Azoth-8

[Astromancer]

By the way, other people can kibbutz, ask questions. Suggest scenarios. The thread's about something I made up, but anyone's ideas and suggestions are welcomed and might improve the fun.

[Astromancer]

Don't forget Australia in this time period. They are a great place to hide secret bases, the outback is vast. Just think of all the lost cities Lovecraft hid there!

The Aussies have plenty of tude and can switch up the tropes of a story just by refusal to fit into them.

Have wicked fun.

[Astromancer]

The 1945-1975 period saw a deep fascination in the West generally, and in the English speaking countries particularly in Asian spiritual and religious practices and ideas. This was largely a culmination of trends that started in the 18th century. This has several uses in this setting.

It's a great excuse for Eastern PCs. Scholars from any Asian nation would be more able to move around the West Freely in this time period than in any previous one. Also, such PCs could stay in their preferred clothing (Western, Eastern, some politically mandated mix of the two) with less comment and annoyance than in any earlier time (and to a certain degree any later period so far).

Asia has its own traditions of Alchemy and alchemy is the magic of this world. Thus Asian Alchemists are wild cards in this setting.

PCs like exotic Martial Arts and Asians coming to the West in this period founded many DoJos and Schools of Martial Arts. Everybody could be Kung-Fu fighting.

[Astromancer]

Periods of change and uncertainty, the 1960's was surely one of those, often lead to interests in the occult. 19th Century America's fascination with seances, and 20th century England's as well, involve uncertainty and loss. The Spiritual seeking of the post war period was based on these first two plus the prosperity allowing the leisure to ask if their was more to life.

This is important because of who ends up were. Hippies and young people generally will be attracted to those offering deeper answers. The older occultists will be seeking solace and security more often. These aren't hard and fast rules. But those that speak to the dead will tend to get an older crowd. and those that offer revelations and enlightenment will skew toward the young. In both cases these will be middle and upper class crowds. The working class historically goes for conventional religion or social activism. This was very strong in the 1960's in our history.

[Astromancer]

Although most 1960's superspy films had either British or American heroes, there were other films made. In fact it's considered a genre called Eurospy!.

Many of these films were both action films and parodies at the same time. Sci Fi elements were both common and more over the top. A fine resource for this setting.

[Astromancer]

Given that the sixties still linked the South Seas with magic and Tiki Bars were still a hit in the period, potable magic might work in your game. Remember, Donn Beach claimed at times that his cocktails incorporated the "Secrets of the witchdoctors!" In this world, why not?

On another note, the Tikis used as decoration are mainly simplified copies of South Sea island statues like the Moai of Easter Island or actual Tikis, which were Talismans in terms of GURPS Alchemy. In others words, authentic Tikis, Moais, Anitos, Marae, and Taotao Mona could have real and potent effects, especially on people who are regularly drunk and disrespectful in their holy presence.

Have fun cleaning up the mess.

[Astromancer]

Remember the last Classic Westerns were made in the 1960's. Many sci fi stories of the 1930-60 period, and many of these good stories, took Western themes and extrapolated them into deep space. This is happening as a real phenomena in this setting. There are frontier towns beyond the solar system. These are mainly very new and ephemeral, but the story possibilities are there.

[Kale]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Remember the last Classic Westerns were made in the 1960's. Many sci fi stories of the 1930-60 period, and many of these good stories, took Western themes and extrapolated them into deep space. This is happening as a real phenomena in this setting. There are frontier towns beyond the solar system. These are mainly very new and ephemeral, but the story possibilities are there.

Full circle: The Mandalorian appears to be a Spaghetti Western.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Kale

Full circle: The Mandalorian appears to be a Spaghetti Western.

That at least means it has a plot!

[Astromancer]

This is a world were psionics are proven to be real and Alchemy is the basis for many important technologies. Thus cranks, grifters, and New Agey types, will all try to exploit this. UFO cultists will still be cranks but they will claim vindication or cover ups. Thus you can, even in a world of real wonders, sic a phoney or a crank on your PCs.

After all, in a 1970 with interstellar space flight in Alchemically powered Flying Saucers, messages from "Our Space Brothers," will sound more plausible.