Kinda thinking out loud, anyone interested feel free to chip in with suggestions/comments/questions.

I am thinking about running a game set in the old Games Workshop 'Dark Future' setting, which is basically a Mad Max style romp with various dystopian cyberpunk-style themes.

Set in the USA, covered by desert due to pollution preventing large swaths of the oceans evaporating, society is divided into three bands. Corporation controlled PoliceZones, basically private citadels in the heart of cities. Fearsome NoGo Areas which are the un-policed and unsupported ghettos surrounding the PoliceZones, and various Sandside settlements, small towns and villages built around key resources in the desert, such as waterholes, Gas Stations and the like.

The majority of Employment seems to be Corporation controlled, industry is almost all automated, although I am assuming Sweat Shops and the like must exist, because the vast majority of people live in NoGo areas, which presumably need some form of making money to afford food, water and Corp manufactured consumables.

Players would be Sanctioned Operatives. Basically the government privatised the police, resulting in myriad private police companies starting up. Corporations have their own police in the PolicedZones (Hence the name) but in the NoGo and Sandside areas you have to hire your own freelance law enforcement. Jobs would include Detective style jobs, Corporate espionage as well as hunting down gangs and renegade operatives. It would be nice to give the Players quite a bit of control over their Agency, basically having the power to accept or reject jobs, hire employees and maybe even manage research and development.

As my players peruse the rules (I am going to be using Atomic Highway to run it, as that should require minimal modifications), one of the first background issues has come up.

The Dark Future background is set in the year 1995, which as a date for an apocalyptic future does seem a bit out of kilter. Cant decide whether to move it on to 2025 (which will mean creating a lot of new history) or to just live with it being in 1995.

Looks like the first player wants to play some sort of Trucker, with the Truck acting as a mobile base which other vehicles can be carried by 'Knight Rider' style.

On thing to keep in mind is that most, if not all, dark future 'literature' has as a theme the rather counter-intuitive 'Hope'.  Now, the grim ones will have something like 'the loss of hope' or what not, but Hope is really a key feature.

Consider the end of The Road Warrior or Beyond Thunderdome, where the hero is stuck wallowing in shit, but the children move on to a better place, and not euphemistically.

Consider Gibson's body of work, where the world literally begins to change at the end of the story... pick one, any one.


Keep that in mind. A lighthearted romp through a 'dark future' as agents of bad-ass with big fucken' guns can be fun, but toss in the chance for a 'better future' from their actions and you might actually get the players to sit up and take notice.

Or they may just blow it up with their big fucken' guns of bad-ass.

Spike, you beautiful genius, you just inspired me.

Well I know have characters. A Trucker, a Road Warrior, a Shaman and a Scavenger. Letting them work out how they fit together themselves. They are still not sure where they want to operate from.

The Hope thing is interesting, certainly if I end up with some sort of overarching plot it might be fun to develop some sort of background changing event that can be triggered/actualised by the Players.

Gods and Monsters
Religion in Dark Future, at least Christian religion, is in the main split between 'good' Catholics and 'evil' Brethren of Joseph. Roman Catholicism is based in the Vatican, under the leadership of Pope Nelson Mandela. Since the 1970s, the Roman Catholic Church has been a bastion of liberal ideals, promoting same-sex marriage, use of contraception, an end to celibacy with nuns having the same status as priests. The Roman Catholic Church controls major computer systems and intelligence networks, as well as its own Army and Special Ops groups. Roman Catholic military intervention ended U.S. involvement in South America in the 70s, and resulted in Argentina having an overwhelming victory over the British in the Falklands war.

The main opposition to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States are the Brethren of Joseph, who own the state of Utah, which they name Deseret. Headed by the immortal Elder Nguyen Seth, the Brethren of Joseph practise blood sacrifice in worship of the Great Old Ones, in particular targeting artists and thinkers.

Other smaller dystopian gangcults also exist, such as the Maniax, the Psychopomps, and the Confederate Air Force.

****

While this is all ok in its way, the only religious looking character I have at the moment is an Indian Shaman, who neatly dosen't fit into this Christian paradigm at all. To try and alleviate this, I am thinking of developing Tammany Hall into a significant powerbase, basically fusing Christian and American Indian beliefs and providing a counterbalance to the Brethren of Joseph.

The background also states that corporations from the Pan-Islamic Congress have a large presence in the U.S. So it would be interesting to develop at least one overtly Muslim corp.

Quote from: Cranewings;457672Spike, you beautiful genius, you just inspired me.

My work here is done...

Time to start seeing if we can take the background and actuall make it into something usable.

The Knights of Illinois

A Biker organisation operating from the Chicago NoGo region, the Knights of Illinois engage in the lucrative sport of automotive duelling as well as raiding convoys passing through the Illinois Sandside. The Knights practise a unique variant of Christianity, based upon popular recollections of the crusades. Sadomasochistic rituals abound, involving both members of the Knights themselves and any captured prisoners. While they often attempt to convert Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations to their cause, captured members of the Brethren of Joseph or Muslim Faith are always executed, occasionally in spectacular televised events. Typical Knights dress in traditional black biker leathers, augmented with studs, spikes and occasionally rusting plates of armour. Favoured weapon include heavy chains and sawn-off shotguns.

Example Knight of Illinois: Sister Mona

Sister Mona is an up-and-coming Knight, who has survived five Auto-duels broadcast throughout Chicago. With blue eyes and black dyed hair, her fame has resulted in her often being used by the Knights to negotiate with other Gangs and the Corporations, and she will be typically found with five to ten other Knights (use nameless Outriders from page 102).

Rearing: Bartertowner (Chicago NoGo)
Pursuit: Outrider

Muscle: 2, Understanding: 2, Tenacity: 3, Appeal: 3, Nimbleness: 3, Toughness: 2, Senses: 3

Skills: Athletics: 2, Brawl: 1, Drive: 3, Intimidate: 2, Lore: 2, Melee: 2, Notice: 3, Persuade: 4, Shoot: 3, Stealth: 2, Survive: 1, Tech: 2

Armour: Light (Biker Leathers)
Weapons: Pistol Crossbow (12 Bolts), Sawn off Shotgun (Fully Loaded), Light Chain, Knife
Gear: Collapsing Telescope, Denim Jeans, Mechanic's Tools
Customized Motorcycle: Muscle 1, Nimbleness 3, Toughness 2, Speed 2, Pass: Driver+1, Health 45, Light MG (Nimbleness, 10L, Distant, Ammo 100, Burst), Off-Road Capable, Oil Slick Dispenser, No Cover

The Plague Riders
The Plague Riders are a large Illinois Renegade Gangs operating north of the Missouri PZ of St Louis, notable as one of the few PZs, which has no surrounding NoGo settlement beyond the PZ walls. All Plague Riders are veteran raiders, recruited mainly from the smaller Sandbaggers, Death Stalkers and Shotgun Posse. The Plague Riders initiate all their members into a mysterious pagan death cult, which also has some adherents in the Chicago Mafia, who provide them with equipment in return for the Plague Rider's support. The specifics of this cult have brought them into conflict with the local Native Americans, with the two groups opposing each other at every turn. Plague Riders often wear purple cowls and facemasks, and some senior members wield scythes as a mark of their authority.

Example Plague Rider: Archibald Thane

One of the more prominent Plague Riders, Thane is both raider and prophet, modelling himself upon Pestilence, the horseman of the apocalypse. Clad in worn encompassing purple robes, Thane's face is worn and blotchy with red rimmed eyes and teeth filed to points. His Harley-Davidson is painted jet black and has a bleached bone cow-skull affixed to the front.

Rearing: Nomad
Pursuit: Raider

Muscle: 2, Understanding: 3, Tenacity: 3, Appeal: 2, Nimbleness: 3, Toughness: 3, Senses: 2, Health: 16

Skills: Athletics: 1, Brawl: 2, Criminal: 1, Drive: 2, Intimidate: 3, Lore: 1, Melee: 3, Mythos*: 1, Notice: 2, Persuade: 2, Scavenge: 1, Shoot: 3, Stealth: 2, Survive: 2, Tech: 1
* Archibald Thane's Mythos skill covers knowledge of his Death Cults rites and secret knowledge.

Weapons: Light Handgun (Fully Loaded), Scythe (treat as a Heavy Axe), Hook, Knife
Gear: Heavy tattered Robes, 4 rolls of Duct Tape, Mechanic's Tools
Customized Motorcycle (Cost 12): Muscle 1, Nimbleness 3, Toughness 2, Speed 2, Pass: Driver+1, Health 45, Twin Assault Rifles (Linked, Fixed, Forward), Wheel Spikes, Off-Road Capable, No Cover

Dellwood, Missouri
Settlement Type: Homestead
Produces: -
Self-Sufficient: Basic foodstuffs
Imports: Everything else
Dominant Religion: Presbyterian Christianity
Population: 87
Notable Individuals: Lemmy Weston (Outrider Leader, Dellwood Devastators)
Appearance: Dellwood is a typical homestead, comprising of makeshift huts and poorly irrigated fields, centred on a large keep, made from what was in Dellwood's case, once a police station. Bikes belonging to the Dellwood Devastators can often be found resting outside the keep, which has a bar and a pool table inside.
Primary Defences: In times of danger, the inhabitants of Dellwood retreat inside the old police station, which has thickened walls and gun slits rather than windows.
Notes and Rumours: The fortunes of Dellwood changed when Lemmy Watson got a Licence from the Mayor of St. Louis and transformed the local Motorcycle Gang into a sanctioned op group overnight. In exchange for aiding the St Louis Private Police force against surrounding gangs, Lemmy can call upon the forces of St Louis when Dellwood is under attack.

One of the problems of using Atomic Highway is there is no price list, but fortunately I found a Dark Future price list on-line which I can develop and add to.

Dark Future Pricelist (with additional items by Francis Greenaway)
Average Annual Wage: $84,200

Food
Loaf of bread $12
Bottle of beer $16
Real meat hamburger $100 (don't ask what kind of meat)
Cup of real coffee $150 (illegal in the USA)
Cup of recaf coffee $5
Bottle of pure water $20 per litre
Pack of cigarettes $10 (officially good for you in the USA)
Bottle of cheap wine $25
Bottle of spirits $25

Clothing
T-shirt $5
Jeans $10
Overcoat $35
Fake leather jacket $50
Dress shoes $15
Sturdy boots $20
Cheap suit $200
Expensive suit $5,000

Accommodation
Small studio flat in PeeZee $1,000 per month
One bedroomed flat in PeeZee $5,000 per month
Nice roomy flat in PeeZee $8,000 per month
Small house in PeeZee $15,000 per month
Large house in PeeZee $35,000 per month
Small house in Town $8,000 per month
Large house in Town $15,000 per month

Travel
Ram-track travel $1 per mile (only between major cities)
Air travel $5 per mile (internal only)
Scramjet travel to Europe $20,000
Gallon of gasoline $4
Gallon of aviation fuel $10
Garage Repairs $250

Vehicle Accessories
Chrome Engine $8,000
Custom Airbrushed Paint Job $10,000
Custom Two-tone Paint Job $5,000
Doeskin Upholstery $3,000
Fluffy Dice $20
Public Address System $3,000
Fire Extinguisher $500

Electronics
Desktop computer $1,000
Laptop computer $1,500
Portable printer $300
Datanet-linked mirror shades $5,000
Sensi-Chip $500 +
Sim-Chip $50 +
Music Chip $10

Medical and Drugs
Gas Mask $100
Radiation Pills (10 pills) $1,000
Morph-Plus (10 doses) $500
Stims (10 doses) $250
Tranq (12 injections) $100
Plasti-Skin (1 application) $1,000
Psychiatrist Session $1,000
Recovery Clause (Clinicopter) $1,000 per year
Recovery Clause (Scavenger) $200 per rescue

Media
TV Appearance $5,000
TV Documentary $50,000
Magazine Interview $7,500
Advertising Deal $10,000
Vulture Backhander $10,000

Cyberware
Cyber-Arm $8,000
Cyber-Leg $10,000
Cyber-Eye $7,500
Plaskin $18,000
Holoskin $25,000
Cyber-Plug $30,000

Sanctioned Operative Services
Agency Licence: $10,000
Operative Licence: $5,000
Ratcatcher Service $5,000 per target located

Armour
Light armour $250
Medium armour $600
Heavy armour $1,000

Other
Pleasure Clone $200,000

Melee Weapons
Light weapon/Knife $100
Medium weapon $150
Heavy weapon $200
Powered weapon $300
Brass Knuckles $100

Ranged Weapons
Assault Rifle $750
Handgun, Light $200
Handgun, Medium $250
Handgun, Heavy $300
Machine Gun, Light $3,000
Machine Gun, Medium $5,000
Rifle, Light $300
Rifle, Medium $1,000
Rifle, Heavy $1,500
Shotgun, Double Barrel $500
Shotgun, Pump $500
Submachine Gun $400

Heavy Ranged Weapons
Flame Thrower $15,000
Grenade Launcher, Light $6,000
Grenade Launcher, Heavy $15,000
Machine Gun, Heavy $22,000
Rocket/Torpedo Launcher $1,000

Ammunition
Light SMG/Handgun Round $10
Medium SMG/Handgun Round $20
Heavy SMG/Handgun Round $30
Light Rifle/MG Round $15
Medium Rifle/MG Round $30
Heavy Rifle/MG Round $45
Shotgun Shell $25
Flamethrower Reload $1,000
Rocket/Torpedo $500

Explosives
Grenade/Mine/C4, Fragmentation $100
Grenade, Smoke $50
Grenade, Teargas $100

The St. Louis Blues

One of the larger Sanctioned Operative group, the St. Louis Blues have an active policy of protecting their city by hunting down and eliminating surrounding hostile gangs. A recruitment drive in 1994 resulted in them offering amnesty to several renegade ops and gangers, resulting in the organisation having a very diverse membership. This can cause friction with other neighbouring Policed Zones, in particular Chicago, where several members still have a price on their head. The organisation funds itself not only with its contract with the city mayor, but also through exclusive media coverage with W-KIL TV.

Example St. Louis Blues Op: Jules Manson

Originally, a Private detective hailing from the Policed Zone of Miami, Jules Mason was always a loner, who had difficulties with corporate authority. Forced out of the city due to Mafia corruption, he found a new home in St. Louis, where he is instrumental in preventing Mafia influence spreading. Unlike most of the Blues he can normally be found operating solo, engaged in investigation rather than combat.

Rearing: Remnant (Miami PolicedZone)
Pursuit: Sentinel

Muscle: 2, Understanding: 3, Tenacity: 3, Appeal: 2, Nimbleness: 2, Toughness: 3, Senses: 3, Health: 16

Skills: Athletics: 2, Brawl: 2, Drive: 2, Heal: 1, Intimidate: 2, Lore: 3, Melee: 2, Notice: 3, Persuade: 3, Shoot: 2, Shoot: 3, Stealth: 2, Tech: 2

Armour: Light
Weapons: Heavy Handgun (Fully Loaded), Nightstick (Medium Bludgeon), Knife
Gear: St. Louis Police Uniform, Binoculars, Gas Mask, Geiger counter
Customized G-Mec Interceptor (Cost 24): Muscle 3, Nimbleness 3, Toughness 2, Speed 4, Pass: Driver+1, Health 75, Light Vehicle Armour: Protection 8, Heavy Machine Gun (Fixed, Forward), Light Grenade Launcher (Linked, Fixed, Forward), Light Machine Gun (Linked, Fixed, Rear), Oil Slick Dispenser

Springfield, Illinois
Nestling in the desert-claimed ruins of Illinois, the Bartertown of Springfield was once the states Capitol and home to Abraham Lincoln. The economy of Springfield was highly dependent upon Government spending, leading to a vast population decline under Ottakar Proktor's free-market reforms. Now it survives as an important re-supply at the crossing of Route 66 (Interstate 55) with Interstate 72.
Settlement Type: Bartertown
Produces: Low-grade gasoline
Self-Sufficient: Basic food (in good years)
Imports: Water, everything else
Dominant Religion: Lutheran Christianity
Population: 1,597
Notable Individuals: Orv Semple (Town Mayor), Bill Logan (Sheriff), Kenny Gee (Security Consultant), Ninian (Town Doctor)
Appearance: Springfield resembles a vast bunker, with huge slabs of reclaimed masonry making up the towns defences and dwellings. In the north-west of the town, the McFarland building acts as a fortified 'keep' and contains the town's leaders and their wealth. On the edge of the chemical lake, the old University contains cobbled together refineries operate, distilling low-grade fuel that the town barters or sells to visiting motorists. Between the buildings lies scrubland, containing what little stunted corn and vegetables that can be grown, and a few cattle, pigs and chickens. North of the Interstate 72 are a large section of ruins known as the 'Killing Field', which occasionally draw treasure seekers, gangs and raiders.
Primary Defences: A vast chemical swamp known as Lake Springfield surrounds the southern and eastern approaches to the town, exhuming toxic fumes that often spontaneously catch fire during hot summer weather. Route 66 crosses the lake over a heavily monitored bridge. Fortifications face the northern and western approaches, formed from masonry taken from the ruined city blocks, with snipers operating from hidden makeshift pillboxes.
Notes and Rumours: The oriental security consultant Kenny Gee is said to have contacts to the west-coast Yakuza and have many enemies in Chicago's Mafia; his bunker has the only functioning Datanet access point in Springfield. Springfield's Doctor Ninian once worked in a large medical facility in St. Louis before the Corporation sacked him for unapproved research; he runs one of the most advanced facilities out side of the PolicedZones.

Quote from: jadrax;458273One of the problems of using Atomic Highway is there is no price list, but fortunately I found a Dark Future price list on-line which I can develop and add to.

Dark Future Pricelist (with additional items by Francis Greenaway)
Average Annual Wage: $84,200

Food
Loaf of bread $12
Bottle of beer $16
Real meat hamburger $100 (don't ask what kind of meat)
Cup of real coffee $150 (illegal in the USA)
Cup of recaf coffee $5
Bottle of pure water $200 per litre
Pack of cigarettes $10 (officially good for you in the USA)
Bottle of cheap wine $25
Bottle of spirits $25

Clothing
T-shirt $50
Jeans $100
Overcoat $350
Fake leather jacket $500
Dress shoes $150
Sturdy boots $200
Cheap suit $2,000
Fashionable suit $5,000
High class suit $10,000 +

Accommodation
Small studio flat in PeeZee $1,000 per month
One bedroomed flat in PeeZee $5,000 per month
Nice roomy flat in PeeZee $8,000 per month
Small house in PeeZee $15,000 per month
Large house in PeeZee $35,000 per month
Small house in Town $8,000 per month
Large house in Town $15,000 per month

Travel
Ram-track travel $1 per mile (only between major cities)
Air travel $5 per mile (internal only)
Scramjet travel to Europe $20,000
Gallon of gasoline $4
Gallon of aviation fuel $10
Garage Repairs $250

Vehicle Accessories
Chrome Engine $8,000
Custom Airbrushed Paint Job $10,000
Custom Two-tone Paint Job $5,000
Doeskin Upholstery $3,000
Public Address System $3,000
Fire Extinguisher $500

Electronics
Desktop computer $1,000
Laptop computer $1,500
Portable printer $300
Datanet-linked mirror shades $5,000
Sensi-Chip $500 +
Sim-Chip $50 +
Music Chip $10

Medical and Drugs
Gas Mask $100
Radiation Pills (10 pills) $1,000
Morph-Plus (10 doses) $500
Stims (10 doses) $250
Tranq (12 injections) $100
Plasti-Skin (1 application) $1,000
Psychiatrist Session $1,000

Media
TV Appearance $5,000
TV Documentary $50,000
Magazine Interview $7,500
Advertising Deal $10,000
Vulture Backhander $10,000

Cyberware
Cyber-Arm $8,000
Cyber-Leg $10,000
Cyber-Eye $7,500
Plaskin $18,000
Holoskin $25,000
Cyber-Plug $30,000

When I did my own cyberpunk type stuff I always use a current price list for all mundane items and keep average wages the same.
This means that they knwo the relative worth of everythign as its all real money . A guy offers you 10K to off a guy, well that is reasonable. A cabbie asks you for 200 for cab fare well... he is ripping you off.

I mean in that list you have a tee-shirt is bloody expensive commpared to accommodation and the cost for pure water is daft considering a galleon of gasoline is just $4 but it actually takes 7,000 litres (1,850 gallons) of water to refine one barrel of crude oil. You can push water from a source as contaminated as a cup of coffee through a handheld filter to get pure water.

Quote from: jibbajibba;458290When I did my own cyberpunk type stuff I always use a current price list for all mundane items and keep average wages the same.
This means that they knwo the relative worth of everythign as its all real money . A guy offers you 10K to off a guy, well that is reasonable. A cabbie asks you for 200 for cab fare well... he is ripping you off.

Yes, I certainly can see the merits of that idea. Although I am slightly concerned you commonly get offers to assassinate people in real life... ;o)

QuoteI mean in that list you have a tee-shirt is bloody expensive commpared to accommodation and the cost for pure water is daft considering a galleon of gasoline is just $4 but it actually takes 7,000 litres (1,850 gallons) of water to refine one barrel of crude oil. You can push water from a source as contaminated as a cup of coffee through a handheld filter to get pure water.

One of the cornerstones of the background that makes no sense at all is that gasoline is pretty common while water is an incredibly scarce resource. The Pacific is so polluted that it dosen't evaporate, which I am pretty sure is also nonsensical.

Not sure why accommodation is so cheap, or why you can't apparently buy a house outright. That's all from the list on the internet so I may well change it.