MILLENNIUM CITY
Set to an Earth similar to our very own... In January of 1981, a scientist named Fyedka Ivanov defected from the Soviet Union, and published a bizarre theory on genetics and Human evolution he called, “Trigger Genome”, three weeks after the theory was published, Ivanov vanished.
Ivanov’s theory was that the next step in human evolution would be the development of a special genome in Human DNA that would cause sudden molecular and physiological metamorphosis in reaction to extreme stimuli. This, “Trigger Genome” would otherwise remain dormant. Publicly, the scientific community refuted the theory as preposterous. Behind closed doors however, several authorities were already linking Ivanov’s theory to increasing cases of individuals who had developed extraordinary abilities and powers.
In 2001, twenty years after Ivanov’s paper was published, the UN and G7 nations acknowledged the existence of “Meta-Humans” in response to a rise of witness accounts of super powered criminals and vigilantes. In cooperation with Interpol, the United Nations created the USC, the United Security Coalition: an international investigative, intelligence, and Security Task Force that registers and monitors Meta-Humans while using their abilities to combat Super-Crime.
It is now 2021, 40 years after Ivanov’s theory, with its headquarters based in Millenium City, a Super Hero capital of the World based in the Mid-Western region of the United States. The USC with the help of the very recent Earth orbiting star ship, 'The Star Order', a collection of Alien beings from all across the Universe traveling the stars in search of other intellectual beings that posses the same genome as they do to further bolster their Alliance across the stars have become an elite organization of the World’s best and brightest who strive to ensure peace and justice. But in the shadows it’s antithesis has emerged. Whispered in dark shadows and behind closed doors, The Trust is an organization that utilizes and finances rogue and criminal Meta-Humans, granting them funding and protection from the law. In return these super criminals take on assignments for the benefit of the Trust’s secretive clients.
✰ ROLES ✰
• Citizens: In the world of Millennium City, 99% of the population are born with this special Trigger Genome. Over the past 40 years, almost everyone including normal citizens have powers... Alas, these powers are watched over by USC and outlawed for legal usage, prompting for normal, everyday civilian life.
• Heroes: People who put their lives on the line to save others at the expense of their own! These legally registered USC Agents conduct heroic acts all about Millennium City, using their powers to save those who might not be able to save themselves. Legally speaking, those who wish to play as Heroes must register as an Agent in the USC with their Hero Alias first before legally being able to go about their heroic deeds (can easily be in backstory).
• Vigilantes: Unregistered Heroes! These well-to-do citizens are folk who are not legally registered through the USC's Agency program, prompting their acts as illegal and sought after by MC Police. Most vigilantes about Millennium City have good intentions... But, as the legal system goes, they're as big of criminals for breaking the law as Villains.
• Villains: Those who wish to set the World on fire and watch it burn! Let it be either a tragic backstory of losing everything, a super hot secret revenge plot, or just bluntly a psychopathic individual, these Villain-types share the same common goal as one another... The disruption of Millennium City! Thankfully for them, The Trust actively seeks these individuals, funding their motives in hope to disrupt the order of law and cause enough chaos to one day rewrite the laws of Millennium City as they see fit!
(✰ Completely Optional! You can easily be non-associated with any of these Factions and play as a Citizen instead! ✰)
• United Security Coalition (HERO Faction): A task force created by the United Nations to register superpowers legally via Agency licenses and combat the rising threat of super-crime.
↳ Hero Agents: Looking to be a full fledged Hero? This is just the route you're looking for! After a brief registration process and fee to successfully apply, those who are accepted by the USC are implanted with a chip to their arm with registry status and Hero Alias. From there on out, these newly registered Hero Agents of the USC are legally allowed to conduct Hero acts among the city.
↳ Peace Keepers (MCPK): Primarily focused on keeping an eye on registered Heroes to prevent and respond encase they go AWOL. Consisting of Heroes and Non-Heroes alike, this heavily armed Division with highly advanced technology funded and offered by The Star Order work together to keep the peace about the city for Citizen safety.
↳ Division of Advanced Weapons & Technology (D.A.W.T): A division of the USC tasked with the registry and supervision of advanced weapons and technology. Any major scientific innovations, weapons development, and Alien technology must be verified and approved by DAWT for use, and any infraction or attempt to bypass DAWT results in immediate and severe legal response from DAWT teams. Because of the nature of their work in handling dangerous weapons and technology, DAWT has gained a reputation for over-zealous use of force.
• The Star Order (NEUTRAL Faction): A collection of Alien beings far and wide from all across the Universe traveling the stars in their home ship, now orbiting Earth. Their goal? To search the Universe for other intellectual beings that posses the same genome as they do to further bolster their Alliance across the stars, offering advanced technology such as weaponry and other-worldly equipment. These beings, despite helping the USC on the front house agents who secretly aid The Trust.
• The Trust (VILLAIN Faction): A shadowy global banking network that finances Super Villains and career criminals for the benefit of hidden third parties, aiming to disrupt and bring disorder to Super Hero registry and Millennium City as a whole. This hidden group of millionaires give loans of heavy amounts of cash and resources in return for favors the Trust wishes to task! In many cases than not, to get the heat off clientele, The Trust also offers hidden safe houses broadened all around the Country at a small fidget of the cost of another task when the air is clear.
✰ All Races Fit For A Super Hero Theme Welcomed ✰ (Your imagination is the limit!)
• With Millennium City housing citizens who contracted this, 'Trigger Genome' 40 years ago to the point it's become a normal phenomenon in their DNA; regular Humans, Meta-Humans, Beast-Kin... Heck, even Aliens beings with the addition of The Star Order now in cahoots with the city's political standpoints, the sky's the limit as to what sort of mutation or race your character may be!
↳ Dimensional beings such as Angels and Demons are very much allowed too via Magic Powers!
• You may only have 5 Super Powers at once (immunities must take a Super Power Slot)!
↳ Due to the, 'Trigger Genome' there is a possibility your character's Powers may mutate into something else and replace one another due to some sort of triggering event with them. This may ONLY be conducted out of Combat! Shifting whole Power sets on the fly or constantly is NOT allowed (This rule applies for equipment holding Powers as well).
• Every character MUST have a way to be beaten / have a Weakness there are NO exceptions (even with immunities)! We are here to have fun and write cool stories, not win all the time!
↳ Regular RP ≠ 1d100 Combat. Unless Freeform, 1d100 In Combat Rules ahead apply.
• Regular Movement (Running / Flying / Gadgets, etc): Normal Human speed movement enhancements do not require a Power Slot, they are purely aesthetic! If any additional Speed Levels needed post-Human speeds, refer to the, 'SPEED POWERS' below!
• Trigger Genome nullifying Powers and equipment exist. Only works for immunities and are purely temporary.
• TL;DR we're going for the, 'Dont make it so complicated' approach. If you feel you might have any questions regarding a possibility of combining a Power that hold similar attributes (i.e Elemental Affinity based Powers using multiple Elemental Shots, they may be categorized as one Power.)
✰ Please keep your active Powers set saved to a shareable Notecard encase anyone is curious of your set, requesting for it. ✰
📖SUPER POWER: 1d100 IN COMBAT RULES 📖
• Normal Weapons (Swords / Firearms, etc): Normal weapons are pure aesthetic that hold no special Powers. Your character may have as many as they wish, not taking up a Super Power slot!
↳ Power-Like Weaponry / Equipment (Elemental Bullets, Flame Swords, etc): MUST be counted as a Super Power to be used (unless picked up mid-scene).
• Controlling Powers: All Powers that may take control over another player MUST be consensual by the recipient.
↳ This rule applies for Dimensional Realm entrapping abilities.
• Healing Powers: May not be used to restore HP Ticks in combat. Aesthetically, after combat has resolved, may be used to push story and recover.
• Vehicular Combat (Tanks / Mecha): MUST share base initial HP with the Player Character. The pilot may not exit and fully restore their HP.
• Immunity / Shielding Powers: Powers which involve shielding capabilities from oncoming attacks may only last 2 Full Turns before having to be reapplied.
↳ During activation phase (One Full Turn) the player activating must still roll Defenses for oncoming Attacks.
• Nullifying Powers: Powers which disable Trigger Genome immunities temperately (i.e Steel Skin) must have a cool down of 2 Full Turns before being reused.
↳ May NOT strip any other Powers other than immunities. Seeing as there will be characters being the 1% of having no born Powers, this allows for them to have a chance in Combat.
• AOE Powers & Attacks: ONLY allowed when outnumbered 2-to-1 to give the singular person getting attacked an advantage to fight both at the same time. This rule applies for Storytelling purposes as well in example; Boss Fights.
• Minion Units: Must share base initial HP with the Player Character. They are considered purely aesthetic outside Storytelling purposes.
✰ POWER LIMITATIONS✰
To balance out Strength and Speed Enhancements, including but not limited to: Aesthetics in enhanced Weaponry, Armors, Serums, Movement Powers, etc. We are limiting each Tier of Strength and Speed to a singular Super Power Slot.
(In Example: Tier 1 = 1 Super Power ; Tier 3 = 3 Super Powers)
STRENGTH POWERS:
• Peak Human (Tier 1): Twice one's own body weight.
= 100+ lbs - 800 lbs =
↳ Mister-X (310 lbs), Daredevil (450 lbs), Black Panther (800 lbs)
• Super Human (Tier 2): Cars, trucks, and buses.
= 900 lbs - 10 Ton =
↳ Captain American (1 Ton), Ghost Rider (5 Tons), & Beast (10 Tons)
• Super Human II (Tier 3): Large Tanks, large Airplanes, and Massive boulders.
= 11 Tons - 25 Tons =
↳ Captain Marvel (15 Tons), Spider-Man (25 Tons)
• Super Human III (Tier 4): Half of Houses, Battleships, and massive Aircrafts.
= 26 Tons - 50 Tons =
↳ Venom (30 Tons), Luke Cage (50 Tons)
✰ MAGIC POWERS ✰
• Magic is ancient traditions that in the past helped Humans bring out and harness their genome triggers. Which leads to the discovery that the trigger genome has been in Humans for a long time, but is only now becoming more frequent which is why so much magic involved sacrifice. These traumatic rituals would serve as the extreme stimuli (does not even need to be painful or harmful).
