* Cosmic beings called the Celestial Guardians visit prehistoric Earth and experiment with the genetics of humanity, sowing the seeds for the future evolution of mankind.
* Aliens species known as the Ti'tans visit earth, vastly expanding the technological capabilities of humans in Egypt, experimenting with genetic potential creaates an offshoot of humanity eventually dubbed Inhumans. The Inhumans are worshiped as god-kings.
* The Ti'tans continue their experimentation in ancient Rome and Greece, creating a new race dubbed Deviants, who rebel against the Ti'tans, slaying them and ascending to the role of gods on Olympus.
* One of two surviving Ti'tan secrets a group of woman warriors to the Isle of Paradise, imbuing them with superior lifespans and strength, promoting the ideals of peace and prosperity through sisterhood.
* The second surviving Ti'tan relocates to the north, this time directly lording over a group of modified humans dubbed the New Gods, presenting himself as Odin, the All-father.
*Odin's plans to wage war against the Deviants is spoiled when the Celestial Guardians check back in on Earth, sending their agent of destruction, Ragnarok, an unstoppable force, to destroy the New Gods, Deviants, and Inhumans, feeling that Earth's evolutionary process has been unduly accelerated by the Ti'tans' interference. The Inhumans hide from Ragnarok's destructive wrath by submerging their population at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, using their advanced technology to remain cloaked and protected from the crushing depths. Many of the Deviants and New Gods are slain by Ragnarok. Only through sacrificing himself does Odin save a handful, hurtling himself and Ragnarok into the sun.
*With the remaining "gods" either hidden or destroyed, the first heroic age ends and superhuman beings fade into legend, shrouded in myth.
*The second heroic age comes during the second world war, when the Deviant Mars re-emerges, attempting to re-ignite his worship as the god of war. With Mars' aid, the Germans and Japanese develop superhuman champions. including the likes of Blitz, Rising Sun, and Baron Doom. In response to a submarine crashing into Alantis, the Inhuman leader Black Ray joins the fight on the side of the allied forces. Artemis, an amazonian warrior princess joins with him, the android Red Volcano, a speedster named Dynamo, and America's greatest hero the Super Soldier, to form the Justice Squad. They fight in many well-publicized adventures, gaining worldwide recognition as champions. The Germans attempt to steal and duplicate the Super Soldier's formula, resulting in the twisted menace known as Redmasque.
*Super Soldier's apparent death at the hands of Redmasque as the Axis forces are defeated splits the Justice Squad. Black Ray returns to Atlantis, swearing never again to become embroiled in surface politics. Red Volcano and Rising Sun are destroyed while clashing as the bomb drops in Hiroshima. Artemis, horrified by nuclear destruction, retreats from the "violent nature of men" and returns to Paradise Island. Dynamo briefly pairs with a high tech archer named Fletcher during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, but both later retire having grown too old for heroics.
*The third age of heroes begins in 1991, with the public revelation of mutantkind as the hero group Legion-X fights Doctor Magnus' attempt to take over the nuclear plant at nine mile point. Doctor Magnus is defeated, but the vast majority of humanity begins to experience a wave of fear over the existence of mutants and extraterrestrials.
* Baron Alexander "Lex" Doom III begins a campaign of anti-superhuman propaganda, rising to prominence within the United Nations, warning of alien involvement in the mutation of the human race. The third Baron Doom is every bit as charismatic as the first, and many smaller nations, whipped into fear of "Superhuman Death Squads" invading, seek to ban superhuman activities within their borders.
*In the US, the P.I.L.O.T. (Powered Individual Listing, Observation, and Tactics) bureau is developed to deal with its superhuman population. PILOT's protocols are soon adopted by the UN Security Council, and the UN creates S.H.I.P.(Super Human Interception Protocol) as an international rapid response team for powered incursions.
*Last year, an invasion by the alien species known as the Hive nearly conquered the Earth. Many of the world's greatest champions (and even some of its villains) rose to defend the Earth against the mind-controlling, body-converting aliens. Out of this crisis, your team was formed, sworn to protect the Earth from the stuff that's just too big for any one of you to handle.
FAQ responses:
Has the group already met/formed, or are we doing that in game? The beginning story arc I have planned could work for either style of campaign, so I'll leave this one up to a vote. No vote will preclude any shared backstory individuals wish to craft together.
What kind of cities are we dealing with in terms of Gotham, New York, Metropolis, etc? In true Amalgam fashion, it will be a kind of mix. The big ones are as follows: Gotham is an area of New York City akin to Hell's Kitchen, only larger. Incorporating about thirty city blocks, it is the failed attempt at urban renewal that corruption has left as the bleakest, most crime-ridden section of the greatest city in the world. DC Metro is almost the opposite: a shining example of doing it right in the bustling corporate sector of Washington D.C., a stark contrast to the "heart" of the capital, DC Metro has become a sprawling beacon of success to the nation.
One or more of the characters is a killer. How should we deal with this? Does the game have penalties for such actions? While I did specify this as a "Bronze Age" campaign, which means murder isn't an acceptable "tactic", I realize that a few of the PCs I accepted have some issues in their backgrounds which make lethality a more likely tactic. I would ask that we focus on these characters' growth from such pasts towards a less severe outlook on life. A story of personal growth is of interest to me and I don't mind if we start out in a darker place (in fact, a storyline of a golden hero taking a darker path due to something that happens in game is likewise attractive, so long as the hero eventually is brought back into the light.) That being said, purposeful murder doesn't have mechanical effects/results so much as storyline- and complication- based issues. I'd rather not have to focus the campaign on a manhunt against your characters for harboring a serial killer.
When do we get started? Huh? Huh? Are We starting yet? Huh? Very soon. In fact, pretty much as soon as we get a majority in the vote above. I expect I'll be able to get things going pretty well in the first week here, since I am on vacation. I expect my posting will slow down a bit after I get back to work, but expect to be able to post at least daily.
Well Konown Villains:
Redmasque (Red Skull/Joker)
Emperor of Crime (Kingpin/Penguin)
Ragnarok (Doomsday/Juggernaut)
Baron Alexander Doom III (Lex Luthor/Dr Doom)
Mars (Ares/Ares)
Doctor Magnus (Major Disaster/Magneto)
Mentallus (Brainiac/The Leader)
The HIVE (Starro/the Brood)
The Demon's Hand (Ra's Al Ghul/Mandarin)
