Shattered Steel:
Armoured Vehicle Combat in the Heavenfall World
A R M O U R E D F I S T
Armoured Vehicle Combat in the Heavenfall World
"Though I charge through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for I am driving a house-sized mass of fuck you."
Armoured Fist is a roleplaying game set in the Heavenfall universe. The RP is focused around a (mixed) squad of armoured vehicles from the Shattered Steel mercenary company.
In the RP, players will play the roles of the crew of their chosen armoured vehicle, as they deal with and follow a story and plot beginning with what seems to be a simple contract, but over time; will come across elements and information that point to a larger, more sinister plot in the background that has world-shaking consequences and could affect the future of the human race and civilization as a whole.
This is an RP that has a 'larger than life' tone of heroism, adventure, bravery and daring-do. But also moments of pathos, drama, darkness, and deadly seriousness.
There will be minimal relation and link to my ongoing aviation-themed RP Shattered Steel, in that large events in either RP may affect, or at least be referenced in the other, but there is no need to play both, or be wholly familiar with them both. It's more of a fun easter egg, and something to help make the setting feel like a 'world' where events are constantly taking place.
Your characters will be part of one of Shattered Steel's armoured ground companies. Initially deployed on a contract with relatively simple terms, that contract will end up becoming more complicated and have more variables than expected, leading to several threads to be followed up, linking to further, future adventures that will slowly pull the characters from being a simple armoured vehicle squadron for one of the worlds' well-known PMC's, to being a focus and hinge on which world events rest.
Players will - most likely - play multiple characters to represent the crew of their vehicle. Characters should be the kind of people that would end up in military service and suitable for such - as in, not completely insane and mentally unstable, not utterly hateful or driven by psychotic goals and anti-social ideals, and actually mentally and emotionally stable enough to be trusted with the firepower of an armoured vehicle, and that other people would actually want to work with.
They do not have to be completely angelic or goody-goody, and their motivations need not be completely pure, but the fact of the matter is that this setting is unabashedly and unashamedly oriented towards stories and plots related to heroism and protecting others.
Of course - Good Is Not Nice, Good Is Not Soft and Good is Not Dumb are all things that can possible apply, but are not mandatory.
A full and thoroughly detailed history for each character of your tank crew is not necessary, simple bullet points are enough (especially since you'll all be creating multiple character), and the same for the full details of their personalities.
But having some things that define them from one another and a sort of mental sketch of them is valuable.
The hope as GM is, that over time and should the RP persist for a good length of time to make it practical, that characters' backgrounds and histories can be pulled into events as they continue, and give each character some time in the spotlight and some focus and attention to their background and histories.
They do not have to be completely angelic or goody-goody, and their motivations need not be completely pure, but the fact of the matter is that this setting is unabashedly and unashamedly oriented towards stories and plots related to heroism and protecting others.
Of course - Good Is Not Nice, Good Is Not Soft and Good is Not Dumb are all things that can possible apply, but are not mandatory.
A full and thoroughly detailed history for each character of your tank crew is not necessary, simple bullet points are enough (especially since you'll all be creating multiple character), and the same for the full details of their personalities.
But having some things that define them from one another and a sort of mental sketch of them is valuable.
The hope as GM is, that over time and should the RP persist for a good length of time to make it practical, that characters' backgrounds and histories can be pulled into events as they continue, and give each character some time in the spotlight and some focus and attention to their background and histories.
Crew Position: Commander, Loader, Gunner, Driver, etc; depending on your vehicle of choice.
Name: Names and any nicknames
Age: 21+, maximum of 50 y/o
Gender/Sex: Does not need to be same as birth sex
Appearance: Anime-style/drawn/etc art preferred
Nationality: See the Heavenfall Guide
Personal Outlook: a short, brief summary of a few lines about their general demeanour
History: a short, bullet-pointed list of key events in their history
Personal Weapons: A couple of personal weapons; sidearm and longarm and a survival/etc knife.
Name: Names and any nicknames
Age: 21+, maximum of 50 y/o
Gender/Sex: Does not need to be same as birth sex
Appearance: Anime-style/drawn/etc art preferred
Nationality: See the Heavenfall Guide
Personal Outlook: a short, brief summary of a few lines about their general demeanour
History: a short, bullet-pointed list of key events in their history
Personal Weapons: A couple of personal weapons; sidearm and longarm and a survival/etc knife.
The vehicles used in the RP and that are the focus of the action, are ground-based armoured or light armoured vehicles.
One of the concepts behind the Heavenfall setting is that after the near-apocalypse that gives the setting its' name, manufacturing and industrial capacity underwent something of a breakthrough, and the production of technology and especially vehicles and weapons was ramped up, and many prototypes or 'abandoned' ideas were put into production and even service, albeit in limited numbers in some cases.
The squad or unit your characters are a part of use these vehicles, and are a mixed unit; thrown together by circumstances during a contract and its' necessities, to carry out a mission and likely remaining together after as a consequence of what they have been through.
Your characters' vehicle may be any kind of armoured vehicle - a Main Battle Tank, an Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a combat Engineering or Support Vehicle, Self-Propelled Artillery or even Self-Propelled Anti-Air, or any other such kind of armoured combat vehicle from approximately the late 1950's/early 1960's period until approximately 2018-ish, as the 'present day' of the setting is 2014 (as of Shattered Steel), and the divergent timeline allows for some wiggle-room on how things advanced earlier or differently.
This rules out antique vehicles such as most World War 2 tanks and armoured vehicles, as they are long-since retired, other than a few exceptions - but given the setting and how it has advanced, even they would be likely long-gone by the time the RP takes place.
The general rule of thumb is 'As long as there is a reference page for it online, and it's not an original creation, it should be okay'. Meaning, if you can find a webpage or website with at least some technical details for the vehicle you wish to use and there was at least some kind of effort to construct it, then it's allowed.
This rules out also fictional tanks (i.e. something from an existing IP, like C&C Mammoth tanks) or anything that solely existed on paper and was never seriously investigated other than one or two sketches or images.
I also reserve the right to refuse anything based on the simple rule of it not fitting in with the setting or being too radical or bizarre to work.
Or just because I don't like it; it's my RP after all.
Your vehicles may be (but do not have to be) modifed and upgraded to be better suited to a 'modern' battlefield. By this, the idea is refitting with things such as more modern sensors, communications, power systems and engines, crew survivability features and so on and so forth.
This can be a difficult area to approach, as it can be hard to gauge how much is too much. An example of 'too much' would be adding a completely new weapon system to an existing design. For example, fitting an extra pair of autocannons that were not present at all on an existing tank design, or completely refitting an entire vehicles' structure with new materials - at which point, it is no longer the existing vehicle.
An acceptable refit or modification would be adding a new ammunition type - especially if that ammunition is used elsewhere - or fitting a new type of secondary machine-gun, or weapon system like a remote weapon station. Or a new and more efficient engine.
The best thought is usually 'less is more', as the point is to pick a vehicle you already like to begin with and have an interest in, and then upgrade it over time as the RP progresses to deal with the escalating level of threats and danger your characters will face (much like the way that Real Robot mecha anime have new features and capabilities added to the heroes' main mecha over the course of the series!).
I am not expecting an encyclopedic knowledge of tanks and armoured vehicles and how they work from anyone - a passing knowledge and the willing to learn and embrace the ideas is more than enough, and the rest can come with time.
My main inspiration and interest comes from the game Armoured Warfare (now abandoned on consoles, boo hiss) and several visits to Bovington Tank Museum, here in the UK. I am hardly an expert, nor someone who is precisely concerned with every aspect of realism, but wishes to preserve at least a veneer of it and some sense of authenticity, alongside the excitement, drama, and action.
One of the concepts behind the Heavenfall setting is that after the near-apocalypse that gives the setting its' name, manufacturing and industrial capacity underwent something of a breakthrough, and the production of technology and especially vehicles and weapons was ramped up, and many prototypes or 'abandoned' ideas were put into production and even service, albeit in limited numbers in some cases.
The squad or unit your characters are a part of use these vehicles, and are a mixed unit; thrown together by circumstances during a contract and its' necessities, to carry out a mission and likely remaining together after as a consequence of what they have been through.
Your characters' vehicle may be any kind of armoured vehicle - a Main Battle Tank, an Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a combat Engineering or Support Vehicle, Self-Propelled Artillery or even Self-Propelled Anti-Air, or any other such kind of armoured combat vehicle from approximately the late 1950's/early 1960's period until approximately 2018-ish, as the 'present day' of the setting is 2014 (as of Shattered Steel), and the divergent timeline allows for some wiggle-room on how things advanced earlier or differently.
This rules out antique vehicles such as most World War 2 tanks and armoured vehicles, as they are long-since retired, other than a few exceptions - but given the setting and how it has advanced, even they would be likely long-gone by the time the RP takes place.
The general rule of thumb is 'As long as there is a reference page for it online, and it's not an original creation, it should be okay'. Meaning, if you can find a webpage or website with at least some technical details for the vehicle you wish to use and there was at least some kind of effort to construct it, then it's allowed.
This rules out also fictional tanks (i.e. something from an existing IP, like C&C Mammoth tanks) or anything that solely existed on paper and was never seriously investigated other than one or two sketches or images.
I also reserve the right to refuse anything based on the simple rule of it not fitting in with the setting or being too radical or bizarre to work.
Or just because I don't like it; it's my RP after all.
Your vehicles may be (but do not have to be) modifed and upgraded to be better suited to a 'modern' battlefield. By this, the idea is refitting with things such as more modern sensors, communications, power systems and engines, crew survivability features and so on and so forth.
This can be a difficult area to approach, as it can be hard to gauge how much is too much. An example of 'too much' would be adding a completely new weapon system to an existing design. For example, fitting an extra pair of autocannons that were not present at all on an existing tank design, or completely refitting an entire vehicles' structure with new materials - at which point, it is no longer the existing vehicle.
An acceptable refit or modification would be adding a new ammunition type - especially if that ammunition is used elsewhere - or fitting a new type of secondary machine-gun, or weapon system like a remote weapon station. Or a new and more efficient engine.
The best thought is usually 'less is more', as the point is to pick a vehicle you already like to begin with and have an interest in, and then upgrade it over time as the RP progresses to deal with the escalating level of threats and danger your characters will face (much like the way that Real Robot mecha anime have new features and capabilities added to the heroes' main mecha over the course of the series!).
I am not expecting an encyclopedic knowledge of tanks and armoured vehicles and how they work from anyone - a passing knowledge and the willing to learn and embrace the ideas is more than enough, and the rest can come with time.
My main inspiration and interest comes from the game Armoured Warfare (now abandoned on consoles, boo hiss) and several visits to Bovington Tank Museum, here in the UK. I am hardly an expert, nor someone who is precisely concerned with every aspect of realism, but wishes to preserve at least a veneer of it and some sense of authenticity, alongside the excitement, drama, and action.
Name: The name and any serial number of the vehicle in question i.e. 'M1A1 Abrams'. As it's not stated anywhere else - all vehicles must be real world ones; this does include prototypes and unproduced - but official - variants of existing vehicles, as long as there is some information accessible on it.
Type/Role: I.E. 'Main Battle Tank', 'Tank Destroyer' etc.
Reference Link: A link to a webpage, such as wikipedia or elsewhere, that gives statistical and summaried information on your vehicle of choice.
Modifications/Upgrades: Any upgrades or modifications to your vehicle. This is a tricky area, given the setting; but avoid out-and-out sci-fi modifications and upgrades, or anything too far-fetched and excessive. Replacing your entire crew would not be possible, nor would turning your tank into a hover vehicle, or fitting a railgun or laser. The idea is small, practical, and at least marginally realistic upgrades. Turning a WW2 tank into something competitive with 21st century armour would be an example of a bad idea. Fitting a 1960's - 90's tank with a remote weapon station, an autoloader or a new engine would be an example of something suitable.
Colour Scheme: Does your vehicle have a fancy paint scheme? If you can find a picture as an example, you can link it here too.
Type/Role: I.E. 'Main Battle Tank', 'Tank Destroyer' etc.
Reference Link: A link to a webpage, such as wikipedia or elsewhere, that gives statistical and summaried information on your vehicle of choice.
Modifications/Upgrades: Any upgrades or modifications to your vehicle. This is a tricky area, given the setting; but avoid out-and-out sci-fi modifications and upgrades, or anything too far-fetched and excessive. Replacing your entire crew would not be possible, nor would turning your tank into a hover vehicle, or fitting a railgun or laser. The idea is small, practical, and at least marginally realistic upgrades. Turning a WW2 tank into something competitive with 21st century armour would be an example of a bad idea. Fitting a 1960's - 90's tank with a remote weapon station, an autoloader or a new engine would be an example of something suitable.
- - Modification
Colour Scheme: Does your vehicle have a fancy paint scheme? If you can find a picture as an example, you can link it here too.
There aren't many, but they are important.
- Oth Rule: Don't be a dick.
Embrace the spirit of the game: Realism is good, and knowledge of real-world terms, tech, and so on is welcome, but dramatic licence and a sense of fun and excitement always comes first. This is a Role-Playing game. Expect dramatic licence, fun, and keep that paramount. I don't really care how much you want to show off your factual, encyclopedic weaponry and military knowledge, unless you can actually write a good character, it doesn't mean squat.
Just, generally; don't be an obnoxious prick. I want to roleplay with people I like.
Also if you do something that gets you kicked from the Discord, then it's a kick from the RP as well. - The GMs rule is final - although, suggestions are welcomed and will be listened to, I reserve the right to just say 'no' if I disagree with something or it doesn't suit what I have mind for the RP and its' story.
- And as an addendium to this: If I don't know about it, it doesn't exist. You may have some amazing knowledge of something, or have some amazing idea planned for your character... but if you haven't told me about it, and then spring it from nowhere, I'm not going to incorporate it, as I will have planned or expected something else. What's most interesting for the plot might not always be what's most realistic.
- Absences - I understand if you have things come up - it happens to us all, and we can't always predict it. If you come back later and are still interested in joining in, I'll find a way to write you back in. However, if you are intending on leaving, I would ask that you be respectful to myself and the other players and let me know so I can write you out. If you have to be away for holidays, or whatever else, likewise please let me know if at all you can.
- Respect One Another - this isn't hard, and should go without saying. But have respect for your fellow players and the GM. We're all here to have fun, and this is a hobby we're doing to relax. It shouldn't be stressful to join in with your fellow players, so don't bring any outside conflicts to the game. Don't use the IC to take out your OOC frustrations on people, and if you have problems or issues with others you can't resolve, bring them to me and I'll deal with it. Likewise, bear in mind that sometimes in-character actions can be hurtful out of character, and feel like personal attacks, especially if someone repeatedly singles out one character with no apparent - or good - reason.
- Roleplaying Etiquette - never take control of someone else's character unless given express and explicit public permission, never assume how someone else's character reacts, and (as mentioned above) don't single out someone's character and be a dickhead to them with no good reason, or without discussing it OOC first. These all come heavily under rule 0.
- Post Order - I'm not a big fan of post orders. My general rule is, I'll put up a post as GM with all the necessary setting of a scene and events, and then expect everyone else to reply to it, in whatever order they see fit and are able to. Occasionally I may post an additional post if I see something particularly worthy of a reply, but that's usually how I handle things, and will always and often post in the OOC to help clarify things.
- Post Frequency - I know I have other hobbies, interests and responsibilities, and I'm sure the same applies to the rest of you. I'll usually allow a two weeks-ish for a full round of replies, and then move on. If people drop behind or consistently don't reply, then I'll follow up once and try and remind - but it's not my job to chase people, and it doesn't make my hobby fun if I'm having to chase people to join in - if you're here, then I'm assuming you want to be, and I shouldn't have to remind you about it.
- Language/Content - While I didn't mark the game as 18+, I have no objection to the use of swearing or bad language - in moderation and when it's applied in the right places and circumstances. Your characters will be in stressful situations, it's only likely they'd use expletives in those circumstances. Similarly, romance isn't at all off the table, and I expect and encourage it to come up, along with references to sex and sexuality. However, this isn't an 'adult' RP, so no explicit details, just have things fade to black and let imaginations do the rest of the work.
I maintain a personal Discord server, which has sections on it for the RP's I run for OOC discussion. It is not mandatory, but if you're interested, please feel free to PM me to get an invite.
