post-apocalyptic campaigns!

[slaunt]

First you need to decide what kind of Apocalypse that happened. Was it Nuclear, Biological, Asteroid-al, degredation of soceity that cause it to collapsed, some kind of natural disaster, or was it a series of small events, like a world war that taxed the population, wich was followed by a plague, and then a small nuclear exchanged, and finally social/economical collapse. What kind of Apocalypse will set the tone for the setting. If you want mutants, hordes of them, then a combination of nuclear/biological would be perfect. Maybe Nanites went crazy and began to reconstruct the world based on the whims of a mas AI.
I have this post-apocalyptic setting that is very well detailed, with a massive back story that goes all the way back to ancient times, and delves deep into ancient mythology. But thats all i'm saying, cause its my baby.

Slaunt

 

[Kanegrundar]

For me the world has to have an oppressive emptiness and sense of hopelessness. There are few friendly faces, if there are many faces at all, but always there is that slight glimmer of hope that things may one day get better. Beyond that, PA is all about survival against overwhelming odds. Scavenging for useful tools, weapons, technology, artifacts, food, booze, and so forth all the while dodging or fighting the terrors of the new age (they could be mutants, common wild animals, aliens, demons, or whatever).

I love PA settings.

 

[Turanil]

It's a total lack of modesty, but re-reading the suggestion I wrote for a post-apocalyptic campaign, I think I should run one. After all, I have everything I need : d20 Modern, d20 Future, Grim Tales, and many Darwin's World supplements... If only I had not other things to do.

 

[antman120]

Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series is good inspiration. Gives post-apocalyptic a different feel.

 

[kadath]

I agree with controlling the mutant population, otherwise you might as well play RIFTS. I do like the idea of some mutations, though, and not just people. Giant mutated komodo dragons are terrific enemies. And if you don't have giant mutant rats, who will the PCs fight at 1st level? (Also, if you like zombies, you can have 'slow mutants' in your world that are basically zombies, but created by rads or chems rather than undeath.)

I've always liked the idea of not telling the PCs what caused the apocalypse. Let that come out as a major plot point during the game, as they go underground and discover the history of their world.

 

[IcyCool]

Have you ever played the "Fallout" series of computer games? Use that setting, it's terrific.

 

[kadath]

IcyCool, I just started re-playing Fallout a couple days ago. I heartily concur, I think it would be a terrific RPG setting.

 

[IcyCool]

IcyCool, I just started re-playing Fallout a couple days ago. I heartily concur, I think it would be a terrific RPG setting.

There was a Pen and Paper Fallout RPG going around the web a while back and I snagged a copy. I've been itching to give it a try as a one-shot, but it'll have to wait until I find some players that I mesh with better..

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Website on end-of-the-world scenarios:

http://www.exitmundi.nl/exitmundi.htm

Site list is nicely divided into space, earth, science, and religion. Destroy the moon, cause mass insanity, create a nanotech disaster, or bring on the apocalypse.

Website on popular fiction related to the end of the world:

http://www.emptyworld.info/index.html

There are literally hundreds of sources here for inspiration, and links to a bunch of other sites.

Enjoy! Er, well, you know what I mean.

 

[Henry]

Radioactive Cannibal Mutants With Chainsaws Riding On Monster Trucks!!!

Give me a pump-shotgun, some slug shells, sunglasses, and half a cigarette, and I'm there!

IcyCool, I just started re-playing Fallout a couple days ago. I heartily concur, I think it would be a terrific RPG setting.

Be sure to speak like Ron Perlman while you GM.