(Setting Ideas) Amicus Dalek Films

[grinch]

What if the Doctor was human? What if Gallifrey never existed?



Inspired by a suggestion in the marvellous First Doctor Expanded Universe sourcebook of how the Peter Cushing films could be merely another alternate universe in the main Whoniverse this lead to me wondering how several characters and events could be reinvented. Here are a few ideas for some characters as well as what era appropriate actors/actresses could portray them if they were to be used in a campaign.


Feel free to chip in with your own suggestions and ideas.



⦁ Robert Magister: A former colleague and school friend of Dr. Who turned successful businessman. He assisted him in and funded his early time travel experiments, experiments which eventually led to the creation of TARDIS. Discovering his lust for power and unable to deter him from his plans of world domination, Dr Who saw no other choice but to expose his illegal business practises to the police, thus leading to his imprisonment. Although now detained behind bars at Her Majesty's pleasure, Magister still plots and schemes on just how to get his revenge on his former friend. A self professed master of persuasion, rumour has it he exhibits an almost mesmeric influence over his fellow prisoners. (Christopher Lee)

⦁ 'Auntie Iris': An apparent old flame of Dr. Who, Iris is very much a woman of contradictions. Possibly from the North, probably not, she is best known for her many tall tales. These range from how she was supposedly found on the back of a double decker bus as a baby or that she was once betrothed to a Maharaja . Either way, the good doctor always dreads her making an appearance. Susan and Barbera on the other hand are always pleased to see her and Susan has since given her the nickname of Auntie Iris. A name she is absolutely delighted with. Her grandfather less so. Extremely flirtatious and fond of the drink, she also has the odd habit of carrying a stuffed panda toy in her handbag at all times. (Fenella Fielding)

⦁ Barnabus: A robot built from remaining parts of the TARDIS to serve as a playmate to Susan. It also is specially programmed to prepare meals and make excellent cups of tea. In this world, Barnabus from the TV Comic could serve in the K-9 role albeit far more mute than the famous robotic canine.

⦁ Professor Zaroff: An Eastern European scientist who fled across the Iron Curtain for the West before suddenly and mysteriously vanishing at sea. Naturally presumed dead. Unbenowst to the rest of the world, he had been secretly captured by the Sea Devils who have kept him imprisoned in their realm of Atlantis. (Joseph Furst)

⦁ The Toymaker: An elderly tinkerer and former engineer who operates out of an abandoned and derelict toy shop. Having lost his family and his business due to the horrors of the Second World War, the Toymaker became very much of a hermit becoming obsessed with games and considering his toys his only friends. Eventually, he soon grew bored with the lack of competition and resorted to building clockwork soldiers which began kidnapping people in order to force them to play his twisted and specially designed games. Although dangerous, the Toymaker at the end of the day is simply just an extremely lonely man who desires company and friendship. A particularly clever and resourceful PC might be able to use this to their advantage. (Wilfrid Brambell)

[grinch]

Another addition:

⦁ Ushas: A geneticist from the far future whose work into eugenics was widely derided and deemed immoral by the scientific community. Stealing a prototype time machine from a nearby museum, she went back in time to Prehistoric Earth and found herself captured by Silurians. Deeming them a far superior species to her own, she agreed to ensure their survival through gene manipulation believing that they and they alone should inherit the Earth! Thankfully, she was stopped in her plans thanks to the efforts of Dr. Who and left stranded on Prehistoric Earth. She was last seen being closely pursued by a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex. (Yootha Joyce)

Really enjoying seeing just how some of these characters could be reinvented for this universe.

[grinch]

Another new addition:

⦁ The Eleventh: Real Name: Unknown. Taken from his family at an early age, the Eleventh was forced to become one of many unwilling test subjects in an illegal experiment to enhance the latent psychic potential all humans supposedly possess. After suffering through years of torture, the Eleventh emerged the only survivor out of the eleven children that were taken. The experiment was discovered to have been a complete success with the Eleventh now possessing enhanced psychic abilities. Using his newfound abilities, he killed his 'creators' and set off to wreak his vengeance upon what he felt was a cruel and uncaring universe. His new abilities, however, were achieved at a terrible cost. To cope with the trauma he had suffered through, he had developed another separate personality. One which refused to lay dormant or for that matter quiet. As he has grown older, he has only become more and more unstable developing more active personalities each with their own agendas and skill set. These personalities on occasion have even been known to take control of him causing his behaviour to become somewhat erratic. Despite this, however, he is still a force to be reckoned with and is feared across the universe. (Oliver Reed)

Going to be honest, I struggled with this one a lot. Was finding it hard to see how he could fit within this universe considering that his condition is such an integral part of his personality and the fact that the Time Lords (at least from my interpretation) do not exist here. I like to think I have struck a balance here but I'm always open to feedback and suggestions. 

[Catsmate]

Ah the alternative Who's, a bit of an obsession of mine^[1].

A campaign based around a human Who could a change of pace, ideal for those who want a change with the TV series or aren't that familiar with it.
In fact in one of the original background notes for the series the Doctor was human, from far in the future (~46th century IIRR).

You could play around with the background by having the Doctor exiled/fleeing from the future and adopting Barbara, Susan and Louise. Shades of Percy Closed and the circle. Perhaps he's part of the network of temporal exiles in sixties London^[2]?
This strikes me as having definite possibilities.


Did the Cushing Doctor really invent the TARDIS? Or did he steal/find it? Where is he really from?

I have a fondness for the rather odd Target novelisation of the TV story The Daleks; Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks which incorporates numerous early script elements that were later dropped entirely; the meeting happening after a car crash on Barnes Common, Barbara tutoring Susan rather than her attending Coal Hill School and Ian was a scientist rather than a teacher.

A thick fog and a girl in distress are just the things that Ian Chesterton needs to escape from a life of dull routine. He has no idea that this is merely a prelude to an adventure quite beyond any normal conception of the word. Or that Barnes Common on a foggy autumn night is the last view of Earth he may ever have.

You could mix and match, maybe Susan is more akin to the 'Lady Larn' version and an alien?


In the films the Doctor seems to have greater control of the TARDIS's travels, he manages to get the group back home (more or less) quite easily; perhaps via the Fast Return Switch? Which suggests to me that if he travels from place to place without returning to base (maybe he's set up a beacon in sixties London?) they might not get home so easily.

Mortimus/the Monk would be a logical addition. Another possessor of a stolen time machine, like Ushas, he could have plans analogous to The Time Meddler episode; 'improve' the human condition by changing events in the past. He's make an excellent recurring antagonist for the group.
I'm having a vision of a trip back to Edwardian times and Mortimus impersonating a police detective whose superior is investigating some odd disappearances. Perhaps related to a strange menage in a nearby manor house? What is going on? Who are "Orlando and Valeria Watt"? Is Mortinus trying to attack the Doctor by altering his ancestors?

The Hourglass Club could fit into such a background as a place for time travellers, TDPs and the 'time aware' to meet and socialise. And intrigue of course...


Over at AH.com there was a thread about a US remake of Doctor Who
The Yankee Doctor Abridged: A Story of An American Doctor Who Series
which introduced a recurring antagonist time lord called the Collector, played by Burgess Meredith.

S01E8 - Napoleon Bonaparte - Five episodes - The crew arrives in Paris, 1806 during the time of of Napoleon Bonaparte and his expansion of France. As the Doctor and the others are dragged into a mystery surrounding the disappearance of some of the Emperors imperial jewels, a secondary theft from the French Naval Ministry is cause for concern for the Doctor. Forces are at work which could cause future problems for him and his friends...

S02E1 - Adrift - Two episodes - The TARDIS lands on an abandoned space-freighter of the future. Similar to the British Doctor Who episode The Edge of Destruction, the TARDIS crew are the only major characters throughout who they meet physically. They are also affected by a gas that the Collector (who only appears briefly on video screens and as a figment of the Doctors fears) has pumped onto the freighter, in an attempt to test the Doctor and the crews abilities.

S02E10 - The Ultimate Collection - Five episodes -The showdown between the Doctor and the Collector comes to a head in this episode, as the Doctor, Anna, and new companion Arthur Jones arrive on the Collectors private world, where he stores the treasures he has taken from history for his own personal pleasure. The Doctor intends to confiscate and return the stolen items, but the his foe will have none of that. A climatic mental battle occurs in a special chamber between the Collector and the Doctor. The Collectors world is destroyed at the end of the battle, but not before the Doctor manages to spirit away most of the collection back to their original worlds. The Collector is assumed to have perished, but the Doctor notes that he fears that the Collector will return....

A mostly Earthbound campaign set in sixties London could incorporate other sci-fi/horror media from the era; Quatermass and the Pit comes to mind. Perhaps a companion killing season finale?


Regarding the Eleven I've been contemplating adapting the plotline of the book/film Nothing But the Night^[3] to Who. This involved a group of well connected and/or wealthy people planning to cheat death by transferring their minds into those of teenager orphans.
Possibly he was one of their early experiments? Someone who ended up with multiple minds imprinted within his brain.




[1] One of them...

[2] A bit like the TV series Time Trax (wiki) though maybe not all the exiles are criminals. Having a Time Agent looking for the Doctor and the others could be interesting, especially if they're mostly not a violent bunch (as opposed to Continuum)

[3] The novel was written by the prolific but mostly forgotten British author John Blackburn whop works have many useful plot ideas.

[grinch]

Nice ideas Catsmate.

I definitely think playing as a more human Doctor could make for some interesting possibilities. Despite the fact that (unlike his alternate universe counterparts) Dr. Who isn't Gallifreyan, I think you could still present a great deal of mystery regarding his character. As you said, perhaps he and Robert Magister didn't build TARDIS but rather they both fled from their future home time period? Or maybe he did and Dr. Who is simply a brilliant scientist centuries ahead of his time but still very much human. I rather like the idea of Sixties London being a sort of 'home base' for the characters done via the use of a beacon. If the beacon was disrupted or outright destroyed then you could have a whole series worth of adventures ala the original Classic series where the characters are lost in time and space and trying desperately to get back home. And who knows what the diabolical Robert Magister might have been up to in the meantime? (Maybe he has been cybernetically enhancing his more disturbed inmates?)

Mortimus would probably be the character that would remain the most unchanged in this reimagining. As you suggested, you could still keep keep Peter Butterworth in the role as well as have him be a recurring antagonist constantly trying to rewrite and change history for the better. (The Carry On adventure connection is merely an added bonus.) Incorporating other sci-fi/horror media from the era would almost be a given. Professor Quatermass could be an old friend of Dr. Who or perhaps the two have a rivalry of some kind? And instead of U.N.I.T. and the Brigadier you could have John Steed and Mrs Peel in the role of agents working for a government organisation. Perhaps Adam Adamant has been recently unearthed as well? The list goes on.

To be honest, I much prefer your idea of how the Eleven could exist in this universe.

I was thinking about how the Doctor's companions could be reimagined for this universe. But to be perfectly honest, you probably wouldn't have to change any of them. Except for maybe a few exceptions. You could have Ray from 'Delta and the Bannermen' take the place of Mel for instance.

[Catsmate]

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

Nice ideas Catsmate.

Thanks.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

I definitely think playing as a more human Doctor could make for some interesting possibilities. Despite the fact that (unlike his alternate universe counterparts)

It's good for dealing with players who are too familiar with the TV series and it's associated mythos. You can start more-or-less over again.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

Dr. Who isn't Gallifreyan, I think you could still present a great deal of mystery regarding his character. As you said, perhaps he and Robert Magister didn't build TARDIS but rather they both fled from their future home time period? Or maybe he did and Dr. Who is simply a brilliant scientist centuries ahead of his time but still very much human.

Oh yes. Natives, exiles (voluntary or not, pursued or not, from the same period or not), temporally displaced persons, or just woke up in London one day with no idea of their origins... Pocket watch optional.

Actually this suggests another idea to me; there could be exiles/refugees from successive regimes arriving in the same period, potentially with different groups pursuing them.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

I rather like the idea of Sixties London being a sort of 'home base' for the characters done via the use of a beacon. If the beacon was disrupted or outright destroyed then you could have a whole series worth of adventures ala the original Classic series where the characters are lost in time and space and trying desperately to get back home. And who knows what the diabolical Robert Magister might have been up to in the meantime? (Maybe he has been cybernetically enhancing his more disturbed inmates?)

I like it.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

Mortimus would probably be the character that would remain the most unchanged in this reimagining. As you suggested, you could still keep keep Peter Butterworth in the role as well as have him be a recurring antagonist constantly trying to rewrite and change history for the better. (The Carry On adventure connection is merely an added bonus.)

It's the only film in the series I like.
I regret that the character of the Monk never reappeared (unless you go with the FASA canon that the Monk was an earlier incarnation of the Master). He could have makde an excellent recurring antagonist.
I found that just looking at a selection of pictures of him in various roles was suggesting scenarios to me.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

Incorporating other sci-fi/horror media from the era would almost be a given. Professor Quatermass could be an old friend of Dr. Who or perhaps the two have a rivalry of some kind? And instead of U.N.I.T. and the Brigadier you could have John Steed and Mrs Peel in the role of agents working for a government organisation. Perhaps Adam Adamant has been recently unearthed as well? The list goes on.

Oooo, I like that.
Clean up Adamant's backstory and insert a bit more science (I really didn't like the block of ice bit). The Face could be another TDP, exile et cetera still active in the 1960s.

Steed and associates could start to handle more alien themed problems, possibly aided/hindered by the Intrusion Countermeasures Group.
Trivia: The Who episode The Seeds of Doom is basically a remake of a Steed & Peel story called The Man-Eater of Surrey Green, with the first two episodes basically being a remake of The Thing tacked on.
Then there were the Cybernauts and the mental interfacing in The Last of the Cybernauts.

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

To be honest, I much prefer your idea of how the Eleven could exist in this universe.

I've been toying with the basic plot of Nothing But the Night for a while; it seems to fit into the Whoniverse quite well, especially the Third/Fourth Doctor era's 'irresponsible misuse of science' theme.


A group of moderately wealthy and powerful people, all middle-aged to elderly, are offered a new lease of life by a mysterious scientist but at a horrific price. Are they interested?
The scientist has developed a way to transferring minds, what today’s Transhumanists would call uploading. However in the 1970s no (human) computer system has even a tiny fraction of the storage necessary to run a simulation of the human mind. So the mental patterns are transferred to another human, over-writing their mind...

My ideas.

SPOILER: Click to show

1. The Uploading.
a. It’s destructive and final (but see X below). The pattern of the original body is too badly damaged to be functional after the process leaving them in a vegetative/catonic state.
• Optionally they may be capable of limited communication (especially via telepathy or artificial mind reading).
• Or go berserk.
• Or just die quietly.
b. Therefore there is no possibility of duplicating personalities (unless this suits the plot, perhaps as a way for the Mad Scientist/Lead Villain to escape, à la The Albina Knife)
• Possibly the Mad Scientist has a computer system capable of storing one set of mental patterns. Perhaps this is part of the source of the tech?
c. The process can onto ‘write to’ a relatively young human dody, preferably between (approximately) twelve and eighteen. With an older recipient the process may be only partially successful, younger donors likewise.
d. So a source of reasonably young donors, of good quality (attractive, good physical condition, no defects) is needed. As is a place to store them until they’re needed and keep them safe after the transfer (the newly occupied body is subject to confusion).
e. Echoes of The Last of the Cybernauts and The Island.
f. Optionally temporary transfers to young adult bodies may be possible. Suitable for inflitrators and assassins...


2. Who is behind the device?
a. Stranded alien
b. Stranded time traveller (possibly one of Magnus Greel’s associates or even a splinter of Greel himself.
c. The Master (too hackneyed but fits the era)
d. WOTAN. Via a mind-controlled intermediary or remotely controlled or uploaded human.
e. A human Mad Scientist with access or advanced/alien/anachronistic tech. Perhaps a Torchwood renegade.
• As a further complication s/he may be possessed/influenced by Something Else
f. A minion of a Higher Power, such as the Great Intellience (it rather fits the métier)

It's also scheduled to be integrated into the reboot of the EDCverse. Sometime..

Oct 22, 2019 11:20:36 GMT grinch said:

I was thinking about how the Doctor's companions could be reimagined for this universe. But to be perfectly honest, you probably wouldn't have to change any of them. Except for maybe a few exceptions. You could have Ray from 'Delta and the Bannermen' take the place of Mel for instance.

Dropping Mel, at least who she was portrayed in the series, would be good. Adric too.

[Catsmate]

BTW this gallery of photographs of London in 1962 might be of interest. Local colour in the event of a summons to 10 Downing Street...

[grinch]

Exactly. And it means that you run no risk of the players using out of game knowledge. It's basically a fresh start. This is of course does not mean that you can't involve elements of or crossover with the main universe but it's an opportunity to try something different. As you said, there's plenty of ways to make Dr. Who and Robert Magister enigmatic. For those GM's inclined, you could even just have them be ordinary, yet scientifically brilliant, humans from 60s Britain although I do still like the idea of there being various groups searching for them. Even if you went the strictly modern-day humans angle, you could always suggest that Dr. Who's experiments in time travel have drawn the attention of various outsiders with ulterior motives. What would the Dr. Who universe version of the Shadow Proclamation or the Time Agency be like for example?

Heh. Personally, I have a soft spot for the 'Carry On' films in fact I was picturing Fennella Fielding's performance in 'Carry On Screaming' when it came to envisaging this universe's version of Iris Wildthyme. But I do agree that Mortimus would probably make for a better recurring antagonist for this version of the Doctor than say my version of the Master. If I were to create adventures per se I'd have Magister be in the background orchestrating events behind bars to plague Dr. Who whilst our hero in question chases this tiresome time meddler around space and time. Think a different version of the Harold Saxon arc of Series Three of the revived series as an example or how the character of Mr. Bridger is portrayed in the only good version of 'The Italian Job' Except with more Christoper Lee.

The idea of London having a hidden community or an abundance of temporally displaced individuals is a fascinating one. The first question to ask is of course why? What's drawing these unfortunates to this specific time and place? Is it leftover vortex energy from Mortimus's machinations in time? Some other unknown outside source? Or is it merely an unfortunate side effect of the beacon which allows Dr. Who to have better control over TARDIS?

As mentioned previously, I think a lot of sci-fi/horror media from this era would fit in quite nicely. Although with a few added tweaks as you suggested. Perhaps Adamant was frozen in a suspended animation chamber the Face stole from the future? The Face could be another TDP exile or maybe the version active in the 1960s is merely the descendant of the original who has assumed the mantle? Depending on the age of the original, he could still be alive albeit very elderly and guiding his young progeny. It could all be part of an elaborate plan though to regain his youth and resume his reign of terror using TARDIS or another one of Dr. Who's inventions. Food or thought.

Ah, have to love the Avengers. I like the idea of Steed and Co becoming more involved in matters of the extra terrestrial. Serving as the equivalent of U.N.I.T. who the good Doctor could call on in the future. (Maybe not as a scientific advisor though. This version of the Doctor seems a bit too absentminded for such things) Could even alter things slightly (and why not? It's an AU after all!) that the Man-Eater of Surrey Green was actually a Krynoid in its infancy or that the work into the Cybernauts eventually led into the creation of this universe's Cybermen. Even though the thought of Dr. Who tackling the events of 'Spare Parts' is too good to pass up.

I also think a lot of elements from the main series would remain mostly unchanged here. WOTAN or the Great Intelligence for example. Discarding my idea for the Celestial Toymaker aside (Not really too fond of it in hindsight) he could even work as the villain of a side adventure. Due to the 60s flavour of the era, I'd almost encourage GMs to use the more campier elements of Doctor Who's history such as the adventures of TV Comic.

Nice. Does this mean the Eleven (or at least a version of the Eleven) exists within the Evil Doctor Universe? Or perhaps more appropiately a more benevolent if very troubled counterpart? Can't wait to see what happens next in the ongoing adventures of the EDC by the way. What carnage shall unfold?....

Indeed. It's a new universe and thus the chance for new companions. Cheers for the photos as well. I could see Dr. Who being called on by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of Steed's superior Mother. I'm almost tempted to make a sourcebook for this Amicus Universe as I have dubbed it. That or Earth 66. Have yet to decide yet.

Any more thoughts or suggestions?

[Catsmate]

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

Exactly. And it means that you run no risk of the players using out of game knowledge. It's basically a fresh start.

The problem of genre savvy players is a significant one for games based on media properties. Hence I like to change the rules.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

This is of course does not mean that you can't involve elements of or crossover with the main universe but it's an opportunity to try something different. As you said, there's plenty of ways to make Dr. Who and Robert Magister enigmatic. For those GM's inclined, you could even just have them be ordinary, yet scientifically brilliant, humans from 60s Britain although I do still like the idea of there being various groups searching for them. Even if you went the strictly modern-day humans angle, you could always suggest that Dr. Who's experiments in time travel have drawn the attention of various outsiders with ulterior motives. What would the Dr. Who universe version of the Shadow Proclamation or the Time Agency be like for example?

There are lots of "Time Patrols" in fiction, right back to Anderson's original. They could be incompetent, oppressive, bureaucratic or more. There could be multiple patrols, from different eras (as in Laumer's Dinosaur Beach or the Time Riders RPG) with different rules regarding independents, anachronistic technology, tourism et cetera.

An "Amicus" Shadow Proclamation might be more in the vein of the "Galactic Federation" as seen in era sci-fi; benevolent in general but slow to react, or somewhat useless like the perceptions of the UN.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

Heh. Personally, I have a soft spot for the 'Carry On' films in fact I was picturing Fennella Fielding's performance in 'Carry On Screaming' when it came to envisaging this universe's version of Iris Wildthyme.

Yes, she'd suit the role. Perhaps with elements of her portrayal of 'The Vixen'?

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

But I do agree that Mortimus would probably make for a better recurring antagonist for this version of the Doctor than say my version of the Master. If I were to create adventures per se I'd have Magister be in the background orchestrating events behind bars to plague Dr. Who whilst our hero in question chases this tiresome time meddler around space and time. Think a different version of the Harold Saxon arc of Series Three of the revived series as an example or how the character of Mr. Bridger is portrayed in the only good version of 'The Italian Job' Except with more Christoper Lee.

Oh yes, I like that. A good spread of antagonists. Magister as the Affably Evil mastermind and Mortimus as the basically well-intentioned meddler.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

The idea of London having a hidden community or an abundance of temporally displaced individuals is a fascinating one. The first question to ask is of course why? What's drawing these unfortunates to this specific time and place? Is it leftover vortex energy from Mortimus's machinations in time? Some other unknown outside source? Or is it merely an unfortunate side effect of the beacon which allows Dr. Who to have better control over TARDIS?

Well it's London, where else would they want to live? Everywhere else is full of foreigners...
There might be something, as you suggest, that attracts time machines, maybe damaging them in the process and stranding the travellers in London as it began to swing.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

As mentioned previously, I think a lot of sci-fi/horror media from this era would fit in quite nicely. Although with a few added tweaks as you suggested. Perhaps Adamant was frozen in a suspended animation chamber the Face stole from the future? The Face could be another TDP exile or maybe the version active in the 1960s is merely the descendant of the original who has assumed the mantle? Depending on the age of the original, he could still be alive albeit very elderly and guiding his young progeny. It could all be part of an elaborate plan though to regain his youth and resume his reign of terror using TARDIS or another one of Dr. Who's inventions. Food or thought.

All good ideas. Maybe the older Face is preserved by alien/advanced/Mad Science tech and "doesn't get about much anymore" somewhat in the manner of Tobias Vaughan in Original Sin, pulling string to guide the future.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

Ah, have to love the Avengers. I like the idea of Steed and Co becoming more involved in matters of the extra terrestrial. Serving as the equivalent of U.N.I.T. who the good Doctor could call on in the future. (Maybe not as a scientific advisor though. This version of the Doctor seems a bit too absentminded for such things) Could even alter things slightly (and why not? It's an AU after all!) that the Man-Eater of Surrey Green was actually a Krynoid in its infancy or that the work into the Cybernauts eventually led into the creation of this universe's Cybermen. Even though the thought of Dr. Who tackling the events of 'Spare Parts' is too good to pass up.

Excellent!

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

I also think a lot of elements from the main series would remain mostly unchanged here. WOTAN or the Great Intelligence for example. Discarding my idea for the Celestial Toymaker aside (Not really too fond of it in hindsight) he could even work as the villain of a side adventure. Due to the 60s flavour of the era, I'd almost encourage GMs to use the more campier elements of Doctor Who's history such as the adventures of TV Comic.

WOTAN and the Great Intelligence are classic archetypes from the sci-fi of the era (think Colossus and the Mysterons for example). The Nestene (which was derived from Qautermass) would fit in too. Quatermass II with it's giant conspiracy of alien possessed humans, sinister factory and asteroid base (for the TARDIS to visit with a reluctant Doctor and a suicidal soldier with a nuclear bomb)

You'd probably need to accelerate human space development (and integrate Britain) in the background but the pieces are there, the British Interplanetary Society, British [Experimental] Rocket Group and Megaroc.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

Nice. Does this mean the Eleven (or at least a version of the Eleven) exists within the Evil Doctor Universe? Or perhaps more appropiately a more benevolent if very troubled counterpart? Can't wait to see what happens next in the ongoing adventures of the EDC by the way. What carnage shall unfold?....

Well not as yet, because I hadn't (and haven't) listed to the audioplays but from what I've read a version of him might fit well into the Not Time War arc.

Oct 22, 2019 21:40:32 GMT grinch said:

Indeed. It's a new universe and thus the chance for new companions. Cheers for the photos as well. I could see Dr. Who being called on by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of Steed's superior Mother. I'm almost tempted to make a sourcebook for this Amicus Universe as I have dubbed it. That or Earth 66. Have yet to decide yet.

Any more thoughts or suggestions?

Pretty much as I've listed above, if anything comes to mind I'll post it. Now the cat is calling.

[Catsmate]

Some bits and pieces.

One piece of era sci-fi that suggests itself as a scenario is Kneale's The Stone Tape (wiki) with it's idea of ghostly phenomena as 'psychic recordings' preserved in some naturally occurring medium that's being investigated as a new data storage technology.
Perhaps the Doctor is involved in the project in some way? As a consultant, owner of the 'haunted' house or just investigating the events.

Or, to keep to the Halloween theme of hauntings, there was The Living Dead episode of The Avengers with it's competing teams of FOG (Friends of Ghosts) and SMOG (Scientific Measurement of Ghosts). Just replace the main plot (the hidden base) with someone better (like aliens).


A recurring theme in the spy-fi of the era was the Return of the Nazis. This featured in everything from The Man From UNCLE (causing a temporary UNCLE/THRUSH alliance) to The Tomorrow People, not forgetting the The New Avengers and The Champions.

• And The Champions could easily be dropped into an alternate Who game; slightly superpowered people were rather in vogue due to the Human Potential Movement of the late sixties. OK they'd be a little early but should fit in quite well. And who knows what the real motivation were of the ancients civilisation who empowered them?
• In a similar vein is Department S. Plenty of weirdness for several groups to be investigating, and getting at cross purposes with each other and leaving the Doctor to save the day.
  

I've posted before on Antarctic Space Nazis.

For a variation on Quatermass II and the sinister facility at Winnerden Flats, the alien invader could be what we today called nanotechnology; a self-replicating (when provided with suitable material) virus that infects and gradually dominates it's hosts. The complex itself, with it's huge domes, cooling towers, network of piping  is an interesting archetype, both of Wilson's "white heat of technology" and the underlying fear of science wiping out mankind.

Topical for the 1960s is racism; Oswald Mosley recreated his pre-war BUF as the Union Movement (wiki). Perhaps a Mosley analogue appears, aided by a piece of scavenged alien tech (similar to Timewyrm: Exodus)

The never made third Dalek film was proposed to be a remake of The Chase, an excellent opportunity for an elongated chase through time, in search of the MacGuffin that will stop the pursuing Daleks, or wipe them out finally.


I like the idea of a supposedly benevolent organisation being a front for some sinister plan; the German Association for Combating the Dangers of Tobacco perhaps? Or the Esperanto Institute.


Poul Anderson turned the 'lost' Sherlock Holmes case of "The Addleton tragedy and the singular contents of the ancient British barrow" into a Time Patrol story.
It involved a time traveller who'd dumped some highly radioactive material in fifth century England, which was dug up by an amateur archaeologist, with fatal consequences. Holmes wasn't mentioned by name (copyright) but the protagonists met him and had to keep him from figuring out what was really going on, while allowing him to prove that the arrested man was innocent and avoiding proper analysis of the radioactive material.

Addleton was a village in Kent, distinguished chiefly by a Jacobean estate belonging to Lord Wyndham and a barrow of unknown age. The nobleman, an enthusiastic amateur archeologist, had been excavating it, together with one James Rotherhithe, an expert from the British Museum who happened to be a relative. Lord Wyndham had uncovered a rather meager burial chamber: a few artifacts nearly rusted and rotted away, bones of men and horses. There was also a chest in surprisingly good condition, containing ingots of an unknown metal presumed to be a lead or silver alloy. He fell deathly ill, with symptoms of a peculiarly lethal poisoning; Rotherhithe, who had barely looked into the casket, was not affected, and circumstantial evidence suggested that he had slipped the nobleman a dose of some obscure Asiatic concoction. Scotland Yard arrested the man when Lord Wyndham died, on the twenty-fifth. Rotherhithe’s family engaged the services of a well-known private detective, who was able to show, by most ingenious reasoning, followed by tests on animals, that the accused was innocent and that a “deadly emanation” from the chest was responsible. Box and contents had been thrown into the English Channel.

Perhaps the Doctor and his associates are having a holiday in the country when a local archaeologist finds something nasty? Now in the sixties radioactivity (and radiation sickness) is better understood but it's still quite possible that the problem won't be diagnosed until it's too late (and there isn't much that can be done for someone who's taken more than a couple of hundred rems).

[grinch]

Been a while since I posted on this particular topic, but I have in the meantime been making notes on what such a setting would entail. So, consider this more of an update. I rather liked Catsmate's idea regarding utilising other British media of the era such as The Avengers, Adam Adamant Lives! and Quatermass and incorporating it into this alternate setting alongside this AU Doctor. Has given me an excuse to go trawling through 60s/70s television at least. Which is always good.

Admittedly, some might argue that using such properties is rather outlandish and out of place but the Amicus Dalek Films were quite campy in their own regard befitting the era of 60s, so such a campaign in such a setting wouldn't necessarily be the most serious. To quote Mortimus from one of our previous adventures:

"Reality? Reality is subjective. And the further you go from what you'd consider "reality" the more fantasy and fact become rather one and the same."

Besides, as an alternate universe, I'd imagine interactions with the main DW Universe would be quite limited and it's rather fun seeing how you could reimagine certain characters for this universe. Particularly like the idea that instead of U.N.I.T. and the Brigadier, John Steed and the Ministry are Dr. Who's government contacts.

For this reason alone, I have chosen to incorporate some characters into this setting and discard others. Mainly out of personal preference (hence why The Tomorrow People won't be included) and mainly because I feel like you could do more with lesser-known characters. Take Tarot from 'Ace of Wands' or the agents from 'The Champions' as an example.

Currently, at the moment, I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate 'Randall and Hopkirk: Deceased' into the setting. Going to be using the remake from the noughties because I think the sixties already has enough characters to use and I did prefer how it tackled the supernatural/detective elements compared to the original Kenneth Cope series. (I know, I know. Blasphemy...) Only problem is, that the concept does rely on the fact that in the series ghosts and the afterlife are very much real. Which, even though this is meant to be an alternate universe in the wider Multiverse and is such completely separate from the Whoniverse we know (different rules and all), I'm not sure if just having the supernatural exist would go against the whole ethos of 'Doctor Who'

Would appreciate any advice on the matter or simply any ideas on how I could reinvent it to better fit. Might just be overthinking it though. Who knows?

[Catsmate]

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

Been a while since I posted on this particular topic, but I have in the meantime been making notes on what such a setting would entail. So, consider this more of an update. I rather liked Catsmate's idea regarding utilising other British media of the era such as The Avengers, Adam Adamant Lives! and Quatermass and incorporating it into this alternate setting alongside this AU Doctor. Has given me an excuse to go trawling through 60s/70s television at least. Which is always good.

 There's plenty of room for crossovers within the 'spy-fi' genre. The Man from UNCLE had episodes involving Hitler's brain, a plan by a third party (DAGGER) to destroy the world, an attempt by THRUSH to steal a weapon intended to defend the Earth against alien attack, laser weapons et cetera.
The Avengers had (again) Hitler's preserved brain, ideas of interstellar conquest, the Cybernauts, electricity seeking robots and an extra-terrestrial plant that inspired Who's Krinoid.
Adam Adamant and Quatermass had explicitly science fiction elements.

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

Admittedly, some might argue that using such properties is rather outlandish and out of place but the Amicus Dalek Films were quite campy in their own regard befitting the era of 60s, so such a campaign in such a setting wouldn't necessarily be the most serious. To quote Mortimus from one of our previous adventures:

"Reality? Reality is subjective. And the further you go from what you'd consider "reality" the more fantasy and fact become rather one and the same."

Well personally I see no problems.

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

Besides, as an alternate universe, I'd imagine interactions with the main DW Universe would be quite limited and it's rather fun seeing how you could reimagine certain characters for this universe. Particularly like the idea that instead of U.N.I.T. and the Brigadier, John Steed and the Ministry are Dr. Who's government contacts.

It would probably have a lighter tone, through The Avengers could get quite dark. Maybe add a military liason connecting The Ministry to UNIT or the ICMG?.

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

For this reason alone, I have chosen to incorporate some characters into this setting and discard others. Mainly out of personal preference (hence why The Tomorrow People won't be included) and mainly because I feel like you could do more with lesser-known characters. Take Tarot from 'Ace of Wands' or the agents from 'The Champions' as an example.

The Tomorrow People aren't a good fit for the Whoniverse. Though certainly teenagers with psionic powers could appear and there are plot elements to be borrowed. 
Tarot is an excellent fit, IMO anyway. He can easily be retconned as being an alien, time traveller or purely human with slight powers.
The Champions also fit well as slightly superpowered humans, perhaps working with Steed and co.

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

Currently, at the moment, I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate 'Randall and Hopkirk: Deceased' into the setting. Going to be using the remake from the noughties because I think the sixties already has enough characters to use and I did prefer how it tackled the supernatural/detective elements compared to the original Kenneth Cope series. (I know, I know. Blasphemy...) Only problem is, that the concept does rely on the fact that in the series ghosts and the afterlife are very much real. Which, even though this is meant to be an alternate universe in the wider Multiverse and is such completely separate from the Whoniverse we know (different rules and all), I'm not sure if just having the supernatural exist would go against the whole ethos of 'Doctor Who'

Interesting. It's been a while since I watched R&H so I don't remember the mythos there. Could Hopkirk's ghost be some for ot temporal echo? This might avoid the afterlife problem. Or alien intervention?

Feb 9, 2020 19:51:20 GMT grinch said:

Would appreciate any advice on the matter or simply any ideas on how I could reinvent it to better fit. Might just be overthinking it though. Who knows?

If I think of any more I'll post them.
Department S might also fit the genre as would Modesty Blaise.

[greyhame]

Has anyone else read the Dr. Who novelisations from Obverse Books?
There's about 10 or so of them - the first two are based on the two Amicus films, and the others are re-workings of other Dr. Who TV stories (and Sci-Fi radio serials) - but starring the movie characters (& a couple of other companions/family members).
For anyone thinking about using this whoniverse, they could provide some useful ideas.

[Catsmate]

Jul 26, 2022 22:22:21 GMT greyhame said:

Has anyone else read the Dr. Who novelisations from Obverse Books?
There's about 10 or so of them - the first two are based on the two Amicus films, and the others are re-workings of other Dr. Who TV stories (and Sci-Fi radio serials) - but starring the movie characters (& a couple of other companions/family members).
For anyone thinking about using this whoniverse, they could provide some useful ideas.

Well I hadn't until you mentioned the series, which is odd as I usually notice such things and was aware of their 'Archive' monographs.
Here's a link to the series.

[greyhame]

Jul 27, 2022 8:51:28 GMT Catsmate said:

Jul 26, 2022 22:22:21 GMT greyhame said:

Has anyone else read the Dr. Who novelisations from Obverse Books?
There's about 10 or so of them - the first two are based on the two Amicus films, and the others are re-workings of other Dr. Who TV stories (and Sci-Fi radio serials) - but starring the movie characters (& a couple of other companions/family members).
For anyone thinking about using this whoniverse, they could provide some useful ideas.

Well I hadn't until you mentioned the series, which is odd as I usually notice such things and was aware of their 'Archive' monographs.
Here's a link to the series.

They're pretty good - the only two I haven't got yet are 9 & 10.

[Catsmate]

Regarding a sixties, or indeed fifties, campaign the Blake and Mortimer series of graphic novels might be a useful source of material. An alternate history, starting with a Third World War against the 'Yellow Empire' and Emperor Basam Damdu, and incorporating time travel, aliens and plenty of Mad Science.

[grinch]

Oct 26, 2022 12:36:26 GMT Catsmate said:

Regarding a sixties, or indeed fifties, campaign the Blake and Mortimer series of graphic novels might be a useful source of material. An alternate history, starting with a Third World War against the 'Yellow Empire' and Emperor Basam Damdu, and incorporating time travel, aliens and plenty of Mad Science.

Oh most definitely. I’ve been meaning to take inspiration from both Blake and Mortimer and the other Franco-Belgian strips for sometime now.

I draw the line at including Tintin and Snowy though.

[Catsmate]

Oct 26, 2022 21:01:19 GMT grinch said:

Oct 26, 2022 12:36:26 GMT Catsmate said:

Regarding a sixties, or indeed fifties, campaign the Blake and Mortimer series of graphic novels might be a useful source of material. An alternate history, starting with a Third World War against the 'Yellow Empire' and Emperor Basam Damdu, and incorporating time travel, aliens and plenty of Mad Science.

Oh most definitely. I’ve been meaning to take inspiration from both Blake and Mortimer and the other Franco-Belgian strips for sometime now.

I draw the line at including Tintin and Snowy though.

Agreed. 

[Catsmate]

Oct 26, 2022 21:01:19 GMT grinch said:

Oct 26, 2022 12:36:26 GMT Catsmate said:

Regarding a sixties, or indeed fifties, campaign the Blake and Mortimer series of graphic novels might be a useful source of material. An alternate history, starting with a Third World War against the 'Yellow Empire' and Emperor Basam Damdu, and incorporating time travel, aliens and plenty of Mad Science.

Oh most definitely. I’ve been meaning to take inspiration from both Blake and Mortimer and the other Franco-Belgian strips for sometime now.

I draw the line at including Tintin and Snowy though.

Having started watching the TV adaption I'm working on a write-up for th pair and some notes on their adventures.

[grinch]

Oct 27, 2022 13:49:54 GMT Catsmate said:

Oct 26, 2022 21:01:19 GMT grinch said:

Oh most definitely. I’ve been meaning to take inspiration from both Blake and Mortimer and the other Franco-Belgian strips for sometime now.

I draw the line at including Tintin and Snowy though.

Having started watching the TV adaption I'm working on a write-up for th pair and some notes on their adventures.

Neat! I look forward to seeing that when it’s eventually finished. Be nice to have more modern counterparts to the Jago and Litefoot dynamic. 

Hope you don’t mind if I include a reference to them in the Amicus Earth write up when I hopefully get time to work on it. 

What I plan to do is have the native time period of the Amicus Earth where Dr Who and the rest of his companions come from be an exaggerated version of the ‘60s.

Blake and Mortimer would have their adventures in the 50s, a decade before Dr Who would start travelling.

[Catsmate]

Oct 27, 2022 14:29:48 GMT grinch said:

Oct 27, 2022 13:49:54 GMT Catsmate said:

Having started watching the TV adaption I'm working on a write-up for th pair and some notes on their adventures.

Neat! I look forward to seeing that when it’s eventually finished. Be nice to have more modern counterparts to the Jago and Litefoot dynamic. 

Hope you don’t mind if I include a reference to them in the Amicus Earth write up when I hopefully get time to work on it. 

What I plan to do is have the native time period of the Amicus Earth where Dr Who and the rest of his companions come from be an exaggerated version of the ‘60s.

Blake and Mortimer would have their adventures in the 50s, a decade before Dr Who would start travelling.

Not at all. I've started a B&M thread for ideas.

Wrt the Amicus films the Troubleshooters universe might be a useful background.

[soultaker666212]

Just a character idea I thought of that may work.

Thomas Armstrong: Thomas Armstrong is an American inventor and businessman of electronics. His Company, Armstrong Electronical Industries, is the leading producer of household electronics and is expanding into the very early computer industry as well. Thomas himself is a second world war veteran, being a radio repairman for the US army when they entered the war and even had some combat experience in the European theatre. He speaks in a stereotypical American accent and acts like an eccentric businessman with his manners. Armstrong can be both an ally or a villain depending on your campaign. As an ally he can be turned to if you need help with electronics and can use his companies' resources to provide aid and help to the players. He may even call upon the players help to help protect one of his factories or offices from being raided by either aliens or humans or even both. As a villain though id imagine he'd also begin working in the area robotics, secretly amassing an army of 1960s looking robots to take over the world. He also would produce over the top superweapons you'd expect from spy-fi's at the time and can serve as a good villain for me infiltration and spy missions. Id imagine he'd be played by William Shatner.

[soultaker666212]

A couple more characters I have thought of that would work well for this universe

Agent X: Agent X is a handsome yet mysterious fellow. With a license to kill folks from our world and those not from this world, he protects Britian from the shadows. He works for the mysterious department of the Security Intelligence Service called Department of Abnormalities, often called the Department for short. The Department of Abnormalities was founded during the Second World War to combat threats from the Axis powers and even those from off world from the shadows. Agent X was one of the first agents of the Department, working previously for MI6 properly before being recommended as the first agent to the Department. He has seen it all, from mad German scientists, Nazi super weapons, super soldiers, advanced technology given to humanity from extra-terrestrials, numerous alien invaders allying with the Axis or for their own interests etc. Now that the war had ended, he now has a new enemy to look out for, The Soviets, all though he still has to face his arch nemesis, obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt, from time to time. He has with him a Walther model PPK, issued to him by the Department, and carries it with him around a lot. He can be a useful ally to the players, often appearing at the scene of abnormal activity to investigate and fight anyone who threatens the interest of Britannia. I'd imagine he'd be played by Sean Connery.  

Obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt: Klaus Schmitt is a German man who is anything but pleasant and kind. Driven by power and pride, he attempts to take control over the world under the banner of National Socialism. He joined the Nazi party prewar and became heavily indoctrinated with the ideology. He later joined the SS and quickly rose through the ranks and became an obergruppenführer and commanded a large section of the SS which he molded into his image. Klaus was fascinated by science and technology, believing them both will be useful for advancing the Reich and improving it. He built a secret bunker within the Austrian Alps to conduct experiments, these experiments consisting of advanced super weapons and technology too advanced for the era, acquiring the best minds in Germany to do so. When the war broke out, he intended to use these weapons on the battlefield, creating a special division of his troops known only as the Blitz-Soldat aka the Lightning Soldiers from atop secret super solider project he was working on. However, Klaus would soon be defeated by Agent X after he conducted a raid upon his bunker to try and assassinate him. All though Agent X succeeded in destroying much of Klaus' work, Klaus survived and escaped the bunker, watching as it blew up in the distance. With the war now over Klaus went into hiding with his most loyal folks, believing in the development of the Fourth Reich using his powerful tools and even by the 1960s he is still out there working in secret to revive the Reich. However, as the years went by, he found himself some powerful allies, ones not from this world. An alien species of fascist conquerors found Klaus and formed up an alliance, sharing troops and technology between them both in order to conquer the world. I'd imagine he'd be played by Anton Diffring.

 

[Catsmate]

Nov 6, 2022 16:14:16 GMT soultaker666212 said:

A couple more characters I have thought of that would work well for this universe

Agent X: Agent X is a handsome yet mysterious fellow. With a license to kill folks from our world and those not from this world, he protects Britian from the shadows. He works for the mysterious department of the Security Intelligence Service called Department of Abnormalities, often called the Department for short. The Department of Abnormalities was founded during the Second World War to combat threats from the Axis powers and even those from off world from the shadows. Agent X was one of the first agents of the Department, working previously for MI6 properly before being recommended as the first agent to the Department. He has seen it all, from mad German scientists, Nazi super weapons, super soldiers, advanced technology given to humanity from extra-terrestrials, numerous alien invaders allying with the Axis or for their own interests etc. Now that the war had ended, he now has a new enemy to look out for, The Soviets, all though he still has to face his arch nemesis, obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt, from time to time. He has with him a Walther model PPK, issued to him by the Department, and carries it with him around a lot. He can be a useful ally to the players, often appearing at the scene of abnormal activity to investigate and fight anyone who threatens the interest of Britannia. I'd imagine he'd be played by Sean Connery.  

Obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt: Klaus Schmitt is a German man who is anything but pleasant and kind. Driven by power and pride, he attempts to take control over the world under the banner of National Socialism. He joined the Nazi party prewar and became heavily indoctrinated with the ideology. He later joined the SS and quickly rose through the ranks and became an obergruppenführer and commanded a large section of the SS which he molded into his image. Klaus was fascinated by science and technology, believing them both will be useful for advancing the Reich and improving it. He built a secret bunker within the Austrian Alps to conduct experiments, these experiments consisting of advanced super weapons and technology too advanced for the era, acquiring the best minds in Germany to do so. When the war broke out, he intended to use these weapons on the battlefield, creating a special division of his troops known only as the Blitz-Soldat aka the Lightning Soldiers from atop secret super solider project he was working on. However, Klaus would soon be defeated by Agent X after he conducted a raid upon his bunker to try and assassinate him. All though Agent X succeeded in destroying much of Klaus' work, Klaus survived and escaped the bunker, watching as it blew up in the distance. With the war now over Klaus went into hiding with his most loyal folks, believing in the development of the Fourth Reich using his powerful tools and even by the 1960s he is still out there working in secret to revive the Reich. However, as the years went by, he found himself some powerful allies, ones not from this world. An alien species of fascist conquerors found Klaus and formed up an alliance, sharing troops and technology between them both in order to conquer the world. I'd imagine he'd be played by Anton Diffring.

 

I like these, they'd actually be good for a Troubleshooters game also.
Except the PPK, that's just too hackneyed. Also a rather mediocre weapon.

[soultaker666212]

Nov 6, 2022 21:18:47 GMT Catsmate said:

Nov 6, 2022 16:14:16 GMT soultaker666212 said:

A couple more characters I have thought of that would work well for this universe

Agent X: Agent X is a handsome yet mysterious fellow. With a license to kill folks from our world and those not from this world, he protects Britian from the shadows. He works for the mysterious department of the Security Intelligence Service called Department of Abnormalities, often called the Department for short. The Department of Abnormalities was founded during the Second World War to combat threats from the Axis powers and even those from off world from the shadows. Agent X was one of the first agents of the Department, working previously for MI6 properly before being recommended as the first agent to the Department. He has seen it all, from mad German scientists, Nazi super weapons, super soldiers, advanced technology given to humanity from extra-terrestrials, numerous alien invaders allying with the Axis or for their own interests etc. Now that the war had ended, he now has a new enemy to look out for, The Soviets, all though he still has to face his arch nemesis, obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt, from time to time. He has with him a Walther model PPK, issued to him by the Department, and carries it with him around a lot. He can be a useful ally to the players, often appearing at the scene of abnormal activity to investigate and fight anyone who threatens the interest of Britannia. I'd imagine he'd be played by Sean Connery.  

Obergruppenführer Klaus Schmitt: Klaus Schmitt is a German man who is anything but pleasant and kind. Driven by power and pride, he attempts to take control over the world under the banner of National Socialism. He joined the Nazi party prewar and became heavily indoctrinated with the ideology. He later joined the SS and quickly rose through the ranks and became an obergruppenführer and commanded a large section of the SS which he molded into his image. Klaus was fascinated by science and technology, believing them both will be useful for advancing the Reich and improving it. He built a secret bunker within the Austrian Alps to conduct experiments, these experiments consisting of advanced super weapons and technology too advanced for the era, acquiring the best minds in Germany to do so. When the war broke out, he intended to use these weapons on the battlefield, creating a special division of his troops known only as the Blitz-Soldat aka the Lightning Soldiers from atop secret super solider project he was working on. However, Klaus would soon be defeated by Agent X after he conducted a raid upon his bunker to try and assassinate him. All though Agent X succeeded in destroying much of Klaus' work, Klaus survived and escaped the bunker, watching as it blew up in the distance. With the war now over Klaus went into hiding with his most loyal folks, believing in the development of the Fourth Reich using his powerful tools and even by the 1960s he is still out there working in secret to revive the Reich. However, as the years went by, he found himself some powerful allies, ones not from this world. An alien species of fascist conquerors found Klaus and formed up an alliance, sharing troops and technology between them both in order to conquer the world. I'd imagine he'd be played by Anton Diffring.

 

I like these, they'd actually be good for a Troubleshooters game also.
Except the PPK, that's just too hackneyed. Also a rather mediocre weapon.

Feel free to use them! I am also happy to bounce ideas with you and such about Agent X and the Department of Abnormalities. 

[grinch]

I must confess, seeing Catsmate revitalize his excellent Evil Doctor AU idea has got me craving about this little idea I brought up oh so long ago. So I do plan to revisit this in the future. Won't be for a while though as it'll be among my bigger (and to be honest, probably last) projects on here.

It'll still follow the idea of this being a heightened version of the Sixties (or rather the real world) with diabolical villains and heroes a plenty. A real hodgepodge of various ITC properties among other things although I do intend to revise certain aspects. For instance, I've already removed references to the Adam West 'Batman' series for one thing. However, I do still tend to include certain allusions to the various Mystery Men of the Thirties and Forties. The thought of Dr. Who bumping into the original Sandman (Wesley Dodds) on a jaunt back in time is just too good for me to pass up I'm afraid.

Catsmate and soultaker666212 Would it still be alright to use some of your ideas in the finished product? I particularly like the idea of the Department of Abnormalities and the idea of the Baudelaire Children being distant relatives of the Who Family.

[Catsmate]

Dec 28, 2022 17:54:35 GMT grinch said:

I must confess, seeing Catsmate revitalize his excellent Evil Doctor AU idea has got me craving about this little idea I brought up oh so long ago. So I do plan to revisit this in the future. Won't be for a while though as it'll be among my bigger (and to be honest, probably last) projects on here.

It'll still follow the idea of this being a heightened version of the Sixties (or rather the real world) with diabolical villains and heroes a plenty. A real hodgepodge of various ITC properties among other things although I do intend to revise certain aspects. For instance, I've already removed references to the Adam West 'Batman' series for one thing. However, I do still tend to include certain allusions to the various Mystery Men of the Thirties and Forties. The thought of Dr. Who bumping into the original Sandman (Wesley Dodds) on a jaunt back in time is just too good for me to pass up I'm afraid.

Catsmate and soultaker666212 Would it still be alright to use some of your ideas in the finished product? I particularly like the idea of the Department of Abnormalities and the idea of the Baudelaire Children being distant relatives of the Who Family.

As for myself, grinch , absolutely feel free.


ETA: OK I seem to have missed a word when I originally replied. 

[soultaker666212]

Dec 28, 2022 17:54:35 GMT grinch said:

I must confess, seeing Catsmate revitalize his excellent Evil Doctor AU idea has got me craving about this little idea I brought up oh so long ago. So I do plan to revisit this in the future. Won't be for a while though as it'll be among my bigger (and to be honest, probably last) projects on here.

It'll still follow the idea of this being a heightened version of the Sixties (or rather the real world) with diabolical villains and heroes a plenty. A real hodgepodge of various ITC properties among other things although I do intend to revise certain aspects. For instance, I've already removed references to the Adam West 'Batman' series for one thing. However, I do still tend to include certain allusions to the various Mystery Men of the Thirties and Forties. The thought of Dr. Who bumping into the original Sandman (Wesley Dodds) on a jaunt back in time is just too good for me to pass up I'm afraid.

Catsmate and soultaker666212 Would it still be alright to use some of your ideas in the finished product? I particularly like the idea of the Department of Abnormalities and the idea of the Baudelaire Children being distant relatives of the Who Family.

Yes I am fine with the Department of Abnormalities bring used but I'd probably change it to the Department of Abnormal Affairs due to the name not clashing with something amongst the SCP universes 

[grinch]

Dec 29, 2022 4:31:57 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Dec 28, 2022 17:54:35 GMT grinch said:

I must confess, seeing Catsmate revitalize his excellent Evil Doctor AU idea has got me craving about this little idea I brought up oh so long ago. So I do plan to revisit this in the future. Won't be for a while though as it'll be among my bigger (and to be honest, probably last) projects on here.

It'll still follow the idea of this being a heightened version of the Sixties (or rather the real world) with diabolical villains and heroes a plenty. A real hodgepodge of various ITC properties among other things although I do intend to revise certain aspects. For instance, I've already removed references to the Adam West 'Batman' series for one thing. However, I do still tend to include certain allusions to the various Mystery Men of the Thirties and Forties. The thought of Dr. Who bumping into the original Sandman (Wesley Dodds) on a jaunt back in time is just too good for me to pass up I'm afraid.

Catsmate and soultaker666212 Would it still be alright to use some of your ideas in the finished product? I particularly like the idea of the Department of Abnormalities and the idea of the Baudelaire Children being distant relatives of the Who Family.

Yes I am fine with the Department of Abnormalities bring used but I'd probably change it to the Department of Abnormal Affairs due to the name not clashing with something amongst the SCP universes 

Thanks and yes, I agree with the name change. While I could see The Ministry acting as this Earth's version of UNIT, I'd have the Department of Abnormal Affairs be this universe's equivalent of Torchwood. Poking their noses into all sorts and hushing all manner of supposed strange activity up. Such as Tarot and his friend's death via exploding spaceship in the 70s or even keeping tabs on Jeffrey Randall who apparently has a ghost for a partner in the early Noughties. (Gives me an excuse to use 'Scratchman' as a scenario for this Earth as well..)

Agent X may even had to retire or take a backseat after a close encounter with one of 'The Champions' hurt him physically. And as for his Nazi adversary? For some reason, I rather like the idea he's gone on the run throughout history after finding himself hunted by the Weeping Angels. Never stopping for long, always on the move, driven half mad by the experience. 

One aspect of this Earth I want to focus on as well that even though it's very much a heightened version of the main Who universe (with arguably more fantastical elements) with adventurers a plenty. It's arguably a far more paranoid world with various organisations all vying to achieve peace or at least further their own ends. (If only to compensate the fact, the ITC series had lots and lots of such organisations) With their various heroes and investigators being the only thing to stop it from collapsing into utter chaos. 

Even come the 21st century with a lot of these organisations either inactive/dissolved or the various heroes dead or out of action, that paranoia still remains. In a way, it's less a universe without the Time Lords but a universe where the Cold War never ended. 

[soultaker666212]

Dec 29, 2022 15:28:17 GMT grinch said:

Dec 29, 2022 4:31:57 GMT soultaker666212 said:

Yes I am fine with the Department of Abnormalities bring used but I'd probably change it to the Department of Abnormal Affairs due to the name not clashing with something amongst the SCP universes 

Thanks and yes, I agree with the name change. While I could see The Ministry acting as this Earth's version of UNIT, I'd have the Department of Abnormal Affairs be this universe's equivalent of Torchwood. Poking their noses into all sorts and hushing all manner of supposed strange activity up. Such as Tarot and his friend's death via exploding spaceship in the 70s or even keeping tabs on Jeffrey Randall who apparently has a ghost for a partner in the early Noughties. (Gives me an excuse to use 'Scratchman' as a scenario for this Earth as well..)

Agent X may even had to retire or take a backseat after a close encounter with one of 'The Champions' hurt him physically. And as for his Nazi adversary? For some reason, I rather like the idea he's gone on the run throughout history after finding himself hunted by the Weeping Angels. Never stopping for long, always on the move, driven half mad by the experience. 

One aspect of this Earth I want to focus on as well that even though it's very much a heightened version of the main Who universe (with arguably more fantastical elements) with adventurers a plenty. It's arguably a far more paranoid world with various organisations all vying to achieve peace or at least further their own ends. (If only to compensate the fact, the ITC series had lots and lots of such organisations) With their various heroes and investigators being the only thing to stop it from collapsing into utter chaos. 

Even come the 21st century with a lot of these organisations either inactive/dissolved or the various heroes dead or out of action, that paranoia still remains. In a way, it's less a universe without the Time Lords but a universe where the Cold War never ended. 

   You mentioned something about Agent X retiring and yeah in my backstory that I have within my head is that he did retire in 1945 after the second world war ended and for 15 years mostly spent his time relaxing until he needed to be reactivated in 1960 and aiding in reviving back the Department of Abnormal Affairs, this being in response to all the supernatural and various factions vying for control. The weeping angels and Klaus Schmitt does sound intriguing not gunna lie, but I do imagine Klaus working with other aliens as well such as the daleks themselves. I like that D.A.A is this universes equivalent to Torchwood but some changes I thought of was that it was founded more in the 1930s than Torchwood in 1879, embraces more of a spy agency really due to its connection with M16, maybe has a few outposts here and there across the world in former British colonies and allied countries.