915 - Gear Krieg 2e
915 - Gear Krieg 2e
915 - Gear Krieg 2e
-
TWO-FISTED PULP ROLEPLAYING IN A WORLD AT WAR!
, .
-
PLAYER'S HANDBOOK
.. .
,
"c
DREAM POD 9
TWO-FISTED PULP ROLEPLAYING IN A WORLD AT WAR!
GEAR KRIE
PLAYER’,S HANDBOOK
Colonel Kaufman loaked down at the prvlne f o m ofJack Memphis
und h g h e d , his guunf visegt?appeuring more skull-lih than w m
can do nothing to stop us. Soon, Hew Doktor Hempell 5
‘‘Yo’oL~
mearck will be complete and we will have yet another weapon In
our arsenal. Whm will you Amurikuntw i e w n t h d no ORE can stand
hfbw the might ofthe Third Reich? *’
But Jack knm better ifhe coufd,jusbreach the blade hidden in his
belt, he couldfpee himselfandput an end to Knufman b dinbolicul
schcrnu - and if he wus very lucky, he might just teuch that gloating
Nazi a thing or two about old-fashioned Yanhe know-how...
Koquircs the UIC oftlie Silhowtte CUKL m l c h k r M publisbcd by Dream Pod 8, Inc.,or a
RolcplnylngGnmc Cam Rmk pi!bliuhcd hy Wlwrrla ofthe CnnwR, lne. Ynu will olsn need n few
sir-siM dice. pen, paper and 2-6 playwu wed 12 and w h v o .
DP9-915
www.dp9.com
1 I S B N :1-894814-84-3 I
G 1-11
COMPATIBLE
&; Printed in C4&
DREAM POD 9
The Mafia .................................... 120
The World Crime League ........... 120 I Walker (USNWV
Yakuza ........................................ 121 Longstn?ermkXII
Equipment lntro ............................... 123 ' Walker (Ger): PzK VI "Donner" .. 172
Walker (Ger): PzK VI1 'Uller" ...... 174
, and all other names,logos and specfic gama
terms are (c) Dream Pod 9, Inc All Rlghts
Clothing ..........................
Fighter (US): Curtis P-55 Ascender 184 , subsidiary of Hasbro. Inc.. and are used
acmrdingmthetennsoftheedX)SystemlKznse
version1 0 AmpjofthisLcmsecanbefwnd
Other UsefulThings
T-44 "N. Lenin" Superheavy Tank ... 188 '
Luftfortress.................................. 190 , Hasbro. lnc., and is used \mm penisson
Generic: Pickup Truck ................ 152 : Gear Krieg OGL Character Sheet... 253 :
I (C)1999,2ooO wizards of the coast Inc.
6 1 G E A R K R I E G
INTRIGUING !
INTRODUCTION 1 1 1
‘Zo, Doc, ve mitt again!”’ I “The whole time during the chase? And the
I
Gestapo? And the drive along the coast? And
Jack stole a glance at his watch. Nearly time.
He cocked his head to one side.
:
I
that THING back in Bordeaux? That was ages
I
ago! You had a BOMB this whole time that
“You sound upset,” he remarked innocently, : could have saved us at least ONCE from
Doktor ‘Heil Horfenmeister’ back there?”
“Since we’re such close acquaintances and
all, why don’t you tell old Jack all about it.”
:, “Yup. And as a matter of fact, I believe it just did.”
Jack flashed his winning smile, and was I
rewarded with a change in Hempell’s
complexion to a shade of livid purple. I
: A rhythmic thumping pounded across the sky as
a distant shape popped up from behind the cliff.
I G E A R K R I E G
“Jack. . . ” I
I
rope ladder twisted and spun like an enraged
I python, just inches out of reach.
Through the smoke, the shape of Hempell’sboxy I
I
grey car was changing. It shuddered, and with a I
“Closer!” Jack yelled to his struggling pilot
screech of hydraulics, the armored bulk rose I friend, “You’ve got to get closer!”
above the burning wreck of the sedan, balanced I
with the controls to keep lgor Sikorsky’s crazy I “Well,” he said, “Like my old pal Josh used to
I
flying machine level. The craft’s rhythmic I say, ‘If there’s no more room to run, then it’s
thumping emanated from the massive rotating I time to fly!”’
I
wing spinning atop the fuselage. The wind it I
“Who’s Josh?” she barely had time to ask before
created was a veritable tempest; the I
I he grabbed her firmly around the waist and
downward draft kicked up dust and dirt in a I
swirling cloud around Jack and Amelia as they I
launched them both over the edge of the bluffs...
I
balanced precariously at the cliff edge. The I
I
I*
~~
G E A R K R I E G
INTRIGUINGINTRODUCTION! 111
I
I
included. With this information, Gamemasters
I can set their games anywhere in the world,
THE MODERNAGE
I
I
from the mean streets of urban America to the
I battlefields of Europe to the Nazis’ secret
I
I
Antarctic base. Like the pulp literature that
The world would have been a very different I inspired it, Gear Krieg is a game of
place had geniuses such as Edison or Tesla I
globetrotting heroes who fight oppression
I
not revolutionized the Modern Age with their I wherever they find it.
discoveries and inventions. Through their I
I
efforts, and those inspired by them, the world I
The rulebook also includes extensive advice
is at the cusp of a new Golden Age, one in I and suggestions on using the conventions of
I
which superscience provides for all of I
the pulp genre in a roleplaying setting. These
humanity’s needs and wants. I conventions are the stuff of pure escapism:
I
a stalwart heroes, dastardly villains, exotic
Unfortunately, no one has yet invented a I locales and bizarre plots. They offer exciting
technology that can change the human heart. I
opportunities for Players and Gamemasters
I
Where most leaders see the means to free their I alike. Numerous examples to aid players
peoples from the grip of the Great Depression, I
unfamiliar with the genre are provided. An
I
others see the means of world conquest. I original random pulp adventure generator (see
Fascist parties have sprung up like weeds in I
page 208) offers another perspective on using
I
the garden of progress, all intent on using the I the genre’s basic tenets to encourage exciting
wonders of superscience for their own foul I
roleplaying plus a comprehensive campaign
I
ends. I outline which enables Gamemasters to jump
I
right into the action with little or no preparation.
Fueled by the madness of Hitler and the I
I
expansionism of Imperial Japan, the world is I Speaking of action, the rules encourage
once again at war. War walkers stride across I
nlnvprs tn niiln
I I ~ P rnnvpntinns s i i r h as
Empire attempts to do the same in Asia and I
I
the Pacific. I
I
Fortunately, it is also a time of heroes, men and I
I
women who have dedicated themselves to I
fighting oppression and injusticewherever they I
I
find it. Their example has inspired the Allied I
nations to oppose the Axis powers and use all I
I
their strength and ingenuity to fight them on I
beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets and I
I
hills. The Modern Age is thus an era of great I
struggle between the forces of freedom and I
I
those of tyranny. I
I The spark that lit the War’s short fuse was the
, assassinationof Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir
I to the Austro-Hungarianthrone, on June 28,1914.
:
I
Austria-Hungary believed the assassination the
work of Serbian nationalistsand decided to strike
:
I
back against the movement. It sent an ultimatum
to Serbia with ten demands, most of which dealt
:
I
with the suppressionof anti-Austrian propaganda
in Serbia. Both Britain and Russia urged the
:
I
Serbians to comply, which they did on all but two
points. Austria considered this response
:
I
unsatisfactory and threatened military action.
Russia then issued a statement of its own,
announcing it would defend Serbia if Austria
There died a myriad, I procedeed with its attack. Nevertheless,Austria
I
followed suit by declaring war on Russia.
For an old bitch gone in the teeth, I
I When France mobilized in support of Russia,
For a botched civilization,
:
I
Germany responded by declaring war on France
as well. Germany intended to invade France
Charm, smiling at the good mouth,
:
I
through Belgium in order to prevent its use as
a safeguard from which French troops could
Quick eyes gone under earth’s lid,
1141 G E A R K R I E G
FASCINATING !
HISTORY 21
8
8
democracy, nations as diverse as Turkey,
8 Ireland, and Greece accepted the promise
The decade immediately following World War 8
offered by representative government. Even
8
I seemed a Golden Age in which anything was 8 the architects of the Soviet Union conceived
possible. Not only was it a time of vast 8
of a new order, one in which all men were equal
I
economic expansion, but it was a time of 8 and technology compensated for the
technological innovation as well. This decade 8
inequalities nature had created. The decade
8
saw a superscience revolution that forever 8 ended with the high-minded idealism of the
changed the world’s notions of “progress.” As 8
Kellogg-Briand Pact, whose signers agreed to
8
naive as it might appear in retrospect, optimism 8 “abolish war” forever. If only that idealism had
reigned supreme for nearly ten years. Men 8
proven well placed, for the 20’s also saw
8
believed that enlightened science would 8 innumerable tragedies that presaged the
inevitably lead the way to a better tomorrow 8
events of the next decade: dictators seized
8
-and to some extent, they were right. 8 power throughout Europe, most notably in
8
Germany and Italy; perverted science led
During the 1920’s,mankind achieved notable 8
some to believe in the superiority of certain
8
tech nological and scientific advances. 8 races and groups above others; mistreatment
Developments in communications gave the 8
of minorities became commonplace, even in
8
world talking motion pictures, as well as the 8 nations as otherwise enlightened as the United
televisor, although the latter saw only limited 8
States and Great Britain.
8
use through the decade. Medical science 8
developed insulin, penicillin, and the isolation 8
Unfortunately, the dark underside of progress
8
of pure vitamin B, jointly responsible for the 8 went almost unnoticed by the leading figures
well being of tens of millions of people. 8
of the decade. They only saw the promise of a
8
Scientific theorists exposed the uncertainty 8 bright future, never considering that the
principle and expanded the realms of physics 8
technological bounty could serve evil as easily
8
into quantum mechanics and the uncertainty 8 as good. Though isolated crusaders fought
principle. Astronomers calulated distances 8
against injustice, they did so without the
8
spanning light-years and discovered Newton’s 8 sponsorship of any powerful nation or
postulated planet, Pluto. 8
organization. Theirs was a solitary quest that
8
8 could have averted disaster had their cries of
Applied science truly set the decade apart 8
warning been heeded - but that was not to
from its predecessors. Zeppelins, such as 8 I . . I . , -t .I._ -.I_, --**,-A
G E A R K R I E ,
I
I
Communists was subverted by men as evil as
I those in Germany and Japan. The science and
The dream of technological enlightenment I
technology that many viewed as the savior of
I
ended with the stock market crash of October, I mankind showed itself to be amoral. Indeed,
1929. “Black Tuesday” shattered the illusion I
if the stories coming from the fascist powers
I
of inevitable progress and opened the eyes of I were even remotely true, it now seemed that
many to the dangers of the present. Indeed, I
science could just as easily keep men and
I
the Great Depression cast a pall over I women in chains as liberate them.
everything that people had come to believe I
1161 G E A R K R I E G
FASCINATING !
HISTORY 121
I
I
Europe and the Pacific, and the massive aerial
I Luftfortresses rained death and destruction on
On September 1, 1939, German forces I
everything caught beneath. The war is just over
I
invaded Poland. The ghost of war had returned I two years old, but superscience has allowed
to haunt Europe and scorn efforts to find I
all sides to wreak unprecedented havoc, and
I
peaceful economic solutions. By the beginning I new advances promise even greater
of 1940, Poland had fallen and Russia had I
destructive capabilities.
I
likewise invaded Finland. There then came a I
lull in the fighting - one last pause before I
I
plunging into total war. This “phony war,” or I
Sitzkriegas the newspapers dubbed it, ended I
I
with the Axis’s spring invasions of Norway, I
The Axis powers consist of Germany, Italy and Ja-
Holland, Belgium and France. Before the I pan. These three countries have a combined mili-
I
summer was half over, most of Europe had I
tary might that can bring the rest of the world to its
fallen to Axis military might, North Africa had I knees, especially considering the Allies’ slowness
I
been occupied by Italy, and Britain itself was I
in recognizing and responding to the threat. TheAl-
under bombardment from advanced Axis I lies are made up of most of the remaining indus-
I
aircraft. After a disastrous series of defensive I
trial nations, though the largest members are the
maneuvers, all that remained of the Allies’ I United States, Britain and its Commonwealth ter-
I
European forces were the soldiers who could I
ritories. There are few truly neutral countries in the
be rescued from the beach at Dunkirk before m conflict; though many are not directly involved in
I
the Germans overran it. the wal; they do have sympathies for one side and
I
I are willing to quietly provide supplies, support and
Early 1941 brought the first glimmers of hope I
even allow agents tofreely operate within their bor-
I
to the Allies. The Battle of Britain had been I ders.
won by the timely deployment of the first I
I
combat jet aircraft. Italian troops in Africa were I
being driven back by Commonwealth forces. I
I
Although the United States had not yet entered I
the war, they provided much needed supplies I
Although the governments of the world are now
I
and war materiel to Britain’s armies under the I paying the price for failing to act against the
agreements of the Lend Lease act. As the year I
growing fascist tyranny, people have appeared
I
progressed, however, the tides turned against I who are willing to do what is right. Those
the Allies a second time. The newly formed I
heroes who quietly began their fight in the
I
German Afrikacorps fought British forces to a I 1930’s are now legion. Acting either
standstill. In June, Axis armies invaded Russia I
individually or in small groups, these people
I
and captured a tremendous portion of land. I have more of an impact that they realize. Their
Worst of all, Japan began its own offensives in I
exploits inspire not only the average citizens
I
Asia against China and Russia, and on I of the world, but also the powers that be.
December 7, 1941, the Japanese navy I
I Thanks to their selfless efforts, nations like
attacked the American base of Pearl Harbor, I Great Britain and the United States - even
I
destroying it and damaging the fleet stationed I the Soviet Union - are standing firm against
there. I Axis oppression. Although the future remains
I
I uncertain, these bold adventurers are doing
Superscience is at the vanguard of this new I their utmost to ensure that the forces of liberty
global conflict. The Axis has used its new I
I and freedom will be victorious.
fanzerk&npfers, agile walking tanks, with I
frightening effect. The Maginot Line’s Tesla I
I
“death rays” inflicted horrific damage against I
anything that stumbled into range. Jet fighters I
I
and rocket planes dueled in the skies above I
G E A R K R I E G 1171
. . . -
assassinated I Corps decimated
I
Jul. 28 Austria declares war on Serbia, starting World I Apr. 6: United States declares war on Germany
I
War I I Jul. 6:Arabs led by T.E. Lawrence capture Aquaba
I
Aug. 4: Germany invades Belgium
I Oct. 25: Russian Revolution; civil war begins
I
Aug. 26: Battle of Tannenberg; major German victory
I Nov. 10: Third Battle of Ypres ends without breaking
over Russia I
stalemate
I
Sep. 10: First Battle of Marne halts German advance I Nov. 20: Battle of Cambria; 400 British tanks lead
in France I
I assault
Sep. 15: First trenches dug in Western Front I
I
Oct. 5: First aerial dogfight I
I
I
-
i.
FASCINATING !
HISTORY
I
Mar. 14: France begins construction of the M
I
I Line
Jan. 7: Werner Heisenberg proposes "uncertainty
I
principle" I Mar. 28: Constantinople becomes Istanbul
I
Mar. 7: Trans-Atlantic radiotelephone service I
Apr. 28: Yellow fever vaccine developed
established I
Sep. 23: British engineer Frank Whittle pate
I
Mar. 14: Christie shows latest walker prototype to US m engine
Army I
I Dec. 10: Great Depression begins
Apr. 7: US Army decides not to invest in Christie's I
I
walker I
I
May 21: Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic
I
Apr. 17: Edison appoints Tesla as new director of
Nov. 12: Joseph Stalin rules in USSR, Leon Trotsky I
I Park
expelled from Communist Party I
I May 1: Empire State Building completed in Ne
Nov. 17: Christie sells walkers to German Weimar I City
Republic I
I May 21 : Germany develops the "Railway Zepl
Dec. 12: Chiang Kai-shek crushes the Communists in I propeller-driven train
China; China remains fragmented I
I Sep. 18: Japan's Kwangtung Army begins
, L.. .< ,.".,. ., . . . . ..,~,.. OCCI
i928 I
Manchuria
I
Mar. 27: Geiger Counter developed I
I
Sep. 21 : British Empire ends use of gold stand
Apr. 1: Chinese communists create the "Red Army" I
Oct. 17: AI Capone sentenced to 11 years in pri
I
Jun. 17: Amelia Earhart crosses the Atlantic I tax evasion
I
Aug. 27: Kellogg-Briand pact outlaws war I Oct. 18: Thomas Alva Edison dies at the age o
I
Sep. 15: Penicillin discovered I Nov. 30: Manchuria occupied by Japan
I
Nov. 12: First television broadcasts I
I
Jan. 28: Japan invades Shanghai
I
I
Feb. 11: Lateran Treaty establishes independence of Mar. 1: Charles Lindbergh, Jr. is kidnappc
I
Vatican City I rescued by adventurers
I
Mar. 3: Canadian rum runner "I'm Alone" sunk by U S I May 17: Japanese nationalists assassinate
Coast Guard I Minister and assume power
I
May 7: Stalin banishes Trotsky from USSR I May 20: Amelia Earhart flies solo across the At
I
May 21: Ballistic evidence becomes admissible in court I Oct. 3: Iraq gains independence from Britain
I
Sep. 30: Fritz Von Ope1 flies first rocket plane I Oct. 21: Fritz Von Ope1 sets land speed ret
I rocket-powered car
Aug. 29: The dirigible Graf Zeppelin finishes I
circumnavigating the globe I Nov. 8: Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected Pr6
I
of the United States
Oct. 29: Black Tuesday stock market crashes I
I
Nov. 28: Richard Byrd flies over the South Pole I
I
Jan.: US recognizes USSR
I
I Jan. 6: USSR in grips of massive famine
Jan. 5: Germany secretly begins development of walker I
war vehicles I Jan. 12: Right-wing government wins elections II
I
Feb. 18: Pluto discovered I Jan. 30: Hitler becomes chancellor of German
I
Feb. 27: Ho Chi Minh establishes lndochinese I May 7: First concentration camps establis
I
Communist Party I
Germany
I
Mar. 12: Gandhi organizes "Sat Satyagraha," a massive Jul 22: Completion of first solo round-the-work
I
Indian non-violent protest I
I
I *
Aug 7: The ship Queen Mary sets new trans-Atlantic Belgian
speed record I
I Jun. 4: German forces overrun Dunkirk
Aug. 23: Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact I
I Jun. 5: Germans assault French defenses at the
Sep. 1: Germany invades Poland; begins World War II I Somme
I
I
I
I
Without a doubt, the pre-eminent power in the
I world is the British Commonwealth. The
I
Commonwealth consists of the United
POWER I
I Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
I
I
along with the dominions, colonies, and other
The Modern Age is a world at war. The conclusion I territories throughout the world that owe
to World War I did little to resolve the underlying I
allegiance to the British Crown. At present, the
I
problems that brought about the conflict in the I British Commonwealth comprises over 20
first place. If anything, the Treaty of Versailles I
Dercent of the world’s land area and more than
I
only exacerbated them (one famous general is I 400 million people.
rumored to have said, “this is not a peace treaty, I
I
it’s a guarantee of war”). The events of the last I
The Industrial Revolution transformed the
two decades first plunged the world into a I British economy from one relying primarily on
I
delicate game of power politics and then another I
agriculture to one based on mechanized
world war. To understand the dynamics at work I manufacturing,and consequently the numbers
I
in the world today, it is important to look at the I
of British products available for export
histories of the five greatest powers on earth, I drastically increased. The quest for new
I
whose strength and influence are unmatched. I
markets was the economic incentive behind a
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan stand united I revived British Empire. Bent once more on
I
under the banner of the Axis; they are opposed I
expansion, but having lost her Noth American
by the British Commonwealth,the USSR and the I colonies in the eighteenth century, the Empire
I
United States of America. I
focused more on expansion into Asia and
I Africa in the years leading up to World War I.
I
I
I
An empire based on free trade, rather than the
I old colonial system based on protected
I
I
commerce, required less regulation. The
I concept of responsible government, or
I
I
government by the citizens of a colony,
I emerged and was applied throughout much
I
I
of the Empire. This concept allowed Britain to
I withdraw its military presence while retaining
I
I
control of foreign affairs and external defense.
I By World War I, Britain had granted
I
I responsible government to its possessions in
I Canada, Australia, and South Africa, among
I
I others. The British governments of the early
I twentieth century thus exercised a much less
I
I centralized control over the empire.
“We shall defend our island whatever the cost I
may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing I During World War I, the British Empire
I
grounds, in fields, in streets, and on the hills. I remained united. The Dominions, as those
We shall never surrender and even if, which I I
colonies granted responsible government
I
do not for the moment believe, this island or a I were called, were loyal to Britain at first, but
large part of it were subjugated and starving, I
the Easter Rebellion in Ireland in 1916 marked
I
then our empire beyond the seas, armed and I the beginning of an increasing desire for
guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the I
I
independence in many of the colonies. Troops
struggle untilin God3 good time the New World I from the Dominion countries were prominent
I
with all its power and might, sets forth to the I
in World War I, and as the sacrifices of war
liberation and rescue of the Old.” I increased after 1916, their loyalty to Mother
I
I
Britain waned. Australia rejected conscription
- Winston Churchill
in 1917, much as Quebec opposed it in m
I
Canada. Despite the rumblings of discontent I
I
in the Dominions, the war actually expanded I While continental Europe is certainly the location
the British Empire to its greatest extent. The I
I hit the hardest by Axis attacks, even the island na-
Treaty of Versailles gave Britain German
I tion of Britain has not escaped. The wail of air raid
possessions in Africa, while the collapse of the I
I sirens has become the standard backdrop to daily
Ottomans in the Middle East led to the British I life, and London, the capital city of the British Em-
acquisition of Palestine and Iraq. This I
I pire, is regularly hit with barrages of German bombs.
monumentalexpansion placed incredible new
I Life continues unabated for the civilians, howevel;
stresses on an already fractured system. I
I and the slow decline in thefrequency of the raids
Following the experiences of World War I, I (as the coastal defenses are gradually reinforced)is
I
Britain lapsed into a period of isolationism. I usually met with something of a resigned sigh.
I
Public disinterest and government evasion met I The civilians and army personnel living in London
the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Italian I
have learned to make the best of the situation, show-
I
aggression in Ethiopia, and the military build- I ing that thefabled ‘stif upper lip’can, infact, carry
up by Germany. In 1937, Neville Chamberlain I
aperson through even the most trying of times. Shops
I
became prime minister, adopting a policy of I and pubs continue to open, despite rationing, and
appeasement towards Hitler rather than I
the Tube - the underground subway - now serves
I
confrontation. He genuinely believed that I as a makeshijlpublic bomb shekel: Class lines have
diplomacy, backed up by veiled threats, would I become weaker in this time of adversity, and the
I
be sufficientto prevent Germany from plunging I Royal Family themselves have pitched in to lend a
Europe into another war; unfortunately for I hand with the clean up and reconstruction.
I
everyone, he was wrong. I
I
Civil service lorries do their best to keep the streets
In the end, Chamberlain’s efforts only I clear of debris, and quadruped walkers modijied with
I
encouraged rather than dissuaded Germany I
cranes are occasionally used in the rescue efforts.
from continuing its military build-up. In 1936, I They’ve proved to be much more useful than stan-
I
for example, Germany sent troops into the I
dard wheeled vehicles, since they can step overfresh
demilitarized Rhineland. Germany then I rubble and go where trucks cannot; many have been
I
annexed Austria in 1938 and seized the I
adopted by the local populations, their strange con-
western half of Czechoslovakia later that same I figurations garnering them nicknames - rude and
I
year. Emboldened by the unwillingness of I
otherwise -from the local children.
Britain to do anything to stop him, Hitler I
I
ordered the occupation of the rest of I
Czechoslovakia in 1939. Germany likewise I
I
seized the free city of Danzig in Poland. As a I
On October 6, in an address to the German
free city, Danzig existed under the protection I Reichstag, Hitler called on France and Britain
I
of the League of Nations. When the League’s I
to recognize the “New Order in Europe.”
members - including Britain - did nothing I Daladier, the French Prime minister, rejected
I
to protect Danzig, Hitler knew that his goal of I
Hitler’s terms on October 11. Great Britain’s
world domination was within his reach. I Prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, the man
I
I
who thought he could negotiate with “Herr
Unfortunately for Germany, Britain finally took I Hitler” after the Munich conference of 1936,
I
a stand when the Nazis invaded Poland in I
needed an extra day to dismiss Hitler’s peace
1939. Both France and the British declared war I proposals.
I
to protect the integrity of the Polish state, but I
other than sending a few bombers to drop I
propaganda leaflets, they did nothing. I
I
I
I
I
So began a curious period of the war. None of I
France fell unexpectedly early, its vaunted
the combatants appeared to want to take any I superscience fortifications and giant tanks
I
action to widen the conflict beyond its current I
bypassed by the mobile German army and
borders. The French were happy to sit behind I later smashed to bits. The Nazi forces poured
I
their Maginot Line, while Britain, wracked by I
into the breach, invading northern France in
internal dissent in Chamberlain’s government, I only a few short days. Caught unprepared by
I
vacillated. Bombing raids and pamphlets were I
France’s failure the British troops fared little
as far as Chamberlainwanted to go. It seemed I better, both in France and in a disastrous
I
a quiet “Phony War,” or “Sitzkrieg,” as the I
Norwegian campaign designed to cut off
newspapers of the day dubbed it. Germany’s I supplies to the growing German empire. The
I
complacency, however, was deceiving. The I
misadventures in Norway brought about the
Wehrmacht was remarshalling itself after the I resignation of Neville Chamberlain and his
I
Polish campaign, preparing to execute the I
immediate replacement by Winston Churchill
Furher’s latest directive: Number 6 - Case I on May loth, 1940.
I
Yellow, the invasion of the Low Countries and I
France itself! I
Early in the morning of 20th of May, the German
I troops of famous general Erwin Rommel
I
I
occupied the heights around the town of Arras.
I The British ExpeditionaryForce, along with all the
I
I
French troops in Belgium, were perilously close
In many ways, the First World War accelerated sup- I to being cut off. The few Cavalier walker crews
I
port for nationalist movements in the colonies, and I
with the BEF hurled their walkers at the enemy,
the British government soon found that it could do I but it was all for naught. Unable to break the
I
little to stop this trend. At the end of the conflict, I
German noose, it was time for the British to retire
Britain was exhausted and its empire overextended. I to the Channel ports. The Royal Navy began
I
During the 1920’s and I930’s, Britain searchedfor I
Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk on May 27th,
policies that would both reduce the cost of main- I attempting to rescue more than 338,000 troops,
I
taining the empire and lower the risk of its falling I
120,000 of these French and Belgian in origin.
apart. The Statute of Westminster in I93 I granted I The next day, Belgian King Leopold surrendered
I
the demands of the Dominions forfull constitutional I
unconditionally to the Nazis.
autonomy. The statute also established the British I
Commonwealth as an association of equal and in- I Admiral Sir Bertram Home Ramsey mobilized
I
dependent states united by common allegiance to I
every available ship on the south coast of England
the British Crown. After the Irish Revolution (1912- I for the evacuation. Stirred by this example,
I
1922), Britain granted southern Ireland Dominion I
Winston Churchill declared in the House of
status, although the country eventually left the Com- I Commons on June 4th: “We shall fight on the
8
monwealth in 1937. I beaches, we shall fight in the fields, we shall
I defend our island...and we shall never surrender.”
In India, discontent with British rule increased, cul- I
All of the evacuated troops, however, left with no
I
minating in the Amritsar Massacre, in which the Brit- I other equipment beyond their rifles. All the
I
ish army fired on Indian demonstrators, killing surviving tanks, artillery guns, and walkers were
I
nearly 400. Though the British colonial government I either destroyed or abandoned on the Dunkirk
I
passed constitutional r e f o m in I919 and I935, ten- I beaches, which were swarmed by the Germans
sions remained high. In its African colonies, Britain I at dawn on June 4th. Britain found herself in the
I
did not have to cope with nationalism and concen- I positionof havingonly one fully equipped division
trated on administering the populations indirectly I cnmilnhln fnr thn rlnfnncn nf hnr hnmn iclnnrlr
:
IVI L I IG U G I G I IaG VI I 1 G 1 I !VII IG lala! IUD,
U W U V t U U I G
and inexpensively through existing local institutions. and the soldiers in that division were not even
Nevertheless, there was occasional African resis- British! It was the Canadian First Division,freshly
tance to colonial control, especially when the Brit-
ish levied new taxes or interfered with traditional
:
I
disembarked from their transatlantic transports,
who would have to bear the brunt of a prospective
I
practices. : Nazi invasion.
26 I G E A R K R I E G
:
I
imperialismwould only lead to further conflict.
Still, the economic realities of the 1890’s made
’ overseas expansion seem imperative,
I especially to the business community. By the
:
I
century’s end, the United States had begun to
send American forces to Hawaii, Cuba, the
‘ Philippines, and East Asia.
the United States failed to gain new markets States. The Peace treaty stated that Spain
abroad, other nations would claim them, and would cede the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and
these markets would be lost to U S . enterprise. : Guam to the United States and that the United
Second, national prestige required the United
Sates to join the great European nations and
:
I
States would Pay Spain $20 million as
compensation. In addition, Spain Would
Japan as imperial powers. Third, religious surrender all Claims to Cuba and assume
leaders supported efforts to spread Christianity : Cuba’s debt. Within a short few months, the
to foreign peoples. Finally, the United States
seemed to be falling behind in the race for
:
I
United States had become aworld Power with
an Overseas empire.
empire; it had not acquired non-contiguous ’
World War I cemented the place of the United
territory since Seward bought Alaska from
Russia in 1867. ,
I
States in world affairs. While European nations
tried to recover from the war, the United States
Of course, overt imperial designs evoked had Overseas territories, aCCeSS to markets,
criticism. Many Americans opposed U.S. , and plentiful raw materials. Formerly in debt
to European investors, the United States began
expansion and challenged the drive for an I
overseas empire. Indeed, isolationism seems ’, to lend money abroad. At home, the economy
expanded, profits soared, and zeal for reform
to the default American position in foreign I
affairs, Likewise, groups such as the Anti- waned. Business and government resumed
Imperialist League - a coalition of editors, I their long-standing cozy relationship.
academics, reformers, and labor leaders -
contended that the United States had no right , By 1922, the nation began a spectacular spurt
of growth, aided largely by the growing
to impose its will on other people and that ,
I
FASCINATING !
HISTORY
’*’ 4
acceptance of super-science. Auto production
symbolized the new potential of industry and
: gr wth of super-science businesses had
cr ated an artificial boost to the economy.
:
I
technology. By the end of the 192O’s, there cc wequently, more and more investors
were over 27 million motorized vehicles on ’ PC ired money into stocks. Unrestrained
America’s roads. Assembly-line techniques cut ’ bL ’ing and selling fed an upward spiral that
production costs, which made cars less I en led on October 24, 1929, when the stock
expensive and more available to the average I mi *ket collapsed. The great crash shattered
American. Cars were just one growth sector i thi economy. Fortunes vanished in days.
of the 1920’s. Energy use tripled, and electricity I cc isumers stopped buying, businesses
reached 60 percent of American homes. I re ,enched, banks cut off credit, and a
Industry produced new home appliances, and dc vnward spiral began.
as incomes rose, families spent larger portions I
I
of their incomes to buy these durable goods. I
Chain stores put local retailers out of business. I
Canned goods and commercial breads rn
I Political and cultural debates divided Americans in
replaced homemade products. The young I
I the 1920s. Major issues of the decade reflected a split
advertising industry, which had appeared in I between urban and rural, modern and traditional,
the late nineteenth century, fed a desire for I
I radical and reactionary. Nativist sentiments emerged,
consumer goods. American corporations I based on the belief thatforeign immigrantswere dan-
became larger, and by the end of the decade I
I gerous to “ordinaryAmericans.” Nativism inspired
one hundred corporations controlled nearly m the revival of the Ku Klux Klan. The new Klan tar-
half the nation’s business. m
I geted Catholics, Jews, and immigrants, as well as
The vast growth of business in the 1920’s I blacks. It thrived in the Midwest and Far West, as
I
transformed many areas of life, but failed to I well as in the South. W t h its women’s auxiliary, the
distribute benefits equally. Industrial workers I Women of the Klan, it raised millions of dollars and
m
did not reap the profit of increased productivity. I wielded political power in several states.
I
Wages rose but not as fast as prices. Unions I Conflict also arose over religious fundamentalism.
fought against manufacturers’ associations, I
In I925, John I: Scopes, a Tennessee schoolteachel;
I
determined to break their power. Union I was tried for breaking a state law that prohibited
membership dropped from about 5 million in I
the teaching of the theory of evolution in public
I
1920 to 3.4 million in 1930. Agriculture suffered I schools. Scopes and the American Civil Liberties
as well. Markets for farm products declined I
Union believed the law violated freedom of speech,
I
after army purchases ended and European I an argument made by Scopes’ lawyel; Clarence
farming revived. Farmers produced more, and I
Darrow. Reporters converged on Dayton, Tennes-
I
prices continued to fall. The annual income of i see, to witness the courtroom battle between tradi-
farmers declined, and they fell further into I
tionalism and modernism. The court convicted
I
debt. I Scopes, but his conviction was later overturned on
I
a technicality.
In 1929, the prosperity of the 1920’s came to a I
I
frightful end. Stock prices climbed to I The battle over Prohibition, finally, symbolized the
unprecedented heights, as investors I divisive spirit of the 1920’s. “Drys”favored Pmhibi-
I
speculated with abandon. The speculative I tion and “Wets” opposed it, The VolsteadActof 1919,
binge, in which people bought and sold stocks I which enforced the Eighteenth Amendment, prohib-
I
for higher and higher prices, was fueled by I ited the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic
easy credit, which allowed purchasers to buy I
I
beverages, but was riddled with loopholes. Organized
stock “on margin.” If the price of the stock I crime entered the liquor business; rival gangs and
I
increased, the purchaser made money; if the I
network of speakeasies threw many cities into vio-
price fell, the purchaser had to find the money I lent chaos. By the end of the 1920’s,Prohibition was
I
elsewhere to pay off the loan. In addition, the I
discredited, and was repealed in 1933.
I
I G E A R K R I E G 1291
I
In 1932, Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt
defeated President Herbert Hoover, winning
57 percent of the popular vote. The Democrats
also took control of both houses of Congress.
Voters gave Roosevelt a mandate for action.
The new president was a progressive who had
been a supporter of Woodrow Wilson. He
believed in active government and
experimentation. He also patronized super-
scientists, whose work he believed could
wrench America out of the Depression. This
I combination of factors changed American life
I
I
forever, creating an environment in which
I government, scientists, and ordinary citizens
The stock market crash of 1929 did not cause I
worked together for the betterment of all.
the Great Depression, but rather signaled its I
I
onset. The crash and the depression sprang I Despite the success of Roosevelt's "New Deal"
from the same cause: the weaknesses of the I
programs, he met with vociferous criticismfrom
I
1920's economy. An unequal distribution of I both sides of the political spectrum,
income meant that working people and farmers I
highlighting the deep divisions within the United
I
lacked money to buy durable goods. Crisis I States. On the right, conservative business
prevailed in the agricultural sector, where I
leaders and politicians assailed the New Deal
I
farmers produced more than they could sell, I as " soc i a Iism . " Li be r a I c r i t ic s be Ii eve d
and prices fell. Easy credit, meanwhile, left a I
Roosevelt had not done enough and endorsed
I
huge debt burden. The Great Depressionwas I stronger measures. The growing American
not limited to the United States, however. It also I
Communist Party urged people to repudiate
I
crossed the Atlantic. The economies of I capitalism and to allow the government to take
European nations collapsed because war I
over the means of production.
I
debts and trade imbalances had already I
weakened them. Most European nations spent I In order to overcome criticism, Roosevelt
I
more on importing goods from the United I
expanded the New Deal in 1935. The
States than they earned by exporting. I keystones were higher taxes on corporations
I
I
and upper incomes, as well as increased
As the Depressiondragged on, unemployment I government regulations over businesses and
I
reached the astonishing level of 25 percent of I utilities. Roosevelt also introduced Social
the American workforce in 1933. With one out I Security, a form of guaranteed income for
I
of four Americans out of work, people stopped I retired citizens. As before, the New Deal met
spending money. Demand for durable goods, I with opposition from both the right and left, but
I
as well as luxuries declined, and production I the American people supported Roosevelt's
faltered. By 1932, the gross national product I measures, leading to his re-election in 1936.
I
declined by almost one-third. By 1933, over I By 1937, the Depression was slowly lifting. The
5,000 banks had failed, and more than 85,000 I gross output of goods and services reached
I
businesses had closed their doors forever. At I 1929 levels.
the same time, the Depression elicited a spirit I
I
of unity and cooperation in many Americans. I
Despite Roosevelt's many successes, the New
Families shared their resources with relatives, I Deal never ended the Great Depression,which
I
and voluntary agencies offered what aid they I
continued until the United States' entry into
could. Invariably, the experience of living I World War II revived the economy. As late as
I
through the depression changed attitudes for I
1940, 15 percent of the labor force was still
life, giving rise to many of the heroes who I unemployed. In the short run, the New Deal
I
would one day face the Axis powers. I
alleviated the misery of the Depression and
1301 G E A R K R I E G
I
profoundly changed the way business was I
In June 1940, the United States started
done in the United States. The federal I supplying Britain with “all aid short of war” to
I
government now became more involved in the I
help the British defend themselves against
economy, moderating the wild swings of the I Germany. Roosevelt then asked Congress for
I
business cycle. Likewise, it stood as a shield I
more funds for national defense. Congress
between the citizen and sudden destitution. I complied and began the first American
I
I
peacetime military draft, the Selective Training
As the Great Depression raged, most I and Service Act, under which more than 16
Americans recoiled from involvement in the I
million men were registered. After the 1940
I
European conflict they saw developing. They I election, Roosevelt suggested the United
favored isolationism or even pacifism. I
States become “the great arsenal of
I
Nevertheless, the Roosevelt administration I democracy.” The following year, he and British
tried to maintain friendly foreign relations. For I
Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced
I
example, Roosevelt recognized the USSR in I the Atlantic Charter, which set forth Allied goals
1933 and set up a “Good Neighbor Policy” with I
for World War It. The two nations pledged to
I
Latin America. No state, the United States said, I respect “the right of all peoples to choose the
had the right to intervene in the affairs of I form of government under which they will live”
I
another. Despite this, Congress passed a I and promised a free world without war “after
group of neutrality acts to keep the United I the final destruction of Nazi tyranny.”
I
States out of Europe’s troubles. I
I In 1941, the conflict worsened. German armies
With the fall of Franceto Nazi forces, Americans I
moved through the Baltic states and into Soviet
I
increasingly doubted the United States could I Russia. Meanwhile, US. relations with Japan
avoid becoming involved. Thus, Roosevelt I
crumbled. On December 7, 1941, Japan
I
revised the neutrality acts. He offered a plan I attacked a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in
known as “cash-and-carry,” which permitted I
Hawaii. The next day it attacked the main
I
Americans to sell munitions to nations able to I American base in the Philippines. In response,
pay for them in cash and able to carry them I
the United States declared war on Japan,
I
away in their own ships. Isolationistsobjected, I though not on Germany. Hitler acted first and
but Congress passed the Neutrality Act of m declared war on the United States. The United
I
1939, which allowed Britain and France to buy I States then committed itself to fighting the Axis
American arms to fight against Hitler. I
powers as an ally of Britain and France.
I
Meanwhile, the war in Europe grew ever more I
desperate for the Allies. By the summer of 1940, I As of late 1941, the United States is a peculiar
I
Britain stood alone against Nazi aggression I
coincidence of opposites - equal parts
and seemed destined to fall before the super- I progressive and conservative, optimism and
I
science of the Third Reich. I
despair. Despite its present circumstances, it
I remains an important player in world affairs,
if only because of the sheer size of its
industrialbase. It is a sleeping giant, a nation
profoundly ambivalent about flexing its
I
As the world’s troubles worsened between 1935 and considerable muscles abroad, yet
I940,many Americans discarded their neutraliv and possessing the potential to influence the
took action to right what they saw as evil and un- world in ways even the British
just. Many opposed fascistforces in the civil war in Pnrnmnnuinalthcannnt It@I iltimatn nlare in
121 FASCINATING !
HISTORY
I
I
Red Army to suppress any dissent. By 1921,
I the Communists had effective control of
I
I
Russia, renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist
I Republics.
I
I
I
The Communists pursued a state-managed
I socialist economy as the first step toward
m
I
attaining communism. The policies known as
I “War Communism” embodied their goals.
I
I
Implemented during the civil war, War
I Communism contributed to widespread strikes
I
I
and uprisings, leaving the economy a
I shambles. Leon Trotsky, head of the Red Army,
I
*Y*
I
and other leaders favored continuing the
I forced progress toward communism. However,
REPUBLICS I
Lenin wanted a different course:
I
“For the burned cities and villages; for the I demobilization of the Red Army, reduction of
I
deaths of our children and our mothers; for the m
the requisitions of grain and produce from the
torture and humiliation of our people; I swear I peasants, and relaxation of controls over
I
revenge upon the enemy.. I swear that I would I
industry and trade. The Russian Communist
rather die in battle with the enemy then I Party thus adopted his “New Economic Policy”
I
surrender myself my people and my country I
(NEP).
I
to the Fascist invaders. Blood for blood! Death I Lenin’s gamble paid off. The NEP stimulated
for death!” I
private initiative and quickly revived the
I
1 3 2 1 G E A R K R I E G
PASCINATING !
HISTORY
El G E A R K R I E G
FASCINATING !
HISTORY 121
Later, Hitler signed an anti-Communist pact Surpri.sing to many opponents ofNazism is that there
with Japan and made an alliance with is support for the basic principles of National So-
Fascist Italy. These agreements led to the cialism and Fascism in otherwise democratic coun-
creation of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis in tries. Most of these groups combine extreme nation-
1940. In 1938, Germany declared an alism with anti-Semitism and opposition to capital-
Anschluss (“union”) with Austria, with little ism. Howevel; not all are sympathetic to Hitler’s
resistance from other powers or from the ultimate aims. In France, for example, the Cross of
Austrians themselves. In Munich later that Fire movement rejected dictatorship as a solution
same year, Britain, France, and Italy signed to France’s pre-war problems. Others, like Rex in
the Munich Pact. This pact permitted Hitler Belgium, are collaborators with the Nazis who now
to occupy the German-populated occupy the Low Countries. Meanwhile, the Union
Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia in of British Fascists, led by Sir Oswald Mosley, has
exchange for his promise that Germany appeared to stir up trouble within the Common-
would make no other territorial demands on wealth. The Union opposes what it sees as the cor-
its neighbors. Unsurprisingly, Hitler used the rupt government of Britain and hopes to replace with
Pact to lend legitimacy to his aggression a fascist one dedicated to upholding British sover-
before acting on his designs for conquest eignty against all comers. William Dudley Pelley ’s
elsewhere. The Munich Pact is now Silver Shirts performed much the same role in the
remembered as a testimony to the folly of United States.
appeasement in the face of a regime as evil
as that of the Nazis. More frightening are covert sympathizers, individu-
als of wealth and influence, whose afiliation with
In 1939, Hitler revealed this folly when the cause of Hitler is unknown and unsuspected by
Germany occupied the rest of their countrymen. These dastardly souls work be-
Czechoslovakia. In August, he reversed his hind the scenes to undermine the war efforts of their
long-standing anti-Communist policies by own nations. Outwardly, they may support the goals
making a non-aggression pact with the USSR. of the Allies, but secretly, they consort with Nazi
Unbeknownstto the world, the pact included agents. In most cases, Hitler has promised thempref-
a secret arrangement whereby Hitler agreed erential treatment once the Third Reich reigns su-
to divide Poland between Germany and the preme, a veritable deal with the Devil that more
Soviet Union. With the Soviets out of the way, people have accepted than the Allies would care to
Hitler escalated his rhetoric, demanding believe.
control of Danzig. These demands led to a
pact between Poland, Britain, and France that
I 38 1 G E A R K R I E G
In 1940, Germany continued its conquests by
occupying Denmark, Norway and the Low
:
I
States. The shogunate reluctantly complied in government. During the 1880s, the
1854, opening up the country to American - I government made several steps in this
I
and Western - influence. The nation would I direction. It created a new nobility of five ranks,
never be the same again. I established a cabinet system modeled on that
Modern Age.
The Meiji leaders succeeded in convincing the
Western powers to renegotiate unequal
:
I
rule through terrorism. Extreme nationalists,
seeking to preserve traditional Japanese
treaties, returning full diplomatic equality to
Japan. They further sought to buttress their
:
I
values, arose in many cities. Junior military
officers shared these radical views. To achieve
new international position by building a
colonial empire. They had mixed motives: first,
: their aims, they plotted to assassinate leading
business and political figures. In May 1932,
they wanted to improve Japan’s national
security by building a defensive buffer of
:
I
constitutional government ended when a
terrorist group assassinatedthe prime minister,
colonial territories. Second, only “civilized”
countries, such as Britain and France,
:
I
ushering in the present rule by the military and
nationalists.
possessed colonial empires, so the acquisition
of colonies was an indication of international
:
prestige. Finally, many Japanese felt they had
a mission to spread modernizationamong their ,
Asian neighbors.
The Japanese proved their status as a true rn meddling, the Imperial Army constantly saw fit to
power first by defeating China over access to dabble in the affairs of its Pacijic neighbors, espe-
Korea and then by defeating Russia at the turn I cially China, at that time wracked with civil unrest
of the century. Possessions such as Taiwan
and Sakhalin fell into Japanese hands,
:
I
and chaos. In many cases, the Imperial Army’s war-
lords dictated Imperial policy without approvalfrom
expanding their influence beyond the home
islands. This culminated with the annexation
:
I
Tokyo. When the economic crisis of the mid-nos
occured, the military and nationalists saw their
of Korea in 1910. The Japanese colonial
government acted harshly toward the native
:
I
chance. Before long the Army and its power-mad
generals was the de facto government of Japan.
Koreans, denying them many rights and
privileges. At the same time, the Japanese
:
I
1 4 2 1 G E A R K R I E G
move, the Japanese offered to negotiate with
the Americans. However, the talks broke down
:
I
Pacific.
I G E A R K R I E G 1431
fanned the flames of such ambitions. The thirst
.
I
U I I U ““I ,”I I,, u I,””” UUI I \
I
expansion of Nazi Germany pui I
joined by members of the Communist Party.
s on France. This led to a national I The demonstration threatened to overthrow the
I
ODsession with security and the development I
Third Republic, although its goal was only to
of more powerful defensive weapons. As a I force a change of cabinet. During the
I
further assurance, France convinced both I
demonstration, seventeen people were killed
Britain and the United States to aid the country I and thousands were wounded. The cabinet
I
in the event of an attack by Germany. I
was changed, but the new government offered
I no effective cure for the Great Depression.
The major domestic political concerns of the I
I
1920’s were fiscal. Although the economy I
The failure of the Third Republic to deal
expanded in the mid-l920’s, state finances I effectively with the Depression was
I
remained shaky. Accumulated war debt and I
accompanied by the collapse of its foreign and
deficit spending caused the franc to decline; it I military policy. As the threat of Hitler’sGermany
I
was only one-tenth of its prewar value by 1926. I
became more and more acute, France could
In that year, a centrist government under I not create a coherent foreign policy. The
I
Raymond Poincare restored the franc by raising I
majority of the French people wanted to avoid
taxes and cutting spending. These measures I war at almost all costs, and British pressure
I
increased confidence in the economy, and capital I
inclined France toward a policy of
investment grew. By 1929 manufacturing and I appeasement. In 1936, for example, France
I
trade had climbed to roughly 50 percent above I
merely protested Hitler’s remilitarization of the
prewar levels. In the agricultural sector, efficiency I Rhineland, despite the fact that it violated
I
improved, but the sector was still much less I
several treaties. Likewise, France did nothing
prosperous than manufacturing and trade. I while Hitler annexed the Sudetenland and
I
I
Austria. Even the invasion of Prague drew no
The coming of the Great Depression changed I official response.
fiscal concerns into economic ones. France I
I
escapedthe Depression until late 1931-months I
Only after Germany invaded Poland did France
after it had begun elsewhere. When it did reach m and Britain reluctantly declare war. Even then,
I
France, however, it lasted longer.The response of I
France took little offensive action beyond
the French government only aggravated the I participating in a naval blockade of Germany,
I
problem: having fought so hard to support the I
still hoping that something might be worked out.
franc in the 1920s,the Frenchgovernment resisted I This indecision on the part of the French
I
devaluation, but the franc declined anyway. To I
government encouraged Hitler to make move
protect home markets, the French government I against the country. In May 1940,the Wehrmacht
I
raised trade barriers, thereby worsening the I launched an attack against France,
prospects for a general European recovery. I simultaneously penetrating the Ardennes forest
I
I (thanks in large part to Panzerkampfers),thereby
The center-right governments of the early I bypassing the Tesla-defended Maginot Line.
I
1930’s failed to stop the economic slide, and I Within six weeks, France was an occupied
in 1932 they gave way to governments run by I nation, leaving Britain to stand alone against
I
the Radicals and supported by the Socialists. I Nazi tyranny.
Paralysis in the center-left encouraged the I
I
growth of right-wing organizations and political I
The French government asked Germany for
parties. These ranged from blatant imitations I an armistice, after which aging Marshal Henri
I
of foreign fascist movements, such as Jacques I
Petain became Premier. The armistice dictated
Doriot’s French Popular Party, to more tradition- I that French armed forces be demobilized. The
I
minded groups, such as “Cross of Fire.” Both I
southern third of France would continue to be
had memberships in the hundreds of I governed by the French, but the northern two-
I
thousands and exercised significant clout in I
thirds would be occupied and administered
some areas of French life. In 1934, the right I by the Germans with funds provided by French
I
staged a massive demonstration in Paris, I
taxpayers.
G E A R K R I E G 1451
I
Petain then spoke to the French people and I
Many French people initially supported Petain’s
called upon them to lay down their arms and I regime, but a resistance movement to both it
I
accept the armistice. Still in shock over the I
a n d its German patrons began almost
quickness of their defeat, the majority of the I immediately. Charles d e Gaulle, a career
I
French people accepted his advice and m
general who strongly opposed French military
offered no resistance to the Nazi occupiers. I strategy in the 1930’s, escaped to London in
I
1940. There, he established a Free French
I
In the south, a new French government was I government-in-exile, I nit ial Iy, de Gaulle
formed. based at Vichy. The collaborationist I
received little support for his movement, but
I
government’s constitution vested nearly all I the eventual support of Winston Churchill
authority in Petain.The new regime stated its goal I
rallied expatriate Frenchmen behind the
I
was to regenerate a decadent France by rooting I general.
the nation in its traditions of religion, family and I
I
the land. The squabbling and corruption of I
Battered, bruised, and beaten, France seems
parliamentarydemocracy was to give way to the I to have suffered a humiliation unlike any other
I
authoritarianefficiency of one-man rule. Now,the I
nation in Europe. While Hitler gloats over his
leaders of the Vichy regime actively cooperate in I victory and collaborationists support his
I
building the Nazi-dominated European empire. I
diabolical schemes, hope remains. De Gaulle
Indeed, many do even more than Germany I and the Resistance have struck several small
I
expects or demands of them - to the eternal I
blows against the Third Reich.
shame of France’s highest ideals. I
r 461 G E A R K R I E G
I
Support from Britain has increased the chance I
T
T
that future efforts will prove more substantial. I
Indeed, with the entry of the United States into I “Let us return to the glory that was Rome.”
I
the war, there is talk of a huge Allied operation I
I - Benito Mussolini
to liberate France and restore it to its rightful i
place as an Ally. Such an undertaking would I
Italy was torn by social and political strife in
I
surely be monumental in terms of both lives I the aftermath of World War I. Armed bands with
and materiel. Yet, the liberation of France is I
a strong nationalist bias, known as the Fascisti,
I
one of the keys to Hitler’s downfall - a goal I fought Socialist and Communist groups in
for which the Allies are willing to give their all. I
Rome and other large cities. The collapse of
I
I the country’s post-war coalition government
led to rampant uncertainty. Many
landowners feared the peasants would seize
their estates, while the middle class and the
The French government offered to fund Nikola
industrialists feared Italy would become a
Tesla’s research on his concept for a defensive
Soviet-style republic.
“Beam Weapon”capable of destroying any conven-
tional attacker; Tesla could not ignore the challenge. In 1922, Fascist leader Benito Mussolini
Dubbed “DeathRays” by the world press at their demanded the government be entrusted to
unveiling in I935. the “Electrically Accelerated his party. He threatened to seize power by
Energy Cannon” (or simply EAEC) seemed to be force if his conditions were refused. When
an absolute guarantee of French national securiv. the government resigned, Italy’s king, Victor
Coupled with the vast static defenses of the newly Emmanuel, called upon the Fascists to form
completed Maginot line (named after the Defense a new one. Although given extraordinary
Minister who began the project) along France’s powers by the parliament, Mussolini initially
Germanfrontier; the French government was com- governed constitutionally. He headed a
placently certain that Tesla’s superweapon would coalition government that included Liberals,
render the Republic safe from any attackel: Nationalists and Catholics as well as
Fascists. When violence marred the 1924
The Wehrmacht Generals knew that a conventional elections, Mussolini suspended
assault on the Maginot line would be suicide. The huge constitutional government. He proceeded
“DeathRay” cannon of the inventor Tesla would de- by stages to establish a dictatorship, first
stroy Kampfers and Panzers alike and roast infantry- by forbidding the parliament to initiate
men. Aerial bombardment was not an option, as the legislation. Then, he made himself
Luftwafe did not yet have bombers large enough to responsible to the king alone, ordering
carry the weight of any bomb big enough to pierce the parliament to authorize him to issue decrees
concrete and steel casements. The wily Germans even- having the force of law. Finally, he censored
tually simply went around the line, and later blew up the press and suppressed all political
most of it with remote-controlled robots. parties but the Fascists.
I
The Italian press greeted the appointment of I
spread throughout the population. With
Adolf Hitler as chancellor of Germany I German help, the Balkan campaign resulted
I
cautiously. Hitler in turn expressed support for I
in Italian victories. The debacle of the Greek
Italian fascism. When Italy invaded Ethiopia in I invasion was reversed and Italy acquired
I
1935, it drew the ire of the world, including a I
several new territories.
formal censure from the League of Nations. I
Bereft of friends, Mussolini turned to Hitler, who I Unfortunately for the Fascists, many Italians
I
suggested the creation of the so-called Rome- I recognized that their territorial gains were
Berlin Axis in 1936. This alliance was expanded I largely illusory, because the Germans actually
I
in 1939 into a mutual defense treaty and again I controlled these areas. In addition, Italy was
in 1940 to include the Empire of Japan. I forced to pay an increasingly high price for
I
I
Hitler’s military assistance. Italian foodstuffs
By 1937, Germany and Italy were cooperating I and other commodities ran low as large
I
on a variety of fronts. Italy supported Germany’s I
shipments were sent to the Third Reich in
annexation of Austria in 1938. Meanwhile, the I return for German coal and oil. Italy declared
I
increasing influence of Nazi racist doctrines on I
war on the USSR in June of 1941, and Italian
Fascist Italy found expression in a series of I forces were sent to the eastern front. At the
I
measures designed to curb the activities of I
same time, relations between the United
Italian Jews. Mussolini also supported the I States and Italy approached a showdown. The
I
dismemberment of Czechoslovakia,while Hitler I
United States froze Italian assets on American
supported Italy’s absorption of Albania. I soil, an act that Mussolini quickly reciprocated.
I
I
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Italy
The beginning of World War II caught Italy by I joined Germany in declaring war on the United
surprise. At first, Mussolini did not pledge to I
States, a decision that Mussolini may soon
I
support Germany, believing his nation was not I come to regret.
ready for war. However, German successes I
I
during the first year of the war led Mussolini
to change his mind. Italy thus entered the
war in the summer of 1940 when Italian
I
forces in East Africa occupied British When Greut Britain declared war on Germany,
Somaliland. In the fall of the same year, Mussolini began to regard British possessions in
Italian forces in Albania invaded Greece to North Africa with a predatory interest. It was not
divert the British from Egypt and to secure until after the Fall of France in 1940, howevel; that
bases on the Greek peninsula. The invasion I1 Duce felt it was time to move on North Africa. I1
failed miserably as the Greeks put up a Duce was convinced that since Great Britain now
remarkable resistance, driving the Italians stood alone against the might of the Axis, Italy would
not only from Greece but also Albania. This be able to take the next step towards reconstituting
humiliating defeat led Mussolini to seek more the Glory of Rome, and re-establish the old Roman
direct support from Hitler, which was province to the south.
granted. However, German support came
His forces made great initial gains in the Sudan,
with strings attached. The Nazis took a more
Kenya and British Somaliland. These successes were
active interest in Italian affairs, leading to its
due in large part to the total lack of any opposition
eventual reduction to a mere puppet state
by British forces. Buoyed by these early gains,
under Mussolini. Consequently, the Italian
Mussolini ordered the invasion of Egypt on Septem-
people soon lost faith in the Fascists,
ber 13th, I940.As they drove along the coastal high-
throwing the country into a virtual civil war,
way Mussolini’s legionspassed under the huge white
a fact exploited by adventurers in Europe.
marble arch he had constructed to commemorate
In 1941, Italy suffered military and naval his previous triumphs.
disasters as well as economic privation from
an Allied blockade. Anti-Fascist sentiment I
1 4 8 1 G E A R K R I E G
SCINATING HISTORY
! I 2 1
I
I
women gained the right to vote, Catalonia was
I granted autonomy, and the principle of home
Spain remained neutral during World War I and I
rule was extended to the Basque provinces.
I
experienced an economic boom as a result. I Major social reforms were instituted and
Industries, mines, and farms sold I
taxation became more equitable. Education
I
unprecedented quantities of their products I was secularized, the Jesuit order dissolved,
abroad. At the same time, inflation arose and I
and all church-state ties ended. Many of these
I
workers increased their demands for better I measures were controversial,however, leading
wages and working conditions. Army I
to opposition to the ruling coalition.
I
personnel, upset over inadequate earnings I
and other grievances, formed military juntas I In the elections of November 1933, right-wing
I
to press their demands on the state. In I
parties won a majority and overturned
Catalonia, regionalists agitated for home rule. I numerous progressivepolicies instituted by the
I
The crisis was exacerbated by a struggle for I
previous government. Leftist forces reacted
independence in Spanish Morocco. The I strongly against these changes. The tension
I
Moroccan war became particularly unpopular I
exploded in 1934, when a Socialist-led
when the rebels badly defeated Spanish forces I workers’ insurrection swept Asturias and
I
at Anual in 1921. I
Catalonia proclaimed its independence. After
I two weeks of savage fighting, the revolt was
In 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera led a I
crushed. Despite this victory, the right-wing
I
military coup. Rather than resist, King Alfonso I government collapsed in 1935. After new
Xlll accepted the coup and made Primo de I
elections in 1936, the left-wing Popular Front
m
Rivera head of government. The parliament I took control. The Front was less moderate
was dissolved, and a military dictatorship I
because the party included radical Socialists,
I
assumed power. Political parties were banned I as well as Communists. Tensions mounted as
and Catalonia lost its limited home-rule I
street battles between rival groups spread,
I
privileges. Primo de Rivera insisted his I peasants seized land, and strikes swept Spain.
dictatorship was only a temporary measure. I
A conspiracy to overthrowthe government took
I
One notable achievement was the conclusion I shape under General Emilio Mola. When the
of the costly Moroccanwar in 1926. Opposition I
revolt against the government began, it was
I
to his administration increased in 1928 and I easily defeated in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia,
1929, in part because of extravagant fiscal I
and several other cities. However, the country
I
policies. King Alfonso accepted Primo de I broke down into a Nationalist zone in the
Rivera’s resignation in January 1930, but the I
agricultural areas, and a Republican zone
I
crown had become irrevocably weakened. I encompassing most industrial areas. This was
Even conservative politicians believed the king I
the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
I
had betrayed Spain by supporting military rule. I
The socialists and Catalan nationalists began m The Nationalists made good advances and
I
to cooperate with supporters of a Spanish I displayed great unity under a strong leader in
Republic, as did numerous former monarchists I General Francisco Franco. The Republicans
I
and army officers. Efforts to overthrow the I were more divided, as their numbers included
monarchy by force failed in 1930, but I moderates, radicals and Communists, as well
I
municipal elections in 1931 gave such I as Catalan and Basque separatists. Their
overwhelming majorities to Republican I faction was shaky from the start, but they
I
candidates in urban areas that King Alfonso I fought tenaciously. Failing to capture Madrid,
.. . ^ . _.___
L I _ I . _ . _ l _ L Z I _ _ . .. _
- _ 1 _ _ _ 1
121 FASCINATING !
HISTORY
I
and split their enemies into two zones. After I
the Munich Pact, the Republicans could no I
longer hope for British or French intervention I When World War I ended, the future of Eastern
I
on their behalf. I Europe stood at the center of the armistice
I negotiations. After all, it had been the ethnic
I
In May 1939, Madrid fell and the Republicans I and social tensions of the Balkans that had
were defeated. Hundreds of thousands were I set the war into motion in the first place. Now,
I
imprisoned, and tens of thousands were I
the triumphant Allies needed to ensure that
executed. Most of the Republican legislation I such a fate never again befell Europe. In
I
favoring workers and peasants was I
addition, the fear of Soviet Russia and the
immediately revoked. Spain is now ruled by a I spread of Communism made it necessary that
I
coalition of the army, conservative churchmen, I
the future shape of Eastern Europe b e
and the Falange, or Spanish Fascist party. I constructed to protect the world against this
I
I
growing menace. Unfortunately, many of the
The army and the Falange often clash, as the I solutions adopted by the Allies created new
party hopes to involve Spain in the European I
and equally intractable problems, ones that
I
conflict on the side of the Axis. However, I seem likely to bring about further tragedies in
Franco has thus far resisted Hitler’s attempts I
the future.
I
to induce Spain to join the Axis. The price for I
his doing so was the creation of an anti- I President Wilson’s calls for “national self-
I
Communist force to be deployed against the I
determination” in Eastern Europe led the Allies
Soviet Union, known as the “Blue Division.” I to redress age-old injustices, particularly with
I
Hitler intends to use these Spanish soldiers I
regard to nations ruled by outsiders. The yoke
as he pushes deeper into the USSR in his final I of Austria-Hungary was lifted from many
I
drive for victory. I
nations, only to be replaced by new and
I similarly onerous ones. Poland gained
I
I
independence, but, in doing so, absorbed
I regions inhabited by ethnic Germans -a fact
I
used by Hitler as an excuse for his invasion in
The Republicans fought with great tenacity, aided I
I 1939. Likewise, vaguely similar cultures were
in part by idealists from around the world. Fascist I
melded together into single states, often with
Italy and Nazi Germany sent troops, arms, airplanes I
I disastrous results. Czechoslovakia and
and war walkers to aid the Nationalists. Indeed, I
Yugoslavia are the two most prominent
Spain became a test bed for the latest inventions of I
I examples of this process in action - both of
German superscience - a convenient way to pre- I
them unmitigated disasters from a diplomatic
pare for war without seeming to do so. Some of the I
I perspective.
wreckagefrom those tests has yet to be cleared away I
I
and still rot in the Spanish countryside. Meanwhile, Since the beginning of the Second World War,
I
the USSR supplied military equipment and advisors I Eastern Europe has suffered even more. Hitler
I
to the Republicans, choosing sides as quickly as their I and Stalin agreed to divide Poland between
German counterparts. Both Britain and France re- I them, while the USSR alone claimed the Baltic
w n i n o J n o r g t v n l i n tho m n f l i r t
I
The Spanish Civil War saw the first deployment of Czechoslovakia, just as Italy absorbed
I
truly modem war vehicles. The Germans introduced I Albania. As the war drags on, it has become
I
their new walkers here for their combat debut, al- I
clear that Eastern Europe will become one of
though the primitive level of the technology meant I the key battlegrounds of the war. Germany and
I
that the slow, lumbering Frankenstein’s creations I
the Soviet Union clash here, sending millions
had little impact on the turn of battle. The informa- I of men and thousands of pieces of armor
I
tion gathered would prove immensely useful for de- I
across its territory. The economic devastation
veloping more combat-worthy machines, howevel: I and human displacement is catastrophic. More
I
I
than ever, Eastern Europe is in need of heroes.
I
8
m
Although Europe remains the center of action I
I
for so many world events in the Modern Age, 8
its pride of place may not continue for long. I
I
The Western Hemisphere in general - and 8
North America in particular -usurps more and 8
I
more power and influence from the Old World I
of Europe with each passing year. Although I
I
most well known as the location of the United I
States, North America is home to two other I
I
nations of great import: Canada and Mexico. I
I
While neither possesses the military or I
I
economic strength of the United States, both I
less and less influence on Canadian affairs,
are founts of untapped resources. For that I replaced by the growing power of the United
I
reason, these two nations could play significant 8
States of America.
roles in the unfolding global conflict. This fact 8
G E A R K R I E G 1511
121 FASCINATING
HISTORY
!
I
who were still working faced uncertain I
he decide to introduce the draft, he is certain
prospects and deep wage cuts, though the I to meet resistance, especially in Quebec.
I
cost of living fell even faster. I
Nevertheless, the ultimate defeat of Fascism
I will require the utmost commitment from every
After years of government inaction, a Liberal I
Ally, and Canada is no different. Moreover,
I
government under William Lyon Mackenzie King I rumors persist that Hitler’s super-scientists
took off ice in 1935. King pledged to redress the I
have begun the construction of long-range
I
problems of the Great Depression, but was I bombers and rockets capable of reaching
stymied by the Supreme Court. The court ruled I North America. If true, Canada may soon find
I
that the national government had the power to I itself at the forefront of the continent’s defense
raise revenue, but that only the provinces had I
against tyranny.
I
the authority to intervene in the economy or I
launch social programs. Thus, Canadians
suffered while the Prime Minister sought other
means to deal with the Depression. In 1937,
King appointed a commission of inquiry, Despite conrtant patrols and the vigilance of the
which recommended shifts in federal and Canadian army and navy, some German U-Boats
provincial powers to address the problem. have managed to sneak below the radal; making
Both Quebec and Ontario,whose leaders saw their silent way up the St. Lawrence river from the
this as a power grab on the part of the federal depths of the Atlantic ocean. The very rumor of their
government, opposed the recommendations. presence is enough to send the populace into a
frenzy, the threat of Axis attacks on the supposed
Canada’s economy did not begin to improve security of Canada causing constantfear and anxi-
until 1939.As a member of the Commonwealth, ety among the usually casual and laid-back people
Canada entered the war grudgingly but with a of Quibec.
widespread sense that it could not be avoided.
King’s government insisted that Canada Their fears may be well-founded, as the St.
control its own war effort; he at first hoped that Lawrence itself grants access to the interior of the
the training of aircrews and the production of North American continent and the wealth of manu-
arms might be Canada’s main contributions. facturing plants and raw materials that Canada and 1
Consequently, King promised that there would the United States have been dedicating to the war
be no conscription for overseas service, effort. Even ifafull-scale attack is not in the works,
though a Canadian all-volunteer army went to evidence has begun to turn up which indicates the
Britain. As the threat of the Axis grew, the presence ofAxis agents, deposited on Canadian soil
population slowly warmed to the prospect of by the Nazi subs. Sent to disrupt production at the
a more direct involvement in the war. The Montreal tank factories, one agent was captured in
Canadian navy joined in defending Atlantic a daring action by the Canadian army and taken
convoys against U-boatsattack, and Canadian for intensive questioning.
aircrews defended Britain and joined in a As i f the disruption of the Canadian war effort
bomber offensive against Axis-occupied weren’t bad enough, recent data suggests that the
Europe. Meanwhile, Canada reached several U-Boats have been turning towards the American
agreements with the United States pertaining shore of the St. Lawrence, making their way towards
to the defense of the NorthAmerican continent. secret docks on the south shores of the rivel: Whether
These agreements marked the beginning of they are unloading men or taking them on, the fact
Canada’s closer relationship with the U.S. that the Axis seemingly have such easy access to
As the war in Europe rages on, Canada Allied turf is disturbing, to say the least.
plays an increasingly important role in it. 4 I
I
Indeed, demand for troops has increased
to such an extent that King has begun to
question his opposition to conscription. Should
1521 G E A R K R I E G
’ while Venustiano Carranza thought primarily
I in terms of political reforms. However,
Mexico began the twentieth century in the grip Carranza’s general, Alvaro Obregon, drove
:
I
of a dictatorship under Porfirio Djaz. Aware Of Villa and Zapata out of Mexico City, and his
the growing discontent against him, Djaz : forces eventually dominated the country.
announced in 1908 that he would WekOme an I Carranza then became provisional president
opposition candidate in the 1910 election. The in 1914,
:
I
.
I
Emiliano Zapata soon understood that Madero nation’s shattered economy, and make the
had no interest in revolutionary change. When social reforms necessary to establish class
Madero adopted tepid policies, Zapata revolted I
cooperation. He instituted some land reforms
and issued his Plan of Ayala in November 1911.
The proclamation called for the immediate
:
I
and established rural schools, but he also used
bribes, concessions, or force to gather
transfer of land to peasant farmers and insisted support.
on the right of Mexican citizens to choose their : In 1928, Plutarco Calles established an official
own leaders. In the north, Madero’s former
followers, under rebel leader Francisco “Pancho” :
I
party, National Revolutionary Party. In 1934,
Calles selected Lazaro Cardenas as the PNR
Villa, felt betrayed and also took up arms against I
Madero. I candidate a n d he was elected easily.
I
I Cardenas turned out to b e much more
Many feared that Madero could not control the independent than the puppet presidents who
:
I
increasingly chaotic situation. Anti-Madero had preceded him, which surprised and
conspiracies and an attempted coup further angered Calles.
:
I
and became provisional president in February the role of the army in Mexican politics, and
1913. Four days after assuming power, Huerta I emphasized land reforms, social welfare, and
had Madero murdered. Huerta attempted to
make peace with Zapata, but Zapata did not trust
:
I
education. When Calles opposed these
reforms, he was sent into exile. Cardenas
I
him and the fighting continued. I
quickly established a reputation as a
revolutionary reformer. By the end of his term,
Under pressure from the United States, Huerta :
m
one-third of the country’s population had
resigned, but this onlyfurther split the rebels into , received land, usually as a member of a
factions. Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata communal farm. Workers became a major
pressed for social change and land reforms, I
I
G E A R K R I E G 1531
vvaa acicbicu tu a i i c i i y i i ICI I 11 IC CLUI IUI I iy aa I .----- '-.,-.."'J ,,-.,, .,.- J ' V . . " ' J yu"'" V I " U S ,
1541 G E A R K R I E G
FASCINATING !
HISTORY 1 9 1
8
I
8
If any continent holds an almost unlimited 8
8
potential for adventure - and danger - it is I
Asia. With its ancient cultures and 8
8
sophisticated societies, it remains an enigma 8
to many Europeans and North Americans. Its 8
8
vast expanse and diversity makes it difficult 8
for outsiders to comprehend, but attempting I
8
to do so will inevitably bring benefits to those 8
who succeed. Unfortunately for the world, the 8
8
fascist nations of Germany and Japan possess 8
increasing influence on this continent, whose 8
8
people and resources may well play a vital role 8
in the future. I
with revolutionary Chinese students studying
8 in Japan to form the T’ung-meng Hui, or
8
The diversity of this vast continent can be seen 8
“Revolutionary Alliance,” which sponsored
in its nations that play an important role on the I numerous attempts at uprisings in China.
8
Second World War. China bears the brunt of 8
Japanese aggression in the region, much as 8 In 1911, one of the alliance’s plots finally
does Indochina. India is a prominent outpost I triggered the collapse of China’s imperial
I
of the British Commonwealth, a base from m system. A bomb accidentally exploded in the
which Britain and her allies can launch their 8 group’s headquarters in Wu-ch’ang, and
8
attacks against Japan. India also represents 8 Ch’ing army officers mutinied, fearful their
a vast source of people and materiel, making 8 connections to the revolutionaries would be
8
it a target for Axis spies and saboteurs. Iran 8 exposed. Provincial military forces began
and the Middle East are important crossroads. 8 declaring their independence, and by the end
8
Nominally allies with Britain, their leaders 8 of 1911 most of the provinces in South and
recognize the strength of the Axis and seek I Central China had joined the rebellion. In
I
advantage by courting the Fascists. Like the 8 December, the delegates chose Sun Yat-sen
rest of Asia, they are lands rich in intrigue and 8 as provisional president of a republican
8
excitement, making them perfect locales for 8 government. The imperial government turned
heroic adventures. 8 to their top general, Yuan Shih-k’ai, but Yuan
8
8 ultimately negotiated with the rebel leadership
8 for a position as president of a new republican
I
8 government in exchange for getting the Ch’ing
I emperor to abdicate. The revolutionaries
“Ours is a war of survival and independence. 8
8 consented because Yuan was widely viewed
We will never submit... we will resist to the very 8 as the only figure powerful enough to ward off
end. ” 8
I foreign aggression. In 1912, a revolutionary
- Chiang Kai-Shek
8 assembly in Nanking elected Yuan first
8
8 president of the Republic of China, and China’s
At the turn of the century, the Ch’ing dynasty 8 long history of monarchy came to an end.
8
made plans to establish limited constitutional 8
8 Unfortunatelv. China was a remblic in name
121 FASCINATING !
HISTORY
I
power by parliamentary tactics. Yuan then I
success of the Communists in the Russian
dismissed the parliament, outlawed the KMT I Revolution of 1917. In 1921 the Chinese
I
and ruled by decree. In 1915, Japan presented I
Communist Party was organized in Shanghai.
China with the “Twenty-one Demands,” the I
terms of which would have reduced China to I During the warlord period after the death of
I
a Japanese protectorate. Yuan Shih-k’ai’s I
Yuan Shih-k’ai, most Western powers dealt with
government yielded to a modified version of I whichever warlord had control of Peking and
I
the demands, agreeing, among other I
ignored the revolutionaries. By contrast, the
concessions, to the transfer of German I Union of Soviet Socialist offered to help the
I
holdings in Shantung province to Japan. I Chinese revolutionaries. Believing the KMT
I had the best chance of succeeding, the USSR
I
After Yuan died in 1916, the central I
instructed Chinese Communists members to
government in Peking lost most of its power, I join the KMT. In 1923, Sun agreed to accept
I
and power devolved to cliques of warlords. In I
Soviet advice in reorganizing the crumbling
1917, China entered World War I on the side I KMT party and army and to admit Communists
m
of the Allies in order to gain a seat at the peace I
as part of a united-front policy.
table, hoping for a new chance to halt I
Japanese ambitions. China expected the I Despite Sun’s death in 1925, the rejuvenated
I
United States, with its commitment to the self- I
KMT launched the Northern Expeditionin 1926
determination of all peoples, would offer its I from its base in Canton. The expedition, an
I
support. As part of the negotiation process at I
attempt to rid China of warlords and reunify
the post-war peace conference, however, U.S. I the country under KMT rule, was led by the
S
president Woodrow Wilson withdrew his I
I young general Chiang Kai-shek,who had been
support for China on the Shantung issue. The I trained in Japan and Moscow. Chinese
indignant Chinese delegation refused to sign I
I Communists aided the advance of Chiang Kai-
the Treaty of Versailles. I shek’s army by organizing peasants and
I
Young people in China who looked to the West I workers along the way. However, the alliance
for political ideals were crushed. When news I between the two groups was fragile because
I
of the peace conference reached China, more I the KMT drew its strength from wealthy
than 3,000 students from Peking universities I intellectuals and landowners, while the
I
assembled in the city to protest. The governor I Communists advocated redistribution of
suppressed the demonstrators and arrested I wealth. In 1927, as the KMT army approached
I
the student leaders, but these actions set off I Shanghai, Chiang ordered members of the
a wave of protests around the country in I Green Gang, a Shanghai underworld gang, to
I
support of the Peking students and their cause. I kill labor union members and Communists,
I whom he feared were becoming too powerful.
I
After Yuan outlawed the KMT in 1913, Sun Yat- I The alliance ended, and the KMT began a
sen worked to build the revolutionary I bloody purge of the Communists.
I
movement, eventually establishinga KMT base I
in Canton. Sun’s ideas became more anti- I From 1927 on, the KMT under Chiang ruled
I
imperialistduring this period. In speeches and I
from Nanking in southern China. Chiang’s
writings he stressed that China could not be I foremost goal was to build a strong modern
I
strong until it rid itself of imperialist intrusions I
state and army. He employed many Western-
and was reconstituted as the nation of the I educated officials in his government, and
I
Chinese people. Other forms of revolution also I
progress was achieved in modernizing the
attracted adherents. Marxism gained a I banking, currency, and taxation systems, as
I
following among urban intellectuals and I
well as transportation and communication.
factory workers in China, particularly after the I However, China remained fragmented. While
I
I
I
I
I 56 I G E A R K R I E G
a small, westernized elite and an industrial
force developed in the cities, the vast majority
:
I
as the Long March. For a year, they steadily
retreated, fighting almost continuously against
of people were poor peasants in the
countryside. Chiang’s highest priority was not
:
I
KMTforcesand suffering enormouscasualties.
This triumph of will in the face of incredible
improving the lives of peasants but gaining full
military control of the country. Many regions
:
I
obstacles became a moral victory for the
Communists. For the next decade the CCP
remained under warlord control. Likewise, the
Communists controlled some areas and the
:
I
made its base at Yen-an, a city in central
Shensi province.
Japanese were encroaching in Manchuria. :- -, ,
. . .,.
Hltnougn tne KM I had torced the Communists
~
I
The Chinese Communists had gone m to flee, they still faced a major threat from
I
underground after they were purged in 1927 I
Japan. In 1922, Japan had agreed to return
and had organized areas of Communist I the former German holdings in Shantung to
I
control. The most successful group settled in I
China, but it continued to expand its
the countryside near the border between I dominance in Manchuria. In 1931, the
I
Kiangsi and Fukien provinces in an area they I
Japanese retaliated for an alleged instance of
called the Kiangsi Soviet. From there, the group I Chinese sabotage by extending military control
I
mobilized peasant support and formed a I
over all of Manchuria. Chiang Kai-shek knew
peasant army. One of the top leaders of the I his armies were no match for Japan’s and
I
Kiangsi Soviet was Mao Tse-tung. This army I
ordered the KMT to withdraw without fighting.
fought against both the Japanese and the KMT. I In 1932, Japan established the puppet state
I
I
of Manchukuo in Manchuria and made Pu Yi,
Meanwhile, Chiang’s army undertook four I the last emperor of the Ch’ing dynasty, its head
campaigns against the Kiangsi Soviet, all of I
of state.
I
which failed. In the fifth campaign in October I
1934, the KMT encircled the Soviet. Eighty I As Japanese aggression increased, popular
I
thousand Communists broke out of the KMT I
pressure mounted within China to end internal
encirclement and started what became known I fighting and fight against Japan. However,
I
Chiang resisted allying with the Communists
until late 1936, when he was kidnapped by
one of his own generals seeking to seize
control of the KMT. During his captivity at
Thefall of the Peking government left a vacuum in Sian, Communist leaders visited Chiang,
China, one quicklyfilled by ambitious Warlordswho urging the adoption of a united front against
gathered groups of bandits around themselves in Japan.
order to take areas of the countryside by force. Of-
ten highly charismatic - but always strong enough After his release, Chiang moderated his anti-
to back up that charisma - the warlords carved Communist stance, and in 1937 the KMT
chunks of land for themselves through the powers and CCP once again formed a united front
of intimidation, feal; extortion and violence. Bend- -this time to oppose Japan. This alliance
ing the peasantry to their will, the bandit hordes came not a moment too soon, as the
were a fearsome sight, tearing across the landscape Japanese tried to extend their territory in
on horseback, or packed into stolen jeeps. Conflicts China. Chiang resisted, and Japan
between the groups were fearsome, and woe betide launched a full-scale war against China.
any m a n or group who got caught between two war- Chiang’s forces abandoned Peking and
lords in the middle of a feud! Tientsin, but his troops held out for three
months in Shanghai before retreating to the
I capital of Nanking. When the Japanese
I
I
eventually captured Nanking, their soldiers
I went on a rampage for seven weeks,
I
I
massacring more than 100,000 civilians and
G E A R K R I E G 1571
fugitive soldiers, raping at least 20,000
women and laying the city to waste.
By late 1938, Japan had seized control of Sturting from mid-1941, American advisors and aid
most of northeast China, the Yangtze Valley, were flown to China from Burma. Their task was to
and the area around Canton on the help build a strong, solid army to oppose the Japa-
southeastern coast. The KMT moved its nese forces on the mainland, something made difi-
capital and most of its military force inland cult by the fractionated Chinese authorities. Mid-
to Chong Ch’ing. Free China, as the KMT- night drops and long treks through the jungle were
ruled area was called, contained 60 percent necessary to avoid the Japanese patrols, but a sur-
of China’s population but only 5 percent of prising amount of material made it through none-
its industry, which hampered the war effort. theless. This enabled Chiang to establish a number
In 1941, the United States entered World of modern military divisions, including several
War I I . Thereafter, American advisors and equipped with American-made war walkers.
aid were flown to China from Burma, which The walkers were much better suited to the jungle
enabled Chiang to establish a number of and mountain walfare of Asia than tanks, and as a
modern military divisions. The bulk of consequence few of the latter were ever sent. Most
China’s 5-million man army, however, is of the vehicles are old Earlies A I , hastily repainted
composed of poorly trained and equipped with the KMT’s emblems. Keeping them in working
peasants who are no match for the superior conditions in the rugged terrain and damp climate
Japanese forces. is proving to be a challenge, and several walkers
end up cannibalizedfor spareparts. Most of the rest
For a time, genuine cooperation took place
are becoming more and more individualized as their
crew customize them for improved performances:
animosity between the groups remained,
spikes and cutters, to defend against marauding in-
and the cooperation largely ended after the
fantry and making one’s way through the thick veg-
KMT attacked the CCP’s army in 1941. From
etation, are common additions.
then on, both sides worked toward the
common goal of expelling the Japanese
invaders, but they did so with the realization 8
8
that there would one day be a reckoning. 8
Indeed, the KMT has become so concerned 8
with squashing its Communist rivals that little I The term “French Indochina” refers to the
8
progress has been made toward defeating the 8 nations of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which
Japanese. The bulk of that job has fallen to 8 were united under French rule as the
8
the United States. Consequently, the KMT has 8 “lndochinese Union.”France created the union
slowly eroded its base of supporters in China.
8 from its territories in Cambodia and Vietnam
8
With each month, the Communists grow more 8 in 1887, incorporating Laos in 1893. The
powerful and popular - much to the chagrin
8 Vietnamese Emperor Tu Duc hoped that by
8
of Chiang and the world at large. 8 adopting a conciliatory attitude toward France,
8 the latter might be persuaded to give up its
8
While Chiang weighs the pros and cons of his 8 conquests. He therefore prohibited his
latest strategies against the Japanese, other 8 subjects from openly resisting French actions
8
forces have arisen to do battle against the - a fatal miscalculation.
8
Japanese invaders. Most are ineffectual I
peasant armies, which are quickly defeated I
Despite this imperial decree, the sense of
by the superior forces of the Japanese Empire. I national identity was not extinguished. Poor
I
8
living conditions, worsened by colonial
8 economic exploitation, contributed to growing
8
8
Vietnamese hostility to foreign rule. French
8
8
FASCINATING
HISTORY! 121
I
occupation did bring some improvements in I
the area of transport and communications and I
I
also contributed to the growth of a commercial I A guerrilla force known as the “Army of the Heav-
and manufacturing sector, but, as a whole, I
I enly Dragon” has recently arisen in Manchuria. The
colonialism brought little improvement to the
I Army has proven remarkably effective at hit and run
lives of ordinary Vietnamese. In the I
tactics, attacking Japanese supply caravans and
countryside, peasants struggled under heavy I
D other vulnerable units. The Army’s reputed leader
taxes and high rents. Workers in factories, in I
is a mysterious person known only as Tian Lung, or
coal mines, and on rubber plantations labored I
I “Heavenly Dragon.” To date, no one has seen or
in abysmal working conditions for paltry I
met with Tian Lung except his closest advisors, lead-
wages. In many ways, the situation is not much I
I ing some to doubt the existence of such a person.
different than that in the Belgian Congo, I
Whether or not Heavenly Dragon is a real person
another region renowned for the cruelty of its I
I or not, the Army that fights in his name has shown
colonial administration. I
I itselfto be a thorn in the side of the Japanese. Were
In 1930, the Moscow-trained revolutionary Ho I it not for the Army’s anti-Western diatribes, it might
I
Chi Minh established the lndochinese I
prove a powelful ally against the might of the Japa-
Communist Party. Contacts between D nese Empire in China.
I
lndochinese and Chinese Communists are I
I
I
irregular at best, but they exist, as does
I
assistance from the Soviet Union. Until the I INDIA
I
outbreak of the Second World War, the I
Communists and other revolutionary groups I “India is not ready to take part in the present
met with little success. In 1940, however, I
war, which would endanger its own freedom.
I
Japan demanded the right to place northern I The governments of France and England
Indochina under military occupation. They I
declared that they are waging war for
I
planned to use the area as a base from which I democracy and freedom,yet they themselves
to launch a future invasion of the rest of I
betray the principles they espouse. ”
I
Southeast Asia and possibly beyond into I
British-held Burma and India. I - Executive Committee of the Indian National
I
I
Congress (1939)
The French viceroy lacked sufficient armed I
forces to resist and was soon reduced to a I In 1917, Britain announced a policy of “gradual
I
figurehead authority. Seizing the opportunity, I development of self-governing institutionswith
Ho Chi Minh organized a resistance movement I a view to the progressive realization of
I
to fight against the Japanese. Because Ho I responsible government in India as an integral
emphasized the fight against Japan, he gained I part of the British Empire,” culminating in the
I
greater support than he might have had he I Government of India Act of 1919. This act
only used Communism as the basis for his
I brought some Indian control over certain
I
crusade. Nevertheless, Ho is a dedicated I executive departments in the provinces and
Communist and there are many who believe
I greater representation of Indians in the central
I
that his movement may ultimately prove as I legislative council. In the same year that it
I
dangerous to French interests as the I
passed these reforms, however, the legislative
Japanese. For the time being, though, Ho’s I council also passed the Rowlatt Acts, which
I
guerrilla forces have attracted adventurers I
gave the government emergency powers to
frnm i r n i i n r l thn nlnhn incnirnrl h - r thnir sutmress so-called revolutionarvactivities. The
121
including his : .,.
- especially w
perscience.
Britain and the USSR saw the newly opened Trans-
development w
Iranian Railroad as a vital means of transporting
ustrialization,
supplies from the Persian Gulfto the Caucasus Re-
In progressed w
class and an : gion of the Soviet Union. The leaders of both na-
tions feared that Hitler intended to do the same,
ed. However, I
thereby providing the Third Reich with ready access
ule, including
.._, .I_II. -m-mLmu,J ,iisopponents
LIvuLIIIuIIIvI I
topetroleum - a vital necessityfor his goals of world
conquest. Highly suspicious of the role of German
and restrictions on the press, caused
increasing dissatisfaction in Iran.
:
W
technicians in Iran, both great powers repeatedly
I asked Iran to expel the Germans within its territory.
Throughout his reign, Reza Shah tried to avoid
involvement with Britain and the USSR.
:
w
Shah’s refusal precipitated a joint BritisWSoviet in-
vasion of the country and his relacement with his
Although many of his development projects son, Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
required foreign technical expertise, he tried w Though the son is easier to work with than his fa-
to avoid awarding contracts to British and
Soviet interests, believing that this would open
:
I
ther was, the railroad is still a source of constant
headachefor the Allies. Troopsfrom the beleaguered
the way for their governments to exercise
influence in Iran. Through its ownership of the
:
I
German Orientkorps constantly raid the shipments
and attack the trains and the tracks, relying on erst-
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Britain while allies and local militias and equipment to bol-
nevertheless controlled all of Iran’s oil w ster its ranks. The Orientkorps fight with consider-
resources, leading Reza Shah to obtain
technical assistance from France, Germany,
:
I
able elan and resourcejdness that rival their broth-
ers fighting in the North African desert, and they
Italy, and other European countries. This
created problems for Iran after 1939, when
:
w
have earned a grudging respectfrom the British and
Russian troopsfacing them.
Britain and Germany fought on opposite sides
in the Second World War. Although Reza Shah
:
I
proclaimed Iran’s neutrality, Britain insisted that
German engineers and technicians in Iran
:
I
were spies on missions to sabotage British oil
facilities. Britain demanded that Iran expel all The Ottoman Empire dates back to the 13th
w
W century when a previously unknown group from
German citizens, but Reza Shah refused.
W An ato I i a (western Tu r key) c o n q uered
W
This precipitated a joint British/Soviet invasion I Constantinople, at the time the capital of the
of the country. The British and Russian forces Byzantine Empire. After the conquest they
quickly defeated the Iranian army and I rebulit the city and renamed it Istanbul, from
deposed Reza Shah. They then placed his son,
Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi on the
:
I
where they managed the ever increasing
volume of trade that passed through. The
Peacock Throne. Muhammad has proven less
intransigentthan his father and has permitted
: Empire reached its peak in the 16th century
under the rule of Sultan Suleyman. His
the Allies to use Iran as a base. Of course, the I ambitious conquests included most of Greece,
Axis is hard at work to disrupt this alliance, I Hungary, and Austria. At the same time he
making Iran the site of much intrigue. declared himself the “protector of Islam” and
W
c\n/iftl\/ annnvor-4 all nf A r i h i i \A/ith r-nmnlntn
I
By the 18th century, however, decline had set I
agreements strained relationships among all
in. Exponential population growth led to I the parties involved, particularly with regard
I
widespread unemployment and famine. At the 8
to Palestine.
same time, a series of wars with Russia over I
territory in central Asia was a constant drain 8 During various postwar peace conferences,
I
on resources. The 19th century brought more I
the idea of direct colonial rule over the former
challenges, as the Industrial Revolution and 8 Arab provinces was discarded in favor of a
I
” m a n d a t e system. ” Un der t h is system ,
the emergence of the European powers further 8
diluted the Ottomans’ influence. In 1854 the I members of the League of Nations acquired
I
Ottomans’ successfully defended their I
the supervision of territories with varying
eastern European holdings from Russia, but 8 degrees of independence. Five mandate
I
only with the aid of France and Britain. Then I
states were created under this system.
at the turn of the 20th century, the Balkan wars I Britain took over I r a q , Palestine, a n d
I
erupted, as sensing their opportunity, I
Transjordan, while France took Syria and
Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia all I Lebanon. When the Allies attempted to
8
fought for their independence (and for territory I
parcel out parts of present-day Turkey,
from each other). The fallout from these 8 Mustafa Kemal rallied national support and
I
conflicts made a direct contribution to the start I
expelled French, Greek, and Italian forces
of the Great War. I from the country. Kemal signed the final
I
I
postwar territorial settlement in 1923, and the
The Ottoman Empire entered World War I on I Turkish republic, with Kemal as president,
I
the side of the Central Powers against the I
was proclaimed later that year.
Allies. In order to protect the oil installations of I
southwestern Iran and to preempt an Ottoman I The new political order was widely contested
I
thrust toward the Persian Gulf, British Indian I
affter the war. The Arab states had been
troops invaded southern Iraq in the first weeks I subject to Ottoman rule for centuries before
I
of the war; they reached Baghdad in 1917. I
European arrival. In many cases, what had
Syria and Palestine remained under Ottoman 8 b e e n anti-Ottoman sentiment q u i c k l y
I
control until the last months of the war. Upon I
became anti-European sentiment. In 1920,
its defeat by the Allies, the Ottoman Empire I u p r i s i n g s i n I r a q a g a i n s t British ru l e
8
lost its Arab provinces and was confined to 8 compelled the British government to modify
the borders now held by the Republic of Turkey. 8 t h e ma n d a t e system b y c r e a t i n g a
I
I provisional government, leading to Iraq’s
In 1916, the Allies negotiated the Sykes-Picot I formal independence in 1932. In Syria, the
I
agreement, which stated that rulership of the French h a d c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f i c u l t y
a , . C . 8 - .
h . .
8
8
8
Derisively called “the Dark Continent” by I
8
Europeans, Africa remains an enigma even in 8
the Modern Age. Its northern reaches are 8
8
home to several Muslim states, many of them 8
protectorates of Western powers. Its southern 8
8
regions are composed of multiple colonies 8
ruled directly by European powers. 8
8
8
Meanwhile, the heart of the continent remains I
largely unexplored, the source of all manner 8
8
of tall tales of ancient civilizations, rich 8
treasures, and unimaginable dangers. 8
I
Consequently, it is difficult to do justice to the 8 to the technological superiority the Afrika
diversity to be found within Africa. Therefore, 8 Corps enjoy. The strength of the Luftwaffe has
8
this section offers only the slightest glimpse 8
also provided the Germans an advantage, as
into its three distinct regions. 8 the RAF has been tied up in other theaters and
8
I has only a limited presence at this time.
Despite the brevity of description, the 8
importance of the African campaign should not 8
8
be understated. The outcome of the war could 8
very well hang in the balance. The North 8
I When the Ottoman Empire entered World War
African front is the only location Britain has 8
I on the side of Germany, Britain declared
directly been able to mount a ground assault 8
8 Egypt a protectorate. The Egyptian ruler,
against the German forces. As important, 8
Abbas II, was deposed in favor of his uncle,
arguably even more important, than actually m
8 Hussein Kamil, who was given the title of
winning territory is drawing German supplies 8
sultan. Britain promised Egypt some changes
away from the eastern front where Hitler is 8
I in government once the war was over. In the
pushing hard into Russia. Churchill also seeks 8
meantime, the British stationed more than
victory in Africa in order to score some 8
8 100,000 troops in Egypt, mainly to guard the
desperately needed success for political 8
Suez Canal against German and Ottoman
reasons and morale. 8
8 attacks, and imposed martial law to stifle any
I
Supply lines have proved key to the conflict 8
expression of discontent. The war years
so far, as Africa is far from production facilites 8 resulted in great hardship for Egyptian
8
and most necessary resources. While 8
peasants, who were conscripted to dig ditches
overshadowed by the battle raging in the North I and whose livestock the army confiscated.
8
Sea, the battle for control of convoy routes in 8
Inflation was likewise rampant. This created
the Mediterranean has been just as fierce. The 8 rising resentment against the British.
8
strategic location of Malta, and the British base 8
8 The Egyptians wanted complete
there, has been a particularly contested I independence, but the British felt they needed
property. 8
8 to keep their troops in Egypt to guard the Suez
The German Afrika Corps and the British
8 Canal as well as their airports, radio
8
Eighth Army continually punish each other, 8 transmitters a n d other means of
. .. . . . . .. . . . .
interests were threatened, thereby robbing
Egypt of any real independence and allowing
:
I
In 1935, Italy conquered Ethiopia, thereby
challenging Britain’s position as the chief
British control to continue without interruption. :
I
European power in North Africa. The threat
from Italy prompted the British and the
Egypt’s politicians agreed in 1923 to draft a I
Egyptian government to negotiate a treaty to
constitution making the Country a constitutional
monarchy. Since then, national politics has
:
I
resolve matters left outstanding since 1922.
The treaty provided for an Anglo-Egyptian
been dominated by a conflict between those
opposed to Britain and those SUppOrtiVe Of it,
:
I
military alliance. It enabled Egypt to join the
League of Nations and to establish its own
with the monarch playing both sides against
one another to maintain his own power.
:
I
embassies abroad. The terms of the alliance
allowed British troops to remain in the Suez
Canal zone but limited the total number of
I
I
British troops in Egypt in peacetime.
I
I The outbreak of the Second World War and
Not willing to rely on theirpowefil army, the Nazis I
the threat of the German Afrika Korps have
I
have mastered the art of shadowy wai$are. Theyfully I heightened British interest in Egypt. Now,
understand the potential power of a rebellious move- I
Egypt acts as a forward base for
I
ment arising from within a weakened government I Commonwealth forces in the Middle East. The
and have worked hard to establish the seeds of dis- m presence of so many British troops has drawn
I
content in a number of countries throughout the I the ire of Egyptian nationalists, some of whom
world. The goal, of course, is to establish fascist I
have advocated violence against the
I
organizations that will eventually overthrow the I Commonw e a It h ” i nvad e r s . ” N u me ro us
rightjWly elected oficials and then voluntarily join I
unfortunate incidents have occurred in the past
I
the growing German empire. I few years, the bizarre of which is the rise of a
I
Agents are sent abroad under deep cover to iden- I
self-proclaimed Pharaoh,who has issued a call
tify existing movements that can be influenced, ol; I for all Egyptians to flock to his banner. Whether
I
lacking such, to start one. They used to travel quite I
or not this Pharaoh is a mere lunatic or a
freely before the war under assumed identities, but I genuine threat, the fact remains that the British
I
since the conflict has started they must now be de- I
position in Egypt is far from secure.
I
livered by midnight parachute drops or by silent I Meanwhile, the German forces, under the
midget submarines on the coast of their unsuspect- I
I
brilliant and honorable General Erwin Rommel,
ing target. I have identified capturing Egypt as an
I
important military objective. Not only would the
.. . . . .. . .. . ,.* m.. .-
The Nazi agents usually target groups that espouse
. *
ideologies similar to tne ideals OJ tne 1 nira Keicn: -
I
= C n l l -4
tail UI
C - t s n t
L yypi _I
but
s t the I2s-iti-h P n - m n n \ A , n q l t h
iiic u1iiia11
L A J I I I I I I V I ~ ~ ~ CIII
in
~I~II
discipline, anti-communism, racial superioriv, etc. two, it would give the Axis control of the Suez
If he isn’t able to influence the target group’s I Canal. The Canal provides an easy route
leader(s), the agent may attempt to take over the
leadership himself:They will rarely reveal themselves
:
I
between the MediterraneanSea and the Indian
Ocean. Consequently, it is vital that the British
as Nazi atfirst, preferring to make sure the group is
deep within their control before even hinting at their
:
I
(and the Allies) prevent the Afrika Korps from
achieving its goals - or else the Allied war
true allegiance - if they ever do, for it is always
better if the group believes they espoused the Nazi
: effort may become even more tenuous.
ideology by themselves.
The agents are always superbly trained and are able
to pass as a local without any effort. For this rea-
son, they are very hard tofind and root out, and rep-
resent a permanent danger to the Free World.
treatment of the inhabitants. Forced labor is
used to gather wild rubber, palm oil, and
ivory. Lashings and the taking of hostages
Drivenfrom their birthplaces by the lack of available
are techniques for encouraging villages to
land and opportunitiesfor employment, many native
meet their rubber quotas. The Belgians
Congolese menfind job contracts working as miners,
introduced mutilation as a common
deep within the bowels of the earth. “Employed”by
punishment even for minor offenses.
Belgian and Germun alike, the natives are treated as
Brutality is widespread in mines and on
little more than slaves, working upwards of twelve
plantations. The population of the entire
hours a day excavating the toxic deposits of uranium,
state is said to have declined from 20 or 30
radium and strontiumfor export. The brutal quotas
million to 8 million by the beginning of the
serve only to make the work more dificult and the
twentieth century.
the miners provide him with the perfect material Private European and American
upon which he can perform his experiments. Taking corporations invested heavily in the Belgian
the babies from the moment of their birth, he re- Congo after World War I. Large plantations
experiments to the grieving parents. Keeping the and rubber) and livestock farms are the
children at his laboratory deep in the wilderness, he colony’s mainstays. In the jungle interior,
devotes his time to uncovering the impact of various gold, diamonds, copper, tin, cobalt, and zinc
kinds of radiation upon the human body. Lately, ru- are mined. Many mad scientists have taken
mors have begun to circulate in the slave camps, an interest in the colony, because of the
about a strange and unnatural animal that roams large quantities of radioactive materials
the jungles, its body deformed beyond imagining. obtainable within its borders. Africans work
Seen in the vicinity of Renard’s laboratory, the beast, the mines and plantations as indentured
according to some who have claimed to see it, seems laborers on four- to seven-year contracts,
to have very human eyes... in accordance with a law passed in Belgium
in 1922. The infrastructure of the colony
(roads, railroads, electric stations, and
I public buildings) was all constructed
:
I
through the use of forced labor, a process that
continues even today.
If there is any place that showsthe cruelty with
which the “civilized world” has treated Africa,
:
I
Native resistance has challenged the Colonial
regimefrom the beginning, A rebellion that
it is the Belgian Congo. This colonial broke out in Several eastern districts in 1919
possession is notorious the world over for the I
was not suppressed until1923, Anti-European
I
I
religious groups active by the 1920’s included 8
reserves made up 7 percent of the total land
Kimbanguism and the Negro Mission in the 8 of the country. Because of the limited amount
8
west and Kitawala in the southeast. Unrest has I
of land available to blacks, the legislation also
only increased since the beginning of the Great I ensured that a migratory labor system would
8
Depression, inviting even more repressive 8
continue and cheap black labor would be
tactics from its Belgian overlords. The Congo I available in the mines and industries.
8
is thus a seething cauldron of resentment, 8
hatred, and oppression. 8
Official politics in South Africa during the
8 1920’s was dominated by the conflicting
8
These unfortunate tendencies have only been I
positions of the two white groups, the
made worse by the outbreak of the Second I Afrikaners and the British. The Afrikaners
I
World War. The demand for Congolese I
insisted that reconciliation between them and
products, such as rubber, has increased 8 the British (in the aftermath of the Boer War)
I
greatly. This demand has given the Belgian 8
be based on full equality between the two
administrators an excuse to impose extremely 8 groups. They demanded that the Afrikaans
8
high quotas on their plantations -and equally 8
language be given equal status with English,
high penalties for those that do not meet them. 8 that the country have a separate flag and that
8
This has led to an escalation of violence in the I
South Africa have the right to secede from the
country. Moreover, the recent discovery of 8 British Commonwealth.
I
elements useful for super-science (most 8
notably radioactive elements of all sorts) has I
In 1918, a secret society known as the
brought the Congo to the attention of the Axis I Broederbond (Afrikaans for “association of
8
as well. There are undoubtedly Axis agents at I
brothers”) was established to advance the
work in the area, threatening to destabilize it I Afrikaner cause a n d interests. This
8
further. 8
organization became a powerful vehicle for the
8 preservation of Afrikaner language, culture,
8
8
and traditions. Above all, its aim was to find
0
8 ways for Afrikaners to attain positions of power
8
8
throughout the society. The Broederbond was
The South Africa Act of 1910 established the 8 exclusively for Afrikaners who were over 25
Union of South Africa with the four colonies as 8
8
years old, male, Protestant and specially
its provinces. Discrimination against nonwhites 8 invited to join.
was inherent in South African society from the 8
8
earliest days. Before World War I, Mohandas I Since 1935, South Africa has become a
K. Gandhi led a struggle to assure civil rights 8 powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
8
for Indian residents. Despite some 8 Tensions between Afrikaners and British are
concessions, the Indian population retains 8 at an all-time high. The growing antipathy
8
second-class status. South African blacks 8 between Britain and Germany has only
have an even lower status in the white- I exacerbated this problem, as most Afrikaner
8
dominated state. Urban blacks live in 8 politicians have sympathy for Germany,
segregated areas and could not hold office. 8
especially in its efforts to keep itself “racially
8
They have no labor unions, and technical and 8 pure.” Consequently, Britain has not attempted
administrative positions are closed to them. 8
to force a draft law in South Africa, fearing it
I
I would cause further divisions within an already
Politics are focused on differences between 8
divided colony. Yet, the progress of the Second
English-speaking South Africans and 8
8 World War may well demand that South Africa
Afrikaners, in addition to racial questions. One 8
d o its part for the Commonwealth - a
of the first moves of the newly granted 8
8 possibility Axis agents are working hard to
parliament was to pass legislation that 8
ensure never comes to pass.
prevented blacks from buying land outside so- 8
I
called reserves. The land allotted to these 8
I
1661 G E A R K R I E G
I
Often overlooked in favor of its more I
I
prosperous neighbor in the Western I
Hemisphere, South America is nevertheless a I
m
vibrant, growing portion of the world. Its I
nations, most of whom are former colonies of I
I
the once world-spanning Spanish empire, I
1
I
share much with one another, including a
common language and religion. In addition,
I
I
I
almost all gained their independence from I
I
Spain in the nineteenth century and are only I
now seeing the fruits of that freedom. I
I
I
The continent continues to struggle with its I
reaching a peak of about 600,000 for the
colonial legacy, leading to unrest and I period from 1911 to 1915. Most of these
I
revolution in many nations. The only constant I
immigrants settled in the cities and urban
seems to be change, as numerous groups vie I centers.
I
to impose their own vision for how “free” South I
American countries should be run. These I Although Brazil’s economy continued to be
turbulent times provide an excellent I based on agricultural production, industry had
I
opportuntiy for covert Axis agents to stir up I begun to develop by the 1920’s, especially
trouble, and they would love nothing more than I around the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao
I
to bring Facist forces into power. The future of I
Paulo. Industrialization was accompanied by
South America is thus as uncertain as that of I the growth of a small working class and middle
m
the world at large. I
class. Both groups found themselves excluded
I from the power structure developed by
I
I
landowners to dominate rural workers. The
I immigrants introduced new political ideologies
I
I
from Europe, where workers and middle-class
Until early in the Modern Age, Brazil’s I citizens were becoming increasingly active in
economic and social structure reflected a I
politics. Many of these workers were frustrated
I
pattern established during its time as a colony I with their lack of access to Brazil’s political
of Portugal. A small class of wealthy I
system. As their numbers grew, their demands
I
landowners controlled most of the country’s I for a place in the nation’s political system
wealth and power, while the majority of I
increased. Socialists and anarchists organized
I
Brazilians lived in relative poverty as I unions and strikes, but they encountered
agricultural workers. This situation began to I
intense repression from the corrupt federal
I
change gradually toward the end of the I gover nment,
nineteenth century when large numbers of I
I
immigrants arrived in the country. After the I A more powerful challenge to the regime came
slave trade was abolished in 1850, the coffee I
from disgruntled young military officers. Many
I
planters could not find enough workers and I of these officers supported social reform, but
the government began actively recruiting I
they were also concerned about their
I
Europeans to immigrate to Brazil. In the last I professional status. They believed that the
decade of the nineteenth century, I
civilian government had neglected the army,
I
approximately 100,000 European immigrants I which struggled with poor equipment,
arrived each year. These numbers increased I
outdated training,
I
during the early years of the twentieth century, I promotion of officer:
I
I
I
I
G E A R K R I E G I 67 I
officers staged a revolt in Rio de Janeiro Nevertheless, the advent of World War II has
against the government. The revolt was I increased tensions within this populous nation.
unsuccessful, but two years later a more
serious uprising in S%o Paulo shook the
:
I
Brazil joined the Allies against the Axis,
providing vital support for anti-submarine
foundations of the regime for several weeks warfare in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition,
before government forces suppressed it. By I Brazilian industry has worked hard to provide
the late 1920’s, the challenges of army officers, the Allies with needed materials and supplies.
middle-class groups, and urban workers I Yet, the hypocrisy of fighting tyranny abroad
threatened the stability of Brazil. I
while living under it at home is not lost on the
I ordinary Brazilian, many of whom agitate for
The Great caused a dramatic change. So great is the desire for change that
decline in coffee exports and acorresponding
increase in the nation’s foreign debts. The
: Vargas has promised free elections for 1943!
the political elite split over the 1930 presidential I Argentina emerged as one of the leading
I nations of South America. It began to figure
election. The political machines in the larger I
states supported the official government I prominently in hemispheric affairs and helped
I to mediate a serious dispute between the
candidate, Julio Prestes; Getulio Vargas I
opposed him. Vargas had organized a I United States and Mexico in 1914. Argentina
I remained neutral during World War I but played
coalition of smaller states, opposition parties, I
and discontented elements in the military and I a major role as supplier of foodstuffs to the
Allies. This contributed to the nation’s
:
I
cities.
burgeoning economy and increased
68 I G E A R K R I E G
FASCINATING !
HISTORY 1-2/
I
The new president, facing a difficult economic I
instituted a policy of continued relations with
situation, instituted several controversial I Germany and Italy, despite American attempts
I
reforms and initiatives. In 1933, he signed a I
to dissuade him. Thus, the Axis powers
treaty with Britain, which guaranteed Argentina I continue to operate in Argentina, using it as a
a fixed share in the British meat market and I
I
base from which to launch their nefarious
eliminated tariffs on Argentine cereals. In I schemes in another part of the world.
return, Argentina agreed to restrictions with I
m
regard to trade and currency exchange, and I
it preserved Britain’s commercial interests in I
I
the country. Many Argentines saw the treaty I
as a sellout to Britain, although from the British I Installations can be found in remote corners of the
I
point of view the pact accorded privileges not I globe, each either conducting some sort of danger-
given to any other country outside their empire. I ous research (ofen near a ready supply of material)
I
Other unpopular reforms included I
or acting as a listening post to undermineAllies ef-
restructuring the monetary system and I forts.
I
establishing agencies to control exports. I Along with the influx of reficgees to the countries of
I
I South America came Axis agents galore. Filtering
Since 1935, Fascist organizations have I into the dense jungles of the Amazon, these spies,
become increasingly active in Argentina. In I
I scientists and soldiers have converged in one place,
1936, the Argentine right-wing parties united I an observation post cresting the top of an ancient
in the National Front. This organization, which I
I ziggurat. Carefully concealing their installation
openly advocated the establishment of a I within the time-worn ruins, t h e h i s agents have the
dictatorship, successfully supported Roberto I
I entire Jutai basin under surveillance. Elaborate com-
Ortiz for the presidency. Contrary to the I munications equipment and vast plains of grandi-
expectations and demands of his supporters, I
I ose antennas intercept Allied transmissions from
however, Ortiz took vigorous steps to I nearby America, and the internal walls of the
strengthen democracy in Argentina. I
I Ziggurat are lined with whirring computators, churn-
Countermeasures were adopted against the m ing away at the Western codes.
subversive activities of German agents, who I
had become extremely active after the victory I
I
The Japanese have not been outdone. In the middle
of National Socialism in Germany. I of the calm and pristine Pacijic ocean, one small
I
I
island has been completely replaced with an im-
The corrupt electoral machinery of the country I mense, disguised battleship. Though incapable of
was overhauled. Ortiz proclaimed neutrality I
fast movement or tricky maneuvers, the ship has been
’ Gallipoli, an Australian and New Zealand Army
I Corps (known colloquially as “Anzac”) tried in
I
vain to launch a drive on the Turkish forces in
the Dardanelles.The date of the fateful landing,
’
I
:
I
In 1915, William M. Hughes became prime
minister and leader of the Labour Party. When
T :
I
he failed to carry the electorate in two attempts
to supplement volunteers with conscripted
Scattered across the vast expanse of the :
I
men, Hughes remained in power by forming
the Nationalist Party, much to the annoyance
Pacific Ocean are numerous islands and
of his Labour colleagues. He attended the
archipelagoes, many of them nations in
I Paris Peace Conference in 1919, acquiring
themselves. Chief among them is the continent I German New Guinea as a mandated territory
of Australia, a newly emboldened country
I and establishing Australia’s right to enter the
brimming with pride in its accomplishments I League of Nations as its own country.
and hope for the future. Yet, this region is not
I
without troubles. Its remoteness ensures that I After an internal backlash within the Nationalist
many of its locales make perfect lairs for the
fiends who would upset the fragile peace
:
I
Party forced the retirement of Hughes in 1923,
Stanley M. Bruce became prime minister. The
under which humanity has existed since World Country Party, founded in 1920 as a patriotic,
War I. Moreover, the expansionism of the I conservative movement to protect the interests
Japanese Empire threatens all the peoples of
the Pacific. The outbreak of formal hostilities
:
I
of farmers and herders, joined the Nationalist
coalition, but retained a separate identity. The
has only made the region more dangerous. The I
I chief opponent of the coalition was Labour,
mighty Japanese Imperial Navy patrols the I which had to redefine its social policies. To
waters of the Pacific, seeking out weaknesses
in its enemies. With the entry of the United
:
I
maintain wartime levels of production and
expansion, the government sought to build up
States into the war, the Pacific theater will
undoubtedly take on much greater
:
I
the basic industries, but the Great Depression
cut deeply into the health of the Australian
significance. :
I
economy, increasing public and private debts
at a time of massive unemployment.
I
:
I
Recovery from the depression was extremely
uneven. Deflationary economic policy
World War I transformed Australia from a
collection of six disparate colonies into a united :
I
contributed to effects that were far harsher than
those felt elsewhere in the world. Disagreement
state keenly aware of its new identity.
Responding to the allied call for troops, :
I
on government policy broke Labour again in
1931 and at presents the United Australia
Australia sent more than 330,000 volunteers,
who took part in some of the war’s bloodiest I Party, composed of former Nationalists and
battles. Australia suffered a casualty rate
’ disenchanted Laborites, holds the reins of
higher than that of many other participants and I power. Joseph Alyosus Lyons leads the party.
I
became increasingly conscious - and proud I
I
- of its contribution to the war effort. At
I
I
I
country. Emphasis was therefore placed on I explorers. With the world at war, very few
following Britain’s leadership inI solving the I
people give much thought to the fifth largest
I
problems of the depression. C:hief among I landmass on the planet. The desolation of
these was an attempt to redirect more trade I
Antarctica seems far from important when
m
between Britain and the dominicIns. As early I compared to the massive battles that rage
as the 1920’s, however, Japan arid the United I
across Europe and Asia.
I
States were among Australia’s best customers I
for its wool crop. Against its own iinterests, but I Unfortunately for the world, Hitler has other
I
motivated in Dart bv , fear.
_. - _ _ -ha sought to
, Austra I
ideas. In 1939, Germany sent a catapult ship
reestablish British trade at the expense of its I to investigate Antarctica. The initial
I
relations with Japan. In the League of Nations I
investigation mapped a huge swath of land,
and within the Commonwealth, Australian I which was claimed in the name of the Third
I
governments also tended t o support I
Reich. Dubbed Neuschwabenland, this land
appeasement and other policies in an effort to I was to serve as the basis for one of Hitler’s
I
prevent war with the fascist powers. I
strangest, and boldest, plans. He would
I establish a military base near the South Pole.
I
When war again came to Europe in 1939, I
Australia dispatched its small armed forces to I
In the last two years, the Nazis have
assist in Britain’sdefense. After the Pacific war I constructed an immense facility in Antarctica.
I
between Japan and the United States broke I Carved from rock and ice, it consists of
out in 1941, the Labour government of John I numerous U-boat docks, as well as hangars
I
Curtin sought a military alliance with the I
for the latest generation of German fighter
Americans. This alliance is still in its formative I planes including some of Hitler’s greatest
I
stages, but many U S . officials hope to use I
super-scientists experiments with bizarre flying
Australia as a huge base from which to launch I wing and disk-shaped aircraft.
I
attacks against the Japanese. The prospect I
I Martin Bormann, head of the SS and third in
of American soldiers on Australian soil is a
I command of the Reich, leads this secret
small comfort to the people of this island I
I facility. Bormann uses his proximity to South
continent. They rightfully fear a Japanese I America to support Fascist organizations on
invasion of their country. After the serious blow I
I the continent, hoping to use them to threaten
dealt to the United States at Pearl Harbor, many I the United States, which he rightly sees as a
Australians wonder whether Japan can be I
I serious threat to Nazi domination of the world.
stopped at all. If so, it is only a matter of time I In addition, Bormann is obsessed with creating
before the Japanese Empire turns its eyes to I
m deadlier super-weapons for his Fuhrer. He is
the land down under. I certain that his Antarctic refuge is safe from
I
I any attack or prying eyes and is thus willing to
I
I
take greater chances than his colleagues in
I Europe. In the end, this boldness may either
“The German submarine fleet is proud of I
give Hitler the weapons he needs to crush the
I
having built for the Fuhrer in another part of I Allies, or destroy the Antarctic base once and
the world, a Shangri-La on land, an I
for all.
I
impregnable fortress!” I
I
-Admiral Karl Donitz I
I
I
I
I
8
8
~ G E A R K R
I
I
I
I
I
Thomas Edison was born on February 1lth, I Nikolai Tesla, perhaps the greatest mind that
I
1847 in Milan, Ohio and died October 18th m ever lived, was born in Austria-Hungary on the
1931 in New Jersey. He amassed a staggering I stroke of Midnight between July 9th and loth,
I
1093 patents throughout his lifetime and I 1856. Tesla found that he could raise little
earned the nickname “the Wizard of Menlo 8 interest in his inventions in Europe, where
I
Park.” Edison became intrigued by science at I superscience was met with skepticism. He set
an early age, going so far as to set up a I off for New York City, where, after a brief stint
I
chemical lab in his parents’ cellar at age 10. I working for Edison, he set up a seperate
In that very lab he became fascinated by I laboratory and workshop in 1887 to develop
I
electrical current and soon built his own I
his own inventions. Tesla was very interested
working telegraph. His experience with I in radio communication a n d wireless
I
telegraphs landed him a job working for I transmission of power. In 1897, he
Western Union Telegraph Company. They were I demonstrated two remote-controlled model
I
so impressed by his emergency repair work, I boats. In 1900, he began construction of a
they commissioned him to make a stock ticker I broadcasting station on Long Island that he
I
design. The design was highly successful, I h o p e d would help him develop his
resulting in sudden wealth for Edison. I broadcasted power system. Unfortunately, he
I
I lacked the necessary funds to finish many of
Edison was able to use that wealth to launch 8 his projects.
I
his own lab, Menlo Park, from which he I
changed the face of the world with the I Unlike Edison, whose patents had brought him
I
electrical light bulb and inspired countless I
great wealth, Tesla practically lived a pauper’s
other inventors and scientists including a I existence. Consequently, he had little choice
I
young Nikolai Tesla. The many inventions from I
but to develop technologies for which backers
the Menlo Park lab include the phonograph, I were willing to pay. Unfortunately, they were
I
the mimeograph, the fluoroscope, the alkaline I
interested almost exclusively in weapons. He
battery,the dictograph, and the motion picture I created the “electrically accelerated energy
I
camera. Shortly before his death, Edison I
cannon” or “death ray,” used in France’s
appointed his long-standing rival, Nikolai Tesla, I Maginot Line and Russia’s superheavy tanks.
I
as the new head of Menlo Park. I
He himself may be horrified to see the uses to
I which his inventions have been put, but there
8
I
c a n b e no denying that they have
I revolutionized the world.
8
I
1741 G E A R K R I E G
AMAZING
SUPERSCIENCE! In1
8
8
8
8
ANDPURESCIENCES 8
8
8
8
The age of superscience has produced 8
hordes of inventions that spur the imagination 8
8
and defy reason. Those inventions would 8
never exist without the understanding of 8
8
scientific principles on which they are based. 8
The late nineteenth and early twentieth 8
8
centuries have witnessed an explosion of 8
scientific research and thought. Physics, 8
8
chemistry, biology, and mathematics have all 8
advanced with incredible speed. This work 8
may not be as tangible to the average person m
8
as a walking tank, a radio or a computator, 8
8 Research into mathematics and pure science
but it was, and continues to be, no less 8 is not work that can be done in the field. It is
ground breaking. 8
8 not exciting to the average person, and apart
None of the advances in superscience would 8 from those very rare people with the intellect
8
have been possible had not the theoretical m to quickly learn and grasp new problems,
groundwork first been laid. It is impossible 8 mos t " s upe r sc ie nt is t s devote the i r en t ire
"
m
to do the design without first doing the 8 lives to science. Tesla and Edison are no
research. While the Industrial Revolution is m exceptions. They both discovered their
8
no doubt the turning point that brought about m passion for science while still children, and
the prosperity of the twentieth century, it most 8 neither has spent a great deal of time doing
m
certainly did not happen because Queen anything else.
8
Victoria (and the rulers of the other Western m The greatest aid ever to be developed for
nations) commanded her subjects to make a m
8 science is the programmable computator.
series of technological breakthroughs. The m Many new inventions and theories owe their
seeds of every discovery and innovation lie 8
8 existence to these electric wonders, capable
within the research that has already been m of not only calculating impressive sets of
done. In many cases all that remains is for m
8 numbers, but also storing these numbers and
someone with an unusual perspective on I the commands for how to calculate them for
things to make new connections between all m
8 repeated use. These computators are of
the various elements. Unfortunately, it is m
m
particular value to the new atomic-based
difficult to tell which piece of research is
I sciences and numerous top-secret projects
going to later prove useful. Ultimately, all of 8
m
currently underway on both sides of the war.
it is, which means that not only are all
8
avenues of investigation worth exploring, but m
often the failures and accidents are just as 8
8
valuable as the successes. 8
8
8
m
m
8
m
8
m
m
8
G E A R K R I E G 1751
131 AMAZINGSUPERSCIENCE!
I
I
The Allies also designed a method of
I encrypting voice transmissions. They can
The art of cryptography has been used I
take a voice recording, convert to very crude
I
throughout human existence to shroud I values for small frequency ranges, encrypt
messages and communications in secrecy. I
those values, and transmit those values in a
I
By the time of World War II, nearly I signal. The receiving party would decrypt the
unbreakable codes had been created. The I
values and reassemble a version of the
I
Germans were the first to utilize a machine I original signal that was at least recognizable
to encrypt messages on a large scale. The I
as speech. As the vocorders are refined and
I
machine they created was called Enigma. I computators advance in capability, radio
The Germans were very confident that the I
using the coding technology can eventually
I
Enigma would be impossible to defeat, but I be produced that can encrypt and decrypt
they had not counted on the rise of even I messages as they are being spoken and
I
newer machines that could be used to break I received. The encryption is actually
the Enigma system. I unsophisticated, but the nature of the
I
I encoding device makes messages
The British were able to acquire a machine I exceedingly difficult to decipher without the
pioneered by the Poles, who had started I
proper receiver.
I
using it before they were conquered. The I
machine used electromechanical relays I
1761 G E A R K R I E G
13 AMAZING
SUPERSCIENCE!
I
I
One of Babbage’s enduring concepts was using
I punched cards in computing machines. Herman
I
SCIENCES I
I
I
Hollerith,while watching a conductor on a train
punch tickets, envisaged a method with which
m
the U.S. Census Bureau might speed the
The harnessing of electricity in the nineteenth I census-taking process. Hollerith’s idea was to
century has given birth to a whole new field of I
record census data by punching holes in the
I
invention and discovery. Instead of mechanical I card. The cards would then be read by a
contraptions being designed to perform work, I
machine that pressed pins against the card. The
I
more and more new gadgets are taming the I pins that protruded through the holes completed
electromagnetic spectrum to execute their I
an electricalcircuit.The card’s informationwould
I
feats of wonder. From the ordinary light bulb I be collated by the machine, providing totals and
to the computator, people’s lives are being I statistics in record time.
I
completely changed by the field that is called I
electronics. I Up to this point, all of the machines built could
I
I
perform only limited types of computations. If
Still in its infancy, electronics has achieved a I one needed a different type of task to be
rate of advancement previously unheard of. I
performed, one needed to build another
I
Fast even for world familiar with superscience, I machine. In 1937, Alan Turing published his
the war has only increased the rate of progress. I
paper “On Computation Machines.” He
I
No one knows where this field will eventually I postulated that a machine could be built that
lead, but it will one certainty lead very far in a I
could read, write and change symbols on a
very short amount of time. -.
I
tape that c o u l d b e moved forwards or
I
I
backwards. As a result, Turing had
I inadvertently given birth to entirely new way
I
I
of designing computators, and within a few
Computators have their roots in the nineteenth I short years, new and radically advanced
I
and early twentieth century. Early forms of I
machines would be developed.
computators were purely analog mechanical I
I
I
found that by sending out radio signals along
I a narrow path and measuring the time it took
Up until the twentieth century, the only sensors I
for the reflected energy to return, the object
I
available were the human senses. Sight, sound I could be accurately mapped. In 1935 he sent
and smell were the only way to detect things I
a proposal to the British government, under
I
from afar, and only sight had any devices I the code name “radar” (RAdio Detection And
available for enhancement or correction. In I
Rangefinding).
I
recent years, however, new ways to detect I
others have started to appear. Like most I By 1939, British had a radar system that could
I
inventions, the newest detection methods are I
detect Germany bombers up to 114 kilometers
not perfected. Early prototypes are housed in I away. Now, however, radar systems are small
I
huge contraptions and are totally impractical I
enough to be used on walkers and tanks,
for mobile use. This limitation does not hamper I giving them detection abilities in the most
I
some inventions, such as radar, which have a I
adverse weather conditions. Research into
detection range great enough to make up for I systems small enough to fit into weapons, such
I
its immobility. Other types of equipment, I
as rockets, is being conducted. Weapons so
however, remain unsuitable for widespread I equipped might be able to hit targets so far
I
use. I
away that the human eye cannot see them!
I
I
I
I
I
Radiant heat emits infrared light, normally I Sonar is the American acronym for Sound
I
generators that used much less power than
that Tesla first explore the military applications I
I the EDAs, but they were still too large to be
of his theories. I carried by anything smaller than a superheavy
m
What Tesla discovered was nothing short of I tank. Thus the first field models of the new
I electrically accelerated energy cannon were
revolutionary. He found that by generating two I
separate scalar waves of energy, in the form I mounted on the only French vehicle big
I enough to carry them, the Grognard. Luckily,
of an electrostatic potential or charge, he could I
combine them to form an electromagnetic I while the required power supply is rather large,
I it is only needed for a short period of time.
wave, releasing the charges violently in the I
form of electromagnetic radiation with the force I Tesla designed new high-charge capacitors
I
of an explosion. I
to provide the pulsed energy. Once the
I weapon is fired, however, the capacitors
I
He was able to design generators that could I
needed several seconds to charge from the
send out the waves in pulses. By carefully I vehicle’s engine-powered generators. As
I
timing these pulses, Tesla could set the m
expected, this means the weapon can not be
distance at which the waves would meet and I fired as quickly as a convention tank gun. In
I
combine to ‘explode’ anywhere from ten I
the end, however, both the French and the
meters to thousands of kilometers away. Telsa n Russians have deployed “Tesla tanks,” and the
I
collectively called the generators and timing I
Russians continue to improve the design.
apparatus Electrostatic Defense Artillery I
I
(EDA), but they are commonly known as Tesla I
Howitzers. They require vast amounts of I
I
electrical power, and thus they are only suitable I
for static (no pun intended) defenses. I
I
I
The types of energy released i n EDA I
I
explosions are still being explored. Rumored I
effects range from affecting local gravity fields I
I
1801 G E A R K R I E G
I
I
I
Large nations, such as the United States, have
I grown metaphorically smaller, uniting their
SCIENCES I
I
I
I
disparate populations through vast interstate
highway networks, or “freeways.” Germany
I
was the pioneer in this particular endeavor,
The twentieth century has brought birth to an I creating its famous Autobahnen to connect its
entirely new means of combat, in the form of I
cities with high-speed traffic routes.
I
mechanized warfare. The refinement of the I
internal combustion engine has allowed the I Airplanes have also become an increasingly
I
creation of new vehicles to help men I
important part of the present era. Regular
accomplish their tasks with ease. This list of I transcontinental flights are commonplace, as
I
breakthroughs includes tanks, planes and I are transoceanic flights. Almost any location
ships that rely not on the elements or the I lies within the reach of those who wish to travel
I
strength of animals for movement, but on man- I to it. Research continues in this area as well,
made engines of fire. This fire has also been I as scientists experiment with jet engines,
I
harnessed for application in rocket engines, n rocket planes and other advances to further
used in various new forms of travel. Through I expand the capabilities of flying craft. Some
I
the internal combustion engine, man has I of these scientists, especially in the United
conquered the air, sea and land, and soon he I States and Germany, speak wistfully of the
I
may conquer the stars. I possibility of orbital flight above the Earth’s
I atmosphere, perhaps even landing on the
I
The Modern Age is surely the age of the I Moon! For now, such plans are only dreams,
automobile. Whether powered by I but they do point out the unlimited potential
I .
I.. ..
I
At sea, the submarine is shaping up to be the I
Once the war began, production focus shifted
weapon that will decide the fate of nations. I from consumer vehicles to military
I
German “wolf packs” of U-boats prowl the sea- I
transportation. Companies in all countries
lanes of the Atlantic in an attempt to starve I began to manufacture cargo trucks, armored
I
Britain into submission by exacting a terrible I
cars, troop transports and tanks. In the US,
toll on the precious supply convoys from the I this conversion took place gradually. Before
I
United States. The technology and tactics to I
the US had officially joined the war, it increased
combat the U-boat menace are only now being I its production to supply extra equipment for
I
developed. Sonar is providing a considerable I
the Lend-Lease Acts. In the mean time,
edge against the undersea threat, allowing I American consumers enjoyed a wealth of
I
convoy escorts to detect submerged I
choice as new merchandise temporarily
attackers. The U-boats are no longer safe from I flooded the market. America is also blessed
air attack either. Long-range flying planes I
as far as manufacturing facilities are
I
constantly patrol the convoy routes and are I concerned. In the early to mid 1930’s, when
fully armed with depth charges to drop on any I the US was in the midst of the Great
I
unwary subs they spot. I Depression, automotive companies took
I
I
advantage of cheap labor and materials costs
I to build modern manufacturing and assembly
I plants. The new production muscle provided
I
Early automobile builders had experimented I is very efficient. As a result, the US has
with many type of designs, most notably in the
I
unparalleled vehicle manufacturing ability and
I
use of various forms of motive power. There I capacity.
I
had been electric powered cars, gas powered I
Many individuals have so far contributed
cars, steam powered cars and hybrids - I
I advances to the war effort in terms of both
combinations of various methods of propulsion I
production and innovation. Most of these
designed to minimize the flaws of each I
I advances have been applied to the armored
individual system. By the time cars had I
beasts of war: tanks, half-tracks and walkers.
become a mass-produced item, they had all I
I One of these people is an ex-policeman,
moved towards using gasoline-burning I
Preston Thomas Tucker. He designes unique
engines, which has proved to be the best I
I solutions to military problems, many that echo
engine to provide the necessary power-to- I
later in civilian designs. His biggest success
weight ratio. With the innovations of Henry Ford I
I so far is his Tucker Armored Personnel Carrier,
and his assembly lines, cars had become I
which borrows many ideas from his auto racing
affordable to all, instead of just toys for the rich I
I days.
and famous. I
I
I
With the availability of cheap, consumer- I
minded cars, the automobile became a staple I
I
of the American economy as well as popular I
culture. Auto manufacturers had planned I
I
stylistic obsolescence into their designs by the I
1930’s, in order to “force” Americans to buy I
I
automobiles as often as possible. In other I
countries, cars were also increasing in I
I
accessibility, but for the most part they were I
still considered a luxury item. The sport of I
I
automotive racing took hold, and by the end I
of the decade companies the world over were I
I
building dedicated racing cars to compete in I
contests of speed and endurance. I
I
1 8 2 1 G E A R K R I E G
AMAZING !
SUPERSCIENCE In1
I
I
I
In the 1920’s and 1930’s, military planners I
I
envisaged land warfare to be fought akin to I
naval warfare. Huge, multi-gunned battleships, I
I
swift cruisers and tiny torpedo boats could all I
have land-based counterparts, or so the I
I
generals thought. Perhaps the notion of I
gigantic multi-gunned tanks captured their I
I
limited imaginations the most, and before the I
war most world powers had at the very least I
I
experimented with “land battleships.” I
I
Since the start of the war, British and French I
I
superheavy tanks have suffered greatly m
against the speed and fury of the Blitzkrieg. I
I
Slow, vulnerable and underpowered, these I
land giants were quickly disabled or bypassed. I
The Soviets, unfortunately for them, also
I Russians hired Tesla himself to further develop
I
invested considerably in superheavy tanks. I his electronically accelerated energy
The immense SMKlOO and T-28 were the
I weapons. He worked constantly to make the
I
mainstay of the Soviet mechanized forces in I superscience armaments more reliable, more
the opening volleys of Operation Barbarossa. I energy efficient, more powerful and longer
I
Currently, not a single one of the original Soviet I ranged. The result is the T-45 Land Battleship
superheavy tanks remains operational. I “Nikolai Tesla,” essentially a T-44 superheavy
n
n tank modified to carry Tesla’s latest electrically
The superheavy tank has also suffered heavily I accelerated energy cannon (EAEC). The
I
at the hands of the new, agile walkers. While I vehicle still suffers from a lack of
lacking in heavy firepower and armor, walker I maneuverability, but the EAEC is a spectacular
I
maneuverability can allow it to quickly bypass I sight on the battlefield.
superheavy tanks and either exploit I
weaknesses in rear armor or ignore the
I With the deployment of the T-45, other nations
I
massive vehicles completely and move on to I are beginning to reassess their superheavy
I
other objectives. The Japanese have been designs. While it is unlikely that a new
I
particularly adept at using walkers to neutralize I generation of land battleships will b e
the effectiveness of superheavy tanks. In the
I
I
developed, many of their innovations,
ongoing siege of Vladivostock, Imperial walker I particularly the massive armament, will be
I scaled down for use on their smaller cousins.
formations flow like water around superheavy I
tank forays, often exploiting gaps left in the I The United States is already producing a
I
defensive lines to wreak havok before the tanks I
smaller Tesla tank based on its Sherman
could return. I design, and Germany is researching a means
I
I
for installing far heavier weapons on its
The new weaponry of Nikolai Tesla has revived I walkers.
I
the superheavy tank. The size and power I
requirements of electrostatic weapons limits I
I
their vehicular deployment to all but the largest I
- -
I the seeds for its next war, and approached
I
I
Christie about purchasing his walking
The man widely credited as the ‘father’ of machines, supposedly for peaceful purposes.
I
walking machine theory was Professor I The Grossarbeiter (‘large worker’) program, as
Freiderich Goble, a gifted but frustratingly I
I explained by the Germans, was a means to
eccentric German inventor. In 1913, he I
get post-war Germany back on her feet. Heavy
presented a large number of military I
I industry, forestry and mining were just some
inventions, including his Panzerlandkreuzer,to I
of the projected uses of the Grossarbeiter, a
the German High Command. Impressed with I
I machine intended to increase the strength and
his working models, the High Command I
productivity of Germany’s laborers. Impressed
I
comissioned further development, but Goble I with what they saw, the Germans paid
never delivered, and promptly vanished into I
handsomely for the prototypes and a partial
I
obscurity for several years. I license. The W1924 and W1926 were packed
I
It wasn’t until the early 1920’s that J. Walter I
up and shipped to Spain, and that was the last
Christie, an American inventor of unique I Christie saw of his machines. What Christie
I
vehicle propulsion and motive systems, I
didn’t realize was that the Germans had
formulated the concept of a fast-moving
I purchased his prototypes with the explicit
I
mechanical walker. Unlike Goble, who fancied I
intention of turning them into weapons. The
a walking land battleship, Christie envisioned
I Treaty of Versailles forbade the German
I
a much smaller vehicle, both fast and I
Reichwehr from developing any armored
maneuverable. By 1923, Christie had
I vehicles, cars and tanks. It did not, however,
I
completed his first prototype, the W1923, I say anything about walking machines.
I
which he tested extensively and displayed to I
curious friends and honored guests. Some I
I
found Christie’s waddling contraptions I
amusing, but others saw their potential, if the I
I
technology could be further refined. I
I
I
1 8 4 1 G E A R K R I E G
AMAZING !
SUPERSCIENCE
I
It wasn’t until 1930 that work began on the I
Walker development has been swift and
I
German walker program. Under the leadership I exponential. A few years before, such
of Doctor Erich Langhauser, a team of I
machines would have been unthinkable. At this
I
scientists and specialists began to reverse- I point in time, improved gyroscopes, controls
engineer Christie’s prototypes, and improve on I
and better weaponry have helped them prove
I
them. In 1934, the Grossarbeiter 114 took its I their worth on the field of battle. With the
first shaky steps. No state money was I
exception of the Soviets, all the combatants
I
forwarded, however, so Langhauser continued I now field such machines in large numbers, and
development with his own money and loans I
numerous new designs are in the prototype
I
by friends and family. m stage.
131 SUPERSCIENCE!
AMAZING
I
I
A cheaper and less complicated alternative
m to jet fighters, rocket planes can reach higher
I
I
speeds but have a much more limited
I endurance. Many of the designs carry engines
I
I
that once ignited cannot be shut off (or in some
I cases, even regulated), making the craft little
m better than a piloted missile. Once the fuel is
m
I exhausted, the plane must glide, unpowered,
I
back to a nearby landing strip. Rocket planes
I are flying in all major air forces to a greater or
I
m
lesser degree save for the RAF, who limit rocket
I use to boosters for conventional aircraft.
I
I
I
Rotary wing aircraft, first demonstrated through
I the novel Autogiro aircraft, have progressed
m significantly thanks to the efforts of lgor
m
I Sikorsky and Anton Flettner. Their new helical
I
I
aerodynes are capable of things currently no
I other aircraft can do - take off and land
I
I
vertically, and hang in the air in a perfect hover.
m Both the Americans and the Germans have
m working models, but American research is far
m
I more advanced. Not only do they have several
I
m
working models, but at least one engine design
I has been made small enough to be worn as a
m backpack!
F I
I
I
The 1920’s saw a renaissance in aviation, with I
many of the rich and famous investing in m
I
aircraft and aeronautic technologies. I Despite the amount of research in the field,
Philanthropist adventurers like Howard Hughes I
personal flight devices have thus far only taken
I
pushed back the frontiers of mechanical flight, I three major forms. The first is the rocket pack,
developing aircraft that could go further, faster I
from German inventor Martin Vossler. An
I
and higher. The wood and fabric designs of I ingenious set of pumps and nozzles allows a
the Great War quickly gave way to all metal I
wearer to perform either rocket-assisted leaps
I
models, and the greater structural strength I or even full flight. Unlike many rocket fighters,
provided has allowed planes to reach new I
the pack can be switched off and later
I
levels of performance. In addition to traditional m reignited. For the Allies, lgor Sikorsky has
propeller-powered planes, new propulsion I
developed a personal helical aerodyne. His
I
technologies are being introduced that will I helipack has an advantage over the rocket
revolutionize the aircraft industry. I
pack in that it can hover, but the large rotor
I
I blades increase the chance of a mid-air
The first combat jet aircraft flew in midJuly of I
m collision. Finally, Philippe Gordon has
1940. Britain’s P40 Pioneer had been rushed into I developed a personal glider. Intended as a
production to fight in the Battle of Britain, and I
I
replacement for the parachute, his paraglider
proved its worth on its first day of actual m is collapsible, and is stored in a backpack like
deployment, with one squadron downing nearly m
m a parachute until needed. The wearer guides
200 German planes. Though the principles of jet I the paraglider by a simple set of control cables
propulsion have been understood for decades, I
I and by shifting his weight.
only recently has the actual technology to build I
the engines become available. I
1861 G E A R K R I E G
!
SUPERSCIENCE
AMAZING 131
I
I
Japanese people. They view most Occidentals
I with the same scorn, at least those who were
m
I
part of the Allied nations. They use Chinese
With the world engulfed in war, and the I and other Asian mainland peoples for their
technology of the battlefield in every news I
research into reanimating dead bodies.
I
report and magazine, people easily forget that I Though they do not torture people in the name
some of the most astounding advances in I
of science to same extent as their German
I
science since the turn of the century have been m allies, they are more willing to torture purely
in the areas of biology and medicine. Disease I
for torture’s sake.
m
is finally starting to be fought effectively. The I
root causes of unseen killers are being m
I
discovered, and cures developed. Vitamins, I
valuable to human well-being, have been I
I The Volksgesundheite und Wohlfahrt
isolated and produced, and the standard of I
Programme (VWP), or the People’s Health and
living (from a health point of view, at least) has I
I Welfare Program, was started in 1932. People
increased dramatically. I
I
were encouraged to participate in Germany’s
The Axis has taken the promise of m greatest health program. Sickness would soon
I
superscience and bent it to their evil desires be a thing of the past! The program sponsored
I
in order to uncover the secrets of human I an extensive medical census between 1932
biology. While their opponents grudgingly and 1938. Nation-wide campaigns for
m
acknowledge the ingenuity of the Axis I vaccinations were instituted with much fanfare.
I Blood samples were collected from every
technical prowess used to create weapons of I
war, they can only gape in horror at the depths I citizen. The VWP also sponsored many social
of inhumanity into which the Axis plunged in
I programs. The state took over full control of
I
the name of science. One can only wonder if I the orphanages in Germany. They educated,
the full extent of these horrors will ever be
I f e d and provided medical care for the
I
revealed. m unfortunate children. The VWP offered grants
to promising students of human genetics and
I
I medicine.
I
I
I
As the Nazi party became more entrenched in
In the entire course of human history, no I the mid-I930s, the WVP started to take on dark
seekers of knowledge are so callous towards I
undertones. People began to disappear
I
the lives and mental stability of their fellow I mysteriously. Anti-Semitism also started to rear
humans than the scientists of the Nazi regime. I
its ugly head, along with sentiments against
I
They worked for years to convince themselves m other “unworthy peoples.” Data collected
that certain classes of people - based on m
I
during the medical census was used to target
physical characteristics, race, religion, genetic I “undesirable” elements for deportation and
twists of fate and behavioral patterns -were m
I
concentration. Most importantly, the VWP
sub-human and therefore perfect for m provided the raw data (and a cover for) the
experimentation, just like any other animal. The I
most secret project within the Third Reich: the
I
acts they perform are almost indescribable in I VorfahrRuckge winn ung Projekt (V R P) or
their villainy. They use human test subjects for I
Ancestral Reclamation Project, Hitler’s plan to
m
poison research, euthanasia programs and far I genetically engineer the perfect Aryan race to
worse. I
ensure the perpetuation of the “Thousand Year
I
I Reich.” To date, the VRP has identified a range
Their allies, the Imperial Japanese, are almost m
I of children who fit the Aryan “Ideal.” When they
as bad, and perhaps worse in some respects. m become older, they will be used to supply the
They regard any persons of other Asian m
I raw material to for genetic manipulation, in an
descent to be mere imitations of the true I attempt to “recreate” the Aryan race.
I
G E A R K R I EG-(871
In1 AMAZING !
SUPERSCIENCE
I
I
a substantial investment in the necessary
I equipment, but Pfizer’s executives decided the
Disease has long been an enemy of I
financial risk was worth it. They started to
I
humankind, although the causes remained I produce large quantities of penicillin by late
unknown for much of history. The dawn of the I
I
1941. Pfizer now works with the government
superscience age witnessed great strides I to help other companies set up facilities to
forward in the understanding and prevention I
manufacture the new wonder drug. None of
I
of biological damage. The early twentieth I the other companies, however, are able to
century in particular saw an explosion of I
meet the quality of Pfizer’s product. Pfizer
I
research in the area of biology. Genetic theory I produces 90% of all of the penicillin used by
was rediscovered,taking a page from Mendel, I
the Allies.
I
and scientists examined DNA, RNA, bacteria, I
genes, viruses and more. With the progress of I
I
biological understanding, scientists were able I
to conclusively determine the sources and I
I German scientist Gerhard Johannes Paul
causes of several debilitating diseases such a Domagk was researching antibacterial
as diphtheria, yellow fever and syphilis. I
I chemicals in the early 1930’s when he
I discovered the most effective antibiotic used
By discovering how diseases spread, I
researchers helped forge methods to combat I so far in the war. He was working with the dye
the risk of infection and to prevent the
I Prontosil, and found that in altered form it could
I
conditions that were conductive to disease and I effectively fight streptococcal infection in lab
epidemic. The quality of health of the average
I mice. His daughter had a similar infection at
I
person soon increased by leaps and bounds. I the same time. He tested the altered dye on
The way was forged for the next great
I her, and she made a full recovery.
I
discovery of superscience, effective medicines I
I Further research into his findings isolated the
that could cure disease instead of simply trying I
active agent in the modified dye. This agent
to hold off infection. I
I was sulfanilamide, and it was first produced
I
I
in 1936. It demonstrated its effectiveness
I during a meningitis outbreak in the French
I
I
Foreign Legion in Nigeria, keeping the mortality
In the late nineteenth century, scientists began I rate to 11 per cent until supplies ran out. Once
researching the effect of harmful bacteria on I
supply of the drug was exhausted, the mortality
I
healthy bacteria. This would be advanced by E rate subsequently increased to over 75 per
pure accident in 1928: Alexander Fleming I
cent. The drug was also found to be effective
I
discovered that one sample of harmful bacteria I in treating pneumonia and other bacterial
had been spoiled by bacteria from some I
diseases.
I
penicilium mold. He decided to investigate I
further, and found that the mold had killed off I Sulfanilamide is used extensively in the form
I
many of the harmful bacteria in the petri dish. I of sulfa powder. The powder is sprinkled on
Further investigation proved that an extract of I wounds, preventing infection. Research is
I
said mold, penicillin, could combat many I continuing into the drug, and there are
disease-causing bacteria. The first highly I potentially four new variants that could be
I
effective antibiotic had been produced. E cleared for production in a year or two. Even
I without the new versions, sulfa powder has
I
Penicillin was highly effective, but until the I been instrumental in saving many lives.
Second World War it was not produced in great I
I
quantities. The American drug company Pfizer I
changed all of that, developing a way to I
-. . _ I L _ _ ! _ ^&L- A”,.- TL- _^..,_^ +L,.rl rnm,,;rrrrl I
syritriesiLe trieuuruy. I I I G I I ~ WI I I ~ L I I U U I G ~ U I I W I
I
el of integration with the
nance is of paramount
these devices do not
r themselves, care must
y remain in good shape.
I
CHEMICAL
AND BIOLOGICAL
WARFARE I
I
Most nations with chemical warfare programs I Perhaps the most horrifying opponents yet
I
focus on mustard gas agents. Italy used a I encountered on the battlefield are the Axis’
refined mustard gas to devastating effect I chemical troopers. It is unknown to the Allies
I
against unprepared and unprotected I if the “zombie” process was discovered as the
Ethiopian forces in the mid-1930s. The I result of early combat drug experiments or
I
Japanese also used mustard gases in China I through some natural process, but they have
in 1939. During this period, the first I proved some of the toughest “soldiers” fielded
I
mechanical collective protection systems I by the enemy. Rumors persist that zombies are
were introduced, providing overpressure I almost as dangerous to their handlers as to
I
environments to fortifications and other fixed I tne enemy, ana tnat anyone wounaeu ~y a
installations.Advances continue in other areas I zombie may become one. Evidence collected
I
of chemical defense as well, resulting in I in the field proves that zombies are not
improved masks, detectors and, for the first I animated corpses, but most troops have no
I
time, decontaminating solutions and kits. I
intention of confirming this for themselves.
I
Many nations, Axis and Allied alike, have active I Although the final result is similar, German and
I
biological warfare programs. Japan has I Japanese zombies are created through entirely
perhaps the most notable of them all. I different processes. Germany has developed a
I
Established near the occupied town of Harbin I chemical cocktail that heightens aggression while
in Manchuria, Unit 731 is one of the most I sharply reducing mental capabilities. Victims
n
infamous organizations the world has ever I become very resistant to pain, and can only be
known. Unconstrained by any recognizable I stopped with extensive physical damage.
I
human decency or morality, both the Nazis and I Fortunately,the drugs will eventually wear off. The
the Japanese conduct extensive tests on I Japanese drugs are based on an actual
I
human “subjects,” immeasurably advancing I biological agent, and the koumajufsu, or demon
their understanding of biological warfare and I invocation process, is irrevocable.Both countries
I
processes at a horrendous cost in human I use the drugs on “lesser” races, although the
suffering. Luckily for the world, biological I Japanese have gone so far as use the process
I
warfare is still in its infancy. Most programs are I on prisoners of war.
researching the basic concepts and principles I
I
of fighting with organisms rather than engaging
in the large-scale production and use of
I
I S
I
potentially uncontrollable weapons with I Improving soldier effectiveness is a constant
unknown consequences. m
I goal of any military, and both Germany and
I Japan experimented with drugs to improve
I
I combat efficiency. These drugs run the gamut
I from stimulants like Benzedrine to the
I
I Japanese Strength of Virtuous Spirit. Combat
I drug users are variously referred to as
I
I berserkers, ubermenschen and kamikazes,
I depending on nationality. Most combat drugs
I
I cause an increase in stamina and
I aggressiveness, although no one has yet been
I
I able to increase a trooper’s learned skills with
I drugs. Disadvantages include increased
I
I fatigue (and in the case of some drugs, actual
I
I
injury), an increased aggressiveness
I frequently crossing over into uncontrollable
I homicidal rages, and addiction.
I 9O G E A R K R I E G
I
I
I
The ethnic German people have not had a
SCIENCES I
I
I unified state since the dissolution of the Holy
I Roman Empire in 1806, despite several interim
I
Modern science is a relativelyyoung discipline I attempts. At the same time, the pastoral life
compared to the study and practice of the I promoted as the ideal German existence was
I
supernatural. Long before the scientific I being destroyed by industrialization and
method of measuring phenomena through I urbanization. In response to this, an ideal was
I
observation and controlled experimentation, I
promoted of an idyllic and ancient German
people looked to magic, ESP and miracles to I society both spiritually and racially pure. An
I
explain the world around them. While science I evil conspiracy of the non-Aryan races
has answered many questions people have I corrupted this society b y promoting
I
about how the universe works, it has not I egalitarianism with obviously inferior peoples.
answered every question, and there are still I Occultism, grand conspiracies, and mysticism
I
enough dark corners where the powers and I are used to cloak this philosophy in an almost
abilities so many have come to believe as true I religious facade, and to provide it with an air
I
may lurk. Even though nobody has found I of legitimacy. Figures like Hitler and Himmler
irrefutable proof of paranormal activity, the I are among the most loyal converts. They have
I
faithful maintain that since supernatural I vowed to rediscover the ancient secrets that
elements have not been disproved,they surely I these god-like ancestors possessed and
I
must exist. Unfortunately, enough powerful I restore the German peoples to their rightful
people number themselves among the faithful I place as masters of a new pan-German
I
that belief alone has shaped the policies of I
Empire. As the German nation arose like a
nations... I phoenix from the embattled Weimar Republic
I
I
and prosperity spread across all of
Germany, many Germans were swayed into
believing these dreams and ideals of the
Nazi Party.
Although there numerous research projects probing
so-called paranormal sciences, as yet nothing has Japanese culture has long been wreathed
yielded any tangible results. Powers of the mind, in mysticism. The emperor himself was
magic and the spirit world remainfirmly entrenched believed to rule by divine providence, and
in the realm of fantasy. Some superscience devices his word was the will of the heavens. Even
have been created which supposedly function ac- though five hundred years have passed
cording to paranormal principles; however, the ef- since the days of Japan's feudal shoguns,
fects of these devices can also be far more easily the Bushido martial tradition lives on in the
explained through conventional science. Unfortu- heart of the Japanese army. Believing
nately, there are those who are far too stubborn to themselves imbued with ancient warrior
accept that these tales owe more to centuries of spirits, Japanese soldiers are fanatically
imaginative embellishment than actual phenomena, loyal and suicidally brave. With the rise of
and pursue their investigations under the delusion Japan as a modern power, the military has
that they will achieve some sort of breakthrough. also developed a certain sense of moral and
m
social superiority. Like the Nazis, there is a
I strong belief in destiny, that under the
guidance of the Emperor Japan will conquer
the world.
G E A R K R I E G 91 I
8
8
8
8 The genre itself emphasizes excitement and
8
Like the old pulps, heroes in Gear Krieg are 8
action, usually to an excessive degree. There
larger than life. They are the strongest, the most I may be elements of intrigue, but these last only
athletic, the smartest and usually the best I
8
until the heroes discover what the villain is up
looking examples of humanity. Their training 8 to. After that, the story should include a fight
and prowess make them capable of 8
to the finish.
8
extraordinary feats of strength, stamina and 8
intelligence. Most importantly, the heroes of I The CORE character generation system is
I
Gear Krieg are cast in a mold of courage and I already designed to produce characters which
nobility. They never back down from a I are a cut above normal. However, the extreme
I
challenge, are always ready to risk their lives I lengths to which the heroes sometimes go -
for a good cause and generally are paragons 8 the tremendous stunts, fights and general pulp
8
of virtue (they may have a few defaults, but 8 action-are covered by the use of Genre Effects
those are usually minor). 8 (see section 6.4.6 in the CORE rules). Each
8
8 Effect has a requisite cost; by spending Genre
Gear Krieg heroes have access to 8 Points, players can bend the rules in very
8
superscience: incredible equipment, deadly 8 specific ways to allow their characters to pull off
weapons and vehicles the likes of which 8 incredible stunts. The Gamemaster will indicate
8
people see once in a lifetime. If there comes a 8 which Genre Effects may be used; typicallythere
point when brains and brawn alone are 8 are three to five selected for a given adventure.
8
insufficient, superscience can provide that last 8 Typical pulp Effects include shrugging off
push that tips the scales in favor of the heroes. 8 damage, never running out of ammunition and
8
8 being able to goad a villain into revealing his
In a sense, the heroes of the pulp genre were 8 master plan. Characters start with three Genre
comparatively simple characters. They existed 8
Points, subsequent points are obtained as
8
no ambiguity regarding good and evil; the 8 rewards for playing in character. Genre Effects
Characters created through the Silhouette Does the character have a distinctzvephyszcaltrait!
CORE system are already a cut above the What motivates the character?
rest, and sections later in this chapter will Does the character have any good habits? Any bad
explain how Gear Krieg heroes (i.e. the habits?
player characters) can get the equipment How old is the character?
and resources they need to take on the Where is the characterfrom?
enemy. Of greatest importance, however, is What was the character’sfamily like?
the character concept itself. This will How well did the character get along with his
determine not only how the hero will be family?
played in the game, but also what special Does the characterhave any personal relationships?
advantages, and weaknesses, he or she will What is the character’s occupation?
have. This concept does not have to be fully What is the character’s lifestyle like?
developed, but it should be oriented towards Does the character have a secret identity?
action and have at least a few good physical Is the character part of a heroic organization?
capabilities. The adjacent table contains What are the character’spersonal goals?
some questions that will help clarify a Gear Who are the character’sfriends and rivals?
Krieg hero. Does the character have an arch enemy?
What is the character’s name, nickname, and/or code
name ?
I
I
~ ~~~ ~
I
Idealism: This type of hero is driven to make I pulp characters, especially those involved in
the world a better place and will defend the I fighting crime. While there are some obvious
I
values of the Free World (liberty, equality, I advantages, a secret identity has risks and
freedom of speech, etc.) against those who I complications all of its own. The character’s
I
would destroy them. I “mundane” life is constantly interrupted with
I the need to go off and fight evil. If he has a
Justice: Similar to the idealist, except in this I
I regular job, the boss might become annoyed
instance the hero works to stop those who I at the late appearances and/or missed days,
would break the rules of society. I
I all of which are secretly spent fighting crime.
Redemption: This was not as common, since
I A love interest might be similarly upset by the
I
pulp heroes are not supposed to commit bad I missed time. Even otherwise unimportant
deeds, but perhapse the character once made
I NPCs might stumble across some clue that the
I
a terrible mistake and is trying to atone for it. I character is more than he appears. For
I example, that nosy house maid could become
I
I curious about that locked room in the
I basement - the one that leads to the secret
I
I headquarters.
While Gear Krieg characters may share common I
motivations and goals, they come from a variety I
Villains can also use the secret identity to their
I
of backgrounds. A character history should at a I own benefit. They could impersonate the
minimum give reasons for why he or she has the I
character, letting the blame for their numerous
I
skills, training and equipment listed on the I crimes fall on the shoulders of the hapless
character sheet. For example, a character who I
vigilante, simultaneously taking the heat off
I
served in the Great War will have a familiarity with I themselves and getting rid of the thorn in their
weapons, combat techniques, and may even I
side. They could track the good guys to their
I
know how to drive a tank or fly an airplane. A I secret headquarters and steal valuable
character who left home to join the circus as a I
property, equipment or information - after all,
I .I I , .. . . . ... I
I
I
Step Two - Buy Skills: (See CORE rules,
I section 2.2 for costs, Appendix A for
I
I
descriptions). Remember to buy Skills for
I signature items; a signature item becomes the
I
I
“Favored Item” for the appropriate Skill (see
I page 100)
I
I
I
StepThree -Calculate Secondary Attributes:
I (See CORE rules, section 2.3)
I
I
I Step Four - Buy Perks and Flaws (Optional):
I (See CORE rules, section 2.4) Superscience
I
I and signature items can be bought with the
I Property Perk (see page 100 Signature Items)
I
I
I Step Five -Select Equipment: (See page 122
I < Equipment>> and Chapter 6 for equipment
I
I lists) The Gamemaster may assign some
I superscience items and vehicles; the players
I
I should present arguments as to why they get
I such extra bonification.
I
I
I Step Six -Odd Bits: New characters start with
I 3 Genre Points (GPs). The Gamemaster will
I
I indicate which Genre Effects are being used
I in the game.
I
I
I Step Seven - Save the World: The character
I is ready to fight for truth, justice and freedom.
I
Creating a character is relatively w
straightforward. It is completely explained in I
I
Chapter 2 of the CORE rules. For ease of I
reference, a summary of the design process I
I
is provided below. Items or details that apply I
specifically to Gear Krieg characters are
noted beside their relevant steps.
Step Zero - Define the Character Concept: Players are free to generate characters
This could possibly include motivation and according to any OGL game currently
archetype (see page 96 Playing the Pulps) available -subject to Gamemaster approval,
as well as membership in a heroic of course. It is highly recommended that
organization (see page 102 Heroic characters be created using OGL games
Organizations and Agencies). The based on World War II, the pulp genre, or
Gamemaster will indicate whether the mecha. Characters can be generated using
Reality Distortion Level is Gritty, Adventurous games based on other genres, but discordant
or Cinematic; the appropriate point values topics will have to b e adjusted b y the
for character generation can be found on Gamemaster. As a note, Gear Krieg does not
page 23 of the CORE rules. use some of the more fantastic pulp elements.
There is no magic, psionics, or true paranormal
Step One - Buy Attributes. (See CORE abilities, and the only available stock is
rules, section 2.1)
1981 G E A R K R I E G
HEROES
DARING ! 1 4 1
I
I
I
Despite the unlimited number of careers that I A Sidekick usually values brawn over brains. He is
M
are available,actual character archetypes in pulp I a man of action, and functions best when doing
games can be reducedto four basic types. These I those things that need to be done. This is not to
I
archetypes are meantto be guidelines for fleshing I imply that sidekicks are dumb; they simply prefer
out character concepts and for basic roleplaying. I to leave the decision making to someone else. As
I
Choosinga specific archetype has no actual effect I a note,the Sidekickarchetypeis more independent
on the mechanics of game play, and players are I than the traditional pulp sidekick. Being of the
I
not at all required to select archetypes for their I Sidekick archetype does not mean a character
characters.As a note, even though the archetypes I actually is asidekick,and is not requiredto “partner
I
are described using male pronouns, women are I
up” with another character or NPC. He can have
just as capable and prevalent as men when it I Signature items, and if he is partnered up with a
I
comes to adventuring in the world of Gear Krieg. I
Hero, the item may be a duplicate of the Hero’s.
I Examples of Sidekicks include the muscular
I
bodyguard, the streetwise kid, the nimble
I apprentice and the comical assistant.
I
A Hero is a balance of brains and brawn, and can I
I
usually outwit opponents just as well as he can I
outfight them. A Hero has a strong sense of I
I
morality and will always try to do the right thing, I
Support characters emphasize brains over
even though it may cost him dearly. He is the I brawn. While neither as dashing as the Hero
I
archetype most likely to have a Signature Item, I
nor as loyal as the Sidekick, the Support
although he is not obliged to posses one. Most m character is perhaps more useful than both
I
characters in Gear Krieg will fall under the Hero I
archetypes. They are very capable when it
archetype, and unliketraditional pulp it is perfectly I comes to mental prowess, such as puzzling
I
acceptable to have several Heroes in one group I
out enigmas or creating superscience devices.
of characters. Examples of Heroes include the I Support characters may b e capable of
I
daring adventurer, the intrepid explorer, the I
creating or repairing Signature items, but they
cunning secret agent and the gallant crime fighter. I rarely have one of their own. Support
I
I
archetypes are usually played by NPCs, and
I players wanting to follow this archetype should
I
I
keep in mind that their character’s primary
The Anti-Hero is exactly like the hero in all regards I purpose would be to provide knowledge and
I
save one: there always some dark aspect to an I
expertise. In games oriented towards action,
anti-hero’s persona. This could be a violent streak, I players may find Support characters extremely
I
a lack of conscience or a burning desire for I
limited if not completely out of their depth.
revenge. Anti-Heroes are not entirely suited to I Examples of support characters include the
I
the black-and-white worlds of the pulps, they I
brilliant scientist, the dedicated mechanic, the
belong more to the “noir” genre where good and I knowledgeable historian and the eccentric
m
evil are shades of grey. However, Gamemasters I
I
may allow characters to be Anti-Heroes in Gritty I
games or adventures with a darker tone. Anti- I
I
Heroes may have a Siwature item, but usuallv
I
I
Signature items are purchased as a Property
I Perk (CORE rules, page 199)with the following
Although most of the equipment listed in this I
costs: non-weapon items, 2 points; weapons,
I
book is priced, money is generally not an issue I 3 points; small vehicles, 4 points.
except at a Gritty Reality Distortion Level. I
Superscience signature items add 1 to their
I
Characters are free to pick any item normally I superscience costs (listed above). Animal
available, including weapons, within the limits I
companions are purchased as a
m
imposed by the organization they belong to I “Subordinates” Perk. Characters must still
(i.e: by the Gamemaster). Normal nonmilitary I
purchase the appropriate Skill to use the
a
vehicles should be purchased with the I signature item; which counts as the Skill’s
Property Perk. Three points is enough to “buy” I
“Favored Item” (see CORE rules, page 26).
I
a normal, unarmed automobile or motorcycle. I
I Signature items are advanced versions of
I
Military characters will be leased standard common equipment, and get three “boosts”
I
weapons and equipment by their employers I of either + I or +20 per cent to a stat, whichever
according to the specific jobs they hold. I
is more appropriate. A stat may be boosted
I
Remember that issued equipment does not I more than once. For example, Sgt. Wayne
actually belong to the characters and may be I
“Tommygun” Johnston’s signature item is a
I
recalled at any time. The only exception I Thompson submachinegun with + I Accuracy,
concerns signature items (see below). I
+ I Rate of Fire and +20 per cent more
I
I ammunition in the magazine. Yukon Ranger
Superscience items must be purchased I
Lois Park’s trusty German Sheppard has + I
I
through the Property Perk with the following Instinct, +1 Agility and +20 per cent to
I
costs: non-weapon items, 2 points; weapon I
Stamina. Superscience items only get a single
items, 3 points; vehicles, 5 points. The I
I boost. Vehicles have their own rules (see
Gamemaster may assign additional I
Chapter 6).
superscience items and vehicles. These I
I
usually need a supplier, for example a patron I Signature items are extremely difficult to
or a heroic organization. If the character has I
replace if lost. Roleplaying the replacement of
I
the appropriate skills, he can be considered I an item (or getting a new one) should be a
I
to have built the item himself (see Roleplaying long process - possibly even the subject of
I
Research and Design, page 197). Signature I an entire adventure -alternately the item may
I
superscience items do not need suppliers. I
be replaced in exchange of 50 Experience
I Points.
I
S I
I IO0 G E A R K R I E G
8
8
8
In the Silhouette CORE character generation 8
i
system, it is nearly impossible to create a 8
character good at everything. Consequently, 8
8
characters often have to operate as a team to 8
insure that a variety of strengths make up for 8
8
individual shortcomings. Some thought should 8
be given by the players as to how and why 8
8
their characters wound up together. Military 8
characters may have simply been assigned 8
1
to the same unit; civilian characters will need 8
some sort of motive to work with one another. 8
1
Players may want to take some time to discuss 8
the concepts, strengths, weaknesses and 8
8
resources associated with their group in order 8
to ensure that each character has some unique 8
8
part to play in the game. 8
8
8
8
8
8
Teams ope rat i n g i nde p e n de nt Iy of Ia rg e r 8
. .. I
I
I
8 In most cases, characters will have joined an
I
I agency as part of their backgrounds. If players
ORGANIZATIONS I
I
I
decide during a game that they would like their
characters to join or switch agencies, the
I
standards; rather, it will train and employ all I
who are willing to commit themselves to its I
cause. I Characters have access to advanced training
I
I in covert operations and tactics. This includes
The drawbacks? In the grand scheme of I unarmed combat techniques and master
I
things, heroes lose the ability to pick and I classes in acting. Characters are fluent in at
choose their battles. They must go where the I least one additional language, and learn to be
I
military dictates and operate within a rigidly I extremely resourceful. They have the
defined chain of command in order to maintain I opportunity to work both abroad against
I
the discipline and overall effectiveness of the I foreign threats and at home against enemy
fighting force. I agents infiltrating domestically. Though the
I
I assignments are risky, characters are spared
I the mayhem and danger of fighting on one of
I
I the active fronts.
I
Military intelligence agencies are involved in I
a secret “cloak and dagger” war. Agents I
operate behind enemy lines to not only learn I
I
all they can about the opposition’s operations, I Characters are expected to operate
I
but also to foil their war efforts through acts of I
independently while on assignment. Their
misinformation and espionage. Teams are I agencies will only rarely respond to requests
always small and involved in covert or I
I
for help, mainly because there may not be any
undercover missions. Most jobs involve I way to actually render assistance. If caught, it
intelligence gathering, either by infiltrating I
I
is very likely that their nations refuse to
enemy organizations or by directly observing I acknowledge their existence. To make matters
troops and equipment. Agents of this type are I
I
worse, it is entirely likely that the characters
rarely used for extracting people or equipment, I will be very poorly treated. After all, no person
as their cover usually takes too long to m is more despised than the one spying for the
I
establish to make it worth jeopardizing. I enemy. If a character causes the enemy a
I
I
particularly large amount of trouble, the enemy
Examples of intelligence agencies include m may decide that it is worth the effort to rid
Britain’s Secret Service (M15), dedicated to I
themselves of the problem and target that
I
internal security, Britain’s Secret Intelligence I character for assassination.
Service (M16), devoted to international security, I
I
and Canada’s fledgling Royal Canadian I
Science Corp (known, somewhat cynically, as I
I
C4). The newest intelligence agency is the I
United States’ Office of Strategic Services I Characters have access to advanced military
(OSS), formed in 1939 in response to the need
I and superscience equipment, the latter of which
I
to evaluate the Axis’ rapidly growing I is usually small and disguised to resemble some
superscience capabilities. These agencies are
I innocuous item. All equipment will be issued,
I
also the homes of some of the world’s foremost I characters are not expected to supply
superscience experts, and their agents carry
I equipment themselves. Gear is provided on a
I
some of the best (and smallest) superscience I need-to-have basis, although characters may
gadgets currently available. Gamemasters are,
I be able to requisition additional equipment.
I
as always, free to create new intelligence I Characters will almost always have some sort
agencies.
I of surveillance and photographic equipment.
I
I Vehicles are not often assigned to operatives,
I and if they are, any modifications or
I
I superscience enhancements are well disguised
I in order to maintain the vehicle’s inconspicuous
I
I appearance.
I
I
I
I Characters have access to advanced training
I
I in tactics, combat and survival techniques.
I They also have the use of a much wider range
I
I of equipment and superscience than is
I normally available. Characters also have the
I
I opportunity of bypassing combat fronts and
I taking the fight directly to the heart of enemy
I
I forces -they are the troops most likely to go
I toe-to-toe with major villains.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
Special operations teams are expected to be
I completely self-reliant once in the field. Their
I
I
respective organizations will always render
I assistance if possible, but the very natureof some
I
I
special ops missions means the teams will be
I completely isolated from help. Special ops
I
I
missions are also extremely high risk, and may
I be facing greater hazardsthan just hostile enemy
I
I
forces, such as rugged terrain or extreme
I weather conditions. Although this will matter little
I
I
to true pulp heroes, special ops missions are
I almost always classified. There are no public
I
I
rewards for a job well done, and the characters
I themselves may not even be able to talk of their
I
accomplishments for decades (if ever).
I
I
Special operations teams are the elite fighting I
forces of their respective militaries. Trained and I
I
outfitted morethoroughlythan conventionaltroops, I Characters have access to military equipment
they are the ones to whom the truly difficult and I
and superscience, including vehicles. All
I
unique missions are assigned. Jobs often take I equipment is issued, meaning that the
special forces teams behind enemy lines, and I
characters will not be responsible for supplying
I
include hit-and-run raids on factories and supply I it themselves. Special ops teams usually have
depots, assassinations and general harassment I
a wide degree of latitude when requisitioning
I
of enemy troops in placeswhere they least expect I equipment, mainly because once a mission is
it. Missions may also involve the abduction/ I
started, it is unlikely that the characters will be
I
extraction of important people or acquisition/ I able to receive anything. Travel outside of
recovery of vital equipment or information. I
missions is arranged by the military. However,
I
a unless something specific has been arranged
Each nation has its own special operations forces. I
ahead of time, characters are responsible for
Examples include Britain's Special Air Services, I
I their own transportation during a mission.
United States Army Rangers and Russian I
Spetznaz.These troops are deployed on all fronts I
I
of the war where their respective countries are I
currently involved. Gamemasters are free to I
I
create new special forces units, even for countries I
I
that may already have organizations.
DARING
I
The occupying forces actively hunt
I resistance fighters. The fighters’ greatest
I asset is their ability to operate covertly, and
I
Although Germany has captured a great deal I sometimes it takes just one informant to bring
of territory, the local citizenry is by no means
I about the end of an entire cell. Occupying
I
passively accepting the occupation. In France, I forces often punish local residents for acts
Poland, Belgium and the other conquered
I carried out by the Resistance. This can sour
I
territories, some residents have taken up arms I or eliminate the support that the Resistance
and are leading a covert insurrection against
I desperately needs to survive, and possibly
I
the invaders. Acts of rebellion include I even turn people against the freedom fighters.
vandalism, sabotage, strikes at supply depots
I People in the Resistance come from civilian
I
and clever ambushes against small numbers I backgrounds, and as a result lack any military
of troops. The damage done to the enemy is
I training save what they have learned since
I
often more psychological than physical, but it I joining. Also, equipment is always in short
is of significant benefit to the cause of the
I supply, and freedom fighters are constantly
I
Resistance if occupying soldiers come to feel I improvising in order to complete their
that they are not safe in the captured territories.
I objectives.
I
I
I
Resistance fighters operate in “cells,” isolated
groups that are only thinly connected in order
I
I
s””
I
to protect the identities of the others should I These characters are always operating with
one be captured. Cells are secretive, paranoid, m limited resources. In fact, their greatest source
I
and not well organized on a large scale. I of equipment is the enemy they are fighting.
Membership and capability can vary I Allied forces help when they can by
I
considerably from region to region. Cells tend I airdropping supplies, but this is risky for
to stay in the area where they are formed, and I
everyone involved, especially if there is a large
I
rarely conduct joint exercises with other cells. I enemy presence in the area. Characters have
There are no specific examples of Resistance I
access to military equipment and weapons,
I
movements. I the more concealable the better. There is no
I such thing as “standard issue,” each
I
I resistance fighter will use whatever he can get.
I
I
Any vehicles used tend to be modified versions
Resistance fighters know their areas of I of civilian means of transportation. Military
I
operation intimately. In many cases, they are I
vehicles may be used for specific missions,
working in the same place where they grew I but they are almost always stolen just before
I
up. They have the ability to blend in with the I
the mission and abandoned as soon as
local people, and receive a great deal of I possible afterwards.
I
The League of Nations has devoted itself “to I The composition of a team depends on the
I
promote internationalcooperation and to achieve I
specific mission the Secretary General has
international peace and security b y the I assigned it. This means that personnel are
I
acceptance of obligations not to resort to war.” It I
constantly shuffled around from team to team.
failed. When the League’s current Secretary I While this does provide the best blend of skills,
I
General, Sean Lester, took office in 1940, he set I
training and experience for a given mission, it
about creating “PlenipotentiaryTeams” to act as I also means that working relationships, and trust,
I
trouble-shooters throughout the world. The I
must be built from the ground up with each new
Council has investedthese teams with the ability I assignment. It becomes easier for enemy agents
I
to act on behalf of the Leagueof Nationsto ensure I
to infiltrate new teams, especially when those
“the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous I teams are created at distant field off ices.
I
respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings I
of organized peoples with one another.” I
I
I
Team members work to gather information and I
coordinate efforts between Allied governments. I
Teams have access to both regular and military
Normally, this is done through diplomatic
I grade equipment, including superscience
I
channels, although the teams operate I
gadgets and devices. Equipment is usually
undercover when inside Axis states. Teams also
I assigned, meaning the characters are not
I
coordinate with anti-Fascist rebel groups and I
responsible for providing their own equipment,
encourage resistanceto tyranny in whatever form
I although the actual outfitting is based on the
I
particular needs of the mission. Characters may
they find it. As of now (late 1941), there are I
approximately two dozen plenipotentiary teams
I be able to requisition additional or different
I
equipment, depending on availability.Characters
operating around the globe, with most of them I
[Io6[ G E A R K R I E G
:
I
The Gamemaster should spend sufficient
efforts on detailing the major villain of his
EVILITSELF :
I
campaign. The villain sets the tone for the
adventure, he is the trigger that fires up the
action for the heroes. The villain must be
If outlandish plots and exotic locales are the
flesh and blood of a good Pulp adventure,
: intelligent and engaging, lest the players grow
tired of his antics. One of the keys to a solid
villains are the heart. These diabolical beings
are not Content with merely being evil -they
: pulp adventure is creating a villain with an
understandable - if twisted - rationale for
must undertake Plots and schemes that will
wreak havoc aCrOSS the face Of the civilized
: his diabolical actions. The rest of this chapter
will help the Gamemaster accomplish justthat.
world. Pulp villains are always creatures of ego
and vanity, even when working for someone
:
m
:
c
I I
I
I
Like heroes, pulp villains can be broken down I
I
into groups sharing similar motivations, I
capabilities and behaviors. They are actually I
I
more varied than the heroic archetypes: evil I
has many faces, but there exists few ways to I
I
oppose it. I
I
These following seven archetypes are really I
I
only meant to be guidelines and have I
deliberately been left vague. Gamemasters I
I
should flesh out any details they feel are I
missing. Of course, Gamemastersare also free I
I
to come up with their own original nemesis. If I
using an archetype to define a villain, I
I
Gamemasters should be careful not to be so I
strict as to turn the villain into a pulp stereotype. I
I
Innovative villains were rare in the historical I
Unfortunately,pulp stereotypes can be more than
pulps. Players familiar with the cliches will I just cliche, they can be offensive. The bulk of the
1
quickly recognize most types of villain early 1
pulp writing was done over half a century ago,
on, which may spoil an adventure that follows I our social values and sensitivities have since
I
a straightforward plot. Of course, it is always I
evolved. Many of the characters, especially
interesting to lull the players into thinking that I villains,were terrible examples of ethnic and racial
I
they are facing a stock villain before 1
stereotyping.There is no reasonto reproducethis
introducing a twist to his character. I level of "accuracy" when telling modern pulp
I
1
stories. This does not mean a Gamemaster must
When choosing archetypes, Gamemasters 1 avoid including any Italian gangsters, Irish
must keep in mind whether or not a villain is I
brawlers, or Chinese mystics in his game. He
I
going to belong to an organization (see page I should instead avoid implying that a//people of
115 s). Certain archetypes do not fit well with I
a given ethnicity or culture act in a particular way.
I
specific organizations (A Crime Lord and the I Characters - especially player characters and
Betsudotai, for example), and some I
important non-player characters - should be
I
archetypes would never b e found as I given well-rounded motivations,goals and flaws.
subordinates (an Aristocrat in the rank-and- I
With these as the basis of a character's behavior,
I
file Gestapo). On the other hand, some I it is unlikelythere will be any cultural stereotyping.
archetypes (such as the Mad Scientist) will I
I
rarely be encountered outside of an I
I
organization where they would lack the I
resources to carry out their plans. I
I Foreshadowing is an effective way of conveying theper-
I sonality of a villain.Here arefive ideas the Gamemaster
I
I could use.
I
I The villain gives a speech the heroes are invited to attend
I
I A family member is double-crossed by the villain.
I
I
I
Yellowedpictures show the father of the villain.
I
I The heroes buy a car that used to belong to the villain.
I
I The villain happens to possess an item the heroes are
I
I looking fo.
Impossibly wealthy and well connected, the I the Kingpin is a globetrotter. His criminal
I
Aristocrat will not be recognized as a villain. I enterprise spans nations or entire continents.
Instead, he could appear as a prominent I The Kingpin usually operates from the
I
industrialist or political leader, seemingly I shadows, relying on trusted lieutenants to do
benevolent to the lower classes while in fact I his bidding. In fact, he may publicly appear
I
indulging in pretensions of grandeur. I as a benevolent figure. Only the gravest
I circumstances will convince him to battle the
I
Of all the villain archetypes, the Philosopher I heroes. When he does emerge from his lair,
King is perhaps the most genuinely noble. Well I he comes prepared to defeat all those who
I
educated and thoughtful, he seeks to improve I oppose his criminal rule.
the world, though not necessarily for the benefit I
I
of the current inhabitants. He is mystified by I
The Mandarin is an asian subset of the Crime
any who reject his ideals. If foiled enough, he I Lord (although not necessarily Chinese).
I
becomes embittered and even more I
Supremely knowledgeable and trained in
dangerous. I esoteric Eastern arts, he is largely a regional
I
I
enemy. The heroes will encounter him in Asian
The Plutocrat has all the ambition of an I domains, although he may extend his influence
Aristocrat, but none of the charm and makes I
into New World Chinatowns. Whatever the
a
no secret of his goal of absolute control. He I case, the Mandarin represents a type of ethnic
revels in his affluence and enjoys the I
Crime Lord that is common in many pulp
I
concomitant privileges. More than likely, he I stories. Tien Lung, the secretive mastermind
was not born into wealth, having amassed his I
behind the Army of the Black Lotus, is good
I
fortune through ruthless business dealings. I example of a Mandarin.
G E A R K R I E G
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
m
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
m
I
I
The Femme Fatale is a purely female pulp I Superscience is an integral part of both the
archetype. She is always stunningly beautiful I pulp genre and the Gear Krieg setting. It
I
and often of an exotic national heritage (exotic I should come as no surprise that some selfishly
to North America). She thoroughly enjoys her I seek to use Superscience to further their own
I
ability to manipulate and exploit men. Honeyed I diabolical ends. The Mad Scientist is a fixture
words and seductive glances are her I of both pulp and Gear Krieg stories, either as
I
weapons, against which very little armor can I the main villain or its menacing lieutenant.
stand. More often than not, the Femme Fatale I
is a secret villain, pulling her strings from I Dr. Frankenstein is the archetype of
I
nr,.hn+~.rrrr~
U..&-.......:&L II--L_..--I-:.- - ~ a . r
I
I
I
I
The Mercenary archetype works especially I No evil plan can be brought to fruition by the
well as the main henchman of other villains’ I efforts of a lone villain. Loyal Henchmen are
I
agenda. His background includes an I assigned to menial tasks: cleaning, performing
incredible amount of violence. I repetitions of experiments and burying the
I
I corpses of tests gone wrong. Henchmen are
Those lucky enough to escape the carnage of I also the first ones to fall when the heroes come
I
World War I were forever warped. Their former I marching in. Many henchmen are themselves
values did not survive the bloodbath of the I the products of experimentationgone awry. They
I
Somme, or the insanity of Dieppe. After the I may be quite powerful or intelligent,but tend to
armistice, they found they could not return to I be scarred in some way.
I
their former lives. A true members of the “Lost I
Generation,” the World War I Veteran uses his I A typical henchmen, the Thug is physically
I
talents for twisted purposes, vile mockeries of I
very powerful, but lacks creativity, especially
the virtues he once upheld. I when it comes to planning a strategy. His usual
I
I
method of attack is direct confrontation. Some
The Old West may only be a memory to some, I thugs are trained warriors. They use guile and
but it’s still alive in many minds. New Mexico I
planning to achieve their ends and are
I
and Arizona entered the Union only a few years I relentless in the pursuit of their goals. They will
before World War I. These territories provided I
not stop until they or the heroes have been
I
safe havens for Old West veterans , embittered I defeated. Due to the personnel demands of
men whose skill with a gun had once earned I
the war effort, many women have made great
I
them respect. Now, the few Grizzled Gunfighter I inroads into the traditional male domains of
who remain ply their trade under the agency I
henching and thuggery.
I
of Crime Lords and Aristocrats. They are old I
but formidable opponents, adept at gunfights I
I
and mindgames. I
: hints the characters will discover with each
new victory, map the heroes’ progress and
I
I
ORGANIZATIONS :
I
remain consistent in his storytelling.
heroes, however, the main villain of a pcrlp directly concerning the heroes. However, it is
adventure is either highly placed in ian I possible that the heroes will wish to continue
organization, or created the organizatil3n fighting their way up to the head honcho
himself and now sits at its head. These provilde himself (beating Heinrich Himmler is a
:
I
him with financial aid and the technical means universal lure). The Gamemaster should not
to carry out his plans. They also supply a treat the hierarchy as inviolate. If the heroes
:
I
veritable cornucopia of minions to serve tlis have an opportunity to move up the ladder
every whim. m without upsetting the plot of the game, they
lis
flc
?e
e)
I
I
I
Size: Roughly 45,000 members, including I The Getsapo is considered to be the primary
administration and field officers civilian defense against insurgents. It has
I access to a limited amount of standard military
Theatres of Operation: Germany and GerInan-
occupied countries
:
I
equipment, and the capability of requisitioning
specific items. Gestapo superscience is
Few words in any language elicit more terror
:
I
limited, although they are rumored to possess
some frightening interrogation devices. The
than “Gestapo.” The trenchcoated members I
of the deadly German police are viewed with I organization does operate several units of
I lightly armed Loki walkers, mainly used against
apprehension, if not outright terror. They obey I
units of the Resistance. The Gestapo has
no lawsbut those Of the Nazi Party and respect I Germany and all the Occupied
no human rights whatsoever in their pursuit of I
Territories. It can draw on both the SS and the
the enemies of the Third Reich. The duties of
I local police forces for assistance,
the Gestapo are very straightforward: to I
investigate instances of treason, espionage
and sabotage as well as “criminal attacks” on
:
I ROTA
the Party and the State. It has incredible I
116 I G E A R K R I E G
- - I I ,
I
I
G E A R K R I E G 1117
\
I
Size: Roughly 72,000 members, though this The NKVD has access to Russia’s entire
varies according to purge :
I
arsenal of weaponry and superscience,
I although it rarely has cause to use it. Instead,
Theatres of Operation: USSR, advisors the NKVD will often exercise its authority in the
accompany Russians sent abroad fl field, using troop commandeers to carry out
I
I its desires. Most often, NKVD operatives will
Russia’s status as a member of the Allied I only be armed with handguns - issued with
forces overshadows the nation’s dark and I
I
any type of superscience available as a mark
violent history. While Russian soldiers are I of the Party’strust. The NKVD maintains a large
valiantly fighting against Fascist invaders, the 8
I
network of offices, prisons and interrogation
citizens of that large country are under their I centers across the USSR. In order to
own form of oppression; orchestrated mainly I
I
discourage evasions most of the gulags are
through an organization called the People’s
I located in remote locations, such as Siberia, .
Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD). I
I
‘t,
I
At the moment, the league is still in its early I
This group blends Shinto mysticism, imperialist
inception. Most criminal leaders are skeptical, I views, and criminal activities to create a
I
especially those outside Europe and North I
potpourri of evil. The Society possesses a
America. Nevertheless, Marchand has shown I greater degree of centralizationthan its Yakuza
I
a willingness to expend his own considerable I
brethren. The Society takes its name from the
resources to make the League a reality, I Black Dragon River in Manchuria. Its original
I
pouring millions of French francs into the I
goal was to ensure that the Russians would
establishment of a joint training and I never extend their hegemony south of that
I
communications network. I
landmark. The Koruruyaki is especially
I interested in ventures that simultaneously
I
enrich the group and expand the reach of
I
I Imperial Japan. Ronin in Korukuyaki service
I
Size: Unknown I
combine violence with thoughtful strategy.
I Rarely does the Society act without
Theatres of Operation: Japan, Manchuria I forethought, preferring to subdue its activities
I
(Manchukuo), North America (Immigrant I rather than risk undermining the glorious
Communities) I ascent of Japan’s rising sun.
I
I
The Yakuza are an amalgam of gamblers, I
I
thieves, and defenders of the common man. I
They ancestraly acted to protect the victims I
I Size: Unknown
of Japan’s feudal hierarchy, endearing them I
to the populace and earning them the enmity I
Theatres of Operation: China, Mainland Asia,
I
of the powerful. Now, the Yakuza are brutal I the Pacific, North America (Immigrant
criminals, dealing in drugs, prostitution, I Communities)
I
protection rackets and other unsavory I
activities. I China boasts two distinct criminal groups. The
I
I
first are the Triads. Triads originated in secret
With Yakuza help, Japanese Fascists I societies dedicated to the restoration of the
overthrew Japan’s democratic government in I
Ming dynasty. Over time, however, the Triads
I
the mid-1930’s. Once in power, they outlawed I enriched themselves through criminal
the Yakuza and began hunting them down. The I
activities, eventually becoming wholly criminal
I
Yakuza now fight Japan’s Fascist leaders for I in their methods and goals. The Triads
survival rather than for principle. They possess I
specialize in drug trafficking and extortion.
I
a “malleable morality” when it comes to I Members typically threaten Chinese
Fascism, making their current plight less I
businesses, then extort protection money in
I
pitiable than it might otherwise be. I exchange from asylum from such harassment.
Nevertheless, the Yakuza are far from defeated I
I
and remain a powerful force within the I By contrast, the Tongs were clan-based
Japanese Empire. I “cooperative associations,” created to help
I
E their members succeed in business and other
I endeavors. In return, those helped by the Tong
I
E were expected to provide assistance to others
SOCIETY) I also serviced by the association. Over time,
I
Size: Unknown I Tongs became more and more involved in
criminal activities. Yet, the Tongs continue to
I
Theatres of Operation: Global, particularly I provide aid to those in need, which makes
I
Japan, China, North Africa and the Carribean I
infiltrating them all the more risky.
I
Even more sinister than the Yakuza is the Black E
I
Dragon Society, also known as “Koruruyaki”. I
dlers, : Parachutes (15 kg packed): The parachute is
drugs, m a sturdy cloth hemisphere that increases the
:
m
atmospheric drag to decelerate a person’s fall.
They can be found in most airplanes, though
+1 to : there is not always enough for every
I passenger. In a pinch, the cloth canopy can
serve as a makeshift blanket or tent - it’s
an be
I almost waterproof and somewhat hard to cut.
I
A standard parachute kit contains the main
IVICUI~HL ni I nul: I riis a larger, better
IU parachute! One leServe parachute and the
equipped version of the standard First Aid kit. necessary harness. The parachute can
It contains the same items plus a few others : support to 250 k g . If the
designed to be used by a doctor to perform , parachute can be reused if carefully repacked
minor field operations and surgery. It fits in a in its harness.
shoebox-sized canvas or leather ba g ,
generally with a shoulder strap for ease of
: SilCORE Stats: When repacking, make a
m Personal Flight Device test (Threshold of 2).
carrying.
Survival Kit (5 kg): The standard military kit : OGL Stats: Max Dex Bonus and Armor Penalty
includes the following items: a compass, a light
but durable bedroll, ten (10) ration packs,
:
8
get worse by 2. Two standard actions are
needed to put on the suit, plus one to seal it.
basic fishing gear (opt.), a survival knife with
tools (file, cutter, tweezers, etc.), a collapsible 8
DIVING SUIT (45 KG): A baggy suit of rubber-
canteen (one liter) and a lighter (one hour fuel I like material equipped with a heavy brass
helmet and a transparent faceplate. The helmet
supply).
8 is fed air through a surface attached umbilical
’ cord but contains enough for five (5) minutes
:
I
in an emergency. More modern designs are
equipped with tanks of air to provide for up to
8
CHEMICAL WARFARE SUIT (10 KG): 8 one hour of oxygen. The suit offers some
Chemical warfare suits are overgarments 8
thermal insulation, enabling divers to go in
8
designed to protect the wearer against the I temperatures as low as - 5 degrees Celsius
effects of chemical (and, incidentally, 8
without suffering from hypothermia. Neither the
8
biological) warfare. They can protect a soldier I suit nor the faceplate provide any significant
for up to six hours. External air is processed 8
physical protection. Maximum diving depth is
8
through a filter before being redirected into the 8 around 100 meters.
gas mask, but the wearer may become I
8
overwhelmed if the chemicals are too powerful 8 GAS MASK (1 KG): A rubber mask that fits
for the filters. The suit has a double lining 8 over the mouth and nose. A small filtering unit
8
designed to offer some protection even if the 8 provides fresh air at all times, but the mask
surface of the garment is ripped or otherwise 8 does not have an independent air supply.
8
damaged. Made of heavy impregnated cloth 8 Characters equipped with a gas mask ignore
or rubber, the suits are quite cumbersome to 8 all poison gas that must be breathed in (this
8
wear and very tiring to fight in. 8 includes smoke). The mask has no effect on
8 poisons absorbed through the skin, however.
SilCORE Stats: -2 Encumbrance penalty, 8
The filter unit must be cleaned or replaced
I
cumulative with any armor worn. It takes two 8 every six hours of use. Gas masks are
Actions to put on a chemical warfare suit and 8
uncomfortable and limit sight.
I
another to “zip up.” 8
8
8
generally noias enougn cnarge Tor arouna 4
I
hours of continuous use. I maintenance and repair on mechanical
I
I
objects. The common version of the kit
HANDCUFFS (0.5 KG): Handcuffs are usually I includes two hammers, two metal handsaws,
made of chrome steel. They effectively restrain I
a variety of screwdrivers, wrenches and torque
I
the limbs they are attached to, preventing all I bars, a small burner (one hour autonomy), a
but the simplest motions. Forcibly removing a I
hand-drill with a variety of bits and a saw with
I
pair of handcuffs usually takes nothing less I blades. All this fits in a large suitcase. No repair
than a cutting torch. Attempting this task puts I
other than jury-rigging can be accomplished
I
the person wearing the handcuffs at risk for I without this kit.
severe burns and requires a few minutes of I
I
concentration. I
I
I
MAKEUP KIT (1 KG): This contains everything I
needed by actors, secret crime fighters and I
I
intelligence operatives to alter their I
appearance. The kit comes in a small wooden I
I
case with several pull-out trays and drawers. I
It contains foundations, powders and creams I
I
for altering skin tones, along with wigs and I
false hairpieces to simulate eyebrows and i
I
facial hair. The kit also contains eyebrow and I
colored pencils to create and accent skin lines, I
I
I
FANTASTIC
TECHNOLOGY!
16'
@@
I I
I I
I
swords, which still exist as accessories on
I
I
m
I some military uniforms. The Katana is a slightly
I
This category includes traditional hand-to-hand curved, single-edged sword. The traditional
I
weapons, bows and crossbows, all of which have I weapon of the samurai, it is carried by many
evolved little since the antiquity of humanity. I
I
Japanese officers.
Bows fall under the Archery Skill, crossbows use I
Small Arms and everything else uses Melee. I Axes: Hatchets are small axes, used primarily
I
Each category of Melee weapons can use a I as tools. Large Axes include battle-axes as well
corresponding Melee Skill specialization. I as fireman's and woodcutter's axes. These
I
I axes require both hands (-2 attack if they are
Clubs: This encompasses any kind of short- I used one-handed). Poleaxes have a shaft
I
to-medium length crushing weapon, from I longer than 2 meters.
baseball bats to metal pipes. A Nightstick is a I
I
hardened, balanced club used by police. The I
Spears: Short Spears are pointed shafts whose
Quarterstaff represents any long wooden or I length does not exceed two meters. Their tips
I
metallic pole, usually used with both hands. I
can be made of wood, stone or metal. Long
I Spears are pointed shafts over two meters in
Knives: Small Knives include all cutting I
length. They are similar to short spears in all
I
weapons whose blade are shorter than 20 I other aspects.
centimeters. Large Knives are heavier, with I
I
blades up to 30 centimeters. This category I Bows: The Light Bow is a 40-pound bow, about
includes bowie knives and daggers. Machetes I one meter high. The Medium Bow is a 80-
I
are extremely large knives used primarily for I pound bow, nearly two meters high and
chopping. I cumbersome. The Heavy Bow is a stiff 180-
m
I pound bow (minimum STR: +2). It is two meters
Swords: The Long Sword is the basic weapon I in length, a n d fires meter-long arrows.
I
of medieval fantasy, now reserved for I Crossbows are mechanical bows. They can
ceremonial purposes. "Cutlass" (or saber) I be pre-loaded and cause greater damage than
I
describes single-edged, curved, basket-hilted I bows, but take time to reload.
I
I
I 1
:
I
demolition purposes as well as anti-vehicle
work. Satchel charges can be set to detonate
There are several types of explosive available.
Most of them are restrictedto engineer squads.
,
,
at the end of any game round. Each require
four actions to prime (two if the primer has
Special charges, like the ones described below, , Demolitions skill).
are given to the infantry in the hopes of improving ,
attach the mine! Antimagnetic coatings that additional gelling agents were added to the
defeat the magnetic adhesion advantage of I gasoline to help make it stick to the target.
the weapon are available. Magnetic mines are
used in the same way as satchel charges.
:
I
Molotovs are thrown just like grenades. If not
extinguished, they inflict burn damage for up
’ to three rounds.
Anti-Tank Grenades were developed to give
the lowly grunt a way to attack armored targets I Sticky bombs are another improvised weapon,
at a stand-off range. AT grenades tend to take
one of two forms: a thrown grenade, usually
:
I
made from blocks of explosive, primer cord,
axle grease and any available container
with a handle, and a rifle-launched grenade.
Both use a HEAT warhead.
:
I
(usually a dirty sock). The cord is lit and the
soldier wielding the bomb runs up to stick it to
the target vehicle with the axle grease. Wheels
Molotov cocktails are improvised weapons I and treads are a popular target, being both
constructed by placing gasoline Or Some other I
weaker and conveniently placed, Sticky
combustible liquid in a glass bottle and lighting
an oil-soaked rag stuffed in the cork. Over time
: Bombs are used in the Same way satchel
I
I
charges are placed.
‘sniper’ weapon. ScoDes often inch idn diffnrmt I The Rocket Launcher is a liaht recoilless
crosshairs all
windage. They
attacks at nigh
rain. Scopes WI
G E A R
I
FLAMEWEAPOns are fielded by many nations. I
the tank and run before it explodes. The blast
Unfortunately, personal flamethrowers tend to I has a 9 meter radius, with a DM equal to the
I
be as detrimental to the user as to the enemy I
number of remaining shots x 5.
-enemy soldiers like to shoot at the fuel tank! I
I OGL Stats: Flamethrower tanks have a
I
SilCORE Stats: Flamethrowers are vulnerable I
hardness of 15. If any damage gets past the
from any attacks targeting their tanks (usually I hardness, the person wearing the flamethrower
I
worn as a backpack). Treat a tank has having I
must make a Reflex Save (DC 20) to drop the
an Armor Rating of 25. Any damage causing a I pack and run. Failure means the pack is still
I
Flesh Wound will detonate the tank -the wearer I
worn when it explodes, doing 3d6 damage for
must make an AGI test (Threshold 7) to drop I each shot left (30 ft. radius).
I
I
I
I
I
i
8
temporary mental Flaw (Gamemaster’s
discretion for type and duration). I This device is a thick ring topped with a
-
I
revolving metal disk. A special spiral pattern
is etched on the disk. When it rotates,thevisual
I
1138 I G E A R K R I E G
commands. The affected victims will not I
I
perform any action that would harm them (one I
cannot order a mesmerized person to jump I
This bulky pair of goggles has no aperture,
I
off a bridge). Casual orders will be followed I relying instead on sound waves to create a
without questions (open the door; forget we I picture on a phosphor screen in front of the
I
came here; tell me the name of the man who I eyes. The resulting image is poor, and only
delivered this; etc.). I outlines objects up to a range of 20 meters
I
I (60 ft.). On the other hand, the goggles let the
SilCORE Stats: Make an opposed Attribute I wearer see through utter darkness as if in plain
test (attacker’s INF vs. defender’s WIL); MoS I
I daylight. Dogs, bats and other animals are
is the number of one-sentence commands the I excited by the ultrasounds generated by the
attacker can issue. MoS is also the trance I
I device.
duration in hours. m
I
SilCORE Stats: Wearer ignores darkness
OGL Stats: Treat the target as if under the I
I modifiers out to 20 meters. -2 to Notice or PER
effects of a Suggestion spell. Will saving throw I tests involving small details.
(DC 15) negates. Target can make a new I
I
attempt each hour until the task is complete I OGL Stats: Wearer effectively gains darkvision.
or 6 hours have elapsed. I
-5 to Search checks involving small details.
I
I
m
I
I
I
This complex chemical compound attacks the I This is a small hand-free radio set. It can be
molecular bonds of metals, reducing them to I
used to communicate with a unit on the same
I
finely-grained dust in a matter of minutes. It I frequency, up to 2 km away (it can receive
can be used as a shell for gas guns or I
messages from more powerful transmitters up
a
grenades, or injected in small, easily I to their own maximum range). The casing is
concealable glass pellets. The gas acts on m
made of brushed metal, and is extremely light
I
most metal, dissolving them at a rate of l d 6 I (30 g) and sturdy. A tiny battery that lasts two
cms per turn. It does not affect living flesh. I
days, or two hours with constant use, powers
n
Many heroes like to keep a glass pellet up their I it.
sleeve, ready to burn through handcuffs or a I
I
cell lock. 8
I
I
I
I
Thanks to an advanced glass-making
I technique, an X-ray reactive screen has been
“Plastic flesh” is the nickname given to a family I
embedded within a seemingly ordinary
I
of soft plastics that can be grafted on living 8 monocle. When skillfully using it in combination
flesh without harm. When molded properly,the I
with a radium wand (a pencil-sized device that
I
substance is virtually identical to skin, in both I can be hidden in a cane or an umbrella), the
color and texture. A palm-sized ball of plastic I
wearer can see through doors, clothes and thin
I
flesh is enough to thoroughly disguise the face m walls. Metal obiects appear in stark contrast.
:
I
SilCORE Stats: +3 to Stealth tests involving
vision when active. +2 to Defense tests against
5 ranged attacks coming from 10 meters away
or farther. The suit requires one action per
’
I
I
I A by-product of the research conducted at
’ Menlo Park, this strange device is composed
of a set of ankle and wrist bracelets. A thick
’
I
G E A R K R I E G
I
I
8
I
At the end of its duration, the user must make
8 a HEA test (Threshold 7). Failure results in a
The process for creating a zombie are different 8
Flesh Would, a Fumble results in a Deep
8
for German and Japanese experiments, I Wound. Fusing the optional Fatigue rules, the
although the end results tend to be very similar. 8
user also suffers a -3 penalty.
I
The Germans use a highly refined drug, a 8
single dose of which can last up to 2 hours. 8
8
Once the drug is flushed from the system, 8
victims will return to normal. The Japanese use I
8
a biological agent (Contagiousness: 20, Onset I
Both versions of the process require a Fortitude save
Time: 2 weeks, Virulence: 20). Gamemasters 8 (DC40). The Japanese agent’s incubation period is
8
should use the disease rules (CORE rules, 8
14 days, and ifthe damage takes effect, the changes
p.129). A Fumbled Virulence test brings about 8 below becomepermanent. Thefollowing changes are
8
immediate death. There is currently no cure. 8
made to the victim: +8 STR, +2 DEX, + I CON, -4
Advanced medical procedures may delay the 8 INT -4 WS, -9 CHA. Ifany ability drops to zero as a
I
progression of the degeneration. 8
result of the change, the victim dies. Five hit points
8 are gainedper victim’s level. The victim temporarily
Both methods will bring about the same 8
gains the Improved Brawl feat.
8
changes in the victim: -3 to PSY; -2 to APP, 8
CRE, INF and PER; + 4 to FIT. The Secondary 8 The STRENGTH OF VIRTUOUS SPIRIT cocktail applies
Attributes should be recalculated. There is an
8 only the positive changes of the zombi$cation pro-
8
additional bonus of + I 5 STA. 8 cess. The effects last for 20 combat rounds, at the
8 end of which the user must make a Fortitude save
I
8 (DC 30) to avoid losing 1d6 CON. Lost CON is re-
8 gained at a rate of I point per houl:
I
I
This is a combat drug used by the Japanese. 8
It is most often used by members of betsudotai 8
I
squads. The drug lasts for 2 minutes (20 8
combat rounds), and provides the following 8
I
bonuses: +3 to STR, +5to UD and +15 to STA. I
I
I
8
I
I
I
Flesh Pockets are supple, sealable I Crude limbs do not require any power source
I
containment units hidden within a person’s I and can be used indefinitely. One small battery
flesh. Mini pockets can hold up to 8 cubic I is required per sensory organ, hand or full arm.
I
centimeters, and small ones up to 250 cubic I One large battery is required for each leg; a
centimeters, enough to hide a handgun. They I powerframe also uses a large battery. Prosthetic-
I
can be implanted anywhere except the head. I level replacements will function for an entire
I week on one battery. Anything more powerful
SilCORE Stats: Pockets are detected with a I
will last for only three days. Batteriestake several
8
Notice test, Threshold 5 for mini and 4 for small. I minutes to replace, and can be recharged in an
+2 to Thresholds if pockets are empty. I
hour from an available power source.
8
I
OGL Stab:Pocketsdetectedwith Spot check, DC: I A quick maintenance check must be done
I
15 for small and 20 for mini. +5 to DC if empty. when the batteries are changed. Once a year,
I a medical examination is required to ensure
I
I all replacements and augmentations, whether
I powered or not, are working well with the body.
8
Skin armor is a layer that absorbs damage, like I
a skull plate. It has little effect on the wearer’s I SilCORE Stats: Wearer makes a HEA test
movement, but is readily apparent. Skin armor
I (Threshold 3) per replacement for each 24-
I
does not grow or shrink, nor does it repair itself. I hour period after a routine check is missed.
I Failure means the replacement stops working
n
SilCORE Stats: +5 or +10 points of Armor, -2 I until a successful Technical Sciences
APP. Armor loss is 2 points/FleshWound, double I (Mechanics) test (Threshold 3) is made.
I
for Deep Wound. Armor repair requires Medicine I
Skill 3+, one week of work per point repaired. I OGL Stats: Wearer makes a Fortitude save (DC
I
Normal healing rates are doubled. I
10) per replacementfor each 24-hour period after
I a routine check is missed. Failure means the
I replacement stops working until a successful
OGL Stats: +2 to +4 natural Defense bonus, -2 I
CHA. Normal healing rates are doubled. Does m Craft (mechanical) check (DC 15) is made.
I
not affect DEX. I
I
I
I
I
I
easy to repair in the field. The Jeep has been
used for scouting, courier duties and any other , boxy canvas cover can be snapped up to
protect the occupants from inclement weather.
odd job that an army on the move required, I
The jeep offers such pliability and can be , As a note, the jeep is exclusively a military
vehicle, and will not be found in a Civilian Setting
produced quickly and in great numbers - I
typically crowding army camps. It is also very , unless brought there by military personnel.
I
S
I
I
m
m
I exists a huge number of variants, from
m
m command posts to mortar carriers to
m engineering vehicles. Nearly all versions are
I
armed and carry at least one light machine
m gun operated from the passenger seat beside
The German forces make extensive use of I
semi-tracked vehicles to transport troops and m the driver. The Americans also use half-tracks,
m although not to the same degree. The statistics
weapons across the battlefield. The tracks give m
better performance than wheels in rough m listed below are only for a basic, generic model
terrain without the full complexity and cost of I that can be used to represent either German
m
a tank-type transmission. They do, however, m or American vehicles. As with jeeps, half-
limit the top speed of the vehicle for road use. I tracks are purely militaryvehicles, and are not
m
Half-tracks are so simple and sturdy that there m normally found in civilian settings.
m
I
I
I
8
I
always brought near the target point by another
naval vessel. Some midget subs actually have
docking ports, and can attach themselves,
, remora-like,to larger submarines.The Japanese
These small one- or two-man submarines are
designed to penetrate harbors and other highly
,
I
navy in particular makes extensive use of midget
subs for recOnnaiSm-~ceand espionage,
defended zones in order to deliver agents or
damage a target. Some larger models, such as
,
I
although these occasionally lack the power to
Overcome tidal Cl~rrentsand get Washed UP on
the BritishX-Craft, can carry up to four men. All
are deathly silent but somewhat short-ranged
,
I
shore. Usually, midget subs are not armed to
Save on space and weight. If they do carry
Since their primitive batteries can only hold a
limited charge. For this reason, they are almost
:
I
Weapons, it is Usually in the form Of a handful Of
Or twin torpedoes.
I
m The walker’s ability to shoot and move, coupled
m
I I m
m
with the highly reliable engine in most versions,
made it a favorite of its crew. The 37mm M4B
m
m gun was adequate early on in the war, but by
m early 1942 the walker was outgunned by its
I
m Axis counterparts. Various refits were made in
I
m
the period between 1941 and 1943 which
m extended the vehicle’s combat abilities, but
m toward the end of the conflict the M11 was
m
m mostly relegated to scouting, reconnaissance
, I
m
and flanking operations.
m
m The A1 was an open-topped hull that was
m
m
produced when the walker concept was
m relatively new. To cut weight and help it along,
m
there was no roof, which also made it easier
m for the crew to see where they were going!
m
I
m As the first tests proved, the pilot’s position
I (high and at the front) made it easier to see
m
m than an equivalent tank, and a roof was added
m to support a small turret (M11A2). The success
m
m of the latter made the US. Army upgrade the
gun to a 37mm cannon (M11A3), though both
I
- A1 and A2 continued to serve as recon and
I Nationality
Date In SeM’ce:
US, Britain
M11Al:Mar. 1939, A2:
:
m
anti-infantry vehicles throughout the confllct. I
m
Feb. 1940, A3: May 1941 m
VARIANTS: EARLY: A I : As shown. add .SO MG; A2: Remove the open defect: add turret-mwnted 5 0 MG; A3: Remove the
Open defect, add turret-mounted M4B.
:
I
different armor plating. The vehicle also used
a British-made radio and computator.
:
I
Most of the Cavaliers in service with the British
army were either of the A, B or C models. All
:
I
three shared the same riveted hull and armor
design as their American counterpart (the B
:
I
and C variants also sported the same turret),
and, apart from the British engines and
: electronics, were exactly the same.
I The C variant was a much needed improvement
, over the previous models. Refinements by
I Vickers from the Christie Walker Suspension
:
I
followed a natural progression, as industrial
production was smoothed out and technical
:
I
refinements came to fruition. A rapid-firing light
cannon was introduced (based on a necked-
,
I
down AA shell), as well as the better M40
explosive charges seen on the Roundhead. A
:
I
better radio set with more extensive range was
alsoadded.
I I
I
I I nit rums nniar
G E A R K R I E G 11651
and maintain these machines. I ne waiKer does I
have an Ancillary Propulsion System, although
its large size makes it somewhat slower than I
I
Defense: 9 Mecha Defects: Optimized Armor: Front, Noisy, Reduced
Strength: 18 (+4)
I
I I
1
I numbers to Axis allies or pro-German client
I
I
states. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia
I each received about a half-dozenAusf A walkers
I
I
along with the necessary technical support. Small
Ausf C: Nov. 1941 I numbers of Ausf A and B vehicles were also
I
I exported to Croatia. During operation
At the conclusion of the Loki field tests in Spain, I Barbarossa,the Soviets captured large numbers
I
it was realized that the walker would not meet I
of PzKpf Vs of all types, some of which were
all the planned goals of Germany’s walker I hastily pressed into temporary service or used
I
program. A new vehicle was p u t into I
as bait. As with the captured Lokis, these
development which would eventually become 8 machines are often in a state of disreDair.
known as the PzKpf V “Valkurie.” Specifications
were issued to Daimler-Benz, Rheinmetall-
Borsig and Krupp AG. A working prototype
was produced by 1939, shortly before the start
of the war, but full production did not begin
until the following year.
I I70 G E A R K R I E G
Grenadebumhers 7d10 S 14m 3 Semiauto, Blast, Indirect Arc of Fire (Fr), 3x Less
Ammo, 3x Short Range
engine to shut down. This problem is inherent
I to the suspension; all the Donners built to date
I
exhibit this flaw. However, the design team is
I confident the suspension can be fixed before
’ the walker goes into full production in January
:
I
The sloped main hull is an attempt to increase
armor protection for crouching walkers, though
:
I
crews complain about lack of headroom. The
vehicle was designed from the start to be
:
I
highly modular and it is hoped that vehicles
can undergo a constant upgrade program as
:
I
part of their routine servicing. With the addition
of heavier armament, the Donner is closing the
: gap between walker and tank in terms of
performance, but it will most likely not be until
’ the Uller begins production that the lines
I between these two types of vehicles truly begin
Grenade Launchers 7d10 S 14m 3 Semiauto, Blast, Indirect Arc of Fire (Fr), 3x L e s s
Ammo, 3x Short Range
SmokeLaunchets S SS 3m 3 Blast, Indirect Arc of Fire (Fr), 4 x Less
Ammo, 3x Short Range I 1
Grenadebunchars 7d10 S 14m 3 Semiauto. Blast, Indirect 3x Less Ammo, 3x Shwt
I G E A R K R I E G I I77
' is an "advanced" Japanese design the Tengu
I lacks a radio and advanced targeting
:
I
The Tengu has been in service for roughly a
month, and has seen wide deployment against
the Russians in the Manchukuo region of
I occupied China. Like Japan's other walkers,
:
I
the Tengu is being used primarily as an anti-
infantry weapon. The few skirmishes between
The Tengu 41 came about from a massive re- the Tengu and ~~~~i~~ have gone
evaluation of the Shiki design. While Japan has
not stopped producing Shiki walkers, it was
:
I
decidedly against the Tengu, While much
I maneuverable than the Russian tanks, a single
realized early in 1941 that there was enough I shot is usually more than enough to disable
performance data from active service in China
I
I the walker. The Tengu has yet to see combat
and from German engineers to begin Creating I against other walkers, although with the
an
- advanced
- - -
version. The Tenau was intended *I hnmhin,-,
v",,,ld,,lynf
"I
Paprl
I "U,
Mprhnr
I IIU,
Ameriran
" " , , I \,,I"Il"UlI
fnrrQs
,",""" ...,.
will
to be the best walker that Japan could produce I undoubtedly be encountering the Tengu soon.
with its current technology. Unfortunately,while I
I
Heavy Laser' T - 1 x 9 8 0 1 Attenuating Damage (l), Unl.
HEAT, Overheating (2),
VARIANT:
G E A R K R I E G IIg31
I
I
I
I
Since entering service, the plane has been
I used predominantly along the Eastern Front,
I
I
conducting long-range bombing missions
I against Russian targets. The deployment
I
The Luftwaffe is arguably the most I
range of the plane is so great that it can
technologically advanced air force in the war. I effectively hit targets on almost any front from
I
Many consider it to have “written the book” on I
within German borders. However, for practical
aerial warfare in the modern age, particularly I reasons (not the least of which is fuel
I
regarding tactical ground support missions. conservation), planes are often stationed much
I
While it has not been as fast as the RAF to I closer to their targets. As the HO 229 has just
I entered service, there are currently no variants
deploy jet-propelled aircraft, the designs the I
Luftwaffe is now fielding are quite advanced I on the design.
I
compared to their British counterparts. I
I186 G E A R K R I E G I
I
I
1
I
I
S
I Defense:
Speed: Land 36 kph
9
Endwance (2hours at max speed),Start-Up Tme (1 rniute)
I
G E
I
I I
I
I
I
c3
xw
P
r
20
w
F
the c
did
we
superscience equipment. I Reloading Internal Magazines: Some rifles and
I
I shotguns do not use detachable magazines.
laau I Rounds must be loaded through a mechanism
I
I not known for its speed. Each action spent
To reflect the technology of the era, the I allows a character to reload two rounds. There
I
Gamemaster may want to change the way that I is no way to speed up this process.
personal armaments perform within the game I
I
with respect to reload times and rates of fire. I
Despite the proliferation of superscience, I
I
many models of handguns and firearms have I
remained essentially unchanged since the I Although mentioned in passing at various points
I in this book, it should perhaps be mentioned ex-
Great War. Although soldiers on all fronts are I
receiving new equipment when possible, most I plicitly - Gear Urieg is not a game about the su-
I pernatural. Even though paranormal occurrences
are still using the weapons they were issued. I
Civilians especially will have limited access to I were a staple of the old pulps, nothing of the sort
I
any kind of modern weapons, and will most I
happens here. The emphasis of the game is on sci-
likely be carrying older guns. I ence, even though it has been taken to a fantastic
I
I
extreme. There are no such things as ghosts,
Manual Action: Some firearms rely on the user I undeads, telepathy or magic pixies unless justi-
I
to operate a chambering mechanism to load the I
fied by some technological means. Any manifesta-
next round of ammunition. Treat any weapon with I tions that appear supernatural are always revealed
I
a bolt action, pump action or lever action as I
to be of very earthly origin, usually the product of
having the Power Hungry System Flaw, requiring I an experimental superscience device.
I
a character to spend one action to chamber the I I
next shell before the weapon can be fired again. I
I
I
Reloading Revolvers: When reloading a I
revolver, all the bullets must be reloaded I
I
manually. Each action went allows a character I
I Although Gear Krieg is a “historical” pulp game,
:
I
it is very reflective of modern values. This is
particularly true of the role of women in the
Behind the scenes, there are afew conventions
that the Gamemaster should adhere to if he
:
I
setting. Certain pulp standards, like the Femme
Fatale, have been included, and for the most
wishes to follow pulp convention. The first and
most basic is that heroes rarely die. They may
:
1
part the role of women has been greatly
expanded, particularly in terms of the war effort.
be beaten down badly, battered and bruised In just about every Allied nation, women can be
to the point of unconsciousness, but they I found in active combat positions, particularly as
almost never take the ”big sleep.” If the pilots and support staff. Women have generally
Gamemaster wants to emphasize the perilous I not been assigned to the infantry, but in some
I
nature of a situation or show that the villain is I situations (like Stalingrad) the situation is so
serious, he might kill a NPC instead. Like their I desperate that everybody fights, regardless of
action hero descendants, pulp protagonists their actual jobs or training.
suffer greatly for their victories. Unless the I
':
completely derailed, or the entire party is about vehicle weapons can continue to fire until an
to die, a lucky coincidence can be caused for attack roll is Fumbled. At that point, the weapon
1 to 3 Genre Points. The cost is based on how I is considered jammed or out of ammo, but can
obvious the editing is. For example, the
characters find a crucial piece of evidence (1
:
I
fire normally again at the cost of one standard
action to fix the problem. Weapons usina ROF
point), the deathtrap jams just as it is about to
crush the characters (2 points) or a previously
:
I
subtract the rating used from'the attackroll.
171 THRILLING
ADVENTURE!
I
I
to even determine a price, except for dramatic
I effect. When a character receives a new
I
I
gadget, he should be reminded that it is “worth
I hundreds of pounds, dear boy, so do try and
I
I
be careful with it this time ...”
I
I
I
I
I
I In this day and age, technology is a basic part
m of everyday life. Most people are familiar
I
I enough with technical terms to know when they
I are being misused, and thanks to certain
a
I movies and television shows, many players are
I not very tolerant of long technical explanations
I
I consisting of largely made-up words
I (technobabble). When finding words to
I
I describe new superscience devices,
Superscience plays a central role in Gear I Gamemasters should be looking at
I
Krieg, providing much of the flavor that makes I terminology in use in the late nineteenth and
it different from a pure World War II or pulp I early twentieth centuries, especially terms
I
action game. Nearly all game sessions will I used to describe brand new inventions. For
have at least some aspect of Superscience in I example, the bicycle was once called a
I
them. Technology is even more prevalent than I “velocipede” and the zipper was originally
in the real world, and this will affect many I named a “clasp-locker.”
I
aspects of the characters’ lives. It is such an I
integral part of the Modern Age society that it I For the most part, new terms and descriptions
is almost impossible to run a game in the Gear I should b e limited to the naming of
I
Krieg universe without it. I superscience devices. Even though it might
I
be helpful to the character to know how these
I
Although a “standard” list of Superscience I devices work, long in-game explanations
gadgets is outlined in Chapter 6, the actual I
should be avoided unless it is crucial to the
I
physical performance of each device will vary I plot or if characters really want to know.
considerably. With a few mass-produced I
I
exceptions, devices are effectively crafted
individually, and while the overall
performance in game terms is similar, for
roleplaying purposes there may be quite a Many of’the OGL games currently do not include
difference. The Gamemaster should decide construction systems. As a quick means to summa-
if there are any problems particular to the rize a superscience invention’s capabilities, the
devices the characters will be using. These Gamemaster should consider using fantasy game
problems could be serious (vulnerable to spell effects. The equivalent caster level of these e f
moisture or heat) or just inconvenient (heavy fects can be no higher than the scientist designing
or to big to fit in a pocket). the device, and the limited power available to small
devices should usually result in a lower caster level.
As mentioned before, the price of If an actual construction system is desired, the
superscience devices tends to be irrelevant Gamemaster should look into d20 Meeha. Its con-
for characters. They are handling new struction system was used to create many of the d20
inventions and one-of-a-kind prototypes. walkers for Gear Krieg.
The price is incalculable, or at least well
beyond the means of the average I
adventurer. Therefore, there is often no need I
11961 G E A R K R I E G
ADVENTURE!
THRILLING 171
m
I
I
Gamemasters interested in including a wider I
e
range of vehicles from the war should look into I
the Gear Krieg miniatures game, particularly I
I
the supplement Fighting Vehicles of the I
Modern Age (DP9-515). For those interested I
I
in using the CORE Mechanical Design rules I
to create their own vehicles, here is some extra I
I
detail that can be used to refine the process. m
I
Real World Values: Some vehicle statistics can I
I
be derived from actual real-world values. I
Research may be needed to find some of the I
I
information. I
I
Expanded Maneuver Ratings: The table in I
m
section 4.1.6 of the CORE rules provides a m
general list of Maneuver Ratings, but it does I
I
not contain some of the more eccentric I
vehicles of the war. A slightly expanded list to n
I
give designers a better idea of how vehicles I
perform follows. Some vehicles are listed more I
I
than once - these vehicles have a wide I
performance range. I
I
I
Weapon Accuracy and Fire Control: Although I
Fire Control is no longer part of the CORE
design process, it is still helpful to have an idea
:
I
of the factors comprising weapon system !
accuracy on vehicles. Essentially, Weapon
Accuracy (Acc) is a total of two numbers: the
base weapon accuracy rating, and the Fire
:
I
I
Control Rating, from the table at right. I
G E A R K R I E G 11971
171 THRILLING
ADVENTURE!
si i* I
I Vehicles have one RP for each of: Size, Crew,
AND DESIGN I
I
Maneuver, Fire Control*, Armor, each
I Movement System, Deployment Range and
Typically, characters will simply be handed I
each individual Perk.
I
completed superscience prototypes that they I
can use immediately or after a little training. I Equipment has an RP for the mass and each
I
There may come a point, however, when the I
distinct effect it has.
design process itself is important to a story, m
especially if characters are designing new I Weapons have one RP for each of: Short
I
superscience items themselves. The following I Range, Accuracy, Damage Multiplier, Rate of
system can be used to flesh out the time and I Fire and each Perk.
I
effort required to create a new piece of I
I Flaws do not have RPs unless a Flaw is going
superscience. It focuses exclusively on I to be removed from an existing design.
mechanical designs, however, and does not I
I Removing a Perk does not require an RPs.
cover electronics, medicine or developing new I
theories (which require too much time). I If an invention does not have a particular
I
I statistic (for example, a glider has no powered
I Movement System), there is no associated RP.
I
I The RP represents the total Margin of Success
The vehicle or gadget should be created with I (MoS) that must be accumulated over a series
I
the CORE system design rules. It should be I of Skill tests. The frequency of the roll is up to
built exactly as it will be when completed, I the Gamemaster, but it should never by any
I
including Annoyances and Lemon Defects. I more frequent than once per day, unless there
The Gamemaster may calculate the various I are extenuating circumstances. The total
I
Threat Values if he wishes, but for the most I required MoS is calculated using the table
part these are not used in the roleplaying I below.
I
version of Gear Krieg. Because this step of I
the process will take some time,
Gamemasters may want to either set aside
a block of time during a session to do the
work or complete it between sessions.
I
I
I
I At this point, all the bugs in the design should be
I
A series of Technical Sciences Skill tests must I worked out, and the invention should be ready
I for actual mass manufacture. Of course, in times
also be made for each component group listed I
on the table below. If a test fails, the Margin of I of war, prototypes are often rushed through field
I testing, and not every problem is actuallycaught
Failure (MoF) x 10 in hours is added to the I
time to build. The die roll results of all failed I before the invention begins production on the
I
tests should be totaled and added to the result I
factory floor. As with Field Testing, it is completely
of each new roll. Once the Threshold is I up to the Garnemaster as to whether or not an
I
surpassed, work on that particular component I
invention is ready for production.
r- -- - - - - - --
their nemeses, characters can shrug off a great I
and equipment are still available, but Signature
I
deal of damage. Even if injured, any time spent I items are not. Players should be tracking
in the Inca1 hnsnital will he minimal More Doints I ntmnithinn rnlotnri tn thnir rharartarc frnm fi IPI
a
I
territory. They could b e operating semi-
I permanently in the Fascists’own backyard using
Gear Krieg is a diverse setting. While certain I
false identities. As World War II heats up, the need
I
types of adventures clearly predominate, they I for skilled spies will only increase, opening many
are not the only ones possible. Indeed, one of I
opportunities for a Gamemaster wishing to use
I
the great strengths of the setting is that it can I intrigue as a backdrop for his campaign.
support a wide variety of themes. Listed below a
I
are some of the most obvious of these themes, I
PreliminaryWork: Espionagehtrigue campaigns
along with brief suggestions on how to I usually begin with a trigger event (PLOT) that sets
m
implement them. Gamemasters are I
the campaign’s events into motion. Most likely,
encouraged to consider these themes as they I the characters work for an organization (ORG)
I
are constructing their own campaigns. I
that is interested in discovering the truth about
I an event (PLOT) or individual (LEAD or CAST).
The suggestions included in this section I
This sort of campaign almost always includes
I
feature abbreviations in parentheses to I layered mysteries (PLOT), multiple sets of
indicate plot elements the Gamemaster should I
opponents (EXTR), and possibly disguises or fake
I
develop before the campaign begins. The I identities (PLOT). If the characters are sponsored
abbreviations are: LEAD for Lead Character; I
by an organization,they may be given specialized
I
CAST for Supporting Cast; EXTR for Extras, equipment (PROP and/or SSCI) and a
henchmen, and miscellaneous Non-Player I
headquarters from which to operate (MAP). In
I
Characters; MAP for any location layout; SSCl I the end, the mystery is revealed to be the work
for Superscience devices; PROP for all I
of a single evil mastermind(LEAD), who uses his
I
personal weapons, equipment, and other I agents (CAST) and henchmen (EXTR) to keep
props; ORG for any group or organization; and I
the characters at bay while he completes his
I
PLOT for the various story threads which are m nefarious plans.
part of a particular campaign style. I
I
I
8
8
The time period of Gear Krieg is also that of 8 Exploration is often overlooked as a theme in
8
organized crime: the Mafia, Yakuza, Triads and 8 pulp stories. With so much going on in the
Tongs are all pushing their own agendas, as I “civilized” world, it is often easy to forget that
8
well as forwarding their own country’s 8 much of the globe remains unexplored, even
ambitions. Not surprisingly, many pulp heroes 8 in the 1940’s. Delving into the uncharted
I
tangle with mobsters. Indeed, master criminals 8 reaches of Africa, South America, or even
and their henchmen are an important part of 8 Antarctica makes for riveting drama - who
8
the genre. Entire campaigns can be weaved 8 knows what secrets remain undiscovered in
around thwarting the schemes of Crime Lords. I the hearts of these wildernesses? Exploration
8
8 adventures can offer a nice break from the
Crime fighting campaigns where Crime Lords 8 usual Nazi-fighting and superscience.
have set up shop in a single locale tend to be I
I
very sedentary, focusing on determinant I Of course, exploration can be woven into
locations. Conversely, the pulps are filled with 8 adventures using all sorts of different
I
all manner of international criminals. Crime 8 thematics. Many villains use remote areas for
fighters can globetrot if the Gamemaster 8 their secret lairs. Likewise, villains, such as
8
wishes so, foiling one scheme in Europe and I Nazis bent on recreating the fabled Aryan race,
another one in Asia. To lead a crime-fighting 8 often seek lost knowledge and ancient artifacts
I
campaign, the Gamemaster must possess a 8 among the ruins of forgotten civilizations.
preliminary understanding of the logistics 8 Exotic locales are one of the staples of pulp
8
behind a criminal organization. As a guideline, 8 adventure. By adding an element of
smaller criminal organizationswill have smaller I exploration, Gamemasters can ensure that the
8
(and more straightforward) ambitions. A local I former never become formulaic or used only
mafia will probably never build a doomsday -
8
weapon, although they would definitely use 8
armament superscience to promote crime 8 Preliminary Work: Whether on their own or as
across their city.
8 part of a group (ORG), the characters head
I
I off into an uncharted region (MAP). They may
Preliminary Work: The Player Characters may 8 bring with them one or more assistants,
8
work for a crime fighting organization (ORG) 8 scientific advisors (CAST) and specialized
or they may act as vigilantes, in which case 8
equipment designed for the task (PROP, SSCI).
I
they will likely contend with resistance from I In such campaigns, the characters must cross
local authorities (CAST, EXTR). Crime fighters I swords with their rivals (LEAD, CAST, EXTR)
I
often use a central locale (MAP) from which to 8 in perilous wilderness settings, such as rope
launch their missions (PLOT) against the 8
bridges spanning deep gorges. They may
8
underworld. A sample campaign may begin I confront the dark side of human nature in the
with small time criminals (EXTR) and slowly I form of internal strife and sabotage (PLOT,
I
escalate until it deals with the master criminal 8 CAST). Every step the characters take into the
8
and his henchmen (LEAD, CAST). The master 8
unknown may reveal unexpected surprises
criminal, of course, has a grand plan (PLOT) 8 (PLOT, CAST, EXTR). What they find may not
I
that the characters must foil. The villain does 8
be quite what they seek (PLOT).
I
IT1
I
I
characters are familiar with the hierarchy’s
I structure.
Gear Krieg adventures follow what might be I
I
called a “four act model.” This differs from the I
Some thought should be given as to how Act I
more traditional “three act model” explained I will bridge into Act II. Which lead will draw the
I
in the CORE rules. Obviously, both models I
characters deeper into the plot? Perhaps the
have a beginning and an ending act, but the I characters could not decisively eliminate the
I
extra act in Gear Krieg helps to emphasize the I
trouble they faced, and must endure a
retarded climax of the story. Traditional pulps I rematch? Perhaps the characters did
I
were often serialized and took an inordinate I
overcome their trouble, but in the process
amount of time to reach their conclusions. The I uncovered a mystery, or got into a worse
I
extra act is meant to emulate this tradition as I
predicament. Whatever the line, when Act I is
well as give the Gamemaster additional I over, the players should be eager to continue.
I
opportunities to work in pulp gimmicks like I
cliffhangers and lots of extra action. I Questions to Ask: Does Act I have suspense?
I Does the trouble that first appears personally
I
I affect the characters? Does everything
I scheduled to happen make sense? Is there a
I
I
bridge to Act II?
The first act introducesthe heroes to the setting I
and the story. It quickly threatens them with I
I
trouble. This should affect the characters on a I
personal level, either emotionally (exploiting I
I
some aspect of the characters’ backgrounds) I
or physically (a character is in a dire strait). I
I
Either way, they need a reason to become I
tangled in the plot. Otherwise, the Gamemaster I
I
may be hard pressed to justify why the I
characters should stick around when things I
I
reallyturn bad. Although significant, the trouble I
in Act I is just the tip of the iceberg, an I
I
indication of what has yet to manifest. I
Depending on the nature of the unrest, the I
I
characters may be able to settle it now, or their I
efforts could be inconclusive, providing a I
I
possible bridge to Act 11. I
I
The Gamemaster should also use Act I to m
I
introduce important Non-Player Characters I
that are going to be present throughout the I
I
entire story. The main villain does not I
necessarily need to appear at this point, but I
I
the characters should at the very least have I
the opportunity to mesh with a few of his thugs. I
I
If using a hierarchy of villains (see page 115), I
the characters should remain at the bottom of I
I
171 THRILLING
ADVENTURE!
I
I
During Act Ill, the Gamemaster should insure
I each encounter offers something new and is
Act II should begin with a bang. After I
not simply a rehash of tricks and tactics from
I
concluding Act I, characters should realize that I the first two acts. Remember that, by now, the
matters are going to get worse. Over the I
main villain will be acquainted with the
I
course of the act, characters should unveil I characters, and will act to exploit any known
some important clues relatedto the overall plot. e weaknesses.
I
If they have not yet met the main villain, now is I
the time to introduce him. As with Act I, there I Questions to Ask: Does the action follow
I
should be a bridge from Act II to Act Ill, I
logically from Act II? Does the action escalate?
something that will keep the characters moving I Are the characters facing new challenges? Is
I
and the players on their toes. I
Act Ill well paced? Is there a turning point that
I gives the characters the means to defeat the
One important concept to keep in mind during I
villain in Act IV?
I
Act II and Act Ill is pacing. Good planning will I
help maintain good pacing. Often, if a story I
rema
e
has a “weak” midsection, it is because the I
writer doesn’t have a clear idea as to what to I THEPLATE
I
do next and muddles his way through. The I
The final act begins where Act Ill left off. The
characters should regularly be presented with I
I characters possess the information required
novel elements of the main plot. These do not I
to defeat the main villain and the final battle
necessarily have to be combat, should be I
I ensues. At this point, the characters should
exciting and make the players feel like the plot I
have worked through the entire hierarchy of
is moving. Downtime and rest periods are fine, I
I villains up to the main villain himself.The action
but they should really be used as a contrast to I in this climactic battle should be the most
the action - short breathers before the I
I intense of the entire story. The Gamemaster
characters plunge back into the thick the n should play with the level of tension - the
action. I
I characters have the means to defeat the main
I
Questions to Ask: Does the action follow I
villain, but victory is still hypothetical. The
logically from Act I? Does Act II have I Gamemaster might also consider including
I
suspense? Is Act II well paced? Does the I
one last surprise. Shock endings and other
menace grow like a black cloud? Are the I gimmicks are common in pulp stories.
I
heroes knee-deep into trouble? I
I
The Gamemaster should try to find a way for
I all the characters to be involved in the final
I
I
battle. After all, they are finally in a position to
I payback the villain for all the recent misery he
Act Ill should seriously aggravate the playeris I
caused. The villain should be defeated in a
I
situation. It should make Act II look like a I satisfying way, preferably with an element of
I
sunday afternoon sipping tea with grandma. I poetic justice.
By this point, the characters should have I
sufficiently disturbed the hierarchy of villains I The actual end of the adventure should wrap
e
to be receiving some serious attention from the I up the plot line. Unlike real life, pulp stories
main villain or one of his personal lieutenants. I come in tidy packages, and rarely leave
I
The act should end on a note of hope: the I unanswered questions concerning the events
characters discover some critical information, I
I
or developments that took place earlier on. On
a major villainous spawn is eliminated or an I the other hand, if the Gamemaster knows there
I
ally is rescued. This is a turning point for the I
is going to be a sequel, he might choose to
characters. The situation may still b e I start laying its groundwork right away, for
I
desperate, but the characters now have the I
example by having the main villain escapes,
means to achieve victory. I or mysteriously vanish, leaving behind an
illhnrlinn
IIIUVUII 1 9
nmnn
VI I I C 7 1 I. I ‘
AD\
THRILLING
I
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Questions to Ask: Does the action follow I only be done if it is dramatically appropriate,
I
logically from Act Ill? Is the climactic battle the I
but good cliffhangers should be rewarded with
high point of the adventure? Is there one last I Genre Points or Emergency Dices.
I
trick? Is there a satisfying way for the villain to I
be defeated? Will there be a sequel? I
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Almost as common as cliffhangers are sequels.
I The authors of pulp stories were loathe to
I
Cliffhangers are the nuts and bolts of the pulp I
dispose of good villains; no matter the end of
tradition. Many pulp stories were serial, with I the tale, they were bound to reappear in the
I
each episode ending in the middle of an action I
future. For Gamemasters, sequels offer a mean
sequence to ensure the audience would return I of reducing the amount of preparation time
I
to find out what happens next. A cliffhanger I
invested between adventures. The villain, and
normally comes at the end of a session of play. I possibly the setting, already exists, all that is
I
Just as things are beginning to wind down, I
needed is a plot. The players will now be
the Gamemaster delivers one last exciting I familiar with the threat posed by a particular
I
event. It does not have to be a combat; it could I
villain, cutting on the Gamemaster's work
be a sudden explosion or the unexpected I needed to convey an ominous sense of
I
appearance of an important character. The I
danger. Also, the players may enjoy facing an
event remains unresolved until the start of the I old enemy, especially if the penultimate villainis
I
next session (Did the heroes escape the blast? I
defeat was not satisfying enough.
THRILLING
ADVENTURE!
0 @@
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1. Determine the Adventure’s Theme
I
I Pulp adventures usually revolve around a
I
I
single theme that forms its core. Determining
I that theme is important because it colors the
I
I
way many subsequent elements are used in
I the adventure.
I
I
I ActiodAdventure: This is the default theme for
I p u l p adventures. Such adventures are
I
I characterized b y lots of physical action,
I combat, and overcoming obstacles.
I
I
I Espionage: This theme involves spying against
I an enemy, whether that enemy is a villain, a
I
I group, or a nation.
I
I
I
HorrodSuperscience:This theme does not truly
I involve the supernatural. Rather, it focuses on
I
investigation afrightening phenomenonthat turns
I
I out to be an example of superscience gone awry.
GENERATOR I
I
I
Mystery: This theme is about the solving of a
I perplexing situation,typically a murder or other
The predefined nature of the pulp genre might I
dark crime (such as a daring theft).
I
be seen as a drawback, but it also has many I
advantages. One advantage is that enjoyable I Revenge: This theme focuses on the quest of
I
Gear Krieg adventures can be constructed in I
a character (whether Player or non-Player) to
a matter of minutes, simply by using the tables I right a past wrong (whether real or perceived).
I
below. These tables are designed to randomly I
Most frequently, it involves a villain’s attempt to
generate key plot elements, taking the “grunt I avenge past deeds by the hero.
I
work” of adventure design out of the I
Gamemaster’s hands. This random method not I Romance: This theme can be lighthearted or
only saves the Gamemaster valuable time in I gritty, but it always involves the quest for or
I
creating the basic outline of an adventure, it is I furtherance of a romantic relationship. This
also a great way to create adventures that I relationship can be a Player character or a non-
I
“break the mold” while still beina - true to the I Player character’s.
conventions of the DUIDS.
. , After all. random !
generation often produces unique results,
^_A _._ ^ _ ^ ^ ^ -
’^ I ._ I_ _-_
aiiu uriiqueriess I S a yreat way tu erisure
I _
I G E A R K R I E G 12091
7 THRILLING !
ADVENTURE
8
3. Determine Plot Structure 8
Hierarchy of Evil: The plot advances as the
8 characters defeat a group of villains, each one
Another essential element of a pulp adventure 8
more powerful than the last. Naturally, the
8
is its plot structure. This element sets up how 8 villains are related to one another in some
the scenario will proceed. That is, the plot 8
fashion, usually as part of the same
8
structure shows how the scenes of the 8 organization or hierarchy.
adventure relate to one another and how the 8
8
characters move through them. 8
4. Determine the Climax
8
8 Just as important as the plot structure is its
8
8 climax. Pulp adventures end in a number of
8 common fashions, each of which has its own
8
Roll id6 to determi 8 conventions.
8
former hero gone bad. Like the Childhood I Coward: The villain is fundamentally cowardly
I
Friend above, this villain may be saved from I and will never engage the heroes directly. Such
evil with the appropriate action on the part of
I a villain may be comical in nature or he may
I
the characters, but doing so should come only I simply b e physically weak and fear
as the result of great effort.
I confrontation.
I
I
Chief Assassin: The villain is a trained killer. I
I
Often he possesses unique and rare skills, I
possibly as a result of training in a far away I
I
land. Examples include ninjas, Thuggees, and I
I
Hashisheen. I
I
Right-Hand Man: The minor villain is an advisor I
I
to the major villain. Unlike the Weak-willed I
Advisor below, his advice is pragmatic and I
I
considers only the best interests of the major I
G E A R K R I E -
8
Damsel in Distress: The ally is a beautiful 8
11. Determine the Significant NPCs
young woman without commonsense. She 8
rarely possesses worthwhile skills or 8 Adventures are not just populated with villains
1
knowledge, but her connections or position of 8 and allies. Other individuals may play
influence may be useful to the characters 8 prominent roles.
8
nonetheless. 8
8
8
Love Interest: The ally falls in love with one of 8
the characters. Whether that love is returned 8 Detetmine up to hree Sign
8
is up to the player of the character. Unlike the 8
Damsel in Distress, this ally is an equal of the 8
8
characters and thus possesses skills and 8
knowledge that may aid the heroes in their 8
8
quest. 8
8
Child Sidekick: This ally is ayoung person that 8
8
attaches himself to the characters by accident 8
or through unforeseen circumstances. He 8
8
usually possesses useful skills or knowledge. 8
Alternately, this ally could be a group of helpful 8
8
children, such a street urchins or orphans who 8
come to the characters’ aid. 8 False Accuser: The NPC is a person who falsely
8
8
accuses the characters of a nefarious deed.
Nosy Reporter: The ally is a nosy journalist or 8 His motivations vary from simple malice to
historian interested in every aspect of the 8
having been paid off by the characters’
8
characters’ adventures. His knowledge is 8 enemies.
extensive, but he frequently gets in the way 8
8
as he chronicles the characters’ exploits. 8
Inquisitive Official: The NPC is a nosy
8 government officer who takes too keen an
Villainous Ally: The ally is completely 8
interest in the characters’ actions. In doing so,
8
untrustworthy but nevertheless aids the 8 he may expose the characters to danger.
characters for his own purposes. Usually, he 8
8
allies with the characters for his own gain and 8 Banditsnhugs: The NPCs are relatively weak
is prepared to betray them at any given 8 goons. Most likely, they are unconnected with
8
moment. 8 the larger plot and provide an opportunity for
8 mindless mayhem.
8
Talkative Barkeep: The ally is the friendly 8
proprietor of a local drinking establishment. He 8 Belligerent Soldier: The NPC is a surly warrior
8
usually knows the latest gossip and tall tales, 8
who develops a distaste for the characters.
making him a valuable source of information. 8 He may use his position to harass the
8
8
characters, even to the point of violence.
Tragic Fellow Hero: The ally is a fellow hero 8
who has suffered some unfortunate fate as a 8 Old Friend at Wrong Time: The NPC is an old
8
result of his previous actions (terminal disease, 8 acquaintanceof the heroes who has a knack for
maiming, loss of loved one, etc.). His 8 showing up at the most inopportune of times.
8
m i sf n r t I1 ne ha s wa r ned h i s ne r c n P C t i\ip He distracts the characters frnm their missinn
1 Animal
2 Natural
3-4 Mechanical
5 Pnmitive
6 Superscience
I
I
3 attacked by
such as killer
hrown into a
/ escape by
3 of direction.
abyrinth may
n v a l a l l b l l G . 17 l l l a a a l v c 31 l u v v VI Ic
l u ~ ~ ~ l l u be home to one or more wlla animals,
threatens the characters. I
Many pul p adventures involve a moral I Pulp fiction thrives on trick endings and
quandary at some point, which the heroes unexpected twists, as should pulp adventures.
must resolve before continuing on their quest. I
I
else. This can be either benevolent (a secret
government organization the characters
achieving their goal in a dubious way is to distract the villains from the real plan) or
acceptable. Such a quandary forces the hero a malevolent ( a master criminal uses the
to confront whether he is truly any different from
the villains he faces. This is a frequent source
:
m
characters as pawns in his own scheme),
people - if they can recognize it. I Villain is a Relative: The characters discover
I the villain is actually a close friend or relative.
Rescue a Friend/Colleague: An innocent
ks,,.+e-.-Iev
In +hrne+nnerlL o a + --..I-- LI- m-..
: He may be a hero's father or brother or
--_- L:-- -L & c . - ~ ---a nLA--
llie ..:II-:- :-
:
Uy5lClllUGl 1 5 l l l l C d l G l l ~ UUUL 5 d V l l l y 111111 l l l d y I SUlllt:liIllly Ui L I I d l bull. Ullell, V l l l d l l l Ib
:
I
The theme of Mystery and the goal of Rescue
NPCtogether suggest a kidnapping. The short
I
series of small battles associated with Nickels
I and Dimes works well with working through a
I
Hierarchy of Evil. The main villain, as an
I Advance Agent, will be a scout or spy of some
:
I
There are also some arbitrary decisions to be
made. The Random Plot Generator does not
:
I
determine the villains' nationality, so in this
case they will be the Germans (a good default
choice for most adventures taking place on
I this side of the world). As this is a kidnapping
:
I
plot, the agents are obviously operating in
unfriendly territory. Tartus is a good choice
:
I
since it lies in Syria, on the shore of the
Mediterranean. It is also in keeping with the
:
I
pulp tradition of exotic locales.
I The basics of the adventure are in place,
:
I
though a considerable amount of detail work
still needs to be done. Rather than explain it
:
I
all, instead is a more fleshed-out story follows,
broken down according to the four-act
I
I
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I
I
8
Act I: The characters are sent to help guard 8
handful of amphibious Loki Ausf A b
the defecting German scientist Rudolph 8 Staedler has Ostrend in his walker, an(
8
Ostrend, who is waiting in Tartus for transport 8
the rest of the Lokis to finish up the characters.
to London. Just as the characters arrive, 8 If the characters are clever, they can capture
8
Ostrend is kidnapped b y rocket-pack 8
one or two of the walkers and pursue Staedler
equipped German commandoes (Rescue 8 through the streets of Tartus (walker chase).
8
NPC). It is essential that the characters get him 8
With a little luck/skill, they should disable his
back because he supposedly has information 8 walker before he gets anywhere near the water,
8
on a new superweapon (Rumor/Legend). The 8
let alone the U-boat. Staedler can be captured,
characters will be receiving help from the 8 Ostrend rescued, and the characters will have
i
eminent Sir Walter Fripp of the Secret Service. 8
one heck of a war story to tell their
Unknown to the characters, Fripp is a Nazi 8 grandchildren.
8
sympathizer and double agent, and personally 8
arranged Ostrend’s abduction (Corrupted 8
There are several results that are missing from
Hero). Ostrend is now with Julius Staedler 8 the scenario, either because they did not fit or
8
(Major Villain), the Nazi agent charged with 8
because their inclusion would make the plot
returning the scientist to Germany. 8 too complicated (Thief, Belligerent Soldier and
8
8
Lesser of Two Evils). While plots could be
Act 11: Fripp sends the characters on several 8 devised to include all randomly rolled
8
wild goose chases, but they keep finding clues 8
elements, this system is only meant to produce
that lead them to Staedler’s team. However, 8 guidelines. The Gamemaster’s own ideas
8
after the first attempted arrest is strangely 8
should always take precedence over what dice
botched, the characters begin to be attacked 8 rolls determine.
8
themselves. The attacks are small, but they are 8
persistent - almost as if the attackers are 8
8
following the characters. The act concludes 8
with the realization that Tartus is becoming a 8
8
very dangerous place for the characters. 8
8
Act Ill: The investigation continues with little 8
8
success. But a lucky tip (Muttering Madman 8
Ally) helps them locate and follow one of 8
8
Staedler’s agents to a series of warehouses, 8
where he disappears. Unfortunately, they are 8
8
spotted in the area. Staedler decides it is time 8
to do something drastic, and orders Fripp to 8
8
lead the characters into an ambush (traitorous 8
NPC). Fripp does, but the attack goes awry. In 8
8
the aftermath, the characters learn that the 8
Germans have a small hidden base beneath 8
8
the warehouses (Underground Locale), and 8
that Ostrend is not only being kept there, he is 8
8
due to be transferred to a U-boat in the very 8
near future! 8
8
m
8
I
I
-
8
Sprint 45 meters
I
a
(HEROARCHETYPE)
binoculars). 8
COURAGEOUS
HEROTYPES / S I
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(HEROARCHETYPE) I
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I Stealth 2L2,Survival
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The niece of distinguished Professor Henry, I
Amelia was born in England, though her I
I
American upbringing erased a portion of her I
accent and mannerisms. Her parents were I
I
lenient, allowing her to travel with her uncle. I
She intended to follow in her uncle’s footsteps, I
I
but once at university she made the switch into I
medicine, her skills coming to the fore once I
I
she discovered her true passion. An I
I
accomplished pilot in her own right, she travels I
with her uncle once more, this time as I
I
colleagues and friends. Amelia speaks I
English, Spanish, Italian, and French. I
I
m
EQUIPMENT: Fashionable traveling clothes, I
Browning HP1935 (Med. Pistol, 13 rounds), I
I
Walther PPK, wristwatch, compass, backpack I
(contains first aid kit, lighter, medkit, I
I
ammunition,flares, Guidebook to Cairo, Arabic- I
English dictionary, flashlight, hiking clothes). I
I
G E A R K R I E G 12291
Born to Irish parents in Chicago, Tom's
boyhood was colored by the days he spent
tearing around with his closest friend, Jack
Memphis. While Tom dished it out as good
as he got it, Jack was undeniably the leader, rsonal Firearms Proficie
- . -
I A L t N IY: uamage neauction I/-, tlectricity
and things haven't changed. They are still
Resistance. Remain Conscious. Second Wind
tearing around together, but the main streets
and ball fields of home have given way to
the deserts and jungles of a hundred
different exotic countries. A mechanic by I
I
trade, Tom's gift with machines has proven as I
valuable as his gift with his fists, and he's I
I
gotten the two of them out of some pretty I
serious scrapes before. Tom speaks English I
I
and Gaelic. I
I
I
EQUIPMENT: Casual clothes, army knife, I
Smith and Wesson 1908, dufflebag (contains I
I
flashlight, gun cleaning kit, a mechanical I
toolkit, overalls, dice, pack of cards, hip flask I
m
of Irish Whiskey).
,
COURAGEOUS HEROTYPES B
=,Ed k 'iBr il
I/)
8
RY 8
ARCHETYPE)
(SUPPORT 8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8 IM, Small Arms 1/1, Soua
8
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8
8
8
8
8
8 lealthy (5)
8
8
8
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8
8
8
8 MART HEROIC ACADEMI
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8
Trained as an engineer, Professor Henry was 8
one of the first in line when computators were 8
8
developed. Amazed by their potential, Henry 8
quickly became one of the foremost experts 8 nowledge (technology)
8
in the field. While he is still an American at 8
nguage (German), Speak Language (I
heart, he now considers London to be his 8
8
home. He does, however, maintain a house 1
and lab in the United States. Normally gruff 8
8
and taciturn, he can be charming when he 8
wants to be. Henry speaks English, French, 8
8
German, Italian and Russian. 8
8
8
EQUIPMENT: Suit, lab coat, spare glasses, 8
pocket watch, compass, hip flask Scotch, 8
8
notepad, pencils, pocket protector, fountain rn
pen, protractor, suitcase (contains spare 8
8
clothes, gas mask, goggles, mechanical and 8
electronic tool kits, notebook, binoculars, 8
8
drawing set, alarm clock, wireless radio, 8
sextant, telescope, compass, star chart, rock 8
8
pick, flashlight).
G E A R K R I E G 12311
ARCHETYPE)
1232 G E A R K R I E G
(MADSCIENTIST
ARCHETYPE)
I
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STFIONG “HEROIC‘ BLUE COUAR CR 8; Mdumdmj
I
I human;HD 8 d W ;hp 72; Mas 18; Init +2; Spd 30R.; Defense
I
I (
I
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I Will +2; AP 4; Rep +1; Str 20,
empell;S V Fort -1.8, Ref 4,
I
Placed in a state-run home as a small child, I
I
Otto’s potential as a true idiot savant quickly I
became apparent. Transferred into the custody I
I
of German officials, Otto’s brilliant scientific I
mind was carefully nurtured and trained while I
I
the rest of his addled brain was left to founder. I
He is hopelessly dim and seems unaware of I
I
anything going on around him, until placed in
front of a lab bench -then his genius takes
over. Assigned to Hempell as an assistant, Otto
I
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I a:cxirerne tnon, ignore naraness, Metee
lMLCl-4 I
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I CHARISMATIC “HEROIC“AWEM7VRER CR 7;M a
I 14; lnt 4‘;Spd 30 ft.;
I
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The epitome of “dangerous curves,” Alexandra I
Black is a mystery to everyone. Her dark, I
I
exotic beauty and curvaceous figure have I
been the doom of many heroes. She works with I
I
Hempell because the pay is good, but it may I
not be long before she receives a better offer. I
I
Many underestimate her, believing she is I
nothing but a gun moll with ambition, but she I
I
can handle herself in a fistfight or shoot-out as I
well as any trained soldier, and she is also an I
I
excellent pilot. Alexandra speaks Spanish, I
English and French, as well as a smattering of I
I
Arabic and German. I
I
I
EQUIPMENT: Amazing dress, knee length I
boots, Walther PPK in garter, small knife in I
I
boot, room with Thompson M1, spare Walther I
PPK, suitcase (contains traveling clothes, little I
I
black book, tourist maps of north Africa, cash I
in multiple denominations [hidden], multiple m
I
passports in alter-ego names [hidden]).
G E A R K R I E G 12371
I C FOUL
VILLAIN WPES!
HAWKRIDGE,
LORDOF
BLACKSTONE
(ARISTOCRAT
AR-
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(CRIMELORDARCHTYPE) I
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AlTRIBUTES:
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m
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The kingpin known as “Bella” Bellasario grew I
up on the streets of New York. He has always I
I
had a keen eye and a sharp mind, and by his I
early teens he was working for the mob. He I
I
worked his way up through the ranks, and now I
operates a “family” of his own. He controls a I
rn
large portion of the docks, and recently made I
I
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SOLDIER I
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OFFICER
I
The backbone of the army even in this age of I Though officers are trained for command in
superscience, the infantrysoldier can be found I some capacity, they are just as common on
I
in the thick of combat fighting with not much I the front lines as the regular troops.
more than his rifle and his wits. Despite the I
number of armed forces in the war, all infantry I EQUIPMENT: Same as infantry soldier, plus
I
soldiers are essentially the same. I pistol and binoculars. Satchel also contains
I maps.
I
EQUIPMENT Combat fatigues, helmet, rifle I
and ammo, bayonet, entrenching tool, I
I
canteen, cigarettes and lighter and a satchel I
(contains food, spare articles of clothes, and I
I
personal effects). I
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DRIVER I
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TROOPER
(ZOMBIE)
I
One of the most common jobs, it existed long I
Though created by different processes, the
before the Modern Age. Gamemasters will I abilities of the Axis "zombie" soldiers are the
I
have to make the appropriate choices for Skill I
same. The only difference is that the German
specifications based on the type of vehicle I zombies' drugs wear off after several hours,
I
driven. I
whereas the Japanese version is permanent.The
I zombie is based on the Generic Infantry Soldier.
EQUIPMENT: Military - combat fatigues, I
sidearm, helmet, appropriate vehicle. Civilian : EQUIPMENT: Combat fatigues, drug-
- uniform (optional), appropriate vehicle. I dispensing backpacks, controller rig.
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DUTIFUL
SUPPORTING
RPES! ID1
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'
SKILLS Combat Sense 2/1, Defense U1,Hand-to-Hand
2/2,Interrogation111, Melee 2/1, Notice 2/1, Small Arms
2/1, Stealth 111, Streetwise 2/2.Throwing 111
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I
I
I Large: $1,000; twenty large would be $20,000
I
I Zotzed: Killed
I
I
The Spider - Master of Men: One of the more
I obscure characters by modern standards, this
I
I
detective initially started out as just another two-
I gunned crime fighter, but quickly evolved into a
I
I
near-supernatural champion of justice. The
I villains he faced most resemble those
I
I
characterized by Gear Krieg: egotistical madmen
I with fiendish devices that threatened entire cities.
I
I
Like the Shadow and Doc Savage, a large
I number of books were written, and the Spider
I
I
even appeared in a few serialized theatrical
I releases, but there has been no new
I
I
appearancesof the character in several decades.
I
1 G E A R K R I E G 125II
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.O I represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation
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and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed
The following text is the propertyof Wizards of the Coast, Inc. I
I by this License.
and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards").
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All Rights Reserved. 6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors"means the copyright and/or
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recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to Identity, including as an indicationas to compatibility, except
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as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreementwith
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Content" means the game mechanic and includes the I not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any
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enhancement over the prior art and any additional content in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such
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and means any work covered by this License, including I Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a
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2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game I Game Material so affected.
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Content that contains a notice indicatingthat the Open Game 13.Termination: This License will terminate automatically if
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Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. I You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such
You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that rn breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All
you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this I
sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
License except as described by the License itself. No other I
I 14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be
terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game
m unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the
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3.0ffer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content
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4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to m Open Game License v 1.O Copyright 2000, Wizards of the
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terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content. I 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
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