Man on Wire

I don't plan on making a habit of reviewing movies, books, or games on here- there's plenty of other websites you can go to for that. This one is just too important to merit a casual mention, though.

"Man on Wire," 2008. Currently on Netflix. Go watch it. Like right now. Go to your TV, or computer, and watch it. I'll be here.

If you don't watch it, this post will be harder to understand than usual.















Dude, seriously! Just watch it already! It's a good movie to boot, even if you don't like tabletop games.















Okay, here goes.

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Man on Wire is one of the most exceptional movies I've ever seen. Not only is it a powerful documentary, it is one of the best examples I've ever seen of a real-life adventuring party. I even made a new label for this sort of thing- IRL.

The "quest" was extremely simple, and so very moving- get to the top, build the wire, and have Philippe walk across it in the morning. This has no tactical or strategic purpose, but is rather a demonstration, and a message about the power of man. It was an epic (you won't find me using that word very much) show of precision and ability, and stunned the eyes of millions. Even now, nearly forty years later, it still makes me shake inside to watch it.

You could argue that it was just Philippe having an obsession to fulfill. In fact, it probably was. But, that's not the message most people left with. To anyone on the ground, he was like an angel, or butterfly- whimsical, but captivating. Separated by a quarter mile from the ground, he acted with complete grace and agility. I believe that act is one of the grandest pieces of performance art in the history of society.

I think the cop in the interview said it best- he saw something so unusual, yet so moving, it was probably one of the greatest moments of his life. As a GM, I'm going to be taking pointers from that whole experience.

GM Tip: Let the players bask in some glory. Even for a little while.

From the ground up, the whole experience sounds like an adventure module. Much better written than anything I could come up with.

• Steal the picture from the dentist's office (Coordination/Reflex)
• Plan the escapade with friends (Science)
• Scout out the building (Observation)
• Make connections, bluff your way to the top (Speech)
• Map the rooftop (Observation)
• Recover from a wire-walking accident (Medicine)

The night of:

• Bluff your way inside the building (Speech)
• Optional: Climb the stairs (Terrain)
• Hide from the guard (Stealth)
• Wait out the guard (Concentration)
• Shoot the arrow across (Ranged)
• Find the cable, using your naked body as a wire detector (Observation)
• Set up the intercom (Education)
• Thread the cable across (Strength)
• Optional: Catch the falling cable (Reflex)
• Set up the lines (Players know Philippe)
• Take pictures (Depends how much film they packed)

This is one of the best non-violent missions I've ever read. It's exciting, dangerous, and requires only one weapon- a bow, to get the fishing line across. A riveting story, with all kinds of problems thrown in to make the player's lives difficult. Mainly guards, but also the issue of contacts, and surveillance.

But, more intriguing than the gameplay, would be the story. Not of the GM, but of the players- I've never seen a group of players motivated to do something like this, unless prompted. It would be easy to just tell the players their characters are all highwire enthusiasts, but that's majorly railroadey.

Also, the story of the inter-group politics would be very interesting. I'm not even sure Philippe would be a player character, he's so over-powered. But, say, the circle of friends he has, supporting him through the whole ordeal? That would be a really fun game, if the GM could put the focus on the characters, not Philippe. And, especially if they feel included at the big event.

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Ultimately, it's a movie I think everyone should see. Even if you just want to take it at face-value, it's a dazzling success from start to finish. A little campy, a little low-budget, but it has even more emotional draw than any other movie I can recall.

And, yes, I thought about it- I'd put Philippe's Coordination score at about 13 or 14.