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The year is 1968 and we are in the midst of a newly charged era of vigilantism and superheroism.

Inspired by Captain America’s efforts in WW2 and an informal guild of domestic heroes known as the Justice Society of America, the 1960s has found itself in a highly charged period of time. Conjoined with social justice reforms, the shadow of the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, and the always sliding door of a cultural drift. Richard Nixon is aiming to be the Republican nominee, while Robert F. Kennedy leads the way for the Democrats. Debates about the “place” of superheroes have come up across many modes, though the ever increasing threats of a biological, supernatural, and extranormal nature seem to be growing today.

A new movement led by Charles Xavier with the discovery of an “x-gene” has sparked controversial discussions. In Europe, three small Eastern European countries have pushed back the Soviet Union despite insurmountable odds. A new Captain America tries to find a solution to the Vietnam problem while following their orders from SHIELD, a newly minted organization dedicated to stomping out the return of HYDRA. These are just some of the things that have taken the world by storm.

And it’s just the beginning.
Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by mickilennial
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What is 1968?


1968 is a collaborative semi-linear sandbox RP that utilizes creative interpretations of canon characters from DC and Marvel Comics.

The main flavor of 1968 is in its name which indicates when and where the roleplay itself takes place. Primarily, the goal is celebrating the Silver and Bronze Age of Comic Books but looking with a modern perspective as we tell assorted stories that share a universe. Unlike a conventional narrative-based RP, as a sandbox it focuses on what one can create independently. Some players may be more keen on interacting with each other more actively than others. This game’s predecessors included talented solo writers and reactive role-players alike.

The canvas of 1968 is blank, with very little pre-ordained outside of it being set beginning on the first day in a fictionalized version of the year 1968, basic events that are central to the foundation of the universe and how characters fit, and designing the spirit of things. Characters can be any parent or legacy character from DC or Marvel Comics as well as any of their imprints. It should also be kept in mind that the GM team will constantly be considering semi-linear events and sub-narratives that players can engage with, but generally the tools to the DC and Marvel universe are given to you. It’s all on you and your initiative and desire.

The Setting


The idea of the ‘superhero’ is a modern convention.

And for the last twenty-six years it has been something of a popular convention. From the exaggerated accounts of Captain Steve Rogers of the US Army overseas as Captain America to the tales of Opal City’s enigmatic Starman against mad scientists who wished to harm America at its most vulnerable. They were not the first nor the last of their kind. In 1942, the world was changing in many ways and it was through them that the public found a fondness for the supernatural and astonishing. For many heroes, they were the first they heard of. The advance of science seemed to be a cascading window.

After the war, Starman would go on to create the Justice Society of America when The Ultra Humanite conspired to destroy Washington DC and take his place as the ruler of the entire planet. This event in 1953 would begin part of an expanding era of superheroism; the era of the cape and cowl.

In the years that followed many scientists began to study superpowers and where they come from. Beyond the idea of aliens or scientific accidents, it soon became apparent that a percentage of heroes could say that it was entire natural. Charles Xavier, a Professor of Genetics at Oxford University, soon pens papers detailing an inherent gene of extranormal peculiarities. The Metagene. Sarcastically differed to as the “x gene” after Xavier, it set the course for discourse regarding metabiology from that point forward. It would be later be used as a driving force to wedge division between the unpowered general public and superheroes. Though, as long as Starman did great things most people seemed to care little.

The arrival of a fringe group called The Purifiers changed discourse. Initially called the “KKK for superheroes” by The Gotham Gazette, The Purifiers organized themselves as a conscious group against people they called mutants. Unfortunately, as more accidents regarding untrained metahumans kept happening in quick succession the public soon bought into the narrative. By the time the 1960’s rolled around America was on the verge of a cultural powder keg as women’s liberation, the civil rights movement, and the youth counterculture put what was normal into question. This may have been all manageable in theory, but with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it appeared everything was ready to collapse.

It’s been a few years since that fateful day. More heroes have appeared, metahuman accidents keep escalating relatively peaceful communities, and the War for Vietnam keeps getting worse. Anti-Mutant sentiment seems to be at an all-time high and things just keep getting rougher. The members of the JSA seem to not even be enough to turn things around. There’s talk of metahuman registration by members of Congress. Even with a new Captain America hunting down the remnants of HYDRA doesn’t seem to give people enough hope. This is all without mentioning that the supervillains seem to be changing from eccentric mad scientists and abominations to something more human and terrifying.

But it is as the youth culture says… the times are a’ changing.

Timeline


To be periodically edited and kept up to date following character sheet acceptances that determine the lore beyond the above.

  • March 12th, 1945: Captain America defeats the Red Skull but is lost in the process; several months later World War II finally ends.

  • January 20th, 1953: The Ultra-Humanite hatches a plan to take out the sitting United State's government to take power during the inaugaration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He is humiliated and stopped by Starman and his Justice Society of America.

  • June 20th, 1955: Dr. Arthur Light forms the Injustice Society as a response to Ted Knight’s JSA and hatches a plan to embarrass them for years to come. By the end of the decade he would be placed in Belle Reve Penitentiary indefinitely when his schemes were finally put to an end.

  • October 11th, 1958: Sergeant William Stryker organizes a group of anti-metahuman extremists that come to be known as The Purifiers.

  • November 22, 1963: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by a unknown assailant. Information would later come to the new president that HYDRA were responsible. This would lead to the creation of a new secret government initiative known as S.H.I.E.L.D.

  • January 1st, 1968: Present Date.

Expectations


"Advanced roleplaying should focus on developing interesting and complex characters that become part of plot-lines which catch the imagination and inspire the writer behind them to exercise creativity. It is mature, humorous, imaginative, tragic, terrifying, passionate, and rife with descriptive language and characters with real personality and relatable cares. Quality posting is far better than needless novels, yet one should never neglect detail when one feels the need. However, while word and paragraph requirements ought to be unnecessary, single paragraphs cannot contain enough detail to suffice."

Generally, the idea here is a simplified version of any sort of rules since we are “veteran” members of RPG and we pretty much know the big rules — follow the host site’s rules, communicate, collaborate, and don’t be antagonistic towards others. CS reviews aren’t going to be very strict, but to have a reference sheet is important. It doesn’t have to be extremely detailed; you could use bullet points to sum it up or just use brevity to get to the bulk of posting and telling the stories you want to tell. Legacy rules still apply for the most part, but if a parent character is absent just communicate what you want to do and let’s work together to make it happen.

Some things to consider:

  • You may choose any character appearing in the continuities that envelope certain frames of DC or Marvel Comics. You can include aspects of the Bruce Timm continuity, Wildstorm, the Cinematic Universe(s), and so forth. Characters from Dark Horse, Image, IDW, and Archie are not acceptable.

  • Travel involving time, dimensional multiverses, or any other concepts would be on a GM-approved basis.

  • Please do not kill player-created characters or important NPC’s unless given the go-ahead to do so or are within your right to.

  • Do not impose on arcs without asking for permission; don’t jump into a scene for the sake of interaction, your characters should have sufficient reasoning to want to be in a cooperative scene. That said, do be courteous and respectful about approaching or possibly interfering in character arcs. While this is more a suggestion then a rule, we should be courteous to those who are planning arcs. Communication is the key. Also, don't shut people out for interaction either. Don't just hoard toys.

  • Respect the GM staff and their authority.

  • Be creative.

  • Notes are an optional and malleable part of your CS’s – just because someone has plans for Harvey Dent as the Batman player does not mean I can’t retrofit those plans to accommodate your interest in playing that character or characters related to them. Notes should be used as guides and pre-cautionary plans or pre-established lore points and do not mean to rule the role-play by disallowing concepts. Again, communicate.

  • Legacies (NPCs, sidekicks, rogues) fall under the jurisdiction of the hero they are traditionally designed around. If you want to play The Joker, The Batman player has to be okay with it and your information should never contradict what they have written in their CS. This one is malleable, but again, communicate.

  • No post should be made that contradicts the host website's rules, so keep those in mind.

  • Activity will be left vague as social obligations such as employment, academics, and so forth take precedent over a shared hobby. But we should at least have a post for every fifteen to thirty days. Obligations will be reminded by the staff, but this is a low stress endeavor so we shouldn't feel the need to make extreme demands regarding this.

Character Sheet


Your character sheet should include details such as the character’s name, age, location, a character synopsis, your intentions of conceptualization, key notes to take into consideration, and either a sample post or references of your posting ability.

I do not care what it looks like as long as I can read it. However, if you want brownie points I do have this CS Code for my own peruse shown below. Be sure to only post proposals in the OOC until they are accepted. In a hider.

[center][b][h1][color=colorofyourchoice]C H A R A C T E R N A M E[/color][/h1][/b][b]Character's Real Name[/b], Age (b. 19XX)
[b][sub]Based in _____, __________[/sub][/b]
[color=gray][sub]Active since approximately _____[/sub][/color]

[img]characterimagelink[/img][/center]
[INDENT][h3]Character Concept[/h3][hr.]
[color=999999][i]Write your character synopsis here[/i][/color]

[center][youtube]youtube of your choice/moodmusic[/youtube][/center]
Detail your concept/goals/etc here.

[h3]Key Notes[/h3][hr.]
List important notes, dates/events, characters, and other things central to your character. Be as thorough as you want or need to.

[h3]References / Sample Post[/h3][hr.]
[indent][indent]Write your Sample Post or List of Hyperlinked References here.
[/indent][/indent]

[/INDENT]

Be sure to change the hr. BBcode to hr so you don't have code errors. I will approve character sheets prior to the IC launch after they are finished after a 20 hour window. But you can assume until there's a opening post that the IC is not open.

As a final note I will be accepting no more than two active character applications per player.
Discord Server


As detailed below, here is the discord information regarding the RP:

Alright, everyone.

Bounce and Hound think we should have a central Discord so I've added a #1968 channel to my personal discord. You can join it here and once I assign the right role you should be able to find said channel in the "active roleplays" section. Let me know if there are any issues.

Resources


Atlas to Cities & Countries in DC Comics
Comicvine
DC Wiki
Marvel Wiki
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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by mickilennial
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mickilennial Gowi Reinkarnated

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I will have the rules and sheet format up in a moment, bear with me.
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omw to post rn
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I R O N F I S T
Orson Randall, Older than Dirt (b. 1890 - kept young by the chi of Shou-Lao the Undying)
Protector of K'un L'un (No longer recognized, assumed dead)
Adventurer, Former WWI soldier




"Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn..."


- From 'For the Fallen', by Laurence Binyon


Character Concept


In the late nineteenth century, revolutionary scientist/mechanical genius Phineas Randall, deemed to circumnavigate the world in his colossal airship. With an incredible stroke of fate, Phineas crashed into the mythical heavenly city of K'un L'un during the brief window where it aligned with our dimension on Earth.

Healers did their best to save the life of Phineas wife, at that time eight months pregnant, but were only able to save the child. Their new son, Orson.

Phineas was brought before the Yu-Ti, the Dragon Kings and the Gods of K'un L'un as they demanded an explanation for his desecration of the Holy City and asked what he could offer in recompense. Presumably unable to pay, Phineas was put to work.

Meanwhile, the son, Orson was left to roam the streets, the outsider often getting picked on by local children. Until Lei Kung the Thunderer saw potential in the young boy. His spirit was strong. He had become hardened to their bullying. The Thunderer took Orson Randall into his tutelage. He began on his path to find The Way.

So much so, that when the Heavenly City next reunited with the Earthly plane he chose to stay in K'un L'un of his own volition. All he knew was there.

Over the next cycle his mastery of the martial arts slowly became more refined. He was a naturally spirited fighter, but was more of a blunt implement than most. As many young students of K'un L'un would learn to counter with flow, Orson would find a way to persevere through spite and grit. He seldom met a challenge he couldn't bear down on and break face first, and in those instances where he did, he was generally resourceful enough to shift marginally and just change the point of attack. For that had always been enough.

So much so, that Orson Randall had been able to sweep through the field in K'un L'un's tournament for the right to face Shou-Lao the Undying. A fight that would bring the young man face to face with a real dragon; a being of fire, fang, myth and magic.

Still the young man was able to best this challenge, and in doing so, would plunge his hands in the dragon's heart and become the next IRON FIST - PROTECTOR OF K'UN L'UN. For whatever that would mean. The city was an oasis hanging between dimensional planes, aside from the occasional attack from H'ylthri, which generally even the farmers could make short work of themselves.

The time had come, once again, for K'un L'un to realign itself with the Earth. This time Orson would be sent out into the world, to round out his learning. A twenty year old child, left to discover the world beyond the walls.

Orson had an adventurous spirit, and managed to find others of a similar mind. They formed the Confederates of the Curious, and would travel the world in Phineas Randall's airship doing many great things.

But then, one day, the 28th of June, 1914, a bullet stopped the clockwork mechanics of the world.

Gavrilo Princeps shot the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

In a month to the day Austro-Hungary declares war on Serbia.


In four more days Germany declares war with Russia.


In two more days Germany declares war on France.


Less than forty-eight hours later Britain declares war on Germany.


And a man born off world, for violence, jumps into the fray. His will, as with his fists, like unto a thing of iron!

But iron, whilst strong, can be brittle... and for as strong and imposing a force of will Orson possessed, even those closest to him could see that he'd never mastered the flexibility. The flow. For proper balance.

And so, when the mechanist's son entered the meatgrinder of the trenches in The Great War, he snapped under the sheer weight of death and darkness of man's violence unto man.

This was the man who would return to K'un L'un as the dimensional planes shifted. A man who trudged a different walk and smelled richly of drink and the poppy. Drenched in the desire to forget. A born and trained fighter who had seen too much fighting.

But he must fight. For now has come the Tournament of the Heavenly Cities! The contest which determines the divine mechanics of the Heavenly cities and their intersection with the Mortal plane!

But he has seen too much violence, too much fighting. And so the Iron Fist of K'un L'un refuses.

However, refusal is not an option. The Immortal weapons of the seven cities are sent to bring forth the Iron Fist of K'un L'un and force his participation...

But then tragedy.

Orson Randall, sharpening rapidly out of an opium-induced haze from the surprise attack on his person and the chi of Shou-Lao ever-flowing through his chakras, inadvertently killed the Immortal Weapon of K'un-Zi!

Such a crime could only have one sentence, but when Lei Kung the Thunderer was sent for the execution he found himself unable to kill the drunk, drug-addled wretch which Orson Randall had become. He went back and told the Yu-Ti and the leadership of the Heavenly cities it was done. That Orson Randall, once the Champion of K'un L'un was gone and would not be back.

With K'un-Zi left without a champion the tournament was delayed until K'un Zi could produce a new one. K'un L'un was left without dimensional cycling back to Earth until such allowances could be made to restore K'un-Zi's honour.

Orson Randall was indeed gone. He had fled with the Book of the Iron Fist. In his drug-addled state he foolishly believed this theft could prevent the cycle of violence that was the legacy of the Iron Fist from coming to pass. Of course it could not, it was just a book. A text made of dragon scale and "Immortal ink". The egg still in the tomb of Shou-Lao the Undying remained and continued to gestate.

Orson looked to keep himself hidden. For whilst K'un L'un would not be in the celestial clockwork, he was hated by ALL of the seven cities. He kept himself sedated and withdrawn in a series of opium dens throughout the Orient, lest any sense the mystical presence of the chi of Shou-Lao the Undying.

He dreamed away the Second World War, a Civil War and afterwards the First Five Year Plan of the Maoists. As China implemented a Great Leap Forward the dragon within stirred in a way it hadn't in years.

Orson Randall awoke to a new nightmare.



The chi of Shao-Lao the Undying broke his slumber, he sensed a new dragon had been born.

But that shouldn't be possible unless...

The Heavenly Cities were once again realigning with the Earth for their Tournament.

But that would be none of Orson's concern, except...

This new Chinese leader, this Chairman Mao. He had been destroying Buddhist temples, and monuments of various faiths all across their lands, which they considered to include from the Pacific, across the Mekong to Tibet. The CCP had heard legend from monks who spoke of an Immortal Heavenly city which would breach this plane of reality periodically.

But he was just one man, and this was an army, and he'd seen such violence already.

But just as always the words and wisdom of Lei Kung the Thunderer would ring in his ears and he knew he couldn't turn his back on his people, the Heavenly Cities and their ways.

This is one man's path to inner and outer peace.

The Way of the Iron Fist.








Key Notes







References / Sample Post



Of course I believe in fate. How could I not?

It’s too early, Feng would send me home. My money’s good, but not so good he’s willing to risk his best customer.

I’m tinkering mindlessly in the shadows in the hovel my good money rent’s for me when I’m not chasing the dragon. To hide from the other people of the Dragon.

Scraps come together as my father taught me. The reason why it works long seems to have passed, the knowledge only survived by the fact that I know that it does work.

The potato bristles with static, before some vague chatter hums, vibrating through the metal that’s stuck within. I adjust the nails trying to clear the quiet voices from the crackle. I suspect I hear English…

Potato foxhole radio. I used to make them all the time back in the Somme. Why? I couldn’t tell you for sure.

I suspect it might have something to do with what flows through me having an interest with the interconnectivity of the world beyond. The world and the Chi of Shou-Lao the Undying work in mysterious ways.

A young child stumbles in through the open door, curious by the murmurings.

It’s unusual for any signs or sounds of life to come from this place, I suppose. It’s long since become only a place for respite whilst I run from it.

I nudge the potato radio over to the small boy to sate his curiosity. Which of course has the opposite effect. Out here such a thing would raise more questions than it answers. I look for my shirt and stagger to my feet, my head rolls, until I centre my discombobulated chi to clear it. The boy tests the device tapping one of the nails.

‘Let him go, Orson.’ I think to myself. Let him figure out its mysteries for himself.

He looks up at me wide-eyed, as if looking for an explanation, and I smile. I can feel it. Gods, has it been THAT long since this face creased up naturally for reasons other than the steel breeze?

I take the radio from him and start to adjust the nails, I close my eyes and reach out with what a little of what resides within…

…and the voices come back. Clearer now, that it’s been better tuned. I snort half a chuckle and hand it back, before ruffling the hair on the boy’s hands. He eagerly takes it and carefully puts it in the floor to listens to the strange sounds the potato has tapped into.

I put my boots back on and get up to leave. There’s nothing worth stealing in the small hovel. You get robbed once whilst black out, you learn to better secure your valuables somewhere you don’t lay your head. And it’s mutually known by the locals that the strange white stranger dope fiend doesn’t keep anything in his place.

For a few seconds I briefly think to myself “I wonder where it’s picking up the frequency from.” As I pass a handful of men wearing a similar colour green to myself, with a dash of red round the collar – more of Mao’s omnipresent Red Guards, still they’re none of my concern. They give me a glance and I recognise a slur, before laughter, but I’m more than happy to let them walk on.

But then the god awful wail…

Not the wail of a baby. And not the wail of the child at my place, if that’s what you’re worried about… but the terrible wail of some kind of electronic instrument.



And whilst I don’t recognise what it is exactly, I know what’s about to happen.

I sigh with a growl, turn and start staggering back. Feng and the poppy will have to wait.

I have to introduce some people to another dragon...
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by mickilennial
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mickilennial Gowi Reinkarnated

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Still working out the kinks of my notes, but pretty set.


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S P I D E R - M A N
Miles Morales, 15 (b. 1952)
Based in Harlem, New York City
Active since approximately...a few hours from now


Character Concept


Miles Morales is a child who is the face of the changing America in the 1960s. Born to a Puerto Rican immigrant mother and an African American father, his existence is a sign to the ruling class that slowly but surely, America is becoming a new country. Growing up in such turbulent times, Miles still retains the optimism of his teenage years, and believes all the strife he sees will lead to a better country in the end. Still, he sees the strains that such times have on his family, with his mother, Rio Morales, seen as little more than hired help at her job and his father, Lincoln Davis, seen with suspicion in his own community for becoming a police officer. Nowhere is the tension more obvious than between Lincoln and his brother Aaron, who sees his brother's profession as the ultimate betrayal to their people.

His great intellect and aptitude for chemistry has landed him a spot at Manhattan Visions Academy, a new school created by philanthropist and Industrialist Harold Osborn, CEO of Oscorp Industries and son of the former mob boss known only as "the Goblin". Osborn's goal is to show there is a future in integrating schools, and as a private academy, Visions can do just that. There has been a backlash to the school, and white enrollment is much lower than expected. Still, Osborn presses on, hoping to rehabilitate his family name and using his father's ill gotten gains for good. Though his intentions are good, his naivety on goings on at his own company may prove to be his downfall.

At Visions, Miles has met his friends Ganke, the son of Korean immigrants, and Phineas, a Jewish boy born to parents who escaped Nazi Germany. Together, they believe they're unstoppable. The trio love science fiction, fantasy, and tinkering in Phineas' dad's workshop. Also at Visions is Gwen Stacy, the daughter of Captain George Stacy, Lincoln's boss.

The stage is set. With America as a powder keg ready to blow, Miles will learn what it takes to be a hero, and will do his best to protect the city of New York from tearing itself apart.




Miles is not a character I initially found very compelling. The initial Bendis run was just too similar to Peter, in my opinion, and did little to differentiate itself outside of some interesting new abilities for Spider-Man. But since the Spider-verse movie and the PlayStation Video Games, I think Miles has really come into his own as a character. He's the perfect Spider-Man for the setting, being a multiracial character at a time when life was full of strife and upheaval. The rich story telling of a kid struggling to be a hero for a city, even for those that would hate him if they saw his face, is interesting and could lead a lot of places. I'd also love to explore a similar mentor situation like we saw in Spider-verse, but with a Peter Parker that is more legend than anything.

Through his group of friends and family, integral parts of all SPider-Man stories, I'd like to explore how the turbulent times affect different races, genders, and age groups differently.

Key Notes






References / Sample Post


Monday. January 1, 1968
The cold winter air whips around me as I stand in the alley behind my apartment building, my breath emanating like a puff of smoke with each exhale. What brought me out here after three days of fever and night sweats I'm still not sure. But after I had a book stick to my hands at school for a good hour and a half this morning it has me thinking that the spider that bit me wasn't just any spider, and the "flu" I had wasn't a flu at all.

Approaching the wall in front of me, I look around to make sure no one is watching. If what I think is about to happen actually happens, the last thing I need is someone yelling about a black boy who's a mutant up and down the street. I've got enough problems as is. Don't need the Purifiers showing up in Harlem looking for me.

Tentatively, I place my right hand on the wall, before the left, then my left foot. Closing my eyes and hoping for the best, I take my right foot off the ground. Cracking my eyes open, I see the foot sitting a few inches off the ground, and my other limbs sticking to the wall without a problem.

"Holy shit," the amazed chuckle escapes my lips.

I take a few more tentative...steps, I guess, up the wall, and before long I'm slinking past the second floor windows of the building. I can smell Mrs. Collier's oxtail simmering from here, and my stomach rumbles. But I'm too engrossed in what's happening to worry about dinner right now. I'm climbing up a wall. I'm climbing up a wall with no help, just bare hands and sneakers. It's the most incredible feeling I've ever had.

Before long I'm on the roof of my building, overlooking Harlem. The sea of lights spreads out around me, and I realize that nothing is ever going to be the same again. Whether I like it or not, I've stepped into something heavy, and I'm going to have a bigger target on my back than I already do if I use these gifts the way others do.

But as fireworks start to go off in the neighborhood, leftovers from the night before, I have to wonder if I can afford not to go through with the far out plan rattling around in my brain.

Thursday. December 28, 1967
The gleaming white interior of the Oscorp Research labs causes my jaw to drop. I've been to the Plaza, where Mom works, but not even that place is as sparkling clean as the lab. Plus the Plaza might have the best bars and restaurants in town, but it doesn't have a new prototype nuclear reactor that could help usher in a new age of American energy independence. That's way more boss than
Trader Vic's.

"Man, are you seeing this?" Ganke Lee, my best friend, bounds up and slaps me on the shoulder. He may be more excited than I even am. "This is some Manhattan Project stuff! NASA level!"

"Bro, quit geeking out," I laugh as I notice Gwen Stacy roll her eyes at Ganke. "You're gonna get us in trouble."

"This is even cooler than NASA," Phineas Einstein, no relation, adds. "This is Starship Enterprise level."

I can't stifle a chuckle as the two of them begin to imitate Sulu and Spock, though Ganke has always struck me as more of a Scotty than Sulu.

Before I can plead for the knuckleheads to calm down, a man on a platform above us clears his throat, drawing our attention. I look up to see Harold Osborn, CEO of Oscorp and the benefactor for our school, Visions Academy. He's dressed in a sharp, navy suit, and his dark hair is slicked back. If he wasn't so generous, he'd be uncle Aaron's very definition of "The Man", not that his generosity would sway Aaron Davis's mistrust of Osborn's kind.

He smiles welcomingly, "I'm so glad so many of Visions' finest decided to come on this trip. I know it's your Christmas break, but this is the slow time at the lab and I wanted to make sure you all got to see the amazing work we have going on here. So, I won't take much of your time, and I'll hand it over to the real genius behind Oscorp, Doctor Otto Octavius!"

A murmur goes through the students. Octavius is a genius, and a famous one to boot. He defected from the Nazis before the end of the war, and has worked on NASA's rocket program before coming to Oscorp. That we were going to get a lecture from him was legitimately exciting.

The man who wheels out next to Osborn isn't what I expect, however. Octavius is wheel-chair bound and scrawny. He looks more like something out of a comic book than a real person, with a bowl of greasy brown hair hanging over his lab goggles. He smiles down at us with a crooked, ugly looking grin, "Hello. Velcome to Oscorp Labs...I can see some of zhe...future geniuses of our country have come to grace us vith a visit."

I've heard that tone before. Sneering condescension of a white man insulted that some colored kids were allowed into his place. Octavius may be a genius, but he ain't no progressive, that's for sure. I try to hold back a sour look, but out of the corner of my eye I can see that Ganke couldn't do the same.

"You are here for a tour of our new reactor," Otto continues motioning towards a door to our right. "If you vould please go through zhere. I vill show you the future of American superiority."
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Charles Xavier, 40 (b. 1928); Scott Summers, 26 (b. 1942); Logan, Unknown (b. approx. 19th century); Ororo Munroe, 32 (b 1936); Piotr "Peter" Rasputin , 22 (b. 1946); Kitty Pryde 20 (b. 1948); Kurt Wagner 18 (b. 1950)
A vigilante team based out of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in Salem Center, New York
The team and school were both founded officially '63, though there was a roster active less than a decade before that


Character Concept


It was February 3rd, 1953 when a nihilistic death cult attempted to end all life on earth. The Acolytes, as they called themselves, seized the U.S military base Cape Citadel, pointing its nuclear arsenal at Moscow, London and Washington, D.C. They broadcasted their manifesto to the world over hijacked radio waves.

They broadcasted their manifesto to the world over the radio, declaring the ‘human project’ a failure and calling for the next stage in evolution to rise up out of the ashes of nuclear hellfire. All attempts to stop them were met with violent reprisal.

Until the X-Men arrived.

A group of teenage heroes in black and yellow beat the extremists black and blue, halting the launch of their missiles and vanishing just as quickly as they had arrived. Though the Acolytes had failed at their ultimate goal, the damage had been done- the fear of Metahumans had been seeded in the populace before they even knew the meaning of that word.

These ‘X-Men’ were the protege of one Dr. Charles Xavier, the brilliant Oxford professor and geneticist that discovered the ‘Metagene’ and led much of the academic discussion involving the so-called mutants. He’d be outed as a mutant himself in ‘58 and subsequently lost his professorship at the university. He’d disappear from the public eye alongside his five ‘adoptive children’; but the work had to continue. Anonymous, thankless and distrusted by the people they protected, the X-Men would operate from the shadows for several more years, battling villainous mutants, bigoted radicals and more mundane threats all the while.

It was December 24th, 1962 when all that changed. Jean Grey, the team's telepathic wonder known as Marvel Girl, responded to a 9-1-1 call alone. She was met by Mastermind, the twisted serial murderer that had been rampaging across the Midwestern United States, tormenting his victims with horrific psychic illusions. Jean endured for as long as she could, but it wasn't enough. The man left her to die on the pavement and escaped into the night before the rest of the team could get there in time.

The team buried her at the mansion on Christmas day.

They didn't last much longer after that. Bobby Drake, the Iceman, was the first to part ways with the X-Men, heading to Detroit where his uncle ran an auto shop. Hank "The Beast" McCoy stuck around long enough to help Charles set up the chemistry lab at what would become the School for Gifted Youngsters before leaving for college, hoping to finish his doctorate in biophysics. The Avenging Angel, Warren Worthington, was the last to leave. He was broken up about it until the day Scott Summers started talking about putting together another team...then he punched Scott in the nose and took off to continue his career as a vigilante solo.

It was May 8th, 1965 when Charles founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. On the same day, he christened the X-Men, declaring them to be a public-facing force for good. They would protect the next generation of mutants, snuff out evil wherever they found it and fight for their shared dream of a better, more equal world.




Its been a long time since my last run at the X-Men and honestly I couldn't pick a better game for it. The '68 setting gives me a ton of material to work with that doesn't exist in most modern games- the Cold War and the civil rights movement in particular offer up a lotta great themes I can build off of. The X-Men came out of this era for a reason, after all.

My goal for the team this time 'round is to learn hard into the characters, the school and collaborating with other players. I'll be putting much less of a focus on complex plotting and arcs, which tends to drag down my posting frequency as I struggle to juggle a bunch of story threads behind the scenes. I want to make something I can work without stressing too much, in all honesty.

Key Notes


Just a place to put ideas and shit.

Characters of Note









Notable Events and Lore
To Be Revealed

Ongoing & Upcoming Arcs
The Demon of Japan

An enigmatic enemy from Logan's past attacks!


References / Sample Post


Here's the first mini-arc I wrote for the X-Men the last time I gave them a spin. I think they're pretty up to snuff, all things considered, and I'm confident I can bring a similar level to quality in writing their successors.

Rumbling Earth:
Issue #1
Issue #2
Issue #3
Issue #4

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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Sloth
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Sloth The Potato Salad of People

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Hound55 Create-A-Hero RPG GM, Blue Bringer of BWAHAHA!

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Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, announced interest in Richard Dragon... everybody truly is Kung Fu Fighting...
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Hound55 Create-A-Hero RPG GM, Blue Bringer of BWAHAHA!

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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by mickilennial
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mickilennial Gowi Reinkarnated

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Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, announced interest in Richard Dragon... everybody truly is Kung Fu Fighting...

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Mao Mao Sheriff of Pure Hearts (They/Them)

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I am in love with the character sheets so far. Hopefully, I can post mine tomorrow.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by AndyC
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AndyC Guardian of the Universe

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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Hound55
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Hound55 Create-A-Hero RPG GM, Blue Bringer of BWAHAHA!

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S U P E R M A N
Clark Kent, Age 55 (b. 1913)
Based in Metropolis, Delaware
Active since approximately 1938



That said, this is a Superman that's been on the job for thirty years, and unlike the pseudo-immortal version we're used to, he's aging like everyone else. Clark is still powerful beyond belief, but he's starting to sag in places, his hair's going gray, and his tights don't fit quite as well as they used to. As the threats he faces are getting crazier and crazier, he's finding it harder to keep up.


Sounds like he needs some of that Dragon chi... it's good for what ails ya!

Chi of Shou-Lao the Undying, now in 330mL, 600mL or the big 2L bottle.

For when you need more pep in your step! It'll revivify your life-force... like unto-- A thing of IRON!

# "Can't get enough of that won-der-ful Dra-gon Chiiiiiiiii!" #
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by WXer
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WXer オラ・オラ・オラ!

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Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, announced interest in Richard Dragon... everybody truly is Kung Fu Fighting...


I'm definitely ready for some kung fu antics.



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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Simple Unicycle
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Simple Unicycle ?

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With this many martial artists, I await the League of Assassins Tournament Arc that seems to keep coming up in the comics.

Uatu the Watcher can referee the 1968 totally-not-Mortal-Kombat.

Also, since 1968 is the year this show first debuted nationwide in the US... my money is on Mister Rogers winning the tournament.
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With this many martial artists, I await the League of Assassins Tournament Arc that seems to keep coming up in the comics.

Uatu the Watcher can referee the 1968 totally-not-Mortal-Kombat.

Also, since 1968 is the year this show first debuted nationwide in the US... my money is on Mister Rogers winning the tournament.


"The Champion stood, the rest saw their better: Mr. Rogers in a bloodstained sweater."

E: It is only after posting this that I realize you linked The Ultimate Showdown in that post lol.
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Hidden 4 yrs ago 4 yrs ago Post by Hexaflexagon
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Hexaflexagon

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Ended up scraping my original idea and came up with something a bit more interesting. [Wanted to push myself beyond street level again lol] Still need a sample post, but I'll try and get that up this weekend.



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Hidden 4 yrs ago Post by Simple Unicycle
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Ended up scraping my original idea and came up with something a bit more interesting. [Wanted to push myself beyond street level again lol] Still need a sample post, but I'll try and get that up this weekend.



WASP
Nadia Pym, Age 16 (b. 1952)
Based in The Red Room, Undisclosed Location, USSR
Active since approximately 24 Hours Ago


Character Concept


In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym became a spy for the USA, using his recently developed Pym particles to sneak beyond the Iron Curtain. One such mission saw Dr. Pym trying to flip a known KGB agent known as Maria Trovaya, a known member of the Soviet's secretive Black Widow Program. The two quickly fell for each other and it was perhaps those feelings that made them sloppy. On the night that the pair was bound for Constantinople via a cargo ship in Odessa, they were caught by Red Room agents. Pym was able make it out alive using his Ant Man technology, but Trovaya was captured. What neither of them knew at the time was that Trovaya was pregnant.

Head researcher at the Red Room Doctor Lyudmila Antonovna Kudrin was curious to see the effects of in utero exposure to her super serum as up to this point it was believed that the serum caused complete infertility and requested that the embryo inside Trovaya be extracted before her execution for treason. In time that Embryo placed inside a biological containment chamber would grow into Nadia.

Thus, from her "birth" onward, Nadia one and only home was the secretive compound that the Red Room ran its operations from. From a young age two things became apparent, Nadia was gifted with both her Father's superior intellect and had trace remnants of her mother's super serum in her blood. And so, like her mother before her Nadia was to be trained in the Black Widow program.

Nadia along with twenty other orphans including one Ava Orlova - who she quickly became friends with - were posed to be the next generation of Widow agents. The thinking under Khrushchev and later Brezhnev being that a modern cohort was needed to represent a Post-Stalin USSR that could truly position itself as a global superpower against the Capitalist West. Alongside her regular combat and espionage training, Nadia's handlers sought to fine tune her intellect with Doctor Kudrin personally taking Nadia under her wing seeing Nadia as the only one worthy to inherit her position as head of the program.

A week ago, Nadia passed her last examinations and was declared fit for active duty having been given the codename: WASP. However, when her first mission leads her on the trail of Professor Grigor Ivanovich Pchelintsov, a former Red Room scientist and an associate of her Father. The past that the Red Room desperately tried to keep from her will finally catch up. And Nadia must then face the question of where do her loyalties lay?



Generally, my plan is to mix a Cold War spy drama mixed with some more classical super heroics. I've always liked Ant-Man as a character and he and his supporting cast tend to get underutilized at times. Our Cold War setting though allows me to hopefully fix that problem by working form the prospective of Nadia. Her whole abducted by the Red Room and raised by the Russians fitting perfectly with the setting. Allowing for the moral quandaries of such classics as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold to hopefully shine through, though admittedly tonally I'm going much more for Snake Eater or an Atomic Blonde than I am le Carré.

After Nadia defects to America in search of answers at the end of her first arc. I hope to be able to get involved with other players especially the other young superheroes out there. As I feel that Nadia's position will make an interesting fish out of water dynamic compared to the Americans she will be running into.

Key Notes


Central Cast



Current Plot Threads

From Russia With Love
Nadia is sent to track down Professor Grigor Ivanovich Pchelintsov, a Professor with connections to her past.


References / Sample Post


Working on it!


You had me at "Snake Eater".
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