Modern Primeval - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Modern Primeval

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
rappy_dup
Mar 29, 2008 12:16:30 Sometimes I get ideas. Sometimes, those ideas fade. Other times, they grapple me and nag until I am forced to comply. This is one of those naggers. I am a big fan of the ITV production Primeval, and I felt a d20 Modern campaign setting based upon it was a grand idea. Now, of course, due to the fact that the show has a "one trick government coverup pony" format, I had to take some liberties, but I have reasoning behind most of them. So, in those cases, I have notes to explain my deviations from the program in general. Only the basics are done right now, but it will continue onward as I have time and get ideas. I welcome any constructive comments and assistance.
Contents
Basics 1-Introduction to the Setting and the Role of the Heroes
Basics 2-What is an Anomaly and why is it my Problem?
New Advanced and Prestige Classes (Coverup Agent, Paleobuff, Time-Worn Elite)
Ordinaries-Mooks and Mundanes
Dramatis Personae-Main Characters of the ITV Series
Bestiary Palaeontologica-The Beasts

Basics 1-Introduction to the Setting and the Role of the Heroes
The theme of Primeval is the discovery and dealing with of anomalies, portals in time and space that deposit creatures of the past (and more rarely the future) into the modern world, causing chaos for humans in the present period. Heroes and ordinaries alike face the danger of creatures that come from the primordial depths of the fossil records of creatures from the murk of the future. How they deal with it, however, will vary from game to game. In the ITV series Primeval, the main heroes are those of the ARC, dealing with Great Britain's anomalies. In d20 Modern, however, you might be one of many forms of people. The following are the main forms of people when it comes to dealing with anomalies and their after-effects.
A team that deals with anomalies is usually made up of several of these archetypes together. While Great Britain is obviously already covered concerning an anomaly team, there are potentially others that have figured out their existence in other countries around the world. While ITV's Primeval focuses on Great Britain, both a mention of the Indian Ocean in the series and the novel Shadow of the Jaguar have conclusively shown that anomalies can and will happen anywhere in the world.

The Unwitting Bystander: As an unwitting bystander, you are thrown into a fray you did not know about in the first place, much less want to take part in. You are forced head-first into the reality of the anomalies, by contact either directly or indirectly with the things that are out there. You might be a news reporter, an unlucky victim who survived a creature attack, or a conspiracy theorist wanting to take on "the man".
Examples: Nearly every victim in the series.
Typical Occupation: Anything and everything.
Typical Classes: As per occupation.

The Suit: If you're the suit, you're the guy people typically hate. You are the big boss with the big government backing and the big fancy tuxedo, and are the scorn of every conspiracy theorist who has ever lived. You are also not expendable in the least: without you, the heroes you have teamed up with would have a hard time getting by.
Examples: Sir James Lester.
Typical Occupation: White Collar.
Typical Classes: Dedicated and Charismatic hero, eventually going into an advanced class that gives contacts.

The Expert: You are the nerd, the smarty, the scientist of the group, or otherwise the one that people turn on with their "what is that thing?!"s and "how do we stop it?"s. You may not always be the best suited for field work, but without you, the team probably couldn't tell the difference between a deinocheirus and a deinonychus.
Examples: Nick Cutter, Connor Temple.
Typical Occupation: Academic.
Typical Classes: Smart hero, typically going into Field Scientist or Paleobuff.

The Taper: So called because of your tendency to "tape mouths shut", you are the team's coverup fallback. You are the one that puts the spin around, the one that makes mammoths into elephants and prehistoric swarms into swamp gas reflected by Venus. You are hated even more by conspiracy theorists than the suit, since you really do cover up the truth on a daily basis. You are another typical non-combatant, but you have enough tricks up your sleeve to always be useful to the team.
Examples: Jenny Lewis.
Typical Occupation: White Collar.
Typical Classes: Charismatic hero, eventually (naturally) entering Coverup Agent.

The Gunman: You may be one of many other things, but you also tend to be the guy that holds the large and nasty weapons. You also have a knack for getting out of scrapes alive when all logic dictates that you should be in a dinosaur's gullet. You are an extremely important person when the coprolites hit the fan and prehistoric creatures are knocking on your team's door.
Examples: Stephen Hart.
Typical Occupation: Law Enforcement or Military.
Typical Classes: Strong, Tough, or Dedicated hero, all depending on if you eventually go toward Soldier or Survivalist.

The Time-Worn: The rarest of the rare, you are one of the few that has gone through time and lived...multiple times. You are like an enigma to the present,
Examples: Nick Cutter, Connor Temple.
Typical Occupation: Academic or Rural.
Typical Classes: Smart or Tough hero, eventually going into Time-Worn Elite.

Basics 2-What is an Anomaly and why is it my Problem?
Anomalies are highly magnetic rips in space and time, typically around 3 meters in diameter and glistening white with a shattered glass appearance. Anomalies can be miles apart from either end (not counting time-distance), and anything on either side can walk through to the other time and place with relative ease. The environment is also easy to move: as shown several times, an anomaly that appears underwater will pump contents through into the present, changing the water table and/or salinity levels as it deposits its overflow. Since most anomalies appear on land or in the air, however, the oxygen content is the primary concern. An area near an anomaly can experience higher levels of oxygen or even the presence of sulphuric gases if an anomaly from an extremely prehistoric era is present. Finally, the magnetic disturbances wrought by the anomalies make the radio frequency 82.5 experience heavy static from interference.
Most anomalies come from some point in the past. Prehistoric creatures are the usual fare for an anomaly, heavily dispered in eras before the dinosaurs as well as moderately after, and only lightly sprinkled within the dinosaur reign for reasons unknown: only two known anomalies have appeared in Great Britain from any period within the Mesozoic. In theory, some "living fossil" reports such as the Loch Ness Monster, Mokele-Mbembe, and Kongamoto may be from stranded individuals from the past that went through anomalies but never made it back before they closed. Even rarer than any prehistoric anomaly is the presence of a future anomaly. Twice this has happened, and twice it has led to trouble. Any and all paleontological knowledge is thrown out the window when a future anomaly appears, and the danger levels can be great for both civilians and anomaly teams. Three creatures are currently known from the future: the intelligent and deadly Future Predators, the elephant seal-like primates known as Mers, and the Mer-world's native shark.
In d20 Modern, anomalies produce several game-affecting rules, most depending on their origin. An anomaly will pull upon any magnetic-capable object. Anyone holding a metal object must make a Strength check (DC 18) or have the object sucked from their hand and thrown into the anomaly. Any anomaly opening up in the Precambrian produces sulphuric gases. A character within the gas of such an anomaly must make a Fortitude save each round (DC 20) or be dealt 1d8 points of damage. He may also hold his breath as if he was underwater. Any creature within the sulphuric fog is considered to have full concealment.
When an anomaly opens up, the GM makes a secret d% roll. Depending on the number rolled, the portal connects to one of the following eras. The GM chooses the exact location the anomaly connects to in both the past and present.
d% Results
1-16: Pre-Cambrian period. If the anomaly is in a closed space, it is flooded with sulphuric fog.
17-30: Cambrian, Ordovician, or Silurian period. Higher oxygen content, if in a closed space and thus undiluted, produces oxygen toxicity. Any creature not native to the period-side of the anomaly that has spent more than one hour in the closed space suffers 1 point of Constitution damage per round.
31-56: Devonian or Carboniferous period. Higher oxygen content, if in a closed space and thus undiluted, produces oxygen toxicity. Any creature not native to the period-side of the anomaly that has spent more than one hour in the closed space suffers 1 point of Constitution damage per round.
57-64: Permian period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
64-68: Triassic period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
69-72: Jurassic period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
73-76: Cretaceous period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
77-81: Paleogene period (Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
82-86: Neogene period (Miocene and Pliocene epochs). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
87-97: Quaternary period (Pleistocene epoch and modern past). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater.
98-100: Future. The anomaly may or may not contain adverse effects: this all depends on how far it is into the future and how the GM deems the future era tapped to be.
#2
thevince
Aug 29, 2011 16:40:11 This is an excelent idea, and one I am currently working on with my group (unfortunately only two players and myself).

Have you put any more work into this?

I'd be happy to share the stuff I come up with too.

THE \/ince
#3
taradusis
Sep 17, 2011 17:38:11 In addition to D20 Modern I might consider getting a copy of the D20 Apocalypse rules as well?
#4
taradusis
Sep 18, 2011 17:40:30 Now,most pcs tend to Sociopathic Hobo as their true class. What do you do when the pcs step thru the Anomaly? When I watched the BBC premiere I was amazed at how few people went Thru. I think that if an Anomaly formed you might have to lock it down fast before a few hundred idiots inadverdantly colonized the Jurassic era?
#5
marcoasalazarm
Sep 23, 2011 14:55:06
Now,most pcs tend to Sociopathic Hobo as their true class. What do you do when the pcs step thru the Anomaly? When I watched the BBC premiere I was amazed at how few people went Thru. I think that if an Anomaly formed you might have to lock it down fast before a few hundred idiots inadverdantly colonized the Jurassic era?

Welll... Rappy does itagain. It sounds like a nice idea so far...

Hope she makes more for this.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 rappy_dup Mar 29, 2008 12:16:30	Sometimes I get ideas. Sometimes, those ideas fade. Other times, they grapple me and nag until I am forced to comply. This is one of those naggers. I am a big fan of the ITV production Primeval, and I felt a d20 Modern campaign setting based upon it was a grand idea. Now, of course, due to the fact that the show has a "one trick government coverup pony" format, I had to take some liberties, but I have reasoning behind most of them. So, in those cases, I have notes to explain my deviations from the program in general. Only the basics are done right now, but it will continue onward as I have time and get ideas. I welcome any constructive comments and assistance. Contents Basics 1-Introduction to the Setting and the Role of the Heroes Basics 2-What is an Anomaly and why is it my Problem? New Advanced and Prestige Classes (Coverup Agent, Paleobuff, Time-Worn Elite) Ordinaries-Mooks and Mundanes Dramatis Personae-Main Characters of the ITV Series Bestiary Palaeontologica-The Beasts Basics 1-Introduction to the Setting and the Role of the Heroes The theme of Primeval is the discovery and dealing with of anomalies, portals in time and space that deposit creatures of the past (and more rarely the future) into the modern world, causing chaos for humans in the present period. Heroes and ordinaries alike face the danger of creatures that come from the primordial depths of the fossil records of creatures from the murk of the future. How they deal with it, however, will vary from game to game. In the ITV series Primeval, the main heroes are those of the ARC, dealing with Great Britain's anomalies. In d20 Modern, however, you might be one of many forms of people. The following are the main forms of people when it comes to dealing with anomalies and their after-effects. A team that deals with anomalies is usually made up of several of these archetypes together. While Great Britain is obviously already covered concerning an anomaly team, there are potentially others that have figured out their existence in other countries around the world. While ITV's Primeval focuses on Great Britain, both a mention of the Indian Ocean in the series and the novel Shadow of the Jaguar have conclusively shown that anomalies can and will happen anywhere in the world. The Unwitting Bystander: As an unwitting bystander, you are thrown into a fray you did not know about in the first place, much less want to take part in. You are forced head-first into the reality of the anomalies, by contact either directly or indirectly with the things that are out there. You might be a news reporter, an unlucky victim who survived a creature attack, or a conspiracy theorist wanting to take on "the man". Examples: Nearly every victim in the series. Typical Occupation: Anything and everything. Typical Classes: As per occupation. The Suit: If you're the suit, you're the guy people typically hate. You are the big boss with the big government backing and the big fancy tuxedo, and are the scorn of every conspiracy theorist who has ever lived. You are also not expendable in the least: without you, the heroes you have teamed up with would have a hard time getting by. Examples: Sir James Lester. Typical Occupation: White Collar. Typical Classes: Dedicated and Charismatic hero, eventually going into an advanced class that gives contacts. The Expert: You are the nerd, the smarty, the scientist of the group, or otherwise the one that people turn on with their "what is that thing?!"s and "how do we stop it?"s. You may not always be the best suited for field work, but without you, the team probably couldn't tell the difference between a deinocheirus and a deinonychus. Examples: Nick Cutter, Connor Temple. Typical Occupation: Academic. Typical Classes: Smart hero, typically going into Field Scientist or Paleobuff. The Taper: So called because of your tendency to "tape mouths shut", you are the team's coverup fallback. You are the one that puts the spin around, the one that makes mammoths into elephants and prehistoric swarms into swamp gas reflected by Venus. You are hated even more by conspiracy theorists than the suit, since you really do cover up the truth on a daily basis. You are another typical non-combatant, but you have enough tricks up your sleeve to always be useful to the team. Examples: Jenny Lewis. Typical Occupation: White Collar. Typical Classes: Charismatic hero, eventually (naturally) entering Coverup Agent. The Gunman: You may be one of many other things, but you also tend to be the guy that holds the large and nasty weapons. You also have a knack for getting out of scrapes alive when all logic dictates that you should be in a dinosaur's gullet. You are an extremely important person when the coprolites hit the fan and prehistoric creatures are knocking on your team's door. Examples: Stephen Hart. Typical Occupation: Law Enforcement or Military. Typical Classes: Strong, Tough, or Dedicated hero, all depending on if you eventually go toward Soldier or Survivalist. The Time-Worn: The rarest of the rare, you are one of the few that has gone through time and lived...multiple times. You are like an enigma to the present, Examples: Nick Cutter, Connor Temple. Typical Occupation: Academic or Rural. Typical Classes: Smart or Tough hero, eventually going into Time-Worn Elite. Basics 2-What is an Anomaly and why is it my Problem? Anomalies are highly magnetic rips in space and time, typically around 3 meters in diameter and glistening white with a shattered glass appearance. Anomalies can be miles apart from either end (not counting time-distance), and anything on either side can walk through to the other time and place with relative ease. The environment is also easy to move: as shown several times, an anomaly that appears underwater will pump contents through into the present, changing the water table and/or salinity levels as it deposits its overflow. Since most anomalies appear on land or in the air, however, the oxygen content is the primary concern. An area near an anomaly can experience higher levels of oxygen or even the presence of sulphuric gases if an anomaly from an extremely prehistoric era is present. Finally, the magnetic disturbances wrought by the anomalies make the radio frequency 82.5 experience heavy static from interference. Most anomalies come from some point in the past. Prehistoric creatures are the usual fare for an anomaly, heavily dispered in eras before the dinosaurs as well as moderately after, and only lightly sprinkled within the dinosaur reign for reasons unknown: only two known anomalies have appeared in Great Britain from any period within the Mesozoic. In theory, some "living fossil" reports such as the Loch Ness Monster, Mokele-Mbembe, and Kongamoto may be from stranded individuals from the past that went through anomalies but never made it back before they closed. Even rarer than any prehistoric anomaly is the presence of a future anomaly. Twice this has happened, and twice it has led to trouble. Any and all paleontological knowledge is thrown out the window when a future anomaly appears, and the danger levels can be great for both civilians and anomaly teams. Three creatures are currently known from the future: the intelligent and deadly Future Predators, the elephant seal-like primates known as Mers, and the Mer-world's native shark. In d20 Modern, anomalies produce several game-affecting rules, most depending on their origin. An anomaly will pull upon any magnetic-capable object. Anyone holding a metal object must make a Strength check (DC 18) or have the object sucked from their hand and thrown into the anomaly. Any anomaly opening up in the Precambrian produces sulphuric gases. A character within the gas of such an anomaly must make a Fortitude save each round (DC 20) or be dealt 1d8 points of damage. He may also hold his breath as if he was underwater. Any creature within the sulphuric fog is considered to have full concealment. When an anomaly opens up, the GM makes a secret d% roll. Depending on the number rolled, the portal connects to one of the following eras. The GM chooses the exact location the anomaly connects to in both the past and present. d% Results 1-16: Pre-Cambrian period. If the anomaly is in a closed space, it is flooded with sulphuric fog. 17-30: Cambrian, Ordovician, or Silurian period. Higher oxygen content, if in a closed space and thus undiluted, produces oxygen toxicity. Any creature not native to the period-side of the anomaly that has spent more than one hour in the closed space suffers 1 point of Constitution damage per round. 31-56: Devonian or Carboniferous period. Higher oxygen content, if in a closed space and thus undiluted, produces oxygen toxicity. Any creature not native to the period-side of the anomaly that has spent more than one hour in the closed space suffers 1 point of Constitution damage per round. 57-64: Permian period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 64-68: Triassic period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 69-72: Jurassic period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 73-76: Cretaceous period. The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 77-81: Paleogene period (Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 82-86: Neogene period (Miocene and Pliocene epochs). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 87-97: Quaternary period (Pleistocene epoch and modern past). The anomaly produces no special effects unless underwater. 98-100: Future. The anomaly may or may not contain adverse effects: this all depends on how far it is into the future and how the GM deems the future era tapped to be.
#2 thevince Aug 29, 2011 16:40:11	This is an excelent idea, and one I am currently working on with my group (unfortunately only two players and myself). Have you put any more work into this? I'd be happy to share the stuff I come up with too. THE \/ince
#3 taradusis Sep 17, 2011 17:38:11	In addition to D20 Modern I might consider getting a copy of the D20 Apocalypse rules as well?
#4 taradusis Sep 18, 2011 17:40:30	Now,most pcs tend to Sociopathic Hobo as their true class. What do you do when the pcs step thru the Anomaly? When I watched the BBC premiere I was amazed at how few people went Thru. I think that if an Anomaly formed you might have to lock it down fast before a few hundred idiots inadverdantly colonized the Jurassic era?
#5 marcoasalazarm Sep 23, 2011 14:55:06	Now,most pcs tend to Sociopathic Hobo as their true class. What do you do when the pcs step thru the Anomaly? When I watched the BBC premiere I was amazed at how few people went Thru. I think that if an Anomaly formed you might have to lock it down fast before a few hundred idiots inadverdantly colonized the Jurassic era? Welll... Rappy does itagain. It sounds like a nice idea so far... Hope she makes more for this.