WYRD IS BOND: magic hits the street

Wyrd is Bond is set in the mid-1990s during the rise of gangsta rap and urban culture’s penetration into the mass market. The field is the street, where gangs clash everyday in a war over territory, drugs, and guns. The characters are slingers, magical gang-bangers, who vie for ground, reputation, and power with a backdrop of mad beats and gold records. All slingers use signs to invoke their power, and their reputation and street style to fuel it. Slings can be used to expand turf and increase rep but most of the time, slings are meant to be lethal, to peel some fool’s cap and leave their baby a bastard. It’s not the fact you sling that defines you; it is how you choose to sling that defines you.

Why a game about magical street gangs? Because gangs represent the classic American struggle for power and control against a perceived oppressive force. Whether a slinger is facing down cops looking to bring him in on drug charges or a rival gang member for control of a city block, conflict and passion are inherent in the setting and the characters involved.

The introduction of a magical subculture within this setting not only gives it even more depth but adds a cool spin to it. It makes the world engaging by giving the players a hook they have seen and used in other games. But trust me: Wyrd is Bond is unique enough on its own.

WYRD IS BOND: magic hits the street is slated for a summer release. More details and a website will follow.

Well, it's an interesting twist on the magic/pulp-noir or magic/modern-times games that are out on the market. Yet another game with which to siphon more money out of my wallet.

sigh

well, there goes that idea i had for a novel...not exactly the same but a lot of striking simularities....heh.

Sounds good though, i'd play it.

So, where's the default setting? L.A.? New York? Detroit?

Is it assumed that you're going to play someone who is black? Or are there white (possibly skinhead) gangs as well? Just saying: going the first way might agitate some people's sensitivities, while the other way might blunt the impact of living on the mean streets, and risks turning the game into West Side Story or The Warriors. ("Waaaarrriorrrrs, come out and plaaaay-yaaay!" GAAAAHHH!!) Although having The Voodoo Glo-Skullz go-head-to-head with The U.T. (Ultima Thule) Regulators (the aforementioned skinheads) does have it's own charm.

How does the magic work? Do cops' shields have some counter-charm worked into them? Has magic always been around, or has it just come out of hiding? Are the characters all gang-bangers, or are they not involved with gangs, or can they choose?

Do we get to see zombie gang-bangers? Vampire drug kingpins? Enchanted drugs? Cell-phones that ring up demons straight from the pits of hell? A black market on spell-books and ritual implements? Ho's that have magic wands stuck in their puses, just in case? Nation of Islam activists that use holy magic to clean up the streets?

Will it have rules for making and selling your own rap records? Or escaping the projects once and for all? Does magic even work outside your "turf?"

damn. I think I just hooked myself completely on this game.

More proof that Key20 will continue to get more of my money. Why the hell is it everything you put up here, Jason, I find damn cool. No other company does this to me. Currently can't wait for Modern Myths, 2nd (want it way bad), wyrd is bond and anything for Little Fears.

Spooky Fanboy wrote: So, where's the default setting? L.A.? New York? Detroit?

Spooky Fanboy wrote:
How does the magic work? Do cops' shields have some counter-charm worked into them? Has magic always been around, or has it just come out of hiding? Are the characters all gang-bangers, or are they not involved with gangs, or can they choose?

Spooky Fanboy wrote:
Do we get to see zombie gang-bangers? Vampire drug kingpins? Enchanted drugs? Cell-phones that ring up demons straight from the pits of hell? A black market on spell-books and ritual implements? Ho's that have magic wands stuck in their puses, just in case? Nation of Islam activists that use holy magic to clean up the streets?

Spooky Fanboy wrote:
Will it have rules for making and selling your own rap records? Or escaping the projects once and for all? Does magic even work outside your "turf?"

(You will _so_ get credit for the counter-charm shield. That is too cool.)

Ho's that have magic wands stuck in their puses, just in case? Nation of Islam activists that use holy magic to clean up the streets?

With the exception of the last two, you could see all those and more.

Whew. I am so glad you meant "purses."

RE: Turf
Yes, turf does come into play but in different ways for different people. This will actually be part of the GM's bookkeeping.

Yes, but that's part of the thrill of typing like someone twitching their way through heroin withdrawl while simultaneously suffering through Tourette's Syndrome: You never know what's going to pop out next!

Gods, first that gaffe on Jared's Hep Katz thread, where I accidentally insult the guy, then this, where I tempt every female poster on the Forge Forum to dump a virus onto my computer, all without even intending to do so. If I'd at least meant to be such a socially graceless clod, I could live with all this, but it's like I'm possessed!

Anyway, back on topic: I'm curious. What did you want to explore with combining magic and thug life? How is magic in this game: special FX or subtle, or can it be both? Do you have to rap or scratch to make magic? How does the rest of the world (as much of it as the characters ever see) react to them?

Or am I squeezing too much info out of a stone at this point?

Enough Q&A for now. I have to leave something for the teasers. ;)

Well, okay then! Make up some teasers, dammit! And while you're at it, update that Modern Myths page.

More info, must have more!!

*drool*

And so he goes, wandering from forum to forum, working hard to truly earn his chosen sobriquet.

:-)

I've glad someone has finally noticed!!

*-D

heh, i remember when i began to write the novel, based on a similiar concept. Basicly, i noticed the similarities between gangs and secret occultist socities (like thelemic societ, order of the rosecrucion, golden dawn, theocratic society etc). I was going to have modern gangs riff off of this, but moving towards a more african/tribal based magic rather than a western magic. Each gang (liek each secret society) would have it's own rituals and rites, diffrent magicks, as well as diffrent symbolism, diffrent gos and dieties, etc. Also going to use magic as a sort fo drug for them, and a secret kept hidden for the inner circles.

oh well...it was a good idea....would've probably made a decent book. would make a better RPG though.

Feh. Rap sucks, it glorifies violence, encourages greed and hypocrasy and is played so often you want to chuck your stereo out the window.

And we're giving guys like that MAGIC?
Talk about the wrong hands.

Kinda like how heavy metal encourages suicide and glam rock encouraged bisexuality? Like how both glorified partying and rebellion for rebellion's sake? Like how country music encourages line dancing and glorifies inbeeding? Like how the blues did all of the above, back in the '20s and '30s? (Well, maybe not the line dancing or inbreeding, but...)

Get real. There isn't one form of music out there that hasn't rubbed someone the wrong way, and then they went out and said it was a sign of the end times, etc. They were wrong, and the new naysayers have it all sideways about rap, too.

And if there's too much of it on the radio for you, turn it off, or invest in a CD player. If this game's not for you, I'm sure Jason has plenty of others that are more up your alley.

Little_Rat wrote: Feh. Rap sucks, it glorifies violence, encourages greed and hypocrasy...

Sorry, I just needed to get that out of my system. Again, my appologies.

Anyway, how is this coming? Yes, I am still interested.

Damn Spook. You waited 3 whole weeks...your manic stalker reputation is going to suffer ;-)

It's going well. The core mechanic has been tested and tweaked and I'm constantly adding cool stuff to the cosmology. I'm still really psyched about Wyrd is Bond. It's funny, because WiB and Modern Myths share some influences so players will be able to see where the systems overlap. I like to think of WiB as an abstraction of the Modern Myths world, in a way.

Overall, it's good good stuff.

Glad to hear it! It's always a good sign when the creator is psyched up about his work.

Interesting to hear that the two games overlap. Did you do what I did recently, that being set aside something cool from Modern Myths and have it blossom into Wyrd is Bond on it's own? Ain't it freaky when something like that happens?

Actually WiB and MM sprang from two entirely different sources and the realization that they had any overlap was a fairly recent event. But I do know what you're talking about and, yes, it is quite cool when that happens. ;)

Is this game also scheduled to be discussed further on April 7th, along with (I hope) Modern Myths?

The time draws near...any hints, any tasty morsels for those of waiting sooooo patiently?

On April 7th I'll reveal Key 20's plans up until the end of 2004. Some things are still in the air so I don't want to drop any hints that may prove premature.

Jason L Blair wrote: Actually WiB and MM sprang from two entirely different sources and the realization that they had any overlap was a fairly recent event. But I do know what you're talking about and, yes, it is quite cool when that happens. ;)

And of course, you just HAD to torture me with that information, didn't you Mr. Webb? Just had to let me know that someone else got a look at two games I'm very eager to play before I did. Just had to give the knife of anticipation a little twist.

If I didn't like Cartoon Action Hour, I'd write you into a game of FATAL as a spellcaster being forced to endure EVERY ONE of the spell misfire mishaps.

Well, that and the fact I'm probably going to get a playtest copy of Nine Worlds. And that writing you into a game of FATAL would require me to actually read it. And...oh, never mind!

Spooky Fanboy wrote: Well, that and the fact I'm probably going to get a playtest copy of Nine Worlds.

ok, figured i'd share this to encourage Jason...

after listening to the album for the umpteenth time, i finally realized "hey, this reminds me of some good music to set the mood for either of Jason's games".

the band is The Transplants. the album is a self-titled debut...came out like a year ago. Do yourself a favor and check them out...i esp. think "Diamonds & Guns" and "D.J. D.J." are pretty appropriate for either game.

can't WAIT to read more info the games!


-k

Thanks for the recommendation, Kreg; I'm always on the lookout for good music.

No problem Jason!

also, i think i meant to type "can't WAIT to read more info about the games!" derrr. i will chalk that up to excitement and not reading my preview very well...hehe.


-kreg


Punk Rock Prestidigitators Local 35

Wyrd is Bond preview art by illustrator Carlo Barros is up at http://www.key20.com/kyp2000/previews.html

Jason L Blair wrote: Wyrd is Bond preview art by illustrator Carlo Barros is up at http://www.key20.com/kyp2000/previews.html

Love Golden Dawne. Loved the wampyr. This game continues to hold my interest.

How did the Hermetics get involved in street magic? Just curious.

Spooky Fanboy wrote: Love Golden Dawne. Loved the wampyr. This game continues to hold my interest.

How did the Hermetics get involved in street magic? Just curious.

Jason L Blair wrote:

Spooky Fanboy wrote: Love Golden Dawne. Loved the wampyr. This game continues to hold my interest.

How did the Hermetics get involved in street magic? Just curious.

"Hermetics" is a nickname for the 3XStars, slingers who (loosely) follow the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. Their main rivals are the Crows (to which Golden Dawne belongs), the crew that follows the word of The Alley Star, Aleister Crowley. Then there are the D-Men, Los Royos, and the Saints.

Hey Jason,

Will you be including a "soundtrack list" of stuff you've been listening to as inspiration, or perhaps a soundtrack list for each chapter? I'm seeing Character Creation have such songs as, "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta" and "Nothin but a G thang", etc.

Chris

Chris,

Most definitely, yes.

Two new pics are up for Wyrd is Bond! Check them out at http://www.key20.com/kyp2000/previews.html

must... resist... blathering about a Underworld cross-over. *gasp, thud*

You okay, Nick? ;)


Gareth knows my email address. If he's interested, I would certainly talk. Actually, I see great possiblity in it.

Jason L Blair wrote: You okay, Nick? ;)


Gareth knows my email address. If he's interested, I would certainly talk. Actually, I see great possiblity in it.

UnderWorld was a hip-hop game? *puzzles* UnderWorld had hip-hop as a major enough element to be concerned about it? *puzzles*

Either way, Wyrd is Bond looks cool.

Lxndr wrote: UnderWorld was a hip-hop game? *puzzles* UnderWorld had hip-hop as a major enough element to be concerned about it? *puzzles*

Either way, Wyrd is Bond looks cool.

Nick,

I remember the "controversy" surrounding UW well.

I realize you mentioned the cross-over in jest, but I still think it has potential. Who knows? I certainly wouldn't mind working on something with Gareth, that's for sure.

Lxndr and Nick,

Thank you both for your kind words. Wyrd is Bond is entering the final stretch. I hope everyone likes it when it arrives in Oct/Nov.

Jason L Blair wrote: I realize you mentioned the cross-over in jest, but I still think it has potential. Who knows? I certainly wouldn't mind working on something with Gareth, that's for sure.

You know for a long time I was only randomly excited by this game. I'll get it, use it for a nasty supirse in a kult/sla game but I was never really sure I would ever play it on its own. Then I realized something neat. There are other sorts of music that have an interesting heratige behind it, one steeped in numerouse conflicts that would make for some very cool RPG fun. Most specificly I was thinking of the Black Metal movement, the church burnings, the subsiquent worshipping of the older gods like thor and odin amongst its preformers. I could make some very interesting things come out of this. Creepy little gears are turning.