Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 17, 2019 15:14:54 GMT
This is much more of an open framework, contributions are most welcome.
The premise. In the basement of an old university building a small group of students is experimenting with something they shouldn’t. Time travel.
Questions.
- Why is the building disused, building space is usually at a premium? Preserved perhaps? Bad Reputation? Asbestos? Radiation leak? Ghost stories (predestination paradox perhaps?)
- What was the building used for? Old physics laboratory is my default.
Possibly the basement (or sub-basement) isn’t used but the rest of it is; old Victorian era construction with steam tunnels (not generally known any longer) connecting it elsewhere.
- What is the building like? Up to the GM to decide, I recommend visiting a university.
Inspirations and theme. The 'Primary Game' of the old Time Lords RPG The obscure ITV TV mini-series Time Riders (wiki) starring the excellent Haydn Gwynne as Dr. B. B. Miller, a motorbike riding time traveller. The Time Tunnel, sans the massive government infrastructure. Turn Left. Flatliners Some ideas I had while doing The Clerkenwell Attic Mystery The Eye of the Giant The Cat from Outer Space
Motivations. Why are a group of twenty-something students messing with forces even they should realise are dangerous? Because they can; they're students, does stupid things is the norm. Interest in settling an argument. Or possibly something less altruistic… Or even downright sinister. Not all the group might be in sync.
Who are they? I'm starting with four stereotypes:
- The brilliant theoretical physics student; young, gets lost in ideas easily, somewhat clueless
- The archaeology student who triggered the who business; balance of trepidation (destroying the world id bad) and exitement (research is good)
- The grounded experimentalist; older, certainly a post-grad, maybe post-doc. Has access to stuff, like the basement.
- The historian; also older, rational and careful. Excited by the possibilities but careful. Excellent researcher.
The machine. What do you need to build a time machine? Well not a lot in the Whoniverse. I suggest four things.
- An energy source, well the college has excellent power supplies but the group need a 'burst' system to energise the portal initially. This is either:
- A set of 'borrowed' high powered capacitors (or an experimental superconductor loop system)
- A lot of scrapped electrical components
- A piece of alien tech
- A source of Artron energy or other 'miracle goo' technobabble. My initial idea was that the archaeologist found something on a dig in the Middle East, a a piece of Osiran tech that emits Artron energy when stimulated; perhaps an element of a time corridor. Other possibilities are:
- Part of Harkness’s Chula ship
- Part of the DARDIS
- Part of a destroyed War Lord SIDRAT
- A damaged Dalek Time Corridor generator that sat on someone's mantelpiece for fifty years
- A part of Maxtable & Waterfield’s experiments
- A souvenir from the time travelling guerillas who tried to kill Reginald Styles
- That Kontron crystal that Vena gave to H. G. Wells
- A control system, well there is no shortage of computing power, though maybe they need some TeraFlops so they're misuaing a supercomputer. Does someone notice and investigate?
- Information. Not anyone can turn this stuff into a functioning time portal, there's a spark needed for brilliance. This could be:
- The diary of a deceased relative who was involved with UNIT’s experiments into time travel
- The diary of a deceased relative who was involved with UNIT in the seventies and worked with The Doctor
- A diary or notebook from Waterfield or one of his assistants
- A diary or notebook from a nineteenth century genius who figured this stuff out.
So now, in a rather dingy basement filled with odd bits and pieces a small group of students are Meddling With Things. They have a portal that connects to other periods and allows they to pass through.
Problems. Getting stranded when the portal closes Getting in trouble in the past ("Hang the warlocks") - Disease; suffered or inflicted ("How can she have smallpox?") Possibly with added bio-terrorism panic in the present.
Getting in trouble in the future ("No implanted IDent? Lock her up and prep her for interrogation" or possibly just "Exterminate") Funding the operation via 'pastiques' (artefacts from the past) or worse still 'postiques' (from the future) Funding the operation using foreknowledge to gamble in the past and facing some irate locals.
Languages; how good is your Latin? Middle English? Normal French? Attracting the wrong sort of attention from other time travellers. Trying to make money using information from the near future - Saving people in the past. Maybe that's why one of the team is involved, they have an ulterior motive.
Then the authorities notice...
Cue the finale where the team finds out that someone has been using the portal for evil and is now planning to head into the past permanently to create a new life for themselves by meddling on a grand scale. Cue standoff, gunshots, blood and exploding capacitors as the portal overloads.
OK, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? All welcome.
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Post by grinch on Sept 17, 2019 19:49:45 GMT
This is much more of an open framework, contributions are most welcome.
The premise. In the basement of an old university building a small group of students is experimenting with something they shouldn’t. Time travel.
Questions.
- Why is the building disused, building space is usually at a premium? Preserved perhaps? Bad Reputation? Asbestos? Radiation leak? Ghost stories (predestination paradox perhaps?)
- What was the building used for? Old physics laboratory is my default.
Possibly the basement (or sub-basement) isn’t used but the rest of it is; old Victorian era construction with steam tunnels (not generally known any longer) connecting it elsewhere.
- What is the building like? Up to the GM to decide, I recommend visiting a university.
Inspirations and theme. The 'Primary Game' of the old Time Lords RPG The obscure ITV TV mini-series Time Riders (wiki) starring the excellent Haydn Gwynne as Dr. B. B. Miller, a motorbike riding time traveller. The Time Tunnel, sans the massive government infrastructure. Turn Left. Flatliners Some ideas I had while doing The Clerkenwell Attic Mystery The Eye of the Giant The Cat from Outer Space
Motivations. Why are a group of twenty-something students messing with forces even they should realise are dangerous? Because they can; they're students, does stupid things is the norm. Interest in settling an argument. Or possibly something less altruistic… Or even downright sinister. Not all the group might be in sync.
Who are they? I'm starting with four stereotypes:
- The brilliant theoretical physics student; young, gets lost in ideas easily, somewhat clueless
- The archaeology student who triggered the who business; balance of trepidation (destroying the world id bad) and exitement (research is good)
- The grounded experimentalist; older, certainly a post-grad, maybe post-doc. Has access to stuff, like the basement.
- The historian; also older, rational and careful. Excited by the possibilities but careful. Excellent researcher.
The machine. What do you need to build a time machine? Well not a lot in the Whoniverse. I suggest four things.
- An energy source, well the college has excellent power supplies but the group need a 'burst' system to energise the portal initially. This is either:
- A set of 'borrowed' high powered capacitors (or an experimental superconductor loop system)
- A lot of scrapped electrical components
- A piece of alien tech
- A source of Artron energy or other 'miracle goo' technobabble. My initial idea was that the archaeologist found something on a dig in the Middle East, a a piece of Osiran tech that emits Artron energy when stimulated; perhaps an element of a time corridor. Other possibilities are:
- Part of Harkness’s Chula ship
- Part of the DARDIS
- Part of a destroyed War Lord SIDRAT
- A damaged Dalek Time Corridor generator that sat on someone's mantelpiece for fifty years
- A part of Maxtable & Waterfield’s experiments
- A souvenir from the time travelling guerillas who tried to kill Reginald Styles
- That Kontron crystal that Vena gave to H. G. Wells
- A control system, well there is no shortage of computing power, though maybe they need some TeraFlops so they're misuaing a supercomputer. Does someone notice and investigate?
- Information. Not anyone can turn this stuff into a functioning time portal, there's a spark needed for brilliance. This could be:
- The diary of a deceased relative who was involved with UNIT’s experiments into time travel
- The diary of a deceased relative who was involved with UNIT in the seventies and worked with The Doctor
- A diary or notebook from Waterfield or one of his assistants
- A diary or notebook from a nineteenth century genius who figured this stuff out.
So now, in a rather dingy basement filled with odd bits and pieces a small group of students are Meddling With Things. They have a portal that connects to other periods and allows they to pass through.
Problems. Getting stranded when the portal closes Getting in trouble in the past ("Hang the warlocks") - Disease; suffered or inflicted ("How can she have smallpox?") Possibly with added bio-terrorism panic in the present.
Getting in trouble in the future ("No implanted IDent? Lock her up and prep her for interrogation" or possibly just "Exterminate") Funding the operation via 'pastiques' (artefacts from the past) or worse still 'postiques' (from the future) Funding the operation using foreknowledge to gamble in the past and facing some irate locals.
Languages; how good is your Latin? Middle English? Normal French? Attracting the wrong sort of attention from other time travellers. Trying to make money using information from the near future - Saving people in the past. Maybe that's why one of the team is involved, they have an ulterior motive.
Then the authorities notice...
Cue the finale where the team finds out that someone has been using the portal for evil and is now planning to head into the past permanently to create a new life for themselves by meddling on a grand scale. Cue standoff, gunshots, blood and exploding capacitors as the portal overloads.
OK, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? All welcome.
Nice! I rather like this one. I think it could make for an interesting basis for an entire campaign to be honest. I've got a lot of ideas on what you could do for this but I'll only post a few. I'm imagining this being set in an university in America in say the 1990s. If only to cover for the fact, that we only got story set during this part of the 20th century on the television. The university is underfunded so a lot of old buildings have simply been left to rot. The building in which the 'Gateway' as I am dubbing it is in was one of the many left to become derelict. Although, this particular building has a reputation to it with there being stories abound of ghost sightings. However, by the time the campaign takes place, a lot of these have simply been dismissed as stories and rumours made up by drug addled and intoxicated students. (Possibly the effects of the Gateway reaching back into time?) I'm imagining that the deeds for the building was actually gifted to one of them by a mysterious benefactor (Possibly something to follow up on?) with all the necessary documents and files approved. The University in question does not recall ever authorising this, but merely dismiss it. After all, they must have done at some point. Didn't they? The motivations would naturally differ depending on each character but I imagine all of them would want to be immortalised for such a scientific breakthrough as inventing time travel. Maybe one of the characters is actually from an alternate timeline where they did create such a machine (despite the protests of their friends) only for it to backfire and completely rip apart his world. He/She found themselves in this timeline and is determined to repeat the experiment if only to prove they were right the first time. Perhaps having the equipment to create the Gateway just isn't enough. They are still students after all. Perhaps one of them finds that they have been strange dreams as of late. It is rather like someone is whispering in their ears, pushing them on, motivating them. As they continue to work, it is like they suddenly understand and have all the necessary equations to refine the machine. Almost as if someone has put them there... (Had the thought that this might be the work of the Elder Gods or the Trickster and his Pantheon of Discord seeking to manipulate the group for their own ends) Other problems could include the 'Gateway' leaking out artron energy affecting the university and surrounding area in a variety of strange ways. The recently deceased awake from their coffins suddenly resurrected, a few students find themselves transforming into strange creatures as their bodies ala Lazarus suddenly change to follow a different and rejected evolutionary path, the university is caught in a time loop. Overtime, the time loop breaks down leaving people self aware of their predicament causing the area to fall into anarchy as people begin to indulge in their darker desires existing purely in a world of no consequences. Their Gateway accidentally becomes linked to another gateway from an Alternate Earth where the group encounter their more malicious duplicates. Or, just perhaps they gain the attention of the mysterious Faction Paradox. Or how about a timeline where they never bonded as a group and created the Gateway. It turns out that in the Whoniverse the creation of the Gateway and their involvement was a fixed point in time. Now the Reapers have become to swarm. (These ideas might be a bit much admittedly...) Authorities who might notice include: An American branch of U.N.I.T., nearby aliens who seek to use the Gateway for their own ends (See Professor Saurian as an example), the American branch of Torchwood (See the truly dreadful Big Finish audio 'The Dollhouse') For bonus points maybe Jack Harkness is in the area! Or the android Men in Black from the SJA episodes 'The Vault of Secrets' I actually also had the thought that maybe the Time Agency who Jack Harkness worked for prior to his appearance in the main series was perhaps founded from the work these students did. A trip to the future might result in one of the group meeting their future descendant who still works for the Agency. Would also allow for multiple 'seasons' as it were with the group realising that their work in the here and now protecting the Earth is needed. You know, instead of dismantling the 'Gateway' immediately. Professor Saurian might make for a good antagonist for the finale. Retreating into the early days of Earth's history to ensure that dinosaur kind will inherit the Earth! As the portal overloads, whoever had journeyed through the 'Gateway' finds themselves dispersed throughout time and space. Could make for a good way to bring a few of the spin offs into the campaign. One finds themselves in Bannermen Road in the mid noughties, another in Victorian London on stage at the New Regency Theatre frightening the audience and nearly the scaring the life out of Jago and another maybe onboard the TARDIS itself. I think the Ninth Doctor could make for a good incarnation to use here. A troubled veteran of the Last Great War in desperate need of some inner peace. He would naturally be at a point in his timeline where he has yet to meet 'Rose' All of them would try their best to get back to their own time period of course. I like to think a post credit (or post session) scene for the finale would go something like this. One of the group is still at the university desperately trying to repair the now apparently beyond repair Gateway and bring their friends back to them. When the machine suddenly activates, and a figure walks through. It mutters something unintelligible before collapsing on the floor. The last of the group tends to him and we can see that the figure is in fact none other than..... .....Ramon Salamander! Cue Series 2 Not sure if this is what you meant Catsmate. Might be a lot of tosh but I rather like the idea. Could make for a more American and grounded alternative to say Torchwood or U.N.I.T. Although with there still being room to utilise the rest of the Whoniverse as well.
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Post by greyhame on Sept 17, 2019 21:17:29 GMT
If you have the Primeval rpg books, you could crib a few ideas from them. Such as the research being done by Prospero, or the future ARC facility.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 18, 2019 12:10:04 GMT
Nice! I rather like this one. I think it could make for an interesting basis for an entire campaign to be honest. Yeah, I probably should have tagged it as a Campaign Seed. It's open-ended enough for that. Another idea was as an intro scenario for new players, I've involved with a new group starting soon.
I've got a lot of ideas on what you could do for this but I'll only post a few. Please go ahead.I'm imagining this being set in an university in America in say the 1990s. If only to cover for the fact, that we only got story set during this part of the 20th century on the television. The university setting is pretty timeless. I talked this over with my SOs last night (who're part of the usual AITAS gaming group) and they suggested any setting from the Pulp era, through the post-war/pre-UNIT period, through the UNIT era (remember TOMITT?) to the recent past or current/near future.
Nineties America fits as well as anywhen else; you can meld it into the events of the TV movie.
The university is underfunded so a lot of old buildings have simply been left to rot. The building in which the 'Gateway' as I am dubbing it is in was one of the many left to become derelict. Although, this particular building has a reputation to it with there being stories abound of ghost sightings. However, by the time the campaign takes place, a lot of these have simply been dismissed as stories and rumours made up by drug addled and intoxicated students. (Possibly the effects of the Gateway reaching back into time?) I like it. And it fits well with the period and atmosphere.
Temporal echoes as ghosts has been used and fits very well into the Whoniverse. The PCs could easily become entanged in such sightings.
I'm imagining that the deeds for the building was actually gifted to one of them by a mysterious benefactor (Possibly something to follow up on?) with all the necessary documents and files approved. The University in question does not recall ever authorising this, but merely dismiss it. After all, they must have done at some point. Didn't they? Ah, bureaucracy... Maybe a smallish property on the edge of the campus, away from the current (probably business focussed) direction of expansion. Maybe near student accommodation and/or fraternity/sorority houses for added potential. There could be all sorts of oddities in the basement. Or sub-basement.
I'm having flashbacks to the Randolph Mansion scenario in Beyond the Supernatural; weird house with 'hauntings', mysterious devices in basement, time travel.
The motivations would naturally differ depending on each character but I imagine all of them would want to be immortalised for such a scientific breakthrough as inventing time travel. Maybe one of the characters is actually from an alternate timeline where they did create such a machine (despite the protests of their friends) only for it to backfire and completely rip apart his world. He/She found themselves in this timeline and is determined to repeat the experiment if only to prove they were right the first time. Oh yes, the motivations can be many and varied; ego, settling scores, desire for knowledge, solving mysteries, self-aggrandisement, personal gain, power. The list is endless. Plenty of scope for conflict.Perhaps having the equipment to create the Gateway just isn't enough. They are still students after all. Perhaps one of them finds that they have been strange dreams as of late. It is rather like someone is whispering in their ears, pushing them on, motivating them. As they continue to work, it is like they suddenly understand and have all the necessary equations to refine the machine. Almost as if someone has put them there... (Had the thought that this might be the work of the Elder Gods or the Trickster and his Pantheon of Discord seeking to manipulate the group for their own ends) I like this; are they going mad? Is someone feeding them information? Who? Why? How?.Other problems could include the 'Gateway' leaking out artron energy affecting the university and surrounding area in a variety of strange ways. The recently deceased awake from their coffins suddenly resurrected, a few students find themselves transforming into strange creatures as their bodies ala Lazarus suddenly change to follow a different and rejected evolutionary path, the university is caught in a time loop. Overtime, the time loop breaks down leaving people self aware of their predicament causing the area to fall into anarchy as people begin to indulge in their darker desires existing purely in a world of no consequences. Their Gateway accidentally becomes linked to another gateway from an Alternate Earth where the group encounter their more malicious duplicates. Or, just perhaps they gain the attention of the mysterious Faction Paradox. Or how about a timeline where they never bonded as a group and created the Gateway. It turns out that in the Whoniverse the creation of the Gateway and their involvement was a fixed point in time. Now the Reapers have become to swarm. (These ideas might be a bit much admittedly...) Oh yes, there's a wonderful scope for weirdness and side-effects. Temporal doppelgangers. Intrusions from parallel universes. Odd flows of time and minor time loops. Attracting time machines, especially crude ones (Magnus Greel?) and flotsam from the Vortex. Prophetic dreams. Inaccurate prophetic dreams.Authorities who might notice include: An American branch of U.N.I.T., nearby aliens who seek to use the Gateway for their own ends (See Professor Saurian as an example), the American branch of Torchwood (See the truly dreadful Big Finish audio 'The Dollhouse') For bonus points maybe Jack Harkness is in the area! Or the android Men in Black from the SJA episodes 'The Vault of Secrets' Or more focussed government agencies like the Secret Congress (from Christmas on a Rational Planet, a USAian Torchwood analogue). Or private interrests.I actually also had the thought that maybe the Time Agency who Jack Harkness worked for prior to his appearance in the main series was perhaps founded from the work these students did. A trip to the future might result in one of the group meeting their future descendant who still works for the Agency. Would also allow for multiple 'seasons' as it were with the group realising that their work in the here and now protecting the Earth is needed. You know, instead of dismantling the 'Gateway' immediately. Hmm, I like this. Their notes might survive, inspire Magnus Greel and his Zygma experiments and later the Time Agency.Professor Saurian might make for a good antagonist for the finale. Retreating into the early days of Earth's history to ensure that dinosaur kind will inherit the Earth! As the portal overloads, whoever had journeyed through the 'Gateway' finds themselves dispersed throughout time and space. Could make for a good way to bring a few of the spin offs into the campaign. One finds themselves in Bannermen Road in the mid noughties, another in Victorian London on stage at the New Regency Theatre frightening the audience and nearly the scaring the life out of Jago and another maybe onboard the TARDIS itself. I think the Ninth Doctor could make for a good incarnation to use here. A troubled veteran of the Last Great War in desperate need of some inner peace. He would naturally be at a point in his timeline where he has yet to meet 'Rose' All of them would try their best to get back to their own time period of course. Oh yes, the portal could be arcing between significant point, significant to it (ir it's core) anyway.
I like to think a post credit (or post session) scene for the finale would go something like this. One of the group is still at the university desperately trying to repair the now apparently beyond repair Gateway and bring their friends back to them. When the machine suddenly activates, and a figure walks through. It mutters something unintelligible before collapsing on the floor. The last of the group tends to him and we can see that the figure is in fact none other than..... .....Ramon Salamander! Cue Series 2 Excellent! Not sure if this is what you meant Catsmate. Might be a lot of tosh but I rather like the idea. Could make for a more American and grounded alternative to say Torchwood or U.N.I.T. Although with there still being room to utilise the rest of the Whoniverse as well. Hey, I love to bounce ideas around here. Some strange and interesting results come forth. I have a few more ideas myself that I'll clarify and post later.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 18, 2019 12:48:26 GMT
Some ideas from a spot of brainstorming last night. In no particular order.
1. Character The seemingly helpful youngish academic (mid thirties anyway). Learns about the portal when one of teh team asks a few too many questions, investigates and gets access to the setup. Motivation is initially self-aggrandisement, which he covers up pretty well, but later turns darker; he has visions of re-writing history to his design. Season/story finale has him putting his plan into effect, trying to kill the PCs and escaping into teh past in a volley of exploding capacitor sparks.
2. Character The driven over-achiever. Basically Tanya Adeola from Class. She has experience with the weird world but is very young and socially isolated at university (scholarship of course) though she has hidden depths.
3. Character The perky goth techie. Basically Abbey from NCIS. Might not be part of the core group, perhaps a slightly older character (NPC?) such as a very junior lecturer/adjunct professor, TA or lab tech. She knows how to get things done and possesses a strange range of skills. Might also be a UNIT auxiliary (green triangle on a file somewhere?) keeping an eye on the group, though she hasn't filed a report yet. Why?
4. Character. The old academic. More of a British (and Irish; Ernie Walton was pottering around and occasionally lecturing when I was an undergrad) thing. Perhaps slightly senile. Or maybe he's a retired Time Lord curious about the bursts of chronons his TARDIS is picking up. Or maybe he knows exactly what's happening. He could be a retired/exiled/hiding time traveller from some other background or group. One of Magnus Greel's associates, a renegade (is there any other kind?) Time Agent. Perhaps he mysteriously appeared in the college decades before. Or centuries before.
Or just possibly he knows exactly what's happening because he saw it all happen before. Before the disaster that wiped out humanity and catapulted him into the past. Now he has a second chance and he's not going to mess it up, even if he has to kill his friends and himself.
4. Idea. Vortex flotsam. The time rift in Cardiff 'leaks' stuff on occasion, perhaps the portal also attracts junk lost in the maelstrom of temporal energies and folded dimensions. Bits of time-ships that weren't quite shielded well enough. People in experimental time-suits. Probes. Damaged Daleks. All suffused with weird energies.
5. Character. The driven cop. Discovers the project when investigating something else entirely. Instead of reporting it she wants to use the portal to solve the case that's haunted her since her probationer/rookie days. But even able to travel into the past how can she solve the case> Video recording of the crime? But there are serious evidentiary problems with that. Does she exact her own brand of justice (hackneyed, but hey dropping someone into a Nazi concentration camp might not be too inappropriate) or try and change the past.
Probably best to forbid the portal from opening into it's own recent past to avoid a 'crime of the week' plotline, unless this is what you want.
6. Laws of time. Unless the group inherit a detailed journal they have the problem of not actually underrating how time travel works. Do they try and alter the past? Meet their other selves? Otherwise find out the rules the hard way (perhaps with a minor NPC being earen by Reapers of a Hound of Tindalos)?
7. Character. The Dodgy Antique Dealer. The team probably need a source of money to run their project (or maybe one of them has other debts). So they dabble in the antique business. OK something bought in the past and brought forward won't look right to a dealer (nor will obviously recent paperwork) but bury it (well wrapped) in a suitable field a century or two ago and retrieve it in the present and it should be saleable. After a couple of such sales the dealer starts wondering. He's none too honest and has criminal connections. Maybe the retrieval is noticed and he starts digging himself, perhaps creating a paradox when he retries something that hasn't been buried 'yet'.
8. The Future. Can the portal connect to the future? If so what exactly is the future? Is there one path or are there multiple futures?
9. Meeting yourself. Unexpectedly the portal activates one night, when there's only one person present. A masked figure domes out of the special effects (hazer of bluish radiation?) and shoots them (with a non-lethal weapon) rendering them paralysed for a few minutes. With a muttered "sorry" they walk off.
Just as the person is recovering the same thing happens again, but this time s/he is shot with a dart. Waking a half hour later with no memories of the portal activations.
What's going on? Who are the masked figures? Future versions of one or more PCs? Are they from the same future at different points or divergent futures? What are they doing?
10. Zone of protection. In The Eye of the Giant, one of the few Who stories to feature a device like a time portal, the Doctor's gadget provides a degree of protection to it's surroundings when the past is altered, giving UNIT time to travel back in time and fix things. A useful get-out-of-jail card, just in case the players mess up. It also locks onto its core component in the past, possibly allowing for a series of adventures. All contributions welcome.
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Post by grinch on Sept 18, 2019 15:55:39 GMT
Glad you liked it. I guess in a 'Series Two' of such a campaign the remaining group member would have to create another team from the student populace to help recover their friends who are lost in time. Other stereotypes you could use for new characters include the jock, the quiet artistic type or perhaps the elusive University caretaker who might know more than he is letting on. Salamander would (depending on how his exposure to the Time Vortex has altered him) would either be an asset, using his scientific knowledge to help repair the portal, or the next antagonist hoping to alter the timeline to ensure his victory over the Doctor in the future.
I would imagine travelling into the future would be far more treacherous than travelling into the past. Perhaps they are at risk due to the future being in a state of flux to them of accidentally finding themselves opening portals to possible timelines. It's rather like trying to cross an ocean gripped in a fierce storm. Maybe, the main characters unbeknownst to them are resistant to the effects of paradoxes due to their continued exposure to the Gateway. They will have memories of what the world used to be like before it was changed. Would act as an example of how they don't fully understand the intricacies of the Gateway. Even if they were the ones who built the blasted thing.
As well as government agents, perhaps they're other interested parties who wish to commercialize their new invention. Humanity has now developed time travel in the later part of the 20th century. And is now a commodity to be paid for. History has changed completely.
As for how the group got the technology to build the Gateway in the first place, maybe the old academic character could be played by none other than the reformed Cuthbert from the Big Finish Fourth Doctor Adventures. His goals would still be enigmatic even if he thinks he is doing it for the greater good.
Maybe one of the futures the group could find themselves stranded in is the Earth during the Dalek Invasions? Or even the Year That Never Was where Harold Saxon rules supreme? Their future selves are either imprisoned in internment camps or have gone MIA.
Other adventure seeds could include such things as a local zoo is discovered to have a Vortisaur as one of its new attractions or one of the group (unknown to others) is looking after a stranded Dar Trader in the hope that they might resurrect a deceased loved ones.
Who knows? The consequences of misusing the Gateway could mean that other portals through time have opened around the surrounding areas. Ala the anomalies from Primeval. (Might be too much like Torchwood though...)
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 18, 2019 16:22:22 GMT
Glad you liked it. I guess in a 'Series Two' of such a campaign the remaining group member would have to create another team from the student populace to help recover their friends who are lost in time. Other stereotypes you could use for new characters include the jock, the quiet artistic type or perhaps the elusive University caretaker who might know more than he is letting on. Perhaps a Danny Pink/John Watson analogue? Ex-soldier with emotional and physical issues who really wants to alter certain events in the recent past but can't. The caretaker idea intrigues me too.
Salamander would (depending on how his exposure to the Time Vortex has altered him) would either be an asset, using his scientific knowledge to help repair the portal, or the next antagonist hoping to alter the timeline to ensure his victory over the Doctor in the future. How did his exposure effect his personality? Did Salamander have any odds-and-ends with him (as in The Heralds of Destruction). Perhaps he has partial amnesia and slowly recovers and returns to his sociopathic ways; does he seek revenge on the Doctor (maybe tampering with events to attract his attention and draw him into a trap) or start building a powerbase in the present day. According to the Who wiki EotW was set in 2018 so Salamander would have been born around 1980 or earlier.
I would imagine travelling into the future would be far more treacherous than travelling into the past. Perhaps they are at risk due to the future being in a state of flux to them of accidentally finding themselves opening portals to possible timelines. It's rather like trying to cross an ocean gripped in a fierce storm. Maybe, the main characters unbeknownst to them are resistant to the effects of paradoxes due to their continued exposure to the Gateway. They will have memories of what the world used to be like before it was changed. Would act as an example of how they don't fully understand the intricacies of the Gateway. Even if they were the ones who built the blasted thing. Yes, it could lead to visiting a variety of futures.
You don't need to understand thermodynamics and metallurgy to build a steam engine, though it's handy when it comes to avoiding a boiler explosion...
As well as government agents, perhaps they're other interested parties who wish to commercialize their new invention. Humanity has now developed time travel in the later part of the 20th century. And is now a commodity to be paid for. History has changed completely. That would be a huge change in Whoniverse history, probably attracting Reapers, Time Lords and the Doctor.As for how the group got the technology to build the Gateway in the first place, maybe the old academic character could be played by none other than the reformed Cuthbert from the Big Finish Fourth Doctor Adventures. His goals would still be enigmatic even if he thinks he is doing it for the greater good. Interesting, I'm not familiar with Cuthbert.Maybe one of the futures the group could find themselves stranded in is the Earth during the Dalek Invasions? Or even the Year That Never Was where Harold Saxon rules supreme? Their future selves are either imprisoned in internment camps or have gone MIA. Ah, dropping them into the Year That Never Was has lovely possibilities.Other adventure seeds could include such things as a local zoo is discovered to have a Vortisaur as one of its new attractions or one of the group (unknown to others) is looking after a stranded Dar Trader in the hope that they might resurrect a deceased loved ones. It could branch out into the PCs mixing with other, minor, time travellers like Percy Closed and the Circle. Or being hired to help with disaster tourists.
Who knows? The consequences of misusing the Gateway could mean that other portals through time have opened around the surrounding areas. Ala the anomalies from Primeval. (Might be too much like Torchwood though...) That's an interesting crossover...
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Post by grinch on Sept 18, 2019 17:33:38 GMT
An ex-soldier type could be rather interesting. The temptation of changing the past and 'fixing' himself would no doubt be a strong one but his steadfast belief that he can't play God would make him a good a moral figure for the group. You could do the Caretaker angle in a number of ways. You could do the obvious and have him be another stranded Time Lord ("He's so so strange, constantly muttering under his breath. Have you heard him? It's like he's arguing with someone!") or a time traveller. Might be more appropriate to have him merely be a former student of the University back in the 50s/60 who encountered one of the group back in the day and has waited decades to pay them back for saving him. Speaking of, considering they would more than likely not possess Torchwood's RetCon drug how do you think they would keep their activities and the existence of the Gateway a secret from the rest of the faculty and the student body? Also, I guess this means if they are students there would eventually be the inevitable graduation ceremony to frame an adventure around.
Hard to say how prolonged exposure to the Time Vortex would affect Salamander. I presume going by his own personal timeline he would be a child or at least entering his teenage years in Mexico at the time this would be taking place so there is no real risk of them encountering him. Unless of course, Salamander was actively looking for his younger self and acting as his own personal guardian angel. I think no doubt he would suffer from some form of trauma after being exposed to the raw power of space and time (Yet another reason to get revenge on the Doctor, how dare he subject him to that fate!) I don't think making him suddenly turn good or benevolent would be particulary original. After all, that would just make him another Professor Yana. I could see him at first almost being like a frightened animal, almost driven mad before calming down as he begins to recover. I like your idea of him suffering from partial amnesia, the human mind cannot fully process the sheer power of the Time Vortex, as that would give him a reason to assist the team before he fully regains his memory and his own sociopathic nature resurfaces. He might also suffer from night terrors or the occasional hallucinations of Vortisaurs, Chronovores or Reapers ("They're swarming!") which would give the group incentive to tend to him in return for some of his technical knowledge. Could also allow him to bond or at least empathise (Can someone like Salamander ever truly understand empathy?) with the soldier character. What do you think Catsmate? Any further suggestions on how Salamander could be utilised or what being stranded in the Time Vortex might do to him?
Time Travel technology being established in the 1990s would indeed change the entire course of human history. Would even be more unfortunate if this was set post Time War where the Time Lords or even the Doctor are no longer at large. Would make for a different session, almost survival horror in nature, as legions of Reapers swarm the Earth and the group must try to survive and prevent this from ever happening. It would (much to my personal chagrin) ultimately end I think on a form of reset button as history is returned to normal but no doubt with character deaths a plenty it would make sense.
See the Fourth Doctor Expanded Sourcebook for further information on Cuthbert. (Plus, he is also portrayed by the great David Warner. You can't wrong!)
The Year That Never Was would be a great miniature series for such a group. Constantly on the run from Harold Saxon and his Toclafane armies, encountering their past/future selves, also I'd be curious to know what else other effects Saxon's Paradox Machine might have aside from stabilising the Toclafane slaughtering their own ancestors.
Other time travellers they could encounter could range from Iris Wildthyme and Panda, the hedonistic Captain John Hart or even the TV Action original character the Victorian Theophilus Tolliver. You could even utilise from the GameMaster's companion The Stopped Clock Bar and Grill. A stopping point for all manner of time travellers and could make for a new base of operations if the University building is compromised or outright destroyed. With regards to the group being hired, I had a thought. If we used the idea that this group's work would ultimately inspire Magnus Greel's Zygma experiments or the eventual foundation of the Time Agency then maybe the latter would use them to rescue say stranded Navarino tourists in the Prehistoric Era. (Good way to bring in the Silurians...) If only to make sure their own existence is preserved within the timeline.
Phew! I think I have done enough rambling. Be good to hear your further thoughts on the matter when most convenient for you. Safe to say, I really like this idea and see a lot of potential.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 19, 2019 16:01:13 GMT
An ex-soldier type could be rather interesting. The temptation of changing the past and 'fixing' himself would no doubt be a strong one but his steadfast belief that he can't play God would make him a good a moral figure for the group. Plus a 'muscle' character where needed.
You could do the Caretaker angle in a number of ways. You could do the obvious and have him be another stranded Time Lord ("He's so so strange, constantly muttering under his breath. Have you heard him? It's like he's arguing with someone!") or a time traveller. Might be more appropriate to have him merely be a former student of the University back in the 50s/60 who encountered one of the group back in the day and has waited decades to pay them back for saving him. It like that, assuming he encountered the group previously s/he might have been embittered by the events and planned revenger; or have been mentally damaged by the encounter and a moral warning to the group. Of course there's no reason for only one caretaker; given the amount of duplication and disguise tech in the Whoniverse s/he could be impersonated by someone else at times.Speaking of, considering they would more than likely not possess Torchwood's RetCon drug how do you think they would keep their activities and the existence of the Gateway a secret from the rest of the faculty and the student body? Also, I guess this means if they are students there would eventually be the inevitable graduation ceremony to frame an adventure around. Lying, student rags/pranks, alcohol, secret project, cover from sympathetic staff member (the Abbey analogue perhaps).
The graduation battle in Buffy does pop into my mind; a season four spectacular with multiple future duplicates, other time travellers, Reapers, aliens et cetera.
Hard to say how prolonged exposure to the Time Vortex would affect Salamander. Very true. Give the storylines of the later Master (Saxon) and of River Song you could assume anything from major superpowers down to a Scion of Gallifrey. Personally I'd go with the latter at most, at least initially with possibly him developing the powers of the post-resurrection Saxon Master; psychic powers, energy bolts, flight, teleportation but at the cost of requiring life force infusions. The PCs kill him, finally, only for him to regenerate...
Actually I like this idea, I must file it for further development.
I presume going by his own personal timeline he would be a child or at least entering his teenage years in Mexico at the time this would be taking place so there is no real risk of them encountering him. Unless of course, Salamander was actively looking for his younger self and acting as his own personal guardian angel. Yes I'd expect Salamander to attempt to nurture his younger self, regardless of changes to the timeline.I think no doubt he would suffer from some form of trauma after being exposed to the raw power of space and time (Yet another reason to get revenge on the Doctor, how dare he subject him to that fate!) Oh yes.I don't think making him suddenly turn good or benevolent would be particulary original. After all, that would just make him another Professor Yana. I could see him at first almost being like a frightened animal, almost driven mad before calming down as he begins to recover. Agreed. Perhaps like 'Beep the Meep' at first?I like your idea of him suffering from partial amnesia, the human mind cannot fully process the sheer power of the Time Vortex, as that would give him a reason to assist the team before he fully regains his memory and his own sociopathic nature resurfaces. Yana and the hamanised Tenth Doctor aren't bad models for this, I think. Fragments of memories popping out.
He might also suffer from night terrors or the occasional hallucinations of Vortisaurs, Chronovores or Reapers ("They're swarming!") which would give the group incentive to tend to him in return for some of his technical knowledge. Could also allow him to bond or at least empathise (Can someone like Salamander ever truly understand empathy?) with the soldier character. What do you think Catsmate? Any further suggestions on how Salamander could be utilised or what being stranded in the Time Vortex might do to him? I like this.
He appears to have been a classic sociopath so he probably couldn't genuinely empathise but could fake it well.
How about this: at first Salamander doesn't remember much (though he could have a PDA/slate/smartphone with a diary/journal) but has retained his technical skills and developed an instinctive understanding of the Vortex (i.e. the Vortex trait). He slowly remembers more as (say) Scion like powers develop and he starts to scheme. Maybe he's split between hsi developed personality and his true self. Once he recovers his memories and original personality he conceals much of it from the group that he's ingratiated himself into and starts serious planning.
Time Travel technology being established in the 1990s would indeed change the entire course of human history. Would even be more unfortunate if this was set post Time War where the Time Lords or even the Doctor are no longer at large. Would make for a different session, almost survival horror in nature, as legions of Reapers swarm the Earth and the group must try to survive and prevent this from ever happening. It would (much to my personal chagrin) ultimately end I think on a form of reset button as history is returned to normal but no doubt with character deaths a plenty it would make sense. Yeah, Who canon is annoying about this. Lots of people experimenting with time travel that doesn't achieve much (TOMITT for example). Probably a degree of suppression by the usual agencies. Possibly the group actually creates, or at least starts the creation of, a new group to regulate time travel, in teh manner of the Time Masters (Legends of Tomorrow) or Martin Tegelj's Temporal Masters.
See the Fourth Doctor Expanded Sourcebook for further information on Cuthbert. (Plus, he is also portrayed by the great David Warner. You can't wrong!) I'll look him up, thanks.The Year That Never Was would be a great miniature series for such a group. Constantly on the run from Harold Saxon and his Toclafane armies, encountering their past/future selves, also I'd be curious to know what else other effects Saxon's Paradox Machine might have aside from stabilising the Toclafane slaughtering their own ancestors. Indeed, wonderful potential for the PCs to get into trouble, inadvertently tamper with the Doctor's scheme and watch their friedns, familes and world die.Other time travellers they could encounter could range from Iris Wildthyme and Panda, the hedonistic Captain John Hart or even the TV Action original character the Victorian Theophilus Tolliver. You could even utilise from the GameMaster's companion The Stopped Clock Bar and Grill. A stopping point for all manner of time travellers and could make for a new base of operations if the University building is compromised or outright destroyed. With regards to the group being hired, I had a thought. If we used the idea that this group's work would ultimately inspire Magnus Greel's Zygma experiments or the eventual foundation of the Time Agency then maybe the latter would use them to rescue say stranded Navarino tourists in the Prehistoric Era. (Good way to bring in the Silurians...) If only to make sure their own existence is preserved within the timeline. I have the Hourglass Club as a reasonable civilised organisation for time travellers; Gandalf could become involved.
Phew! I think I have done enough rambling. Be good to hear your further thoughts on the matter when most convenient for you. Safe to say, I really like this idea and see a lot of potential. Thanks for your contributions, most welcome.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 19, 2019 16:23:00 GMT
I do have a couple more ideas.
1. Quantum Cat What happens when a common cat is exposed to the Time Vortex? Quantum Cat - The Feline Who Walks Though Walls, occasionally achieves temporal duplication, developed enhanced intelligence and takes an (un)reasonable dislike to some people (Feel the Turn of the Universe). And is still a cat; agile, curious, sleepy and prone to knocking things over.
2. Enemies you don't know you've made One of the fun features of time travel are snarls in time; meeting people out of order for example. Enemies you don't know you will have made in the past attack you in the present and know all about you.
3. School Reunion In the eponymous episode we had kids fed a mind enhancing oil and set to work on advanced physics problems. Now a few years later one of the children is all grown up and going to university... It rather reminded me of the Demon Headmaster, which I believe is being rebooted on BBC. Probably make a good campaign, though a bit similar in plot.
Oh and what about Sarah Jane's teenage acolytes? Might they become embroiled in mysterious goings-on at college?
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Post by grinch on Sept 19, 2019 19:08:13 GMT
Glad you liked my ideas. It's rather fun tossing about and sharing ideas and as I said, I do think the idea has some real potential. The thought of Salamander becoming akin to a pseudo-Time Lord is most interesting. I'm imagining the Quantum Cat as something akin to the Cheshire Cat. Would make for an interesting team mascot as it were. You could even play up the more psychological aspects of having their sense of continuity be thrown into complete disarray. What they once considered the past, the present or the future is now a tangled mess in their heads and bound to give them some existential dread about their roles within the tapestry of the universe or at least give them a splitting headache. They are just students after all, not Time Lords who only have a basic understanding of the time portal's function and temporal mechanics in general.
I think when it comes to the former inhabitants of Bannermen Road, college would be the perfect setting for them. Depending on the time period you set it in (So, obviously not the '90s theme I am running with) they could serve as mentor characters to the protagonists giving them advice and encouragement.
Also, had a thought what if the time portal through some tinkering was able to connect with versions of itself in Alternate Timelines? All of a sudden, they have a network of portals to navigate through to other versions of the University. One where the Roman Empire never fell (Think 'The Iron Legion') The Earth from Inferno, a world where Silurians live in harmony with humans etc.
Of course, social events are a big part of University so there are plenty of opportunities for them to investigate strange goings on even without using the time portal. Is the Library really haunted? Why do so many cheerleaders go missing and then suddenly re appear with no memory whatsoever on a full moon? What lies behind the Red Door on Floor 12? Just what exactly goes on in those frat parties? The Archaeology Club bring in their newest find from the desert. A seemingly intact Cyberman. If you still want to use the time portal, you could always say that the existence and continued use of the time portal has slightly changed the surrounding area to attract such weird phenomenon.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 20, 2019 10:03:49 GMT
Glad you liked my ideas. It's rather fun tossing about and sharing ideas and as I said, I do think the idea has some real potential. Yes indeed. I may well use this for the new group. Currently the other is Rizolli and Isles meets the The Gilmore Girls in a TARDIS...
The thought of Salamander becoming akin to a pseudo-Time Lord is most interesting. Yeah, the Scion of Gallifrey has some interesting potential. He'd be something of an anti-Jenny
We have a couple of threads here on Scions; What If Doctor10 impregnated Joan Redfern and twenty years later their child becomes a Pulp era adventurer, for example.
I'm imagining the Quantum Cat as something akin to the Cheshire Cat. Would make for an interesting team mascot as it were. You could even play up the more psychological aspects of having their sense of continuity be thrown into complete disarray. What they once considered the past, the present or the future is now a tangled mess in their heads and bound to give them some existential dread about their roles within the tapestry of the universe or at least give them a splitting headache. They are just students after all, not Time Lords who only have a basic understanding of the time portal's function and temporal mechanics in general. Absolutely. Time travel should be terrifying, specially to someone who has an understanding of chaos theory.I think when it comes to the former inhabitants of Bannermen Road, college would be the perfect setting for them. Depending on the time period you set it in (So, obviously not the '90s theme I am running with) they could serve as mentor characters to the protagonists giving them advice and encouragement. IIRR there was some talk of such a spin-off from the SJA series after Sladen's death but Class happened instead. As you say it's a logical progression.
Also, had a thought what if the time portal through some tinkering was able to connect with versions of itself in Alternate Timelines? All of a sudden, they have a network of portals to navigate through to other versions of the University. One where the Roman Empire never fell (Think 'The Iron Legion') The Earth from Inferno, a world where Silurians live in harmony with humans etc. That would be outside the usual Who scope, where parallel universes are rarely visited, but perhaps a batter idea in some respects as there would be less of the restrictions of linear time travel.Of course, social events are a big part of University so there are plenty of opportunities for them to investigate strange goings on even without using the time portal. Is the Library really haunted? Why do so many cheerleaders go missing and then suddenly re appear with no memory whatsoever on a full moon? What lies behind the Red Door on Floor 12? Just what exactly goes on in those frat parties? The Archaeology Club bring in their newest find from the desert. A seemingly intact Cyberman. If you still want to use the time portal, you could always say that the existence and continued use of the time portal has slightly changed the surrounding area to attract such weird phenomenon. Heading into Buffy territory... But the Whoniverse has canonical werewolves, ghost, vampires et cetera and plenty of Mad Science. There's room for cults, secret societies et cetera too. Mix in a bit of Call of Cthulhu (the Hounds of Tindalos and Yithians fit well, and the Deep Ones are basically Silurians)
The Revisionists (deep cover time travel plotters guiding history to their future from Time Riders) could feature, training to gain control of the portal but unable to meddle as their founder will have been transported to the past by it. Or the Rittenhouse conspiracy from Timeless.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 26, 2019 15:59:44 GMT
Some further speculation and ideas.
In The Time Monster a small team at the Newton Institute (near, and probably attached to, the University of Cambridge[1]) develop a transmat/timescoop device called TOMTIT. The team was lead by the Master and included a research post-doc (Ruth Ingram[2]) and a research post-grad (Stuart Hyde[3]). Together[4] they built a working time travel device, one that allowed the Master to move objects from the past to the then present. This happened in (let's assume) 1973.
So assume a generation later Stuart and Ruth are professors somewhere (probably apart). Both have experience with UNIT, the concept of time travel and the practicalities of building a time portal device, but lack the necessary MacGuffin (the Kronos crystal, which we'll say is the Artron energy source I mentioned initially). Now what happens if a student comes to them with an object displaying similar properties to the crystal they used during the TOMTIT experiments all those years earlier? Older and wiser, do they call UNIT and get the object into storage? That's the sensible option but would rather abort the scenario...
So, gathering a small, clandestine team of their best students[5] they use an abandoned basement[6] to build a new time machine. - Of the two personalities from The Time Monster Stuart seems far and away the most like to do this; Ruth seemed far too sane for this carry on.
- If this happens in the 1990s, as per greyhame's ideas, Stuart would be in his forties or early fifties; the actor was 30 in 1973 but the character was probably early/mid twenties. He could easily have ended up in the US or elsewhere.
The group assemble their secret laboratory, assisted by a couple of NPCs, and it works. They've opened a portal in time and Stuart rushes through (without checking where or when it leads) and the portal begins to overload. Cue sparks and electric discharges as the control system borks itself spectacularly.
What happens next? Where has Stuart gone[7]? Is he dead? Did he have a plan (he was the one who set the coordinates)? What do the students do now?
[1] Isaac himself was a student, scholar, master, fellow and professor there along with serving as the University's Member of Parliament.
[2] Who in the EU was a student of Rachel Jensen, the ICMG's Scientific Advisor, creating an interesting continuity and network opportunity,
[3] The EU has him lecturing Melanie Bush, further increasing the network.
[4] The exact responsibility for developing TOMTIT are interesting; one would assume that the Master, in his guise as Professor Thascalos was responsible but in the EU sequel The Quantum Archangel Hyde is told he alone provided the "human ingenuity" needed.
[5] Or at least students who are bright enough and can be controlled.
[6] Said abandonment having *nothing* to do with the three tonnes of enriched uranium fuel rods stored down there from the old "Atoms for Peace" research reactor kit that the university won't pay to dispose of. It's perfectly safe...
[7] Back to Cambridge in 1973 perhaps?
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Post by grinch on Sept 26, 2019 16:21:58 GMT
Some further speculation and ideas.
In The Time Monster a small team at the Newton Institute (near, and probably attached to, the University of Cambridge[1]) develop a transmat/timescoop device called TOMTIT. The team was lead by the Master and included a research post-doc (Ruth Ingram[2]) and a research post-grad (Stuart Hyde[3]). Together[4] they built a working time travel device, one that allowed the Master to move objects from the past to the then present. This happened in (let's assume) 1973.
So assume a generation later Stuart and Ruth are professors somewhere (probably apart). Both have experience with UNIT, the concept of time travel and the practicalities of building a time portal device, but lack the necessary MacGuffin (the Kronos crystal, which we'll say is the Artron energy source I mentioned initially). Now what happens if a student comes to them with an object displaying similar properties to the crystal they used during the TOMTIT experiments all those years earlier? Older and wiser, do they call UNIT and get the object into storage? That's the sensible option but would rather abort the scenario...
So, gathering a small, clandestine team of their best students[5] they use an abandoned basement[6] to build a new time machine. - Of the two personalities from The Time Monster Stuart seems far and away the most like to do this; Ruth seemed far too sane for this carry on.
- If this happens in the 1990s, as per greyhame's ideas, Stuart would be in his forties or early fifties; the actor was 30 in 1973 but the character was probably early/mid twenties. He could easily have ended up in the US or elsewhere.
The group assemble their secret laboratory, assisted by a couple of NPCs, and it works. They've opened a portal in time and Stuart rushes through (without checking where or when it leads) and the portal begins to overload. Cue sparks and electric discharges as the control system borks itself spectacularly.
What happens next? Where has Stuart gone[7]? Is he dead? Did he have a plan (he was the one who set the coordinates)? What do the students do now?
[1] Isaac himself was a student, scholar, master, fellow and professor there along with serving as the University's Member of Parliament.
[2] Who in the EU was a student of Rachel Jensen, the ICMG's Scientific Advisor, creating an interesting continuity and network opportunity,
[3] The EU has him lecturing Melanie Bush, further increasing the network.
[4] The exact responsibility for developing TOMTIT are interesting; one would assume that the Master, in his guise as Professor Thascalos was responsible but in the EU sequel The Quantum Archangel Hyde is told he alone provided the "human ingenuity" needed.
[5] Or at least students who are bright enough and can be controlled.
[6] Said abandonment having *nothing* to do with the three tonnes of enriched uranium fuel rods stored down there from the old "Atoms for Peace" research reactor kit that the university won't pay to dispose of. It's perfectly safe...
[7] Back to Cambridge in 1973 perhaps?
I like it. Stuart would nicely fill that archetype of a slightly older mentor character. Perhaps he left UNIT at some point (naturally after signing the official Secrets Act) and became a teacher at a University in America? Stuart's disappearance could be what motivates the student's adventures. He was the one who had the most experience in handling the Gateway compared to them. They've only got what is left of his notes and their own knowledge of the Gateway's functions. Safe to say, there's going to be a few hiccups getting the thing working properly creating all manner of temporal anomalies and attracting all manner of alien creatures. (If we're using Salamander as someone who suddenly appears, he could then fulfil that mentor or at least older character role. Even though he is technically younger than all of them in 1990 whatever when the campaign takes place. Time Travel is very confusing.) Stuart's actions could be for the greater good, he's trying to change history for the better or send a warning back. Or maybe he's had a psychotic break, been possessed by some malevolent force (Could one of the Chronovores been the voice whispering co ordinates and equations in his ear whilst he was sleeping?) Maybe he was acting off some post hypnotic suggestion by the Master? Ooh, maybe he's trying to kill the Master? Even if they do get the Gateway working properly and retrieve Stuart, who's to say it's their Stuart anyway? Could just as easily be his younger pre UNIT days self or one from another timeline. Take for instance Klein's timeline where the Galactic Reich rules the Earth.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 27, 2019 15:31:08 GMT
I like it. Stuart would nicely fill that archetype of a slightly older mentor character. Perhaps he left UNIT at some point (naturally after signing the official Secrets Act) and became a teacher at a University in America? Exactly, it fills the gap in my original concept of something to start the experiments. A mentor gives justification to why a group of students are engaged in dangerous mucking about with the structure of reality.
Stuart had, to me anyway, a certain counter-culture vibe (maybe it was the Jason King facial hair); he could have been embittered by his experiences with the Master, Doctor and UNIT and headed off. Keeping in touch with Ruth perhaps (she could appear to investigate his disappearance).
Stuart's disappearance could be what motivates the student's adventures. He was the one who had the most experience in handling the Gateway compared to them. They've only got what is left of his notes and their own knowledge of the Gateway's functions. Exactly.Safe to say, there's going to be a few hiccups getting the thing working properly creating all manner of temporal anomalies and attracting all manner of alien creatures. (If we're using Salamander as someone who suddenly appears, he could then fulfill that mentor or at least older character role. Even though he is technically younger than all of them in 1990 whatever when the campaign takes place. Time Travel is very confusing.) Oh yes. A spot of plague or smallpox perhaps? Being mistaken for demons/witches/aliens/gods. Attracting the attention of the wrong sort of time traveller. And many more...
Stuart's actions could be for the greater good, he's trying to change history for the better or send a warning back. Or maybe he's had a psychotic break, been possessed by some malevolent force (Could one of the Chronovores been the voice whispering co ordinates and equations in his ear whilst he was sleeping?) Maybe he was acting off some post hypnotic suggestion by the Master? Ooh, maybe he's trying to kill the Master? Oh yes, Stuart's motivations could be almost any shade of grey. Maybe he just yearns for the 'good old days' and planned a one-way trip for himself. Maybe he's being manipulated (which, given the nature of time travel, could be done by his future self, Salamander et cetera). Especially if you retconned some changes to The Time Monster; perhaps Ruth was killed?
Even if they do get the Gateway working properly and retrieve Stuart, who's to say it's their Stuart anyway? Could just as easily be his younger pre UNIT days self or one from another timeline. Take for instance Klein's timeline where the Galactic Reich rules the Earth. Yep, many possibilities. Even more if we assume someone else is pulling the strings. Perhaps StuartOLD has gone back to save Ruth and has created a paradox by triggering the Master's interests in the TOMTIT experiments but also attracts a later incarnation of the Master[1] who uses Kamelion (or one of them) to replace him.
Complicated? Wait until you add in a possible future Stuart (StuartPOSFUT) who's pulling strings, an actually surviving Ruth (who was tossed forward in time) and the daughter of Dr. Percival[2], who's got her father's diary and a mysterious letter handed down in the University archives and written by Sir Isaac Newton... Then there the odd changes of behaviour in older staff in the university: hypnosis, mind control implants, Zygon duplication, shape-shifting androids or doppelgangers from a parallel universe...
[1] I may appear a little Master focused at present, the FASA Master Sourcebook is surprisingly excellent and full of interesting ideas.
[2] Director of the Newton Institute, killed by Kronos in the TV story.
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Post by grinch on Sept 27, 2019 17:03:54 GMT
A Jason King reference Catsmate? I see you're a man of taste. I rather like the idea that Stuart's decision to go back in time wasn't as part of some grand scheme to alter history but rather because he was feeling nostalgic. That would make for some grand conflict as the students (who no doubt would have experienced a great deal by this point) find him and angrily chastise him that all this chaos, all that sacrifice, all the tragedies that have occurred thanks to their meddling was simply because he was feeling particularly wistful. Even if they find him, as you say, there are further complications to allow the campaign to continue. Alternate future selves, the resentful daughter of Dr. Percival and of course what would the Master think of this whole affair? Not to mention as Salamander begins to recover he quickly puts his own plans into action. This would only get worse when they discover that his experience in the Time Vortex has changed him.
You could still keep Ruth alive but perhaps suggest that Stuart (after beginning the experiment) suddenly contacted her via letters or fax keeping her updated on the project. Ruth would naturally be concerned, begging him not to continue but he would naturally not listen. She could then make an appearance at the University as you said when he finally goes missing. I would presume that wants to put the whole TOMTIT incident behind her and didn't want Stuart to draw the attention of UNIT or... after seeing Kronos any other creatures that might be lurking in the Time Vortex.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 27, 2019 19:11:44 GMT
A Jason King reference Catsmate? I see you're a man of taste. Actually I've only seen a couple of episodes, but I liked it's predecessor Department S, which would make a good proto-UNIT resource; lots of weird happenings to mix in with the aliens and time travel.
I rather like the idea that Stuart's decision to go back in time wasn't as part of some grand scheme to alter history but rather because he was feeling nostalgic. I try to avoid making world (or universe) destroying plots too common; a well crafted scenario with purely personal motivation cn be more satisfying.That would make for some grand conflict as the students (who no doubt would have experienced a great deal by this point) find him and angrily chastise him that all this chaos, all that sacrifice, all the tragedies that have occurred thanks to their meddling was simply because he was feeling particularly wistful. Yep. The sense of disappointment and disillusionment when they find that he'd just planned a quite retirement in the (say) seventies. Or a decade earlier with the dolly birds...
Even if they find him, as you say, there are further complications to allow the campaign to continue. Alternate future selves, the resentful daughter of Dr. Percival and of course what would the Master think of this whole affair? Not to mention as Salamander begins to recover he quickly puts his own plans into action. This would only get worse when they discover that his experience in the Time Vortex has changed him. Oh yes, I'd suggest a first 'season' based around two plot arcs; [1] finding Stuart and [2] figuring out this time-travel lark. Mixed with one-off episodes dealing with incidents in the past and present (like someone returning with plague or a group of students snooping around). It ends with the traditional season finale, confrontation with Stuart and closure (to a degree). Then Something Happens; UNIT arrive, Salamander appears out of the portal, one of the team pulls a gun and starts shooting, the janitor peels off his face et cetera. Lead in to the second season.
You could still keep Ruth alive but perhaps suggest that Stuart (after beginning the experiment) suddenly contacted her via letters or fax keeping her updated on the project. Ruth would naturally be concerned, begging him not to continue but he would naturally not listen. She could then make an appearance at the University as you said when he finally goes missing. I would presume that wants to put the whole TOMTIT incident behind her and didn't want Stuart to draw the attention of UNIT or... after seeing Kronos any other creatures that might be lurking in the Time Vortex. I like it!
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Post by grinch on Sept 28, 2019 16:43:21 GMT
After rewatching 'Sapphire and Steel' I can't help but feel you could have them make an appearance in a special one-off appearance for such a campaign. Mind you, I'd imagine if they got involved the Gateway would be shut down immediately. And about half of the PCs killed off or subjected to a horrifying fate. Now that I think about it, probably for the best if they didn't get involved. I'm not sure how you could integrate them into the Whoniverse anyhow.
I think you could do a great deal with the character of Ruth. Even after Stuart is brought back to the present day or left back in the good old '70s. I'd imagine she would still have contacts with UNIT which she might have to call in if things get out of hand. The PCs might have to go on the run from UNIT with a piece of experimental tech from the Gateway. Cue a roadtrip across the US for a third series as they try to avoid capture whilst investigating strange happenings. Even if Ruth was still on their side then you have a mystery of who authorised their arrest? Some old enemy? Or someone from the future looking to erase them from history? It would actually make a great deal of sense that UNIT would be a trifle more militant in this era considering how they are depicted in the recent audio adventure 'Warlock's Cross'
I'd imagine that for future 'series' you could do a time jump and show what the characters are up to during the 21st century ("where everything changes....) Perhaps one of them is locked up in a UNIT prison? Another who has tried to put their past behind them and tried to have a normal life but ultimately is sought after for what they know. Whilst one more has followed in Stuart's footsteps and has become a teacher. And just what happened to the Gateway? Or the research what created it?
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Post by grinch on Sept 28, 2019 18:23:15 GMT
Some adventure/plot hooks for such a campaign.
* The otherwise dull and uninteresting local newspaper begins to print special editions which detail future events. An issue of which tells of the deaths of one of the PCs... * When several criminals and law breakers are found immolated their deaths are attributed to be the work of a new and dangerous vigilante. (Could be the work of the Latter Day Pantheon?) * After a particularly drunken evening, the PCs awake to discover that they now have a time displaced medieval peasant/gunslinger/etc living in their headquarters. Having misplaced the key to the gateway in their drunken state, they have to help him integrate into the 90s. * Seemingly over night a new female sorority has been started up by the bawdy and frankly inexplicable Ms Wildthyme. Meanwhile, in the local town a talking and acerbic stuffed Panda finds himself in the role of imaginary friend to a lonely young boy. * The Archaeology Society conducting a dig in the desert stumble upon the entrance to a lost Silurian bunker. * Is there any truth behind the urban myth of the Creature of Black Lodge? Yes. Very much so. (Could be a way to introduce the consequences of them misusing the Gateway. The creature could merely be an ordinary animal which evolved at a rapid rate due to excess artron energy.)
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 29, 2019 10:42:43 GMT
After rewatching 'Sapphire and Steel' I can't help but feel you could have them make an appearance in a special one-off appearance for such a campaign. Mind you, I'd imagine if they got involved the Gateway would be shut down immediately. And about half of the PCs killed off or subjected to a horrifying fate. Now that I think about it, probably for the best if they didn't get involved. I'm not sure how you could integrate them into the Whoniverse anyhow. Sapphire and Steel are tricky, they don't fit that well into the Who mythos. They might fit into a one-off 'Haloween episode' that was just a dream...I think you could do a great deal with the character of Ruth. Even after Stuart is brought back to the present day or left back in the good old '70s. I'd imagine she would still have contacts with UNIT which she might have to call in if things get out of hand. The PCs might have to go on the run from UNIT with a piece of experimental tech from the Gateway. Cue a roadtrip across the US for a third series as they try to avoid capture whilst investigating strange happenings. Even if Ruth was still on their side then you have a mystery of who authorised their arrest? Some old enemy? Or someone from the future looking to erase them from history? It would actually make a great deal of sense that UNIT would be a trifle more militant in this era considering how they are depicted in the recent audio adventure 'Warlock's Cross' Yes, Ruth is interesting. With just a tinge of change to The Time Monster her fate could be altered, without really effecting the story much; tragically killed, brutally murdered y the Master, displaced in time, regressed to childhood, duplicated throughout time à la Clara... Endless possibilities. Including several of these simultaneously.
I rather like the 'road trip' idea with the PCs loading their stuff into a truck and heading off. Something of an A-Team vide, mixed with the 'on the run' shows that were popular in the '90s. Perhaps ending with them either peacefully integrating into UNIT, negotiating independence, finding a safe permanent base or, well, there's always the Bakes Seven finale option...I'd imagine that for future 'series' you could do a time jump and show what the characters are up to during the 21st century ("where everything changes....) Perhaps one of them is locked up in a UNIT prison? Another who has tried to put their past behind them and tried to have a normal life but ultimately is sought after for what they know. Whilst one more has followed in Stuart's footsteps and has become a teacher. And just what happened to the Gateway? Or the research what created it? Ooooh, a 'Next Generation', interesting. Probably perfect for a multi-faction split where the former PCs are now trying to manipulate their successors into fulfilling their agendas. Cue time-paradox children with strange powers, temporally (and reality) displaced persons and lots of modern UNIT weirdness.
I've having a flash of a seven-way confrontation between PCs, with one of them meeting her duplicate from the future, her duplicate from a different reality, a shape-shifting android, a Zygon imposter, an alien with a Shimmer and a grown clone.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 29, 2019 11:07:48 GMT
Some adventure/plot hooks for such a campaign. OK.* The otherwise dull and uninteresting local newspaper begins to print special editions which detail future events. An issue of which tells of the deaths of one of the PCs... Someone's laying a trap for the PCs...
* When several criminals and law breakers are found immolated their deaths are attributed to be the work of a new and dangerous vigilante. (Could be the work of the Latter Day Pantheon?) I only vaguely remember Salvation. It could be someone with a few items of recovered lien tech (as in Evolution) playing superhero.* After a particularly drunken evening, the PCs awake to discover that they now have a time displaced medieval peasant/gunslinger/etc living in their headquarters. Having misplaced the key to the gateway in their drunken state, they have to help him integrate into the 90s. Ah, students. This reminds me of Tripped.* Seemingly over night a new female sorority has been started up by the bawdy and frankly inexplicable Ms Wildthyme. Meanwhile, in the local town a talking and acerbic stuffed Panda finds himself in the role of imaginary friend to a lonely young boy. I like that. Evil/weird sororities do have a history. I wonder does she need parts to repair her bus?* The Archaeology Society conducting a dig in the desert stumble upon the entrance to a lost Silurian bunker. A classic. Though it could be more Lovecraftian, K'n-yan or a lost Yithian city perhaps. Or of course Murania
* Is there any truth behind the urban myth of the Creature of Black Lodge? Yes. Very much so. (Could be a way to introduce the consequences of them misusing the Gateway. The creature could merely be an ordinary animal which evolved at a rapid rate due to excess artron energy.) Ah, Twin Peaks, lots of source material including USAF experiments with time). The idea of an Artron mutated animal is interesting too, it's canonical that exposure to a time rift can change humans, so why not animals? For those with the Primeval books, a Future Predator could appear.
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Post by grinch on Sept 29, 2019 14:28:04 GMT
Couldn't agree more. If you had them make an appearance it would have to be, as you suggested, in a non-canon Halloween session. Even if you used Silver as well, chances are the PCs won't be making it out alive. Not to mention the headaches you'd get trying to explain how the Elements work in relation to beings such as the Time Lords. Glad to see you liked the 'road trip' idea, I think for such a campaign to continue you would have to eventually expand outside of the University setting. You'd have the framework of them being on the run from either UNIT, The Forge or some other entities whilst allowing them the chance to investigate strange occurrences across the US. A spate of disappearances at an abandoned fairground could be the work of the Celestial Toymaker or perhaps they find themselves caught in the middle of a gang war between the Sidewinder Syndicate and common criminals working for the mysterious crime boss Mr. Meep etc. Stuff like that. Hopefully, it wouldn't end in a Blake's Seven manner but depending on how it progressed it could be rather a fitting end. Mind you, these PCs could always be revisited in a future separate Whoniverse campaign as guest stars. After all, no one is really dead when it comes to time travel. Ruth I think would be a vital addition to such a campaign providing much needed wisdom and expertise as she would have to take on the role of group leader for these ragtag (yet brilliant) group of students who have found themselves involved in events beyond their control.
Could be a rather poignant way for her as a PC to retire if she realises that they have outgrown her and no longer need to rely on her all the time leading to her handing herself in, to give them a chance to escape. A time jump in the campaign I think would work wonders. Enabling elements of the Revived Series to be brought into play and to introduce new PCs. As well as (for those who wish to reuse their PCs) seeing how the original PCs have changed in the next twenty years. As you said, not all of them might have changed for the better and might have ulterior motives.
You could even introduce ideas which originated on these very forums such as the Undergallery or Site 547 for example. Modern UNIT weirdness is the right word for it. Depending on how weird you want it, your PCs could find themselves in the Land of Fiction or even, horror of all horrors, unwilling participants in the Intergalactic Song Contest. Would also be worth discussing, if you were to use an older version of past PCs, of how they would have reacted to such events as 'Army of Ghosts' or 'Doomsday' Whilst also opening the possibility of having an adventure with their younger selves as well as finally introducing the Doctor.
When it comes to adventure seeds, I was thinking along the lines of this:
1. Who indeed is setting a trap? Or maybe they just want to get their attention?
2. I thought the Latter Day Pantheon would make sense due to the fact they are moulded by the beliefs of those around them. Perhaps, one fell to Earth and was influenced by a group of comic book fans into becoming an edgy and extreme vigilante akin to those of the 90s such as Spawn. Your suggestion would actually work well for such an idea. A fan enthralled by such material decides to stand up for himself and take on the criminal element of their neighborhood using alien technology they found. The technology could be controlling them rather than it being the other way around of course.
3. Yeah, this would definitely be more of a comedic adventure. They are students after all.
4. Iris Wildthyme I think would somehow be more appropriate to introduce then say the Doctor. She would have fewer qualms about their work and besides you're guaranteed a certain type of adventure when she's around. Panda is also an equally fun character in his own right.
5. Lovecraftian elements actually could be incorporated extremely well. There's a precedent for it in the EU with reference to the likes of the Nestene Consciousness, the Great Intelligence, the Animus and the Elder Gods to name a few.
I do feel like with elements from 'The Time Monster' you would need to have an incarnation of the Master to make an appearance. It would only seem appropriate. The question is, which one? Taking into account the suggested time period it would make sense for the Eric Roberts Master to appear but having Beevers or Delgado serve as a major antagonist could be just as interesting.
Blimey. Looking at this thread, I'm loving how detailed this discussion has become around such a simple idea as a group of students effectively building a time machine. Great stuff Catsmate and once again, thanks for suggesting the idea in the first place. I'll try to come up with more adventure seeds and plot hooks to use.
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Catsmate
13th Incarnation
No longer living in a bad adaption of "A Journal of the Plague Year".
Posts: 3,730
Favourite Doctors: Thirteen, Six, Five, Two, Eight, Twelve, Nine, One, Eleven..
Traits: Eccentric, Insatiable Curiousity.
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Post by Catsmate on Sept 29, 2019 17:46:33 GMT
Couldn't agree more. If you had them make an appearance it would have to be, as you suggested, in a non-canon Halloween session. Even if you used Silver as well, chances are the PCs won't be making it out alive. Not to mention the headaches you'd get trying to explain how the Elements work in relation to beings such as the Time Lords. They could be some sub-group of Eternals, but generally they just don't fit the Who can. For me anyway.Glad to see you liked the 'road trip' idea, I think for such a campaign to continue you would have to eventually expand outside of the University setting. You'd have the framework of them being on the run from either UNIT, The Forge or some other entities whilst allowing them the chance to investigate strange occurrences across the US. It has elements of TV series like Nowhere Man, Renegade and The Invaders and also elements of the excellent time/dimensional travel RPG TimeLords (nothing to do with Doctor Who) which had the Sliders-like premise of a small group of people with a device that allowed them to travel in time, space and alternalities. Often mounted in a vehicle.A spate of disappearances at an abandoned fairground could be the work of the Celestial Toymaker or perhaps they find themselves caught in the middle of a gang war between the Sidewinder Syndicate and common criminals working for the mysterious crime boss Mr. Meep etc. Stuff like that. Hopefully, it wouldn't end in a Blake's Seven manner but depending on how it progressed it could be rather a fitting end. Mind you, these PCs could always be revisited in a future separate Whoniverse campaign as guest stars. After all, no one is really dead when it comes to time travel. Ruth I think would be a vital addition to such a campaign providing much needed wisdom and expertise as she would have to take on the role of group leader for these ragtag (yet brilliant) group of students who have found themselves involved in events beyond their control. I'd only invoke a Blakes 7 TPK deliberately if the game was being ended. And you're absolutely right, when there's time travel there's always the possibility for a rescue or alternative perspective on a death. Trivia: the FASA RPG's Master supplement has Adric being rescued successfully.
Could be a rather poignant way for her as a PC to retire if she realises that they have outgrown her and no longer need to rely on her all the time leading to her handing herself in, to give them a chance to escape. A time jump in the campaign I think would work wonders. Enabling elements of the Revived Series to be brought into play and to introduce new PCs. As well as (for those who wish to reuse their PCs) seeing how the original PCs have changed in the next twenty years. As you said, not all of them might have changed for the better and might have ulterior motives. Or creating an apocylptic finale to cover their escape.
One of the earliest time travel RPG campaigns I was a player in started with a more-or-less standard 'haunted house' theme (similar to Poltergeist) that morphed into time travel when we found The Thing in the Basement (a time machine, well actually three of them) and later had the group skip ahead ten years.
You could even introduce ideas which originated on these very forums such as the Undergallery or Site 547 for example. Modern UNIT weirdness is the right word for it. Depending on how weird you want it, your PCs could find themselves in the Land of Fiction or even, horror of all horrors, unwilling participants in the Intergalactic Song Contest. Would also be worth discussing, if you were to use an older version of past PCs, of how they would have reacted to such events as 'Army of Ghosts' or 'Doomsday' Whilst also opening the possibility of having an adventure with their younger selves as well as finally introducing the Doctor. Oh absolutely. A UNIT or UNIT aligned campaign offers enormous possibilities. By 'UNIT aligned' I mean a situation where the PCs are aware of UNIT and have reasonably friendly relations but aren't part of it. They could be diplomats representing an alien power, or external alien consultants, or tour guides escorting aliens sightseeing on Earth, or even UNIT's 'Misfit Mob'.
When it comes to adventure seeds, I was thinking along the lines of this: 1. Who indeed is setting a trap? Or maybe they just want to get their attention? Or from when; there's always the hackneyed 'message from the past' trope.2. I thought the Latter Day Pantheon would make sense due to the fact they are moulded by the beliefs of those around them. Perhaps, one fell to Earth and was influenced by a group of comic book fans into becoming an edgy and extreme vigilante akin to those of the 90s such as Spawn. Your suggestion would actually work well for such an idea. A fan enthralled by such material decides to stand up for himself and take on the criminal element of their neighborhood using alien technology they found. The technology could be controlling them rather than it being the other way around of course. That's very workable. I must re-read Salvation.
My idea was based on something that's sitting in my General Notes file and was inspired by the Isaac Bell novels of "Clive Cussler" where I created generic villain profiles (assassin, smuggler, thief et cetera) and added some abnormal elements like alien tech to them. Certainly the Superhero genre has plenty of characters whose 'powers' are actually based off alien gadgetry.
3. Yeah, this would definitely be more of a comedic adventure. They are students after all. Yep. And occasional comic relief can be good.4. Iris Wildthyme I think would somehow be more appropriate to introduce then say the Doctor. She would have fewer qualms about their work and besides you're guaranteed a certain type of adventure when she's around. Panda is also an equally fun character in his own right. Oh yes, Miss Wildthyme would have no problems meddling. Though of course turnaround is fair play and maybe the sorority has it's own secret in the basement (or it's BtVS version) and is using Iris for their own ends. Cue Panda saving the day...5. Lovecraftian elements actually could be incorporated extremely well. There's a precedent for it in the EU with reference to the likes of the Nestene Consciousness, the Great Intelligence, the Animus and the Elder Gods to name a few. Yes the EU was pretty free at integrating the Lovercraft mythos and I've dabbled in it myself. White Darkness, and All-Consuming Fire do it particularly well IMO.I do feel like with elements from 'The Time Monster' you would need to have an incarnation of the Master to make an appearance. It would only seem appropriate. The question is, which one? Taking into account the suggested time period it would make sense for the Eric Roberts Master to appear but having Beevers or Delgado serve as a major antagonist could be just as interesting. I'm not a fan of the TV movie portrayal of the Master at all. I'd stick to one of the class incarnations. Blimey. Looking at this thread, I'm loving how detailed this discussion has become around such a simple idea as a group of students effectively building a time machine. Great stuff Catsmate and once again, thanks for suggesting the idea in the first place. I'll try to come up with more adventure seeds and plot hooks to use. This forum is a good place for bouncing ideas around.
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