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post-apocalyptic genre book


hancock.tom

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Oh' date=' I'm sure a PAH genre book would cover Road Warrior-type settings, at least. Not sure about the other two specifically, but it'd definitely have enough info for you to "roll your own," as they say. :hex:[/quote']

You guys can tell that Steve wants to write this book already. Keep working on him and we will see it. :)

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Thinking of post-Apocalypse fiction' date=' I thought of the books "The Stand", "Day of the Triffids", "Damnation Alley", John Christopher's Tripods trilogy, the comic-book character Judge Dredd, and the future scenes from the Terminator movies. Lots of scope there! [/quote']

 

I presume people have already mentioned the zombie film genre? I mean, if you think about it, Day of the Triffids has a lot in common with 28 Days Later.

 

Oh, and found this useful Wikipedia list:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-apocalyptic_science_fiction

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

While I feel that the whole zombie thing is the realm of horror and not my definition of a post-apocalyptic setting, I suppose those settings where all of society has fallen apart because people have been transformed into monsters should be included.

 

On a related note, what about the old 4th Edition Lovecraftian universe presented in Champions in 3D? And let's not forget the possible future presented in the Terminator series.

 

I think, after having talked the subject over with my gaming buds locally, the allure of the post-apocalypse setting is that the characters are empowered to make their own rules, and yet must cope with myriad problems of survival. Groups of survivors band together out of necessity, even if they don't particularly like each other, so all can survive. And yet, all my buds agreed that even in such an environment, it is essential to have a tangible antagonist in the form of a group or an entity, much like orcs or evil in a fantasy universe. This may be why Twilight: 2000 is still one of the more popular games of the genre -- the Soviets are still out there along with dozens of gun-toting warlords in Poland, and they all want to kill the characters.

 

Of course, many people would argue these are the same elements that make Westerns so popular, but that genre speaks more to the battle of good vs. evil or chaos vs. order than the gray areas explored in the post-apocalyptic genre -- the characters decide what is right and wrong but have virtually no consequences (other than their own deaths) attached to their actions, especially in the whole "wandering scavengers" routine that so many of these campaigns become. The Western drifters were in much the same vein as they bounty hunted, stole and otherwise tried to survive in the great western wilderness where law enforcement was virtually non-existant due to the sheer vastness of the land.

 

It's just too bad that my friends still turn their noses up at a Western campaign but always embrace this genre so readily...

 

Matt "Still-jonesin'-for-a-have-gun-will-travel-campaign" Frisbee

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

On a related note, what about the old 4th Edition Lovecraftian universe presented in Champions in 3D?

 

I definitely wouldn't include this in a PAH book, because we gave Allen Varney permission to give Anopheles away for free on his website, so there's not much point in re-hashing it in a book. ;)

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

I definitely wouldn't include this in a PAH book' date=' because we gave Allen Varney permission to give [i']Anopheles[/i] away for free on his website, so there's not much point in re-hashing it in a book. ;)

 

I can certainly understand not wanting to put Anopheles in the main PAH genre book, and I think it was very classy of you to let Allen give it away. :thumbup:

 

If the upcoming Horror HERO genre book does well, though, I hope you won't discard out of hand the idea of expanding this setting into a campaign book for it. The timeline that Allen created for that setting is rife with plot and scenario ideas for every era from pulp to present day, super or heroic. And there's plenty of system stuff that could and should be updated to 5E.

 

It also wouldn't be the first time I've seen something previously free on a website, get pulled after it makes it into a published Hero book. ;)

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Guest Major Tom

Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

I presume people have already mentioned the zombie film genre? I mean' date=' if you think about it, [i']Day of the Triffids[/i] has a lot in common with 28 Days Later.

 

Oh, and found this useful Wikipedia list:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-apocalyptic_science_fiction

 

 

While I haven't seen Day of the Triffids, it was my understanding that

the Triffids were carnivorous alien plants, not zombies. 28 Days Later,

on the other hand, is one that I have seen, and the main threats in

that were people that had been turned into rage-filled berserkers by a virus.

 

One PA setting that I don't think has been mentioned yet in this thread, but

probably should be, is the series of books written by David Gerrold about the

biological invasion of Earth by the Chtorr (and which is detailed in the War

against the Chtorr sourcebook for GURPS 3rd Edition). It might be more

accurately be described as an apocalypse setting, since the destruction of

Earth's ecosystem and replacement by the Chtorran ecology is an ongoing

event throughout the books.

 

 

Major Tom :dyn

Partying At Ground Zero Like It's 1999

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

While I haven't seen Day of the Triffids, it was my understanding that

the Triffids were carnivorous alien plants, not zombies. 28 Days Later,

on the other hand, is one that I have seen, and the main threats in

that were people that had been turned into rage-filled berserkers by a virus.

 

It's not the main threat, it's the environment I am talking about. Both stories feature the hero waking up in a hospital to find the world has gone mad. There is also the outposts of survivors, the attempts to re-create civilization, and the like.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

I've been doing a little work on the Union Chronicles... my post-apoc campaign... set in a future history of the Wardens Chronicles where things went really wrong... lots of ideas in my head and some notes from previous versions of the campaign... skeleton website is up at http://union.angeva.com... there is not much up right now but a few flavor stories... click on the Histories link for the stories... will be adding more as time permits...

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Hey --

 

How about telepathic dogs for this genre? I just got done watching A Boy and His Dog, and I gotta admit, it's a freaky scenario -- but no more freaky than the talking chimpanzee on Ark II...

 

Also, handling cumulative radiation damage might be rather tricky, since it would require time of exposure above certain levels to actually do serious damage to the characters -- though less realistic campaigns may just toss that factor aside and only deal with high-level sources.

 

Matt "Keepin'-this-thread-on-life-support" Frisbee

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Guest Major Tom

Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Assuming that a PA genre book for FREd does manage to make it into

publication, how does anyone keeping track of this thread think that chelat-

ing drugs (drugs that reduce the damage caused by radiation) would be

written up under the current rules?

 

 

Major Tom :dyn

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Assuming that a PA genre book for FREd does manage to make it into

publication, how does anyone keeping track of this thread think that chelat-

ing drugs (drugs that reduce the damage caused by radiation) would be

written up under the current rules?

 

 

Major Tom :dyn

 

First bleary-eyed thought of the morning:

1) To prevent the damage then you kind of answered it in your post, i.e. "drugs that reduce the damage caused by radiation". Damage Reduction should work here and it would be most effective at low levels of intensity. Of course Duration, Limited Power "Only Versus Radiation", and the 'Human Specific' limitations would be approprate... (if you have mutants in your game).

2) To heal damage from radiation, that would be a lot tougher to do. It's not like insect bites. A special chamber might be available or a topical salve for minor doses (treated like burns). I would use the Simplified Healing rules for the tissue damage aspect. Organ damage would be tougher to heal. The sickness can be handled with the Simplified Healing rules with an asterisk...

 

There would have to be a good page or two written regarding the Paramedic skill in a PA game. Radiation isn't always encountered by characters from what I've read in the literature, but more of a plot device and a deterrent to 'get to the good stuff' left behind in cities. If the characters can get a hold of 1) above then it makes for good gaming since it's exploration into a dangerous zone (or a cursed zone depending on what their culture is), but there is a sense of urgency due to the duration element.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Radiation isn't always encountered by characters from what I've read in the literature' date=' but more of a plot device and a deterrent to 'get to the good stuff' left behind in cities. If the characters can get a hold of 1) above then it makes for good gaming since it's exploration into a dangerous zone (or a cursed zone depending on what their culture is), but there is a sense of urgency due to the duration element.[/quote']

 

This subject is dealt with in alarming fashion in the classic Alas, Babylon where one person dies of radiation poisoning after stealing a jewery store full of baubles from a fallout zone. One of the character's girlfriends develops a black band on her finger from wearing one of the irradiated rings he gave her and she comments that she "married an atom bomb." Our main character has to convince the undertaker to bury the victim and his bounty in a lead-lined coffin to prevent additional contamination, commenting "God have mercy on anyone who tries to dig him up."

 

Matt "Has-the-Grim-Reaper's-personal-celphone-on-speed-dial" Frisbee

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Okay, another thing that should be run down is the types of apocalypses covered in a post-apocalyptic campaign (stop me if we've already done this):

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Astronomical Doom (Asteroid / Meteor / Comet / Rogue Planet)

 

Biblical Doom (The Apocalypse, of course / The Flood / The Angel of Death)

 

Civilization's End (Mass Social / Mass Psychological Breakdown)

 

Cybernetic Revolt (Machines / Computers)

 

Ecospherical Doom (Crop Failure / Species Elimination)

 

Environmental Doom (Global Warming / Loss of Ozone)

 

Humanity's End (Human Race Dying Out)

 

Magical Doom (Similar to invasion or scientific accident)

 

Microbiotic Doom (Virus / Disease)

 

Scientific Doom (Invention destroys civilization)

 

Unrestricted Warfare (Antimatter / Biological / Chemical / Nuclear)

 

Did I miss any? Or maybe you have a few of your own?

 

Matt "Doin'-CPR-on-da-thread-again" Frisbee

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

One you may have missed is the type of apocalypse from S.M. Stirlings "Dies the Fire" and it's sequel. The laws of physics change suddenly (no explanation is given) so that electricity doesn't work properly, explosives burn to slow for guns to work, steam engines cannot build enough pressure to be practical etc.

 

I guess it might fit under Magical Doom since it's so far fetched. Good book though.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

What are Your Top Choices for a Apocoyptic/Post-Apocolyptic Hero Sourcebook.

 

1. Alpha-Omega Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega

2. Survivor Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor

3. Wastelands Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wastelands

4. Ragnarok Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnarok

5. Blue Shift Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_shift

6. Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-apocalyptic_science_fiction

 

Common Make some suggestions folks

 

QM

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Guest Major Tom

Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Okay, another thing that should be run down is the types of apocalypses covered in a post-apocalyptic campaign (stop me if we've already done this):

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Astronomical Doom (Asteroid / Meteor / Comet / Rogue Planet)

 

Biblical Doom (The Apocalypse, of course / The Flood / The Angel of Death)

 

Civilization's End (Mass Social / Mass Psychological Breakdown)

 

Cybernetic Revolt (Machines / Computers)

 

Ecospherical Doom (Crop Failure / Species Elimination)

 

Environmental Doom (Global Warming / Loss of Ozone)

 

Humanity's End (Human Race Dying Out)

 

Magical Doom (Similar to invasion or scientific accident)

 

Microbiotic Doom (Virus / Disease)

 

Scientific Doom (Invention destroys civilization)

 

Unrestricted Warfare (Antimatter / Biological / Chemical / Nuclear)

 

Did I miss any? Or maybe you have a few of your own?

 

Matt "Doin'-CPR-on-da-thread-again" Frisbee

 

 

I would've said Biomedical Apocalypse, but I'd say that that falls under the

"Scientific Doom" category.

 

 

Major Tom :dyn

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Okay, another thing that should be run down is the types of apocalypses covered in a post-apocalyptic campaign (stop me if we've already done this):

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Astronomical Doom (Asteroid / Meteor / Comet / Rogue Planet)

 

Biblical Doom (The Apocalypse, of course / The Flood / The Angel of Death)

 

Civilization's End (Mass Social / Mass Psychological Breakdown)

 

Cybernetic Revolt (Machines / Computers)

 

Ecospherical Doom (Crop Failure / Species Elimination)

 

Environmental Doom (Global Warming / Loss of Ozone)

 

Humanity's End (Human Race Dying Out)

 

Magical Doom (Similar to invasion or scientific accident)

 

Microbiotic Doom (Virus / Disease)

 

Scientific Doom (Invention destroys civilization)

 

Unrestricted Warfare (Antimatter / Biological / Chemical / Nuclear)

 

Did I miss any? Or maybe you have a few of your own?

 

Matt "Doin'-CPR-on-da-thread-again" Frisbee

 

 

Aftermath covered all this in 82 :) not the best rules but great reference material.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

What are Your Top Choices for a Apocoyptic/Post-Apocolyptic Hero Sourcebook.

 

1. Alpha-Omega Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega

2. Survivor Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor

3. Wastelands Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wastelands

4. Ragnarok Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnarok

5. Blue Shift Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_shift

6. Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic Hero - http:// http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-apocalyptic_science_fiction

 

Common Make some suggestions folks

 

QM

 

I would support publication of those HERO PA settings for which a great deal of quality work has already been done:

 

Keith Curtis's Savage Earth, preferably in color to take advantage of Keith's beautiful artwork and maps;

 

Ron Miller's Wasteland HERO, for that classic Gamma World style.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

I would support publication of those HERO PA settings for which a great deal of quality work has already been done:

 

Keith Curtis's Savage Earth, preferably in color to take advantage of Keith's beautiful artwork and maps;

 

Ron Miller's Wasteland HERO, for that classic Gamma World style.

 

 

I know I know, I am just greedy I guess.

 

LOL

 

QM

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Okay, another thing that should be run down is the types of apocalypses covered in a post-apocalyptic campaign (stop me if we've already done this):

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Astronomical Doom (Asteroid / Meteor / Comet / Rogue Planet)

 

Biblical Doom (The Apocalypse, of course / The Flood / The Angel of Death)

 

Civilization's End (Mass Social / Mass Psychological Breakdown)

 

Cybernetic Revolt (Machines / Computers)

 

Ecospherical Doom (Crop Failure / Species Elimination)

 

Environmental Doom (Global Warming / Loss of Ozone)

 

Humanity's End (Human Race Dying Out)

 

Magical Doom (Similar to invasion or scientific accident)

 

Microbiotic Doom (Virus / Disease)

 

Scientific Doom (Invention destroys civilization)

 

Unrestricted Warfare (Antimatter / Biological / Chemical / Nuclear)

 

Did I miss any? Or maybe you have a few of your own?

 

Matt "Doin'-CPR-on-da-thread-again" Frisbee

 

I started to suggest that you may have missed one, but the one I have in mind is a combination of Microbiotic Doom, Scientific Doom, and Unrestricted Warfare.

 

Specifically, what I had in mind is the plot of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. If you don't know what I'm talking about, run, don't walk, to the library and check it out.

That plot gives me so many ideas.

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Re: post-apocalyptic genre book

 

Okay, another thing that should be run down is the types of apocalypses covered in a post-apocalyptic campaign (stop me if we've already done this):

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Astronomical Doom (Asteroid / Meteor / Comet / Rogue Planet)

 

Biblical Doom (The Apocalypse, of course / The Flood / The Angel of Death)

 

Civilization's End (Mass Social / Mass Psychological Breakdown)

 

Cybernetic Revolt (Machines / Computers)

 

Ecospherical Doom (Crop Failure / Species Elimination)

 

Environmental Doom (Global Warming / Loss of Ozone)

 

Humanity's End (Human Race Dying Out)

 

Magical Doom (Similar to invasion or scientific accident)

 

Microbiotic Doom (Virus / Disease)

 

Scientific Doom (Invention destroys civilization)

 

Unrestricted Warfare (Antimatter / Biological / Chemical / Nuclear)

 

Did I miss any? Or maybe you have a few of your own?

 

Matt "Doin'-CPR-on-da-thread-again" Frisbee

 

You forgot ZOMBIES!!!

 

Man, I love zombies. :ugly:

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