Introduction
Doom World
Doom world is a cyber-diesel-punk setting where the world was cracked into asteroids floating in air. It happened so long ago that no-one anymore knows of the time before that. Since then humanity has learned to cope. People live on these asteroids floating in air, yet somehow the planet remains separate. Think treasure planet meets drifting dragons meets cyberpunk.
Life in the Doom World
Trade between human cities exist, and diesel fuel is created from now easily mined fossil fuels and sky whale fat. Towns typically focus on the resources they have available on their asteroid. Some are mining, while others live on Farming or Trade. The sky-whales appeared some time after the cataclysm, probably some radiation mutated existing whales into these strange creatures that can swim through the air.
War between barons over space and technology is not uncommon, and in general people try to remain neutral or separate from these warring barons, minding their own business. It is not easy, however, when some barons are hungry for more space and resources.
Some people become sky pirates, rootless groups who live on their Sky Ships making a living from what they can. Usually by selling their skills. Some sky pirates have resorted to piracy, however and prey on the weak, and are giving the sky pirates a bad name. Other more honorable sky pirates have taken up hunting Sky Whales for food and profit, and helping out cities (for a fee usually).
The most common means of transportation is the Sky Ship. It is essentially a Zeppelin, that uses mostly hot air for buoyancy, though some use lighter-than-air gasses. Massive Diesel engines typically provide power for these large Sky Ships. Some smaller autogyros also exist, and even more rare are anti-gravity ships.
Some ancient technology also exists, still protected and isolated in the floating asteroid chunks.
Technology is as craved as gold and jewels. More so even now that the world has been cracked open, all those valuable metals and minerals are relatively easy to access and tech is getting more and more rare, especially fully functioning electronics.
The Zones
Doom World is a very large place in that it is a 3 dimensional place. The world is divided into 5 depth zones starting from the surface all the way into the inner core.
The Crust
The Crust is a relatively nice region with plenty of sunlight, and plant life. The Crust is the only zone with wide open skies. However, on the downside it is relatively poor. The people of the surface are mostly engaged in farming, trade and the sky whale business. Brave sky whalers spend several months at a time roaming the vast skies hunting for sky whales, and returning to port to trade their catch before heading out again. The terrain varies from islands containing lush hills and lakes to dry sandy islands void of life. The islands of the surface tend to be relatively flat and quite large relative to the islands of the other zones.
The Outer Mantle
The Outer Mantle is a wealthy zone. Many of the islands are rich in either mineral or other valuables like pockets of trapped gasses and oil. The oil is processed to fuel the diesel engines of the air ships of Doom World. This zone also engages in trade with both the Crust and deeper zones. Pockets of ancient technology can also be found here in the Outer Mantle. They are the remains of deep vaults of the old world, now relatively easy to access. As a result the Outer Mantle is where most of the high technology comes from, and also has most cyber technology.
The Mantle
The Mantle is where most sky pirates hail from. The skies are already quite dark, only sometimes does sunlight penetrate this deep into Doom World. As a result it is a natural hideout of many nefarious beings. Pirate barons rule multiple islands and raid not only each other but often send out ships to prey on those closer to the surface.
The Inner Mantle
The Inner Mantle is the domain of the Dwarfs. It is a dark and relatively cold zone, since the sun's rays rarely if ever penetrate this deep. The Dwarfs of the Inner Mantle guard their riches jealously, and are always looking for more ore, often heavier metals. The islands down here are mostly volcanic rock, now cooled down and mined by the Dwarfs. The Dwarfs have armed their home with hidden cannons of all sorts, and ruthlessly shoot down anyone who tries to pass through their dark land.
The Outer Core
The Outer Core was one molten metal (Iron-Nickel mix), and is now called the sea of rust, as the molten iron became iron sand, which has rusted by now. It forms an almost impenetrable permanent iron sand-storm, blanketing the Core. In the rust desert hides all kinds of creatures preying on each other, and any hapless fool trying to cross the desert. The magnetic field of Doom World is generated by the ever shifting and spinning dust storm, which forms a gigantic magnet.
The Inner Core
The Inner Core also cracked when the world did. Some people theorize that it's possible to pass through the core, but no-one has ever come back… The Inner Core is a cracked solid metal sphere. The cracks are wide enough for a ship to get through, but first one must pass through the rust desert.
The Great Cataclysm
No one knows or remembers the great cataclysm that shattered what is now Doom World, but legends state that a great experiment had gone awry fashioning the new world that humans and mutated creatures now inhabit.
People still tell stories of times past about a beautiful world of trees and lakes untouched by the damage Doom World has suffered. Stories where humanity lived in peace with each other are also quite popular, especially in areas where island barons are more prone towards fighting.
Species
Humans mostly, but some animals have mutated in the cataclysm to become sentient and larger, like the rats, foxes, etc.
Humans
Humans have evolved into 3 distinct species: Humans, Dwarfs and Elfs.
Human
Humans can be found all over Doom World, they are by far the most common species.
Dwarf
Dwarfs mostly stick to their mines in the Inner Mantle. Sometimes Dwarfs join Pirate Ships or other ship crews to see the world.
Dwarfs are Scale -1.
Elf
Elfs inhabit mostly the Crust, tending to gardens and what forests remain. Some Elfs tire of the sun and seek the darker Mantle zones, looking for more exciting lives.
Non-humans
Several animals have mutated to become sentient and sapient. Here are some examples, but others should be allowed too!
Rat
Rat-folk can be found, like Humans all over Doom World. Rat-folk tend to be smaller than average Humans, and also more skittish, yet they can be found on many ships, since their lithe bodies make climbing the rigging of the ships easy for them.
Rats are Scale -1.
Fox
Foxes tend to be loners and mischievous, however when they work with a crew, they can often be found as captains of ship crews.
Pig
Pigs tend to be found in the upper layers of the Mantle, but some are found as farmers in the Crust, and also in the Mantle, working for pirate lords.
Tech
Most high-tech has decayed, and nobody knows exactly how to repair it, so some clever people can "MacGyver" it to keep it functional. It's usually not very pretty, but can remain functional. Often tech is re-built in ways, to provide a function, usually not what it was meant for. Cybernetic technology, while not common, is also not rare. It has become more functional than aesthetic. The implants are rarely visually pleasing (they look like maybe some of the Borg implants mostly).
Sample Characters
All these characters are based on a random General Person Generator or Anthropomorphic Animal Generator from Seventh Sanctum. This group of characters is designed to be a ship crew. They could be privateers, pirates, whalers or anything else.
These characters are not fully fleshed out in accordance with the theme, but can serve as examples on how to "translate" the random character concept into a Fudge on the Fly character.
Captain Valentine Curseguard
The boring, world-weary female anthropomorphic Badger zeppelin captain with uncanny abilities. She has a leggy build. Her wardrobe is elegant.
| Gift | Uncanny sailor +1 to all rolls involving piloting/navigating a vessel |
| Superb Skill | Sailing |
First Mate Isaiah Moriarty
This aristocratic guy has hooded eyes the color of cold ashes. He is bald, but used to have luxurious, straight, brown hair. He's got a beard and mustache. He is very tall and has a broad-shouldered build. His skin is chocolate-brown. He has a small mouth. His wardrobe is tight.
| Gift | Friends in high places |
| Superb skill | Swords |
Navigator Asaab
This Elf gentleman makes you think of a flighty gazelle. He has slitted black eyes that are like two lumps of coal. His fine, curly, black hair is waist-length and is worn in a businesslike style. He's got a prominent mustache. He is tall and has a narrow build. His skin is black. He has a low forehead and a pointed chin. His wardrobe is no-nonsense and professional, with a lot of blue.
| Gift | Always can tell where north is |
| Superb Skill | Navigation |
Bosun Angela Justice
This girl puts you in mind of an immovable mountain. She has almond-shaped blue eyes that are like two windows on the afternoon sky. Her silky, straight, gray hair is worn in a style that reminds you of a flower's petals. She has a leggy build. Her skin is light-colored. She has a pointed chin and stubby-fingered hands. Her wardrobe is professional and elegant, with a lot of green.
| Gift | Danger Sense |
| Superb Skill | Acrobatics |
Engineer Erick Fitzgerald
The intuitive male anthropomorphic purple-scaled Fish zeppelin engineer. He has an elegant build. His wardrobe is utilitarian.
| Gift | MacGyver, ignore penalties for lack of proper materials and equipment. |
| Superb Skill | Engineering |
Private Martin Joe Jefferson
This man puts you in mind of a looming thundercloud. He has round red eyes that are like two drops of wine. His fine, curly, ebony hair is worn in a style that reminds you of a puffy dandelion. He is short and has a plump build. His skin is china-white. He has a small mouth and a weak chin. His wardrobe is uncomplicated.
| Gift | Night-vision |
| Superb Skill | Pistol |
3 comments:
I actually remember when you were first designing this! Glad to see it came to fruition!
Ha yeah, to bad we never got further than character generation!
I really liked this. Such a light and enjoyable read!
It was relatively easy for me to picture the things you were describing in my head. Also loved the images, the atmosphere of the world and the way you described it, with all the details and imagination/creative potential.
Also enjoyed reading about the detailed characters, the fantasy of it all. The Doom Wold Zones image really helps visualize how the zones fit together.
Those random generators seem very useful to get inspiration and bounce off ideas.
"But now, without further ado, let me present:" - I found this such a great introduction message to the "Doom World" title. :)
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