Help Me ReWrite Post-1910 History

I can see a few interesting changes wrought by the shadow release of 1908.

I think this would cause quite a bit of internal problems within the US as they sorted out the whole problem with the dead zone. Russia was knocked out of WW1 due to their internal problems (the revolution) and this would likely happen to the US. Without the US in the war, WW1 could be rewritten with an interesting ending. This would change WW2, if it would happen at all. Not to mention the cold war that followed.

The -teens were a time of change in government in the US and the world. I don't want to offend Grandma so I won't go into details but there is another opportunity for great change from history. Some great. Some subtle for flavor. For instance, the Federal Reserve was created then and assumed control of banking which eventually led to gold and silver being removed from use by the time of the Depression. Your game could use gold dollars and silver notes due to the derailment of the Federal Reserve and its growth.

The military advances in weapons brought about by the World Wars would have turned out allot different without a WW2 or a cold war. There may not be nuclear weapons. Then again, the introduction of the shadow could have given rise to weapons even scarier.


Wow. So many options. Good luck!!!
I hope you post the finished product; it will make a great read.
 

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If you do go with the limited Indian Anti-tech Nation then your world is a bit easier to work. While I agree that in general technology is going to be about 10 years behind, consider that some things, with the incorporation of magic, will be more advanced. It all depends, lots of scientists and inventors will find magic a more interesting draw than science, so thing might produce some of the same things, just usign different principles.

You might want to pick up GURPS Technomancer - set in a world where the first atomictest creted a limited "manafall" that kick started magic in a limited area. It has lots of ideas of incorporating magic into a late 20th century world, although the trigger event is much later than yours.

If you are only going to be using d20 Modern level magic then a lot of the technomagic we have been discussing wont be available, Eberron runs on higher level spells after all. But do think about technology that will make casting easier. Cad machines that draw very precise summoning circles for example.

Also, will other intelligent races be prevelant? I know you mentioned the Troll, but is that the exception or the rule? My suggestion is limit intelligent creatures to monsters, and don't let their be any large body of sentient non-humans like elves or dwarves. Better yet, maybe have some elves and dwarves and the like begin to be born in the last 10 years to human parents. These would be considered magic induced mutations and might be met with vastly different reactions depending where and when you are.

Random Thought the Nth: As was stated previously both Russia and the US could be kept out of WWI due to magic induced problems, or at least their presence could be minimized. This results in a longer war that most likely leaves Germany victorious. No WWII in Europe, unless it is an escalating series of small wars as the Empire gobbels up smaller nations in Europe or conflicts arising over rights to the Med. Sea ports with a beleagured but magical adept Britian. But, if the US can recover and revive through the late 30s with magic and industry it will face a war in the Pacific with Japan sooner or later. You could have two smaller wars doing much of what WWII did in our reality, but I still think you are going to wind up with a German dominated Europe, unless it to falls to a socialist led revolution, maybe dividing it into East and West after it wins, but is weakened by, the Second Great European War. America could be in full Manifest Destiny Mode and decide to make the Pacific an American Pond and wind up at War with China, maybe with Russian allies, in the later part of the 20th century. Or at least a long protracted set of hot and cold wars that could mimic our histories Korea and Viet Nam.

A PC in 21st Century Shadow Fall Earth might not be that different than in our world. Maybe steampowered and magically assited cars (maybe Stanely worked out the kinks with the help of magic before Ford took over), air ships, the occasional border skirmish with the Tribal Nations, but still MC Donalds, IBM (maybe, they were really spurred on by WWII), and the internet. With a twist.

Please let us know how it goes.
 

Hrm...so, only tech that was available at all in 1870, or tech that was possible in 1870?

If it's the latter, things might get a bit easier to deal with, as you might be able to adapt certain technologies backwards. I'm thinking of Eric Flint's 163n series, here.

Edit: Also, WWI likely results in a German victory. The Allies benefited from American industry more than the Central Powers, so if the Americans are knocked down for a while starting from before WWI breaks out, the Germans can hang on until the Western Allies give up, since they now have Russia to supply food and whatnot, can engage in less restricted submarine warfare, and without the threat of swarms of Americans to run them over, the Germans will stay in their trenches instead of coming out for their Peace Offensives. After all, they just need to wait for the British to start starving and the French to mutiny again, and surely the Italians will come to their senses soon...

Brad
 
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You may also want to pick up a copy of Space 1899, while it does not have magic is is a great resource for what was happening.

Telsa would be a GOD, period. Just look at his record, remote control prior to Spanish Americian War, created and tested remote controled topedo sub for Spanish Americain War but not used because too complex, media calls him a profiteer. ;)
 

Well, I have no opinions on American history, you guys know that stuff best. I think, the following (mostly European) historical events in will need to be re-evaluated:

What effect does magic have on the WWI battlefield? How are the famous battles affected that are infamous even today, almost 90 years later for the tragic loss of life? The French Army revolted in 1916. Would it have done so? Would the loss of life have been similar or greater, even? The enormous loss of life had a huge effect on later European leaders, in the next war.

1917: Russian Revolution. What effect did the release of magic have on this event? Which side was best poised to utilize it? the Romanovs? The Mensheviks? the Bolsheviks? the Karpinsky Government? From this single event stems much of what makes the 20th century recognisable. Perhaps changing this would render too much too different. The Romanovs would not likely have embarked upon a campaign of modernization that Russia so desperately needed.

1918: With Germany wornout by 4 years of war (and they were by this stage, it wasn't the entry of the Americans, it was the complete collapse of the home front) Germany would have sued for peace, perhaps they last another year, tops. Even if the Russian Revolutionaries made peace with Germany, as they did.

1919: With magic, anything is possible. Consider the wars raging in Russia White vs Red, and within Germany, many communists believed the time was in: A soviet republic was set up in Munich (it didn't last very long). Also consider that the English, American and Australian governments (amongst others) had troops involved in the fighting in Russia (against the Reds): Around Vladivostok, and Archangel. As well as fighting in Poland, the Baltic countries, and the Caucasus. In short, the entire Eastern Europe was a mess.

Around 1924, the NEP (New Economic Program) allowed farmers in Soviet Russia a short lived respite from "socialisation", as the new government finally realised that without food, the factory workers were not too happy.

Lenin-Stalin-Trotsky? What happens with these dudes? Trotsky ended up dead (murdered) in Mexico, IRC. Power struggles within Russia after the death of Lenin, and the purge of the Red Army. (After successfully dealing with the counter-revolutionaries in the outskirts of the former Russian Empire)

During the 1920's Germany was a hotbed of Revolutionary fervour, both right (fascist) and left (communist) wing. Today we recognize Hitler as emerging triumphant from this stew, yet there were many others with similar ideas. The Weimar Republic was doomed to fail, as not even its guarantors (the army) were too keen on its survival. However, would such radical elements (left and right) espouse such solutions as Lebensraum, and would they actively seek war?

1930's saw Germany rearm, and Russia's industrial might start to awaken with gigantic projects involving huge amounts of human suffering. Would the Jet engine even have evolved given the ease with which one can bind an air elemental? Had the Romanov's remained in power, it is unlikely that Russia would have even considered to start modernising anything. Could anyone less ruthless than Stalin enforce it at such a pace?

Japan attempted an ill-fated invasion of Mongolia, and was beaten by Russian Siberian troops, inspite of holding many advantages. Would this have occurred?

1940's! Now it all comes to a head: The effects of a completely unprepared Russia is fateful for Europe, if Germany turns to war. Had Russia collapsed, I doubt the Commonwealth and Uncle Sam could have saved the Old World.

So it would appear for Europe there are a few key pivots in history you must decide what you want to have happen.

The Russian Revolution (success or failure for which group) and Germany (fascist vs communist) in the 20's-30's.

Other happenings: most of europe granted women the right to vote in the 20s-30s, if you were unemployed did not have the right to vote at this time in many countries. How about demi-humans? Goblinoids? Giants? Lycanthropes? Shapechangers?

After the 40's, well it starts to get even more abstract, depending on if there was a WWII, the russian revolution (which encouraged other socialist communist uprisings), and the dismemberment of the Empires. Without a WWII, it is unlikely that the Empires would have crumbled so fast. Indians may have grumbled under the yoke of the English, yet it would not have been taken nearly so seriously. Without a WWII, would America even be the military power it is today? Probably not. Before WWII the American army consisted of less 200,000 men, IRC.

50's: Without WWII, The Vietnamese probably wouldn't have had their Dien Bien Phu (spelling?) and the French would never have left without a fight. Meaning no American involvement. Cold war and Atomic weapons? Probably not without WWII... not yet, anyway. And depending on how Germany evolved, they could be the leaders in Nuclear technology. Einstein was a German Jew. Would Oppenheimer work on the bomb if there was no clear threat to the US? MacCarthyism? With no Communist Russia ?? Korea? China?

60's to Present, well, decide on the Russian Revolution and the shape of Germany that you want, and we'll reexamine history then. From Afghanistan to Iran to Korea...
 

the effects of WWI

Read an interesting article about the impact of a relatively small change in WWI. The premise was that Britain didn't join in - the reason given was political differences in the cabinet but you can use anything you want.

Anyway the impact...

Before Britain joining WWI the battles were very much along the lines of Napoleonic wars. Trench warfare didn't get established until after the massacre of a French coutnerattack - can't remember the exact battle's name. The initial German attack plan involved a huge right flank that swept out round a lot of the French troops and almost took Paris. A few things stopped this in the execution - the German general who envisaged the plan died and his successor wasn't as confident in it, German high command decided to put some extra troops on the eastern front, and then of course the British involved themselves and so Bismarck had an extra 'front' to worry about.

So presume these didn't happen. WWI as we know it never happens. The Germans storm over France, then make friends with the Brits...

Disclaimer - everything below is theoretical musings extracted from the essay. A lot of it I find plausible, but no offense is intended to anyone by it. If you find something offensive you may be misinterpreting the purpose of this post

Implications -

No Treaty of Versailles in which the German nation was emasculated and crapped upon by all of europe. No pissed off Germans wanting to reestablish their once great nation. Less support for Hitler's policies so no democratically elected Hitler. No German Holocaust.

A pissed off France, crapped upon by the Germans. If anything a French backlash against the imposition of harsh sanctions imposed by the Germans. Maybe a French Nazi party coming to power. Howerver France would have been strategically unable to take outmaneuveur Germany and Britain so their WWII uprising would have been crushed much faster. No WWII to speak of.

No German Holocaust - No Israel. Peace in the Middle East?

No prolonged WWI - no trench warfare - no tanks? Hadn't thought of that one before. Trench warfare would have emerged during whatever major conflict occurred next - its the logical progression from the military charge once the machine gun is developed but before tanks come onto the scene. SO maybe tanks would just be 'relatively primitive'.

No Lenin. Lenin was exiled in Switzerland in the run up to WWI. The Germans stuck him on a sealed train and sent him back to Russia to cause the tsars problems. Without Lenin no Communist revolution... no USSR. Oh yes revolution would have happened but led by more moderate forces in Russia - possibly something closer to the French revolution. No USSR - no Red China, no Korea, no Vietnam!

Britain still an Empire. WWI bankrupted Britain, and put us in huge financial debt to the US. It caused us to bring in troops from all parts of the empire at ever increasing costs. That money is instead put to good uses in the empire, so they're all a little less pissed off at us. Of course the empire would eventually disintegrate but probably slower, and less catastrophically. More countries may have maintained ties similar to the current relationship with Australia. The CommonWealth would certainly have remained more significant.

No sudden rise of the US. So America may have become more isolationist (as it was during early WWI). Certainly would not have been able to dominate international politics in the way that it has done. Other implications on internal American politics I'm not the best to person to pontificate on - not really my area of world history.


Alternatives:
A worse British Empire. Without ever having been righteously spanked by WWI what would have stopped British Imperialism?

Also possible that a victorious German post WWI would have been just as fascist. No guarantees on anything there unfortunately.

Not sure if this helps any with your world. Obviously magical factors can be thrown in as causative factors or to change many of the events. If you want details I can try and dig out the original essay (hard copy unfortunately but could be scanned).

Unfortunately this variant would mena you miss out on Hitler and his mysticism which would lend itself so well to a world with magic - particular as he would have been a young man when the magic first 'returned' so it could have heavly influenced his development.
 

Goblyns Hoard said:
Maybe a French Nazi party coming to power.

Britain still an Empire.

Alternatives:
A worse British Empire. Without ever having been righteously spanked by WWI what would have stopped British Imperialism?

Unfortunately this variant would mena you miss out on Hitler and his mysticism which would lend itself so well to a world with magic - particular as he would have been a young man when the magic first 'returned' so it could have heavly influenced his development.
Yeah, losing Hitler and the Spear of Longinus, etc is a big blow. The idea of a mystical madman lies right in line with creating hideous abberations that still plague Europe, Argentina Nazis, etc.

Though the idea of French Nazis is very appealing. An expatriate Austrian poodle-groomer named Schnicklegruber, unappreciated in his art and perhaps having contracted a form of magical rabies or lycanthropy (one of the classic signs is a rise in both insanity and aggression), rises to power... Given the Nazi werewolf connection AND the Beast of Gevaudan AND the mystical power available in Sun King artifacts AND a reborn 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' cult of lycanthrope worshippers... hmmm.

Britain still a major Imperial world power is very appealing, very appealing indeed. Hmmm.
 
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One thing you might want to look into is the Shadow Hearts series of games on the PS2; they propose a magically-enabled world and take place before and during WW1. They're historically shaky (by which I mean they have about as much connection with reality as a fellow who attended Cthulu's private reading of the Necronomicon), but quite flavorful. However, their world has always had magic, it's just been (mostly) under the surface.

On to more historical events! Since you seem to have a fairly solid plan for the US, and Britain is awash in possibilities, I'm going to heavily cover four nations that could make or break a magical WW1 and its postwar world: Russia, Germany, China and Japan.

Russia probably doesn't have a major revolution in this scenario. Magic would seem to favor the Russian monarchy over all other great powers, at least in Europe, since the Czars and many of their people already believed in it. Anyway, Russia was on its way to modernization and stability before WW1, with a potent parliamentary voice from the Duma and the deft politicking of Prime Minister Piotr Stolypin. Stolypin's slow death from an assassin's bullet presumably wouldn't have happened if even as little as a cure light wounds were available. Also, if either magic could cure the Czarevich Alexey permanently or Grigori Rasputin's powers were publicly and incontrovertibly demonstrated, a major popular gripe against the monarchy would have been removed.

Possible Russias:

1. Moderate, magitech Russia with a strong parliament and stronger monarchy, presumably the most powerful country in the world.
2. Hard-line, borderline theocratic Russia with very traditional magic, a major and aggressive power but not dominant.
3. Anarchic, warring-states Russia where crown, church, parliament and radicals have all established sufficient magical and technological power to preserve their existence.

Germany probably stays monarchial unless pushed in another direction by an outside power. The Kaiser and his inner circle presumably become more popular after a 'short, victorious war' with France, and barring major economic collapse, neither fascist nor communist ideologues present a serious threat. Germany, with its heavy industrialization, is unlikely to develop large-scale magic like Russia would, but many brilliant German scientists who ended up either fleeing to the US or serving the Nazis would instead serve the Kaiser's government. Germany probably comes to dominate continental Europe, barring the involvement of outside forces, but it could also stagnate as a technocracy suspicious of magical power. Perhaps even persecuting mages and magical creatures?

Possible Germanies

1. Monarchial, technocrat, industrial Germany, standing astride Europe but deeply suspicious of magic.
2. As above, but threatened from inside by mysticist rebels, led by a charismatic occultist named Adolph Hitler...
3. Stalemated, shrinking Germany, wracked by revolution and turning to a fusion of the occult and science to regain glory.

China, although already in the throes of revolution, is likely to emerge as a major power in a magical world. It has lots of citizens, most of whom already believe in magic and the supernatural; their being right gives them an edge on mastering its power. China is quite likely to abandon technology altogether, whether under the control of various revolutionary governments or its emperor. Chinese dragons, being more "civic-minded," might prop up the imperial government and even fight for China against foreign foes... an unpleasant prospect for foreign foes.

Possible Chinas

1. Imperial, mystical China ruled by a dragon-backed emperor and exerting power over all of continental Asia by the might of its immortal protectors.
2. Anarchic, mystical China, guarded against outside influence by dragons but internally allowed to fall into a ceaseless civil war.
3. Weak, backwards China, unable to use its magic to catch up with its rivals, probably divided between Russia and Japan.

Japan was on its way to becoming a major power in 1908, and the reintroduction of magic probably won't change it very much. If anything, it will make Japan even more powerful. Depending on how the US, China and Russia turn out, Japan could easily gobble up large swathes of any of those countries, supporting its magical and societal might with much needed natural resources. Considering its atrocities before and during WW2 and the fact that, unlike Germany, it's unlikely to change course, Imperial Japan is a natural fit for necromancy and demon summoning (presumably in the form of Oni).

Possible Japans

1. Dominant Imperial Japan with holdings all across the Pacific, Asia and North America, powered by high-tech navies and necromantic ground forces.
2. Constrained Imperial Japan, checked by the power of the US, Russia and China, but eager to pounce on any sign of weakness.
3. Re-feudalized Japan divided between technologically adept centralists and mystical samurai, locked in a civil war.

Other countries, like Britain, the US, and France stand to gain less from a magical world.
Britain faces magical uprisings in its colonies, which it will probably find difficult to deal with, and the defeat of its ally, France. However, as an island nation it retains good defenses and has enough power and reach to adapt.
France, without US intervention, will probably lose WW1 and be conquered. It lacks the strategic positioning to rearm as Germany did. The French colonies could become a string of allied "governments in exile," however.
The US gets pounded in this world. No two ways about it. However, it could pull through without a Depression and come out stronger if it uses its vast wealth and talented immigrant population to develop magic.
Ottoman Turkey could be propped up quite a while longer if it embraces the dubious assistance of genies. It's likely to struggle with internal divisions and greater foreign powers, however, and probably to collapse into mutually hostile states much like the Middle East of our 20th century.
Less powerful nations like Serbia or Mexico have a chance to suddenly leap forward in power, should they develop magically. Mexico, for instance, might follow the Shadowrun model and becoming a center of nigh-invincible, Aztec-inspired blood magic.
 

Stormborn said:
You might want to pick up GURPS Technomancer ...

If you are only going to be using d20 Modern level magic then a lot of the technomagic we have been discussing wont be available, Eberron runs on higher level spells after all.

Also, will other intelligent races be prevelant? I know you mentioned the Troll, but is that the exception or the rule? My suggestion is limit intelligent creatures to monsters, and don't let their be any large body of sentient non-humans like elves or dwarves.
Got GURPS Technomancer. It'll be a major influence. Also, I'm going to be looking at Game Mechanics Modern Magic, Modern Companion and Martial Arts Mayhem.

d20 Modern/Urban Arcana magic will be the default. I have no read Incantations yet, but there will be some rare and dangerous way of acheiving some limited higher level spell effects. These will never be able to be mass-produced, though. No more than one or two elemental binding items, etc. THis is basically the province of the government black ops labs, crazed scientists, etc.

So, yes, some of the large-scale magics will not be available. However, I'm thinking of combining the arcane and divine spells lists. That gives more people access to more 'gentle' spells, to grow plants, heal people, etc. I have not decided how to work Raise Dead. Obviously this would be highly restricted information. A ritual version of Teleport Circle is another I've thought of.

Speaking of that, I've created a spreadsheet where I track each spell in the game and give it one or more ratings including but not restricted to: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Licensed, Restricted, and Illegal.

All the damage spells are obviously either L, R, or I depending on the severity and other side effects. It's like getting a license to use a gun, a concealed carry permit, explosives and other more exotic licenses.

Other spells will get punishment catagories assigned to them (Important for the PC's to know, since they will be law enforcement personnel). Killing someone with magic as oppossed to a gun might be an 'instant ticket to jail' or an almost impossible-to-prove crime. Even having Trace Purge or Mask Metal in your possession might be considered criminal intent.

I've thought about elves and dwarves, etc. Might have them, but all the races that cross over from Shadow would be considered illegal immigrants. Having the PC's put on loan to INS to track down 'greybacks' (people that have 'swam' over from Shadow and are trying to pass as human) is too good to turn down. Other, more alien species would be denied visas: dopplegangers, for example. Some, like goblins, would form tribes and gangs within the inner city.

The more powerful nonhuman monsters would certainly be a boon in some places, and some people will be more comfortable than others with them. Maybe the Russians liked bugbears because they were great laborers and excellent troops. Maybe the Germans welcomed dwarves with open arms and now Daimler-Ironforge ("No little plastic cars here!") is the world's largest car manufacturer. There may be a substancial elvish colony in Iceland.
 
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