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| | [[Category:Alternate Settings]] | | [[Category:Alternate Settings]] |
| | [[Category:Multiverse]] | | [[Category:Multiverse]] |
| − | In [http://patchlord.com/patchworld/patternbound.html Patternbound], my ''Godbound'' conversion for the Amber setting, I created a system to describe Shadows and navigate through them (it's also featured in my [http://patchlord.com/patchworld/unisystem/uniamber.html Unisystem Amber]. I even wrote up some genre settings in it and prepared a spreadsheet. | + | |
| | + | In Patternbound, my ''Godbound'' conversion for the Amber setting, I created a system to describe Shadows and navigate through them. I even wrote up some genre settings in it and prepared a spreadsheet. |
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| | I realized it might be a fun project if everybody wrote up their campaign worlds, favorite settings (from games, novels, TV shows), etc. and posted them using this system-agnostic rules. Kinda like we were mapping the multiverse. | | I realized it might be a fun project if everybody wrote up their campaign worlds, favorite settings (from games, novels, TV shows), etc. and posted them using this system-agnostic rules. Kinda like we were mapping the multiverse. |
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| | Have fun! | | Have fun! |
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| − | | + | ='''The Basics'''= |
| − | =The Basics= | |
| | Creation is divided into four axes of existence, with Amber and the Courts of Chaos at opposing extremes: the poles. The axes are: Magic, Tech, Time, and Weird. Each has 10 degrees of variation (40 in total, 42 if you count Amber and the Courts of Chaos) and the cross-reference of these steps creates a coordinate system for the multiverse. | | Creation is divided into four axes of existence, with Amber and the Courts of Chaos at opposing extremes: the poles. The axes are: Magic, Tech, Time, and Weird. Each has 10 degrees of variation (40 in total, 42 if you count Amber and the Courts of Chaos) and the cross-reference of these steps creates a coordinate system for the multiverse. |
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| | • '''Conehill:''' Wild West, Pleasure, Blue Humans; Conehill is the greatest city in the world of Azure and there you can find all sorts of delightful past-times, from the chemical to the sensual, but also a quick death. | | • '''Conehill:''' Wild West, Pleasure, Blue Humans; Conehill is the greatest city in the world of Azure and there you can find all sorts of delightful past-times, from the chemical to the sensual, but also a quick death. |
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| − | ===Trip Duration=== | + | ==='''Trip Duration'''=== |
| | Each step in an axis represents one day of regular shadow walking, four hours of hellriding, or nine days of traveling the Royal Way. So, going from a Shadow at 3541 to another at 3563 would take 4 days, 16 hours or about five weeks, respectively; the difference between the two Shadows being four steps: two in the Time axis and two in the Weird axis. | | Each step in an axis represents one day of regular shadow walking, four hours of hellriding, or nine days of traveling the Royal Way. So, going from a Shadow at 3541 to another at 3563 would take 4 days, 16 hours or about five weeks, respectively; the difference between the two Shadows being four steps: two in the Time axis and two in the Weird axis. |
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| | Moving between Shadows within the same set of coordinates should be substantially faster than regular shadow movement. And travel between reflections should be even quicker. Going from Albiona to Conehill, from the example above, should take hours of shadow walking, no more. Shifting from Albiona with a closed bakery to another version where said business is still open should take a minute, at most. | | Moving between Shadows within the same set of coordinates should be substantially faster than regular shadow movement. And travel between reflections should be even quicker. Going from Albiona to Conehill, from the example above, should take hours of shadow walking, no more. Shifting from Albiona with a closed bakery to another version where said business is still open should take a minute, at most. |
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| − | ===Interpreting Shadow=== | + | ==='''Interpreting Shadow'''=== |
| | Of course, this system depends heavily on interpretation. Two people can have different ideas on how to stat a given reality. For example, the Shadow that houses the Star Trek setting is clearly No Magic, Space Opera, x2 time rate, and has psionics (Weird 4). But it also has a plethora of near omnipotent entities, like Q. Someone might think it belongs in Weird 5, 6 or even 7. | | Of course, this system depends heavily on interpretation. Two people can have different ideas on how to stat a given reality. For example, the Shadow that houses the Star Trek setting is clearly No Magic, Space Opera, x2 time rate, and has psionics (Weird 4). But it also has a plethora of near omnipotent entities, like Q. Someone might think it belongs in Weird 5, 6 or even 7. |
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| | Someone might argue that, in this case, maybe Tech should be bumped up to Singularity, but it’s always better to stat a Shadow based on the traits of its most prominent area of interaction. Star Trek is not a setting where people are running around ascending into higher dimensions or rebuilding star systems. These things exist (a Shadow is a whole universe, after all), but are not the norm in Star Trek. Thus, the appropriate Tech level is Space Opera. | | Someone might argue that, in this case, maybe Tech should be bumped up to Singularity, but it’s always better to stat a Shadow based on the traits of its most prominent area of interaction. Star Trek is not a setting where people are running around ascending into higher dimensions or rebuilding star systems. These things exist (a Shadow is a whole universe, after all), but are not the norm in Star Trek. Thus, the appropriate Tech level is Space Opera. |
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| − | Note that a reality’s subrealms are not different Shadows. The D&D world of Oerth (from Greyhawk) is a Shadow that includes the Prime Material Plane and all the other dimensions, like elemental planes, the Happy Hunting Grounds, the Abyss etc. It’s up to the GM if shadow walking or shadow shifting allows a character to move between these subrealms. | + | Note that a reality’s subrealms are not different Shadows. The D&D world of Oerth (from Greyhawk) is a Shadow that includes the Prime Material Plane and all the other dimensions, like elemental planes, the Happy Hunting Grounds, the Abyss etc. It’s up to the GM if shadow walking or shadow shifting allows a character to move between these subrealms. |
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| − | =The Axes= | + | ='''The Axes'''= |
| | This section explains what each step in the axes means. Most are straightforward, with only Weird being more open to interpretation. Still, readjusting the steps in the axes if you want a different distribution shouldn’t be problematic. | | This section explains what each step in the axes means. Most are straightforward, with only Weird being more open to interpretation. Still, readjusting the steps in the axes if you want a different distribution shouldn’t be problematic. |
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| | [[File:axes.jpg|center]] | | [[File:axes.jpg|center]] |
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| − | | + | ='''Magic Axis'''= |
| − | ==Magic Axis==
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| | This represents the abundance of magic in a Shadow. The more widespread the magical energy in a reality, the more probable it’s that its manipulation is known and employed. This correlation, though common, isn’t necessarily true. Two Shadows, one with an open war between mystical factions and another where magic is secret and practiced by covert groups, can both have a Normal Magic level. On the other hand, there can exist a No Magic Shadow in which the inhabitants believe magic and its effects are real, and so perform spells and rituals (ineffectually). | | This represents the abundance of magic in a Shadow. The more widespread the magical energy in a reality, the more probable it’s that its manipulation is known and employed. This correlation, though common, isn’t necessarily true. Two Shadows, one with an open war between mystical factions and another where magic is secret and practiced by covert groups, can both have a Normal Magic level. On the other hand, there can exist a No Magic Shadow in which the inhabitants believe magic and its effects are real, and so perform spells and rituals (ineffectually). |
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| | • '''Omni:''' this Shadow not only has Wild magic, but is also permissible to all magical traditions in the multiverse. Any sorcerer or witch from any Shadow can perform magic here. Some Shadows at this level are nothing more than vast reservoirs of magical energy that can be tapped from other realities. | | • '''Omni:''' this Shadow not only has Wild magic, but is also permissible to all magical traditions in the multiverse. Any sorcerer or witch from any Shadow can perform magic here. Some Shadows at this level are nothing more than vast reservoirs of magical energy that can be tapped from other realities. |
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| − | ==Tech Axis==
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| − | This refers to the technological advancement found in a Shadow. Low tech, up to Medieval level, tends to be multiversal: a plough pulled by oxen, a bow and a miller’s wheel will function in any Shadow. There’s a reason Amberites use swords and horses, instead of disintegrators and flying cars.
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| − | As tech level rises, incompatibilities based on physical laws appear, getting more prevalent with each step. For example, gunpowder doesn’t burn in certain Shadows, but FTL systems are almost completely Shadow-specific. Usually, things start getting complicated at the Near Future level.
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| − | Like in the Magic axis, Shadows that are permissive to non-native technologies have a higher Weird rating – unless the GM considers that the technology still works, but differently and in accordance to the new Shadow’s laws. For example, in a Traveller Shadow, Star Trek’s warp drive may not operate by creating a warp bubble and propelling the ship through normal space, but behave as a jump drive. This may warrant a one-level bump in the Weird axis.
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| − | • '''Stone Age:''' pre-agriculture, hunter-gatherers, flint weapons;
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| − | • '''Bronze Age:''' agriculture, cities, metal tools and weapons; Babylonia, Ancient Egypt;
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| − | • '''Medieval:''' iron-working; Roman Empire, Middle Ages;
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| − | • '''Renaissance:''' gunpowder, printing press; Earth’s 15th-19th centuries;
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| − | • '''Industrial:''' steam power, railroads, telegraphs, ironclads, cartridge weapons; Victorian Era, Wild West;
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| − | • '''Early Modern:''' airplanes, assault rifles, atomic bombs, radars, radios; Roaring ‘20s, World War II;
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| − | • '''Modern:''' computers, electronics, biotechnology, television, jet planes, spacecrafts; late 20th to early 21st centuries;
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| − | • '''Near Future:''' advanced genetic engineering, bionics, supercomputers/AIs; Cyberpunk, Solar System exploration/colonization;
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| − | • '''Space Opera:''' androids/bioroids, beam weapons, FTL travel, teleportation, transhumanism, uplifting; Interstellar civilization;
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| − | • '''Singularity:''' ascension, cosmic engineering, Dyson spheres/ringworlds; Ancient/highly evolved civilizations.
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| − | ==Time Axis==
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| − | This axis concerns the rate of time flow in relation to Amber. In Shadows at level 0, time passes at the same speed as in Amber. In those realities at higher Time ratings, time flow can be faster (fast time) or slower (slow time).
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| − | The multiplier for each degree shows the difference in rate. At a Time 2 Shadow, time flows five times faster or slower than in Amber. In the first case, five days go by for every Amber day. If it’s a slow-time Shadow, then it’s the opposite: every Shadow day corresponds to five Amber days.
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| − | Fast-time Shadows tend to be more common or, at least, more interesting to Amberites, so the default assumption for Shadows of Time greater than 1 is that they are fast time. If that’s not the case, then a Slow Time Tag should be included in its description.
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| − | ==Weird Axis==
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| − | This measures the chaotic anomalies that differentiate Shadows from similar ones. It means a Shadow is closer to the Courts of Chaos than it should be given its traits. The Weird rating should be based on the most prominent/powerful anomaly. If the Shadow has two discrepancies of equal level, then it can be bumped to the rating above.
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| − | Details covered by Tech or Magic don’t justify a Weird rating greater than zero. For example, zombies are not an unusual thing to have in a magical world, so no Weird. In a modern Earth with no magic, though, such as The Walking Dead setting, they are, especially if the technological “explanation” is clearly handwaving. Seers or people with the Sight don’t merit a Weird rating if the origin of their power is magical.
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| − | Shadows located between Yggdrasil and the Courts of Chaos (see the Merlin Asks sidebar in the next page) tend to have strange physical laws, even if their Weird rating is zero. Examples include anomalous gravity, chemical oddities, cosmic aberrations and so on. High Weird, though, can be used to represent otherwise "normal" settings that have extraordinary features.
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| − | For example, a world of swashbucklers and galleons with Low magic, Renaissance tech, x2 time differential and Weird zero would be much closer to Amber than Chaos. However, this might feel odd if this reality's civilization lives in floating islands located in a gaseous ring of breathable air surrounding a giant, glowing ball of blue liquid. Weird can be used to fine-tune this.
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| − | The names of the level are just examples of conditions for that step.
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| − | • '''None:''' there’s no anomaly in this Shadow. It behaves exactly like expected.
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| − | • '''One Feature:''' there’s one thing that’s different in this Shadow when compared to other reflections: colors (people, sky, sun, etc.), languages, existence/inexistence of a minor technology or feature.
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| − | • '''Significant Detail:''' there’s one major anomaly or a few minor ones: species (lizardmen instead of humans), existence/inexistence of a major technology or feature (gunpowder doesn’t ignite, zombies in an otherwise normal world, lightsabers in an Arthurian Shadow).
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| − | • '''Paranormal:''' this Shadow features a single paranormal ability (precognition, supersense of smell, world jumping, etc.); the existence/inexistence of a technological field, school of magic or features.
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| − | • '''Thematic Powers:''' there’s a group of thematically linked abilities with a single origin (psionics, supernormals, etc.); the Shadow is permissible to a technology or magical tradition from another reality.
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| − | • '''Superabilities:''' there are various different abilities, but they all stem from a single origin (virus, genes, exposure to a substance, etc.). “People with powers” realities are usually found in this level.
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| − | • '''Metahumans:''' this Shadow features several different superpowers from a myriad of origins. It’s the Weird level of most super-hero worlds. Here you can also find Shadows that are permissible to a group of technologies or magical traditions from another reality, or one technological field or magical tradition from several Shadows.
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| − | • '''Cosmic:''' Shadow-wide or even inter-Shadow conflicts and cataclysms, “relatable” cosmic entities, and almost constant timeline rearrangement are the province of this level. Shadows that are permissible to all technologies or magical traditions of another reality, or a group of technologies or magical traditions from several Shadows belong here as well.
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| − | • '''Mythoic:''' insanity-inducing, dimensional-bending cosmic monstrosities can be found here.
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| − | • '''Cross-Shadow:''' these Shadows are so close to the Courts of Chaos that the boundaries between realities are tenuous. You can find worlds that are a patchwork of different Shadows. Cynosure, Sigil, Nexus and such exist at this level. Here you also find Shadows that are permissible to all technologies and/or magical traditions from other realities.
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| − | =The Map=
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| − | Patternbound includes a spreadsheet that functions as the map in which these coordinates are plotted. In order to facilitate the inclusion of new worlds by everyone, there is now an online version of the spreadsheet.
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| − | '''[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14Ww9qkQic0sSbM0_BdSQyJAJB2zVsG3CVMhV1y5PZ6k/edit?usp=sharing Multiverse map]'''
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| − | =Shadows=
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| − | This is the list of the Shadows that have been described already. Here they are listed in alphabetical order. In the future, there may be individual pages for each axis or even for each reality.
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| − | All write-ups include the author, unless it was made by me, in which case no one is listed.
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| − | ===Alussein===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0615 (No, Modern, x2, Superabilities)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Alien experiments, People with powers
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| − | '''Description:''' a 10,000-year-old alien genengineering program led to the appearance of superpowers in humans and now the world has to deal with them, while the aliens have come calling.
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| − | '''Notes:''' this is the world of my [http://www.rpg.net/columns/superseeds/superseeds25.phtml Alussein] ''Superseeds''.
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| − | ===Arcem===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 6315 (Very High, Renaissance, x1, Superabilities)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Broken, Demigods, Chaos attack
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| − | '''Description:''' this Shadow has been sundered by divinely powered conflict. It’s also under attack by Chaos forces using Black Roads, called Night Roads locally.
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| − | '''Notes:''' this is the setting of the ''Godbound'' RPG. There’s so much magical energy in Arcem, its inhabitants were creating artificial gods and transhuman bloodlines a thousand years ago. Also, more than one nation has advanced clockwork mechanisms, hence the Renaissance Tech level. And I chose to treat godbound as paranormals, instead of an aspect of the magic level.
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| − | ===Arkham===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4568 (Normal, Early Modern, x100, Mythoic)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Cthulhu, Roaring ‘20s, Slow Time
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| − | '''Description:''' the Shadow where the stories crafted by Lovecraft’s and friends take place, always circa 1920s.
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| − | '''Notes:''' this is an example of how you can play with the coordinate system to create any universe you want. The Slow Time ensures there will always (for game purposes) be the ‘20s. However, it also means that spending one day there will mean more than three months have gone by on Amber and about a month and a half on Earth.
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| − | ===Earth-616/Metropolis===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4637 (Normal, Modern, x10, Cosmic)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Marvel/DC, Super-Heroes, Slow Time
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| − | '''Description:''' the main comic book Marvel or DC Earth, where times seems to run slower than normal.
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| − | '''Note:''' these Shadows are Slow Time to represent the “compressed timeline” aspect of these comic book universes. The cinematic versions may have lower Weird.
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| − | ===Earth (Amber)===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0610 (No, Modern, x2, None)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Corwin/Flora
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| − | '''Description:''' our world in the “present” and where Corwin spent 400 years. It was also Flora’s personal Shadow for a while.
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| − | '''Note:''' I chose a No Magic Earth, but I can see up to a Low Magic one, as they use it on GURPS. Note that Earth is considered Flora’s personal Shadow, although Corwin spent a long time here. According to Sign of the Unicorn, one Amber day is 2.5 Earth days. So I chose to use Earth as the basis for the time flow of the Shadows based on genre media, i.e., most of them are Time 1.
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| − | ===Earth (Bar Crawl)===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0610 (No, Modern, x2, None)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Beers/Ale/Brewing
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| − | '''Description:''' it is an Earth mostly like other Earths. It does however have a singular gift that the locals are blissfully underaware of. The beer/brewing (and other fermenting products) is just "that much better" in terms of taste and alcohol content. Many a traveler has made a stop on this Earth just for a pint. Random was known to stop at from time to time, on his way to Corwin/Flora's Earth. He has also imported many a cask of beautiful product to Amber.
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| − | '''Note:''' just like yeast that changes in the environment, the brewing products brought to other shadows or Amber quickly lose that special quality unless used immediately - if you are lucky.
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?2488-MoonHunter MoonHunter]
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| − | ===Earth (Juncture 122)===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 3524 (Low, Early Modern, Pulpy x5, Thematic Powers)
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| − | '''Tags:''' 20s-30s Earth, Pulp, Juncture 122
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| − | '''Description:''' seems like a normal world of this era. There might be some vigilante and adventuring types running around with low powers.
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| − | '''Note:''' on some nights, you can see the juncture 122 in space somewhere near Mars. It is a space warp that connects this Earth to Mongo.
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?2488-MoonHunter MoonHunter]
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| − | ===Eleventh Billion===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 2602 (Very Low, Modern, x1, Significant Detail)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Environmental Collapse, A Whole New World, Real-World Magick
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| − | '''Description:''' in the face of humanity quickly filling up the Earth to her carrying capacity, a small coven of occultists, called the Babylon 5, started the Eleventh Billion movement. They hope to spread and replicate the ritual they used to find the realm/planet they call Nibiru. It may or may not be a group delusion, but at least it's hope that we can relieve the pressure on the planet. If they learn of the Shadows and the Tree, they might start to search for ways to increase this Shadow's Magic or Weird coordinates.
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| − | '''Note:''' I wrote two things in this Shadow way long ago on my blog.
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − | ===Emotion’s Echo===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 2636 (Very Low, Modern, x10, Metahumans)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Magical Girl, Paradox of Significance, Existentialist
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| − | '''Description:''' a team of magical girls are the only supers in this Shadow, vast and empty of anything relatable to humans. As they struggle to deal with -- because fighting is laughably beyond futile -- the great cosmic beings, they discover that their love and their queerness are the only things that matter.
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − | ===Federation/Republic===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0814 (No, Space Opera, x2, Themed Powers)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Star Trek/Star Wars, Psionics/The Force
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| − | '''Description:''' the Shadows where you can find Kirk, Spock, Picard and company; and Jedi, Sith, lightsabers, hyperspace, and Old and New Republics, respectively.
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| − | '''Note:''' there may be a case for Republic to be Weird 5, given the vast array of abilities the Force provides.
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| − | ===High Castle===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0613 (No, Modern, x2, Paranormal)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Nazi Earth, World Jumpers
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| − | '''Description:''' a Shadow Earth in the ‘60s where the Axis won the Second World War. Certain people have the ability to jump back and forth to an Earth with a history similar to our own.
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| − | '''Notes:''' this is the setting of The Man in the High Castle TV series, an adaptation of the eponymous book by Philip K. Dick. Note that the “regular” Earth they jump to is not the Shadow Earth described above, because this one has world jumpers, so it’s also Weird 3.
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| − | ===Homeline===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0613 (No, Modern, x2, Paranormal)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Infinity Unlimited, Parachronic Travel
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| − | '''Description:''' a world almost identical to the Earth Corwin spent time on until 1995, when it made the fairly shocking discovery of the ability to travel to other Shadows on a large scale through purely technological means. Since then it has set up a thriving economic model based on the exploitation of nearby Shadows, and even found itself in a long-term Cold War against a rival Shadow Earth with a similar technology. This form of Shadow travel is extremely limited, and can only access a small subset of Shadows, but is still potentially useful for Amberites. They remain ignorant of both Amber and Chaos.
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| − | '''Note:''' primary setting for GURPS Infinite Worlds.
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?51638-Anonymous-GM Anonymous GM]
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| − | ===Merbunny===
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4306 (Normal, Renaissance, x1, Metahumans)
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| − | '''Tags:''' Adventurers, Colonialism, Religious
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| − | '''Description:''' a world of magic and warriors in which the great colonial powers of Aoqina -- the halfling Holbytlan Empire; Orvad, where humans ensure their freedom by selling it off; and angel-descended Natsiyaasim -- have begun to colonize other continents, with all the problems that implies. A wide range of religions find themselves suddenly interacting in creative new ways as cultures meet.
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| − | '''Note:''' like any good D&D world, this setting is a bit too complex and pastiche for me to easily sum up. I perceive it as very definitely having a specific perspective and a particular flavor, but I have trouble explaining what that is other than "D&D written by me".
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Middens & Morals===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4212 (Normal, Medieval, x2, Significant Feature)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Chivalries, Psychological, Slow Time
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' a fantastic Shadow, where the most capable and powerful heroes are those who manage to navigate both great virtue and intense mental trauma, it questions deep into the tension between a world that wounds and the longing to earn Heaven.
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Middle-Earth===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 5210 (High, Medieval, x2, None)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Tolkien, Third Age
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' Arda circa the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' First- and Second-ages Arda may have even higher levels of magic; for these cases, Magic 6 doesn’t seem off.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Mongo (Juncture 122)===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 3829-F (Low, Space Opera, x5, Cross-Shadow [fragment])
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Patchwork world (different environments), Empire, Electropunk (atomic-future looking), Juncture 122
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' Mongo was a world fragment, an outer echo. It went on to conquer a real world and incorporated fragments of that world (and its people). This process has continued on and on for 18 worlds now (hence why each region is so different and has different peoples).
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' Mongo is next to juncture 122, a space warp that connects Mongo to an Earth. The current emperor is a Chaos Lord named Ming who has Mongo as his own growing domain. (Logrus Powers, augmented by some mad science, allows him to bring worlds to built up Mongo)
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?2488-MoonHunter MoonHunter]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Munster===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 3611 (Low, Modern, x2, One Feature)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Ritual Magic, Monster Black Ops
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' the discovery of magic during World War II allowed this Earth's nations to weaponize monsters and use them in clandestine operations.
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| − |
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| − | '''Notes:''' this is the world of my [http://www.rpg.net/columns/superseeds/superseeds31.phtml Monster-Soldiers] ''Superseeds''. Although the monster commandos could be included in the Magic level, I thought the weaponization aspect was unique, especially in a Low mana situation, and merit a bump in the Weird axis.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Newuniverse===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 3615 (Low, Modern, x2, Superabilities)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Recent Event, Super-Heroes, The World Outside Your Window
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' Depending on the Event in question, this Shadow may end up inexorably increasing its Weird rating, and may naturally migrate towards the same coordinates as the more traditional supers Shadows.
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?173697-empulsive empulsive]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Noetic Space===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 1852 (Trace, Space Opera, x50, Significant Detail)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Contract Feudalism, Secret Elite, Spiritualist FTL
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' a secretive Spiritualist religious movement revealed the secret to FTL travel to the conspiracy known as Argus in order to end the War Against the Greys. Now, a form of contract-based feudalism welds together the human race in a vast empire, while starships hook their noetic drives to the Casey Jones Effect and power their Electrical Messiahs with sex.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' I discovered ''Traveller'' while also binge-reading Kenneth Hite's ''Suppressed Transmission'' series of ''Pyramid'' articles. This was the result.
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Other Side===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4616 (Normal, Modern, x2, Metahumans)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Dimensional Cold War, Gate to This Side
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' A four-color super-hero world that due to a failed experiment found itself connected to an alternate reality, This Side.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' this is one of the two worlds described in [https://www.rpg.net/columns/superseeds/superseeds89.phtml The Other Side] ''Superseeds''.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Planetary===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4617 (Normal, Modern, x2, Cosmic)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Wildstorm, Super-Heroes, Secret History
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' the world looks normal on the outside, but there's a secret history of wonder. Archeologists of the impossible try to uncover these buried truths.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' the setting of the ''Planetary'' comic book. Unlike the Marvel and DC universes, there's no "compressed timeline".
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Postprana===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 1115 (Trace, Bronze Age, x2, Superabilities)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Earth, Post-apocalyptic, Prana powers
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' after psionic aliens use the Earth as their battleground by possessing regular humans and employing them as combat vessels, the survivors try to rebuild civilization with the help of the possessed, who retain the ability to manipulate the psychic energy ''prana''.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' This is the world of my [http://www.rpg.net/columns/superseeds/superseeds8.phtml The Prana Warriors] ''Superseeds''. The Trace Magic is a way to maybe explain why certain things seem possible, like psionics.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Re-enchantment===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 3767 (Low, Near Future, x100, Cosmic)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Supers, Conspiracies, Weird Horror
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' the greatest supers combine several power sources -- cyborg half-angels mutated by exposure to irradiated ghost rock and the like --, while lesser supers live lives overstuffed with conspiracy, horror, and weirdness. Nothing here is tasteful or easy or pure; everything leaves one feeling slightly trippy and dirty. History is based on Earth's, but diverges in the latter half of the 19th century with the development of a Balkanized North America.
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?15769-Tristissima-amp-Nevermore Tristissima & Nevermore]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Solar Frontier===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0711 (No, Near Future, x2, One Feature)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Colonized Solar System, Slow Time, Exceptionally Efficient Engine
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' in a universe where FTL is impossible, we've spread out all over the solar system thanks to a miracle engine technology. Humanity is anywhere and everywhere in the system, even some isolated enclaves out in the Oort, and the system is constantly crisscrossed by ships of every type imaginable in a hard sci-fi, follow the laws of physics (just don't look in the engine room!) kind of place.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' it's just slow enough to be annoying, and just interesting enough to be enticing to a certain kind of person. And then poof, you've lost a couple weeks at home...
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?173697-empulsive empulsive]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Status Quo===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4623 (Normal, Modern, x5, Paranormal)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Magical Conspiracy, Earth, Deep History
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' an Earth much like our own, this one is deliberately kept that way by a conspiracy of magic practitioners that exists as a society parallel to, but hidden from, the world. They maintain the Status Quo, which keeps humanity safe.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' the Status Quo can be a good or a bad thing, in the end. Sometimes both. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys depends on your point of view. Also, they don't have nearly the monopoly on magic that they think they do, but shhh...
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?173697-empulsive empulsive]
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| − |
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| − |
| |
| − | ===Stellar Imperium===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 1722 (Trace, Space Opera, x5, Significant Detail)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Hardish Sci-Fi, FTL, Space Feudalism
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' not that much further advanced technologically than the SOLAR FRONTIER, this Shadow features on significant difference - it has a working faster than light drive. This particular FTL technology lends itself to the creation of a pseudo-feudal civilization across the whole of explored space.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' given the speed at which the Shadow is running, and the instability of the civilization's government, who knows how much longer the imperium will last? Also, what's with that tiny trace of magic?
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?173697-empulsive empulsive]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Stirring Shadows===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 4714 (Nornal, Near Future, x2, Thematic Powers)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Cyberpunk, Magic, Gonzo
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' magic cycled back around the turn of the century, and dragons jockey with CEOs for power; nightmares from the past stir and awaken; and the forgotten lurk, scuttle and strike in the shadows.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' the setting of the ''Shadowrun'' RPG.
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?109520-Jeep-Eep Jeep-Eep]
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===This Side===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0611 (No, Modern, x2, One Feature)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Modern Earth, Dimensional Cold War, Gate to Other Side
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' a regular Earth until 1998, when a failed experiment opened a rift to an alternate reality, Other Side, where super-humans exist.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' this is one of the two worlds described in [https://www.rpg.net/columns/superseeds/superseeds89.phtml The Other Side] ''Superseeds''. There might be an argument that a gate to a parallel world would rank as Weird 2, but I feel like it can be fit inside Weird 1.
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| − |
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| − |
| |
| − | ===Walker===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 0612 (No, Modern, x2, Significant Detail)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Earth, Zombies, Harsh
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' a zombie rising led to the collapse of civilization. Now, survivors try to band together and overcome the worst of humankind's.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' the setting of the TV show ''The Walking Dead''.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | ===Worldtree===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 7197 (Very High, Bronze Age, x1,000, Cosmic)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Slow Time, Mythopoetic
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' worlds upon worlds are nestled in the branches of an enormous, mystical tree in this Shadow, where time runs slow as molasses. High Magi, Awakened Beasts, Elementals, and countless tribes of infinite diversity makes their homes in the leaves, but we dare not speak of what lives in the roots.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' Is this the actual Yggdrasil?
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| − |
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| − | '''Write-up:''' [https://forum.rpg.net/member.php?173697-empulsive empulsive]
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| − |
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| − |
| |
| − | ===Z Nation===
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| − |
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| − | '''Coordinates:''' 1613 (Trace, Modern, x2, Paranormal)
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| − |
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| − | '''Tags:''' Earth, Zombies, Gonzo
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| − |
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| − | '''Description:''' a zombie rising led to the collapse of civilization. Now, survivors try to rebuild the world amid elite conspiracies, evolving zombies and new apocalyptic threats.
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| − |
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| − | '''Note:''' the setting of the TV show ''Z Nation''. The Weird covers the different types of zombies and the zombie telepathy/control ability. Originally, Magic was No, but I upgraded it to Trace.
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