What's a good HQ for a team of scientist-explorer-adventurers?

[JPL]

Still trying to nail down an idea for my next one-shot [with the option of making it an ongoing thing].

One of the ideas is modern pulp...throw Doc Savage, the Challengers of the Unknown, Jonny Quest, and Buckaroo Banzai in the blender, garnish with the Menace Manual...and tell the story of an elite team of experts exploring ancient secrets and new mysteries.

But I really need an idea for an HQ. Maybe a compound in Florida, to facilitate globetrotting? Or a big New York brownstone? A mountain loft high in the Rockies?

And then I need to find floorplans...

 

[Varianor Abroad]

But I really need an idea for an HQ. Maybe a compound in Florida, to facilitate globetrotting? Or a big New York brownstone? A mountain loft high in the Rockies?

And then I need to find floorplans...

How about a dirigible?

The Cthulhu by Gaslight boxed set for Call of Cthulhu had dirigible plans in the small booklet.

 

[JPL]

How about a dirigible?

The Cthulhu by Gaslight boxed set for Call of Cthulhu had dirigible plans in the small booklet.

Very nice.

I just downloaded "Terra Incognita", a Victorian exploration RPG, and it offers the option of a bunch of tweedy Brits in a wonderous zeppelin, boldly going where none have gone before.

For a more up-to-date take on that, there's always the billion-dollar superjet. Those are nice.

 

[kipling]

Still trying to nail down an idea for my next one-shot [with the option of making it an ongoing thing].

One of the ideas is modern pulp...throw Doc Savage, the Challengers of the Unknown, Jonny Quest, and Buckaroo Banzai in the blender, garnish with the Menace Manual...and tell the story of an elite team of experts exploring ancient secrets and new mysteries.

But I really need an idea for an HQ. Maybe a compound in Florida, to facilitate globetrotting? Or a big New York brownstone? A mountain loft high in the Rockies?

And then I need to find floorplans...

The dirigible is a cool idea, but fails (I think) on the modern aspect.

Converted aircraft carrier, sailing the seas. WWII or later era ship, retrofitted by brilliant inventors to have better power supply.

Satellite is another possibility, in a polar orbit so it covers every inch of the world eventually.

How wealthy do you want them to be?

The base probably needs to be relatively isolated, simply because they'll be dealing with powerful things--perhaps not in the center of a major metropolis, but in the Connecticut countryside.

Or in a former missile silo in the middle of a cornfield, sold by the US government for not very much money.

 

[JPL]

How wealthy do you want them to be?

That's a good question, and one I'm still trying to sort out.

Although the billion-dollar jet [maybe they saved Bill Gates from aliens, or vice-versa] has some appeal, so does the idea that these are brilliant outsiders who have pooled their resources to secure a headquarters that's more interesting than it is "state-of-the-art."

 

[Krieg]

Shortly after WWII an eccentric American billionaire (ie a fictional Howard Hughes) paid to have a 700 y/o German Castle moved brick by brick from the Bavarian countryside and re-assembled in [insert favorite state here].

This would be unusual enough in it's own right, but coupled with the castle's odd "history" the tale becomes even stranger.

You see this same castle was were Adolf Hitler housed his personal "collection" of psychics, mystics, fortune tellers & others with a connection to the occult.
He would visit there often to consult with his supernatural advisors.

The castle's also has a history of hauntings & other phenomena going back virtually to it's construction during the late 1200's. It was originally conceived, built & inhabited by another rich eccentric about whom many odd rumors circulated. The castle has long been famous for it's unusual (unearthly?) architecture as well...

 

[ddougan]

Krieg's castle suggestion is superbly gothic, and probably perfect for a one-off.

But I'd go for the converted Aircraft Carrier suggestion by Kipling, as the mobile nature of the ship allows for round-the-world adventures without having to go via conventional (ie public) transport.

Plus, you can have the lower deck converted into a submarine bay for underwater exploration, and of course the helicopter (or even combine it - with the dirigible suggestion) for air transport.

Hmmmm, if the German castle was on the coast, it could even be the base of operations for the converted carrier

/me wants to start off a new D20 modern campaign

 

[WayneLigon]

You can't beat the top of the Empire State Building. Or any large skyscraper, ala The Fantastic Four.

 

[Krieg]

Krieg's castle suggestion is superbly gothic, and probably perfect for a one-off.

Hmm, maybe I've spending too much time with Call of Cthulhu & Spycraft/Shadow Force Archer as of late.

But I'd go for the converted Aircraft Carrier suggestion by Kipling, as the mobile nature of the ship allows for round-the-world adventures without having to go via conventional (ie public) transport.

Plus, you can have the lower deck converted into a submarine bay for underwater exploration, and of course the helicopter (or even combine it - with the dirigible suggestion) for air transport.

Someone was looking for ideas on a ship for a similar campaign not too long ago & I suggested using the Glomar Explorer. She's just about the only ship with a real life resume that is possibly even wilder than her fictional counterparts. She had a slightly smaller & less well known sister, the Glomar Challenger.

If you do decide to go with a carrier/former military vessel, then a good place to start would be with former Soviet assets. Put enough cash on the table & the Russians will sell you pretty much anything in their inventory.

The US decomissioned all of the old Iwo Jima class LPHs during the 90's. At just under 6500' feet long & displacing around 18,000 tons they are a lot smaller than a full blown carrier & might fit the bill a bit better.

The LPHs can carry up to 20 helicopters & 4 Harriers. Unfortunately they didn't have well-decks like most of the other amphivious assault ships, but then you can't have everything...lol

 

[rook111]

Try a Very modern/Near Future Submarine with the capablility to launch a sea plane or helicopter (or a small flying sub ala' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea).

That way you have exotic HQ which can move around the world easily and remain relitivly Hidden.

It could have been invented/Built by the scientist in your group and funded by either them or a mysterious anonymous patron.