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Old 09-11-2020, 03:00 AM   #5051
fchase8
 
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Default Re: New Reality Seeds

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Because of the Great Game we tend to see 19th West Asia as a backwater run by two European capitols. But that ignres the simple fact that the two most powerful nations on the Earth were focused on dominating this area.

Let Iran be a real power, including getting railroads when the Shahs first sought them (the 1870s from what I can tell) and it radically alters the planetary power balance. Iran's alliance either way breaks the balance. Let Iran be more thoroughly shattered and the territory of Iran as absorbed by Britain and Russia stripping them of any buffer in an area were both of them can get signifigant numbers of troops.

If that statement seems odd, remember the Volga, Russia's greatest river, flows into the Caspian Sea. Even in the 18th and 19th century it would be easier for Moscow than London to get troops to Iran. Once conected to the road systems of the Iranian platue (which in period were better than Russia's) a Russian Army could march to India. Yes, the logistics would be murder, but it is possible, if unlikely.
In GURPS Alternate Earths 2 Cornwallis, Czarist Russia did conquer Persia for a couple of decades in the twentieth century, before the War of the Quintuple Alliance brought about the end of Czars and liberation of Persia (under the restored Shah Reza II).

The concept of 'Cossacks dipping their swords into the Indian Ocean' was alive in the nineteenth century.
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Old 09-11-2020, 08:53 AM   #5052
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Default Re: New Reality Seeds

Try this one...

Looking for a suitible bride for her son, Cathrine the Great looks at the English royal family. She lights on the Princess Charlotte, although Paul was already a widower, the match brough some advantages. The marrage was fertile and their eldest son is a competent Czar and has all his children spen some time in the West. These Czars figure out the uselessness of reactionary politics so they focus on safely reforming their empire.

Seeing the use of keeping the peace with powerful neighbors, the Czars pretty much slip out of the Great Game. This allows the Brits to transfer their energies elsewhere, which leads to stresses with France, Germany, and the USA. After carving out a spheres of influence deal, Russia claims all of Central Asia including Western China and Tibet, Alaska (never sold to America) and Persia.Britain absorbs the rest of Asia.

It is now August of 1914, the heir of the Austrian throne narrowly avoided assassination in Sarajevo, but the powers are still stumbling into war. France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan, and the United States of America, against Britain and Russia.

Basically, WWI with a fairly united Europe against two vast powers that don't work well together. Also, a Russo-Canadian attack on America or Japan would make interesting campaigns.
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Old 09-12-2020, 05:08 PM   #5053
Micah Davis
 
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In 1940 in Avalon-1 on Q3, King Arthur returned in Britain’s darkest hour, successfully persuaded the British that he was, indeed, Arthur, rallied the nation, and through an astounding degree of cunning and military prowess crushed the Nazis and Italian Fascists by 1942. But in local time 1947, Arthur is unwilling to cede power to the elected democracy of the modern world. Arthur dreams of restoring his rightful rule to France and the Roman Empire and wants to centralize the colonial government in his own mind. Britain itself is devoted to its once and future king, but the world (and Homeline’s United Kingdom) is aghast at the collapse of liberal democracy and Britain’s newly re-minted ambitions.

If that were not enough, Avalon-1’s Britain is a high mana area. Arthur has already slain one dragon and his Royal Air Force are becoming masters at the practice.

Infinity has many objectives on Avalon. 1) Find out if Arthur is a charlatan magician, a reality shard, something more diabolical, or just Arthur with thirteen hundred years of regrets and physical therapy. 2) Undermine nuclear programs that might produce Merlin-Esque Hellstorms. 3) If possible, end or reduce Arthur’s imperial ambitions. 4) Stop Reich-5 or the Cabal from exploiting the situation too much. 5) Figure out of this event is liable to replicate itself on other timelines.

In-time adventurers might find themselves vying for a position at the New Round Table, struggling against Arthurian rule in colonies or Europe, or attempting to unravel the mystery of Arthur’s origin for America or the Soviets.
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Old 09-12-2020, 05:54 PM   #5054
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In 1940 in Avalon-1 on Q3, King Arthur returned in Britain’s darkest hour, successfully persuaded the British that he was, indeed, Arthur, rallied the nation, and through an astounding degree of cunning and military prowess crushed the Nazis and Italian Fascists by 1942. But in local time 1947, Arthur is unwilling to cede power to the elected democracy of the modern world. Arthur dreams of restoring his rightful rule to France and the Roman Empire and wants to centralize the colonial government in his own mind. Britain itself is devoted to its once and future king, but the world (and Homeline’s United Kingdom) is aghast at the collapse of liberal democracy and Britain’s newly re-minted ambitions.

If that were not enough, Avalon-1’s Britain is a high mana area. Arthur has already slain one dragon and his Royal Air Force are becoming masters at the practice.

Infinity has many objectives on Avalon. 1) Find out if Arthur is a charlatan magician, a reality shard, something more diabolical, or just Arthur with thirteen hundred years of regrets and physical therapy. 2) Undermine nuclear programs that might produce Merlin-Esque Hellstorms. 3) If possible, end or reduce Arthur’s imperial ambitions. 4) Stop Reich-5 or the Cabal from exploiting the situation too much. 5) Figure out of this event is liable to replicate itself on other timelines.

In-time adventurers might find themselves vying for a position at the New Round Table, struggling against Arthurian rule in colonies or Europe, or attempting to unravel the mystery of Arthur’s origin for America or the Soviets.
Nice. I'd maybe spice it up with other national heroes beginning to return in the hour of greatest need, but it's plenty spicy already.
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Old 09-12-2020, 06:39 PM   #5055
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Nice. I'd maybe spice it up with other national heroes beginning to return in the hour of greatest need, but it's plenty spicy already.
Picture a German hero saving the Kaiserreich at the end of WWI. Sure you'd lose Hitler, but Stalin without Hitler is scary. Not as Hitler without Stalin, but scary.
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Old 09-13-2020, 07:17 AM   #5056
Micah Davis
 
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Nice. I'd maybe spice it up with other national heroes beginning to return in the hour of greatest need, but it's plenty spicy already.
I think this would be a fun direction to take it. My thinking was that leaving the door open to a variety of options would let players or GMs rummaging for ideas take it in whatever directions work best for their campaign or characters. So a return of national heroes is a fun direction to take - But if the GM wants to have Avalon-1 be the culmination of a plot by John Dee, Grandmaster of the Cabal, that’s also on the table. Or if he wants Arthur to secretly be the Antichrist or whatever.
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Old 09-13-2020, 07:23 AM   #5057
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Default Another National Hero

One interesting "National Hero Returns" scenario.
Germany worked with the telemobilscope in the early 20th century. It had limited capabilities, but it was enough. On a foggy May in 1916, hte High Seas Fleet detected Grand Fleet, and formed line of battle. The British were still in cruising formation, not at battle stations, when first torpedoes, then shells, started ravaging the fleet. The British dreadnought force was all but wiped out.

On the anniversary of the Battle of Gravelines, King George V orders Drake's Drum sounded--a call for help from Britain's great naval hero...
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Old 09-13-2020, 06:13 PM   #5058
dcarson
 
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The PCs could be a group trying to locate the actual resting place of their countries "sleeping king" type hero to counter Arthur.

Looks like the best the US has is Emperor Norton.
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Old 09-13-2020, 06:41 PM   #5059
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The PCs could be a group trying to locate the actual resting place of their countries "sleeping king" type hero to counter Arthur.

Looks like the best the US has is Emperor Norton.
Surely we'd get a triumvirate. Washington, Franklin, and Jefferson, George will lead the fight and Ben and Thomas will outfox Merlin.
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Old 09-13-2020, 07:07 PM   #5060
Micah Davis
 
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The PCs could be a group trying to locate the actual resting place of their countries "sleeping king" type hero to counter Arthur.

Looks like the best the US has is Emperor Norton.
John the Conqueror which has the added benefit of being both a good match for Arthur mythologically and for a “be careful what you wish for” for his home country.

EDIT: I also think it would be fun to play a game of these returning heroes.

Last edited by Micah Davis; 09-13-2020 at 07:24 PM.
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