D20 Apocalypse
Encyclopedia
d20 Apocalypse is a 96-page softcover supplement to the d20 Modern
role-playing game
, providing a rules framework and setting guides for campaigns set in a post-apocalyptic
setting.
, current science, and popular fiction. These methods include, among others: an environmental disaster, alien invasion, nuclear war, plague, and supernatural disaster. For each scenario, a brief description outlines the scenario and its particular effects on the setting. For instance, a plague scenario would not carry with it the same radiation dangers and physical damages to the infrastructure as would a nuclear war.
d20 Apocalypse adds a few other new rules to the game system, including rules for handling vehicle modification and fallout areas, as well as rules for scavenging, post-apocalyptic equipment, and mutations.
Each campaign model includes relevant rules, monsters, prestige classes, NPC groups, NPC's
, and equipment.
D20 Modern
d20 Modern is a roleplaying game designed by Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, and Charles Ryan. It was published by Wizards of the Coast in November 2002, and uses the d20 System...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, providing a rules framework and setting guides for campaigns set in a post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
setting.
Scenarios
Included in the rulebook are a listing of general ways in which the modern world might experience an apocalypse, drawing on sources which include religious eschatologyEschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
, current science, and popular fiction. These methods include, among others: an environmental disaster, alien invasion, nuclear war, plague, and supernatural disaster. For each scenario, a brief description outlines the scenario and its particular effects on the setting. For instance, a plague scenario would not carry with it the same radiation dangers and physical damages to the infrastructure as would a nuclear war.
Passage of Time
Following the apocalyptic event, the post-apocalyptic setting is further defined based on the amount of time which has passed since the event. The varying amounts of time are divided into four distinct eras:- Aftermath - The event just happened, and some of the immediate effects are still ongoing. Survivors still recall the world from before the event.
- Generation 0 - The first and second generation born after the event reaches maturity. Elders still recall the world from before the event, but only as vague recollections from their distant childhood.
- Dark Ages - Approximately a dozen generations have passed since the event, and any history from before the event is melded into legend and myth.
- New World - Civilization has developed again in a new form. Much of the setting remains barbaric and dangerous, but more wide-ranging governments and social structures exist.
Types of Societies
A second section details types of societies which are likely to appear following a re-ordering of society. These include tribal groups, ethnic groups, religious societies, etc.New Rules
Given the collapse of society, the Wealth system from d20 Modern (which is based on a character's credit and standard of living as much as their cash on hand) no longer applies, and in its place the barter system is used. In addition, due to the setting, certain items (such as ammunition) are worth more than they would be in a functioning society, while others (such as electronic entertainment) are worth less. The new barter system prices all items according their relative value in a post-apocalyptic setting, using Trade Units in place of dollars or Wealth DCs.d20 Apocalypse adds a few other new rules to the game system, including rules for handling vehicle modification and fallout areas, as well as rules for scavenging, post-apocalyptic equipment, and mutations.
Campaign Models
d20 Apocalypse includes three sample campaign models, providing additional rules and setting material for each model. The models included are:- Atomic Sunrise - a typical post-apocalyptic setting inspired by Mad MaxMad MaxMad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
- Earth Inherited - a post-RaptureRaptureThe rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
setting following a supernatural ArmageddonArmageddonArmageddon is, according to the Bible, the site of a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location...
, which leaves the world peopled with warring factions of angels and devils - Plague World - a post-war setting following a failed alien invasion which includes a mutagenMutagenIn genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are therefore also likely to be carcinogens...
affecting aliens, humans and animals alike. Key to this scenario is the inclusion of Rip Van teams, which are medically frozenCryonicsCryonics is the low-temperature preservation of humans and animals who can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine, with the hope that healing and resuscitation may be possible in the future. Cryopreservation of people or large animals is not reversible with current technology...
during the event and brought out of hibernation centuries later to rebuild society (akin to The Morrow ProjectThe Morrow ProjectThe Morrow Project is a science fiction role-playing game created by Kevin Dockery, Robert Sadler and Richard Tucholka and published by TimeLine Limited. It is set after a devastating nuclear war. It was first released in the 1980s, and it still has a loyal following...
).
Each campaign model includes relevant rules, monsters, prestige classes, NPC groups, NPC's
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
, and equipment.