World War II should've ended with the defeat of the Third Reich by the Soviet Union, and the dropping of two nuclear payloads onto Japan. That's how the world should've been left, where the course of the entire future of Earth would remain, changed forever to learn from its mistakes of mass war. However, this never happened. At least not in the way many expected.
The year is now 1948. The Third Reich and its Fuhrer have already defeated all but one single enemy. Germany was assisted by an array of much needed help given from the Spanish after their Civil War outcome left a Fascist ruler on top. By 1942, Germany, Italy and Spain amassed a large-scale invasion of Southern England. The Italians landed in Portsmouth, the Spanish invaded Norfolk and Germany desperately landed in London, causing a few desperate months of fighting that led to the surrender of Great Britain, now split into two halves: that of an installed German-governed area in the south, and a puppet government in the north. Before the Americans could make a move into retaking Germany, the Imperialist Japanese forces somehow sprung into action, landing thousands of troops onto several wide-spread landing zones on the West Coast of America, keeping them busy and at bay. As for now, all eyes rest on the Soviet Union, the last standing force against the Axis.
Technology has developed only for the war efforts, and the new inventions of both German and Russian war machines have excelled at an alarming rate. By late 1946, the German production line sought the first Wandertank, or 'Walking Tank', and the Russians retaliated with the first armoured bipedal unit.. Naval ships grow bigger by the day, and aircraft become faster, deadlier and larger than before. The German forces and Russian forces have clashed more than enough times to create a stalemate across the border, not too far from Moscow. With their dictator evacuated from the Capital and moved further East, the Russians hold for what seems to be a second rendition of Stalingrad, where Moscow stands on the brink of ending in a bloody siege that will drain the life out of both sides.
In a desperate attempt to both test newfound equipment and to cause a distraction across this Eastern Front, known now as the Final Front, the government conscripted those young and possibly considered fit enough to fight of both genders, hoping to create Squad 914, the 'Eksperimental'nyy otryad', experimental squad.
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This Roleplay focuses around an alternative outcome to the Second World War where the Fascist European and Imperial Asian nations became dominant. The Third Reich is only faced with a single enemy, the Soviet Union. Whilst Japan has to maintain its gains in both a broken China and the new front on United States soil, the European states face huge odds which clash out for years longer than the war should have. Russia held its ground, and still has, but has been pushed back from its borders, soon to make a stand in Moscow. However, with the war taking longer, newfound technology has shaped the battle to a more...interesting state.
The thread itself takes technological inspiration from things like Wolfenstein, where some gadgets are tested in the field from both sides. As I will explain later, the idea of experimenting with technology in a dieselpunk fashion is important for the roleplayers, as it will play a part for individualising their characters amongst the class system the Roleplay will follow. Now, more specifically, I must talk about the characters in question.
For this Roleplay, each player will take up one, or the option of a few side characters aside, leading role of a sole Russian individual. We focus on a group of individuals, of either gender, brought into the world of conflict via conscription or transfer. Several from the Reserves away from the combat, as well as a majority of fresh faces in the military, are brought together to train and fight for what the Soviet Union call their Black Project. A more informal term would be Squad 914. As previously discussed, this fighting group, whatever their final size, are dependent on the use of experimental warfare and equipment. Their mission, however, is to be eventually dropped into the heart of the Frontier's command zones, where they are told to draw attention away from the front lines to give the main Armed Services the breakthrough they need into China.
This Roleplay will be split into a few arcs. The only revealed arcs I can give are the Training Arc and the Battle of Hanoi Arc. Past that comes the Beyond Arc, where the main objective of these soldiers and misfits will come into play.
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For the creation of the characters, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration. These include: the characters themselves, the classification of the character and the specialised equipment. Firstly, the characters themselves would be looked at. This isn't anything special, just the regular Character Sheet you'd find in any other Roleplay. I do ask, however, for a moderately detailed description for the character, but all of that in particular will be explained and shown in the CS at the end of this section.
As for the classification of the Character, I'd need to introduce the character class system. These decide on the standard equipment and weaponry that they would face, also giving the individuality and abilities they would be trained under. Whilst most of them are given standardised weaponry and set pieces of equipment, primaries and secondaries can be changed depending on the experimental equipment assigned to the character. However, most of the equipment would likely be tertiary equipment, which will not result in the replacement of the standard weaponry. Any questions as to if they wish to change the assigned weaponry. Full-on realism isn't required for the weaponry, though, so some inaccuracies may occur to fit the dieselpunk setting.
These classes will not restrict the characters completely of their abilities in combat, as the physical and mental capabilities of the characters will mostly effect how they act and function both on the frontlines and behind the lines of their enemy. Now, for the Character Sheet. I ask for you to at least get all of the necessary details, which you should be able to identify, down into your CS, but the rest you can customise, decorate and add to with good intention. I intend to allow character relationships to be an important factor in this alternate and dieselpunk historical setting. The relationships between each character will need to be tracked as the Roleplay goes on, making sure that the characters' ability to survive will depend on how they like, love, dislike or hate another comrade. However, if you wish to use your own classes, seeing these as only guidelines, then by all means request such.
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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the roleplay at most. If there are any questions as such regarding the lore, the equipment, the dieselpunk technology or the general roleplay, please feel free to ask me. I may elect or request for a co-GM or two to assist in helping the Roleplay. They will be tasked with suggestions and management assistance, making my busy life a little bit more easier. Either way, I thank you for reading this, and for those interested who have not already stated, get yourself in my radar before any drastic decisions or events happen, just so we can include you. I may be accepting players throughout the Roleplay.
