THE BIG ONE: Three Ring Circus

February 10th, 1940
Signals Intelligence Service
German Supernormal Development Report, Part 1

According to information obtained by US Intelligence Agents and confirmed by several allied foreign sources the German military, under direct orders from Adolf Hitler, have engaged in three separate but related projects to unlock greater than normal abilities among humankind, although specifically focused on what they believe to be the superior 'Aryan' race.

The three projects, secreted away in hidden bunkers throughout Germany whose locations have yet to be identified, collectively form 'Ausführung: Drei Ringe' or 'Operation: Three Rings'.

Project 1, 'The First Ring', is a serum designed to enhance and restructure a person's physical attributes to as close to perfect as possible. The results would be increased strength and endurance, heightened agility, improved resistance to physical harm and possibly rapid healing.

Project 2, 'The Second Ring', involves a series of high frequency rays or waves whose exact nature is at this time uncertain, being broadcast or beamed at a subject's brain. According to our sources, the effects of this 'treatment' are intended to give the recipient enhanced mental capabilities up to and including increased intelligence, ESP, the ability to see into the future and perhaps even the power to move objects by force of will alone.

Project 3, 'The Third Ring', is a technological device of considerable interest for its potential to be mass produced. It essentially consists of a tight fitting suit of clothing, including a hood, with electrical diodes and wires connecting it to a battery pack in the form of a belt. A unit on the power belt sends regulated pulses through the suit that stimulate and improve the wearer's abilities, both mental and physical. A soldier wearing this suit would be the equivalent of five normal men. If used in combination with one of the other two 'Rings' who knows what they may be capable of.

So far, none of the three projects have successfully created the Ubermenschen that Germany is looking for. Current reports indicate that The Third Ring is furtherest along and has had the most postive results and the fewest user-related injuries and deaths. The First Ring has a long way to go. The Second Ring might as well be science ficition but they keep trying.

A possible 'Fourth Ring' may be in the works, related to less to science and more toward occult beliefs but right now information on this avenue of exploration is scarce.

More information as it becomes available...

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Barking Alien

Atmospheric Conditions

The other day, Erin (Palette) and I were talking and she wanted to know if I'd developed any more for my gritty golden age Superhero RPG campaign 'THE BIG ONE'. Since she helped me get the idea rolling she was eager to help with the development of characters, especially or specifically ideas for villains.

And why not? I mean, the creation of stuff to fill our fictional gaming milieus is one of the great joys of being a Gamemaster right? We love to create villains, NPCs, locations, items and all other manner of toys to throw into the sandbox and see which ones the players take to and want to play with.

That's definitely a fun factor of 25 on a scale of 1 to 10 for me but it's not where I begin. No. See, I'm Adam of Barking Alien. I gotta be different.

I start with thinking about Atmosphere.

How is the setting going to look and feel? What words or visuals can I use to convey the campaign's style and theme to the players from the first moment of the first game? To me this is the single most important thing I can consider about the game before I get started actually designing stuff for it.

For this game specifically, I'm researching two different approaches side by side in search of the right balance between the two. Source material that is perfectly in line with what I'm looking for does exist (most notably the RPG 'GODLIKE' for example) but I'm actually saving the reviewing of such material for last as not to cloud possible inspiration gained by starting from scratch.

From the comic book superhero side of things I'm focusing on my personal favorites The Justice Society of America, the All-Star Squadron and especially the original Freedom Fighters (all DC Comics though Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters were originally owned by Quality Comics and published later through National Comics which eventually became DC). In addition I am looking at the Nedor/Better/Standard Comics characters (mentioned in the comments of my last post by Velaran) which include American Crusader, the Black Terror, Fighting Yank, The Ghost, Miss Masque, Pyroman and The Woman in Red among others.
I'm looking for golden age stories that define the look and feel that most people think of when the term in mentioned as well as those moments that are, to some, 'uncharacteristically' deep and edgy (kudos to Velaran for bringing that up and reminding me of it).
From the World War II side my source are a bit...eclectic. My initial focus is on films. From personal favorites like A Bridge Too Far, The Guns of Navarone, Midway and Tora! Tora! Tora! to more recent entries like Saving Private Ryan and Inglorious Bastards. From there I'm looking into a number of different history books, especially anything with good photos or illustrations. Osprey Books are a must as is anything entitled, 'An Illustrated/Visual History of World War II' or anything along those lines.

I also have a number of old stories my grandfather told me about when he served in the war. Those will be reviewed along with my own comic book universes' less than stellar golden age period.

What I want to end up with is a means of describing what the PCs see and hear and having that convey a sense of what the situation is and what's to come. I've considering several different opening sequences already, going over the 'cinematography' in my head and I think I have some good scenes. What I'm waiting for is more info on the PCs so I can figure out where they are when the events start to unfold. Timing and placement is crucial to capture a sense that they are in a living, breathing world as well as giving it cinematic pacing. It may sound strange but its been a big part of how I GM for over 15 years now.

I want a living movie if they makes even a lick of sense.

Do you worry this much about the words you use to describe things? Do you plan out what your adventure will look like 'onscreen'? Let me know.

This is going to be AWEsomazing.

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Barking Alien

THE BIG ONE

I've finally finalized my final decision for the New Jersey Group's new ongoing campaign. Finally.
A very special thanks and a hardy I-couldn't-have-done-it-with-out-you goes out to Erin Palette of Lurking Rhythmically who figured out what I was looking for when I wasn't so sure myself.
Mr. and Mrs. America and all the Ships at Sea...NewFlash...This just in from the Empire State of New York and the Garden State of New Jersey...Introducing...
GODS IN LONG UNDERWEAR: THE BIG ONE
A gritty Golden Age campaign set right smack in the middle of World War II. Think the Golden Age comics of the 1940's meets Saving Private Ryan, The Guns of Navarone and A Bridge Too Far.

Largely its comic book style characters placed in a real world war setting. Bullets may bounce off one or two people but they still hurt and they still kill the guy next to you. If you can throw a car the Ratzi's are going to be aiming for you before the lady who leaps around with a trick staff. I've already mentioned it to the group and they are all over it.

I've always included a healthy dose of Golden Age comics in my Superhero campaigns and used the period to create a history and mythology for my modern caped and cowled universes. I've never actually run a Golden Age game however. I'm really excited to finally be doing so.

At least two characters have already been pitched. I won't reveal them yet as I'm looking to get more info on one and a few ideas from the ladies in the group. Suffice to say they fit the setting though they are very different from each other. One would appear to get along perfectly in a brilliantly four color comic book setting, though there are twists and obstacles to the character giving it a deeper nature. The second character is much more Pulp, akin to a Doc Savage feel. Its going to be very interesting seeing these guys interact, especially since they do have some common elements between them.

Things I Need to Keep in Mind:
This is not my usual comic book style game. PCs can kill the villains. Villains are out to kill the PCs.

War is Hell. Superheroes are fun. How do you make Hell fun?

Genre tropes and conventions need to be more flexible. Realism edges out comics this time.

So many ideas and so much more to think about. Really wish I wasn't completely exhausted from work and my utter lack of sleep.

More to come as always.

Good night America and have a pleasant tomorrow,

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Barking Alien