When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

[Lord Liaden]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

What? You are using SA??? REP for you!! Rep for anyone that talks about their SA use!

 

Hey, I don't need the carrot of rep to talk about using San Angelo. One of my favorite long-term plotlines came out of that book.

 

In that campaign I blended Photon/Stephen Bow somewhat with Sunburst from Classic Enemies, giving him a messianic complex after being "touched by the Sun." In my world Stephen Bow finally become CEO of Eclipse Industries, but he had also taken on the guise of Adam, founder of the Light of Truth Ministry. I modified the Ministry a little, making them New Age sun worshippers, with Adam presenting himself as the avatar of the Sun itself. As Photon he would recruit the most fanatical followers of the Light of Truth as agents of "Solar Mass," which assisted Photon in his supervillainous schemes. (I always liked the interplay of light/sun motifs among these groups.)

 

The various branches of Photon's organization were able to clandestinely help each other. Donations to Light of Truth financed some of Stephen Bow's secret projects at Eclipse Industries. Pirated Eclipse technology equipped agents of Solar Mass. Solar Mass would eliminate people who pried too deeply into the affairs of Eclipse Industries or the Light of Truth Ministry.

 

I found several hooks to get the PCs involved with these groups: stopping Photon's crimes, investigating shady dealings at Eclipse, rescuing a brainwashed DNPC from the Light of Truth. The heroes were attacked and harrassed in and out of combat by these groups, and I was rather proud that it took the players a long time to realize that they were dealing with different aspects of the same enemy.

 

Probably my favorite touch was having Siren be "saved" from her crusade of vengeance against Eclipse Industries by the Light of Truth Ministry, which persuaded her to use her powers in a more positive fashion, as the Ministry's spokesperson and protector. It made for a dramatic moment when Siren finally learned that she'd been working for the man she held responsible for her sister's tragic accident.

[Lord Liaden]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

To get back on the topic of this thread: probably my favorite cross-world story arc came out of Aaron Allston's classic Strike Force book. For those unfamiliar with the premise: your favorite master villain discovers dimension-crossing technology or artifact, and a parallel world with its own heroes and villains. The master villain recruits a host of super-thugs, disguises them as his world's heroes, then sends them into this other world to destroy and pillage. He then lures the heroes of his world into that other world where they're set upon by that world's heroes, who because of their dopplegangers' actions believe them to be new supervillains. With his world's heroes out of the way, the master villain has much more leeway to loot, conquer etc.

 

Dizzy yet? Well, hold on. : The master villain decides to repeat this process with the heroes of the newly discovered world, sending them to the "next world over"... and so on, and so on, for as many alternate worlds as the GM cares to bring into the mix.

 

For that particular campaign I used a modified version of the 4E Champions world, the Strike Force world, and the Marvel and DC universes. I've been thinking of running it again for my current group with M&M and SAS, since HERO versions of the characters are readily accessible.

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

LL, you have been duely repped.

 

I'm always glad to hear of people's love and use of the SA world. I like what you did with Photon. In the updated version that we are currently working on there are quite a few interesting changes. Some may even parallel yours... some will hopefully be a surprise... and some will hopefully make you say "Huh?"... but I digress...

[FenrisUlf]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Confederate Superheroes:

 

4) Rebelette

http://www.rebelette.com/

Rebelette's homepage

 

::drool::

 

Btw, just what are her superpowers, aside from the obvious '6d6 PRE Attack, Only Against Males, Only To Make Them Stare Like Idiots'?

[Mark Rand]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Another idea I had was to place the IST, or International Super Teams, from Steve Jackson's GURPS Supers into the San Angelo universe. (For those of you that don't know, GURPS is short for Generic Universal Role Playing System.) In our universe, since beings from outer space aren't known to exist, such things would have to be removed from the IST part.

The International Super Teams are a superpowered version of UNTIL in a world where military super teams aren't permitted to nations that sign the treaty. The United States, through an executive order signed by President Jimmy Carter, signed the pact. Of course, they eventually created their own sanctioning body, the Department of Metahuman Information. One way the U.N. keeps the members in line is by owning the rights to a hot-fusion electrical power generating system.

In the 1990s, according to the timeline on IST author Bob Schroeck's site, the America First movement began to take wing.In 1996, Singapour officials announce that the U.N.'s secret hot fusion process has been duplicated. In 1997, during his inaugration speech, President Patrick Buchanan denounces the U.N. ambitions to be a world government. Later in the same year, he announces that the United States wouldn't pay the nation's U.N. dues. The next year, when the UN threatens to cut the power from its plants, President Buchanan announces that the U.S. has its own hot-fusion plants. Later that same year, after the IST partially thwarted a U.S. bombing of Cuban military installations for that country's attempt to bring a Cold War-vintage i megaton nuclear weapon into Miami on a cigarette boat, President Buchanon threatened to evict the U.N. and IST Supreme Headquarters from New York.

In 2002, as his second term as President was half over, he did so. After much debate, the United Nations began construction on a new complex for itself and the IST in San Angelo, California. Local developer and power broker Ben jamin Morgan, who hates metahumans, isn't happy.

[Mark Rand]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I promised you some crossovers that would work in either the AVengers or IST campaigns that would be set in San Angelo, which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here they are.

Green Valley Ranch Resort, the hotel/casino from Discovery Channel's American Casion, occasionally has promotions with Bay Area horse tracks.

Monster Garage held the challange for its tailgate SUV just before a 49ers football game.

Mythbusters is taped at Bay Area special effects company M5 Industries and all over Northern California.

The Montrey Bay Historical Museum has a display of items pertaining to the vigilanty known as The Queen of Swords, who protected the people from a tyranical Spanish governer in Santa Helena in Spanish California the 1820s and 1830s.

Historians in Greece have found proof that Xena and Gabrielle did exist there over 2300 years ago. There is no proof, however, that all the stories about them in the TV series were true.

[HeroGM]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Thats a good idea. Also isnt there a portal or nexus in the everglades somewhere' date=' chamipions universe, cant remember right now havent got my book on me will check though.[/quote']

 

Marvel comics has the Nexus of All Realities in the Everglades.

[Sketchpad]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

LL, you have been duely repped.

 

I'm always glad to hear of people's love and use of the SA world. I like what you did with Photon. In the updated version that we are currently working on there are quite a few interesting changes. Some may even parallel yours... some will hopefully be a surprise... and some will hopefully make you say "Huh?"... but I digress...

I've been using SA for a while now in a few campaigns ... though lately it's just been on the west coast (current game's on the East Coast). Hey RP, btw any idea when SA2 is eventually going to hit?

[Rapier]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

YOWZA!

She must get cold.

[Rapier]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I got a wild idea yesterday. The Avengers' date=' from Marvel, in the San Angelo universe. We also bring in PRIMUS, UNTIL, VIPER, and DEMON from the CU. Additionally, a female Waterdeep City Guard, from D&D, crossed into the game world and is currently an Avengers reservist. Other crossovers are pending. Some will be very important, some will be slightly important, some won't be important at all, and some are only of historical value.[/quote']

I have always wanted to get my mitts on SA. I saw a copy of a friend of a friend and REALLY liked the work. It is very similar to my campaign universe and I was hoping to do some shameless thiefing. Besides, we do a lot of hopping around in dimensions at times, and having a complete campaign setting I can use with little, if any, changes comes in handy.

 

If Steve would actually type a little slower I might be able to actually to prioritise it. Maybe I'll throw it on the old XMas list this year. : wanders over to ebay :

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I've been using SA for a while now in a few campaigns ... though lately it's just been on the west coast (current game's on the East Coast). Hey RP' date=' btw any idea when SA2 is eventually going to hit?[/quote']

Mark and I have done a fair amount of preliminary work (changes due to time span, refinement of details, changes to the city and major NPCs), but it has been put on hold due to some company restructuring and what not. There is an open letter to GRG fans on the GRG homepage that you can read. Beyond that we are currently focusing our efforts elsewhere to get some money rolling back in. Once the coffers start filling up and we see enough interest in the SA property you can expect to see it released.

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I have always wanted to get my mitts on SA. I saw a copy of a friend of a friend and REALLY liked the work. It is very similar to my campaign universe and I was hoping to do some shameless thiefing. Besides, we do a lot of hopping around in dimensions at times, and having a complete campaign setting I can use with little, if any, changes comes in handy.

 

If Steve would actually type a little slower I might be able to actually to prioritise it. Maybe I'll throw it on the old XMas list this year. : wanders over to ebay :

You could always buy it directly from us... http://www.goldrushgames.com/products.html.

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I promised you some crossovers that would work in either the AVengers or IST campaigns that would be set in San Angelo' date=' which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here they are.[/quote']Almost missed this...

 

Actually, SA is intended to be in the "Sacramento" area, but as the book says you can put it anywhere you please.

 

Either way your ideas would still be applicable. After all, SF is only a short 15 minute super powered flight from Sac.

[Mark Rand]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Almost missed this...

 

Actually, SA is intended to be in the "Sacramento" area, but as the book says you can put it anywhere you please.

 

Either way your ideas would still be applicable. After all, SF is only a short 15 minute super powered flight from Sac.

Do you know how big the san Francisco Bay area is?

According to a map, copyright 1996 by the Association of Bay Area Governments, San Mateo County, San Francisco County, Marin County, Sanoma County, Napa County, Solano County, Contra Costa County, Alameda County and Santa Clara County are all in the Bay Area.

According to the 2001 Rand McMcNally Road Atlas, San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, Grizzly Bay, Honker Bay, and an unnamed bay are all within the San Francisco Bay Area. I might add that almost half of that unnamed bay is in Sacramento County.

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Do you know how big the san Francisco Bay area is?

Sure do. You may notice that I'm from Elk Grove the home of GRG and which is located South of Sac. If you are familiar with Sac, you would recognize 80% of the features of San Angelo as being Sac features. The other 20% come from other well known CA cities.

 

As I mentioned before, folks can put SA where ever they want. In my own games, I initially started off with SA as being "nowhere in particular" because I focused only on events in the city. Once the PCs started expanding their searches outside of the city, country and even world I put SA right where Sac is. When they started discovering that there were other "cities with heroes" they started talking about creating a "legion of heroes", but we stopped playing before they got to that point.

[Mark Rand]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

I'm considering placing it between Stockton and Sac and having the gulf empty out in the bay I don't know the name of. Anyone out there know its name?

I'm still trying to decide between having the team be the West Coast branch of the Avengers and IST Supreme Headquarters. The second would put the U.N. in SA.

[RPMiller]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

That is the delta Sacramento River Delta I believe you are looking at. Are there many small islands?

 

EDIT: Between Stockton and Sac there are several small towns. Elk Grove is on the fringe of South Sac. Then you have Franklin, and two more small towns I don't remember the names of. Between Sac and Stockton would be a decent location I think.

[Mark Rand]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

That is the delta Sacramento River Delta I believe you are looking at. Are there many small islands?

 

EDIT: Between Stockton and Sac there are several small towns. Elk Grove is on the fringe of South Sac. Then you have Franklin, and two more small towns I don't remember the names of. Between Sac and Stockton would be a decent location I think.

Thank you.

[finkron]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

well, I've got an online game going, where I've borrowed the "Infinity, Ltd." crosstime travel 'frame' from GURPS Time travel. And my PC team is now in 'ancient' Greece, where they are going to encounter the Goa'uld and jaffar, from "Stargate SG-1". These are raiding Greece for slaves, and will be opposed by locals-including Xena, Warrior Princess". Anyone got any comments on this setup?

[keithcurtis]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Well, judging by the sample pages, she hasn't gode a Code Against Killing(!)

 

Keith "Ka-Boom!" Curtis

[wcw43921]

Re: When Worlds Collide: ideas for universe crossovers

 

Here's a possibility--

 

As was discussed before on these boards, all comic book characters, especially superheroes, are real people who exist in alternate dimensions, whose adventures are perceived in the form of dreams by the comic book writers and artists in the "real" world, who transcribe the stories for the rest of us to read and enjoy.

 

Indeed, Gardner Fox told us so.

 

Anyway, the person who writes the PC-Heroes comic book in an alternate reality is chosen (kidnapped) for some covert--and dangerous--psionic amplification experiments. The writer's increased psi-power creates an even greater bond between himself and the heroes, and in his distress calls out to them for help, drawing them into his reality.

 

The heroes will find themselves in a world much like their own, except that everyone knows much more about them, especially the secrets most closely kept. And while they may have their share of adoring fans, they may also have their detractors--

 

SUPPOSED FAN: "Dude, Razorwire is such a lame villain--why did you have such a hard time with him last issue?"

 

HERO: "Razorwire nearly killed me the last time we fought--think YOU could take him, punk, with those stringbean arms and a physique like a famine victim?"

 

SUPPOSED FAN: "That's it, dude. I'm donating all your comics in my collection to the poor--to reflect the poor quality of your comic. (Walks Off)--Heh, heh, I showed him,--"

 

For hero crossover action, the heroes meet their favorite ficticious superhero team (or a very popular team in they don't have one), who exist as real people in this alternate reality. How well the heroes' heroes know who they are depends on how popular they may be in this reality--not everyone reads comics, after all. (Shocking, I admit--)