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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ydars" data-source="post: 4614416" data-attributes="member: 62992">I think the idea of a retrovirus is interesting and you can use the fact it is a virus to keep everyone together. I would make the retrovirus have the following properties; 1) fatal to humans if not treated. 2) sensitive to a form of radiation known as Theta rays. 3) semi-sentient (though the PCs will not realise this for a long time). I would start this campaign with the premise that the PCs have superpowers granted by the virus but that they have to return to a home-base every night for theta ray treatment or else they risk the virus a) infecting other humans and b) killing the PCs. Now here is the thing that keeps the PCs together; the scientist who discovers the virus builds them a base that is fitted with theta ray emitters. The PCs have to sleep here to get 8 hours treatment (while they sleep) or else they will begin to experience nasty symptoms. I would make the base mobile; perhaps on a largish yacht and explain that this is so that the theta rays don't affect anyone else in the vicinity since such radiation is normally harmful to humans. Now the base can move with the campaign and you have an excuse to put the PCs in hazard. For a campaign arc, I would do the following; the PCs enemy is their own unconscious mind directed by the retrovirus. The virus has evolved to spread and taps into the host mind, but can only gain control when they are asleep. The retrovirus then uses the host's mind to create a semi-sentient energy beast that acts to destroy those who oppose the virus and its spread. However, it can't harm the base because the base is emitting lots of theta radiation that would destroy the beast in an instant. I would play this as if there is someone else "a mastermind", also with super-powers, stalking the party and trying to kill or hinderthem. For example, the scientist who helped them build the base is killed and several random people infected. Since these people have no theta treatment they will slowly go mad and infect other people and their super-powers will make them a menace. So you could have the PCs trying to track down and defeat these rogue super-monsters as the first part of your arc. Yet the PCs own minds will oppose them when they are asleep. You could also have an archeologist who discovers mysterious tablets that relate the fall of the last civilisation infected by this virus. The virus does not want its secrets uncovered and so instinctively it reacts to destroy this man before he can decode the tablets. So now the PCs are trying to protect this man, but from themselves................. If played right, you could keep the PCs guessing for a long time, as long as you keep them distracted with the consequences of their own unconscious actions. Most of the time, you should just hint that strange things are happening around the world that look like natural disasters etc Atmosphere is obviously key to this type of campaign.</blockquote>

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