Hawkins, IN in T2K

[Jason Weiser]

Ok,
We basically know that Twilight: 2000 was meant to be the future of the 1980s. Yeah, I am calling it. And the 1990s of T2K was basically going to be the 1980s, with a war and slightly better technology, at least until the nukes flew.

But a certain TV show on Netflix has captured my imagination of late, and has gotten me thinking, just what happens when all hell breaks loose in August 1995 and after? Do the Upside Down get a beachhead in our world? Does the collapse of the US Government as we know it prevent us experimenting anymore with said same? Does 11 and 8 and all the others like them out there find themselves hunted by everyone, or just lost in the flotsam and jetsam of the post-apocalypse?

Opinions, guys?

[Raellus]

I really dug Stranger Things. My mind seems to naturally connect just about everything to T2K but it never occurred to me to do so with Stranger Things. Great idea, Jason!

I say, why the heck not. The U.S. military really did experiment with "psychic warfare" (a-la the Men Who Stare at Goats) in the real world so a T2K-Stranger Things mashup doesn't seem all that far fetched.

I'd wager that folks like 11 would get lost in the shuffle. They could go the wandering hero route, like Kung Fu with super powers, or they could go dark side. I could see someone like that starting a millennialist cult or something- "I got these powers from God. Now bow down before I throw you across the room with my mind."

[unkated]

11-14 years is a lot of time (1984 to 1995/8), so there's a lot to speculate.

I can conceive of a CIA (CivGov) goal of enticing the Soviets to strike Hawkins during the TDM period, just to eliminate certain problems... Perhaps some hints of a wonderful new technology being developed in Hawkins National Lab...

Or a strike (or ADM) by US forces, blamed as a strike by Soviets....

Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Max, and El would be ~25 in 1995.

Some of El's capabilities can be recreated using the Dark Conspiracy rules

Now, there's a campaign idea:

Setting, December 1998

Amid the pain and confusion just after TDM, a small military team (here's a chance to build those Spec Forces characters) is dispatched to find what they are briefed on as either rogue Americans or better yet a team of Soviet infiltrators who are trying to set off a nuke in this town in Indiana, targeting a lab where vital technology research is being performed (how can the Upside Down be used to military advantage). Find these infiltrators and stop their plot.

Except the infiltrators are an FBI SWAT team with scientists in tow, off to destroy Hawkins National Lab, nuking it to be sure.

"Now, listen, Lieutenant, they will probably try to convince you that they are some hush-hush civilian authority, with what looks like perfectly legitimate ID. But take it from me, these are just excellent fakes. They are taking full advantage of the nuclear-induced communication issues, so no one can check their IDs."

"Don't worry about why they are using a team for this rather than a missile strike. i have another team in intelligence working on that. You just concentrate on finding them before they can set off their nuke."

Traveling across (parts of) post-strike America will be bad enough. Then the players find out why one part of the US Government wants to unleash a nuke on US soil, as hell is literally breaking out in Hawkins....

Perhaps talking with some of the local townsfolk, like the Sheriff could shed some light on the matter....


BTW, my daughter has an idea for a Season 3 episode: "Will Byers has a perfectly nice day" (fraught with moments of deep foreboding that turn out to be perfectly innocent and happy). The kid certainly deserves it...

Uncle Ted

[Ancestor]

El's psionic destruction of the assault team towards the end of the Season 1 finale = the fate of the missing Operation Omega troops. MILGOV gave up after sustaining 100% casualties. 11 is now God Emperor of CIVGOV and working to feed the starving masses. With Eggo waffles.

[Cdnwolf]

Having not watched the show and having no want to watch the show I have the right to ask...

What the heck are you talking about?

[Jason Weiser]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

Having not watched the show and having no want to watch the show I have the right to ask...

What the heck are you talking about?

Stranger Things, it is on Netflix and its set in the 1980s in a small town in IN, complete with a government research lab playing with Things Man Was Not Meant to Know, aka the Upside Down.

It is on its second season and well, it's just awesome. Make time for it Cdnwolf, if you can.

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Jason Weiser

Stranger Things, it is on Netflix and its set in the 1980s in a small town in IN, complete with a government research lab playing with Things Man Was Not Meant to Know, aka the Upside Down.

It is on its second season and well, it's just awesome. Make time for it Cdnwolf, if you can.

The selling point I use with my long term gaming friends is
"It starts with 4 eleven year old boys playing D&D in 1984 and keeps the 80s feel all the way to the end"

So while being effective for story telling (cell phones and the internet would ruin it) it is also pretty nostalgic.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Ancestor

El's psionic destruction of the assault team towards the end of the Season 1 finale = the fate of the missing Operation Omega troops. MILGOV gave up after sustaining 100% casualties. 11 is now God Emperor of CIVGOV and working to feed the starving masses. With Eggo waffles.

[kato13]

This picture was the only spoiler I had for the show and it intrigued me enough to watch it.



From a collection of cosplays a new mother did while her daughter slept.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/s...l5G#.eno4rlNzx

[Ancestor]

That picture is awesome! Very funny!