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FTJoshua

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Here's one other thing to consider, however:

 

If they were able to get the facts to the public and went down fighting in a very public, spectacular way they might well become martyrs for their cause, or a catalyst for a shift in public opinion.

 

It would be interesting to see the players building new characters who have to live with the legacy and legend of their predecessors.

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Originally posted by FTJoshua

SNIP

(Sidebar: There is a Texas senator who the PC's know for a fact is a mutant, who has been organizing mutants behind the scenes to fight major threats to security, like REX [our "Viper"]. But they refuse so far to divulge their plans to him because he's a senator, and can't be trusted. Cripes, what's a GM got to do?)

SNIP

 

Drop more clues that the Senator is a good guy. Maybe he contacts the PCs and provides information about the gov't bad guys? His "mutant network" probably has some telepaths and clairvoyants able to track down the PCs.

 

What are the Senator's powers? Can he or any of his friends resurrect some of the PCs friends who died during the failed gov't attack? "Here, Mr. PC, my mutant network just brought your girlfriend back to life. Now do you believe I'm a good guy?"

 

If the PCs still wind up storming the Capitol, coincidentally have the Senator be one of the first people they encounter. He might try to talk the PCs down with a "no, this is not the way to handle it, because it will make things worse for mutants" speech. If the PCs persist, maybe he uses his powers to protect the Capitol. This could make the Senator a hero, and cause some people to reconsider the "all mutants bad" attitude.

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Originally posted by FTJoshua

The initial attack was authorized by the State of Arizona, which used Federal resources. Due to the small scale of the operation, it didn't really hit much radar in Washington.

SNIP

 

Maybe the news media finds out that the gov't kidnapped innocent civilians to use as bait. This might provide an opportunity to de-escalate some of the tension. The news report will make the gov't look like bad guys and the public will be less supportive of the gov't. Drop hints to the PCs that they can use this opportunity to either lie low or start a public relations camapign; an attack on the gov't will surely rally the public to the gov't's side and hurt the PC's cause.

 

There could be Congressional hearings, too. The Governor of Arizona (or whoever directed the attack on the PCs) probably committed some major crimes by using civilians as bait.

 

None of this will make the gov't and PCs buddies, but it will demonstrate that the gov't is not one big monolithic entity that exists only to go after the PCs.

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Sounds like a fascinating campaign, and you really need to step in before the players COMMIT ABSOLUTE SUICIDE. You have to find a nice, subtle way to explain to your team that, if they move forward, they're going to die. Painfully. For an example, put your PCs up against a 30mm gatling gun (don't have TUV, but I'm guessing 3d6 AF10 RKA minimum, lots of targeting). Unless their defenses are just ludicrous, they'll go night-night even if they take no body.

 

Sounds like you have a great tone. Keep it going as long as you can.

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Well, unless you are playing in a police state, in the real world it is not legal for US Military forces to take action within the confines of the United States, to protect against police state actions. Thats what the National Guard is for.

 

Special allowances are only made in cases of Martial Law or general unrest. Remember a few years back when the USMC turned out some units from Camp Pendleton to help put down riots in L.A.? That kind of thing doesnt happen very often, and causes a lot of public backlash when it does.

 

No state has the authority to call down military force in the manner you are indicating.

 

 

This whole scenario sounds like a campaign raging out of control. If you are running the government as an oppresive facist government engaged in a campaign of genocidal violence against mutants, then it seems very heroic for them to destroy said government.

 

However, its unclear to me why they would go after Congress first. They would have much better luck taking out the Prez, Vice, and Speaker of the House with a preemptive strike before thier intentions were known. The Pentagon wouldnt be a bad target either. Unfortunately what the PCs would find out in a 'realistic' campaign if they attempt to take on the Fed is that we have a highly decentralized government. Among other things, no one has absolute authority, even the Prez. Like a Hydra, if you cut off 1 head two more take its place. There are endless contingencies and fallbacks. The US Gov will not go quietly into the long good night.

 

The basic idea of appealing to the masses is a childishly simplistic one as well. What the PCs are proposing is anarchy, and very few people want that. No taxes? Great. OH, wait a minute, the government needs that money to maintain roads and communication, subsidize education, agriculture, industry, pay millions of civil servants to process paperwork and maintain general order? Oops. Guess society is on its own. Uh...what do you mean the stock market crashed, hard? No Federal Reserve anymore what? Criminal Justice system abandoned? No more wellfare, medicare, social security, disability? Veterans stipends and disability gone? No credibility in the world market? Huh, the US is an Import heavy country, and now we cant maintain our balance of trade? US companys have to dump thier current inventory as Exports at a major loss because with the total collapse of the US economy money isnt worth the paper its printed on? Wow. Who knew? At that rate, Mexico and Canada would help you build a wall across the borders to keep out all the Americans trying to flee the country. Walled in eh? Whose living in a Police State now? Canada and Mexico would collapse soon enough as well if the US fell, or at least not be too happy for awhile.

 

Also, Power abhors a void. If the PCs dispose of the current regime, another will spring forth to take its place. The best they can hope for is that in the event that they successfully dethrone the gov (unlikely), the ensuing struggle for power will embroil the world in such a massive war that their transgressions go unpunished, at least for a while.

 

Also, as far as the US Military's strength is concerned, do your players have any clue just how big the US Military complex really is? Woohoo. They took out a couple of helicopters and a few bombers. Thats like swatting 4 misquitoes in the middle of the Everglades or evaporating 4 drops of water in the Pacific Ocean; in a word: inconsequential.

 

 

 

Personally, and no offense, but the entire debacle sounds pretty hack-and-slashy (but with capes!). Kind of makes me curious as to the average age of your play group; Im guessing late-teens?

 

My advice is to just let it run its course, let the PCs blow everything up, kill Thor with his own hammer after getting Excalibur from the Lady in the Lake, etc, and hope that the players get it all out of thier system. Really push it to the logical limit of screwed-upness. The post-apocalyptic idea has a lot of merit, though not likely directly because of the PCs actions, but rather afterwards when the nation falls into war both internal and external as the logical collapse of society follows from the actions of the PCs. Eventually Nukes are used, retalliatory strikes are traded, and the world collapses into a new dark age of radioactive existance.

 

Play up the hatred that the survivors have for the PCs; not because they are mutants but because they are immature simpletons with more power than brains, who misuse thier gifts, proving every anti-mutant activist that ever claimed that they were dangerous to society 100% correct.

 

Rub thier noses in the aftermath of thier decisions like a dog on the rug. One session, maybe 2 if they are dense should probably get the point across. If you want to salvage the campaign, have the ringleader of the group wake up after a night of restless sleep, and realize it was all just a dream (including the attack in the desert that left a bunch of DNPCs dead). This is a good opportunity to hit the reset button. Deduct a few points of XP gained during the 'dream continuity' and let the players go from there. Or employe some other Reset button technique. If you dont want to salvage the campaign, just announce that timeline closed and start a new campaign with new characters.

 

Show the players that you will let them play thier characters and do what they want, BUT you will hold them to the ramifications of thier actions. They wont be so ready to run so roughshod over the campaign in the future.

 

 

 

*PS -- As a side note, the thing with the X-Men being persecuted by the government and society; the X-Men were heroic because they practiced restraint and tried to prove that those who feared mutants were wrong about them -- the idea was that though they did have dangerous powers they did not use them for personal gain, or as a weapon against society. The PCs in your campaign are practicing no such restraint. Further, it was never the entire government that was against them; only fringe elements associated with the government, and all of them were portrayed as being villainous, deluded, or shady. Thier opponents in the gov were just another kind of supervillain, abusing thier power to conduct a private war of thier own.

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Well put.

 

The "military strike" against the PC's was done covertly, not with the blessing of the Pentagon, for example, and it was executed by national guardsmen if I remember correctly. Right out of the gate, that in itself probably isn't realistic, I suppose, so it may seem silly to be disussing realism in the first place.

 

Also, the government has been played as answering the call of the people, who appear to want protection from mutants. But the Brass took it too far and hurt as many if not more innocents in their pursuit of the "mutant threat," which is how the PC's were able to knock out the IMPs.

 

And, no, I don't think they appreciate the might of the military if brought to bear. One player seemed to think that the loss of X amount of helicopters in Iraq is a perfect example of how technology always fails, has too many kinks, and in short, can't take out a mutant. I personally disagree with that.

 

Let me also say that all of these opinions are extraordinarily helpful to me in shaping both the coming adventure sessions and the campaign as a whole.

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Wow. A player citing the most recent Iraqi war as a sign of the short-comings of American military power? I can only assume that this player is none other than Iraqi Information Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf.

 

Maybe you should meet your players half way. The Senator from Texas is a mutant? Make the Governor a mutie too. Have them find out about the PC's plan to attack Washington D.C., and tell them to wait. Have them tell the PCs that they are planning on declaring Texas's withdrawl from the United States and giving mutants full and equal rights and protection within their borders. The PCs can move to Texas and live in the mutant state, free from the oppression they face from the current federal government. Mutants will flock to Texas to live there. The US Government will take one look at casualty estimates for invading Texas and waging house-by-house urban combat against a state full of mutants and decide that it's not worth. Both sides build a wall along the border from Louisiana to New Mexico.

 

The PCs get to be high-placed government officials in this new country, probably the Senator/Governor's personal security force. They spend the rest of the campaign battling supervillains who have come to Texas, keeping the peace among the normals (normals who want to leave the state should be allowed to peacefully; violence by anyone, mutant or normal, is dealt with swiftly) and patrolling the borders to make sure the US Govt isn't sneaking too many black ops teams in.

 

Just a suggestion. It sounds like your PCs are sick and tired of the current situation in the campaign. Look at their behavior as a sign of how frustrated they are with your campaign world, and indulge them with a major shift in the campaign universe if the players aren't finding the current universe any fun any more.

 

Just my two cents.

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Originally posted by DoctorItron

FTJoshua, please post summaries of the PCs and major NPCs (the mutant Senator, etc.). We might be able to offer even more suggestions for ways to keep the campaign alive.

 

DAMAGE INC: 700+ pts.

Barbaric; attracted to evil; casual killer; wants to be feared; becomes enraged if disrespected; all enemies of his friends are his own. Very powerful brick, very few powers. 100 STR, 60 or more PD/ED, 16 Damage Resistance Hardened, that sort of thing.

 

PATHOS: 700+ pts.

Streetwise alcoholic torn between doing the right thing and obeying his killing instincts. 20+d6 Energy Blast, but primarily also a brick. His love interest, Perdida, had her brother kidnapped to lure Pathos to the trap launched by the Ariz. governor.

 

FELIX: 724 pts

Based on Vincent from "Beauty and the Beast." Normally a pacifist, still posseses animal/feral instincts. High enhanced senses, superleap, 10d6 PRE attack Roar. A brick/martial artist. His sensei and nephew were killed in the trap. Would rather spend his time meditating, but believes he must use his strength to better the world.

 

JOSHUA: 408 pts

Quiet, reclusive near-vampire. Is trying to redeem himself for a former life of murder and debauchery. Flight, a kick-ass sword with variable special effects, but still another brick. He is trying to prove to his dead father that he is of 'good heart.' Closest thing to a love interest in his life, Pagan, was killed in the trap.

 

TRACY: 485 pts.

Loudmouth cocky martial artist, overconfident, is beginning to lose respect for himself and life in general. Fears nothing, even death, which will probably get him killed. The other PC's tolerate him, but they have to shut him up on occassion. Low powered brick/martial artist. He owns a dojo, and one of his top students was killed in the trap.

 

PHARAOH: 600+ pts

Bar owner with a 3d6 HKA AFx5 AP punch and shapeshift. Also trying to "do the right thing." Another high power brick, primarily, who isn't quick to fight but has shown no hesitancy to kill in some circumstances.

 

SEBASTIAN: 400+ pts

Former Special Ops soldier responsible for that whole Kennedy thing (he was the "second shooter"). Gave up the Ops after that. Totally distrusts the government. Very low power, primary abilities include darkness and teleport, and he can pull guns up out of thin air.

 

NPCS:

REP. GEORGE DALTON, D-Ariz.

A messenger boy apparently, who first got the PC's to take the bait and go to the trap. Only conversed over secure internet video conference.

 

FORTITUDE

Ultrapowerful Mentalist who says he "nudged" the Gov. to set this trap, but claims he cannot control minds. He said if the PC's gave up Pharaoh and Damage -- Damage, dead that is -- he would rescue the hostages and foil the trap. The PC's didn't buy it, so Fortitude left them to their fate. He knows where the PC's base is, but apparently did not share that info with the government. In fact, as far as the PC's know, the government has no knowledge of Fortitude whatsoever.

 

SENATOR BRADLEY, R-Texas

Known to be a mutant to the PC's but who has concealed his identity to the public and government. At one point, he tried to get some of the PC's to help him topple REX, a criminal organization. Pathos called him just before the trap to get information, which Bradley gave him willingly. Some of the PC's trust him at least a little; his words have always held true.

 

That's pretty much everyone. It was Damage's idea to walk in on Congress. Even he wants it to be bloodless; the problem is, with his disads, he'll almost certainly become enraged and blow the whole thing. He is looking for a challenge, since his Hunteds have proven to be mere nuisances.

 

PS: If it's not clear, "F"elix, "T"racy, and "Joshua" are all mine. :)

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Thats sounds about like what I expected.

 

Really, why stop at Congress? Might as well topple the UN while they are at it. Might = Right after all, and with such an "all is brick" lineup, world domination is assured.

 

In fact, once Earth is secured, they may as well start visiting thier special brand of rule by random violence to the rest of the Galaxy.

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I'll be impressed if Damage Inc. gets through that without being turned into a wet smear on the wall (cause if he snaps they probably WILL terminate him with extreme prejudice).

 

Amusingly, as I type this Discovery Channel is running an episode of "FBI Files" featuring a militia group called God's Will who plans to overthrow the government and who was funding its efforts by bank robbery-- with bombs.

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Another question I don't think the PCs have considered is what happens to their survivng DNPCs? As soon as they try to hold Congress hostage, what's to stop the govt from grabbing their DNPCs again to use as bargaining chips?

 

Maybe its time to introduce an underground mutant resistance group - have them approach the PCs offering to use their resources to ide their DNPCs. From there they can meet the group's leader, who might be able to convince them that their talents would be wasted in a frontal assault. If you really want to convince your group of the Texas senator's loyalties, you could reveal him to be the leader of this group.

 

The other way to difuse this potential bomb is give them a chance to take on the man behind the scenes - from your description, it sounds like this Fortitude character. Why is he doing this? Why does he want Pharoah and Damage?

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Taking over the country

 

Hmm.

 

I think a better point is not the stats on the incoming troops or how to make it a better fight but to make the *encounter* more pivotal. The PCs in this case are about to become villains.

 

Do you want to have a showdown with the US govt? Will that be fun for the gang and will the pcs take the outcome and go "Cool!" and drive on?

 

Something that might lead the campaign to greener pastures would be players being shown that controlling the country will remove them from being heroes- they'll be despots. Helpers for this:

 

Savvy NPCs can point out the great responsibility of leading the country, how it breaks some people with the weight of decisions affecting lives etc.

 

Villains could pop up out of nowhere- Evil, nasty, disgusting villains the PCs have fought before- suddenly willing to help the PCs out. far from being a trick these guys would love to see Democracy die, see a bunch of knuckleheads with superpowers try to run things. After a bit of this the PCs may realize that they are doing things villains do, and that taking over would make things just plain stink.

 

 

Distraction - if the players march into congress and declare their intent to take over, have them taken into a closed session with the pres and a few other world leaders, have these guys reveal some terrible threat that makes their US conquest less important. "Whether you succeed in your coup or not, it may not matter. Dear God,... it may not matter at all". Bring the pcs back into the role of Heroes.

 

If the PCs are adamant, throw normals at them. After bunches of heroic patriotic americans die trying to save their country, aided with a little GM description, the pcs might get a clue that things are going south.

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Originally posted by Geoff Speare

Can you post the heroes too please. :) :) :)

 

By heroes, do you mean the PC's?

 

I want to put a smiley face next to that question, but I can't bring myself to do it. :)

 

(I can after the SECOND sentence though.)

 

Current Status Of Adventure: UNPLAYED but coming up, maybe this weekend.

 

I am currently planning to have Sen. Bradley (the mutant), after doing some research, leak info and evidence to the press about what the Governor has done. She and everyone else responsible will be brought to legitimate justice. Hopefully this will at least stall the PC's for a bit.

 

Before all this DC stuff even came up, I was planning on an alien kidnapping sort of thing, wherein an alien race travels the galaxy looking for warriors to fight on their behalf as a second race colonizes and destroys them. It would take the highest-powered PC's off earth for a little while, provided the PC's agreed to do it (I won't force them to go).

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You could also have the rest of the PCs accidentaly delayed while Damage Inc runs into congress making his demands. As the rest of the PCs approach he turns into a mess as depleted uranium rounds provide a counterpoint to his speech. The PCs walk away whistling thinking about other less violent approaches to life and death.

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Another option: during the climactic fight after the "we're taking over" speech, a REALLY BIG explosion tears a rift in the dimensions and hurls them 10 years into the future of an alternate world where they won & took over.

 

Show them the consequences of just "doing what the people want" without though about 'fallout' -- ie ending taxes, now what's the government going to use for roads, bridges, & military/defense spending? Press-ganged labor? Show them a totalitarian state that makes Stalinist Russia look like a Sunday school. Let them see the grim hate & quiet desperation of the people *before* they're mistaken for this Earth's copies of themselves. Let them experience attempted lynchings, assassinations, etc. at the hands of inhabitants who mistake them for the country's rulers.

 

Heck, if things work out right, you could even set them up to have to oppose/depose *themselves* -- the "themselves" of 10 years' greater experience & power, backed by a military who serve through fear of reprisal or longing for power.

 

'Twon't be pretty, but it may make them re-think their own plans.

 

The end of it may find them cast/hurled back to their own time & place; or maybe a grateful scientist helps them out.

 

Or maybe the whole "alternate Earth" encounter is the projection of a very powerful mentalist 'Good Samaratin' who wanted to show them "a glimpse of things to come" if they went through with their plans.

 

Running this over the 4thof July weekend could have a very nice impact, if done right.

 

"Patriotism means thinking for yourself! Patriotism means fighting to reclaim the freedoms on which this country was founded!"

-- Resistance 'graffiti' found scrawled on wall of bombed-out building in Washington D.C.

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