Running a "Manifest" Inspired Tabletop RPG

 


 The supernatural mystery drama Manifest on Netflix features passengers on a commercial flight who return 5 years after being presumed dead. The show follows their attempts to piece together what happened to them during their missing time, while also grappling with how the world moved on without them. This high-concept premise would make for an engaging tabletop roleplaying game campaign. Here's how I would approach running a Manifest inspired RPG:

For this type of game, I would use a generic system like Fate Core, Savage Worlds, or the Cypher System. These rules-light, narrative-focused systems work well for mysteries, supernatural elements, and character drama. They give players a lot of flexibility to develop their characters and co-create the story with the GM.


Creating Manifest-Inspired Scenarios for Your Tabletop RPG

Manifest, the popular Netflix show that follows the passengers of a seemingly doomed flight who return home after five years, has captured the imaginations of many viewers. With its mysterious premise and deep character development, it's no wonder that tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) enthusiasts might want to incorporate elements of the show into their campaigns. In this blog post, we'll explore how to create compelling scenarios for your tabletop RPG that are inspired by Manifest.

1. Establish the Setting

Before diving into scenario creation, it's crucial to establish a setting that is reminiscent of Manifest. The show takes place in a world where a flight mysteriously vanishes and reappears five years later, with the passengers having not aged a day. This central mystery can be adapted for your RPG by replacing the flight with a more fantasy- or sci-fi-oriented transport, such as a magical ship or a space-faring vessel.

Work with your players to establish the details of your campaign's central mystery. Did their plane disappear through a wormhole? Were they abducted by aliens? Were they trapped in a parallel dimension? Let each player determine how their character was impacted during those missing years. Discuss how the world changed in their absence. Establishing these core details together will give you a strong starting point for your ongoing campaign.

Consider the following questions to help you develop your setting:

  • What is the nature of the transport that vanished and reappeared?
  • How has the world changed during the time the passengers were gone?
  • How do the passengers and the rest of society react to the mysterious event?
  • What other supernatural or unexplained phenomena are occurring in your world?

2. Craft a Central Mystery

At the heart of Manifest is the central mystery surrounding the passengers of Flight 828. By creating a similar enigma for your RPG, you can keep your players engaged and drive the narrative forward. This mystery should be complex and multi-faceted, allowing for exploration over multiple sessions.

To create a central mystery, consider the following questions:

  • What is the main question that your players must uncover the answer to?
  • How does this mystery tie into your setting's supernatural or unexplained phenomena?
  • What clues or hints can you provide to your players to help them solve the mystery?
  • How can the players' personal backstories be intertwined with the central mystery?

Develop a series of strange events, clues, and mysteries that point to the truth of what happened to the missing plane. Reveal these details slowly over the course of your campaign through discoveries, NPC interactions, dreams, flashbacks, artefacts, locations, and unexplained phenomena. Provide red herrings and dead ends to keep your players guessing. Maintain a balance of providing answers and raising new questions.
 

3. Develop Compelling Characters

One aspect that makes Manifest so engaging is its focus on the passengers of Flight 828 and their struggle to reintegrate into society after their sudden return. By creating compelling characters for your RPG, you can encourage your players to become emotionally invested in the story.

When developing characters for your campaign, consider the following:

  • What are the characters' backgrounds and motivations?
  • How have the characters been personally affected by the central mystery?
  • What struggles do the characters face in their daily lives?
  • How can the characters' relationships with each other create interesting storylines?

In Manifest, the characters are complicated, dealing with trauma from their ordeal as well as struggling to reconnect with loved ones who gave them up for dead and moved on. Encourage your players to create multidimensional characters with troubled backstories, unresolved relationships, and personal struggles. Give each character connections to the other PCs to help build an ensemble dynamic.

While the central mystery is important, at its heart the show is really about the characters and their journey. Make sure to devote significant time to roleplaying interactions between PCs and NPCs, having quiet character moments, and putting PCs into situations that challenge them personally. These aspects will make your players truly invested in the story. 

4. Create Scenario Hooks

With a well-developed setting, central mystery, and compelling characters, it's time to create the scenarios that will make up your campaign. Each scenario should be designed to move the overall story forward while still providing an engaging and self-contained experience for your players.

To create scenario hooks, think about the following:

  • How can you introduce new clues or information related to the central mystery?
  • What challenges or obstacles can you present to the players that will test their abilities and resourcefulness?
  • How can you create tension and conflict between the characters and their surroundings or society at large?
  • What opportunities can you provide for the characters to grow and develop throughout the campaign?

5. Plan for the Unexpected

As with any tabletop RPG, you'll need to be prepared for your players to take the story in unexpected directions. Be flexible and adaptable, allowing the players' actions to shape the campaign's outcome. This may mean adjusting your plans for future scenarios or even altering the central mystery itself.

Embrace the unexpected by:

  • Being open to changing your plans when your players surprise you with their actions or decisions.
  • Encouraging player creativity and ingenuity by rewarding their out-of-the-box thinking.
  • Developing multiple potential outcomes for your central mystery based on the choices your players make throughout the campaign.

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