New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

The Republic of Anglia

This Q6 Low Mana parallel diverges from Homeline history with the assassination of George III and most of his sons in 1791. The brutality of the reaction led by King Ernst Augustus led to a violent reaction. During the British Civil War the French were able to invade.

Now in 1809 England is a Republic, and at war with the French Empire. However the politics of this parallel are radically different than Homeline's. The Republics of Britain are as repulsive to the crowned heads of Europe as Napoleon himself.

Basically, this is a swashbuckling espionage setting. The PCs are trying to build an alliance against Napoleon.

[Astromancer]

Krypton-8

Krypton-8 was a weird parallel, superheroes (well metahumans) showed up in the 1920s. Many types were conventional, the Warrior Woman, the Other Worldly Champion, the Midnight Campion, the Speedster, the Patriot Champion, and others all appeared. In spite of their powers and capabilities history followed pretty much in lockstep with Homeline history until 1943.

In May of 1943 Hitler's mad scientists created a device called the Bifrost. It looks like a weirdly vivid rainbow, it functions as a bridge to Southern Manitoba. The invasion took everyone by surprise. But America's mystery men and women are in the field fighting this invasion.

Basically, WWII with superheroes and a North American front.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Basically, WWII with superheroes and a North American front.

With the option to bring in a supernatural third force, if desired. >_0

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by SilvercatMoonpaw

With the option to bring in a supernatural third force, if desired. >_0

Given the Germans have ripped a hole in reality with Bifrost that makes sense. It would also likely pull in outside players like Homeline, Centrum and the Cabal, all determined to prevent an aggressive new player in their struggle. No one wants Nazis invading.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

The Goldsboro designation is used for worldlines where accidents involving B-52s triggered nuclear disasters.

In Goldsboro-1, the present day is only 2 years after the Goldsboro event, only both bombs detonated. Seeing the devastation of nuclear weapons on their home country, the US public has rapidly turned wary, with a much larger Peace movement that may cut short America's involvement in Vietnam.

Goldsboro-2 was reported to Homeline by Centrum and involves the Thule Air Force Base event, as it involves forces Centrum believes could spread. Centrum believes the detonation unleashed something "unspeakably maddening" from the sea ice -- possibly some sort of alien memetic virus -- resulting in a worldline that seems to be slowly loosing its grip on reason.

Goldsboro-3 involves the Savage Mountain crash, which resulted in a phenomena very similar to the Hellstrom of Merlin worldlines. However, mages in this world feel compelled to put on colorful costumes and engage in a strangely black-and-white battle with similarly-costumed "evil demons and fairies".

The Palomeres accident in Goldsboro-4 briefly uncovered a sunken city that might have been the inspiration for Atlantis. Unfortunately, it also unleashed a chimeric monster -- dubbed the Tarrasque -- which has gone on to devastate the coastline of the eastern Mediterranean.

The Goldboro-5 Yuba City incident resulted in a supers world centered on the American west coast. Homeline scientists have no idea why this nuclear detonation resulted in supers when previous detonations remained consistent with Homeline science-history.


(As always, I want to apologize for any and all inaccuracies due to my lack of historical or GURPS knowledge.)

[Astromancer]

Bonaparte-7

This Q6 Low Mana parallel diverged with the decision of the Czar not to challenge Napoleon's "Continental System." Although Spain remained a bleeding wound, Napoleon's grasp on Europe continued with growing stability. Britain focused her energies on extra European trade. America, after the brief struggle of 1812-1815, was quietly ignored.

Napoleon's death in 1837, the same year the British got their new Queen, saw the rapid collapse of French rule.

The local year is 1840. Britain is the only industrial nation in Europe, but Belgium, later than in Homeline history is catching up fast. The United States of America is also slowly industrializing. Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria, along with France, and the lesser powers are gathering together to settle European affairs.

Although the Austrians had wanted this diplomatic congress in Vienna, Britain has had the event moved to Bonn.

Centrum wants to manipulate the Congress of Bonn to direct the European powers to stagnation and reaction. Homeline sees the Congress as a chance for Centrum to grab control of the whole parallel. They mean to thwart Centrum. The Cabal wants to get Centrum and Homeline to fight an waste resources and time on this parallel's Europe while the Cabal seeks influence elsewhere. Homeline France is a Wildcard determined to promote French interests and cultural influences on this world.

Basically, a mid19th century swashers and espionage campaign. Although a magical conspiracy campaign is available in the Americas.

[Astromancer]

Gordon-5

Gordon-5 is a Q6 Low Mana parallel that diverged from Homeline history after WWII. The Space Race began earlier. Truman and several of his adversaries in congress were Sci Fi fans. All of these men were aware of the practical benefits of communication and weather satellites. Stalin, seeing the USA, which already had A-Bombs, building rockets, assumed he was the target.

Thus both the USA and the USSR start the Space Race in 1945. The first satellites are placed in orbit in 1949. (Russia first) Although Russia got the first man into orbit, the USA sent more and had an orbiting space base by 1960.

Instead of going the route Homeline took, this parallel worked on space planes, orbital bases, and landers.

The parallel had very high historical inertia except for the faster pace of technological development which was a little faster.

The local year is 1985. The USA and the USSR both have moonbases and our working on orbital manufacturing facilities. Both nations have orbited Mars and Venus. The Russians have orbited Mercury and the Amercans have landed on asteroids. Asteroid mining is seen as a when not an if. The tech level is eight but closer to Homeline in 2010 than 1985.

Both Homeline and Centrum want this parallels tech. It's like the tech of Homeline and Centrum, but went down slightly different paths. Adding this parallel's tech to either Homeline's or Centrum's gives you a far more flexible technological base.

More later.

[TGLS]

Who's Gordon?

[Paulon]

Flash! AAaah!

(Flash) Gordon sounds a reasonable tag to put on a timeline which involves more advanced rocketry than Homeline at the same year.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Paulon

Flash! AAaah!

(Flash) Gordon sounds a reasonable tag to put on a timeline which involves more advanced rocketry than Homeline at the same year.

You got that right.