AFMBE: Deadly Resurgence

[Eanwulf]

"Nanotechnology is the science of controlling matter smaller than even those millions of transistors that fit onto a silicon chip. By arranging individual atoms scientists will create little engines that will provide us with almost unlimited control over matter, our own bodies and perhaps even our minds."

This Deadworld looks at the sort of society that might be created from such technology, and the dangers that will accompany it. Welcome to AFMBE: "Deadly Resurgence." Our Sci-fi Space Opera involving Zombies! The game itself will be utilizing AFMBE's "All Flesh Must Be Eaten" Revised Core Rules and many of its supplements. The main one of which is their sourcebook entitled "All Tomorrow's Zombies."

What is Space Opera?
Trying to define space opera in concrete terms is difficult, since those works that fall into the genre are very different from one another, even ranging from dramatic to action to comedic in style. However, in general, space opera is any science fiction work that uses the trappings of sci-fi, but isn't worried about the accuracy of theories, formulae, principles or how technology works. Laser swords, for example, look very futuristic and technological, but there is no scientific basis for how they might work, nor can we formulate even a hypothesis with today's laws of physics. Certain space ships can make certain runs and somehow turn “parsec” into a unit of time rather than of distance. Aliens without lips can perfectly mimic human speech.

Space opera is also generally high action. Even in the more dramatic and comedic works of space opera, there are grand battles both in space and on the ground, between starships, and between blaster-firing heroes and villains on the ground. Space ships with laser cannons and ordnance are a necessity, as are huge space stations, dark overlords, cocky pilots, and a nearly undefeatable nemesis. In Death of the Alliance, of course, that nemesis involves zombies.

Last but not least, there is almost always an element of mysticism in space opera. For this reason, the genre is also usually known as science fantasy. If no one exhibits otherworldly powers, there is always the sense that the metaphysical is there, always the presence of someone who represents the supernatural. In the film version of War of the Worlds (1950) there was a priest as a main character (at least, until he got blown up). We all know what the supernatural element in Star Wars is; the entire series hinges upon it (magical microbes aside). In Battlestar Galactica, there are various and sundry elements of myth worked in throughout the series; the main quest is the search for the mythic Thirteenth Colony; the Cylons have a mystical religion, though we never see any actual magic at work.

In the end, space opera is the Kitchen Sink of sci-fi. Everything in this book can be dropped into a space opera setting and the explanation handled by a liberal amount of hand waving. After all, science is secondary to big guns and big explosions in this sub-genre. If a player gets too ornery about the technology or lack of scientific principle behind something, the simple answer is that maybe on a subatomic level, the laws of science are different in this universe. Hand waving! In space opera, the bigger the better, and anything that adds to the action and drama helps. The story can be anything from a gritty war tale, to a classic Hero's Journey. In AFMBE, the only requirement is a liberal amount of moving corpses added into the mix.[/spoiler]

[Eanwulf]

Outbreak on Rigil 7 Campaign Setting(s)
Our First Adventure will be taking place on the tiny desert world of Oikemenos, better known as Rigil 7. Since this is an introductory adventure to the Unisystem Rules as well as my own creative way of introducing you to the campaign's origin I will be politely herding you towards the direction of playing a pre-generated concept of a character.

Bear in mind this is merely a tutorial tool and is in no way my overall goal for the campaign. I just wanted to slap some fun stuff together to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible as well as to give you the time to read over the AFMBE sourcebooks and learn how to make your own characters once the game begins.

Alpha Centauri System

The Alpha Centauri system has three stars: Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B (which orbits Alpha Centauri A with a period of about 79 years), and Proxima Centauri (which orbits the Alpha Centauri A/B binary system at about 10,000 AU). This complicated series of stars has an equally complicated family of planets. Alpha Centauri A has three worlds in orbit about it, one of which is Tirane, the first world reached by humanity in its journey starward. The star itself is a G2V with mass, radius, and luminosity almost identical to Sol. Tirane occupies the first orbit, within the life zone of the star. It has two satellites: the small ice ball Esa and the more distant rocky moonlet Europos. The second orbit holds the tiny desert world Oikemenos, roughly 5000 kilometers in diameter. The final orbit around Alpha Centauri A is occupied by the 6000-kilometer-diameter failed core world Neuerde.

For ease of reference, I'm just going to steal stuff from 2300 AD, one of my favorite old-school sci-fi games.