I run a LOT of d20 Modern. I know, I know, many people consider it a total dog, with messed up combat rules and firearm rules. Still, three simple houserules fix it for my gaming group:

Use 3.5 unarmed combat rules.
Change feet to meters in the weapon ranges.
Double hp & hardness for military vehicles.

So...

I do mostly apocalyptic settings. Nuclear Greenhouse, The Third War to End All War, Year of the Zombie.

However, a friend of mine and I sat down with his FR stuff (which is LITERALLY everything ever put out) and started working. We ran a mag-lev train route from Cormyr to Waterdeep, train lines across the globe, nuked Zhentil Keep as the end of Realms War II (After the suprise naval attack on Cormyr) 50 years ago, ran interstate highways, and a shitload of other modifications.

All of the old NPC's have passed into legend, the oldest lich remembers the Dale Wars (When the Dales went through civil war over religion, 240 years ago), Anarouch has oil beneath it, and Waterdeep has a naval harbor slightly to the South, as well as using Skullport as their Boomer base.

Then everyone made d20 Modern Urban Arcana PC's, and the shit hit the fan.

Hired as mercs to protect Interstate Five (The Five Drive) convoys that stopped at a point about 100 miles from the mountains, as well as the Mag-Lev station.

PC's walking around with magic armor, magically modified weapons, spell backup, and a fledgling psion.

The Network War is in full swing, as terrorist groups formerly controlled by the Zhentarium (which collapsed) seek to destroy other groups for the nuking of Zhentil Keep so long ago.

So, they ended up on a whirlwind of death and treachery, trying to protect Prime Minister Azoun from bad guys who were out to kill him. It culminated in two of the PC's fighting on board the mag-lev while another PC fought the big bad guy in the engine compartment.



Who says that FR isn't any fun?

There's one question that needs to be answered: What happened to Elminster?
Apart from that, this looks like a really cool adventure. Got some campaign notes you could share?

He's with Ed Greenwood, getting hot wings in H00ters.  I thought everyone knew that?

Quote from: SosthenesThere's one question that needs to be answered: What happened to Elminster?

Well, it depends on what you listen to.

Urban Legend says he went into magical slumber, and will return when he is needed the most.

Archeologists say he passed away some 2200 years ago.

History states that he died 2200 years ago, but managed to take the Lich-Lord of the Red Wizards with him. The Museam of History in Waterdeep has what is claimed to be his death mask, pipe, and hat on display in an exhibit.

QuoteApart from that, this looks like a really cool adventure. Got some campaign notes you could share?

Let's see (The notes are at his house)...

We made parrellels with our own history in order to give the players an easily embraced history.

Zhentil Keep took the position of the Nazi's up until they got nuked (in a parrellel with Japan) at the end of the war. While their government has changed, there are many people who are called "jackboots" who believe in human supremacy. (Think neo-nazis, who concentrate on elves being marched into death camps, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, half-orcs being treated as sub-races)

Thay took the place of Japan, and after Surthay was nuked they have rebounded into an economical powerhouse. They buy land and businesses, and use ruthless market tactics to destabalize other nations economies. (Accusations leveled at the Japanese) Thay had a tremendous naval presence, but the recent discovery of uranium and a successful nuclear test 10 years ago have moved them into a "quasi-power"

Anarouch is a combination archeological treasure house, and a massive battleground over the oil reserves. Recent discoveries of uranium in Atar's Looking Glass is making many nations uneasy.

The Sword Coast cities have mutual defense and technological trade treaties. Waterdeep is roughly three times its old size. The old wall is viewed much as the Wall of China is today. Undermountain still exists, but is used for game shows. IF Hallaster is alive today, he's not showing himself. However, Hallaster Entertainmnet LTD brings in millions of dollars a year.

  Amn and Tethyr attacked one another 100 years ago, starting Realms War I, the War to End All Wars. Poison gas and naval engagements rules the day. Baldur's Gate and its allied towns came under air bombardment for over two years, but never crumbled.


There's more notes, but you should be able to get an idea of how we changed everything.

OH, and Many-Arrows got his dream. The "Obould Iron Lands" is a major player, dealing in metals and heavy industry. It's primarily humaniod and giant races, but after their blitzkrieg on the Silver Marches with tanks during Realms War II, everyone watches them carefully. A bizarre mixture of fuedalism and communism keeps the Iron Lands running.

This is ten flavors of awesome. Just thought you should know.

OK, if you have the FRCS, take the map out of the back and take a good look at it.

See all the roads that are listed? Those are either Mag-Lev lines, or Railroads.

Turn the Moonshae Isles into a Naval powerhouse like Britian, who, irony of irony, have massive oil deposits off the western coast. The Isles are also the primary exporter of firearms. A Moonshae SMG does +1 point of damage per die, and have a +1 to hit for accuracy, due to excellent construction, as well as magical enhancement quality, but cost 2-5x the amount.

The Sea of Fallen Stars is where 70% of the Naval Engagements have taken place in the last 100 years. The Pirate Isles not only have naval pirates with hydrofoils and even a captured battleship (ZKN Fzoul), but also what is called the "Firewall of Faerun" which is one of the most heavily defended server setup supporting software, music, and movie piracy. Rumor has it that they are privately funded by Thay (which has the equivelant of Microsoft nationalized as a government industry) or Sembia (The equivelant of the RIAA) to destroy competition.

The High Forest is off limits to logging in the name of conservation, and even the Orcish citizens of the Iron Lands have signed the treaty. The forest is dark and spooky, and still heavy booby trapped from the fighting during Realms War I. People who have explored those dark depths report places where first generation "tanks" lie rusting in pools of stagnant water, vines and pine needles covering them. Recently, the Sword Coast Alliance has been talking about legislation to have teams go in and get rid of the spell-mines and land-mines.

Coramanthor holds a ruin even more historical that Myth Drannor (which is a major archeological dig) that is confirmed haunted and a place of horror. During the Second Realms War, Zhentil Keep had rail-lines running into the forest, and when the Allied forces marched into the forest, they found elvish death camps, complete with showers and mass graves. Those site (there are four of them) are haunted by the ghosts of those who were brutalized and murdered. Foul undead and fell creatures often lair in the old death camps.

Phlan was overrun and nearly destroyed in the 7 Day War against Melvaunt. Heavy air bombardment from jet planes and wyverns devestated the city, but the people never gave up, fighting a guerrilla war against the tank legions of Melvaunt. The war stalemated after Zhentil Keep and the Sword Coast Alliance both sold anti-air missiles to Phlan.



Characters:

Elves: for the most part, remember Evermeet with a fondness. Lost in the mists of time, it's the Fauren version of Atlantis. Elves hate "jackboots" with a passion, remembering the Elven Holocaust.
Dwarves are NOT a dying race, and with the advanced mining techniques, many dwarf holds are quite rich. However, they disagree with the prohibition of selling uranium and other precious strategic metals to whoever has the money. With fertilization technology (mostly pioneered by dwarven researchers) enabling more babies, as well as the ability to increase the amount of females born, the dwarves are seeing a "Baby Boom" generation.
Halflings: Consumate traders and businessmen, the halflings have business styles of the Japanese, with conglomerates and melded industries. Halflings believe that war is a waste of resources and kills consumers.
Gnomes: THe gnomes are like everyone else, just trying to make their way in the world. Gnomish businesses tend toward electronics, and it was the gnomish genius Harold the Small Eyed who came up with the transistor.
Half-Orcs: With a history of brutality, the half-orcs redeemed themselves racially in Realms War One and Two, where they had not problem facing poison gas to charge the trenches in the pay of the Sword Coast Alliance. While most live in the Iron Lands, that nation is part of the Alliance, providing tanks, jet fighters, and other tools of warfare.
Half-Elves: The half-elf population exploded after Realms War Two, when it was discovered that Zhentish brothels were full of elves, and that the Zhentish were trying to breed elves out by forced breeding programs. A melancholy people, they are fierce fighters against the spread of Jackboot-ism.
Humans: Many races view the humans with a combination of horror and admiration. Humans managed to tip the balance of technology, and the Gods admit that human technology is what made them finally loathe to interfere. The creators of the Atomic Bomb, some races wonder if that mushroom cloud was actually a sign that their race would someday be forgotten.
Drow: With the Deep War over, drow are beginning to appear more and more on the surface. In a world where political beliefs are more important than race, the drow refuse to become embroiled in surface dweller politics. Llolth was panicked by the first Atomic Bomb Test (which took place on The Icepeak) because she knew one of these would eliminate even the most well defended cavern. Many sub-surface drow live in fear of nuclear terrorism.


Any other questions?

The Spectral War:

With Zhentil Keep aquiring nuclear technology via espionage during Realms War Two's closing days, even the 20kt atomic bomb hit on Zhentil Keep (Now renamed Zhentia) didn't stop the research.

Zhentia spread to north of Myth Drannor's ruins to the Ride, and managed to absorb Thar ten years ago. The nation is small compared to the Sword Coast Alliance, but they've made deep inroads into the desert kingdoms of Anarouch.

The lords of Zhentia, on instruction from the God Bane, took to advanced technology like ducks to water. While they lack behind in electronics from the Sword Coast Alliance, espionage managed to keep them at least in competition. Cormyr provided a lot of tech transfer once Zhentia spies inflitrated their research departments.

The Sword Coast Alliance realized that Zhentia and Thay were dangerous, and attempted to keep the two nations from aquiring advanced technology during the years after Realms War Two, to no avail. Thay managed to get a sat in orbit six months before the Alliance, although the Alliance managed to make a lunar landing.

The Fallen Stars Pact nations consisted of Chessenta, Mulhorand, Thay, Amn, Calimishan, Zentia, and the shattered nations that were once Sembia. With socialism (which was theorized and founded by Nevess-Tam the Third) allowing them to sacrifice population gratification in order to push their economy and industrial might, they managed to recover from the devestation of Realms War Two and become a major power house.

However, when they attempted to use Zhentarium agents to eliminate Obould the XXXIV, Alliance Harper Agents managed to collapse the spy network, and the Iron Lands signed treaties to be allowed into the Alliance. In a bitter chunk of irony, it was later discovered that the Iron Lands were about to join the Fallen Stars Pact when the assassination attempt took place.

Despite the collapse and rupturing of the Zhentarium, and the problems that the Fallen Stars Pact nations are having keeping up with Alliance on the military side, there is a serious espionage war taking place.

With the Network War on one side, the Specter War on the other, and tensions increasing between the Alliance and the Pact nations, there's plenty of work for PC's.

Tech Level:
Now, there are magnetic levitation trains, the internet, crude cybernetics, genetic engineering, but for the most part, the tech level is equal to modern times.

Genetic Engineering has resulted in both the Alliance and the Pact nations bringing back races that had been destroyed during the Cleansing War (2100 years ago) and the nations that re-created these races have usually released them in their previously natural habitats, all of which are in "enemy" territory.

Magic and technology mix as in Urban Arcana. Emails are carefully screened after a Pact 'Shotgun Virus" got through email and killed one of the Cormyr princes three years ago.

Recently, the Alliance is bickering among themselves on whether or not invade Turmish, who has been exporting chemical and biological warfare substances to whoever has the money.



As you can see, there's lots for the PC's to take part in. From Cold-War-esque spy/merc missions to ground warfare action, there's a LOT of players and a lot of action.

Any other questions?

Quote from: T-WillardAny other questions?

Yep. What about the rest of the world? Faerun is only part of Toril, and even the "current" FR already have their "Maztica". Then there's Al-Qadim, Kara-Tur etc.

Quote from: SosthenesYep. What about the rest of the world? Faerun is only part of Toril, and even the "current" FR already have their "Maztica". Then there's Al-Qadim, Kara-Tur etc.

That's all still waiting for us to lay our hands on it. What we have so far is only one afternoon of brain storming.

We're thinking of trying to extrapolate what it would have been like if the Aztecs and Inca's didn't get wiped out, thinking of making Kara-Tur the FR equivelant of China, and Al-Qadim, well... we're not sure what the fuck to do with it.

The first second after reading that shit out loud, it sounds really cheesy and bad. But after thinking about it for a second the awesome ran me over like a runaway Humvee driven by hammered NASCAR champ receiving oral sex from a supermodel.

I generally can't stand the realms, but reading all this makes me smile.

You and your friend are brilliant, man.

-O

I never had a desire to run anything D20 Modern until now.

I just want to say I think this whole thing is four shades of Awesome. Of course, I do have a problem with all the nations that seem to have survived 3 millenia with only minor changes. I mean, the Rome of hte past is almost completely unrelated to the Italy of today, and that only goes back a bit more than 2 millenia.

Germany is NOT the Holy Roman Empire, and that is even MORE recent still. So why is Cormyr still Cormyr? (okay, I was too lazy to check if Cormyr was one of your 'ripped apart' nations....)

Quote from: JamesVThe first second after reading that shit out loud, it sounds really cheesy and bad. But after thinking about it for a second the awesome ran me over like a runaway Humvee driven by hammered NASCAR champ receiving oral sex from a supermodel.

You too? Was your Humvee painted "sexual repression purple" with neon green flames, a full beer cooler stapped to the roofrack, AC/DC cranked on the 2kW stereo, and a license plate that read "AWESUMZ"?  Mine was.

@Spike:  You need to get hit with the Humvee. A good blow to the head will turn off your though mechanism and get you into the right Rifts w/o the megadamage frame of mind. :pundit:

Come to think of it, maybe that's why I like this cheeze?  Because it reads like what FASA did to contemporay society. Except instead of magic added to a tech world it is tech added to a magic world.