Idea A 'RePlay' RP, based on already-existing stories

[Squad141]

I'm not sure where I saw this, but I thought it might be an interesting idea.

The idea of a 'RePlay' of a movie, book, show, game, etc. is, essentially, an RP in the manner that the players are the Main Characters at the beginning of the desired media. However, the fun of this is that, still in character obviously, the players are free to react either with or differently to the original, and the plot must go along accordingly. I was in a group that did this sort of thing IRL with a Scooby doo movie, and it was outrageously fun.

Whether it would be dice or not wouldn't truly matter, since it's the same method either way.
Does anyone else think this kind of idea would be worth making an interest check over?

 

[Onmyoji]

This is called "Fandom roleplay". The genre is actually quite common and roleplays may vary in how close they follow the original source.

It is definitely interesting for a lot of people!
Depends on the fandom though, some are more popular than others

 

[Squad141]

Oh, my bad. I just now realized I just described one of the incredibly basic premise of one of the most popular ones on here. I guess it was something very different in my head, I just didn't describe it well enough.

The idea originally stemmed from the podcast called the Film Reroll. I suppose I assumed it was different because I'd never seen it done in the context of the exact same story but with differing character mindsets.

 

[nerdy tangents]

No you are actually correct. It’s very uncommon to write out the actual plot of the series. Typically speaking fandom roleplays are AUs or outside of canon.

This means they might take place in the same timeline as the original series but before/after the events in the published media. Sometimes the events in the published media just take place off screen and the characters have their own adventures in the world.

An au is an alternate universe that essentially asks “what if THIS or THAT went a different way in canon.” Sometimes they take place in entirely different time periods or settings to canons.

What your describing is actually rarely done. You very rarely see people play original characters or even canon characters replaying the actual plot of the published media in sequence. I did do this once with the CW’s The Flash TV series and it was indeed a blast. We started episode one with canon characters and OCs but the goal was to go through the entire season 1 arc just with a few different perspectives thrown in.

Now the key for this is you need a popular enough medium that people actually know the story AND you need people who like the plot line of the media and not just the setting.

But it certainly can be done and in my experience it’s barrels of fun when it is.

 

[Crenando]

The idea originally stemmed from the podcast called the Film Reroll. I suppose I assumed it was different because I'd never seen it done in the context of the exact same story but with differing character mindsets.

Play-by-post Film Reroll sounds like a good time.
I've considered doing that but with comic books. They made a couple sourcebooks for Watchmen in the 80's, so that's the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Squad141]

Play-by-post Film Reroll sounds like a good time.
I've considered doing that but with comic books. They made a couple sourcebooks for Watchmen in the 80's, so that's the first thing that came to mind.

Thank you for putting what I was thinking into words. Yes, this is what I mean! I just imagine it'd be fun in that kind of style.

 

[VictoryatLast]

Oh!! These are fun- especially if you do an AU sort of thing. You get to make your own extra lore and builds without destroying the vibe of the original piece! Its also fun to make a game system in order make it work like a DND sort of thing.

 

[Jannah]

You've just described fandom RP, which is one of the most popular genres on this site. It's not personally my thing as I don't like writing other people's characters, but to each their own!

 

[From Darkness]

I think you meant for something like an abridged version, compared to fanfic.

With fanfic, and I presume fandom, you have free rein in the universe, including altering the entirety of the plot. Want Harry to befriend Malfoy at book 1? Deal. Voldemort is actually the good guy trying to find immortality in order to save as many magicians from an inevitable future of death and destruction? Your call.

With abridged, you can change how things are said, the reactions, the personalities, but the plot stays on track. Ron will always be Harry's best friend no matter what. The Basilisk will always die via ingestion of sharp object. Voldemort will never have any nose. And so on.