Could you use D&D for a film noir setting? What would have to be changed?
By "film noir", I'm imagining something set in the 1940s, urban, dark, private eyes and all that. There would be cars, telephones, revolvers, all the technology of the time. And there would be no magic.
Best Answer
I would say yes but you would be trying to put a square peg into a round hole. You will have to do a lot to get the magic out of D&D, the classes would need re-doing, and there would be none of the background available.
There is a d20 modern which would fit better but that is not D&D, just a similar rule set.
Not all Darklords are also the temporal rulers of their Domains (though some are), and not all of them reveal or flaunt their true natures. Indeed, some Darklords are deliberately denied political rulership of their domains (such as the Darklord Adam) as a way to isolate them and make them lonely. Of those who conceal their true natures, some do it out of habit or convenience (Azalin, Strahd), others out of necessity (Harkan Lucas, the Hive Queen) and still others because they hate what they are or have become (the ruler of Saragoss is one example). Oftentimes a Darklord still has feeding requirements, peccadilloes, or both that are easier to fulfill if the populace doesn't know what they are.
In Barovia's Case
According to Darklords and the Ravenloft Campaign Setting none of the citizens of Barovia believe Strahd to be human, but most of them have no idea what he truly is. They refer to him as "The devil Strahd" and fear him greatly; he rules with a casually brutal hand, ignoring them except when they get out of line. The Vistani know what he is, but Strahd long ago cut a deal with those wanderers and they are unlikely to inform others of his nature - let alone help them - without being paid the right price.
A Note
As noted in the Ravenloft Campaign Setting, education standards in Ravenloft are pretty low. With a few rare exceptions, it is a rural place without major centers of learning (a notable exception is the massive domain of Darkon, ruled by Azalin, with several urban centers) and riddled with racism and xenophobia. Often natives of Ravenloft will identify anyone unusual - a non-human race, magical abilities - as being "evil" and react with terror or, worse, a lynch mob. Even if you told one point-blank that the local Darklord was a vampire they might have no true idea what that signifies and simply attempt to protect themselves with ineffective superstition. Help from the locals is not a likely thing and might end up harming everyone involved; would-be heroes are not advised to seek it.
I asked Tim Brown, one of the setting's creators, and this is what he said:
That was just rumor, nothing more, don't know where it started. We got people telling us that the Athas map laid directly onto the Forgotten Realms map, but that wasn't actually true.
Best Answer
I would say yes but you would be trying to put a square peg into a round hole. You will have to do a lot to get the magic out of D&D, the classes would need re-doing, and there would be none of the background available.
There is a d20 modern which would fit better but that is not D&D, just a similar rule set.
Noir: The Film Noir Role-Playing Game would be a better choice.
Another site of interest maybe Mean Streets which appears to be free although I cannot judge for its quality.