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View Full Version : Help Me Design a Really Cool Base!



SowZ
2014-11-20, 01:34 AM
I'm GMing a superpowered game set in a semi-futuristic setting. No space travel or anything, but lazers and low end mech suits, (think Edge of Tomorrow,) and the like.

Next session, the part is to defend a caravan escorting a few objects that are basically basketball sized super nukes. A small group of villains plan on stealing the bombs and selling them to the highest bidder at their base. The villain's consist of a time manipulator who can slow down time in a bubble, (making everyone outside faster by extension,) as well as slow down his own perception of time, (giving him super reflexes.) He is an expert sniper. There is also a big 8 foot tall bruiser with super strength who can turn into nigh indestrutible crystal. The three person team is lead by a woman with super speed that enables her to phase, (she also has good stealth skills.) She plans to zip into the armored trucks and grab all the bombs while the tank and sniper distract the caravan guards.

It is possible the players will foil this plan, but I highly expect the villain's too succeed. To that end, I want a really cool base. Something that would stay under the radar, (no SHIELD style skypad,) but also be unique and engaging. The auction will take place in this base which has plenty of mundane guards and security systems. I want a neat design, too, and ideally something that would give the environmental edge to the super-villain team I just described.

I'm not sure if the party will infiltrate the auction as potential buyers, go in guns blazing, or something I can't predict. Either way, I want the aesthetic to be cool and memorable, not the mention an interior that has its own unique challenges.

Last session they invaded a military base of transhumanists that was filled with cyborgs, so nothing to Terminator-ish or military compound like. I'm picturing something posh and decadent right now, but that could change. Thanks.

Ideas?

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-20, 08:04 AM
Posh and decadent you say?

James Bond-style tropical island (or the island at the end of Gears of War 3.). The super-speed lady can respond to threats anywhere quickly, the tank can hurl blobs of magma/lava from the volcano (of course there's a volcano, I mean really), and the time dilator doesn't need any more help.

Gives you an undersea potential for submarines. Maybe the heroes get captured and released to be hunted down "for sport".

What's that? Too cliched? How about in the Bermuda Triangle with all that undersea methane to explode! (partially kidding).

Could also do a mountain ski lodge type deal (nicer version of the end of Inception). Avalanches and such being fun.

SowZ
2014-11-20, 03:58 PM
Posh and decadent you say?

James Bond-style tropical island (or the island at the end of Gears of War 3.). The super-speed lady can respond to threats anywhere quickly, the tank can hurl blobs of magma/lava from the volcano (of course there's a volcano, I mean really), and the time dilator doesn't need any more help.

Gives you an undersea potential for submarines. Maybe the heroes get captured and released to be hunted down "for sport".

What's that? Too cliched? How about in the Bermuda Triangle with all that undersea methane to explode! (partially kidding).

Could also do a mountain ski lodge type deal (nicer version of the end of Inception). Avalanches and such being fun.

Ooh, I like the ski lodge idea. A fight on gondalas or a ski lift getting into or escaping the base would be awesome. Any ideas for the actual based itself?

Arjhan
2014-11-20, 08:01 PM
A maze could be really fun for which I would recommend Daedalus. http://sourceforge.net/projects/daedalus/ this should work.

Nargrakhan
2014-11-21, 08:02 AM
My friend, what you need to do is play a game called Evil Genius. It's available for cheap from GOG and Steam.

A few hours of that addictive title, and your base building inspiration will be filled to the max. :smallwink:

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-21, 08:42 AM
With the ski lodge, you could do a re-purposed castle, a large mansion (like the Clue movie), a small resort town that is secretly riddled with hidden passages for the evil-doers to use...

Red Fel
2014-11-21, 09:40 AM
With regard to any base, there are two things you need to consider: Defenses and Amenities.

The former helps you decide geography. This is why "Island base" is an awesome choice - it's isolated enough that any approach - by air or by sea, since approach by land is impossible - is immediately visible. If it's in international waters, you're also able to use all sorts of likely-illegal methods to defend it, including mines in the water, military-grade rockets and firearms to counter air strikes, and so forth. And as mentioned, a volcanic island offers its own defenses as well, including the volcanic caldera, which provides a structure into which you can build a base, geothermal vents for magma-based weaponry and energy sources, and likely an array of dangerous tropical flora and fauna. In short, island is one of your best bets.

Ski lodge is a good choice, being cold, high up, and isolated, but it's also surrounded by land in which camouflage (anything all-white) is easy. Think about how many times James Bond was able to infiltrate a ski lodge simply by wearing skis and a white jacket.

If you like something in the mountains, I'd suggest a castle in one of the older, less developed parts of Europe. Romania is lovely this time of year. There are so many great, gorgeous castles, surrounded by crags and trees, high up on the hilltops with an exceptional view of their surroundings. Yes, they are accessible by land, and yes, the trees grant cover, but (1) they are less enticing than ski lodges, since they have little to offer the traveler or tourist, and (2) they are designed to be defended. You can easily take one of these castles, reinforce the walls, mount turrets on the turrets (see what I did there?) perhaps put in a moat, and so forth. And unlike the island base, it's located on a massive continent - being in the eastern part of Europe, in particular, grants you land access to Europe, Asia, and - with some travel time - Africa.

Lastly, consider the penthouse idea. Not necessarily a literal penthouse, but many successful villains find a way to hide in plain sight. It requires you to hide many of your more illicit activities in other locations, but having an evil lair in a highly populous or otherwise recognized area, where it can be associated with you or a company, is a great way to rely on local law enforcement to protect you. And if you keep all of your dirty laundry hidden behind secret panels and underneath trapdoors, the fuzz won't ever catch on. And those pesky heroes would never dare attack you so brazenly.

Next, amenities. Also called "Why do we care about some dumb base, anyway?" Having an evil base is no good unless it provides you something. First off, underground facilities are practically mandatory. Vaults turn a base into "bigger on the inside," and bunkers defend you from airstrikes. Next, a control center of some kind. Lots of consoles are great, a wall full of screens is even better.

Now, onto geographical features. Think about it. The bad guys chose this area for a reason, and defensibility was only part of it. Maybe the base is located on top of a diamond mine. Maybe they harness the volcano's geothermal energy or the river's hydroelectric power to provide clean, consistent energy to the base. Maybe the adjacent jungle provides ample hunting and food. Think about the geographical features and how they lend themselves to life in a secret lair.

And while we're on the subject of life at the lair, can I assume there are living facilities? Make them fit the theme. Jungle base? Bungalows, safari gear, bug nets, big racks full of hunting rifles. Ski lodge? Ski lifts, hot cocoa, comfy couches, a hangar full of snowmobiles. Volcanic island? A natural hot spring, hammocks, daiquiris; climate-controlled facilities concealed within the network of volcanic tunnels; hidden airstrips and harbors concealed within mobile reef formations.

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-21, 10:44 AM
And while we're on the subject of life at the lair, can I assume there are living facilities? Make them fit the theme. Jungle base? Bungalows, safari gear, bug nets, big racks full of hunting rifles. Ski lodge? Ski lifts, hot cocoa, comfy couches, a hangar full of snowmobiles. Volcanic island? A natural hot spring, hammocks, daiquiris; climate-controlled facilities concealed within the network of volcanic tunnels; hidden airstrips and harbors concealed within mobile reef formations.

Mmmmmmm...daiquiris...evil strawberry daiquiris...

Red Fel
2014-11-21, 11:46 AM
Mmmmmmm...daiquiris...evil strawberry daiquiris...

The limes are harvested right here on the island. The tropical sun makes them deliciously ripe in no time. The sugar cane is also grown on the island, on the south side. The rum - this is a funny story - this island was once home to rum runners, did you know that? Turns out they left several massive stores, which we claimed when we acquired the island. They've kept surprisingly well. Bet you didn't realize that daiquiri has centuries-old rum in it, did you? Yes, this little slice of tropical paradise provides just about everything our little syndicate needs. Another drink?

It's all about the personal touches, my friend. What's the point of having an evil lifestyle if it's not super-classy?

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-21, 12:30 PM
The limes are harvested right here on the island. The tropical sun makes them deliciously ripe in no time. The sugar cane is also grown on the island, on the south side. The rum - this is a funny story - this island was once home to rum runners, did you know that? Turns out they left several massive stores, which we claimed when we acquired the island. They've kept surprisingly well. Bet you didn't realize that daiquiri has centuries-old rum in it, did you? Yes, this little slice of tropical paradise provides just about everything our little syndicate needs. Another drink?

It's all about the personal touches, my friend. What's the point of having an evil lifestyle if it's not super-classy?

So the ski chalet/castle - "We get the honey brought up from the valley on the western lopes. The bees over there just can't sit still during the spring and the locals make a killing off of the honey. We ferment the mead up here and have a couple different batches that should be ready by the end of the fall, just in time for the first snow to close up the upper passes. Mulled it is simply to die for during the cold nights up here. Nothing like a warm mulled mead while we plot our next moves."

Red Fel
2014-11-21, 01:11 PM
So the ski chalet/castle - "We get the honey brought up from the valley on the western lopes. The bees over there just can't sit still during the spring and the locals make a killing off of the honey. We ferment the mead up here and have a couple different batches that should be ready by the end of the fall, just in time for the first snow to close up the upper passes. Mulled it is simply to die for during the cold nights up here. Nothing like a warm mulled mead while we plot our next moves."

Not bad, but change direction. An island paradise is about comfort and relaxation. A castle is about luxury.

Do you like it? This tapestry dates back to before the reign of Vlad Tepes. It was woven as tribute to his father. The restoration alone cost over a hundred thousand, but it was worth every penny. Look at the brilliant stitchwork.

Oh, you were expecting the castle to be chillier? Well, these old manses do get a bit drafty. That's why we went through the entire structure with extensive insulation. Of course, we kept the old fireplaces. Look here - this greatroom has three of the things! Tremendous, aren't they? Why, with all three blazing, this place feels like we're in the tropics!

Of course, you would want to see the scriptorium. Would it surprise you to know that this place was a monastery before it was taken over by nobles? Yes, the irony isn't lost on me. The libraries had to be refinished, of course, with better lighting and protections against moisture, but we have a truly impressive collection of illuminated manuscripts. Of course they're originals!

See what I mean? Little thematic elements that fit not just the place, but the idea of the place.

A corporation-style lair will be very functional, with moving employees and manila folders and talking-while-we're-walking. A laboratory will be stark, sterile, with clear glass tubes and electronic security. A castle will be elegant, cultured, and extravagant. The little nuances make it work.

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-21, 08:32 PM
I feel like we took over:smalltongue:

SowZ
2014-11-21, 10:53 PM
Thanks guys, I plan on incorporating a lot of this.

The actual ski lodge will be posh, with the classy touches you all mentioned. The gondala's to the lodge will contain some guards for a potential gondala fight, but the resort area is just a red herring and a place to hold the auction of the bombs to the criminal buyers. Although there are a few medical watch towers to look for wounded skiiers, but these will have been re purposed into sniper towers. The time-power sniper will be on the rood above the penthouse.

I'm actually going to have the bombs stashed underground in a perilous maze like tunnel system that leads from a resort/tourist town all the way to the resort. Unfortunately, it is in a fictional universe so I can't pick real life areas. But I love the suggestions about natural defenses and luxury.

I'll keep the game Evil Genius in mind.

Thanks, guys! The game is tomorrow so hopefully it goes well.

Valefor Rathan
2014-11-25, 08:00 AM
I found myself unable to sleep last night and conjured an image of electric SMART cars chasing each other down incredibly tiny tunnels under the resort town and knew I had to share.