New Reality Seeds

[Kymage]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

The British Left wanted Unilatereal Disarmament from very early on, there was a basic distrust of America on the British Left (odd because the pre-WWI British Left was normally pro-American), plus they saw Britain ending up as basically the foreward air-strip that would take the brunt of a nuclear war. Fantasies that if the USA and Russia had a nuclear war Britain could escape unscathed continued into the 1980s. Look at V for Vendetta where Britain, unlike America, Europe, and Russia, is untouched by nuclear war (the film changes this). In this world the fantasies of the British hard Left are comming true.

The local year is 1957 one year after the Suez Crisis and Britain is formally leaving NATO. All American millitary bases and most American institutions are being requiered to leave the UK. Britain is getting rid of all its weapons of Mass Destruction and downsizing its millitary.

Basically, it's a classic spy game, heck it's even the perfect time and setting to bring in James Bond and George Smiley to work with the PCs. The Briish actions are wildly upsetting the European Continent. People in later middle age would have lived through both the world wars and are still active adults. You could have the PCs meet active millitary men who had been in WWI, WWII, and the Korean war.

Homeline and Centrum would both want to prevent WWIII, the Cabal would want the Occult Revival of the 1960s to come in on schedule, so whether you fight or work with your foes is up in the air.

You're also got the situation of East of Suez. The British had a much stronger presence, even without the Empire, east of the Suez Canal in the Middle East and Asia. up until the late 1960s in OTL. ITTL, with the withdrawal of the British back home, you have a power vaccum growing.

I suspect that if they're going the Unilateral Disarmament route that there would be powers rushing to fill that void- the Americans and Soviet Union no doubt, but also you could have some third powers try to fill the void. France and India comes to mind.

There is also the reaction of factions within the United Kingdom itself. In OTL, there were rumors of a possible coup in the late 1960s of various powers within the UK upset over the withdrawal from east of Suez and domestic policy of the Wilson government.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold...#The_1968_plot

There could many unexpected players and events in this timeline.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by Kymage

You're also got the situation of East of Suez. The British had a much stronger presence, even without the Empire, east of the Suez Canal in the Middle East and Asia. up until the late 1960s in OTL. ITTL, with the withdrawal of the British back home, you have a power vaccum growing.

I suspect that if they're going the Unilateral Disarmament route that there would be powers rushing to fill that void- the Americans and Soviet Union no doubt, but also you could have some third powers try to fill the void. France and India comes to mind.

There is also the reaction of factions within the United Kingdom itself. In OTL, there were rumors of a possible coup in the late 1960s of various powers within the UK upset over the withdrawal from east of Suez and domestic policy of the Wilson government.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold...#The_1968_plot

There could many unexpected players and events in this timeline.

This would be happening at the same time as the demise of the French Fourth Republic. Western Europe would be in disarray - and also colonial Africa & Caribbean.

DeGaulle's success in France could inspire conservative elements in Britain to rally around a similar WWII era savior, such as Lord Mountbatten (who coup plotters tried to entice in 1968).

Or the pied-noire attempted French coup could be successful on this timeline, maybe inspired to fight against the leftism across the Channel.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by fchase8

DeGaulle's success in France could inspire conservative elements in Britain to rally around a similar WWII era saviour, such as Lord Mountbatten (who coup plotters tried to entice in 1986).

1968, and his fame and profile weren't really comparable to de Gaulle.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Kymage

You're also got the situation of East of Suez. The British had a much stronger presence, even without the Empire, east of the Suez Canal in the Middle East and Asia. up until the late 1960s in OTL. ITTL, with the withdrawal of the British back home, you have a power vaccum growing.

I suspect that if they're going the Unilateral Disarmament route that there would be powers rushing to fill that void- the Americans and Soviet Union no doubt, but also you could have some third powers try to fill the void. France and India comes to mind.

There is also the reaction of factions within the United Kingdom itself. In OTL, there were rumors of a possible coup in the late 1960s of various powers within the UK upset over the withdrawal from east of Suez and domestic policy of the Wilson government.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold...#The_1968_plot

There could many unexpected players and events in this timeline.

That's the beauty of the setting, alien and familiar at the same time. Perfect Infinite Worlds fodder.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

This would be happening at the same time as the demise of the French Fourth Republic. Western Europe would be in disarray - and also colonial Africa & Caribbean.

DeGaulle's success in France could inspire conservative elements in Britain to rally around a similar WWII era savior, such as Lord Mountbatten (who coup plotters tried to entice in 1986).

Or the pied-noire attempted French coup could be successful on this timeline, maybe inspired to fight against the leftism across the Channel.

There was an Avengers episode with Mrs. Keal called the "Mauritius Penny" were Europe's fascists tried to team up to fight democracy. Stead and Keal with as hard on them as Stead and Peal were going to be.

[Astromancer]

Here's a link to the Mauritius Penny which involves fascists and codes.

I picked the year of the break when Britain leaves NATO as maximizing both similarity and disruption. So I'm going to reference the ages of various fictional spies at this time.

James Bond probably born in 1920. He'd be 37. Note Flemming's sketch of Bond to see what Bond was supposed to look like.

George Similey would logically be about fifty, but Le Carre did change his age several times, so he could be younger if it suits you.

John Steed is thirty-five years old.

Emma Peel is probably 19 years old and running her dead father's corperation.

Cathy Gale is likely about thirty-two.

Matt Helm is 34 years old. Remember, his job is to hunt and kill dangerous foriegn agents.

Modesty Blaise was born sometime between 1928 and 1930, so she's between 29 and 31. Remember, she remembers nothing before 1945.

Napoleon Solo is likely 25 years old. Remember he's Bond's cousin and far less willing to kill than most on this list.

Illya Kuryakin would be about 24 and probably in the Russian Army. Remember, in this setting he's the foe. A decent man on the other side.

April Dancer would be about 15. She'd be an interesting encounter.

Alexander Waverly is likely younger than the actor who played him. If you assume that Mr. Waverly is as old as Leo G. Carroll then he's 71. I'd make him 60 or so.

Finally, Derek Flint is about 29.

Remember that both Helm and Flint are both parodies of James Bond just like Austin Powers, although with the action/laughs balance tited towards action.

[dcarson]

The movie Helm is a bad parody. The book Helm is a more realistic version of a a spy with license to kill.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by dcarson

The movie Helm is a bad parody. The book Helm is a more realistic version of a a spy with license to kill.

The book Helm wants to say something about the idea of the license to kill and does it with humor. The film Helm is only about sending up the superspy genre while giving Dean Martin a vehicle to do both action and comedy. The more serious/dark sides of the book didn't interest them. Still, the films are fun, silly fun, but fun.

[ProfessorDetective]

Originally Posted by YankeeGamer

Well, an adventure or two might work.
Rival game "designers," AKA Game Parasites, are after the secrets to a particular game, and neither can uncompile it, so they're both contemplating a break in. unfortunately, so is the FBI; the "game company" is a front for the KGB/Mossad/Whoever, because a game developer is expected to ask questions and know electronics.

Worst case: One or both teams get scooped by the FBI and spirited away to whereever...and they have analogs in this timeline. Worse, the analogues are in jail--and still there. The Feds have DUPLICATES! Then they find the hideout...

I write up a world where the weirdest thing to happen is the release of the Ultra Nintendo and you go and have them possibly figure out The Secret? Impressive.

Also, as far as I've read, none of the divergences redraw the maps. It's mostly video games getting their mainstream renaissance a decade early and the (sometimes massive, but not THAT massive) ripple effects. Like: MTV does a gaming review show from 1995 to 2000, Avril Lavigne takes up skateboarding during about of laringitis and becomes a pro on the level of Tony Hawk, Al Gore testifies in favor of video games during the Doom/Mortal Kombat hearings because he played the original, unbutchard-for-cart-space, SNES-CD version of 'Secret of Mana'. Tupac, B.I.G., and Cobain survive their brushes with death, Eminem dies before he gets famous in a argument over a Nintendo, Columbine fizzles out with only two deaths, The 1996 Atlanta Olympics Bombing is far worse, OJ Simpson momicide/suicide instead of double homicide, Fundamentalist Christianity takes a hit after the Atlanta Bomber goes on to nearly attack the US launch party for SMT: Devil Summoner and a major figurehead straight up endources the bomber, etc. And that's all before 2000.

This story is AWESOME.

[ronwit]

What about John Drake (Danger Man)