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Jonesh
2008-02-27, 01:17 PM
As introductions, recaps to sessions and perhaps adventure seeds I plan on using a slightly biased (hopefully chuckleworthy) news-"show" to add some meat to the bones of my post-WW3, economic depression-struck, postcyberpunk d20Modern setting.
It might even serve as a source for "gossip" and such when my characters ask what's showing on the news channels.
The campaign is going to be centered on New York and whereabouts, but most of the rest of the world is undefined.

Defined however, is that the year is 2040 C.E., that nuclear exchange was limited in the war, the global conflict lasted for about 12-15 years, it started about oil and such (now the world economy is gearing towards hydrogen and biofueled economies), the USA is under martial law as social and economic undrest wracks the world, technology has stayed pretty much "modern" for the common man and the advances in science is kept to the rich/government.

There's probably a few more things I could define, but that would most likely only make this post unnecesary long.

So, what do you think of this idea, what would you do to implement it in a good way, etc.?

Also, as I shouldn't (and probably couldn't) focus on doing the big picture approach when I could instead prepare for the first session by fleshing out the encounters (and the "local" setting) there and read up on some rules and such, I humbly ask the Playground's assistance in coming up with newsworthy (fictional!) things for this show to report on.
It might not have to be strictly factual news (i.e. factually true in the setting or IRL), you know, but the news should have at least a certain amount of truthiness :smalltongue:

Scintillatus
2008-02-27, 01:20 PM
I recommend at least one renegade, breaks-the-rules (perhaps even Gonzo) station or reporter. For the awesomeness of it.

Edit: I also think it's a really, really good idea. Just thought I should mention that.

Jonesh
2008-02-27, 01:55 PM
I recommend at least one renegade, breaks-the-rules (perhaps even Gonzo) station or reporter. For the awesomeness of it.

Edit: I also think it's a really, really good idea. Just thought I should mention that.

Now I like that idea, since the setting overall is based pretty much on the comic Transmetropolitan.
You might have heard of it, Gonzo-journalism in the future. With Bowel Disruptors :smallbiggrin:

batsofchaos
2008-02-27, 02:09 PM
I would end every news 'show' that the players hear (from the non-gonzo shows) with an over-the-top big-brother-is-watching-you message.

"WOLF News reminds you that public curfew starts at ten, political dissent is illegal, don't question anything, and cooking with curry is the first step towards personal damnation. Remember: The Government loves you, and WOLF News loves The Government!"

In a similar vein, all news should be seriously colored with bias, to an outlandish level.

Grug
2008-02-27, 02:14 PM
If you want it to be really cool, tape record your news show before the session. then while you're setting up, the players can listen in.

The_Werebear
2008-02-27, 02:19 PM
Hrm... Maniac cheerfulness is one good way to do it. Everyone is smiling very hard all the time. After a few sessions, have a newscaster crack and start spewing what really happened, only to be tackled by government agents and dragged offset. Have the other newscasters respond as if nothing happened.

ShneekeyTheLost
2008-02-27, 02:19 PM
Watch 'V for Vendetta'. Watch their news reports and how the news is produced. Start there, work your way out.

Make sure you have at least one 'news' station which is outright illegal, who hacks the signal to put out their own news reports, generally full of anti-government propoganda and spilling of government secrets. The government, of course, wants to get rid of them, but has been unable to find them as of yet...

AKA_Bait
2008-02-27, 02:57 PM
If you want it to be really cool, tape record your news show before the session. then while you're setting up, the players can listen in.

That's a really neat idea.


Make sure you have at least one 'news' station which is outright illegal, who hacks the signal to put out their own news reports, generally full of anti-government propoganda and spilling of government secrets. The government, of course, wants to get rid of them, but has been unable to find them as of yet...

I would also make sure you include small few second segments on random stuff like the weather, how the Knicks still suck (yes, I'm a Knicks fan), and how Paris Hilton just won her third Academy Award for her commanding lead role in 'I Inherited Daddy's Money'.

Tura
2008-02-27, 03:08 PM
Yeap, great idea.
Every dystopian piece of fiction (and of course, the history of the human race) will tell you that a totalitarian system of government needs only two things media-wise to earn the people's consent:
1) A huge amount of mindless entertainment.
2) An Enemy, usually overrated or non-existant.
Not necessarily in that order.

Every news bulletin should first terrify the population with alarming news of mutants, zombies, aliens, terrorists, or all of the above in an unholy alliance against our Nation. Heroic battles, portraits of brave simple soldiers who gave their lives for the cause, and the head of state's latest touching (but firm) speech may be reported here as well.

And every news bulletin should end on a lighter note (announcer's voice changing from grim and ominous to playful and delighted), about the recent marriage of baseball star Jack "The Killer" Watson with top model Elaine Blueberry, the latest funny video on YouTube, or how a farmer in Mid-West has grown The Biggest Pumpkin On Earth.

Hope this helps. :smallsmile: [Oh, and research for such topics is a piece of cake. Just watching television will give you tons of ideas.]

edit- half ninja'd !

Scintillatus
2008-02-27, 03:09 PM
Now I like that idea, since the setting overall is based pretty much on the comic Transmetropolitan.
You might have heard of it, Gonzo-journalism in the future. With Bowel Disruptors :smallbiggrin:

Haha, no kidding? I love Warren Ellis! And Spider Jerusalem, of course. Shame it's not a PbP game. :smallsmile:

Jonesh
2008-02-27, 03:23 PM
Oh yes, I do intend to keep an overt style of well, things being a little over-the-top. But hell, I like it and I know my players like it :smallwink:
My first brainstorm was to have a very, uh, let's call them "FAUX News"-like show where there would the classic All-American couple reporting the news with, yes, fake grins :smalltongue:
E.g.
- Police Chief Alan Ward supervised the raid last night on Yakuza big-shot Shinoda Takeo's casino, Chief Ward reported no police casualties and over a hundred Yakuza and hangers-on were apprehended with 14 casualties :smallbiggrin:
- Mr. Ward also states that 'collateral damage' to the casino and it's surroundings was within acceptable levels :smallbiggrin:
- Thanks Jane, now look at this cute lil' puppy! Haha, look at him go!
- That is really adorable James!
- Thank you and goodnight New Yorkers, I'm James Callahan... :smallbiggrin:
- And I'm Jane McDougal for the ten o'clock news here at FAUX News :smallbiggrin:

Now Scintillatus got me thinking more about the gonzo-angle, where perhaps they would be accompanied by an in-the-field Hunter S. Thompson-act-alike.
But maybe I'll just do the mainstream newschannel and an underground, more "gonzo" newschannel.

V for Vendetta was good, I believe one of my friends has the movie so I can borrow it.

I'll look into tape recording, if for nothing else than it sounds cool and I can edit the segments, plus that if they just listen in while I prepare I won't have to do a monologue ('cuz a monologue might just get a little boring and I think it might be harder for me to consistently roleplay). Just have to get a microphone and such I guess.

I'll probably just stick to a little monologue the first session.
Perhaps there's social unrest in like, Brooklyn or something. Or there's large amount of squatters in Central Park rioting against their poor living conditions.
The unveiling of some new technology (nanomachines perhaps?) at a charity dinner hosted by the founder of the world's leading robotics-company. Coincidentally, the PCs will be at the party and they might check out Central Park or maybe the riots spread through the city.

Oh, I don't think I'm gonna sleep tonight. I NEED to do this and I've got homework too! :smallsmile:

EDIT: Scintillatus, yeah. They rock like... Expletives?(sp?) :smalltongue: Which one rocks, I don't know. But I'd say both, just to be sure :smallwink:
Tura, AKA_Bait, you both made me laugh. And how Paris Hilton just might win an Academy Award, made my setting setting so much bleaker. That's the kind of shallow values I'd expect from any kind of cyberpunk. The best thing to say about her acting is, well, that you can see her "act". She tries, I guess? :smallamused:
Man, it's like tragicomic. It's so very, very depressing that you just have to laugh :smalltongue:

Mando Knight
2008-02-27, 03:35 PM
(perhaps even Gonzo)

Or even Gonzo the Great!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7c/Gonzothegreat.jpg

Or perhaps news reporters like those in Family Guy...

If you can get the "News" digitally recorded, you can then add in the little pictures that appear above the news guys' heads...

Solo
2008-02-27, 03:38 PM
I would end every news 'show' that the players hear (from the non-gonzo shows) with an over-the-top big-brother-is-watching-you message.

"WOLF News reminds you that public curfew starts at ten, political dissent is illegal, don't question anything, and cooking with curry is the first step towards personal damnation. Remember: The Government loves you, and WOLF News loves The Government!"

In a similar vein, all news should be seriously colored with bias, to an outlandish level.

In other words, fair and balanced, eh?




Every news bulletin should first terrify the population with alarming news of mutants, zombies, aliens, terrorists, or all of the above in an unholy alliance against our Nation. Heroic battles, portraits of brave simple soldiers who gave their lives for the cause, and the head of state's latest touching (but firm) speech may be reported here as well.

For the Emperor!



On a more serious note, it is unrealistic for a real life nuclear war to take place, due to the fact that we would completely obliterate the offending party. This tends to deter people from using nukes on the US, so I would advise you to have a really, really good explaination as to how this nuclear exchange took place.

Jonesh
2008-02-27, 04:14 PM
Solo, I think I just used the wrong word. I was imagining more like, say, terrorists detonating "dirty bombs".
Or I'll just scrap it :smalltongue:

Solo
2008-02-27, 04:20 PM
Solo, I think I just used the wrong word. I was imagining more like, say, terrorists detonating "dirty bombs".
Or I'll just scrap it :smalltongue:

Vastly more plausible.

However, we would then have Chem. Corp analyze the isotopes of the radioactive materials, pin down the country of origin, and at the end of the day, the world map would need updating.

As an alternative, I imagine, always go for a Jericho type scenario.

Mewtarthio
2008-02-27, 04:28 PM
Don't forget to have horribly exagerrated propaganda targetting the PCs if they become famous enough. For instance, say a female PC dies. The following news report should look something like: "The forces of Big Brother scored a great victory today as [PC] was killed in a tense standoff. She was given every chance to surrender, but ultimately committed suicide, killing several hostages along with herself. [PC] is survived by her consort, [other PC], and infant son Baal-Jesus, whom she believed to be the reincarnation of Josef Stalin come to suborn our great nation with communism. In other news, Jennifer Aniston has adopted a really cute iguana."

ShneekeyTheLost
2008-02-27, 04:34 PM
Actually, a 'post-apocolyptic' setting I had in which there was the 'Reformed Republic of the Americas'.

In short, a suicide bomber got a large nuke smuggled in a container on a boat and sailed it into LA harbor, wherin it detonated, blowing up most of the LA area.

Public outrage, furor, 'strong president' bill rammed through, and twenty years later, we have a 'Republic' about as free as Nazi Germany.

Other cute things:

* Illiteracy was classified as a disability, and thus you cannot discriminate against it. This means books have to have a certain percentage of pictures for illiterates to understand them. Book sales tank. Books are not technically illegal, but owning many of them raises eyebrows you don't want raised.

* Nationalized Public Education. Every kid should be brought up being educated in how our great and glorious nation is, in fact, great and glorious. And hour honored ruler has nothing but our best interests at heart.

* National News does several things. First, it titilates with stories of scandals. Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears. Who is doing who where and how, next on the six o'clock news! Second, it tells the masses about how the 'war against the Enemy' is going. How many enemies have died, how few 'noble heros have sacrificed their lives to keep everyone safe'; what the plan is, in general terms, for eradicating The Enemy. And Third, it tells people about the latest curfues, restrictions, rations, and such. Oh yes, and the cute puppies.

* Come to find out, the government let the LA nuking happen and set things up to fall as they have.

tahu88810
2008-02-27, 04:41 PM
the underground group thats tells it sans propaganda could at one point say something like:
"A horrible even took place at 10 o'clock PM yesterday when government forces brutally gunned down thousands of peaceful protesters and bystanders in the small town of Townville. The few survivors where horribly injured, and where either sent to camps or shot where they lay."

meanwhile, the Faux News group says something like this:
-Yesterday Commander Apollo struck a powerful blow for the forces of good when he and his regiment took out a base, codenamed Townville, full of violent terrorists and communists. Apollo reports that no government soldiers where injured during the battle.
-Obviously due to Big Brother's amazing intelligence and strength! Isn't that right, Tom! Especially since there were no evil survivors!
-Of course, Cindy.
-In more recent news, we have a heartwarming tale about a cute little kitten!
{make sure to add the whole "Government is great! Hail government" speech afterwards" :D }

tahu88810
2008-02-27, 04:45 PM
* National News does several things. First, it titilates with stories of scandals. Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears. Who is doing who where and how, next on the six o'clock news! Second, it tells the masses about how the 'war against the Enemy' is going. How many enemies have died, how few 'noble heros have sacrificed their lives to keep everyone safe'; what the plan is, in general terms, for eradicating The Enemy. Oh yes, and the cute puppies.
Sounds like modern times -_-;
(in the US at least...)







oh, and sorry if there is a double-post...I'm hoping that someone will post while I'm typing this XD

AKA_Bait
2008-02-27, 04:56 PM
Don't forget to have horribly exagerrated propaganda targetting the PCs if they become famous enough. For instance, say a female PC dies.

Good point. Another way to do that would be:

In a surprise turn of events today known Enemy of the Peace PC realized the error of her ways and surrendered to the Rightful Authority. Before entering a secure rehabilitation center she issued the following statement through her attorneys (some dry lawyer voice):

I would just like to say that I was wrong. So very wrong. I realize now that the Rightful Authority really is the best possible form of government. One day, I hope to make up for all the harm to peace and stability I have caused and I will be working with the Rightful Authority from this point forward to help root out the remaining Enemies of the Peace. I don't know how I have been blind for so long. I am so sorry.


good stuff

You can also have that in reverse. The PC's destroy some evil government facility and the mainstream news says:

Today known Enemies of the Peace The Party revealed once again why they are no more than terrorists and savages. The once peaceful suburb of Townsville is aflame tonight...

BRC
2008-02-27, 05:41 PM
If the PC's ever do somthing that causes alot of collateral damage, but are not at this poitn enemies of the government. Have the News Shows blaming the action on some known enemy of the state.

Jonesh
2008-02-27, 05:46 PM
I'm was thinking of my setting having repealed that one amendment in the Constitution that only allows presidents hold the office for two 4-year terms. Something like that, but it's still optional.
Just the US being under martial law is in my opinion fretty damn unlikely. But it has potential for action and humour :smalltongue:
I'd imagine that the players will really like seeing how their activities are being covered by the news. Because that is some pretty good tensionbuilder and offers interesting game- and RP-activities like obtaining fake I.Ds and such.
Got to go, but I'll be up all night writing like I'm struck with madness :smallbiggrin:

Xuincherguixe
2008-02-27, 05:48 PM
There should be two political parties, "The Patriotic Party" and "The Unpatriotic Party". It is illegal to be in the Unpatriotic Party, but yet they somehow show up on the ballots.

All the people running in the Unpatriotic Party are fictional. Computers and such.

Voting for the Unpatriotic party is considered treason, as is giving them contributions.

The fictional people should be ugly, foreign, of visible minorities, disabled, and whatever else you feel like taking on there.

Tura
2008-02-28, 09:54 AM
I'd imagine that the players will really like seeing how their activities are being covered by the news. Because that is some pretty good tensionbuilder and offers interesting game- and RP-activities like obtaining fake I.Ds and such.
If you want to make this less in-your-face, but more, well, smart, use some contemporary (and timeless) techniques. Have lively debates on the news, it's what the government uses as a proof of its deeply rooted democratic values (with some minor inconveniences and civil liberties issues due to Extremely Dangerous Enemies).

For example, if a PC gets caught, have lively debates about whether he/she should be:
a) held indefinitely in isolation until a confession is made
or
b) lawfully tortured to obtain a confession quickly.
Nobody discusses the possibility of innocence or the option of a trial, of course, but if there is a debate about the method of oppression... there. Instant democracy! Coming soon to a hood near you.:smalltongue:

Jonesh
2008-02-28, 08:41 PM
Ohohoho, you're clever ones I must say, I've just gone and bookmarked my own thread. 'Cuz I really want to be able to remember all this good advice and you know, the funny parts =3

The first introduction is probably going to be different than the following ones, since the first adventure is pretty much done as it can be (in my head), I'm gonna try and come up with this proposed newscast/introduction, RIGHT NOW

1- ...The bad weather continues as heavy snowfall is expected to last all through the night untill early morning and tomorrow we can look forward to a day with little wind and a chance of sunlight.
Traffic is especially congested in neighborhoods surrounding Central Park as squatters illegally try to hinder traffic and rouse support for their illegal occupation.
Be advised, as these vagrants may be dangerous. Do not stop or take contact. Overwatch-units (Note: name pending) is monitoring the area. If your freedom is being severely threatened by the squatters' actions, signal for an Overwatch to take care of the situation.
2- However, this bad weather is of no consequence for the people at the Big Apple's Golden Boy, Fadi Al-Qadir's fundraising party!
Held for the benefit of the children left in the terrible aftermath of the Black Crescent terrorists' brutal campaign in Iraq, native Iraqi Al-Fadir states that he is glad to be able to give something back to the country that gave him everything; his life.
1- Strong words, from a strong man.
2- Indeed.
1- Sporting a guest list that would make the President blush, it includes such celebrities as singer/songwriter Agnes Pétain, Mayor Scott O'Hara, business magnate Donald Benson, Police Commissioner Jeffrey Kendall and many others, it's going to be the event of the year!
2- Reporting live, we have Clara Miller uncovering all the latest gossip...

Then I'm going to fade away from the newscast and start the session for real.
And the fun will really begin :smallwink:

Illiterate Scribe
2008-02-28, 08:46 PM
Vastly more plausible.

However, we would then have Chem. Corp analyze the isotopes of the radioactive materials, pin down the country of origin, and at the end of the day, the world map would need updating.

As an alternative, I imagine, always go for a Jericho type scenario.

Eh, I can certainly envisage very high levels of escalation in this sort of case. The eventual fired shot might be accidental, but it's not as if there'd be any going back from there. No, what I'm incredulous of is the existence of any civilisation at all after such a war.

Solo
2008-02-28, 08:53 PM
How does one accidentally fire a nuclear missile?

Illiterate Scribe
2008-02-28, 08:57 PM
How does one accidentally fire a nuclear missile?

Like this. (http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/issues/accidents/20-mishaps-maybe-caused-nuclear-war.htm)

kirbsys
2008-02-28, 09:07 PM
If you have not, I strongly recommend that you read Animal Farm or 1984 (or both). Both of them give great ideas on a future controlled by a fascist government (1984 being more about life in a fascist country, Animal Farm being more about the takeover).

Solo
2008-02-28, 09:32 PM
Like this. (http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/issues/accidents/20-mishaps-maybe-caused-nuclear-war.htm)

I would like to note that none of them did.

Leewei
2008-02-28, 11:28 PM
All but a handful of the events on that site took place before I was born, and I'm not exactly young.

Jonesh
2008-02-29, 04:35 AM
If you have not, I strongly recommend that you read Animal Farm or 1984 (or both). Both of them give great ideas on a future controlled by a fascist government (1984 being more about life in a fascist country, Animal Farm being more about the takeover).

I haven't read them, but I've seen an animated version of the Animal Farm.
And, uh, I've read about them on wikipedia a few years ago or whatever. I just get curious :smalltongue:

I'm envisioning a story arc in where the counter-culture in my setting, a mix of punk, hippies and antifa, will start escalating their actions in response to the suppressive actions of the government.
Then it might go down either way. Ideally, I hope to showcase this happening in both the newscast intros and the roleplaying itself. You know, for verisimilitude :smalltongue:

Ashtar
2008-02-29, 05:18 AM
I've got 2-3 newspapers I made up for a GURPS/Cyberpunk on-shot. I'll try and find them tonight, PDF them and upload them.

Illiterate Scribe
2008-02-29, 11:40 AM
I would like to note that none of them did.

If any of them had, then you wouldn't be around to make that observation. Anthropic principle FTW!

Jonesh
2008-03-03, 12:12 PM
I've got 2-3 newspapers I made up for a GURPS/Cyberpunk on-shot. I'll try and find them tonight, PDF them and upload them.

Oh, that would be a nice inspiration.

The session itself went well, but I could have reahearsed the intro a bit more.
Also, I was a bit rusty as I haven't roleplayed for like, several months :smalltongue: