Important News

Hey Everyone,

I am pleased to announce the 2003 Event Dates for Atlas Adventures (Atlas II).

April 4-6
May 23-25
Sept 12-14
Nov. 7-9

We have acquired tons of new module and adventure space at a nearby camp. The camp is in easy and quick walking distance from HFY and has tons of module space. Get ready for high adventure!

To answer a frequently asked question, we will not be using paintball guns in this campaign. For firearms, we will use the ActionSoft re-creation pistol (the single shot spring gun) and ActionSoft. There will be no need for safety glasses.

Stay tuned to the Atlas web site for more information as it becomes available.

Ben

Hi there everyone!

I thought I'd give you guys a preview of the campaign atmosphere. We're busily creating the background for the new game (history, cosmology, that kind of stuff), and will be writing the actual campaign elements soon (story themes, groups, personalities, stuff in town, etc.). Rules will be nTeraction; Ben's already working on the new skill lists. So, although no actual details are available yet, here are some general ideas that will get you in the mood.

The setting is Morocco around the turn of the century. If you're interested in history, read up on how in the early 1900's, France, Spain and Germany are fighting on Moroccan soil for control of the country. The Moroccan Sultan is none too happy. Britain is, of course, trying to edge its way in, too. A political free-for-all ensues, complete with assassinations, intrigue, and of course the French Foreign Legion. Good stuff! The actual date for the game has not been selected, but cultural references from around 1880-19-teens are likely to crop up. (Like Atlas Agenda, the game world will be a fictional one based closely on our own. History, culture, the laws of the universe, etc. are the same as Earth except to the extent that we redefine or mess with them - you'll find that our in the Campaign Book, or ingame.)

Our little slice of Morocco? A small but high-traffic intersection of every imaginable cultural influence. After all, just look at the geography: Europe to the North, Africa to the South, the Middle East to the East. Perhaps something like Tombstone, but set in mysterious and deadly North Africa. Why does everyone want to be there? You'll have to wait a bit for more on that, but here are some things that might have drawn you there:

1. Crypts, crypts, crypts! Do you know your ancient history? How about your treasure?
2. A multi-national university consortium setting up a College. The Archaeology, Pseudo-Science (Mentalism may be the core curriculum these days), Sociology, and Linguistics are among the Departments that are sending their best and brightest.
3. Whispered rumors of terrors in the night. Mythical horrors come to life? Demons crawling up from the deep? Echoing, dripping sounds all through the night? All just local legend, of course.
4. Magic! Ancient languages, mystical inscriptions, ceremonial chanting. Can it be true? You're not the only one who wants to find out.
5. The Adventurer's Guild - those Brits just can't resist a good scrap.
6. The Barbary Coast - You thought Pirates had a bad name before.
7. Religion - the birth of the new religious philosophy seems linked to this place. Is it Divine?
8. Theatre Macabre - in France, the rage in theatre is all strange and unexpected - and here too. Very cosmopolitan for remote Morocco, no?
9. The post, the general store, telegraph, radio, the papers - all the comforts of modern life! It'll be just like home, but maybe you'll see some "Natives" - how droll!
10. Americans. Someone has to show the graverobbers who's boss. Take that how you will.
11. A Very Important Discovery. A technological innovation? The most brilliant, and maddest, inventors are on their way there.
12. The Berbers. Native to Africa, perhaps the original ancestors of modern man. Some say their powers of healing and foresight are super-human. Others say it's fairy tales and nonsense.
13. Continental Quackery. Even in Morocco, they need Snake Oil. And Laudanum. And Absinthe...
14. The dispatches say they're expecting quite a show: the French Foreign Legion, Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Spanish Galleons, German spies, American frontiersmen.
15. Apparently, the local customs are fascinating.
16. Egyptology, anyone?
17. Hunting, anyone? Never mind man-sized predators in the jungle. Hokum. Nothing a rifle with a nice pair of sights can't manage.
18. You've heard it's haunted, naturally. Or was that cursed?

As for what we're up to, work on the cosmology and background are well underway. We'll be writing the game elements (the stories, people, and atmosphere you'll interact with at events) and the new skill lists over the remainder of the Fall and Winter. We'll publish the Campaign Guide somewhere in the late Winter/Early Spring, but you'll get snippets and teasers all along the way!

We'll continue posting updates here and on the mailing list.

Cheers!

Kara