Scum: We Is Scum - Revision history

Asklepios: /* Scum Culture */

2009-03-15T21:56:50Z

Scum Culture

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	* '''Drink:''' Cheap lagers (Carling, Carlsberg, Fosters) for the boys, Alcopops (WKD Blue, Smirnoff Ice) for the girls, additive-heavy shots (Shotz, Afterburner) for everyone.		* '''Drink:''' Cheap lagers (Carling, Carlsberg, Fosters) for the boys, Alcopops (WKD Blue, Smirnoff Ice) for the girls, additive-heavy shots (Shotz, Afterburner) for everyone.
	* '''Drugs:''' Weed, almost universally. Ecstacy for about half. Cocaine for about a quarter. Heroin for about one in ten.		* '''Drugs:''' Weed, almost universally. Ecstacy for about half. Cocaine for about a quarter. Heroin for about one in ten.
			* '''Technology:''' Mobile phones are ubiquitous, and text messages are the default mode of communication for most Scum, though the female of the species are also liable to conduct actual spoken conversations as well. The current Scum generation also tends to be on the internet, though with activities limited to a ''MySpace'' page and the occasional ''YouTube'' posting.

	Generally, the above is about as far as Scum will go with culture!		Generally, the above is about as far as Scum will go with culture!

Asklepios: /* Scum Motivations */

2009-03-15T21:53:56Z

Scum Motivations

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	* Acquiring a big stash of money or drugs.		* Acquiring a big stash of money or drugs.
	* Getting hold of a book of "perfect racing tips" that predicts how horse races will be fixed for the next year.		* Getting hold of a book of "perfect racing tips" that predicts how horse races will be fixed for the next year.
	* Getting into the Pop ~~Stars~~ competition, and winning through fair means or foul.		* Getting into the Pop Idol competition, and winning through fair means or foul.
	* Getting into the Big Brother house.		* Getting into the Big Brother house.
	* Stealing a winning lottery ticket.		* Stealing a winning lottery ticket.

Asklepios: /* A Piratical Bent */

2009-03-15T21:52:46Z

A Piratical Bent

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	Its a small step then to take elements of pirate stories, and to layer them onto the setting of ''Scum''. How much you want to do this depends on your style.		Its a small step then to take elements of pirate stories, and to layer them onto the setting of ''Scum''. How much you want to do this depends on your style.

	A subtle GM might just take certain themes - buried treasure, mutiny and the like - and use them as background elements.		A subtle GM might just take certain themes - buried treasure, mutiny and the like - and use them as background elements. This is the default approach, recommended by the author. Pirates are a useful mental placeholder to give you ideas as to how you can make villainous folk into protagonists that you can root for. Piratical fiction also runs the same gamut of styles and ranges that you might want to consider in a game of ''Scum'': humour balanced with darkness, and grime mixed with sexuality.

	A GM who wants to emphasise the theme might take piratical tropes and modernise them. Perhaps walking the plank might be a gang's way of executing someone, but making them walk off a building's edge rather than into the sea. A map with X-marks-the-spot might be a London Underground map with a big X over one station.		A GM who wants to emphasise the theme might take piratical tropes and modernise them. Perhaps walking the plank might be a gang's way of executing someone, but making them walk off a building's edge rather than into the sea. A map with X-marks-the-spot might be a London Underground map with a big X over one station.

Asklepios: /* The Disenfranchised Generation */

2009-03-15T21:50:15Z

The Disenfranchised Generation

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	Like a punk, a chav has his own musical genre. He claims certain genres of rap (especially white boy rap and UK garage music) as his own, though he isn't defined by these musical tastes.		Like a punk, a chav has his own musical genre. He claims certain genres of rap (especially white boy rap and UK garage music) as his own, though he isn't defined by these musical tastes.

	However, unlike a punk, the chav isn't yet accepted into the mainstream, ~~and~~ unlike a punk the chav isn't in any way political. The chav isn't looking to tear down the status quo, he's just looking to get drunk, have fun and do what he wants.		However, unlike a punk, the chav isn't yet accepted into the mainstream. Also, unlike a punk the chav isn't in any way ''political''. The chav isn't looking to tear down the status quo, he's just looking to get drunk, have fun and do what he wants.

	Also, unlike the punk, the chav has yet to take their monicker as a badge of pride. Call a chav a chav, and you'll get him angry. Call a punk a punk, and they'll be happy to be recognised.		Also, unlike the punk, the chav has yet to take their monicker as a badge of pride. Call a chav a chav, and you'll get him angry. Call a punk a punk, and they'll be happy to be recognised.

Asklepios: /* The Estate - an Urban Setting */

2009-03-13T15:21:50Z

The Estate - an Urban Setting

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	The ''Council Estate'' is where the nation used to hide its poor - blocks of flats would be built in the cheapest and most run down areas. The nature of the area and the population would drive down property prices, and determine the services. High street clothes shops would be replaced by discount-shops and charity shops. Restaurants would be replaced by chippies and kebaberies.		The ''Council Estate'' is where the nation used to hide its poor - blocks of flats would be built in the cheapest and most run down areas. The nature of the area and the population would drive down property prices, and determine the services. High street clothes shops would be replaced by discount-shops and charity shops. Restaurants would be replaced by chippies and kebaberies.

	These days, thanks to some bright spark in government, every new build site has to have an area of "affordable housing". Instead of lumping all the poor in one place, they're everywhere. The net result is the same as the poor are still ostracised by middle class ~~neihgbours~~, except now the communities of the poor are that much smaller.		These days, thanks to some bright spark in government, every new build site has to have an area of "affordable housing". Instead of lumping all the poor in one place, they're everywhere. The net result is the same as the poor are still ostracised by middle class neighbours, except now the communities of the poor are that much smaller.

	The setting of ''Scum'' is either in the inner city or in a sizeable town, but always focused around a specific small geographic area. We're not looking at the conurbation as a whole, but just at the ''Estate''.		The setting of ''Scum'' is either in the inner city or in a sizeable town, but always focused around a specific small geographic area. We're not looking at the conurbation as a whole, but just at the ''Estate''.

Asklepios: /* A Piratical Bent */

2009-03-13T13:00:38Z

A Piratical Bent

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	As roleplayers, we have to take our anti-heroes and turn them into protagonists that we can care about and relate to.		As roleplayers, we have to take our anti-heroes and turn them into protagonists that we can care about and relate to.

	The approach that this game takes is to look at common media, and look for depictions of anti-heroes. A good match here is '''pirates'''.		The approach that this game takes is to look at common media, and look for depictions of anti-heroes.

			A good match here is ''pirates''.


	Like pirates, the chavs are seen as the ''scum of society''. They are feared and loathed, and exist outside of the system. Like pirates, the chavs are hedonistic, drunkard and money-grabbing. They both mix gregariousness with a treacherous nature. They both approach violence and sex casually.		Like pirates, the chavs are seen as the ''scum of society''. They are feared and loathed, and exist outside of the system. Like pirates, the chavs are hedonistic, drunkard and money-grabbing. They both mix gregariousness with a treacherous nature. They both approach violence and sex casually.

Asklepios: /* The Estate - an Urban Setting */

2009-03-13T12:59:25Z

The Estate - an Urban Setting

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:59, 13 March 2009
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	==The Estate - an Urban Setting==		==The Estate - an Urban Setting==

	The Council Estate is where the nation used to hide its poor - blocks of flats would be built in the cheapest and most run down areas. The nature of the area and the population would drive down property prices, and determine the services. High street clothes shops would be replaced by discount-shops and charity shops. Restaurants would be replaced by chippies and kebaberies.		The ''Council Estate'' is where the nation used to hide its poor - blocks of flats would be built in the cheapest and most run down areas. The nature of the area and the population would drive down property prices, and determine the services. High street clothes shops would be replaced by discount-shops and charity shops. Restaurants would be replaced by chippies and kebaberies.

	These days, thanks to some bright spark in government, every new build site has to have an area of "affordable housing". Instead of lumping all the poor in one place, they're everywhere. The net result is the same as the poor are still ostracised by middle class neihgbours, except now the communities of the poor are that much smaller.		These days, thanks to some bright spark in government, every new build site has to have an area of "affordable housing". Instead of lumping all the poor in one place, they're everywhere. The net result is the same as the poor are still ostracised by middle class neihgbours, except now the communities of the poor are that much smaller.

	The setting of ''Scum'' is in the inner city, ~~and~~ focused around a small geographic area. Everyone round ~~here~~ is poor, though the borders between the estate and the world of the middle classes is now blurred - you could walk five minutes and find yourself "up market", and then walk another five and find yourself in the next estate along.		The setting of ''Scum'' is either in the inner city or in a sizeable town, but always focused around a specific small geographic area. We're not looking at the conurbation as a whole, but just at the ''Estate''.

			Everyone round there is poor, though the borders between the estate and the world of the middle classes is now blurred - you could walk five minutes and find yourself "up market", and then walk another five and find yourself in the next estate along.

	It doesn't really matter though - the lines that keep the scum in are lines of psychological territory. The ''scum'' know that this is where they belong, and that these are their streets. They gather at the same places every night, and subconsciously patrol the same routes.		It doesn't really matter though - the lines that keep the scum in are lines of psychological territory. The ''scum'' know that this is where they belong, and that these are their streets. They gather at the same places every night, and subconsciously patrol the same routes.

Asklepios: /* 21st Century Britain */

2009-03-13T12:57:29Z

21st Century Britain

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	==21st Century Britain==		==21st Century Britain==

	This game was written in 2009, though the setting it depicts could have been from any time in the last 10 years, and probably will be relevant for at least a few more years.		This game was written in 2009, though the setting it depicts could have been from any time in the last 10 years, and probably will be relevant for at least a few more years yet.

	Britain in 2009 is hit hard by the credit crunch, just like anywhere else in the world. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is head of a sinking ship, as the bank systems freefall into crisis after crisis, and the government throws billion after billion into jumpstarting the economy.		Britain in 2009 is hit hard by the credit crunch, just like anywhere else in the world. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is head of a sinking ship, as the bank systems freefall into crisis after crisis, and the government throws billion after billion into jumpstarting the economy.

Asklepios: /* Themes and Mood */

2009-03-13T12:56:44Z

Themes and Mood

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	* '''Sex'''		* '''Sex'''
	Tied in with hedonism and filth is ''sex'' - we're talking about teenagers here, with little supervision and an attitude of "do what feels good". Is it any wonder that sex is a major theme? The protagonists happily have quick and dirty sex in the piss-stained alleys, or give each other hand jobs in darkened corners of sticky nightclubs.		Tied in with hedonism and filth is ''sex'' - we're talking about teenagers here, with little supervision and an attitude of "do what feels good". Is it any wonder that sex is a major theme? The protagonists happily have quick and dirty sex in the piss-stained alleys, or give each other hand jobs in darkened corners of sticky nightclubs. The GM and players shouldn't shy away from narrating sex - this isn't a game where you just cut to the next scene. On the other hand, sex should generally be depicted as tawdry and filthy, and all about pleasure rather than love.

	* '''Dark humour'''		* '''Dark humour'''

Asklepios: /* Themes and Mood */

2009-03-13T12:55:27Z

Themes and Mood

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:55, 13 March 2009
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	* '''Filth'''		* '''Filth'''
	The world of ''Scum'' is dirty, in every sense of the world. In depicting the world and in shaping the scenarios the GM should be aware that he should be viewing through a lense of grime and filth. Graffiti lines every wall, glass is always broken and rats rummage through uncollected trash. The ''Scum'' move through this dirty world comfortably, because its all they've ever known. The filth of the streets should be reflected in the NPCs as well. Everyone's dirty somehow - everyone has a guilty~~, dark~~ secret, be it sexual perversions, a secret drug habit or a warped and bigoted mind. In this sort of setting it becomes easier to see our protagonists as the heroes (or at least, anti-heroes). They might not be paragons of good behaviour, but there still not as f**ked up as the generation above them, and at least they are still young enough to change...		The world of ''Scum'' is dirty, in every sense of the world. In depicting the world and in shaping the scenarios the GM should be aware that he should be viewing through a lense of grime and filth. Graffiti lines every wall, glass is always broken and rats rummage through uncollected trash. The ''Scum'' move through this dirty world comfortably, because its all they've ever known. The filth of the streets should be reflected in the NPCs as well. Everyone's dirty somehow - everyone has a guilty secret, be it sexual perversions, a secret drug habit or a warped and bigoted mind. In this sort of setting it becomes easier to see our protagonists as the heroes (or at least, anti-heroes). They might not be paragons of good behaviour, but there still not as f**ked up as the generation above them, and at least they are still young enough to change...

	* '''Sex'''		* '''Sex'''