Where in the World is ...

[jeregenest]

Espionage (and its ilk) tend to be a genre that calls out for far-flung locations, even shows that are purportedly set in one country or city tend to reach out for different locations as much as possible (and the exceptions stand out for this. In TV one sees a tendency for “place of the week”. This is, one of the things that make espionage different from other forms of mysteries.

One of the many reasons for this is that the development of a coherent and richly symbolic world can carry a major part of the thematic burden of the game, while not overshadowing action and character. The best way to do this is through the careful repetition of certain set characteristics. As this is game played in the realm of geopolitics, it makes sense that the structural road map of game will be drawn by geography. However, to get that locus of action you also need to avoid constant change, stretching the plot out to represent the entire globe can leave things a little thin. The “place of the week” format can be problematic.

It is for this reason I like to focus in on a few different places. As I discussed in theme, I want to capture the horror of the modern world. Looking in the news I see three things that stand out for me: areas of ethnic tensions, economic volatility and empires in decline.

What countries stand out? There is Somalia’s endless anarchy including the plague of piracy. Russia’s new brand of aggression. Mexico’s drug-war-fueled misery. The Middle East, and Iran deserve continual mention. The governments in Kabul and Islamabad are two of the weakest anywhere. Among the biggest risks the world faces this year is that one or both will break down amid escalating violence Indonesia, Thailand, and Turkey, where there are already signs that the economic crisis is exacerbating domestic political conflicts. And let us not forget the renewed civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (source of much of the weirdness the last time I ran this game), the continuing violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, and the heart of darkness that is Zimbabwe under President Robert Mugabe.

That’s a lot of choices. Well the Congo is a given, Mexico is sweet, and Russia is just too important thematically linking everything together. After that, we shall see.

And while the scale of this game is global, don’t forget the homefront, because paranoia and government craziness are a large part of the mix. It starts and ends in Washington DC. And there’s always the threat that foreign investors could start demanding higher yields on the bonds they buy from the United States or simply begin dumping dollars in exchange for other currencies.

Maybe I should call this game the Age of Upheaval.

Comments

[robotnik.livejournal.com]

This, plus a post today by mgrasso reminded me that I meant to comment on your other post last month about what themes Pantellos 2.0 might explore.

"Horror of the world" seems like the key Pantellos theme to me. I'd even be more specific and say "horror of the Third / developing world." That may not sound very P.C., but there are both reactionary and progressive versions of the theme ("the Congo is an evil and terrifying place" vs "look at what an evil and terrifying place the West has turned the Congo into"). And while it's hardly a new theme (paging Joseph Conrad), it's as current as tonight's news headlines. As fun as Berlin was, I think Pantellos was most itself, most original and intense, when it was in the developing world.

The one other Pantellos theme that I think your earlier post might have missed that other espionage standby: what have I become? I don't know if it was intentional or if the players pushed it on you but in the original Pantellos game I think almost everybody was interested in exploring their own personal hearts of darkness in some form or another - the corrosive effects of ends justify the means expediency and what happens when you play with the evil occult toys. Hardly a brand new theme for roleplaying (paging White Wolf, paging Call of Cthulhu) but it was definitely part of the mix in the first Pantellos game.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

I definitel agree about both points. For me the slippery, often fast, slide intro craziness and the way characters would justfy things was a big part.

Place of the third world

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

I wanted to think more about the palce of the third world. I think part of this was that it really resonated with the theme. Or more likely what I'm trying to say is that the description and the game play brought up the issues of responsibility of the past (even if it wasn't the characters directly) the really resonated.

For me, the Congo and Venezuela arches (especially the Congo) really brought up the weight of past decisions (100+ years) and how difficult it was to escape them. And how most folks don't even want to or are incapable. A horror that dovetails nicely with the horror of the third world you mentioned.