a team of spies. Influenced by shows like Burn Notice, 24, and other team-based espionage shows; movies like the James Bond, Mission Impossible, and other spy movies. I don't foresee any problems but we will see.

Anyone else done something like this?

[pksullivan]

Have you seen Blowback? If you're going for a specifically Burn Notice vibe, Blowback was built specifically based on that premise.

[Supplanter]

Blowback has some very cool aspects. I particularly like the way each player plays one Civilian and one professional. Particularly if you make pregens, like for a con or meetup, you can build in wonderfully dynamic and vexed interrelationships.

If you do get Blowback, let me pass on a thing I found out the hard way: Blowback is not Leverage RPG.

By which I mean, you can design a "static" situation in Leverage that plays perfectly well - one where the Mark can just sit back and react because the Mark already has what he wants. (Male pronoun used on purpose: almost every Mark on the show has been male.) This works in the game, which is great because it works in the show.

Based on my limited experience, a Blowback adventure designed like this tends to crash and burn. The opposition needs its own active agenda - some thing that it wants but does not yet have. Otherwise, when you get out of the Investigation phase and into Operations, the whole souffle kind of deflates.

Don't leave yourself with a deflated souffle like I did! Don't put a Leverage-style Mark in a Blowback adventure!




Jim

[Lazy Wombat]

Have you seen Blowback? If you're going for a specifically Burn Notice vibe, Blowback was built specifically based on that premise.

Blowback is very rules light all things considered. It's really the barest hint of an RPG.

I think you'd be far better served using Leverage to emulate something like Burn Notice or Alias.

[Supplanter]

Have you seen Blowback? If you're going for a specifically Burn Notice vibe, Blowback was built specifically based on that premise.

Blowback is very rules light all things considered. It's really the barest hint of an RPG.

I think you'd be far better served using Leverage to emulate something like Burn Notice or Alias.

I want to give Blowback one more chance some time, and see if the Operations phase plays better if I run it right.


Jim

[Loxly]

I will be attempting to use the Leverage RPG to run a game that is less about a team of modern robin hoods and more about a team of spies. Influenced by shows like Burn Notice, 24, and other team-based espionage shows; movies like the James Bond, Mission Impossible, and other spy movies. I don't foresee any problems but we will see.

Anyone else done something like this?

Considering I'm currently watching through Mission Impossible, and doing write-ups like I did for Stargate, we will see how it works out.

However, I have run a single game using Leverage for a 70s Spy game with two people based on the Man from UNCLE pilot. It worked well. Did switch Hacker to Academic, there were no other changes needed really.

[Cam]

I was so impressed with Blowback I invited the author, Elizabeth Sampat, to work for us on the Leverage supplements. If you haven't already checked it out, you should.

Cheers,
Cam