System for a 'Constantine'-inspired game?

[Snapdragyn]

CRUCIAL point #1: My sole familiarity with the franchise is the movie (which I'm told was awful by someone who adored the comics), the previews for the series, & what I've found on wikipedia.

CRUCIAL point #2: I've already looked at d20 modern, & just feel that it takes too long to get to the magic for the feel I'm going for (not until advanced classes? really? ). Also, I've peeked at Dresden (the obvious choice); need further review, but my initial thought is that it seems a bit complicated - others have experience with it to share?

So, that said, here are key elements I seek:

- geared for (or easily convertible to) urban fantasy set in the current era

- a system to handle possession/exorcism

- if it already focuses on demons, ghosts, angels, & half-breeds as key players, awesome. If not but those can easily be built (or something else reskinned into them), that's fine too. If fey races are so core that they can't be removed or reskinned, it probably wouldn't work.

- a system to handle a few styles of 'magic' (psionics could be included)
--- said system should not allow magic to completely overshadow 'standard' combat, nor be so difficult/time-consuming as to be pointless. Limited combat applications with high utility outside of combat might be okay, or just something that puts the 'quick cast' battle spells on par w/ guns.
--- said system should be relatively simple - I'm not looking to write out every spell/ritual I'd allow in Hero System, forex (although I do like that system - just not for this)

So - suggestions?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

World of Darkness plus either Inferno or Hunter: The Vigil. Done.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yeah, if D20 Modern isn't to your liking, WoD Mage would be the obvious choice. Hell, Whizbang nailed it- it's the most obvious choice even if you DO like d20 Modern.

Other good choices:

1) Shadowrun minus the cyberpunk stuff

2) any of the universal systems, like Savage Worlds, HERO, GURPS, etc.

Most of the magic in the Constantine continuity is ritualistic. There aren't many flashy combat spells, what few there are are more akin to D&D buffs. Wards and other protections are common. Ditto divinations. Occasionally, you get fear effects, a bit of TK or something pyrotechnical.

The major class of spells you'll see will be summoning, bindings, and kinds of necromancy. In some ways, necromancy tingies almost everything...

 

[GMMichael]

What about a system...

- geared for (or easily convertible to) urban fantasy set in the current era

...that does not come with a setting, but includes some simple (medieval?) weaponry...

- a system to handle possession/exorcism

...that includes a metaphysical trait for each character, which could easily be considered a tie to the netherworld...

- if it already focuses on demons, ghosts, angels, & half-breeds as key players, awesome. If not but those can easily be built (or something else reskinned into them), that's fine too. If fey races are so core that they can't be removed or reskinned, it probably wouldn't work.

...includes no core races, but builds characters off of an average human base, and allows unlimited reskinning...

- a system to handle a few styles of 'magic' (psionics could be included)
--- said system should not allow magic to completely overshadow 'standard' combat, nor be so difficult/time-consuming as to be pointless. Limited combat applications with high utility outside of combat might be okay, or just something that puts the 'quick cast' battle spells on par w/ guns.
--- said system should be relatively simple - I'm not looking to write out every spell/ritual I'd allow in Hero System, forex (although I do like that system - just not for this)

...includes a highly customizable magic system, and highly modifiable rules in case the magic rules don't fit -just-right-?

So, interested?

 

[Manbearcat]

[MENTION=12432]Snapdragyn[/MENTION] Check out Dogs in the Vineyard. Decent bit of overlap in thematic material with Hellblazer. Handles wild west gunfighting and system mechanics can easily step up the firepower (and the fallout/lethality with it). Robust system with ceremonies/exorcisms and a catch-all conflict resolution system that is built to capture parlays turning into fisticuffs escalating to knives and guns. A great fallout/character evolution system that is built around modern paladins dealing with the thematic conflict of demons subverting the faithful into sin and the meting out of justice for the transgressions of the evil-brokers.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah, if D20 Modern isn't to your liking, WoD Mage would be the obvious choice. Hell, Whizbang nailed it- it's the most obvious choice even if you DO like d20 Modern.

Mage is a bit more high-powered than Hellblazer/Constantine is most of the time, but the Second Sight supplement for WoD nicely covers low-level magic-users.

 

[biotech66]

The Dresden Files Fate stuff. Wizard detective. Done.

 

[pickin_grinnin]

Low-power WoD Mage would be a good choice, as others have said. Fate would be a decent choice, as well. To be honest, though, any number of rules-light games would work, too.

If you go out looking for players, though, I would stress to them that you are wanting to run something similar to "Constantine" the movie, rather than Hellblazer. With the exception of the name of the title character, they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. "Constantine" the movie was okay as movies go, but as a Hellblazer adaptation is was insulting and grossly watered-down, at best. The same goes for "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (the movie).

 

[Neonchameleon]

The Dresden Files Fate stuff. Wizard detective. Done.

Seconded. (It doesn't hurt that the Dresden Files core book is simply the funniest RPG book I've ever read).

Alternatives: Fate Core (roll on Dresden Files Accelerated! - updating the rules of Dresden Files to the simpler Fate Core ones), Apocalypse World (you'd need to reskin slightly but only slightly, and the tone is about right and the rules are simple).

 

[Nagol]

The Dresden Files, a Uni-system game (All Flesh Must be Eaten, Witchcraft, or Conspiracy-X), a Buffy-verse game (Buffy or Angel; variants on the Un-system) or CHAMPIONS would be my alternatives to run such a game. Which one to choose would depend on what I'm looking for from an experience.