They Don’t Waste Time on Backstory
Max does not
care how Lord Humongous became leader of the warlord of a band of raging
bandits. Max just wants to fill up his tank and move on. Likewise we do not
need to how Joe came to rule the citadel, or how the uneasy alliance between
Bullet town, Gas town and the Citadel works, he just wants to survive. If your
adventure has three pages of backstory on a guy who is never going to interact
with the party outside of initiative you have failed.
I have some quibbles
with the movie, mostly the end. Max is the hero who reluctantly helps and his
reward is ending off worse than he was. It
should have ended with Max on the ground, beaten and battered and the enemy not
wasting their time to finish him off. Thunderdome and Road Warrior share this
ending to good effect. We don’t need to see Furiosa return to the Citadel. Just
the ladies getting away with a voice over from one of them saying they won their
freedom, found their green place. and never saw the one called Max again.
The beginning
plays out like a typical RPG debate between a DM who wants to keep some semblance
continuity in his campaign and a player who is being selfish.
DM: OK lets
pick up from last time. You are battered and bruised on the ground barley haven
survived. As Aunty leaves you pass out. When you awake you are being handled by
men covered in white paint. In your weakened condition you can offer little
resistance.
Player: Wait
wait wati before we start I built this character to drive an interceptor, can I
find one?
DM: No the one
you had was “The last of the V8s”, besides you’re the one who set a bobby trap
you were so proud.
Player: Come on you killed my animal companion, give me my car back.
DM: Noooo
Player: But last time I barley even drove a car. I am playing a Road Warrior I should have gone straight fighter if I never drive anyway.
DM: But it won’t make sense, your car blew up.
Player: It’s just us man who cares
DM: Fine you have your car. Men in vehicles approach at high speed, they look like they are covered in white paint.
Player: I jam
the gas, I am pretty sure I can out run them…..
