Campaign: Future Rebels
This game comes in two versions, a heroic-level one and a superheroic version. Both are set on a world called Gigantus. This is a world much larger than Earth, although its low internal density gives it a gravitational field only slightly stronger. Human colonists came to Gigantus several thousand years ago. It is said that a powerful and wise being named Ghorg helped the humans locate and settle on this planet. But since then, various groups have struggled for control of the planet and its residents. Most of these groups have rewritten the planet’s history to suit their own purposes, so it is impossible to be sure who Ghorg was or whether he really existed.
Currently, Gigantus is divided into two regions. The so-called Free Gigantus comprises the majority of the planet’s inhabitable land. An elected council is the official government of this region. Most areas have wealthy landowners who control their own area using their own private armies. More often than not, the elected council takes orders from the landowners. The landowners fear widespread popular revolt, so if rebellion starts in one area they will usually act together to crush it as quickly as possible. The people have mostly accepted their situation, and many believe that they have freedom and that the landowners are just protecting their property rights. There are still some malcontents who don’t accept this, though.
The other area on the planet is known as the Theocracy. This came out of a bloody civil war about 50 years ago instigated by the self-styled worshippers of Ghorg. These people believed that their God would favor a planet that was governed according to Ghorg’s will, so they fought and eventually set up their own government according to their supposed sacred writings of Ghorg. Life in the theocracy is extremely puritanical and constrained. It is especially bad for women and non-whites, who are viewed as lesser creatures according to the writings. The Theocracy and Free Gigantus have been at war with each other since the creation of the former. The residents of each region are very paranoid of each other.
Free Gigantus is also home to a small race, the Dogmen. According to the planet’s history, these were the result of an unauthorized genetic experiment crossing humans with the common canine. Free Gigantus sets aside a small area for the Dogmen (one that nobody else wants), and assists with their education and such. Most of the Dogmen accept their current situation, although there are exceptions...
Your group will need to decide what your ultimate goal in this game will be. Most likely it will be to overthrow the governments of both regions.
Character Types: For the heroic version, characters should be built as in the Star Force game. In this version magic does not exist, but psionics are not too uncommon.
In the superheroic game, build characters at Galactic Guardians power level. Here magic is practiced by the priests of the Theocracy. The leader of the Theocracy is a powerful mage. Sorcery is illegal in Free Gigantus and carries a death penalty, although a landowner could likely hire a magician and the law would look the other way. Both regions possess some super technology in the super-heroic version, Free Gigantus having somewhat more.
In either version, all characters ought to have some strong motivation for what they are doing, as trying to take down a government is not something you do lightly.
Campaign Tone: As in the present-day superheroes game, except the Outlook is moved to (3) - Successes balanced by failures. Hey, no one said this was going to be easy. The heroic version should also have a Realism of (3) as in the Star Force game.
Literature Equivalent: Blakes’ 7 TV show (heroic version), or Dreadstar comic (superheroic version). Also the DC comic Rebels ‘95 (I’m not sure which version this would correspond to). In any case the campaign has been confined to a single world to make it more manageable.
Specifics for Low-Powered Heroic Version
Everything is as in the Star Force game, except:
Languages: Free Gigantus has a single language. The Theocracy has another. The Dogmen have their own language but most of them speak the language of Free Gigantus.
Package: There isn’t an agent package like there is in Star Force. You are pretty much self-trained. There ought to be a Dogmen racial package; I’ll make it up if I ever actually run this game.
Money: Money is not bought with points. It will be gained and lost according to the game’s events.
Disadvantages: Secret or Public IDs are probably not appropriate. All characters will be Hunted by one or both governments. A Reputation is recommended, as you need to be known among the general public to cause them to revolt.
Specifics for High-Powered Superheroic Version
Everything is according to Galactic Guardians guidelines, except:
Languages: Free Gigantus has a single language. The Theocracy has another. The Dogmen have their own language but most of them speak the language of Free Gigantus.
Perks: There are no membership perks (revolutionary groups are glad for any members they can get).
Money: Money is not bought with points. It will be gained and lost according to the game’s events.
Powers: Characters may not buy FTL.
Disadvantages: Public IDs are of course not appropriate. Secret IDs might be possible, but will be difficult to maintain. All characters will be Hunted by one or both governments. A Reputation is recommended, as you need to be known among the general public to cause them to revolt. It’s going to be especially difficult to get the full 225 maximum disads in this game; you may want to settle for a lower amount.
Currently, Gigantus is divided into two regions. The so-called Free Gigantus comprises the majority of the planet’s inhabitable land. An elected council is the official government of this region. Most areas have wealthy landowners who control their own area using their own private armies. More often than not, the elected council takes orders from the landowners. The landowners fear widespread popular revolt, so if rebellion starts in one area they will usually act together to crush it as quickly as possible. The people have mostly accepted their situation, and many believe that they have freedom and that the landowners are just protecting their property rights. There are still some malcontents who don’t accept this, though.
The other area on the planet is known as the Theocracy. This came out of a bloody civil war about 50 years ago instigated by the self-styled worshippers of Ghorg. These people believed that their God would favor a planet that was governed according to Ghorg’s will, so they fought and eventually set up their own government according to their supposed sacred writings of Ghorg. Life in the theocracy is extremely puritanical and constrained. It is especially bad for women and non-whites, who are viewed as lesser creatures according to the writings. The Theocracy and Free Gigantus have been at war with each other since the creation of the former. The residents of each region are very paranoid of each other.
Free Gigantus is also home to a small race, the Dogmen. According to the planet’s history, these were the result of an unauthorized genetic experiment crossing humans with the common canine. Free Gigantus sets aside a small area for the Dogmen (one that nobody else wants), and assists with their education and such. Most of the Dogmen accept their current situation, although there are exceptions...
Your group will need to decide what your ultimate goal in this game will be. Most likely it will be to overthrow the governments of both regions.
Character Types: For the heroic version, characters should be built as in the Star Force game. In this version magic does not exist, but psionics are not too uncommon.
In the superheroic game, build characters at Galactic Guardians power level. Here magic is practiced by the priests of the Theocracy. The leader of the Theocracy is a powerful mage. Sorcery is illegal in Free Gigantus and carries a death penalty, although a landowner could likely hire a magician and the law would look the other way. Both regions possess some super technology in the super-heroic version, Free Gigantus having somewhat more.
In either version, all characters ought to have some strong motivation for what they are doing, as trying to take down a government is not something you do lightly.
Campaign Tone: As in the present-day superheroes game, except the Outlook is moved to (3) - Successes balanced by failures. Hey, no one said this was going to be easy. The heroic version should also have a Realism of (3) as in the Star Force game.
Literature Equivalent: Blakes’ 7 TV show (heroic version), or Dreadstar comic (superheroic version). Also the DC comic Rebels ‘95 (I’m not sure which version this would correspond to). In any case the campaign has been confined to a single world to make it more manageable.
Specifics for Low-Powered Heroic Version
Everything is as in the Star Force game, except:
Languages: Free Gigantus has a single language. The Theocracy has another. The Dogmen have their own language but most of them speak the language of Free Gigantus.
Package: There isn’t an agent package like there is in Star Force. You are pretty much self-trained. There ought to be a Dogmen racial package; I’ll make it up if I ever actually run this game.
Money: Money is not bought with points. It will be gained and lost according to the game’s events.
Disadvantages: Secret or Public IDs are probably not appropriate. All characters will be Hunted by one or both governments. A Reputation is recommended, as you need to be known among the general public to cause them to revolt.
Specifics for High-Powered Superheroic Version
Everything is according to Galactic Guardians guidelines, except:
Languages: Free Gigantus has a single language. The Theocracy has another. The Dogmen have their own language but most of them speak the language of Free Gigantus.
Perks: There are no membership perks (revolutionary groups are glad for any members they can get).
Money: Money is not bought with points. It will be gained and lost according to the game’s events.
Powers: Characters may not buy FTL.
Disadvantages: Public IDs are of course not appropriate. Secret IDs might be possible, but will be difficult to maintain. All characters will be Hunted by one or both governments. A Reputation is recommended, as you need to be known among the general public to cause them to revolt. It’s going to be especially difficult to get the full 225 maximum disads in this game; you may want to settle for a lower amount.
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