Here's the pitch:
Black Market Bible Camp
Located just east of the ruins of Kenton, Oklahoma, near the borders of the Old American Empire states of New Mexico and Texas, the ramshackle trading post known as Black Mesa owes its existence to two things: A nearby ley line that carries TW-powered caravans southeast from the Colorado Baronies to a nexus in the northern reaches of Lone Star, and an underground bunker built by far-sighted religious zealots who knew jack squat about HVAC systems.
Loaded with supplies, electronics and religious tracts, the bunker beneath the former Black Mesa Bible Camp was discovered by Black Market smugglers about 50 years ago. The occupants were long dead, killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, but the complex itself was perfectly serviceable with proper ventilation. Looking to liquidate the crates of Bibles and other paraphernalia within, the Black Market unwittingly attracted a number of New West preachers and other fanatics who continue to use the outpost as a hub for mission trips and pilgrimages throughout the surrounding region.
Decades later, the black-collared priests and the Black Market share the dusty streets with an eclectic mix of gunslingers, gamblers and traders, shifters, mercenaries and the militant techno-wizards of the Red River Combine.
It’s the sort of place that offers any number of opportunities for the Tomorrow Legion, but the 18th Community Outreach Team -- its sigil the Aces and Eights of the Deadman’s Hand -- hasn’t had much luck recruiting. A recent plea for help has the COT preparing for action, however. The message, from a veteran Cyber-Knight purported to be an old companion of Lord Coake, seeks help in the wild lands to the west, where a D-Bee village is in dire need of protection from Pecos raiders.
I'm looking to fill eight slots, with the following guidelines for character creation:
- Several of the custom MARS packages in the House Rules forum are appropriate for this campaign if you're interested, including the Gunslinger and Psi-Slinger. Custom races are okay within reason (no excessive use of Hindrances to load up on positive traits, frex). At this point, I'd like to avoid any custom IFs. ARES characters will be considered on an individual basis -- those that model a character option from core Palladium Rifts or one of the western books (Lone Star, New West, Spirit West) are most likely to be approved; random weirdos and combat/magic monsters less likely. Also see the next bullet.
- This is my first time running Savage Worlds and I want to avoid characters that push the boundaries of the power curve. I also want to keep the focus on the PCs, and not an entourage of sidekicks and minions. The shape change and summon ally powers, and the Followers and Sidekick Edges are prohibited.
- The group will be moving around a lot, occasionally in tight spaces, so a character that relies on a robot or large vehicle is not a good fit. A Glitter Boy or an operator with a suped-up Mountaineer might be disadvantaged at times but might still work. A power armor pilot would be fine (and might get access to some fun retrapped power armor options ...)
- Don't sweat over equipment. You will have a chance at the start of the campaign to swap your starting gear for other equipment at cost. (For balance reasons, this will apply only to gear that was pre-set -- no choosing a Battle Fury Blade as a F&G roll and then selling it for 13 million). I'm going to try to work up conversions or retrappings of more of the western Bandito Arms weapons and armor before Oct. 1.
- I'd like a fairly well-balanced party. At least half should be members of the COT and the Legion, but a few can be mercenaries or allies of convenience -- you'll have good reason to work with the rest of the party once the game starts. Not everyone needs to be combat god or archmage; There is definitely room for multiple MARS characters. General roles that would be good to fill include: One or more characters with social skills, including someone who will be the leader of the COT; An operator, techno-mage or other character(s) with skill in Repair, Electronics, Kn: Computers, etc.; A scholar or other character with some history knowledge; a scout/survivalist; a character with some arcane know-how (not just firepower); a healer (magical or mundane).
- Characters that play on post-apocalyptic Western themes are encouraged. Black Mesa is a wild place, home to gamblers and prospectors, gunfighters and grifters, law men and men of magic, preachers and pariahs. A "fish-out-of-water" character is a classic trope, as well, and since it's Rifts, almost anything could have a place in the COT.
I nixed the Psi-Operator idea. It just wasn't gelling. A regular Operator taking AB: Psionics looked way cooler LOL But I think I've got the character building bug out of my system for now. (Actually, have to build some Starfinder characters for Starfinder Society now that it's up and running in my local Pathfinder Society Lodge.)
