Stuff you have because you've played Twilight:2000

[Adm.Lee]

Somewhere inside, I have one of those survivalist guys-- he must be the one that got me to play T2k and Morrow Project way back when. Sometimes, I will see stuff like camping gear, and think, "ooh, that would be useful!"-- except I never go camping or hunting, or much of anything in the wild, as I have pretty stiff allergies.

One thing that I did hang onto, just in case, you know, was a slide rule. My father and grandfather were both engineering school graduates in the days before calculators or desktop computers. Someone apparently gave Grandpap a slide rule, likely some salesman, since there is a company name stamped on the casing. Grandpap probably had one already, since this one is still in its original box, with some faded instructions still inside. I think I picked it up when we were cleaning out the house. Pop didn't want to see one of those ever again, and I had no idea how to use it. "Why not?" I figured, and stuck it in my own desk drawer, to be forgotten about. "If we ever get hit with an EMP, I could be the best-equipped nerd around!"

This weekend, my science-mad 8-year old found it (I was dumping out desk drawers, looking for something else), and wanted to know what it was. Now, he is trying to figure it out, alternating between bouts of tears and joy.

Anyone else have something really old and marginally useful?

[pmulcahy11b]

I not only have gigabytes of T2K material -- I have even more gigabytes of military stuff I researched or downloaded because I researching stuff for T2K. And then there are the huge amount of books in my book room that are either military-related or T2K-related. And the ridiculous amount of military-based facts in my head that I learned because I was researching stuff for T2K.

[shrike6]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I not only have gigabytes of T2K material -- I have even more gigabytes of military stuff I researched or downloaded because I researching stuff for T2K. And then there are the huge amount of books in my book room that are either military-related or T2K-related. And the ridiculous amount of military-based facts in my head that I learned because I was researching stuff for T2K.

What he said.

[Matt Wiser]

Ditto. And having gone to a surplus store a couple of times and actually bought some MREs. They actually had the tuna and noodle entree, and tons of the Chicken a la King one-nobody, and I mean nobody, bought those, the clerk told me. He was wondering why a college kid was buying a couple of MREs, and when I told him I did the Twilight:2000 game, he said "Oh, one of those." Seems some kids from a nearby high school did the game, and bought some MREs as well. FYI, I got the tuna and noodle meal, along with the beef patties one. Not bad in either case.

[pmulcahy11b]

I came out of the Army with lots of military gear, including several MREs. I ate the MREs within weeks of getting out, and most of the military gear dry-rotted long ago. All I have left is my Class A uniform with full decorations, one set of BDUs (neither will ever fit me again), and my jump boots. Every so often, I take out the Class A uniform and the jump boots and polish them and the brass up. Oh, and I still have my Swiss Army Knife, my dagger, my Airborne beret, a flag from Camp Casey in Korea, and the mini-binoculars I used in the Army. (I actually still have my signal flasher too, but the battery went dead long ago.) And I have a personal copy of the records of my psychiatric treatment at Walter Reed and Womack AMC on Ft. Bragg.

[headquarters]

touching on a soft spot for me here - I have tons of stuff that hardly ever get used.my wifes just rolls her eyes .

But sometimes I go camping and hunting and the preferred gear at the moment gets some fresh air.

Apart from books like "where there is no doctor" and military manuals that I picked up in the army or because of game research there is clothing,ammo,boots,stoves,NBC gear,guns,tools,rations ( Drytech - excellent Norwegian kit as long as water is available),binoculars,reloading press,bandages,shelter halfs etc etc

Now,that being said I am not one of those "right wing-long for the day when I will be proven right-teotwawki-romancers" - more of a tongue in cheek type.

But I dont hide the fact that I dream of a plot with enough space for a garden and with its own artesian well...I mean -how great would it be for the kids to have access to such facilities ?

( Although the real reason is that daddy is planning on building the "stout yeomanry" from T2K V.2.0 encounters chapter )

What puzzles me sometimes is this - if tshtf - and my situation allowed me some nights of in between chores etc - would I still play T2K ?

Or would it be a non violent,every thing is a plenty ,remembering the old days game ?

GM :"You enter the 7-11.The smell of freshly baked goods reach your nostrils..your wallet is brimming with cash..what do you do ?!"

Player " I strike up a pleasant conversation with the clerk and purchase ..lets see... "

Weird notion .I know.

[mikeo80]

I am more of a TMP plyer/GM vs. T2k. However, I have taken some steps to prepair for a catastrophe.

I am not so worried about the "Big Bang". I live about 8 miles from Fort Bragg, NC. If there was a nuclear exchange, I feel certain that Ft. Bragg would go "POOF"...and so would I...

I worry more about a breakdown of civilian authority due to a lesser occurance. I want to be able to sustain my wife and I for at least 30 days on our own.

Right now, I have enough clean water stored in the house to get us through those first 30-40 days. I also have enough canned food to accomplish the same. And I DO have hand crank can openers...

There are three .22 rifles with 1400 rounds and a shotgun with 400 rounds. I am not going down without a fight!

I also have over a gallon of clorox bleach to purify water. I figure that if the chaos lasts more than 20 days, I am up to my eyballs in s***. Digging a latrine would probably happen on day+3 or day+4.

I do have my old Boy Scout handbook for first aid instructions, camp stove with about 20-30 meals of fuel, plenty of blankets and warm clothing for cold weather. There is a battery operated radio with plenty of fresh batteries so that I can listen to the outside world. Also, candles and flashlights. We have also been able to stash some extra prescription meds that we both need.

I do not think this makes me paranoid or a survivalist...just more prepared than my neighbors...And, NO, the neighbors do NOT know about my preparations.

I figure that the best I can do in the event of an emergency is pull the door mat in, lock and load, and wait it out.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

I am not so worried about the "Big Bang". I live about 8 miles from Fort Bragg, NC. If there was a nuclear exchange, I feel certain that Ft. Bragg would go "POOF"...and so would I...

Ft. Bragg is a secondary target, and not a primary target. So you'd have about 30 minutes instead of 8...plenty of time to prepare...

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

Ft. Bragg is a secondary target, and not a primary target. So you'd have about 30 minutes instead of 8...plenty of time to prepare...

Oh, joy....I get to know that TEOTWAWKI is on its' way...

I guess the first symptom would be the loss of power from EMP. Then some flashes off to the west as Charlotte goes bye-bye...Flashes to the north as Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill are toasted...Might also see flash from north-west as Seymour Johnson AFB with its' F-15's becomes a target. ALso to the NW would be Camp Lejune MC base.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Yup a real Dragunov, Chinese NDM-86 in 7.62x54r. Every dang character I play just has to have one. Its one of the sexiest damned rifles ever made.

[Mock26]

Not inspired by Twilight 2000, but I have a large collection of primitive firestarting items, such as a fire bow, flint and steel, and a fire piston. I know how to use all three of them, though I am not proficient with the fire bow.

[waiting4something]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

Yup a real Dragunov, Chinese NDM-86 in 7.62x54r. Every dang character I play just has to have one. Its one of the sexiest damned rifles ever made.

Thats cool as hell. The SVT-40 isn't bad either.

[Mohoender]

I recently made some food reserves (about a full month of food and water for four), got a small camping type cooker and open the well again (it's plenty of water). I also increased my wood reserve, doubling it just in case.

All of it make me think of T2K, of course but, in fact, it has nothing to do with it. Every winter, power gets down and you never know how much time it can remain down.

Then, an old friend of us, visiting lately, advised us to do so. She had lived through Mai 1968 and she fears that it might come again (with communities cut from everything for weeks). Currently, I think that to be fairly plausible.

[Graebarde]

What do I have because I've played T2K since '87? Loads of maps of Poland and Eastern Europe; Polish-English dictionary; Polish travel guides; Living contacts in Poland; Books on the history of Poland; a desire to visit the country (which probably will never happen but.......)

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by Graebarde

What do I have because I've played T2K since '87? Loads of maps of Poland and Eastern Europe; Polish-English dictionary; Polish travel guides; Living contacts in Poland; Books on the history of Poland; a desire to visit the country (which probably will never happen but.......)

You should, it's a very nice country with very nice people.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Mohoender

You should, it's a very nice country with very nice people.

And not very expensive -provided you dont eat and live in the "tourist traps ".

I recommend Warszaw as an interesting city .Krakow is also good.
Poland has alot of nice nature and the Baltic coast in summer is supposedly very nice .
People there are a good sort -hard working most of them ,and quite welcoming .

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Mohoender

Then, an old friend of us, visiting lately, advised us to do so. She had lived through Mai 1968 and she fears that it might come again (with communities cut from everything for weeks). Currently, I think that to be fairly plausible.

What happened to you friend in 1968? Granted, I was fifteen at the time, but I do not remember anything drastic happening.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

What happened to you friend in 1968? Granted, I was fifteen at the time, but I do not remember anything drastic happening.

Was she in Czechoslovakia?

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

Was she in Czechoslovakia?

Everything wasn't happening in Czechoslovakia. Don't take it wrong, however, Paul. French don't know shit on what happens in US and your question is logical. At the time, US was more concerned with what was happening behind the Iron Curtain. And that was much more important.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that US officials kept an eye on Paris. Students and workers were protesting under red flags with their heroes being Mao Zedong and Che Guevara. What is interesting is one thesis on the subject. Evidences seem to point out that Moscow could have supported the french government against the protesters. In fact, that could make sense, US would have not tolerated a soviet take over of France.

[jester]

Well 68 was a very interesting year.

The French Affair,

Tet in Vietnam which struck a real blow to the North, but it also signaled the end for the US as a result of the media and their spin.

Czech Uprising

Then, we had assorted Race Riots in the US as well.

What else happened in other parts of the world?

Interesting idea if we tied all of those events together for an alternate timeline campaign.


Race Riots in the US, who are supported by Communist organizations.

Indo China, Tet, and maybe other activites in and around Indo China. Maybe even China makes an overt move.

France going into Revolution Supported by the Russians

Greece deals with FARC, <is Farc the Communist group there?>

Berlin gets isolated and the Russians move divisions in to posture.

The Czech Uprising, but it gets more support.

Africa and its proxy bushfire wars.

All blow up into a Twilight 1968!

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Mohoender

Everything wasn't happening in Czechoslovakia. Don't take it wrong, however, Paul. French don't know shit on what happens in US and your question is logical. At the time, US was more concerned with what was happening behind the Iron Curtain. And that was much more important.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that US officials kept an eye on Paris. Students and workers were protesting under red flags with their heroes being Mao Zedong and Che Guevara. What is interesting is one thesis on the subject. Evidences seem to point out that Moscow could have supported the french government against the protesters. In fact, that could make sense, US would have not tolerated a soviet take over of France.

I take no offense. Most Americans don't even know what happened in Czechoslovakia in 1968 -- as a country, we're remarkably ignorant about anything beyond the price of eggs. But you've prompted me to look up the events in France in 1968, so you've furthered my education. And, wow.

As an aside, I remember a few years ago making a reference to my nephew about Vietnam. He had no idea what or where Vietnam was, let alone what happened there. What the hell did they teach him in school?

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

What happened to you friend in 1968? Granted, I was fifteen at the time, but I do not remember anything drastic happening.

I wasn't born but France came on the verge of revolution in Mai 1968 (at least apparently). De Gaulle remained silent for three weeks. Colleges were occupied by students and a general strike started. Army units took position in the woods of Paris but officers in charge made clear that they would refuse to march on the citizens. At a point, Students faced the CRS almost daily with roadblocks all over Paris. Shops ended empty and power was down several time... My friend, as many french people simply experienced huge difficulties when it came to simply buy food.

Nobody can say what might happen but the current situation might well bring us to that. France will go on strike on september 7. My wife will be on strike for the first time in 7 years and for the first time I advise her to do so. Sincirely, I would like to see 20 million frenchmen and women in the street (for the first time in 40 years, I'm thinking about joining the protesters). Fifteen years ago, my US teacher in politics explained our class that, in his opinion, France was increasingly similar to that of 1789 (French Revolution). I wouldn't be surprised if he is proved right.