Post by richard on Sept 11, 2024 16:59:43 GMT -5
I will be replacing my Ebberon 5e game with the Expanse AGE game. I am currently reading through the various Expanse modules I possess and I am planning on ordering them into a continuous story as a starting point for the campaign. The published modules currently are set in 2351 shortly after Eros has crashed on to Venus carrying the Protomolecule and it has begun terraforming the surface of Venus into hexagonal shaped super-structures and kilometers high spires. Recent events that are known throughout the Sol System that have proceeded the Eros event include Mars' destruction of the Saturnian moon, Phoebe. Earth's retaliation and the destruction of Martian moon, Deimos. The loss of the Mormon Churches generational ship, Nauvoo and Earth's inter-planetary nuclear arsenal; both of which were fired at Eros in an attempt to prevent it and the Protomolecule from crashing into Earth. Mars and Earth are increasing hostilities under a cold-war setting and have begun dividing up the moons of Jupiter along corporate lines and military outposts, with both claiming Ganymede. The more violent factions of the OPA have begun gaining control over Ceres as both Earth and Martian corporations withdraw from the dwarf planet due to rising hostilities from all sides. And Fred Johnson, who appears to have "salvaged" a significant portion of Earth's inter-planetary nukes is demanding a seat at any up-coming negotiations between Earth and Mars on behalf of the more economic-centered OPA factions. The campaign will either start on Tycho Station or Ganymede depending on how the modules get ordered.
I am still reading through the rules for Modern AGE and have purchased all of the additional PDF content for Trades of the Expanse, which contains expanded content for Bounty Hunters, Scouts, Planetary Surveyors, Entertainers, Traders/Smugglers, and Pirates. These will be available for people to look through and draw content from in character development. Almost all of the starting modules include some way to acquire a starting ship and if the group of characters decides to form a company around expenses for said ship/joint ownership there is a pooled wealth mechanic that will be used to keep track of expenses. Because the game is designed with a significant about of time (interludes) between events/travel from location to location you can expect more down time to be available for character interests/development then in most of the fantasy-style games I end up running. I will provide additional background/finalize rules and options for character development as I read through the various Expanse/Modern AGE books and we discuss what is important for the players.