Post by cassusaevum on Aug 9, 2019 11:16:00 GMT -5
Our World... Sort Of...
The game is set in the modern day. There are, however, some important things to consider.
1. No real world politicians, celebrities, sports stars, or other famous people exist in the game world. There will likely be NPCs in analogous roles, but the world is populated by a cast of characters entirely separate from the real world personalities around us. The intent of this is simple: leave all real-world politics, likes, and dislikes at the door. The issues of the game world may - at times - touch on the issues of the real world, but don't assume that the problems of one are the problems of the other. The game world is a fictional construct inspired by, but not mirroring, the real world.
2. Geography is largely the same, but I reserve the right to create towns, cities, and countries wholesale if needed and stick them anywhere on the map that won't break the suspension of disbelief. In practice, this means that there may well be new countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, or the Middle East, or island nations in the various seas of the world that don't exist today. You can assume that all major countries and cities exist, but know that there may also be other nations with similar influence that will be fabricated whole cloth.
3. Technology is in a state of flux. Developments are happening at a break-neck speed and it's entirely possible for a kid to invent stable nuclear fusion in their garage. This is pretty standard fare for comics, but worth mentioning. In general, the consumer level of technology is consistent with what we have today.
4. Physics will be close to the real world. This means no Golden Age shenanigans. You may be strong enough to pick up a building, but buildings tend to break when you try to tear them out of the ground. If you weigh thousands of pounds and jump or fall from multiple stories, there will be impact craters and city officials will likely frown on that. If you break the speed of sound while flying downtown, the sonic boom will shatter windows and rupture ear drums. You absolutely have narrative permission to do all of these things as needed but be aware that careless actions will have consequences. In other words, with great power...
Freedom City, USA
The home base of the game (and where the lion's share will likely take place) will be Freedom City. I'm using the Green Ronin Mutants and Masterminds Freedom City supplement for the Maps, Geography, and some NPCs only. If you are familiar with Freedom City, please note that none of the history - particularly the super-powered history - is relevant to the game. Simply put, it didn't happen that way. Here are some facts about Freedom City for the game purpose:
1. It is located on the Eastern Seaboard in southern VA. In the alternate history that is this world, Newport News, Norfolk, and Chesapeake VA grew into a singular city to rival any of the great US cities and because of the Naval influence and Revolutionary War history, was dubbed Freedom City.
2. It is the fastest growing city in the US and considered a prestigious location for businesses, academic institutions, and even a burgeoning film industry. Some say it will become the new Silicone Valley and others the new Hollywood and yet others the new manufacturing hub of the US, but only time will tell.
3. It has a population of close to 4 million people, putting in the running for 2nd largest city in the US (behind NYC and competing with LA). It has a population density around 12,000 per square mile, putting it roughly around Chicago-level (New York is about 28k per square mile for comparison).
4. It has everything you would expect in a major US city - if you could find it in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, odds are you can find it in Freedom City. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are parks and museums and arenas... and gangs, and drugs, and human trafficking... and institutes of higher learning and music festivals... and espionage, political corruption and so forth.
The game is set in the modern day. There are, however, some important things to consider.
1. No real world politicians, celebrities, sports stars, or other famous people exist in the game world. There will likely be NPCs in analogous roles, but the world is populated by a cast of characters entirely separate from the real world personalities around us. The intent of this is simple: leave all real-world politics, likes, and dislikes at the door. The issues of the game world may - at times - touch on the issues of the real world, but don't assume that the problems of one are the problems of the other. The game world is a fictional construct inspired by, but not mirroring, the real world.
2. Geography is largely the same, but I reserve the right to create towns, cities, and countries wholesale if needed and stick them anywhere on the map that won't break the suspension of disbelief. In practice, this means that there may well be new countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, or the Middle East, or island nations in the various seas of the world that don't exist today. You can assume that all major countries and cities exist, but know that there may also be other nations with similar influence that will be fabricated whole cloth.
3. Technology is in a state of flux. Developments are happening at a break-neck speed and it's entirely possible for a kid to invent stable nuclear fusion in their garage. This is pretty standard fare for comics, but worth mentioning. In general, the consumer level of technology is consistent with what we have today.
4. Physics will be close to the real world. This means no Golden Age shenanigans. You may be strong enough to pick up a building, but buildings tend to break when you try to tear them out of the ground. If you weigh thousands of pounds and jump or fall from multiple stories, there will be impact craters and city officials will likely frown on that. If you break the speed of sound while flying downtown, the sonic boom will shatter windows and rupture ear drums. You absolutely have narrative permission to do all of these things as needed but be aware that careless actions will have consequences. In other words, with great power...
Freedom City, USA
The home base of the game (and where the lion's share will likely take place) will be Freedom City. I'm using the Green Ronin Mutants and Masterminds Freedom City supplement for the Maps, Geography, and some NPCs only. If you are familiar with Freedom City, please note that none of the history - particularly the super-powered history - is relevant to the game. Simply put, it didn't happen that way. Here are some facts about Freedom City for the game purpose:
1. It is located on the Eastern Seaboard in southern VA. In the alternate history that is this world, Newport News, Norfolk, and Chesapeake VA grew into a singular city to rival any of the great US cities and because of the Naval influence and Revolutionary War history, was dubbed Freedom City.
2. It is the fastest growing city in the US and considered a prestigious location for businesses, academic institutions, and even a burgeoning film industry. Some say it will become the new Silicone Valley and others the new Hollywood and yet others the new manufacturing hub of the US, but only time will tell.
3. It has a population of close to 4 million people, putting in the running for 2nd largest city in the US (behind NYC and competing with LA). It has a population density around 12,000 per square mile, putting it roughly around Chicago-level (New York is about 28k per square mile for comparison).
4. It has everything you would expect in a major US city - if you could find it in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, odds are you can find it in Freedom City. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are parks and museums and arenas... and gangs, and drugs, and human trafficking... and institutes of higher learning and music festivals... and espionage, political corruption and so forth.