Introduction:
Are you a fan of the anime movie Akira? Do you also enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)? If so, why not combine your love for both and create a custom tabletop RPG setting for DnD based on the world of Akira?
Or perhaps you aren't familiar with Akira, but you're looking for some ideas to make your next campaign a bit more unique. Either way, I've got you covered.
This article will break down the core elements of Akira and explore how you might apply them to a homemade D&D setting.
What Makes Akira a Unique Setting?
Akira is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, now known as Neo-Tokyo. The movie showcases a dystopian society where biker gangs roam the streets, psychic powers exist, and a corrupt government hides dark secrets. These elements contribute to the overall uniqueness of Akira as a setting. But how can we take these elements and apply them to a DnD setting? Let's find out.
Neo-Tokyo: A City in Ruins
In the world of Akira, Neo-Tokyo is a bleak and dystopian metropolis, marked by rampant crime, pervasive destruction, and unrelenting chaos. This grim backdrop can serve as a compelling source of inspiration for Dungeon Masters looking to craft a unique and immersive Dungeons & Dragons setting.
By translating the essence of Neo-Tokyo into a custom D&D campaign, you can create a city that has weathered the relentless storms of war, natural disasters, or even cataclysmic magical events, leaving behind a scarred, post-apocalyptic urban landscape for players to traverse.
Imagine a once-thriving hub of civilization, now reduced to a shadow of its former glory. This city, much like Neo-Tokyo, has seen its share of turmoil. The streets are strewn with debris and rubble, a haunting testament to the cataclysms that have befallen it. War-torn buildings bear the scars of countless battles, their skeletal frames looming out of the gloom. Collapsed skyscrapers jut out from the landscape, casting eerie shadows over the broken streets below.
But this is not an abandoned ruin, a lot of people still work and live here. Most just trying to get through each day to see the next.
Nature has also begun to reclaim what was once a thriving urban center in many places. Overgrown vegetation, including twisted vines and gnarled trees, burst through cracks in the asphalt, intertwining with the remnants of man-made structures. This juxtaposition of nature's resilience against the backdrop of human failure adds symbolic depth to the setting.
Above the old city lies the new city. Your version of Neo-Tokyo. A whole new city built up like artificial mountains. Sky ways wind from structure to structure, populated by magic cars and bikes. Magic billboards advertise the latest in fashion, lawyers and a sexy new singer that's all the rage. The government seems like a beacon of both order, and progressive values. Keeping the chaos below, and allowing the citizens of the new city to enjoy their lives in the light and fresh air.
Beneath the surface, hidden from the naked eye, a labyrinth of underground lairs, tunnels, and crypts waits to be explored. These subterranean networks house all sorts of secrets, from enigmatic cults to monstrous creatures that have taken refuge in the dark recesses of the city. Players may have to confront these hidden dangers if they delve into the depths of the ruined metropolis.
They may start as Under Born, people who are born and live in the old city, struggling to survive. Allowed to commute up into the new city only for work, then forced to go back down into the dangerous rotting cityscape below.
They might be outcasts from the new city, banished for crimes they did, or did not commit.
They might be thrill seeking punk kids who suddenly find them selves in WAY over their heads.
The cityscape itself becomes a character in the campaign, offering both challenges and opportunities for the players. Navigating through the treacherous terrain of the old city's ruins presents physical obstacles, puzzles, and hazards at every turn. The broken remnants of the old city, combined with the ever-present threat of hostile forces, create a high-stakes environment that demands resourcefulness, strategic planning, and quick thinking.
Do they try to elevate their position in life, try to become part of the new city? Or do they become outlaws trying to stick it to "the man"?
Biker Gangs: Factions and Encounter Opportunities
In the dystopian world of Akira, biker gangs are a central element, infusing the narrative with a sense of grit, rebellion, and raw energy. This thematic core can be transplanted into your Dungeons & Dragons setting, creating a different take on factions within your campaign world. By adapting these biker gangs into factions, you can add urban elements normally not found in fantasy.
Distinct Factions: Most DnD games have some form of factions involved. Not all, but most. They are typically guilds, royalty or other rulers, city councils, city guards, military powers, mage councils, organized crime, etc. Using the model of real, and fictional street gangs, you can create factions that have more unique, or simply more localized flavor.
Motives and Territories: Each gang faction will have its own agenda, goals, and territories. Some gangs might control post-apocalyptic wasteland sectors, while others could dominate the seedy underbelly of a major neighborhood. Players can explore these territories, forging alliances with, or perhaps challenging, the dominance of these groups based on their individual characters' inclinations.
Gameplay Elements: Incorporating distinct gameplay elements for each faction allows players to engage with the world in various ways. A faction focused on obtaining rare artifacts may involve players in treasure hunts, riddles, or encounters with mystical guardians, while a faction battling an oppressive regime could lead to espionage, sabotage, and covert missions. Gangs fighting over control of crime territory can lead to issues of ethics and which side should they take, if any?
Player Choice: One of the most exciting aspects is player agency. Players can choose to align themselves with a specific faction that aligns with their characters' beliefs and goals. This choice can impact the narrative and the consequences they face, as alliances come with benefits and drawbacks. Alternatively, they can challenge the established gangs, initiating a power struggle that could reshape the balance of power.
Rival Gang Encounters: Encounters with rival gangs can become pivotal moments in the campaign. These situations offer opportunities for intense role-playing, negotiations, and alliances, or they can escalate into thrilling combat scenarios. The players might need to navigate a delicate negotiation with a rival faction for a shared objective, or they could engage in an all-out street brawl to assert their dominance in a contested area.
Player-Formed Gangs: Another layer of depth to the game is the possibility for the players themselves to form their own biker gang. This provides a chance for creative storytelling and character development. They can define their gang's ethos, symbols, and code of conduct, which can lead to alliances or rivalries with existing factions.
By incorporating biker gangs as factions in your D&D setting, you infuse your world with an edgy and unpredictable atmosphere. The raw, rebellious energy and distinctive motifs associated with biker culture add a layer of complexity and excitement
Psychic Powers: Unique Abilities and Challenges
In the Akira universe, the presence of psychic powers is a pivotal and supernatural aspect that contributes significantly to the story's mystique and intrigue. This theme can be adapted into your custom Dungeons & Dragons setting, enhancing the mystical and enigmatic elements of your campaign. By emphasizing supernatural abilities like telekinesis, mind control, and precognition, you can breathe new life into worlds that already teem with the extraordinary. Or you could limit the options for spellcasters to lower level spells, which are all reflavored as psychic powers.
Unique Class Options: Psychic powers can be integrated as unique class options for players, offering them the opportunity to tap into these incredible abilities. Players can choose to specialize in these powers, acquiring a set of psychic-themed spells, skills, or feats that allow them to manipulate the world around them. These class options provide a distinct flavor and gameplay style, setting these characters apart from traditional D&D classes.
Adversaries with Formidable Powers: In your D&D world, psychic-powered adversaries can be formidable foes that the players encounter. These adversaries could be powerful psychic sorcerers, cult leaders harnessing mind control, or seers with uncanny precognitive abilities. Confronting such adversaries creates memorable and challenging encounters, testing the limits of the players' creativity and strategic thinking.
Costs and Drawbacks: The use of psychic powers should come with a cost and potential drawbacks to maintain a sense of balance and challenge. Overexerting these abilities could lead to mental exhaustion, psychic backlash, or even temporary insanity. This not only adds a layer of risk to using these powers but also makes players think twice about when and how to employ them.
Ethical Implications: Mirroring the themes of Akira, the ethical implications of wielding these supernatural abilities can be a central theme of your campaign. Players may grapple with the morality of manipulating minds, invading others' thoughts, or peering into the future. This moral quandary can lead to new role-playing opportunities and complex character development as the characters navigate the consequences of their actions.
Power as a Double-Edged Sword: The presence of psychic powers can also highlight the notion that power is a double-edged sword. While these abilities offer immense potential, they also come with the risk of losing touch with one's humanity or the fragile line between hero and villain. Players can explore the consequences of their choices and whether they can maintain their humanity as they become more powerful.
Mystery and Intrigue: The existence of psychic powers can introduce a layer of mystery and intrigue to your world. Players may embark on quests to uncover the origins of these powers, the existence of secret organizations that seek to control them, or hidden knowledge that unlocks their full potential.
Government Corruption and Dark Secrets
In the world of Akira, the corrupt government is a pervasive force, shrouded in secrecy and intrigue, and its role in the plot is instrumental in driving the narrative forward. This theme of government corruption can be used in a Dungeons & Dragons setting. By introducing a similar element of political intrigue, you open the door to a web of hidden agendas and dark secrets.
Government as a Shrouded Power: The corrupt government in your D&D setting can be a powerful and enigmatic entity, much like in Akira. Players may initially perceive it as a legitimate authority, but as they delve deeper into the story, they'll uncover that it is hiding unsettling secrets related to the world's supernatural elements or a malevolent plan for control.
Entanglement in Political Intrigue: Players can find themselves unwittingly drawn into a web of political intrigue. They may become embroiled in a conspiracy to maintain the government's power, exposing them to the dangers and moral dilemmas associated with political machinations.
Uncovering Secrets: The central theme in your campaign could revolve around the players' quest to uncover hidden truths. As they unravel the government's secrets, they may unearth information related to the origins of psychic powers, forbidden knowledge, or dark experiments that should never have been conducted. This quest for truth can be a driving force in your campaign, motivating players to continue their investigations.
Far-Reaching Consequences: The secrets they uncover may have far-reaching consequences for the setting. Players' choices can potentially alter the balance of power, reshape alliances, or even lead to the fall of the corrupt government. The impact of their decisions should be palpable and resonate throughout the campaign world, making their choices feel meaningful and consequential.
Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Choices: The exploration of government corruption and hidden agendas can present players with challenging moral dilemmas and ethical choices. They may grapple with questions of loyalty, justice, and the greater good as they navigate through the murky waters of political intrigue. These dilemmas provide rich opportunities for character development and role-playing.
Allies and Adversaries: The players will likely encounter both allies and adversaries within the ranks of the government and its opposition. These characters can become recurring figures in the campaign, with their own motives, personalities, and allegiances. Players may need to make decisions about who to trust and who to confront, which adds depth to character interactions and narrative development.
Rebellion and Revolution: The uncovering of government corruption can also pave the way for a rebellion or revolution within your campaign world. Players may find themselves at the forefront of a movement to challenge the oppressive regime and bring about a new era of justice and transparency.
Incorporating the theme of government corruption into your D&D setting brings a distinct feel. It transforms the campaign into an exploration of power, morality, ethics and the consequences of one's actions. The shadowy government's hidden secrets and the players' pursuit of the truth provide ample opportunities for engaging narratives, personal dilemmas, and difficult choices that will keep your players immersed and invested in the world you've crafted.
Conclusion:
Creating a custom setting for Dungeons and Dragons based on the anime movie Akira allows you to explore themes and elements not usually used in a fantasy setting. Rather than world ending threats, Empires at war, or going on dungeon crawls your players will find themselves dealing with NPCs and factions that are, perhaps disturbingly, closer to real life and the fears of real life. Akira was born from concerns about government experiments on people. It asks the question, what if one of those crazy programs to create psychic soldiers had actually worked?
What if magic exists in your world because of government experiments? How does that shape it? What does a fantasy world look like if it has cities full of street gangs? Or even actual biker gangs riding around on magic gas fueled motor bikes.?
Government corruption in fantasy is usually more of the Jafar, evil vizier type. Or simply tyrants. Sometimes you get officials who are cultists or are taking bribes. The idea of secret government agencies conducting unethical experiments, doing CIA type assassinations and espionage, is usually found more in cyberpunk, sci fi and modern thrillers.
You can draw on those genres, and movies like Akira, to create a very different feeling campaign from the more usual DnD game.
To finish, there is NOTHING wrong with sticking to standard fantasy tropes. When I say things like "usual DnD game" it is in no way meant to be disparaging.
Have fun and happy gaming.