So, I’m thinking aloud about how I’d run a campaign in Nathan Paoletta’s “World Wide Wrestling RPG” game, if I was able to find enough interested players. (By the by, I’m cross-posting this both in public and in the “World Wide Wrestling RPG” group) Maybe these are questions that are discussed in the actual book that Nathan’s about to release, but in case they’re not, here are some thrown-against-the-wall things to ponder.
Do you focus on one federation that all the players are in, or do you present rival federations as existing?
What level of fame is your federation operating at? Something with international scope and resources like the modern WWE? A national fed that’s beloved in one country but unknown in others, like many of the Japanese feds? A “training” fed that feeds into something larger, like NXT? A hungry up-and-coming fed that’s going places, like mid-90’s ECW? Or your typical “high school gymnasium” fed with shoestring budgets?
Do you set your fed in a world where WWE and other real-life feds exist, or maybe existed in the past? Being able to draw upon existing legacies can be fun, but might also be limiting for some. Or do you posit a world where the USA is still divided into local territories, where the WWE never skyrocketed up to gain a near-monopoly?
If you do reference actual real-world wrestlers or events, what would you want to include? “This takes place in 2002. The monday night wars are over, the Attitude Era is ending, and a whole slew of new feds are popping up to try and fill the void left by WCW and ECW…”
These are the things I think about. Heck, I’ve even pondered the idea of using these rules in a completely fantastical setting, where the characters are all pro-wrestler equivalents in my homebrew D&D world of Andujar.
What would you do with your campaign?
I’d tend to do a national fed with some competitors in order to have some of the rivalry bits a la the infamous Monday Night Wars.
Are so many options, it is scary. If I was to start a story, I’d run it like my fed like it on the scale of Ring Of Honor, a quietly national federation, building up its name by working with other federations of equally size from around the world, but still small enough that it’s shows can feel personal.
Here’s what I’m writing right now.
It’s a setting based on the story of Charlemagne and his brother, Karloman, and their fight over their father’s empire, which was split between them on his death. Except it’s a wrestling territory instead of a medieval empire.
Basically, the players would all be wrestlers in the territory of one of the brothers and there would be a kayfabe invasion storyline that’s heavily tied to the backstage business angle of one trying to take over the other. I’m going to set it in the mid 70s. I just think this setting provides for the most exciting storytelling and the best “classic” wrestling experience.
Here’re some of the background notes I’ve written up:
1968 — Over the past 25 years, Peppy Franklin has built Tennessee Championship Wrestling, the dominant wrestling territory in eastern Tennessee. It encompasses Knoxville all the way down to Chattanooga. State Route 27 acts as an unofficial Western boundary.
1972 — Peppy dies at 78, leaving his territory to his two sons, Chuck and Carl. The boys learned the business from a young age and paid their dues as territory wrestlers before shifting over to do more administrative work for their dad and learn how to run the territory. Though they used to compete as a tag team (The Franklin Mint, a spoiled rich kids gimmick) before their singles work, the boys were always fiercely competitive with each other. Fearing they wouldn’t be able to run the territory as a team, Peppy specified in his will that the territory be divided between the two. Chuck would get Knoxville down to Athens and Carl would get Athens down to Chattanooga. In his will, Peppy decreed that the boys would have to share Athens as a buffer zone and compete against each other in special event shows at least four times a year. Chuck and Carl divvy up the wrestlers’ contract so each brother has a unique stable of his own talent.
(Present day) 1974 — The past two years have been less than smooth. Tensions are high and by now each brother is scheming to take control of the other’s territory. Their stables are incredibly loyal to each and given the brothers’ love of and history with this business, their disagreement can only be solved in the squared circle.
NPWS
Chuck Franklin — About 35 years old. While not in top shape, Chuck is still a fit man. Since leaving regular competition, he’s put on some weight but he’s not lost any agility or fire. He’s like Dusty Rhodes on the mic.
Carl Franklin — At 33 a couple of years younger than his older brother, but no less experienced in the wrestling business. He’s thinner, but not lanky — his spare frame hides a well-toned musculature. He’s in better shape than his brother, but he’s less business minded.
I run my games super conservatively, honestly. There’s way more room to do wacky stuff!