Apocalypse in Super-World
In about 3 hours, I’m gonna play in an Apocalypse World setting that’s set in a world where there’s evidence of a superhero past*, MCed by Judd Karlman and featuring DeWitt Davis and Jason Bowell and I’m really looking forward to it.
This isn’t going to be a superheroes game, though. This is going to be a world of mundanes who, if they remember superheroes at all, probably do not do so fondly**. It’s going to be a tricky balance since there are so many things that sort of hedge close to superheroic tropes (Battlebabes, the psychic maelstrom, etc.).
I have so damned many character ideas for this!
The Marmot: I could make The Marmot work for myself for once, because it could be possible in this world, and the mystery mechanics work great for the theme. I would only want to see this played for seriousness though. See also Space Marine Mammal.
The Touchstone: I’ve wanted to play one of these since I heard about them, but being a beacon of hope in a world stung by superheroes strikes me as a very interesting balance.
The Hardholder: Who keeps having to deal with uncovered hypertech and the incredible destruction it causes. I’m imaging someone like a hyper, overworked, harried sort. Something a little more white collar. It’ll be tough to go that route being so Hard-focused but perhaps worth it.
The Hocus: Who’s creating a dangerous religion of bloodthirsty psychopaths who venerate the dead gods of the before time.
The Savvyhead: Another take, probably easier to work with, on the Hardholder concept, above.
The Skinner: As a stand-up comic; has little to do with the setting, just something I wanted to try for a while now.
The Faceless: The mask is the meme of superheroism biding its time through the apocalypse like a pocket of viruses hidden out in a gland somewhere.
The Quarantine: As a pro-superhero nerd who everyone is going to hate but need (if there’s a Quarantine around, anyway).
The Hoarder: A comic book shop owner who is the historical trove.
* Convoluted language necessitated to leave the “what caused the apocalypse?” question an open one.
** Or I think, based on a few emails; we haven’t played yet.