Fight Like Apes!!

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Cessna

Cessna

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Magnetic Press has announced a Planet of the Apes rpg.

On the good side, it's written by Andrew Gaska, who wrote the Alien rpg, one of my favorites. Also, it's explicitly based on the old movies, not the new ones - I really don't like the reboot series, but loved the 1968+ movies back in the day.

But I'm hesitant because as much as I liked the movies I don't really see what you can do with it. The promo says you can play as apes, which - well, I don't know what sort of campaign you're going to get out of playing Dr. Zaius:

250px-Dr._Zaius.png


And playing as a human astronaut seems like it would just re-run the movies. Nonetheless I'm optimistic, Gaska did such a good job with Alien that maybe this one will be fun!
 
I was initially indifferent when I heard the news for the same reasons you are, plus I'm always a little hesitant about movie-licensed RPGs anyway. Knowing Gaska is doing it means I'll at least keep an eye on it though.
 
I have run successful games using Apes Victorious which is loosely based on Labyrinth Lord but all the players were apes. I also got to play on a Savage World based PotA game where again, we were all apes. I’m not sure I’d want to play human PCs in these games honestly but I do plan on picking this game up, the question will be if I can resist the minis or if I go all in.
 
I'm a bit surprised that this game isn't based on the current movie series at all (which I really like). There's nothing wrong with adapting an older media franchise, but it seems odd to me to do it while ignoring the current version.
 
Baulderstone said:
I was initially indifferent when I heard the news for the same reasons you are, plus I'm always a little hesitant about movie-licensed RPGs anyway. Knowing Gaska is doing it means I'll at least keep an eye on it though.
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Same. But the more I think about it, the more it could be a lot of fun; I'm a fool for cheesy early 70's sci-fi and this is right in the middle of that. If you keep it upbeat and run it as a sort of Gamma World game it could really work. I want gorillas with submachineguns, hippie peace-protesting chimpanzees, and masked mutants chanting "O Mighty Bomb!"

And, do I now need some 28mm gorillas on horseback?

5cQleSg.jpeg


Yes. Yes, I do.
 
Dyrnwyn said:
I'm a bit surprised that this game isn't based on the current movie series at all (which I really like). There's nothing wrong with adapting an older media franchise, but it seems odd to me to do it while ignoring the current version.
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My suspicion is that this is a matter of money; the older movies probably don't cost as much to license.
sharps54 said:
I have run successful games using Apes Victorious which is loosely based on Labyrinth Lord but all the players were apes. I also got to play on a Savage World based PotA game where again, we were all apes. I’m not sure I’d want to play human PCs in these games honestly but I do plan on picking this game up, the question will be if I can resist the minis or if I go all in.
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Oh, I am all in on the minis. I just bought some gorillas from etsy, I need more.
 
I am ambivalent about this.

On the one hand I like the concept of Planet of the Apes and I love the new franchise (although the ending of the last movie was stupid) and am looking forward to the new movie, but on the other hand I am not sure I want to buy a 300 page rulebook to play something which looks like it can be played with other existing rules.

I have played a few seasons of a Gamma World campaign where the PCs are mutants forced by humans to seek a new Holland beyond the Barrier Peaks. And then they get there they once more had to defend their home against mutant-hating humans - pretty much the same theme as the new franchise.

I'll be on the fence for this until more details come out.
 
arjunstc said:
I am ambivalent about this.

On the one hand I like the concept of Planet of the Apes and I love the new franchise (although the ending of the last movie was stupid) and am looking forward to the new movie, but on the other hand I am not sure I want to buy a 300 page rulebook to play something which looks like it can be played with other existing rules.

I have played a few seasons of a Gamma World campaign where the PCs are mutants forced by humans to seek a new Holland beyond the Barrier Peaks. And then they get there they once more had to defend their home against mutant-hating humans - pretty much the same theme as the new franchise.

I'll be on the fence for this until more details come out.
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Seconded.

It has to have either a certain wow factor for me to purchase it. Otherwise many existing rpgs especially generic ones like Savage Worlds can do the same setting with dame characters or the out of print Terra Primate as well.
 
Godfather Punk said:
What do you mean 'now'. Was there ever a time one would not need some 28mm gorillas on horseback?

This kickstarter (based on the reboot?) failed hard, a few years ago, but the minis looked great.
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The rpg is a completely different thing from the minis came kickstarter from WYSIWY Games.

I think I need to rewatch some of the old movies.
 
Fenris-77 said:
My continuing interest here is due solely to the fact that it is apparently based on the WEG d6 system, which I have a soft spot for.mine as w
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Godfather Punk said:
View attachment 80712

If the game also contains information to play as the characters from the series, then we have a bit more to work with.
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Man they really know how to hook and then reel you in.

Coupled with it being based on the WEG D6 system.
 
sharps54 said:
I definitely would rather play in the original movies than the new ones, the new ones are a little too serious and not pulpy enough for my gaming table. I like them as movies though.
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I haven't seen the latest one, but as this series is a kind of origin story, it feels like they are still setting the table, which makes detailing the setting harder. It's a bit like the issue of The Babylon Project RPG, which came out so early in the run of the series, it didn't have important elements of the series like the Shadows and Vorlons.
 
David Johansen said:
I suppose the easiest way to go would be playing human survivors and maybe some radical progressive apes that believe in co-existence.

That or Morrow Project teams...
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I'm in a Morrow Project game dealing with an alien invasion at the moment, but a Planet of the Apes scenario sounds like a lot of fun.
 
Looking at Alien, it's a game that takes a property with lore spinning off in all directions and pulls it together into a solid setting. It also provides clear models for playing in a variety of styles (space truckers, marines, colonists). Considering that, I think there is decent reason to be optimistic about this game.
 
Baulderstone said:
Looking at Alien, it's a game that takes a property with lore spinning off in all directions and pulls it together into a solid setting. It also provides clear models for playing in a variety of styles (space truckers, marines, colonists). Considering that, I think there is decent reason to be optimistic about this game.
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That would be nice. Hopefully that Fria Ligan model is pulled over.
 
arjunstc said:
I am ambivalent about this.

On the one hand I like the concept of Planet of the Apes and I love the new franchise (although the ending of the last movie was stupid) and am looking forward to the new movie, but on the other hand I am not sure I want to buy a 300 page rulebook to play something which looks like it can be played with other existing rules.

I have played a few seasons of a Gamma World campaign where the PCs are mutants forced by humans to seek a new Holland beyond the Barrier Peaks. And then they get there they once more had to defend their home against mutant-hating humans - pretty much the same theme as the new franchise.

I'll be on the fence for this until more details come out.
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As I recall, Aftermath! had a short write-up of the apes as part of an example of alternate settings.
 
As a fan of the original movies from way back--I mean seeing them in the theater on first run, and in drive-through marathons a few years later--I'm very interested. I'd have no trouble with an apes-only campaign, exploring the Forbidden Zone, dealing with mutants and militaristic gorillas, etc.

Though there is that alternate reality where Dr. Zaius ends up in our world, curating an Etsy shop in Santa Barbara...*

*I am not making this up--TCM used it as an interview when they showed the original PotA.
 
This is one I may have to get, if only to read it. The WEG D6 part of things just makes it that more appealing.

If I end up running it, though, I'm making the chimps the vicious, warlike species, like they are in real life (except for bonobos). I love the original films, but that was the one bit that always bothered me. I always had trouble buying into gorillas as soldiers.
 
I mean, it seems like the real perfect pairing is Apes versus Alpha Complex! :hehe:

No, wait...that actually is a good idea (runs off and starts scribbling notes...)
 


I always liked how they ended the trailer with the gorilla soldier holding the rifle with two others flanking him with the sun setting in the background.

Who knows maybe the same company can do a Logan's Run rpg.

" There is Nooo Sanctuary only an old mannn!"
 
Hmm. Crooked Dice also make some Simian Minions miniatures that would be good for PCs/NPCs to go with those 3D printed ones form Etsy.

There are a couple of other makers of Not-PotA minis too, if I can find them I will post names of companies.

Battle Valor Games
Eureka miniatures ( but in a different style. The do have Ape astronauts however!)
 
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