Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post

Astromancer · 01-25-2021, 04:46 PM

Try this one...

Gameboard-1

This Q6 low manna world both terrifies and attracts Homeline, Centrum, and the Cabal. Its inhabitants seem to be able to control reality quakes.

This Parallel seemed like an echo until the local year of 1937 (twenty years ago from Homeline's viewpoint). In that year figures roughly equivalent to Superman, Mary Marvel, Hawkman, the Human Torch (female in this world), Plastic Man, Aquaman, and Green Lantern, all show up in the Northeastern USA. A figure shows up in Britain that seems to be Doctor Who (even calling himself the Doctor and working with a League of Nations affiliated military squad tasked with fighting alien and paranormal threats). Similar strangeness shows up over large areas of the planet.

WWII started on time and at first, seemed on track in spite of all these powerful exotic figures. Hitler opened up a nexial gate to invade Britain. But the solar hero from Kansas and the Madman with a blue box shut it down hard.

However, one of the Mystics working for the Ahnenerbe brought in a sprig from Yggdrasil itself. Strange rites summoning powers accursed by the gods of Asgard brought the green light of Agartha to warp the spring and give it an unholy vitality.

Wherever a seeding of this poisoned tree is planted the Manna level raises to High, but only for the new Nazi Runes, for a radius of 175 kilometers. As each new tree is branded with Runes for Fire, Death, and Authority, all magics that either create or control fire, kill, wound, or sicken, summon or control the spirits or bodies of the dead or undead, or enforce or aide the power and activities of the Nazi State, are at plus three to skill. Magics linked to Cold, Water, Healing, or used to defy or strive against the Nazi state, are at minus three to skill. (An unacknowledged side effect of the Death magics are that all healing rolls are at minus three to HT as are fertility rolls. Similarly, the Authority Runes cause all rolls for creativity are at minus three as well.) These so-called "Sacred Red Trees" are planted in an array that covers much of Germany, Poland, and Northeast France.

The local equivalent of Wonder Woman isn't a Greek Amazon, but a Warrior Queen of the Tuatha De Danann. She went to the long-forgotten world tree of the Celtic Gods. These Green Sprigs have the same radius of effect as the Nazi Red trees but different effects. Within 175 kilometers of these trees, the manna level rises to Normal for all magics, with the difference that anyone can cast spells. Otherwise, all effects are like Normal Manna. Anyone who learns a number of spells equal to their IQ gains Magery-0, afterward, the study of Thaumuthurgy allows those with Magery-0 or better to gain more levels of Magery (i.e. pay for them with experience points at a rate of Ten points per level plus 5 points per each level the character already has. Example: Ian has Magery 3 and wants Magery four. Ian performs complex rituals and austerities, and Ian's player pays twenty-five points.)

Meanwhile, in China, the USA, and Russia, others sought their own trees. In America, Blue trees are found by a team made up of the local equivalents of Mary Marvel, Aquaman (like the 1940s Aquaman a product of Atlantian Superscience), and Mera (a Psion Warrior Aristocrat of Ancient Atlantis awakened from an enchanted slumber by her husband). These Blue trees Seem to empower Weird Science, Psionic powers, and Techno-Alchemy. These Trees have the same radius of effect as the other two types and their influence now covers New England, New York, New Jersey, and most of Pennsylvania in the USA, and the Maritimes and southern Quebec, and a part of eastern Ontario in Canada.
In China strange peach trees shed a gently golden radiance. A Taoist Alchemist and a young woman said to be a Buddhist Sword Saint brought these springs in. Were the Green Celtic trees favor magic these Golden trees favor Chi. It becomes easier to learn and use Chi within 175 kilometers of these trees. The fruit of these Peach Trees seem to have powers of healing, rejuvenation, and also act as "chi batteries." In Russia, strange disreputable groups dismissed as pagans and hunted by the Communists offer the state their own trees. Although they prefer to routinely shoot purveyors of superstition on sight, they need a way to fight the Nazi red trees. The witches and bear dancers gave the commissars the Pink trees. The magic of Earth and Sky are favored by these trees (Plus three to Earth, Air, or Weather, magics) and they bless those defending their homeland (Plus three to all rolls for anyone defending their homes or homelands). As with other trees the radius of effect is 175 kilometers.

I'll post more information on how this world looks in 1957.

01-25-2021, 04:46 PM	#5337
Astromancer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Virginia	Re: New Reality Seeds Try this one... Gameboard-1 This Q6 low manna world both terrifies and attracts Homeline, Centrum, and the Cabal. Its inhabitants seem to be able to control reality quakes. This Parallel seemed like an echo until the local year of 1937 (twenty years ago from Homeline's viewpoint). In that year figures roughly equivalent to Superman, Mary Marvel, Hawkman, the Human Torch (female in this world), Plastic Man, Aquaman, and Green Lantern, all show up in the Northeastern USA. A figure shows up in Britain that seems to be Doctor Who (even calling himself the Doctor and working with a League of Nations affiliated military squad tasked with fighting alien and paranormal threats). Similar strangeness shows up over large areas of the planet. WWII started on time and at first, seemed on track in spite of all these powerful exotic figures. Hitler opened up a nexial gate to invade Britain. But the solar hero from Kansas and the Madman with a blue box shut it down hard. However, one of the Mystics working for the Ahnenerbe brought in a sprig from Yggdrasil itself. Strange rites summoning powers accursed by the gods of Asgard brought the green light of Agartha to warp the spring and give it an unholy vitality. Wherever a seeding of this poisoned tree is planted the Manna level raises to High, but only for the new Nazi Runes, for a radius of 175 kilometers. As each new tree is branded with Runes for Fire, Death, and Authority, all magics that either create or control fire, kill, wound, or sicken, summon or control the spirits or bodies of the dead or undead, or enforce or aide the power and activities of the Nazi State, are at plus three to skill. Magics linked to Cold, Water, Healing, or used to defy or strive against the Nazi state, are at minus three to skill. (An unacknowledged side effect of the Death magics are that all healing rolls are at minus three to HT as are fertility rolls. Similarly, the Authority Runes cause all rolls for creativity are at minus three as well.) These so-called "Sacred Red Trees" are planted in an array that covers much of Germany, Poland, and Northeast France. The local equivalent of Wonder Woman isn't a Greek Amazon, but a Warrior Queen of the Tuatha De Danann. She went to the long-forgotten world tree of the Celtic Gods. These Green Sprigs have the same radius of effect as the Nazi Red trees but different effects. Within 175 kilometers of these trees, the manna level rises to Normal for all magics, with the difference that anyone can cast spells. Otherwise, all effects are like Normal Manna. Anyone who learns a number of spells equal to their IQ gains Magery-0, afterward, the study of Thaumuthurgy allows those with Magery-0 or better to gain more levels of Magery (i.e. pay for them with experience points at a rate of Ten points per level plus 5 points per each level the character already has. Example: Ian has Magery 3 and wants Magery four. Ian performs complex rituals and austerities, and Ian's player pays twenty-five points.) Meanwhile, in China, the USA, and Russia, others sought their own trees. In America, Blue trees are found by a team made up of the local equivalents of Mary Marvel, Aquaman (like the 1940s Aquaman a product of Atlantian Superscience), and Mera (a Psion Warrior Aristocrat of Ancient Atlantis awakened from an enchanted slumber by her husband). These Blue trees Seem to empower Weird Science, Psionic powers, and Techno-Alchemy. These Trees have the same radius of effect as the other two types and their influence now covers New England, New York, New Jersey, and most of Pennsylvania in the USA, and the Maritimes and southern Quebec, and a part of eastern Ontario in Canada. In China strange peach trees shed a gently golden radiance. A Taoist Alchemist and a young woman said to be a Buddhist Sword Saint brought these springs in. Were the Green Celtic trees favor magic these Golden trees favor Chi. It becomes easier to learn and use Chi within 175 kilometers of these trees. The fruit of these Peach Trees seem to have powers of healing, rejuvenation, and also act as "chi batteries." In Russia, strange disreputable groups dismissed as pagans and hunted by the Communists offer the state their own trees. Although they prefer to routinely shoot purveyors of superstition on sight, they need a way to fight the Nazi red trees. The witches and bear dancers gave the commissars the Pink trees. The magic of Earth and Sky are favored by these trees (Plus three to Earth, Air, or Weather, magics) and they bless those defending their homeland (Plus three to all rolls for anyone defending their homes or homelands). As with other trees the radius of effect is 175 kilometers. I'll post more information on how this world looks in 1957. __________________ Per Ardua Per Astra! Ancora Imparo Last edited by Astromancer; 02-08-2021 at 04:39 PM.