Running a noir game

I have brainstormed this with a friend today while we were commuting home from a session that was hosted a ways off, so we had time.

Is there a possibility of running a noir game, where the male protagonist (a hard boiled some manly profession :D) has to solve the plot and every other player is the GM (well there is the head GM and other semi GMs who run specific NPCs in their own styles, with predetermined responses to some things, but are allowed to 'wing it' to a degree). So one player plays the protagonist and the rest play everyone else. I mean is this viable?

I think it would be awesomely fun.

Also, we would most certainly use Cybeprunk 2020 rules. (if not the setting then at least the interlock system).

Also, the protagonist would be required to narrate his thought in the style of 40s detectives.

Any thoughts?

That's a really interesting idea.

Aw come on...i'd really like to read some of the opinions from some of the posters here...

It is an interesting concept to be sure. But I'm not so sure about having so many player run NPCs running around; it seems a logistical nightmare if you are wanting certain responses in some instances and at the same time letting the players have the freedom to portray the NPC how they want the rest of the time...

To me, this sounds like it is better suited for a solo game of one player and one GM...

But I really like the idea have having the player narrate his thoughts...

As to the system/setting I have no comment as I am not familiar with Cyberpunk 2020...

Ah, CP 2020 is a d10 system, with d6s used for damage (mostly). It is a very simple system as far as skill checks go. You add your ability score (2 to 10) to your skill (0 to 10) and to a d10 die roll. If the end result matches the difficulty, you succeed. If not, then not.

Also, in CP it is really easy to die from a single gunshot wound. And a player must be real careful with his character.

As for other players running NPCs, they will get a detailed instruction on HOW to run those, but the rest, aside from major decisions and things that they must say, i leave to them.

Sounds to me like it would be a headache for the head GM since he couldn't necessarily rely on the sub-GMs to follow the book and he'd have to either wrangle them in line (interrupting the session) or adjust the plot to their potential ad libs. It also doesn't sound like much fun for any of the sub-GMs to play since they are essentially playing a single NPC each... who may or may not get any 'play' during a given session depending on how the plot unfolds. 'Sully the Bartender' may be a fascinating character but since the player isn't hanging out in the bar all the time, Sully's 'moments' are few and far between. I wouldn't want to wait around for hours during a session twiddling my thumbs on the off-chance the player decided to show up in the bar.

Oh, not one NPC. Several. They also get their pick... I would work with them...a headache it might be, but i bet that it would be an awesome headache

Cant comment on CP2020 but I have run some one shots noir style with one player being the lead and everyone else playing parts. I used Call of Cthulhu for a Halloween story. The next year I used Burning wheel for a similar experience. I was working on a Dr. Who idea where a player would be the Doc and maybe one other would be his companion. The rest of the players would take up parts I written for the "episode" but it never got off the ground. Anyways yeah it can be done and its fun but needs a bit of group preparation as opposed to just the GM prepping for the session. One last thing I might add is looking at Fiasco I haven't had a chance to play it yet but my gaming group has and likes it quite a bit.

Sounds to me like it would be a headache for the head GM since he couldn't necessarily rely on the sub-GMs to follow the book and he'd have to either wrangle them in line (interrupting the session) or adjust the plot to their potential ad libs. It also doesn't sound like much fun for any of the sub-GMs to play since they are essentially playing a single NPC each... who may or may not get any 'play' during a given session depending on how the plot unfolds. 'Sully the Bartender' may be a fascinating character but since the player isn't hanging out in the bar all the time, Sully's 'moments' are few and far between. I wouldn't want to wait around for hours during a session twiddling my thumbs on the off-chance the player decided to show up in the bar.

No no no you have to make characters much more proactive than that. I would never give someone a character that could be completely skipped based on how the PC decides to proceed. Everyone has to be involved with the PC/story in one way or another.