War Of Angels: Campaign setting

[Elliot Kane]

War Of Angels is a general overall heading for a series of stories I am writing that take place in and around the ultimate virtual reality RPG. As such, the setting has obvious possibilities for a pen & paper RPG. I'll put my world notes and things in this thread in case anyone is interested.

Obviously, all this stuff is copyright me. You can use it in any way you like as long as you are not making money from it.

[Elliot Kane]

Twin Worlds

Depending on the exact time period you choose to place your campaign in, your characters may interact with either the fantasy online world of War Of Angels itself, or with the Earth as it is just prior to The Great Extinction (Or indeed both). As such, notes on both may be useful.

22nd Century Earth

Overview

The world is divided into six major power blocks. These may be viewed as either somewhat loose alliances or concrete partnerships as desired. They came about due to the serious trading problems of the 21st century and a series of near brushes with global war over trade and diminishing resources. English is the lingua franca, though many other languages are still spoken around the globe. The relationships between the six are uneasy to say the least, but there is no real threat of war. Doesn't stop them preparing just in case, though.

The Pan-African Alliance - comprises the whole of Africa, including the Middle East. Rich in resources, but still really finding its feet due to its relatively recent emergence from a dark age of corrupt dictatorships and religious fanaticism. Primarily Islamic, the majority of citizens are Islamic progressives, meaning they are tolerant of other religions and practises not their own. This in no way makes them irreligious or unIslamic, however. The Pan-African Alliance is ruled by Elective Theocracy. Arranged marriages are still the norm.

The Confederation of European Nations is the successor to the old EU, which dissolved due to trying to expand far faster than it could actually afford. The CEN stretches as far East as (But does not include) Turkey. The CEN is primarily Secular, with lip service at best given to any religion. Militarily weak but still strong in trade, the CEN is nonetheless a fading power. Each member country still has a titular head of state, but in actual fact all real power rests in the hands of the CEN parliament in Brussels. The President of the CEN is elected from all its members by the parliament and not directly by the people. Marriage is very rare and considered something of an oddity, with few partnerships lasting more than a few years.

The Union Of Central And South American States UCASAS comprises everything from Mexico down to the tip of the South American continent. It is primarily Christian, though fanaticism is rare. UCASAS emerged slowly over the course of the 21st century as greater co-operation between nations allowed them a bigger say in world affairs. Slowly the bonds of mutual interest strengthened into the bonds of brotherhood. The UCASAS is the fastest growing world power, though not currently the strongest. Marriage is still considered the norm. The UCASAS is ruled by a system of parliamentary democracy based on the old British model.

The Asiatic Alliance is by far the strongest and largest of the power blocks, being comprised of India, Turkey and China as well as Japan and the other far Eastern nations. The AA is the economic powerhouse of the world with more manufacturing industry than the rest of the world combined. It is an alliance of convenience between many ancient and dissimilar cultures, however, most of whom remain quite wary of each other. Many disparate religions also co-exist side by side, which does not help. Nonetheless, the AA is an alliance based on mutual economic advantage and as such is far stronger than it may otherwise appear. It is ruled by a council made up of the national leaders of every member nation. The head of the council rotates annually, but is seen as little more than a figurehead position in any case. Marriage is still the norm throughout most of the AA.

The Russian Federation comprises most of the old Soviet states, as Russia slowly gained in power and once more exerted its old influence. This time, however, it is a genuine federation based upon mutual advantage, not a conquered empire. Presidential elections are based upon the American model, with elections for parliament and President kept separate. All Presidential candidates are funded from blind trusts, however, which has a tendency to limit both donations and the amount of influence that may be acquired by backing the right candidate. The RF is primarily secular, with religion playing little part. Marriage is quite rare and declining in popularity.

The Greater American Republic is the successor to the old USA and includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand and (Rather bizarrely) Israel. Still militarily the strongest of all the power blocks, the GAR is, however, not the economic superpower the old USA was, having been weakened considerably during the tribulations of the 21st century. The GAR uses the govt system of the old USA unchanged. It is a place of sharp contrasts, religiously, with the rural areas being still firmly Christian while the cities are just as firmly secular. Attitudes to marriage depend entirely on where you live, with marriage common in rural areas and virtually unknown in the cities. City dwellers are not fond of long relationships, either.

That's the rough overview of the six main power blocks on 22nd Century Earth. More notes will follow - particularly regarding technology & the various education systems