Storm City

 

The Second City…

A city of opposites and challenges

 

In a world where superpowers are reality… Where unregulated powers are a “danger to the people”

How will you cope when your own powers emerge? Can you be a hero in a world that doesn’t think it needs you?

A Masks game of flawed, dysfunctional superheroes – based on Mystery Men, Misfits, and a bit of X-Men.

 

 OVERVIEW 

MAP

The Beginning

In this world, nuclear weapons were never developed. Instead, research into strange material found in meteorite fragments led to the Uberman project in Nazi Germany, which never found success. But the joint British/American Manhattan Project did – creating controllable mutations that enabled super-powered soldiers to rapidly bring an end to the Second World War.

Lacking their own super-men, Stalin initiated the Soviet Unions own progamme. And before too long, the Cold War began, with the threat of use of super-soldiers on each side.

Although it didn’t come out till later, the Soviet and British/American programmes used the same material in very different ways.

The Manhattan Project emphasised control – making the mutations temporary, so that those who didn’t react well to it would recover – and their supermen were dependant on continued doses. The Soviet programme involved exposing large numbers to mutations, and selecting those who survived as soldiers.

Both sides found, however, that only a very tiny minority had the sort of changes they wanted for their super-soldiers. The world came to know these women and men as Alphas, the successful results of direct mutation by government programmes.

Today there are maybe 10 Alphas in the world.


“Alphas are the most powerful of us, or maybe the most controlled. They’re military weapons, not allowed to be heroes. But if one of us ever gets to be too dangerous – they might pay a visit”

Midnight Guardian – 2004

The Birth of Heroes

The mutagens proved impossible for governments to control. It started with stolen Soviet compounds, kicked off a black market in mutagens made from biological waste, there were accidents. The children of those changed were born with their own mutations.

Most mutations are minor, problematic, and no real danger to others. But some do grant powers, often with side-effects and drawbacks, but powers none the less. Criminals employ powered enforcers, or use their own powers to commit crime.

Law enforcement agencies quietly began to allow some powered inviduals to operate. Some offered licences, others turned a blind eye. Officially, these licenced “accidents” are called Betas, but the public calls them superheroes.

In general, mutated individuals are social outcasts at best, and dangerous threats at worst, unless they can hide their powers.

In America, the Mutant Registration Act, and it’s enforcing body, the Department for Protection of the Public, have a heavy handed approach to any risk – taking those exhibiting powers away to centres where their powers are “neutralised”, or locking them away for public safety. Only the rare few are allowed to work with law enforcement.

Typically, a large city will have only one or two superheroes, authorised to work with the law – but perhaps a dozen or so mutants, trying to do good and gain enough public attention to enable them to qualify.


“The Catch-22 is this: attract attention to yourself, and the DPP carts you away to a camp. But make a name for yourself, and public support means you might just be allowed to call yourself a hero.”
The Flare – 2012

 

Hope in Storm City

Storm City has always gone its own way, rejected too much federal control. It has always been a fairly safe place to hang out as a low-profile mutant. The city authorities haven’t been terribly supportive of the DPP campaigns to crack down on all mutants, only handing over those who present a clear danger.

Anyone making a high profile nuisance of themselves tends to end up facing Seraph, working in conjunction with armed elite police units. 

But Seraph is missing, powered crime is on the rise, and the press is starting to speculate about a mastermind behind it all.

Maybe this is a time for new heroes to rise, to save the day, to protect their city from whatever is going on!

Can a team of flawed but well-meaning aspiring heroes make enough difference to be recognized by Storm City?

Or will a city falling into chaos finally give in and welcome DPP agents to solve their problems.


“Baby, you shovel better than any man I’ve ever known… but that does not make you a superhero. You’re a good husband, and a good father. Nothing more.”

Lucille (Mrs. Shoveler)

1999