The Last Days of Autochtonia

magnificentmomo

magnificentmomo

That Guy
So I was thinking of having an alchemicals game where most of the body of the great maker has become blighted. I saw it akin to the real world scenes in the Matrix, driving around in skiffs, dodging large gremlins, chasing rumors. I wanted to start with the destruction of yet another patropolis, this one being the one the alchemicals are in, where they all group up and escape on a skiff together.


Couple of rumors I thought to have them chase would be The Core- try and revive Autobot at the source, some sort of Zion-like city that is still functioning, the last dying ruins of a matropolis that was rumored to have breeched the seal of eight divinities just before the resource shortages got too great.


I am currently looking for inspiration/ ideas/ noticeable problems. Ideas for more rumors, ideas for gremlin encounters. Also, validation- does this sound fun to anyone else?
 
Sounds like a great idea!


If I were running it, I might add depth to the desperation of the times by emphasizing the mortal population and the role of Alchemical Exalts as protectors and supporters of the Populat.


I actually used Autocthon heavily in a game rather recently, and I retooled the Maker a little bit for my uses. In my game, the Primordial Autocthon was truly a great machine crafted by a strange being inhabiting the Core. This being was a less developed, pre-Primordial Essence, which had yet to mature into a true Primordial. It was an unequaled creator, having no peer among the Titans, so it built an artificial Primordial to protect it and focus it's power. Unfortunately the machine was so vast and complex that it's maintenance and upkeep began to fall behind almost immediately. As blight spread, the Core sought to slow the Machine's decay by retreating from the world, and it created the Alchemical Exalted to support the mortal workforce and help with the impossible task of repairing the damage.


The reason I mention it is that you might like to use the concept. Maybe as the basis for a long quest to reach the besieged Core and free the Maker's true Essence. Maybe culminating with the PCs initiating the final Apotheosis of the Core into the Primordial Creator it was meant to be. Just an idea.


A ghostly Alchemical city might be an interesting encounter. If the Maker is succumbing to the Void, perhaps parts of his body are passing through or into the Underworld or the Labyrinth, making all sorts of weird stuff possible.


Hope there's something there you can use.
 
Now THAT sounds like a fun Alchies game.


I wouldn't try to make that your opening scene though. If you open with the Exalted being helpless, it's going to be hard for them to get the motivation to fight the even STRONGER threats that are ahead. Let them kick ass for a chapter or two, and THEN bring the world crashing down around them.


Besides, even if you do try that, there's a minimum of a 50/50 chance that they'll try to avoid fleeing despite the fact that, to you, it's the only thing that makes sense.
 
I'm not much of a fan of the Alchemical concept, but I'd love a game like this! It sounds fantastic.


I'll echo Brickwall though - having the Exalted face a seemingly impossible task up front is just asking them to attempt it. Doing the impossible is what the Exalted were made to do. If you want to be certain that they are not in the city when it dies, have it occur off screen when they are doing something else that's vital, only to return and see the devastation from a distance (or something). Whatever they've learned while they were away compels them to continue on their quest to prevent what's happening from spreading. That way, you get the tragedy of the city dying without having the Exalted 'fail' through ST fiat.
 
HowlingCoyote said:
I'll echo Brickwall though - having the Exalted face a seemingly impossible task up front is just asking them to attempt it. Doing the impossible is what the Exalted were made to do. If you want to be certain that they are not in the city when it dies, have it occur off screen when they are doing something else that's vital, only to return and see the devastation from a distance (or something). Whatever they've learned while they were away compels them to continue on their quest to prevent what's happening from spreading. That way, you get the tragedy of the city dying without having the Exalted 'fail' through ST fiat.
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To add to this idea (which is a good solution), allow them to still be able to help. Maybe they could go into the dead city and rescue people. Maybe they could get to something vital before the evil gets to it. Sure, they can't stop the city's collapse, but it still feels like they matter, like they made a difference. That's what's important. Nothing makes a game unfun like feeling not-in-control.
 
Glad you guys like it!


Interesting ideas Virjigorm, I really dig both the proto-primo' at the Core and the slipping into the Underworld motives. I especially like the slipping into the Underworld because it provides another avenue into "what is happening in Creation" other than finding a breach point.


Also, thanks for the advice about the opening, what you guys said makes a lot of sense, and I considered it, but I guess not strongly enough. I think the coming back just when it is too late and everything is far too grim to even sanely consider anything but trying to get as many people and resources out would work much better.


BTW, if you are interested, keep an eye on the PbP forums, because that is where I intend to run it. I will most likely post here when recruitment goes up, but just in case I forget. Also, never hurts to keep an eye on the PbP forums.
 
Some random links from when I ran inside Autochthonia. Nothing too impressive, but can fill in some gaps. These are all first edition*, but you should be able to convert without too much trouble:



* Remember that, in First Edition, it took a bit of effort to get persistent defenses, especially for alchemicals. Since all defense is persistent in 2E, some (even most) of the charm selection for the alchemicals might no longer make sense.
 
magnificentmomo said:
BTW, if you are interested, keep an eye on the PbP forums, because that is where I intend to run it. I will most likely post here when recruitment goes up, but just in case I forget.
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I'd be interested, so I'll keep my eyes open. My schedule's cleared and become much more regular so gaming is a possibility again.
 
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