Seacouver, Washington: take 3

[Dawn Darke]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Since the University of Washington's football stadium is near Lake Washington, tailgate parties are often held on boats.

 

Basin City is 30 minutes from Seacouver, in Kitsap County. Since the government is corrupt, it's often known as Sin City.

 

OK, so you decided to put Seacouver where Seattle is now? Just want to be sure I'm on your wavelength.

[Dawn Darke]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Since the University of Washington's football stadium is near Lake Washington, tailgate parties are often held on boats.

 

Basin City is 30 minutes from Seacouver, in Kitsap County. Since the government is corrupt, it's often known as Sin City.

 

OK, so you decided to put Seacouver where Seattle is?

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

OK' date=' so you decided to put Seacouver where Seattle is now? Just want to be sure I'm on your wavelength.[/quote']

 

Yes, you're on my wavelength.

 

I am adding Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to the mix. The Nelson Institute of Marine Research is located in the Port Susan area.

 

The Institute is the home to the fourth Seaview. A thread relating to it is on the Dark Champions board. I'll post the URL for it asap.

 

Edit: The Seaview URL is: http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55275.

[sinanju]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Um, I think sinanju is the only one who wants a RealWorld city; everyone else is making a "large metropolis that doesn't exist". Which is way more fun anyway.

 

Well, I suggest using a real world city for practical reasons. You can use maps and references regarding Seattle rather than having to create everything from scratch. But because it's SEACOUVER instead of Seattle, you can also ignore anything you don't like.

 

It's a purely practical suggestion.

 

Most of my campaigns take place in Santa Carla, though.

[Comic]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Doesn't it also need an impossible wilderness trail that starts in the city and meanders around for countless miles of confusing forested mountainous seaside terrain until Daniel Boone, Tonto, Tarzan and even Wacousta get hopelessly lost?

[Captain Emu]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Dang' date=' even more than I thought...[/quote']

 

And don't forget it used to be the home of Boeing and that Microsoft is a hop, skip and jump away. You also have a serious biotech footprint in the city as well and several military facilities within an hour or so.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Once again, I have been giving Seacouver a bit of thought. It occurred that Pittsburgh could be used as the basis for it. If so, it would be on the Pacific coast instead of in the Seattle area.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Going by the county map of Washington state I've been, Seacouver would be in Jefferson County.

 

It's two rivers, the Seacouver River and the North River, which meet at The Point, get their water from the Olympic Range. The Southern side of the Seacouver River, from The Point to the ocean, is the city's commercial harbor. An island sits at the mouth of the Seacouver River. It's part of the commercial harbor and is the location of the city's lighthouse. Bridges connect the island to both shores. the one to the north shore is fixed while the one to the south shore is a drawbridge.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

The north side of the river, from the mouth to The Point, has a number of marinas and yacht clubs. The city's main beach area is along the coast from the mouth north. Of course, due to the cold water, wetsuits outnumber swimsuits.

 

The city's stadiums are on the North shore, just across from The Point, while a large hotel and mall are on the South shore.

 

Just beyond The Point itself is a small park with the city's compact Central Business District just beyond it. The park isn't actually needed, but it was added when it was realized that there would be a confluence of bridges and ramps in that area.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Much of Seacouver is residential, and won't be touched on.

 

Since Seacouver exists in an America where Japanese and American cultures have mixed, there are pachinko parlors, huge video game parlors, noodle shops, and theaters that show softcore porn in the city. There are also a number of Shinto shrines in the city.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

The City of Seacouver doesn't have its own crime lab. Instead, the Jefferson County Crime Lab, which is part of the sheriff's office, processes crime scenes in the city. All the lab's CSIs are sworn deputies.

[hlndr]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Are you creating an actual map of Seacouver?

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Are you creating an actual map of Seacouver?

 

I'm thinking about it. In truth, you can use any city as the basis for Seacouver and place it anywhere you'd have a coastal port. I used Pittsburgh because I'm familiar with it.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

To me, Seacouver is a somewhat generic city. It has a harbor, the docks have been seen in a number of episodes, and a lighthouse that appeared in only one episode, An Eye for an Eye. (Although I can't be sure, I think it was the Langara Lighthouse in the Queen Charlotte Islands.)

 

The nearby rural area has forests and mountains, one with a railroad tunnel running through it. Duncan has a private island near the city and it has an active rail system. There is also a domed arena, a, possible minor-league, baseball stadium, an international airport, a university, and a thoroughbred horse track.

 

It reminds me of the generic Coastal City in an old 4E module that I no longer have. Two main roads were Navigation Highway and Loop Boulevard. There was also the Coastal City Museum of Fine Art, the Coastal Metro Power Company, the swank Birdmore Hotel, and a nearby Air Force Base.

 

Edit: the region has the rail system, not Duncan MacLeod's island

[Guest Major Tom]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Just had a thought here: wasn't Kung Fu: The Legend Continues filmed in the

Seattle/Vancouver area? If so, there's a character from the show who might

fit into the Seacouver campaign -- Peter Caine, son of the current Kwai Chang

Caine. Considering the decidedly irregular situations that the elder Caine and son

got into on a regular basis during the show's run on TV, it wouldn't be too hard

to introduce the younger Caine into a superhero campaign. Not only would the

contacts that he gained during his time as a police detective be useful to any

super-team, but the semi-mystical skills learned from his father would also be

useful as well.

 

 

Major Tom

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Just had a thought here: wasn't Kung Fu: The Legend Continues filmed in the

Seattle/Vancouver area? If so, there's a character from the show who might

fit into the Seacouver campaign -- Peter Caine, son of the current Kwai Chang

Caine. Considering the decidedly irregular situations that the elder Caine and son

got into on a regular basis during the show's run on TV, it wouldn't be too hard

to introduce the younger Caine into a superhero campaign. Not only would the

contacts that he gained during his time as a police detective be useful to any

super-team, but the semi-mystical skills learned from his father would also be

useful as well.

 

 

Major Tom

 

Good point. He might even still be a police officer.

[Guest Major Tom]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Good point. He might even still be a police officer.

 

In your campaign, he probably would be. IIRC, though, in the final episode of

the series, Peter Caine left the police force and became Chinatown's spiritual

advisor and protector after Caine Sr. left town, since he'd accomplished what

he'd set out to do.

 

 

Major Tom

[wrestlinggeek]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

 

Most of my campaigns take place in Santa Carla, though.

 

 

Good luck with all the damn vampires.

[wrestlinggeek]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

If you're mixing DC Comics and Highlander elements into your campaign, you cannot leave out Vandal Savage. It's been shown that he can have children, therefore he is not a Highlander-Style Immortal. But, perhaps their immortality comes from being his decendants? I mean, as far as I know, neither the movie or the tv show ever explained why some people were born immortal in the first place.

[Guest Major Tom]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

If you're mixing DC Comics and Highlander elements into your campaign' date=' you cannot leave out Vandal Savage. It's been shown that he can have children, therefore he is not a Highlander-Style Immortal. But, perhaps their immortality comes from being his decendants? I mean, as far as I know, neither the movie or the tv show ever explained why some people were born immortal in the first place.[/quote']

 

 

If you go to FanFiction.net and click on the "TV crossovers" part of the Misc-

ellaneous page, and jump to page 18, you'll find a story called "Potential". It's

primarily a Battlestar Galactica (TOS)/Highlander/Stargate SG-1

crossover, but it also incorporates other shows as well -- not to mention a

certain fictional President of the United States.

 

Basically, the background premise of the story is that there was an advanced

race known as the Ancients, who carried out experiments that resulted in the

creation of the first Immortals. Together with the Ancients, the Immortals aid-

ed primitive man against the Gou'ald, ultimately driving them from Earth. At

some point in time after this, however, a mortal somehow learned of the exist-

ence of Immortals, and -- as a sick joke -- started a rumor that whichever

Immortal was able to kill his or her fellow Immortals and claim their Quickenings

would gain ultimate power. The end result of this rumor was, of course, the

Game.

 

There's more to the story, but I won't spoil it for you if you decide to check it

out.

 

 

Major Tom

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

If you go to FanFiction.net and click on the "TV crossovers" part of the Misc-

ellaneous page, and jump to page 18, you'll find a story called "Potential". It's

primarily a Battlestar Galactica (TOS)/Highlander/Stargate SG-1

crossover, but it also incorporates other shows as well -- not to mention a

certain fictional President of the United States.

 

Basically, the background premise of the story is that there was an advanced

race known as the Ancients, who carried out experiments that resulted in the

creation of the first Immortals. Together with the Ancients, the Immortals aid-

ed primitive man against the Gou'ald, ultimately driving them from Earth. At

some point in time after this, however, a mortal somehow learned of the exist-

ence of Immortals, and -- as a sick joke -- started a rumor that whichever

Immortal was able to kill his or her fellow Immortals and claim their Quickenings

would gain ultimate power. The end result of this rumor was, of course, the

Game.

 

There's more to the story, but I won't spoil it for you if you decide to check it

out.

 

 

Major Tom

 

It's a good story.

[Guest Major Tom]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

It's a good story.

 

 

It sure is. I have found, however, that it helps to have read a fanfic called

"Changing of the Guard", which was the inspiration for the story on the Fan-

Fiction.net website. Anyone wanting to do so, however, will need to run an

Internet search using the phrase "Changing of the Guard fan fiction series",

as it doesn't exist on the FF site.

 

 

Major Tom

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

It sure is. I have found, however, that it helps to have read a fanfic called

"Changing of the Guard", which was the inspiration for the story on the Fan-

Fiction.net website. Anyone wanting to do so, however, will need to run an

Internet search using the phrase "Changing of the Guard fan fiction series",

as it doesn't exist on the FF site.

 

 

Major Tom

 

It's a great series, too.

[tkdguy]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Here's an adventure hook for you. I made this by borrowing elements from different sources, especially from Black Gate's Blades and Iron Crown's Shadow World.

 

In 1997, a scroll was found in Westminster Abbey, England. It contained a hitherto unknown work of a 9th century scribe named Aelfwine. The translation from Latin reads thus:

 

In the first age of mankind came the Immortals. Among their number were two brothers, Castor and Pollux, who made swords of power. After two hundred years, seven swords were created.

 

After many years, Castor turned to evil, and he created swords of evil power. Great was the wrath of Pollux, and he slew his brother. Pollux then journeyed to unknown lands and hid the swords, both good and evil, in secure locations. No one knows where these swords lie. For many years Pollux was away from his home. When he returned, he became a farmer and never again crafted another sword. After fifty-three years, Pollux was slain by another Immortal. Wotan was the name of the other Immortal. Wotan slew Pollux for refusing to tell where the swords lay.

 

So potent are these swords that they cannot be destroyed. Such is their nature that an Immortal wielding one of these swords would become invincible. Should a mortal wield such a blade, he would gain Immortality. However, the potent nature of the swords is such that the mortal may be overwhelmed and killed if he is not sufficiently strong.

 

I, Aelfwine wrote this A.D. 871.

 

 

The actual details of the swords is up to the GM, but here are a few suggestions on how to use them:

 

1. The swords are VERY powerful. Perhaps they grant bonuses to OCV or have extra Damage Classes.

 

2. They are almost indestructable. The only way to destroy them is to touch a sword with another having the opposite alignment. Both swords will be destroyed, and nobody knows this fact.

 

3. They can grant Immortality to mortal wielders. However, upon first wielding the blade, the mortal must make TWO consecutive CON rolls or die.

 

4. I originally detailed seven swords, five good and two evil. But perhaps there are seven good swords and seven evil swords. They should have names and special powers, as the GM wishes. They should also be different types of swords.

 

Here are a few ideas on how to put them in the campaign:

 

1. Aelfwine was a Watcher, and his chronicle was lost for centuries. The Watchers weren't the ones who discovered the scroll, but they want it back.

 

2. News of the scroll's discovery could have been leaked to the press. Most people would discount the story, but Watchers and Immortals would be interested in learning more.

 

3. Alternatively, the Watchers actually were the discoverers of the scroll. They are flying it to Seacouver for one of their most knowledgeable historians (who's too old and sickly to travel) to study. A few Immortals have somehow learned about the scroll, perhaps through a Watcher contact, and are trying to get it.

 

4. Another alternative: The scroll was stolen, but nobody knows who did it. Perhaps a secret organization (insert your favorite conspiracy here) plans to find the swords and keep them for their own purposes.

[Mark Rand]

Re: Seacouver, Washington: take 3

 

Here's an adventure hook for you. I made this by borrowing elements from different sources' date=' especially from Black Gate's [i']Blades[/i] and Iron Crown's Shadow World.

 

In 1997, a scroll was found in Westminster Abbey, England. It contained a hitherto unknown work of a 9th century scribe named Aelfwine. The translation from Latin reads thus:

 

 

 

 

The actual details of the swords is up to the GM, but here are a few suggestions on how to use them:

 

1. The swords are VERY powerful. Perhaps they grant bonuses to OCV or have extra Damage Classes.

 

2. They are almost indestructable. The only way to destroy them is to touch a sword with another having the opposite alignment. Both swords will be destroyed, and nobody knows this fact.

 

3. They can grant Immortality to mortal wielders. However, upon first wielding the blade, the mortal must make TWO consecutive CON rolls or die.

 

4. I originally detailed seven swords, five good and two evil. But perhaps there are seven good swords and seven evil swords. They should have names and special powers, as the GM wishes. They should also be different types of swords.

 

Here are a few ideas on how to put them in the campaign:

 

1. Aelfwine was a Watcher, and his chronicle was lost for centuries. The Watchers weren't the ones who discovered the scroll, but they want it back.

 

2. News of the scroll's discovery could have been leaked to the press. Most people would discount the story, but Watchers and Immortals would be interested in learning more.

 

3. Alternatively, the Watchers actually were the discoverers of the scroll. They are flying it to Seacouver for one of their most knowledgeable historians (who's too old and sickly to travel) to study. A few Immortals have somehow learned about the scroll, perhaps through a Watcher contact, and are trying to get it.

 

4. Another alternative: The scroll was stolen, but nobody knows who did it. Perhaps a secret organization (insert your favorite conspiracy here) plans to find the swords and keep them for their own purposes.

 

Nice stuff.

 

Another set of cool swords are "The Nine Swords of Destiny", which are mentioned in the Wandererverse, along with other equally cool swords, including The Sword of Saint Catherine, Joan of Arc's sword, (in D&D terms, a +6 Holy Avenger). Here's the Wandererverse URL: http://www.wandererverse.com. It's a great site.

 

Click on either frames or no frames, then wandererverse, then armory, then magical weapons to find out about the swords.