A New Team, a New Age

Power Level: 900

General Restrictions and Rules -

-  No magic, magic based, or magic as an origin characters without approval.  The lower the magic ‘level’, the more likely to be approved.
-  No politics, religion, or racial bashing of any kind.  Some content is expected in the game, but out-of-game, and gratuitous bashing will be dealt with severely.  We are all here to have fun; don’t wreck that.
-  You may play an already existing character/hero, but I encourage putting your own slant into it.  For example, if you played a ‘Daredevil’, maybe he isn’t blind this time.
-  The Blood of Heroes – Deluxe Edition book will be used sole for this game.  We will home brew rules, but only after workshopping and agreement.
-  All are welcome, as long as you can act like an adult.
-  The game is non-lethal currently (see game style below).
-  If necessary, any out of character post should be proceeded by “[OoC]”.  Otherwise, it is assumed you are talking in character (I’ll always try to be reasonable).  Alternately, you can use “[IC]”.
-  Please discuss all characters with me; the character needs to fit the game.  We cannot have “Lothar of the Hill People” trying to fit in with Superman as that type of mismatch only causes issues and ill-feelings.
-  Please do not “play” with other people’s characters, NPCs, or public personnel in an off-line post, without permission.

General Information on the Setting –

The game takes place in modern day Chicago.  All of the locations, events, and public personalities can be expected to still exist.  If there is a change, I will let you know.  I will be releasing background on the game over time, and it is up to you if you wish to read it.  I am not a professional writer, so don’t expect “The Grapes of Wrath”.  This game takes place a few years after the last group of heroes died defending the city, The Champions (a few of them are still missed by Chicagoans).

There have always been “heroes” and “villains” in this world.  Hercules, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Khan may all have had something that put them above the normal, and allowed them to be remembered by history.  But, it wasn’t until the modern era that the numbers, and power levels increased to move beyond the rare and extraordinary person.  The atom bomb.  Ubiquitous chemical usage.  Global communications.  Continental wars.   All of these things, and more, have created “The Age of Supers.”

General Information on How I GM –

I’m a “Farmer”.  I know what I have to start with, I know what I need along the way, and I know where things may go.  But, that doesn’t mean I know if it will rain, if I’ll have issues with insects, or if I’ll have help.  I’m not a complete narrative story teller, nor a complete sandbox game master.  I’ll allow you to have as much freedom as possible, and still allow for a good story.  I will be pulling items from your backgrounds, your actions, and from my own stuff.

As part of this, I hope you will run with your own stories to flesh out characters and the timeline.  If you want to write “A Day In The Life of …”, do it.  Things like this can only make the game richer.  Please just remember the rules from above and I think this will be fun.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

Time Line – The Modern Day Super Hero
Last Updated - Thursday, June 18, 2020

1970, Winter Comet dies of natural causes in Texas.  He is openly applauded as a hero and national icon for service during WW II.
1973, Summer The U.S. withdraws most troops from Vietnam.
1975, Spring The cyborg know as David J. Smith openly joins the NYPD.
1982, Fall Gladiator first appears in a battle against Demolizer.
1985, Winter The hero The Knight claims Phoenix, AZ under his protection.  He is Phoenix main ‘protector’ for 25 years.
1986, Spring Northern Guardians are formed.
1989, Fall Demolizer places Tank in orbit.
1989-91 The Cold War ends as communism collapses in Europe.
1993, Summer Guardians Aqua form.
1993, Fall Crusader of the Northern Guardians is revealed to be Jonathon Ventura.
1994, Summer Guardians Europa forms.
1995, Winter A.R.M. joins CPD (S.W.A.T.).
1996, Winter G Prime of the Northern Guardians kills the cyborg known as Goliath while defending their primary base.
1997, Spring G Prime hounded by law enforcement, goes rogue.
1997, Fall All branches of the Northern Guardians (Aqua & Europa) collapse under internal and external pressure.
1998, Spring The Guardians (made up of 2 ex-members of the Northern Guardians and 3 new members) forms in Canada.
1998, Summer Team Red, White and Blue forms in California (Courage, Star and Ribbon).
1999, Winter Team Red, White and Blue are exposed as mostly actors (with staged fights and special effects).  Courage is the only member to have actual powers and still have an active superhero career afterward.
2000, Winter The Sentinel disappears from the contingent of heroes in Chicago.
2001, Summer The Patriot and Red Guardian (his Russian counterpart) with Buchar (Czech for Hammer) form the first Super Power Alliance.
2001, Summer Dynamo and Wereling disappear in a battle in New York Harbor with Quickshot, Dark Light and Spike.
2001, Fall The World Trade Centers are destroyed.
2002, Spring Armageddon and a contingent of mercenaries take over the small island nation of San Felipo.
2002, Summer Jihad appears in The Middle East to “protect the Islamic Nations”.
2002, Winter On the anniversary of the Comet’s death, a new hero appears and calls himself Comet in Texas.
2005, Fall The Patriot retires.  Captain America is found in the Arctic.  He is flown home in Air Force One (not designated) with a Canadian contingent of fighters as escort.
2006, Summer Captain America is revived successfully and returns to duty.
2018, Summer Gladiator is killed stopping a meteorite from striking the Earth.

1975, Spring – Metal-ore

David J. Smith is the first recognized “non-human” on the NYPD.  He graduated cadet school with honors and proceeded to move through the ranks, gathering many accommodations and finally retiring as a Captain in 2002 (after the major issues relating to 9/11 are resolved and clean-up is well under way).  He retires because of “aging organic parts”.

1982, Fall – Gladiator

In a battle that is caught by TV news helicopters, Gladiator defeats Demolizer in an “armor to armor” battle.  The collateral damage is minimal because of the location between Buffalo, NY and Canada that the battle takes place in.  This is the first battle between super powered meta-humans to be captured and then broadcast.  Gladiator arises as one of the most popular heroes of the time period.

1985, Winter - The Knight

A loner and enigmatic, The Knight is a very powerful, presumably armored hero.  His “armor” has characteristics of medieval plate mail.  He has guarded Phoenix from all threats, but seldom does much against street level crime.  He is jealous of his self-proclaimed territory and has fought other heroes off in what has been described as a “childish fit”.  He has done great things for Phoenix and is liked by the people, but his true motivation is unknown.

1989, Fall - Demolizer places Tank in orbit.

As a punishment, Demolizer places the mercenary Tank in orbit around the Earth.  Although he survives for some time, his ability to do so ends after a few days and he dies.  The mechanical remains are still in orbit and are an item of some interest for a few villains.

1993, Summer - Guardians Aqua form.

Staging from an atomic submarine in Florida, “Northern” Guardians Aqua is formed.  Their leader, Tiger Shark, received the submarine through unknown means.  Other members include Manta Ray and Turtle.

1993, Fall – Crusader

In a fight that was apparently staged to reveal who Crusader is, 3 heavily armored persons attacked The Northern Guardians.  The entire sequence of events was recorded and then released to the media.  Crusader was revealed to be Jonathon Brand, a Boston socialite with a long history of philanthropy and politics.  Although this situation forced him out of politics, it only increased his popularity and only forced him into the Hollywood spotlight.

1995, Winter - A.R.M.

A.R.M., a cyborg, becomes the first member of the Chicago Police Department under their S.W.A.T. division.  He and his team succeed in dismantling the Riotous Lords street gang in a one and a half year crusade that concluded after the 42nd building raid.

1996, Winter & 1997, Fall - G Prime & The Northern Guardians

G Prime (short for Geddie Prime, his true name) is an alien, who was a founding member of The Northern Guardians.  Although always outside the norm in behavior, he was an asset to the group.  While defending The Northern Guardian base from the attack of Goliath and a few others, G Prime killed Goliath and showed no remorse over the situation (this is one item of contention he had with others in the organization, he always had no reluctance to kill, if forced).  Over the course of 3 months, the courts, interpersonal problems and eventually law enforcement drove G Prime from the group and underground.  He later emerged as a member of many questionable organizations.

Due to problems caused by this situation and a strained system of extended groups, The Northern Guardians collapse as a force and have the UN dismantle all non-sensitive equipment.  Much of the sensitive equipment is take by former members.

1999, Winter - Team Red, White and Blue Exposed

Investigative reporting found that Star and Ribbon of Team Red, White and Blue actually had no powers and that they were a clever stunt put together by Universal Studios.  Although the third member, Courage, did have powers and was active, the other two members were never with him “actively” and were always being elsewhere “for better coverage.”  Special effects and video where used to propagate the Ribbon and Star mystique.  This scandal did harm Courage’s credibility, but he was able to rebound.  Universal Studios reputation was damaged severely, and 50% of its management was replaced.

2001, Summer - Dynamo and Wereling Disappear

In a battle, that is now said to have been staged to remove them from New York before September 11th, Dynamo and Wereling disappear in New York harbor.  They were battling Quickshot, Dark Light and Spike (3 known mercenaries) on a barge in the harbor when a large explosion occurred, sinking the barge.  No bodies were recovered.

2002, Spring – Armageddon

On March 21, a small army of meta-humans, led by the super villain Armageddon, takes over the small island nation of San Felipo and removes all its governmental bodies and personnel.  All unwilling parts of the population are removed from the island; all others are given jobs in the new dictatorship that is formed.  The island becomes a battle station for Armageddon.  Some see this as the “Golden Age” for San Felipo.  The US is unable to help the small island nation currently.  Some of Armageddon’s meta-humans hosted on the island are Arsenal, Onslaught and G Prime.

2002, Summer - Jihad Appears

In Afghanistan, Jihad, a never seen before meta-human, appears and begins attacking US troops.  Within 24 hours, The Patriot is moved to Afghanistan and fights Jihad to a stand still.  With the threat of increasing super powered meta-humans being brought to the Middle East, Jihad backs down on his “protection of Iran from US imperialism”.

2002, Winter – New Comet Appears

On the anniversary of The Comet’s death, a new superhero calling himself The Comet appears in Texas.  At first, he is met with distrust and calls for him to change his name for “defaming an American Hero and son of The Lone Star State.”  In time, these calls subside, but some resentment remains.

2018, Summer - Gladiator Killed

Attempt to divert a meteorite, Gladiator, Power Man and Starlight rocket to intercept in Gladiator’s personal short-range spaceship.  When they arrive, they find the meteorite is guided by aliens and that it is necessary to disable the meteorite and divert it (with its occupants) to stop the menace, otherwise Earth won’t be safe.  They do stop the propulsion and get many of the aliens to evacuate, but the meteorite cannot be diverted from its path.  Using the ship as a missile, they are able to affect the course of the meteorite after a lengthy battle.  But the ship, the Gladiator Armor and Starlight are heavily damage.  Gladiator doesn’t survive the trip back to Earth.  This portion of the trip is broadcast from NASA to all parts of the US.
In either an attempt to gather technology or a chance to see for themselves that their enemy is dead, M.I.T.E.S., Demolizer (2nd incarnation) and Squadron Black head to Florida to “meet” the returning ship.  In a large battle, remnants of The Northern Guardians (Mongoose, Crusader and Turtle), Power Man and Starlight do fight back the massing foes.
Gladiator, a.k.a. John Carter, is laid to rest outside of Chicago with a large contingent of US superheroes attending.  His armor, computers, technology and ship are sequestered away by his allies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:30, Thu 06 May 2021.