An idea has been floating my head for a week or two now and I just wanted to float it here to see what kind of interest there may be.
I really enjoy freeform slice of life games but one thing I notice a lot of is that characters are often idealised versions of people. They may have problems, but often the images are of supermodels and celebrities with perfect teeth and hair and a Hollywood tan. They are games where eminently successful people mix with other super successful people. Everyone says 'hi' when they meet in 'the friendliest place ever'.
All this is of course wonderful, but I am after something else. Characters who are dispossessed, the underclass, the downtrodden. Characters who have very real and present problems. A place for real stories to be told.
A game rooted in the tradition of 'kitchen sink' social realism -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_sink_realism
I think I have a setting of a fictional British city 'sometime in the 80s'. My thinking is it's far enough away to be 'historical' but close enough to at least pin something familiar on.
I suppose my first question is does this game idea actually excite anyone?
I can think of tons of stories and characters but feel it is a big ask for the following reasons;
1) Lack of focus - a friend mentioned there is a reason people play DnD. Because there is a clear goal. This would be a sandbox but there would be an expectation characters would come with their own ideas for their own stories and themes
2) Setting - I can easily give pointers to those unfamiliar with the genre but the time and place may seem rather 'alien' for a game we want to be 'real'
3) There is a reason people want to play superheroes. To escape from day to day. In this game I think I am asking people to stay in 'the day to day'.
4) Tone - I want a setting that has space for gritty, challenging stories. But I also want warmth and camaraderie.
I'm really enamoured and excited about writing about a desperately lonely taxi driver but I want to put it out here to gauge just how niche this may be?