I was listening to Episode 28 of The Guantlet Podcast, with Richard Rogers from way back last October.

I was listening to Episode 28 of The Guantlet Podcast, with Richard Rogers from way back last October.

I was listening to Episode 28 of The Guantlet Podcast, with Richard Rogers from way back last October. In that episode, Rich said he’d design a Baseball RPG. Just so he knows, I’d be part of that Venn intersection.

We could call it Pastime, and I’d design it in some way like Night Witches. In other words, you’d have a “game-day” phase; and then a “game-time” phase. Campaign arcs would be “seasons”.

Characters wouldn’t “die”, but instead be traded away; or sent to the minors; or retire; or even injure out (although they might still be able to participate in the “Day-time”.

There can be scandals that happen during the “game-day” phase that might harm the player too.

Time Period – the birth of baseball, late 1800’s – at least that’s the time period that appeals to me. Any time before the 80’s and steroids. (One cool possible story idea is the breaking of the color barrier)

Of course it needs to be A*W.

Playbooks: The Rookie, the Coach, The Prima Donna, The Ace, The Obsessive, the Player’s Union Rep, The Pretty Boy (for Jason Cordova)…

GM is called the Umpire.

Adversaries include other teams, other players, upper management, journalists.

You would have both individual moves, and maybe team moves (maybe…).

Some Umpire principles could be (beyond the standard like address the characters):

Foster Nostalgia

Ratchet up tension

Everyone’s got an angle

Umpire Agenda items could be:

Portray the Golden Age with a Grey Cloud

The game’s not over until it’s over

Play to Find out What happens

Sprinkle things related to Yogi Berra malapropisms, just because.

Ok, that sort of just sprang out of nowhere. Wow.

20 thoughts on “I was listening to Episode 28 of The Guantlet Podcast, with Richard Rogers from way back last October.”

  1. Using the day night cycle for a sport would work well, I bet. I’d definitely have some trepidation about colour barrier subject matter. Definitely recommend you consult and or hire someone to work with you if you decide to tackle that. I’d play test it with you should you ever need it.

  2. Using the day night cycle for a sport would work well, I bet. I’d definitely have some trepidation about colour barrier subject matter. Definitely recommend you consult and or hire someone to work with you if you decide to tackle that. I’d play test it with you should you ever need it.

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