Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cheomesh Aug 28, 2009 14:04:15	I really don't get much feedback at CBG, so I thought I would post my d20 modern style stuff up here.  It's in a wiki style format, so it's easy to navigate.  This is my first "modern" setting, and at the moment there are only three pages of info. Core:  www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Dolu... General info:  www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=Eart...(Dolus) City we'll play in:  www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php?title=City...(Dolus)   For those who want the low-fat version, it is a martial arts oriented campaign using Blood and Fists set in a semi-futuristic mega city ruled by Oligarchs.  It is a socialist state, where the State owns the methods of production.  It is a welfare state, where the State provides the basics at low cost.  Private ownership of business is *very* rare. Imagine if McDonals, Papa Johns, Wendy's, Burger King, Wal-Mart, Subway, Quiznos, etc. were all just government businesses, and the employees were all government employees.  That sort of thing.  Unfortunately, like in real textbook socialism, there is very little upward movement because the people have no real *power*. Here, the only firearms to be had are crude zip guns that fire variable quality rounds (all painstakingly hand made and expensive as crap), and the low-powered SMG's and pistols seen in the hands of Enforcer units.  Gangs rule where Enforcers do not go, using crude weapons like shivs and steel pipes to get what they want.  Some are even well trained in actual martial arts, using more than random beatings to have their way. The people, or at least the smar ones, respond in kind. Let me know what you think!  Tell me how I can clarify my wiki entries, what kind of information you would like to see (still WIP of course), and if what I already have communicates clearly or is just a blob of words.   M.
#2 Master_Vega Aug 28, 2009 17:58:59	It's like a playable 1984 mixed with post-apocalyptic goodness. I'd totally play in this, given the right plothook. What sort of campaign were you planning to run in this place, if any?
#3 atanakar Aug 28, 2009 18:06:06	There are multiple types of controlling organisations a can think of. A campaign always benefits by having a good variety of power groups that interact over the players head. You could have other cities governed by different interest groups : Religion, slavers, organised crime, military, supremacist, scientists, elitists, esthetists, etc. At higher levels characters could be caught up in political intrigues between cities.
#4 cheomesh Aug 28, 2009 18:52:19	It's like a playable 1984 mixed with post-apocalyptic goodness. I'd totally play in this, given the right plothook. What sort of campaign were you planning to run in this place, if any? Thanks for the feedback!  Campaign-wise, I am honestly waiting to see what kind of characters I will have at my disposal, for the moment.  I know I have one Ex-Enforcer on the run, but I don't know what else I have. It's sort of like 1984, except there isn't any of the "Big Brother" stuff going on; in fact, a significant number of problems are caused by the very lack of a Big Brother watching you. There are multiple types of controlling organisations a can think of. A campaign always benefits by having a good variety of power groups that interact over the players head. You could have other cities governed by different interest groups : Religion, slavers, organised crime, military, supremacist, scientists, elitists, esthetists, etc. At higher levels characters could be caught up in political intrigues between cities. I don't have a solution to the religion part just yet.  Originally, this was supposed to be a futuristic Mesopotamia, with many old Babylonian and Assyrian gods holding temples across the city.  Then I switched to an atheistic future.  Then I realized spirituality is human nature, and that it wouldn't work.  I'm considering a wiccan-esque religion with urban features replacing natural ones, but I have not fixed that just yet. All the cities are oligarchies in the most general sense.  Essentially, each department (Like Transportation, Agriculture, Commerce, etc) is controlled by individuals, their families and their supporters.  The grunt work is managed by lesser civilians.  Chief oligarchs exist to organize and facilitate interdepartment cooperation.  They are also the branch that controlls the Enforcers. Inter-city stuff is something I'd love to do for high level adventures (7-12ish, where I call it for levels).  There are treaties that make it difficult for there to be any sort of inter-city war, but there could be some draw for "special" squads to get a point across (assassins).  There could also be use for special squads who can sneak about and glean intel. Also, there's room to leave the city and take part in pacification missions and the like, or if the characters get captured, they could be forced into scavenging situations.   ATM, I don't know how to "start" an adventure off (that has always been my weakness).  I'm thinking the adventurers will be at some kind of social locations and need to react to a gang attack.  This will attract a chance Enforcer patrol, which will pacify the situation (Enforcer grunts are too high level for starting characters).  This could lead them to being fingered as possible rabble rousers and followed by Enforcer special units...maybe. M.
#5 Master_Vega Aug 29, 2009 0:19:09	Thanks for the feedback!  Campaign-wise, I am honestly waiting to see what kind of characters I will have at my disposal, for the moment.  I know I have one Ex-Enforcer on the run, but I don't know what else I have. It's sort of like 1984, except there isn't any of the "Big Brother" stuff going on; in fact, a significant number of problems are caused by the very lack of a Big Brother watching you. I'd say whether or not it's a problem is in the eye of the beholder. :P I do see your point, though.   I don't have a solution to the religion part just yet.  Originally, this was supposed to be a futuristic Mesopotamia, with many old Babylonian and Assyrian gods holding temples across the city.  Then I switched to an atheistic future.  Then I realized spirituality is human nature, and that it wouldn't work.  I'm considering a wiccan-esque religion with urban features replacing natural ones, but I have not fixed that just yet. Just one religion for all cities, or are you simply referring to the primary religion of the city in which the game takes place? ATM, I don't know how to "start" an adventure off (that has always been my weakness).  I'm thinking the adventurers will be at some kind of social locations and need to react to a gang attack.  This will attract a chance Enforcer patrol, which will pacify the situation (Enforcer grunts are too high level for starting characters).  This could lead them to being fingered as possible rabble rousers and followed by Enforcer special units...maybe. M. What side of the law are the PCs going to be on? You already mentioned an ex-enforcer on the run, so unless you want a lot of party conflict the rest of the guys are probably going to sympathize with him... or they could be entirely oblivious to his situation. How well-known is the ex-enforcer? Would the patrol recognize him while breaking up the fight, or is the Brass not releasing his information and instead pursuing him through more covert means?
#6 cheomesh Aug 29, 2009 2:07:43	Just one religion for all cities, or are you simply referring to the primary religion of the city in which the game takes place? Religion across the board.  I'd probably make it local, assuming I'd make religion a "thing" this go-around. What side of the law are the PCs going to be on? You already mentioned an ex-enforcer on the run, so unless you want a lot of party conflict the rest of the guys are probably going to sympathize with him... or they could be entirely oblivious to his situation. How well-known is the ex-enforcer? Would the patrol recognize him while breaking up the fight, or is the Brass not releasing his information and instead pursuing him through more covert means? Most likely the wrong side of the law, because it's more fun that way :p This ex-enforcer (assuming he stays with that) dropped from the Academy when he was only a recruit.  This is why he's level 1 (with feats related to his Enforcer training) instead of 3-6, which is where most actual Enforcers are.  He could also have been auxillary.  Either way, he's practicly nobody.  His "run" is mostly from his past, as the geenral ****ness of the force became apparent to him during his brief stay. M.
#7 cheomesh Sep 01, 2009 14:05:56	There have been some updates, and a new article!  The setting is now called Urban Isolation. Urban Isolation Mainpage Earth City NA-2 Enforcers NEW! Give them a check thorugh and place your feedback/questions/comments here. M.
#8 Master_Vega Sep 01, 2009 15:30:28	To clarify on the rules for the enforcers: "No city may deploy their Enforcers within 25 miles of their borders." Now, since it's implied that the Enforcers work inside the city, am I understanding correctly that their juresdiction is anything 25 or more miles in from their borders - or did you mean to say that they can be deployed up to 25 miles out if need-be? I guess the rule about the Hinterlands means the former interpretation is more likely, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
#9 cheomesh Sep 01, 2009 16:04:14	Enforcers can be sent out from the city itself for whatever reason, but they're not allowed to come within 25 miles of the edge of the hinterlands. The "hinterlands" can be really huge, though.  Assuming New York is one city, the area under it's "controll" can stretch out into Maine, Quebec, Ontario, and outwards to somewhere like Indiana and down to Florida.  A really large place, to be sure. M.