This will be a Stars Without Number campaign set in the immediate aftermath of the Scream and the societal collapse that followed. It will be grittier, with a more post-apocolyptic feel, as you strive to maintain what is most important to you while everything else around you collapses. We are centuries before societies eventually rebuild.
Your grandparents lived in a better world. The Scream that broke the universe is fresh, the wounds still new. The collapse on this planet was incredibly swift - the instant death of the psychic-dependent government, the succession wars, the bombs - the first 15 years killed 80% of the people. It is the New Earth we dwell in now, we ragged children of a fallen world. The leavings of our ancestors sustain us; with each generation, it grows harder. Each year we have less. But this world is ours. Our ancestors ruled here, our fathers and mothers lived and dreamed and died upon its earth. Our children will never know anyone with any memory of the Before. What will we leave them? What legends endure?
Who am I?
You can read my style here.I was the DM for the largest-ever game on this site, The North Marches, which lasted almost four years, served 37 players, and built a sprawling sandbox world with over 28,000 posts and over 40 distinct adventures together. I've mostly taken a reprieve to play in the games of others for the last year, but with COVID Quarantine continuing into year two, I'm feeling out the start of a new game. I don't have the personal energy for another sprawling sandbox, but I am inspired for a gritty Space Western with small cast.
Expectations
If we can all post twice a week, that's great. Let's do what we can. I value this community, as it provides most of my virtual socialization and creative outlet, especially for the last year of lockdown. Let's tell a good story together.
I want players to embellish and create Lore as they make their characters. I will work this into the setting unless it contradicts something explicitly (in which case I will let you know and weave it together with you).
I want all characters to establish Values and Goals. Playing to your value statement or achieving your goals will impact XP awards.
Setting Details
I am aiming for a Space Western, beginning with a gritty, post-apocolyptic feel and broad options for players to innovate with their character and stories. Psychic Power is unstable, being both more available and more dangerous. Dark Powers whisper in the ear in a porous multiverse for anyone who will listen. Knowledge of the technology that used to make life easy is still fresh enough to sting as technologists try to to stave off its inevitable end.
Game play will begin on a Post-Scream apocolyptic world which collapsed from TL4+ to TL3 (cities)/TL2 (rural/wilderness). PCs can be from that world or have arrived from off-world. Play will proceed in a very player-directed fashion. The option of a ship will be available to give the option of expanding beyond the start-world if desired, but not at game-start.
I will use the core Stars Without Number Revised - Deluxe Edition book and also allow all classes from the Codex of the Black Sun suppliment. I want to explicitly open a wide array of options to encourage creativity and be open to exploring parts of the SWN setting that don't get used enough.
Attributes should be rolled in the die roller with these strings:
STR [3d6] DEX [3d6] CON [3d6]
INT [3d6] WIS [3d6] CHA [3d6]
I will allow all PCs three points, adapted from the rules in the Other Dust suppliment. These can be used in the following ways:
- add a +1 modifier to an attribute (to a max of +2) for superior genetics
- be used to roll on the Mutation tables in the Other Dust book
- Purchase 15,000 in installed cyberware (installed off-world, or installed during the Succession Wars if your character is 50+) [Page 83 of SWN Revised]