Running an Emily in Paris Inspired TTRPG Campaign: Tips and Tricks

 

 Emily in Paris is a popular Netflix show that follows the adventures of Emily Cooper, a young American woman who moves to Paris for a job opportunity. The show is full of colorful characters, romantic entanglements, and cultural clashes, making it an ideal source of inspiration for a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) campaign. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and tricks for running an Emily in Paris inspired TTRPG campaign.

Setting

The setting of an Emily in Paris inspired campaign should be Paris, France, with a focus on the city's rich culture and history. The campaign should be set in modern times, but with a touch of romance and glamour. The players should feel like they are part of a vibrant and cosmopolitan community, where every interaction and decision has consequences.

Characters

The characters in an Emily in Paris inspired campaign should be a mix of Americans and French citizens, each with their own unique backstory and motivations. It's important to work with the players to create characters that fit into the world of Emily in Paris, and that have ties to the other characters in the group. The characters should be witty and charming, but also vulnerable and flawed. They should have weaknesses and secrets that can be exploited by their enemies.

Player Characters 

Here are some player character ideas that would fit well in an Emily in Paris inspired campaign:

•     Emily: A young American woman who has just moved to Paris for a job opportunity. She is ambitious and hardworking but also naive and idealistic. Emily is always looking for ways to make a name for herself in the Parisian business world.
•     Clarisse: A French art student who befriends Emily. She is passionate about art and culture, and often takes Emily to off-the-beaten-path locations in Paris. She is creative and optimistic but can also be impulsive and reckless.
•     Max: A wealthy American businessman who has lived in Paris for years. He is sophisticated and smooth-talking, but also has a dark side. Max offers Emily business opportunities but may have ulterior motives.
•     Claire: A French fashion designer who hires Emily as her assistant. She is demanding and critical but also has a soft spot for Emily. Claire is a perfectionist who values hard work and dedication.
•     Jean-Luc: A French chef who runs a popular restaurant in Paris. He is passionate about food and always looking for new ingredients and recipes. Jean-Luc and Emily develop a romantic connection, but their relationship is complicated by his jealous ex-girlfriend.
•     Isabelle: An American expat who has lived in Paris for years. She is wealthy and well-connected but can also be snobbish and judgmental. Isabelle offers Emily access to exclusive events and parties, but she also has a tendency to cause drama.
•     Pierre: A French artist who falls in love with Emily. He is creative and passionate but also can be impulsive and reckless. Pierre offers Emily a chance to explore the artistic side of Paris and pushes her to take risks.

These player character ideas can help create a diverse and interesting group of characters that can interact with the NPCs and each other in the world of Emily in Paris. Each character has their own unique backstory and motivations, which can create opportunities for drama, romance, and intrigue.

NPCs

Here are some NPCs that would fit well in an Emily in Paris inspired campaign:

•     Antoine: A charming and sophisticated French businessman who takes a liking to one of the players. He is well-connected in the business world and can offer the players lucrative opportunities, but he also has a dark secret that could put them in danger.
•     Sabine: A famous French fashion designer who hires one of the players to be her assistant. She is demanding and difficult to work with, but she also has a soft spot for the player and can offer them a chance to break into the fashion industry.
•     Camille: A quirky and artistic French photographer who befriends one of the players. She is passionate about her work and values authenticity and creativity, but she also struggles with anxiety and self-doubt.
•     Jacques: A wealthy and powerful French businessman who is known for his ruthless tactics and cutthroat business practices. He offers the players a chance to make a lot of money, but his business dealings are often shady and unethical.
•     Sophie: A friendly and outgoing American expat who becomes fast friends with one of the players. She is always up for a good time and knows all the best spots in Paris, but she also has a tendency to get into trouble and can be a bit of a wild card.

These NPCs can add depth and complexity to an Emily in Paris inspired campaign, and can create opportunities for drama, romance, and intrigue. By giving each NPC a unique personality and backstory, players will be more invested in their relationships and interactions with them.

 

Story

The story of an Emily in Paris inspired campaign should be focused on the personal relationships and romantic entanglements of the characters. The campaign should be driven by the actions of the players, with their decisions and choices shaping the outcome of the campaign. The story should be full of drama, humor, and romance, with plenty of opportunities for the players to develop their characters and explore the world of Paris.

Here are some plot hooks that could work well with the characters and setting in an Emily in Paris inspired campaign:

    Corporate Espionage - Antoine, the French businessman, hires the players to investigate the activities of a rival company. As they dig deeper, they discover a plot to sabotage Antoine's company and must work to prevent a hostile takeover.

    Fashion Show Drama - Emily is tasked with organizing a fashion show for Claire, the French fashion designer. But as the show approaches, Claire's models begin to drop out, and Emily must scramble to find replacements while dealing with a rival designer who is trying to sabotage the show.

    Art Heist - Pierre, the French artist, discovers that one of his paintings has been stolen from a museum. The players must track down the thief and recover the painting before it is lost forever.

    Cooking Competition - Jean-Luc, the French chef, enters a prestigious cooking competition and enlists the players to help him prepare. But as the competition heats up, they discover that one of the other chefs is cheating and must work to expose the fraud.

    Romantic Rivalry - Max, the wealthy American businessman, and Pierre, the French artist, both vie for Emily's affection. The players must navigate the complicated romantic entanglements and choose which suitor to support.

    Cultural Misunderstandings - The players encounter a group of French locals who are offended by their American ways. They must work to bridge the cultural divide and earn the respect of the locals.

    Secret Society - Isabelle, the American expat, is a member of a secret society that has connections to powerful people in Paris. The players must infiltrate the society and discover its secrets before it's too late.

These plot hooks can create opportunities for drama, romance, and intrigue while also highlighting the unique setting of Paris and its culture. By incorporating the characters' backstories and motivations, the players will be more invested in the story and the world around them.

Gameplay

The gameplay of an Emily in Paris inspired campaign should be focused on roleplaying and storytelling, with combat taking a backseat to character development and narrative. The players should have opportunities to use their social skills and charm, but these should come with consequences. The campaign should be challenging, with the players facing difficult moral dilemmas and dangerous enemies.

Here are five tabletop roleplaying game systems that could work well in an Emily in Paris inspired game:

    Malandros: Malandros is a narrative-focused RPG that is perfect for games with a heavy emphasis on interpersonal relationships and intrigue. It is set in 19th century Rio de Janeiro, but with some minor tweaks, it could easily be adapted to the world of Emily in Paris. The game mechanics encourage players to roleplay their characters' social interactions and use their wits and charm to overcome challenges.

    Fiasco: Fiasco is a GM-less game that is perfect for one-shot games or short campaigns. It is focused on creating dramatic and comedic stories that spiral out of control. The game mechanics encourage players to create characters with flawed and complicated relationships, which can lead to explosive and unpredictable situations.

    Fate Core: Fate Core is a flexible RPG system that can be adapted to a wide range of settings and genres. It is focused on creating dynamic and cinematic stories that are driven by the players' decisions and choices. The game mechanics encourage players to be creative and take risks, which can lead to exciting and unexpected outcomes.

    Gumshoe: Gumshoe is a system designed for investigative games where players must solve mysteries and uncover hidden secrets. It is perfect for an Emily in Paris inspired game where the players are trying to uncover the truth behind the various intrigues and scandals that permeate Parisian society. The game mechanics encourage players to use their investigative skills and resources to gather clues and piece together the mystery.

    Apocalypse World: Apocalypse World is a post-apocalyptic RPG that is focused on creating dynamic and intense stories. While it might seem like an odd choice for an Emily in Paris inspired game, it can work well if you tweak the setting and focus on the interpersonal relationships and drama. The game mechanics encourage players to be creative and take risks, which can lead to exciting and unpredictable outcomes.

These are just a few examples of the many RPG systems that could work well in an Emily in Paris inspired game. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose the one that best fits the tone and style of your game.

Tips

•     Use the culture and history of Paris as a guide for creating interesting and unique locations for the campaign.
•     Keep the players engaged by giving them plenty of opportunities to use their social skills and charm to manipulate NPCs.
•     Use NPCs to drive the story forward, and make sure that each NPC has a unique personality and backstory.
•     Use music and sound effects to set the mood and atmosphere of the game.

In conclusion, running an Emily in Paris inspired TTRPG campaign can be a fun and immersive experience. By focusing on the rich culture and history of Paris, creating interesting and compelling characters, crafting a challenging and engaging story, and using roleplaying and storytelling as the main gameplay focus, players can experience their own version of the world of Emily in Paris. So why not give it a try and see where the romance takes you?