Help Me ReWrite Post-1910 History

[WayneLigon]

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.

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.

Excellent ideas. I like the idea of the Governments in Exile, too. Hmm.

Britain. India. Rakshashas. Hmmm.

I've always liked the idea of Mexico suddenly leaping to world power prominance, maybe consolidating all of Central America and thus controlling the Panama Canal. Above the Lower Sky and Demons in the Green had a powerful technologically advanced Mexico/Aztec state and I've always been fascinated by it. Plus it gives the US a rival in it's own hemisphere. Always a plus.

 

[Stormborn]

Love the licences for magic - of course you are going to run into mage mafia types who neither have nor care about that sorta thing.

Urban Arcana introduces the idea of evangelistic shadows who bring over the worship of their gods from the other worlds. With nearlly 100 years to develop this could lead to some interesting possibilities, especially in the US where (theoretically) they would be protected by law. Although this can give a reason of McArthy-ism, a hunt for subversive otherworldly philosophies.

Maybe some who come through from the shadows would be allowed to become citizens, if they can demonstrate some useful skills. You already have an indian nation, how about some small city states where shadowkind are welcome? Government run "relocation centers" for the illegal shadowkind that are caught, since you can't send them back, would also exist. Unless they are killed outright.

Can everyone learn magic? Or do you have to have a gene for it or be born in the right place? Limiting who can use magic will also limit the application of magic. You are still going to have a large proffesional force of doctors, detectives, magetechs, etc. but the average housewife wont be using speak with plants to keep an eye on the kids.

Great world, lots of possibilities.

 

[mythusmage]

"Dead Zone"

A few surprising little things for folks.

Paved roads are possible. Asphalt was invented well before 1870, and was being used to pave roads. So you can build highways. (BTW, there was a French inventor making asphalt photographs back around 1826. Learned about this from Scientific American.

Don't know about concrete roads, but concrete itself had certainly been reinvented by 1870, and was being used in construction.

Suburbs are not a modern invention. The Jesuits in North America in the 16th Century, first published in the 1860s, mentions suburbs around (then) modern day Montreal.

Gasoline engines also predate 1870. But, they were primitive compared to the more advanced devices later developed. So nothing like even the early automobiles of the 1880s. BTW, the same French guy who did the asphalt photos also built an asphalt powered internal combustion engine.

Railroads and telegraph lines could certainly be used to keep the country together. Plus what paved roads and highways get laid down for horse drawn vehicles etc.

Now, is the barrier stable, or can things 'permeate' through? Is it a sharp delineation, or more a transition zone? Are there magics available that allow the use of modern conveniences?

Going on to World War I etc.: Considering the upset the reintroduction of magic would cause, you can expect things to change drastically. A general European war could come even earlier. Or not happen at all. For one thing, in 1910 the First and Second Balkan Wars had not occured. Turkey's European holdings were still larger than they would later be. Given magic to help her military Turkey could have a renaissance, and be presenting a strong threat to Central Europe. The Great War could start as an Austrian-Turkish conflict. With Germany and Russia joining Austria, while France and Britain ally with Turkey to spite Germany (France) or maintain the balance of power in Europe (Great Britain).

BTW, along with the Dead Zone you could have similar mistakes occuring in China, Siberia, and India. Among other places. Say, an attempt by Jewish mystics to use Kabbala to return Palestine to the days of King Solomon.

Hope this helps.

 

[mythusmage]

Follow-Up

Okay, the magic returns in 1908 with the Tunguska event. How would the world adapt to the changes?

In the west this was the heyday of Spiritualism and Occultism. While the Golder Dawn and similar groups were long gone, magical societies still had a strong following in certain circles, so it may not take as long as soom expect for magic to take its place in Western Europe and the U.S.

The first decade of the 20th century also saw a general European war almost break out once. And very nearly say a French-American War about 1902.

About the Latter: In 1902 a Rifian tribal leader kidnapped a Greek-American businessman by the name of Emile Pedicaris. Who also happened to be a notable contributor to the American Republican Party. The Moroccans diddled around with the negotiations, Pedicaris' family made pests of themselves at the While House, and then President Theodore Roosevelt sent in a company of U.S. Marines into northern Morocco in an attempt to get the Moroccans to do something.

France protested, and demanded the withdrawal of American troops. Going so far as to offer their assistance to Rabul in any action taken to oust the Marines. Germany, seeing an opportunity for self-aggrandizement, joined with the French. Britain stepped in, in order to avoid a conflict that could potentially spread around the world, and negotiated the withdrawal of the Americans. Pedicaris was eventually ransomed and released unharmed.

The 1905 crisis was also over Morocco. This time between France and Germany over who would have effective control of the Moroccan government. In the end France established a protectorate, Germany protested, and Britain negotiated another agreement between the two powers.

As you can see things were volatile back then. Given the (potential) upset caused by the (re) appearance of working magic things could go down hill real fast.

A study of the turn of the (20th) century might help here.

Hope this helps.

 

[Alhazred]

A couple of thoughts from a Canadian perspective:

WWI was an important instigator in the establishment of a Canadian identity apart from the British Empire. No Great War means Canada (and possibly the other Dominions and colonies) would retain a close attachment to Britain resulting in a considerably stronger Commonwealth.

If you wish to retain a massive Dead Lands, perhaps the US annexed Canada for its natural resources and the bread basket that is the Prairie Provinces. Such an annexation may have led to war with Britain, and perhaps WWI would have been a North American war as well as a European war (European, as Germany takes advantage of British distraction to open a second front. Perhaps the US and Germany are allies. Perhaps Hitler comes to the US/Canada.). Alternative, Canada and the US may have formed a confederacy, or perhaps an outright pan-North American nation. In such an instance, Quebec nationalism may be completely defeated, or else become increasingly militant (as per the FLQ terrorist attacks in 1970 Montreal), but striking US as well as Canadian targets.

Just some thoughts.

PS: I love your idea.

 

[WayneLigon]

WWI was an important instigator in the establishment of a Canadian identity apart from the British Empire.

...In such an instance, Quebec nationalism may be completely defeated, or else become increasingly militant (as per the FLQ terrorist attacks in 1970 Montreal), but striking US as well as Canadian targets.

Excellent ideas. If I go with the Strong British Imperialism, that might go well with a strong British/Canadian linkage.

This is begining to sound like an Illuminati game (not that that is a bad thing at all): The Quebec nationalists, aided by French Nazis and the Poodle Fanciers, initiate an Attack to Destroy the White House.

 

[Alhazred]

This is begining to sound like an Illuminati game (not that that is a bad thing at all): The Quebec nationalists, aided by French Nazis and the Poodle Fanciers, initiate an Attack to Destroy the White House.

Ah yes, the dreaded Culte des Caniches (Cult of the Poodles)

 

[Alhazred]

...

 

[WayneLigon]

Love the licences for magic - of course you are going to run into mage mafia types who neither have nor care about that sorta thing.

Government run "relocation centers" for the illegal shadowkind that are caught, since you can't send them back, would also exist. Unless they are killed outright.

Can everyone learn magic?

Oh yes, there will be a 'magic underground' that will cast or teach illegal spells, or make items with illegal spells in them.

Relocation centers, oh yes. Including the 'black trains' that transport people there. Some of these odd conspiracy pages I've read already talk about 'restricted areas' on isolated back roads where the barbed wire points inwards, not out... That'll just get recycled and used for the Shadowed. The idea of halflings with little barcodes tatooed on their foreheads is too strong an image not to use.

Becoming a mage is like becoming a lawyer. Anyone with the talent, dedication and brains can become one though some are predisposed through 'natural talent' or early exposure (the Magical Heritage Feat from UA). There will be places you can go to learn magic; taking from GURPS Technomancer, one will probably be in Berkeley. Others will be in Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans and either Baltimore or Durham. There will be some specialty schools, like the Necromantic Forensic lab in Knoxville TN (AKA the Body Farm). There is of course an underground school of necromancy in New Orleans (Probably also teaching Voudoun from Modern Magic).

 

[Stormborn]

Yikes, your America post-magic is getting to be a scary place. But then it would be. More paranoia, more violence.

What kind of law enforcement will the PCs be? Federal? State? Local? Will they be MiB kinda spooks or ATF type supercops?

The legal issues of magic are going to be tricky, kinds of evidence admissible in court and all that.