Ideas for a Set for John Carpenter's The Thing

[ToddWTIC]

I'm thinking of doing up a set for my favorite horror movie of all-time: John Carpenter's The Thing!

Here's what will set it apart from other sets:

INFECTION: Characters that lose to "Things" are infected and become "Things"!

SUSPICION: Some characters will be suspicious of others, especially if they lose a number of times.

CHARACTERS LOSE IT: One of the characters in the movie went ballistic, so why not have that possibility for that to happen as part of the set?

SUB-SET: If all goes well, I could create a sub-set for the 2011 prequel!


Anyway, I have THREE methods to see who is infected and who isn't at the start. I'm writing today about the first one. Let that sink in a bit, and the second method will be posted tomorrow. Once all three are posted, then I will get into the mechanics for SUSPICION, and the rest..

INFECTION:

Here's the easiest method: One of the characters in the movie ran a computer program that gave the chances that "one or more team members were infected by intruder organism" to see what the possibilities were. The program said it was "75%".

So if you were to take into account all 12 characters in the movie and each has the same amount of chance of being infected, then that would be a 2d6 roll of about 2 and 12, for 5.5% each. If you went 1 higher, this would increase the percentage to 100%, and I don't want that just yet.

I will have the next method for Infection tomorrow. Just wanted some feedback (if any) on this so far.

Todd C
WTIC

[ToddWTIC]

Okay. Yesterday, I forgot to introduce the movie for those unfamiliar with it. Back in 1982, director John Carpenter did a re-imaging of the James Arness "The Thing From Another World". The movie was based more on the short story by John W. Campbell "Who Goes There?"

The Carpenter movie was panned for being overly gory (and that's an understatement!), but has found a niche as a cult classic since it's release.

BEFORE I get into more ideas I have for the set I am making, here is a link to the Wikipedia entry for the movie, plus a HD version of the original movie trailer:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(1982_film)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p35JDJLa9ec

-----------------------

INFECTION PART 2:

As stated on the previous post, determining what characters are infect in the FIRST METHOD all occur BEFORE a fight card is rolled. Another idea is to roll for infection just before EACH MATCH starts! This way, there is still some suspense as to who is infected as you go along. You aren't already sure of all infections at the start of the fight card. Since time has passed since the last fight card, there would be a small possibility of infection during the in-between time.

So would this be a VERY SMALL chance (say perhaps a 2d6 roll of a "2" only?), or would be slightly higher (like a 2 AND 3 roll on a 2d6 roll?).  This would have to be determined before set completion.  I'm thinking just a roll of "2" for now though.

OBJECT OF THE GAME:

Something I forgot to mention on the last post: What is the object of the game? Originally, I was thinking gameplay was geared toward seeing how many fight cards you could play before everyone is infected. Now, I'm thinking perhaps the characters want to make it to Spring. There would be a rescue team coming by then, as stated in the movie. The movie starts on the first week of Winter, so Spring would be some time away, obviously. One objective could be to reach Spring with more than one character still human. This would certainly need some tweaking for infections during the in-between time discussed above, especially if Spring was set as a realistic goal.

I do have another object of the game, and will discuss that tomorrow...

Any thoughts on the above? Suggestions?

Todd C
WTIC

[Dr B]

👍👍👍

[ToddWTIC]

Thanks for reading, Dr. B! There's plenty more:

INFECTION: METHOD #3 --

Okay. In the movie, four of the characters were infected before there was a blood test devised to see who was and wasn't human. If instead of an equal chance of infection for each character at the start, what about going with who's infected in the movie? You would only roll INITIALLY for the four movie characters that had been infected, and base it on the "75%" rate stated in an earlier post. So that would mean about an 18% chance initially for ONLY the movie's infected characters, with no roll for the first fight for infection on the rest of the characters. This (rounded down) comes to about a 2d6 roll of 2-4, which is just a little less than 17% for each of the 4 movie characters that had been infected. This is the method that I like the best, since I do like the idea of following the movie.

GAME OBJECTIVE #2:

As stated yesterday, that would be the long-range objective. What about the motivations of the characters? Why are they wrestling at all? If you recall in the movie, the crew lost faith in the station manager. Kurt Russell's character was then in charge (even under a cloud of suspicion later on). So control of the camp would be the reason they are wrestling! Although this kind of is counter-intuitive with "Things" winning (and therefore gaining control of the camp from whoever the leader is, it does create a reason for why they are wrestling, and who would be in charge of the camp.

On Saturday, I will open the discussion on SUSPICION!

Todd C
WTIC

[ToddWTIC]

From the Official Filsinger Board:

Feb 8, 2019 22:09:42 GMT -5 @martin said:

Well as I see it a Thing would have to be alone with a human to infect them. I mean as a recall the transformation was not quick or pretty. It's been a long time so I might be wrong. If a human needs to be alone then maybe come up with a number for each character, like pin or cage, but factors their likeliness to be alone with another character/Thing. You could even have adds to the roll if certain characters are more likely to be alone with each other or subtractions if less likely, ie they do not get along.

I think your idea for motivation is best under the circumstances. Maybe with wrestling being hot at the time they do it for entertainment as no TV signal. Also done for exercise.

Thanks for the reply!

There's plenty of stuff that could go into likeliness of being alone with another character, true. I'm not sure how to factor that into this set. I'm thinking something along the lines like in the animal kingdom: "predators go after the weakest prey". Since a character lost to a "Thing", the "Thing" would consider the loser easy prey! Perhaps the likelihood of infection would be based on HOW the loser lost? Sort of 40% if by pinfall, 30% if by submission, and 0% if by DQ (it's only a DISQUALIFICATION afterall). Thoughts? And how would you determine % of Things being alone with human characters?

Anyway, here's today's topic:

Game Mechanic -- SUSPISION:

Since this set is to be played out until all characters are infected, there is no “blood test” or any other way to detect infections during the game. Therefore, should there be a game mechanic to lower playing stats of suspected “Things”? Perhaps a lowering of a chart rating or two? This would NOT need a separate card, just a tracking of which stat was lowered during game play. Either a random stat, or the character's BEST rating? Maybe even his PIN rating?

Also, SUSPICION could be determined by either how it occurred in the movie, OR/AND a 50% chance for the LOSING wrestler after a match, since infections have at least a slightly higher chance to occur to characters losing a match against a “Thing”. Maybe a character that had lost three matches in a row would get an automatic SUSPICION until he won?

Thoughts? Comments?

Tomorrow's topic: FIGHT CARD SET-UP

Todd C
WTIC

P.S. I'm guessing this will all need EXTENSIVE game testing, LOL! Uh-huh!

[Dr B]

Will have to watch The Thing again before making suggestions.

Dr B

[ToddWTIC]

Feb 10, 2019 1:52:56 GMT -5 Dr B said:

Will have to watch The Thing again before making suggestions.

Dr B

Thanks, Dr B! Check your P.M. inbox plzz...

So since I'm awake early, here's today's topic:

Game Mechanic: FIGHT CARD SET-UP --

How to set up a fight card? Should this be a random shuffle, or a purposely set-up with “Things” only wrestling non-infected characters, THEN a random shuffle for the remaining non-infected characters?

If we go with the "purposely set-up" route, then there are two problems: 1.) The "Things" will have a greater opportunity to infect, since a Thing VS a Thing cannot result in an infection (already happened); 2.) Just looking at the matches for the fight card could tip the reader off as to who's infected and who isn't. A smart reader would realize Things VS humans are more likely to happen, and probably figure out who's infected.

If it's a random draw, then there will be a smaller chance for infection since the fight card would have POSSIBLY fewer matches of Things VS Humans.

And finally, what about tag team matches? Does ONLY the loser of the tag match be the only one that could be infected and NOT the tag partner? I'm thinking "YES" on this one. Also, there weren't really too many friends among the group, so not that many teams that I can foresee in the batch. All that I can come up with is: The three doctors since they did the autopsies together (Blair, Copper, and Fuchs), Fuchs & MaCready (Fuchs trusted Mac), Windows & Bennings (moving stuff to the storeroom together), Norris & Palmer (teamed with Mac to go see the UFO, although Palmer here isn't confirmed), Childs & Palmer (roommates), and MaCready & Copper (investigated the Norwegian camp together). -- And I almost forgot Garry & Bennings (Bennings is Garry's friend and they've known each other for ten years!

All right! Tomorrow, we look at playing stats, Rahl Ratings, and possible Finishers!

Todd C
WTIC

[ToddWTIC]

Now then, I've come up with heights & hometowns, Rahl Ratings, PIN Ratings, Card Balance, characters Special Conditions, and Finishers!

Heights are the actors' heights, hometowns are the actors' hometowns with the exception of Garry's (actor Donald Moffat's from England) and Fuchs (made it "Boston" to suit his Finisher). Card balance is something I will strive for but it's merely a guideline. Special Conditions is what I came up with for now. And Finishers is what they will be for now.

Also, since most of the characters do not have a first name, I've made it the actor's first name (with the exception of Richard Masur's character Clark, which I changed to "Bob Clark"). Here ya go:

David Palmer 6'1, Mechanic, Waukegan IL
R.J. MaCready 5'9, Helicopter Pilot, Springfield MA
Wilford Blair 5'8, Microbiologist, Salt Lake City UT
Richard Copper 5'9, Physician, Brighton MA
Bob Clark 6'1, Dog Handler, New York NY
Joel Fuchs 5'7, Biologist, Boston MA
Thomas Windows 5'8, Radio Operator, Philadelphia PA
Keith Childs 6'2, Mechanic, Harlem NY
George Bennings 5'10, Meteorologist, Chicago IL
T.K. Nauls 6'1, Cook, Watts CA
Vance Norris 5'11, Geophysicist, Philadelphia PA
Donald Garry 6'1, Station Manager, Plymouth MA

NAMES	RAHL RATINGS	PIN #	CARD STRENGTH
Blair	40	4 (1)	balanced
Palmer	39	4 (1)	balanced
Norris	38	4 (1)	good offense, avg D
Bennings	37	4 (1)	good defense, avg O
Clark	36	5 (2)	good offense, poor D
Garry	35	5 (2)	good defense, poor O
Copper	34	5 (2)	avg offense, avg D
MaCready	33	5 (2)	avg offense, avg D
Childs	32	6 (3)	avg offense, poor D
Nauls	31	6 (3)	avg defense, poor O
Windows	30	6 (3)	poor offense, poor D
Fuchs	29	6 (3) or 7 (4)	poor offense, poor D

Note:  "Thing" characters' base cards have higher Rahls, followed by Suspected characters next.

EDIT -- Since Mac is the "last survivor" (not including Childs), shouldn't he have the best Rahl Rating in the set then?

NAMES	SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Blair	Drunk 50% of the time - plays worse
Palmer	Finisher works better VS Suspected
Norris	Hungry 50% of the time - plays worse
Bennings	Leg injury bothers him 20% of the time
Clark	Dog at ringside 50% - Level 1 # 6 involvement
Garry	If commander, Level 1 # 6 is 'pistol whip - 3'
Copper	Difribulator (sp?) shock with DQ
MaCready	Drunk 20% of the time (0% if commander) - plays worse
Childs	Higher DQ (not "even tempered") - DQ on Finisher
Nauls	20% of time in rollerskates, (Add 1) on Level 3 Offense #5 if in skates
Windows	Subtract 1 from Finisher Rating after each pin failure due to increasing character panic
Fuchs	When teamed with Mac, use better stats

NAMES	FINISHERS
Blair	TOOL SHED TORMENT - Use of various tools, a "roll" finisher (since he was locked in the tool shed)
Palmer	CHARIOTS OF THE GODS - A lazy, generic Finisher since he's so laid back early on
Norris	PROFESSOR POWERSLAM
Bennings	NOBEL PRIZE PILEDRIVER - Used his quote in the name
Clark	BULLDOGTOWN - "Dogtown" is the name of the scene for the dog-thing transformation
Garry	ANTARCTICA ANKLELOCK
Copper	CABIN FEVER FOREARMS - "Cabin fever" mentioned early, "forearms" forshadowing his demise
MaCready	BIG MAC ATTACK - Perhaps with the best Finisher Rating in the set?
Childs	CHILDS PLAY - Get it?
Nauls	BOOM BOX BLASTER - Plays boom box in movie, thought of Bad News Brown's Finisher here
Windows	SMOOTH OPERATOR - Radio operator / smooth operator!  Just like Rick Rude's theme in WCCW
Fuchs	BIOLOGIST BOSTON CRAB - Let's go with that

That's it for now! Comments? Suggestions? I will start posting playing stats once I've done up stats for each!

EDIT - Changed Mac's Finisher.  Should've called it that from the start, LOL!

Todd C
WTIC

[Dr B]

👍👍👍 looks good.

Dr B

[ToddWTIC]

Thanks, Dr B!

I edited my post, changing the name of Mac's Finisher. It sounds much better now.

[ToddWTIC]

I just thought of this today and made it up quick: A chart for changing the ratings for Things and Suspected Things! Here it is:

#	RATING TO CHANGE	THINGS		#	RATING TO CHANGE	SUSPECTED
2	PIN or Cage	Make better by 1		2	PIN or Cage	Make worse by 1
3	Finisher	Make better by 1 to a max of 5		3	Finisher	Make worse by 1 to a min of 0
4	Agility	Make better by 1 to max of -5		4	Agility	Make worse by 1 to min of +5
5	2nd Lowest Chart Rating	Make rating better by 1 *		5	2nd Highest Chart Rating	Make rating worse by 1 **
6	Lowest Chart Rating	Make rating better by 1 *		6	Highest Chart Rating	Make rating worse by 1 **
7	Lowest Chart Rating	Make rating better by 1 *		7	Highest Chart Rating	Make rating worse by 1 **
8	Lowest Chart Rating	Make rating better by 1 *		8	Highest Chart Rating	Make rating worse by 1 **
9	2nd Lowest Chart Rating	Make rating better by 1 *		9	2nd Highest Chart Rating	Make rating worse by 1 **
10	Power	Make better by 1 to max of -5		10	Power	Make worse by 1 to min of +5
11	Finisher	Make better by 1 to a max of 5		11	Finisher	Make worse by 1 to a min of 0
12	PIN or Cage	Make better by 1		12	PIN or Cage	Make worse by 1

* If two or more ratings are the same here, manually choose one.  Also the max rating here is an "A".
** If two or more ratings are the same here, manually choose one.  Also the min rating here is an "C".

How's that now?  Comments?  Suggestions?

Todd C
WTIC

[ToddWTIC]

I'm posting my playing stats for the cards over at the Official Filsinger Board. Check them out HERE if you are curious:

filsingergames.proboards.com/post/305609/thread

[Kelly Monro]

Dumb question, but I am looking at this as a wrestling promoter but do all the characters know when someone turns 'bad'? Would a Things manager be needed like a Bobby Heenan, sharing the newest member of his Family...or Things Family when they become infected? I am looking at this like a TV wrestling show rather than something done in private.

[ToddWTIC]

Feb 13, 2019 18:54:22 GMT -5 Kelly Monro said:

Dumb question, but I am looking at this as a wrestling promoter but do all the characters know when someone turns 'bad'? Would a Things manager be needed like a Bobby Heenan, sharing the newest member of his Family...or Things Family when they become infected? I am looking at this like a TV wrestling show rather than something done in private.

Hi, Kelly! Long time, no see!

Thanks for the interest in my set. To answer your question, this set is based on the 1982 John Carpenter movie "The Thing" with Kurt Russell. It is set in ANTARCTICA in 1982, so there is no Bobby Heenan or any other pro wrestlers on the continent.

I intend on completing the 12-man set based on the characters in the movie ONLY! Therefore, there are no real-life wrestlers in the set, nor am I making this to be used with other LOW or CotG wrestlers.

Now, you can adapt the set and the rules of it any way you want, that's fine. I'm just doing it based on the movie.  So -- In the movie, they needed a blood test to figure out who was human and who wasn't.  As for if Things knew if others were Things or not just by sight, that issue was up for debate.  I don't remember the final consensus on that discussion when discussed on the Thing's Fansite Discussion Board.

Anyway, familiar with the movie, no? Here -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(1982_film)

Just letting you know, it's ULTRA gory! The movie, that is. Not the set, LOL!

As for "Do characters know when someone turns bad?", no they don't. They did not in the movie until the above-mentioned blood test. And no one for my set will know at all until all characters are either taken over, or the rescue team saves them in the Spring (that's the Objective of the Game)! (I will have to tweak the times / infection rate / percentage rate of infection for wrestlers that lost their match, etc).

I hope that clears it up? If not, let me know anything else I can answer please. And thanks again!

Todd C
WTIC

[Dr B]

Is the newer version anything like the origins The Thing?
Starring James Harness?

Dr B