Phase 2 -- Stat Blocks

I now have a pretty comprehensive spreadsheet compiling the names, places, factions, etc., from non-5e D&D campaigns of today and yesteryear. These campaigns include:

• Alien 
• Cyberwars (with all of its prequels, sequels, and spinoffs)
• Dark Enigma
• Doctor Who
• Earth Commanders
• The Ladder
• The Other World
• Project Descartes
• Tales of the Ternion
• Torchlight
• The Vanguard Saga

Putting the spreadsheet together was the main objective of this phase of my project. However, in order to create a true multiverse where characters from various campaigns can cross over and interact with each other, the characters all need compatible game stats. The list above reflects a wide range of rules systems, from the Alien RPG (Alien) to TinyD6 (Dark Enigma) to 4e D&D (Torchlight). As I noted in a previous post, I've opted for the Cypher System as the common platform for the Front Porch multiverse. As such, my last step for Phase 2 is to assign a Cypher System level and stat block to all the characters in the spreadsheet. The core rulebook is a huge help, but I also picked up a copy of the Cypher System Bestiary, which looks like it will give me enough examples to balance characters from such wildly different genres.

Multiverse Mayhem

Don't ask me when we're going to find the time to run it, but I've been cooking up a new campaign for the boys that will link together many of the modern-setting storylines from across the Front Porch multiverse. Starting out as a direct sequel to Earth Commanders -- the first-ever Front Porch campaign from way back in 1988 -- and pulling in key characters and/or themes from The Other World, Cyberwars, and many more, this yet-to-be-titled story will give Matthew and Nathaniel a good foundation in our extensive catalog of non-fantasy campaigns. It's also an opportunity for me to untangle needless complexities and create a clearer narrative throughline from our earliest modern-setting campaign (The Ladder, set in 1895) through the various Cyberwars games of the late twenty-first century. More details to follow as this campaign takes shape, but I'm excited to get into some design work again!

Tesla

Players from the late-'90s conspiracy campaign The Other World -- which lives on in the Front Porch multiverse through several recurring characters -- probably recall that the overarching storyline involved control of the wireless power technology developed by Nikola Tesla. Turns out that wireless transmission of power is now a reality! Click here if you dare...but beware that the infamous G might be watching you...

Quintessence War

In 2015, the multiverse goes to war.

Atlantis

Those who played in The Other World back in the late '90s -- or anyone who plays in future installments of modern-setting Front Porch campaigns -- will know that our multiverse references Atlantis and its fate, and even fantasy campaigns like The Druid Cycle feature the recurring theme of sunken cities. I'm pleased to report, then, that there's a new BBC series about Atlantis. Please, please don't be cheesy!

When Last We Left...

After a lengthy and exhausting business trip, I'm now back in action and continuing work on the multiverse project that will either be the prelude to the Harbingers campaign or simply an amusing tale to celebrate twenty-five years of Porch games. The title of the story is "When Last We Left Our Intrepid Heroes," and I've divided it up into seven sections, with each section corresponding to a set of campaigns from our long history.

• Prologue: The Cyberwars / Ragnarok family of campaigns.
• Chapter 1: The Torchlight campaign setting.
• Chapter 2: The Druid Cycle campaign setting.
• Chapter 3: Shattered Realm and all the other fantasy campaigns from over the years.
• Chapter 4: 1930s and World War II campaigns.
• Chapter 5: The Other World, Earth Commanders, and the other modern-era campaigns, taking place in the Tales of the Ternion setting of Demeter.
• Epilogue: A return to the Cyberwars / Ragnarok campaigns.

So that's the basic outline. If you've played in a Front Porch campaign, you're very likely to see your character(s) mentioned in the story, or even show up in person! I've used Timothy's archives, as well as my own resources, to piece together as much of our history as possible. The finished product is still a couple of weeks away, but I'm excited about how it's coming along!