Created by Onyx Path - Trinity Continuum: Aberrant
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Running an Æon Society Campaign
almost 5 years ago
– Tue, Jul 09, 2019 at 01:45:25 PM
Hello Continuum Community,
Yesterday, I shared a brief write-up from the manuscript about the Æon Society. Today, I'm going to share another small pieces that comes at the end of the Æon Society section, outlining some thoughts about running an Æon Society Campaign. There's a Mega-Amount of words in between these two sections, revealing more details and shedding light on one of the possible Paths that can be chosen when creating a nova character. We'll share this chapter on Tuesday, in our next Trinity Continuum: Aberrant kickstarter manuscript preview.
Baseline James
Running an Æon Society Campaign
An Æon Society campaign is perfect for telling stories about ground-level heroes; normal yet extraordinary people who pull together to make life better for others using skill and wits in a world where superpowers exist. The Æon Society is spread wide in its interests and activities, which offers an equally wide array of choices for stories with characters from very different backgrounds.
The Æon Society has been putting together multidisciplinary projects for nearly a century, and they are very good at matching people together for specific tasks. The characters can belong to a task force under one of Æon’s affiliates, but with plenty of “loaned” members from other parts of the vast Æon family. If they work effectively as a team, Æon might decide to keep them together, and they could eventually begin their own branch, either a Project, Operation, or a Foundation of their own.
Recovering a lost satellite that fell in Germany’s Black Forest can involve rangers from the Neptune Foundation, an intrepid reporter funded by Project Odysseus, and a couple of “hired” bodyguards who are actually an Achilles team from Project Proteus interested in the information that could be salvaged from the satellite.
Tracking down a gang poisoning the streets of Portland with a nova derived drug could require an investigator from Neptune’s Incident Management with the help of Æon’s Global Liaison to cooperate with local police, while a Triton scientist works to develop an antidote, with aid from a curiously helpful FBI agent who is a member of Project Nemesis.
Tracking down the bizarre mysteries of the Babel Dossier can make for a long campaign where Babel archivists travel the world, recovering one piece of forbidden knowledge every week through sheer ingenuity, or they could find themselves in conflict against organizations like the Megasyndicate or the Directive, who have a very different idea of what progress in the world means.
Also, given its history and nature, Æon employs hundreds of Talents and, if everyone agrees, an Æon team can even include a low-powered nova or two.
An Æon Society campaign offers flexibility to both the players and the Storyguide, with the chance to change the tone and goals of the story as it progresses with Æon assigning the characters to missions that require their growing expertise.
The Æon Society Path (Society)
Your character belongs to one of the most respected and established organizations in the world, with access to vast resources both material and intangible. Æon only accepts people who want to make the world a better place, whether they are baseline humans, Talents, or novas. The Society offers a variety of fields from the adventurous humanitarians of The Æon Society core organization who lend their talent and resources, the first responders and developers of The Neptune Foundation who lay their lives on the line of duty, the scientists and scholars from The Triton Foundation who abandon everything in the pursuit of knowledge, or the pragmatic agents of Project Proteus who are ready give up their morality as long as others can remain idealistic.
Example Connections: Æon Council, Project Utopia, Team Tomorrow, international relief agencies, allies in government positions, grateful citizens
What? Skilled Liar as an Edge? You should probably just forget any mention about Project Proteus - I think it's just an unfounded rumor, feel free to ignore! (Mwah-ha-ha-ha!)
#TCAberrant
#TrinityContinuum
#AeonSociety
Preface by Dave Rossi
almost 5 years ago
– Tue, Jul 09, 2019 at 01:43:55 PM
Hey Continuum Community,
I thought I had a pretty good story, meeting Rich Thomas at GenCon about 17 years ago and eventually helping out with Onyx Path kickstarters. But Dave Rossi has me beat by a mile - a good conversation at a Star Trek convention lead Mr. Rossi to a behind-the-scenes tour, a job with production, contributing to attractions, licensing, tv shows, comic books, video games, and so much more. Dig into his story, if you get a chance - it's a good one.
But Mr. Rossi isn't only a Star Trek fan, he's also a big superhero fan. And, as a guy who mixes genre and stories for a living, he absolutely understands the power of something like the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant tabletop roleplaying game.
I'm lucky today to be able to share the preface from this latest edition of Aberrant with you. Take it away, Mr. Rossi...
Preface
I’ve been passionate about superheroes for forty-five years. My license plate holder says “Metropolis: City of Tomorrow,” and where the car once read “Eco-Boost,” it’s now emblazoned with “Superman Edition.” When my wife and I went on our first date I asked her, “Who would win in a fight: Superman or Thor?” (We’re married today, so right answer.) I petitioned the phone company so the last four digits of my cell number would read KAL L. I sometimes yell “SHAZAM,” you know, just to see. Passionate may be an understatement, but it wasn’t always as acceptable to fly your superhero flag as it is today.
These characters represent something I’ve always connected with on a very fundamental level, something I wish there was more of in the world: altruism. With their powers they could easily rule the planet, but instead they sacrifice any chance at a normal life. Why? Because their calling is larger than that. Whether the threat is a bully, a shady government group, a gang of super villains, or an extraterrestrial armada fixated on wiping us out, these heroes choose to stand up to it. That message is very important to me, and I try to instill it in my own children. Just help; wherever you can, whenever you can, whomever you can.
Nerds hadn’t won the war yet when I was a kid. I was routinely picked on for my love of comics, Star Trek, and the like. There was no internet to find like-minded fans, no Borg-like social media collective. That meant I had to make a decision: keep my passion hidden or embrace my love of the genre publicly. I chose the latter and, while I didn’t go on a lot of dates, that sacrifice let me be true to myself. In fact, I felt like a superhero fighting the good fight; sacrificing for the bigger picture. My school peers later congratulated me for it; my yearbooks are filled with opening greetings like “Hey Captain Kirk,” “What’s up, Batman?” and “To Super-Dave.”
There’s also another aspect to superheroes that shouldn’t be overlooked, and that’s pure escapism. It’s the part that tickles our child-brain’s sense of wonder and imagination. Flight, immeasurable speed, invulnerability, the manipulation of Earthly and cosmic forces. Reading these books, it’s impossible not to imagine that we are in possession of these powers. Every Wednesday (new comic book day for the uninitiated), I’m eager to step foot through the doorway that transports me into these worlds. Once there, I’m the hero. After reading each book, I’m also charged up and left wanting more. I crave a deeper connection.
For anyone who has felt the need to connect to these amazing universes, you know just how palpable it can be. After the attacks on the World Trade Center, an article in Vanity Fair observed that for weeks following the violence it was hard not to find a child in New York who wasn’t wearing a superhero shirt. That’s a powerful message. We want heroes to be out there, fighting on our behalf, and draping ourselves in their emblems can be a quick fix. Another is to watch movies and television shows, which is passive at best. To further make that connection, we play video games, allowing us to manipulate our favorite heroes on screen. We play miniature tabletop games to manifest these well-known characters in chess–like battles. We play deckbuilding card games that offer yet another outlet to step into the world of the superhero.
I often wonder if, granted similar amazing abilities, I could adopt a life of heroism and make the kinds of sacrifices my favorite characters make. The answer is no, of course, but that’s why I read comics: they’re aspirational. The problem is, none of these video games or books offer the real scratch for that aspirational itch. We get to ride along with our heroes, but we’re never fully immersed in their worlds. What if there were a magic lamp that let you be the hero?
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant is that magic lamp. It’s got the intricately-woven world of high adventure that should accompany any superhero saga, along with a real-world formula where public perceptions shape the narrative, political responses help and hinder, secret government agencies prepare for the worst, and consequences for decisions you make carry real weight. RPGs give us a unique opportunity to explore not only the concepts of good and evil, but the human experience as a whole. This isn’t following some pop-culture hero in a pre-written story, this is you as your own hero, building the story as you go.
Finally, it’s no coincidence I reference “sacrifice” more than once. The world of the superhero is full of action, heroics, and triumph. Like any great story though, there must be equal doses of obstacles, tragedy, and defeat. Aberrant strives to hit that balance and delivers. Trouble may come in the shape of minor setbacks that dog your character, forcing you to think for solutions on the fly. Other circumstances will demand agonizing decisions, compelling you to save some over others. You may also find yourself following in the footsteps of legendary Aberrant characters like the Fireman; making the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of idealism.
Can you juggle your secret identity while making life-and-death decisions? Which powers will you be armed with in the fight for justice? What sacrifices will you make for the good of your fellow human beings? Let’s find out. Evil is on the march. Don your costume. Shout your magic word. Prepare your utility belt. It’s time to save the world!
Dave Rossi
Associate Producer for Star Trek, and Superman enthusiast
Interview with Ian and Steve
almost 5 years ago
– Tue, Jul 09, 2019 at 01:14:13 PM
Hello Kickstarter Community,
Sorry I'm a bit late this morning, I got caught up... uh, walking the dog... and had to change quickly into my regular, normal, mild-manned Kickstarter Concierge clothes.
It's James, your mild-manned point person for this kickstarter campaign.
Yesterday, I'd sent out our announcement about our first three Stretch Goals, planning on relaxing for the rest of the week and maybe binge-watching Stranger Things. But you guys had other plans, because we CRUSHED THREE STRETCH GOALS already! That's right, we've already unlocked our first three goals! Amazing job, everyone!
Now, before you read more words from me as I unveil our next goals, let's take some time to listen to some words from the real heroes of this game: Ian A.A. Watson and Steve Kenson!
Our next wave of campaign Stretch Goals starts with an Onyx Path classic, followed by the digital debut of an old item, and then on to additional content for our new edition.
At $63,000 in funding - KICKSTARTER BACKER T-SHIRT – Hosted on the redbubble store for a limited time, a Trinity Continuum: Aberrant-themed shirt will be priced at a steep discount. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available.
At $68,000 in funding - Aberrant Worldwide: Phase I will have the original book scanned and be made available as a PDF on DrivethruRPG.com. A copy will be added to the Aberrant 1E Systems & Setting PDF Bundle.
Worldwide:Phase I is one of the first edition titles that people have been looking for on PDF for a long time, and something I wanted to include in the PDF bundle Add On rewards for this campaign. Unfortunately, the original files for this project are long gone, lost to the ages. However, DrivethruRPG does offer a service where they'll do high resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book to create a new digital file, essentially re-mastering the book. The quality won't be quite as sharp as if the PDF had been output from the original digital layout files (sort of like making a copy from a copy), but it will bring a PDF version into existence and allow us to add it to our old edition bundle (as well as just making it available for general purchase, for those missing this one title!).
At $73,000 in funding - PROTEUS NOVA COMPENDIUM – A new PDF product, with stat blocks for many characters featured in bio write-ups in the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant book. All backers receiving the PDF version of Trinity Continuum: Aberrant will have this automatically added to their rewards list.
And finally, following our earlier N!WE Stretch Goal with even more new content for this new edition, the Proteus Nova Compendium for Trinity Continuum: Aberrant!
We've had some Mega-Success so far! Let's keep these Stretch Goals erupting, and continue to add rewards to our lists and explore the world of Aberrant to an even greater scale!
#TCAberrant
#TrinityContinuum
#AberrantRPG
BACKERS ONLY – MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW #1
almost 5 years ago
– Sun, Jul 07, 2019 at 08:05:42 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
The Æon Society
almost 5 years ago
– Sun, Jul 07, 2019 at 01:15:03 AM
Greetings, Continuum Community!
It's James! Are you having Mega-fun?
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant is set in 2028, ten years after the N-Day incident, but that doesn't mean there's only a decade's worth of history implied. This moment within the Trinity Continuum features several organizations and characters that have been active for quite some time and come with backgrounds and histories that have influenced this version of the timeline.
One of those organizations that serves as something of a bridge between the Adventure!, Aberrant, and Æon time periods is, not surprisingly, the Æon Society.
A glimpse of a possible future, from Trinity Continuum: Æon
The Æon Society
Most people who are aware of the Æon Society know them as a philanthropic organization with deep pockets, fond of funding humanitarian projects and, most importantly, the people who created Project Utopia.
Few are truly aware of the society’s reach and influence, and fewer still know its long and colorful history. And almost nobody realizes just how much Æon knows about the new world of super-powered individuals.
Members of the Æon Society prefer to be unassuming, offering their help or advice without leveraging their affiliation. Only during official events do the golden and silver pins with the Æon symbol come out.
Project Utopia, originally just one of many projects under Æon’s purview, is shouldering most of the burden of making the world a better place along with the novas, but that doesn’t mean Æon is just sitting back and watching the golden child grow. All the contrary, given what they know about the Inspired, the Æon Council is directing the organization’s resources into many areas of the world, trusting Utopia to handle the most visible and world-changing affairs.
At its heart, Æon remains a group of idealists, and their ideals to guide humanity to the best possible future for everyone remains sound and firmly at the core of everything the organization does.
History
The Æon Society for Gentlemen was founded in Chicago in 1923 by Maxwell A. Mercer and a close group of friends and associates, most of whom had been affected by the Hammersmith Experiment (see Chapter Ten for more). Among these associates were two of Mercer’s closest friends, Whitley Styles and Michael Daemon Donighal.
In its infancy, Æon was simply a club of explorers and adventurers seeking mysteries to solve, wrongs to right, and evil-doers to punch, but as Mercer and his associates became more aware of the world thanks to their travels, their focus shifted in the 1930s into an official philanthropist group, funded by the fortunes their founders had made during their adventures.
Just before World War II started, one of the society’s founders betrayed them to one of their long-standing enemies and was killed as a result. Shaken by this development, the Society did not openly participate in World War II, but secretly funded a number of aid programs and initiatives, and did not forbid any of the members from joining the fight to help the Allies.
Near the end of the War, the remaining members of Æon were forced to fight Michael Donighal under his nom-de-guerre, Doctor Primoris. Donighal disappeared, and Mercer became more reclusive.
The second half of the 20th century saw Æon become more public in its endeavors while remaining secretive in their knowledge. The age of wonders that gave rise to the society ended with the sobering display of technology’s capacity for annihilation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the world worked towards recovering from the war, it also became more mundane.
The organization grew in scope and complexity, and began to diversify and decentralize its efforts under the direction of Michael Mercer, Maxwell’s alleged son. He funded or outright created different foundations and charities, and consolidated its internal efforts. During this time, Æon formalized the Babel Dossier, cataloging mysteries that remained unsolved, and moving every trophy of dangerous technology or even supposedly “occult” artifacts that the aging adventurers had captured.
Every scrap of knowledge the Society garnered to this point about the Inspired was folded into the archives of the Triton Foundation. Direct humanitarian and aid efforts fell under the Neptune Foundation, and Æon kept for itself the diplomatic and public relations duties.
By the end of the 20th century, the Æon Society apparently divested itself of everything that might mark them as anything other than a successful NGO and a grant and donations management organization, but in truth every foundation, project, grant, award, and agency Æon founded remains part of Æon. Just the links are hidden from the public’s view.
This is why Æon was quick to act on N-Day. It only took a few calls from Margaret Mercer, Maxwell’s granddaughter and current Director of the Society, for the Æon Council to understand what was happening, to formulate a plan, leverage their contacts, and convince the United Nations that they were the most qualified to handle the nova situation.
There was no deception there; nobody but Æon truly understood the incredible potential and terrible dangers the dawning age held for humanity.
