New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

In Homeline history, President Truman declined to run in 1952, although he could have done so, and Eisenhower easily brushed MacArthur, especially after MacArthur, made several embarrassingly right-wing speeches. However, in this Q6 world, Truman's popularity didn't sink as low as on Homeline (why is still unknown) so he did run in 1952. Meanwhile, Eisenhower had a period of ill health in early 1952 and declined to run giving MacArthur a free shot at the GOP nomination. "Give 'em Hell Harry." easily took MacArthur down and won a third term. MacArthur's defeat was so thorough that it sunk many conservatives with him. It also set up Truman running an winning in 1956 as well. The enhanced popularity and prominence helped Truman get National Healthcare through congress. Of course it didn't hurt that Truman had the goods on two important senators and the chance to use what he knew.

There were multiple other effects as well. Neither John Foster Dulles nor his brother Allen ever rose to prominence. The "Good Neighbor Policy came fully back and became standard practice.

Centrum, wants to gain greater influence in this world.

more later...

Later has come...

Although Truman is seen today as a fierce and uncompromising anti-communist, at the time Truman was seen as dangerously conciliatory. Once Khrushchev consolidated his power Truman and he worked surprisingly well together. Sure neither man really trusted the other, but they felt they could do business. Historically most leaders of the USA and a plurality of Soviet leaders wanted a better relationship. Both Truman and Khrushchev wanted a better relationship between their nations and had good temperments for dealing with each other (Eisenhower and Khrushchev got on each other's nerves in multiple ways neither man should be blamed for) as a result, the Cold War was far less tense and both sides acted with more discretion and a greater pragmatic awareness that not everything is about them.

As this world is calmer and more aware of how multipolar it is, the world is less defensive and paranoid. This deprives Centrum of easy means to hook in and control this world. They need to reintroduce fear and paranoia.

Basically, this is a very different Cold War espionage campaign. It's a lot more like the old TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and its spinoff perhaps with a nice dose of another stylish show. The role of THRUSH goes to Centrum. As Centrum is technologically advanced, all those superweapons and weird tech are simply 70 years advanced on the local tech. The stranger threats could be Cabalists and/or Swagmen.

The local year is 1959, the manna level is low. The Tech Level is seven, but that could change if any Centrum tech is captured and reverse-engineered.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

This reworks an old idea to a different goal. As with Azoth-8 there is an Alchemical Revolution in the 1930s. However, Parson's insights were witnessed and understood by a British scientist (like Parsons also a black magician) who was a follower of Oswald Mosley who took Parson's insights to Himmler.

So the local year is 1942, America has flying saucers, huge things with a radius of 1,000 feet, but it is known that Germany is building their own. Meanwhile, Stalin will do anything to gain the secrets of the American Flying Saucers.

Basically, this blends some Sci-Fi into WWII. You can go in a Hard Vacuum direction. New York would be bombed first, Hitler had a deep hatred/jealousy of New York City. An espionage campaign with mystic add-ins is also a possibility.

[Astromancer]

Try this one...

On this Q7 world an ill-informed world jumper, having read way to much Jubal Early and perceiving Longstreet as an incompetent and traitor (Jubal Early was insanely jealous of Longstreet), kills him in 1860. The world jumper's plans to also kill Grant and Lincoln was thrawted by Longstreet's guards shooting the world-jumper. Thus Lee was deprived of his most underrated lieutenant. Thus, lacking Longstreet at Antietam, Lee was taken down by George McClellan. Thus making McClellan the hero of a far shorter ACW.

This throws the 1864 election to McClellan. It also prevents the 13th amendment.

Centrum sees the USA as easy pickings. Homeline as agents fighting several fights here. Court battles to recognize the legal force of the Emancipation Proclamation. Drives to keep abolition a living cause. Organizing folks like Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens to keep McClellan from destroying the Union (McClellan had little use for democracy).

Basically, intrigue and organizing drives all the America of 1865.

[David Johnston2]

Vinland-1 is a world where the Vinland colony actually succeeded. Not only did the European colonizers of the sixteenth century face a TL 4 pagan culture that has no intention of letting them have a foothold on the American coast but the natives further inland have learned iron working and developed more sophisticated farming techniques, leaving North America more populous, advanced and disease resistant. France, the Netherlands and Britain have ended up just trading with Vinland for furs and tobacco while the Vinlanders support and join the pirate crews preying upon Spanish galleons.

[lugaid]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Vinland-1 is a world where the Vinland colony actually succeeded. Not only did the European colonizers of the sixteenth century face a TL 4 pagan culture

I love the idea, but I am having a bit of trouble seeing how Vinland could be both TL4 and pagan in the 16th century. Either a) they continue to have contact with European culture, probably through Iceland, and convert to Christianity sometime around the 12th century at the latest, though admittedly a sort of halfhearted Christianity much as Iceland had but more so; or b) they develop mainly in isolation and don't get the benefits of TL4 tech like gunpowder. Perhaps someone could come up with a way to rationalize the two elements together.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by lugaid

I love the idea, but I am having a bit of trouble seeing how Vinland could be both TL4 and pagan in the 16th century. Either a) they continue to have contact with European culture, probably through Iceland, and convert to Christianity sometime around the 12th century at the latest, though admittedly a sort of halfhearted Christianity much as Iceland had but more so; or b) they develop mainly in isolation and don't get the benefits of TL4 tech like gunpowder. Perhaps someone could come up with a way to rationalize the two elements together.

No, I just made a mistake. I mean to write "TL 3", making them one TL lower than the Europeans when they arrive but close enough that they could survive long enough to catch up with trade and piracy.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

No, I just made a mistake. I mean to write "TL 3", making them one TL lower than the Europeans when they arrive but close enough that they could survive long enough to catch up with trade and piracy.

There seems to be evidence that Bristol merchants knew about "Vinland" in the 14th century. The Merchants wouldn't care about the Vinlander's faith and if their voyages in the areas claimed by Norway had been known to the authorities before the reign of Elizabeth Tudor their ships and all other property would have been confiscated. So they'd be good and descrete contacts. So the Vinlanders wouldn't be to behind.

[dcarson]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Basically, this is a very different Cold War espionage campaign. It's a lot more like the old TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and its spinoff perhaps with a nice dose of another stylish show. The role of THRUSH goes to Centrum. As Centrum is technologically advanced, all those superweapons and weird tech are simply 70 years advanced on the local tech. The stranger threats could be Cabalists and/or Swagmen.

The local year is 1959, the manna level is low. The Tech Level is seven, but that could change if any Centrum tech is captured and reverse-engineered.

I'm currently in the planning stage for a 60s super spy campaign. I look forward to stealing ideas if this get fleshed out more.

[fchase8]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Vinland-1 is a world where the Vinland colony actually succeeded. Not only did the European colonizers of the sixteenth century face a TL 4 pagan culture that has no intention of letting them have a foothold on the American coast but the natives further inland have learned iron working and developed more sophisticated farming techniques, leaving North America more populous, advanced and disease resistant. France, the Netherlands and Britain have ended up just trading with Vinland for furs and tobacco while the Vinlanders support and join the pirate crews preying upon Spanish galleons.

Isn't this a lot like GURPS Alternate Earths 2's Midgard? A pagan Viking Vinland in eastern North America.

Even if this has less divergence with Homeline history (European history seems pretty much the same), Infinity would bunch the two together, making this Midgard-2.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by fchase8

Isn't this a lot like GURPS Alternate Earths 2's Midgard? A pagan Viking Vinland in eastern North America.

Even if this has less divergence with Homeline history (European history seems pretty much the same), Infinity would bunch the two together, making this Midgard-2.

From my quick read of the setting, I see a vast difference. Midgard has both Europe and North America Pagan and Norse. In Vinland a Pagan Norse North America is in conflict with a Christian Europe.