Apocalypse How

A Final Farewell

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:40:20 GMT

A Final Farewell

We wanted to take one last moment to thank everyone for participating in Apocalypse How. Whether you were here at the beginning or joined us along the way, you and your characters are what made this game what it is. Thank you! We hope to see all of you elsewhere on your RP journeys, whether as mods or fellow players.

We have officially made the Apocalypse How comms open for anyone to join and play in without mod approval. All we request is that players keep to the spirit of the game for anything they play out post-game on these comms. We would also encourage everyone to check out the Influences for the Game. Notably, The Magnus Archives now has a successor series, The Magnus Protocol, that is currently in production and being released on a weekly schedule.

Below are some final personal words from each of the mods.

➥ Ilana
Though I’ve been around the journal RP scene for many years at this point, Apocalypse How is the first game I’d ever modded and it was such a great experience! I was a little nervous being the only mod with no previous game experience, but also really excited about crafting a narrative and setting for people to have fun in, based on a property I had fallen in love with. It was so fascinating and satisfying to come up with characters and artifacts and plots and even better to set them loose and see what a wildly creative playerbase made of them and with them. Even though I couldn’t share the full journey with all of you, I’m so pleased and proud of what we created together and have definitely been peeking in here and there to see how things played out. Thank you so much for being a part of it!

➥ Kathryn
When Terri asked if I was interested in co-modding a game based on a podcast I hadn't yet finished listening to, it was easy to say yes. Terri and I had co-modded another game previously (albeit a much less plotty, much less horrific game that was already up and running when I joined its mod team), and working together with her and Ilana to build a world based on a new favorite canon was a blast. I'm proud to say that elements of those early brainstorming sessions played out across the full length of the game, that we knew the trajectory of the story and got to see it through. I'm prouder still to say that more story elements than I can count changed along the way. One-off NPCs stuck around; recurring villains met their end far ahead of schedule, and all along the way our players' fingerprints were on the story as much as our own.

I'm not sure what comes next for me in the world of DWRP, but I'm glad to have been part of this experience from start to end. Thanks for playing, and I hope to see you all around!

➥ Lysoke
When I first joined this game, I had only just started listening to The Magnus Archives, but I was having a blast with the setting and the CR I had at the time and knew I wanted to make sure the game continued to run smoothly when Ilana stepped down. This is the second game I've helped mod and it's been so much fun and so rewarding coming up with ideas and brainstorming for ways to both engage players with the plot as well as incorporate player ideas and desires so it could be everyone's game and not only the mod team's. While I haven't had a character in the game in a while, I always had so much fun just watching what people were planning and what creative ideas came to them based on the plots we came up with, all the way up to a one-off NPC being enjoyed enough to be brought back more than once. Modding for this game has been one of my favorite RP things and I'm so happy I have had the chance to work with amazing co-mods and play with amazing players these last few years. Thank you everyone, and I'll see you around as a player or maybe even a mod, should the timing strike just right once more!

➥ Terri
When I asked Kathryn and Ilana to join me in creating a game based on The Magnus Archives three years ago, I was both nervous and very excited when they said yes. I've been a co-mod in a few DWRP games, brought on after the games had already started, but had never built one from the ground up. Serious brainstorming sessions, sketching out rough game trajectories, and coding were new! This was the first heavy plotting game I was a part of, as well, one with a definite end-game schedule.

It all came together and I couldn't be more pleased with the final result. The fact we have a solid handful of folks who have been in the game from start to finish is a joy. I appreciate every single person who took a look and decided to try this game, however long they stayed. I'm especially grateful to Kathryn, Ilana, and Ly who all stepped up to be co-mods for the game, helping to brainstorm new ideas and ways to integrate the awesome plans and story beats our players had in mind. We had always wanted this to be a game where the players would have a major impact on the direction of the game and its final outcome. Thank you for bringing your creativity and your brilliance. The game has been all the richer for it. I look forward to seeing where folks go and hopefully getting to play with you again. No plans for the immediate future for modding any other games, but perhaps on the horizon. Until then, see you Space Cowboys!

Thank you one more time and be well! We hope you've enjoyed the apocalypse you've been a part of here. So one thing ends, another rises!

With All Our Eldritch Love,
Your Mods

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The World You Find - Game World End State

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 01:50:40 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

The World You Find

And then… it's over.

Whether by its own power or some outside destructive force (perhaps several people working together, in fact), the portal collapses completely. Bonnie and Reyes are gone. A few others are gone, but most of those who have fallen through to this place remain. And they are in danger. There are no Fears to harry the steps of those who flee the Wolfe House, not immediately, anyway. It seems the strongest focus of their power is the portal, the people who left with them. So, the terrain is treacherous, the house falls around them, but if those left can make it out… there's freedom. After a sort.

Outside, everyone will be able to watch as the Wolfe House collapses in on itself and sinks into the morass of Dogtown. Whatever emotions pervade the air, those left behind will find themselves with two options: remain and become swamp creatures or return to the world beyond the woods. For those who make the journey outward, they will discover that the fence has vanished along with most of the hazards they've encountered over the months.

It's a lovely stroll in the woods, really, even if it seems to go on substantially longer than it ought to. The sky is aflame with the final light of the day when they reach the edges of Gloucester and look upon the city they left. Everything seems… fine? No terrible signal creatures or the screams of people in the distance. No monsters prowling or burning pollen floating through the air. It's a cold, early January day.

The first sign of something amiss is a high-tech drone that zips by overhead and then pauses to return and flash a large, digital advertisement for McDonald's Hamburgers in front of those left. Further changes become clear once the drones leave and people make their way into Gloucester proper. This is not the place they left. Not entirely. The bones are still there, but much of the town has been rebuilt, retrofitted, turned into something brighter and newer.

What's going on becomes obvious when anyone chances to find the date:

January 11, 2039

It's a new year, just at the turn of a new decade! Everyone's stroll through Dogtown took fifteen years. Those left may make what they will of the relative future. The old ADI Headquarters and housing are gone, replaced by rows of affordable housing. Someone seems to have been working on improving that aspect of the city since everyone has been gone.

Bonnie's Flophouse is still where it was, but not as it was. The neighborhood it sits in isn't flourishing, but it's certainly not the rundown slum from years ago. It's been renamed, as well: The Bonnie Boarding House. Under the care of Skye, formerly known as the Visionary, and Cole, it has become a safe haven for homeless individuals touched by the Entities, a place where they can work to resist their affiliations together. Not that everything goes well there. But it's a place of measured hope and effort. And some interesting app development under Cole's watch. Secluded as he is, much of his time has been spent on building his knowledge and skills and working with Skye to earn money and try to influence the local town council.

Things seem to have been looking up for Gloucester for the past fifteen years with only a few supernatural incidents to speak of. With the return of everyone from Gloucester, those touched by all the Fears, darkness and terror loom on the horizon.

Those left have returned to a better place… but Corruption follows in their path. As does a fully-realized avatar of the Spiral who has only one person they care about. Milo has followed all of you home.

➥ Welcome to the Future

Beyond the above description of Gloucester, there are changes in this world that will become apparent as time passes and characters look into the events of those missing fifteen years.

ADI no longer exists as a business or legal entity, and there are no continuing traces of the influence it held over the governance of Gloucester. All of its buildings are long gone, and there's nothing supernatural or even particularly remarkable about the housing that's taken their place. Whatever tear in the universe dumped our intrepid characters into ADI's lap has healed over as though it had never happened. For now.

Gloucester and Dogtown themselves are… normal. Surprisingly, perhaps even shockingly normal. That's not to say that the aftereffects of city-wide trauma aren't still felt; it's been only fifteen years and many residents of Gloucester remember the spiraling events of 2023 all too well. Most people simply don't talk about it. Not out loud, and not where shadows might be listening. Gloucester still has more than its fair share of the Entity-touched, but somehow less than its fair share of cults and supernatural events.

Elsewhere in the world, the Entities seem to have as much power as they ever did during characters' time here. Cults rise and fall, rituals are attempted only to falter, and the cycle goes on. ADI may be gone, but most of its people are simply dispersed. A contingent operates throughout Appalachia under the leadership of Neil Grace, apparently successful so far in dodging an alignment with the Hunt. Their casualties are high, but they continue to fight back the darkness without becoming a part of it. Pam Ruan joined their ranks five years ago; though, Skye and Cole will be able to tell others that she held vigil in Gloucester for a decade, waiting for anyone to return from Dogtown. The last to hold out hope. Out west, there are rumors of a more monstrous offshoot of ADI, Rae Hargrave having become a grim-faced Warden whose lawless pack of hunters are no more human than the things they chase down in the night.

Technological advancements have followed more or less the trajectories one might expect when looking to the future from the end of 2023. There's more automation than ever, and while there are drones and robots everywhere they are, unfortunately, mostly found making and selling fast food. AI has advanced past the point of passing the Turing test, though the jury is still out on whether any of the artificial intelligences in existence are truly self-aware. Privacy online is a thing of the past, and advertisements are literally everywhere. On the bright side, though, the past fifteen years have seen huge advancements in the field of prosthetics. Adaptive robotic prostheses are more functional and accessible than ever, thanks to certain key technological developments being made openly available about fifteen years ago, as well as the proliferation of 3D printing.

Wolf Pen is hardly a thriving community. Between the meddling of both FYRE and Copernicus, Zyrian Steel's company, the town is even more of a ghost, tucked away in Appalachia. There are still a few familiar faces kicking around that place, but most have moved elsewhere in the state to escape. One such escapee is intrepid reporter Cindy Parsons. Cindy got their big break in investigative journalism uncovering a significant amount of corruption within the ranks of Copernicus and followed on with an expose of Michael C. Etcher, the reclusive billionaire. Mr. Etcher seems to have died under mysterious circumstances fifteen years ago, leaving behind a vast estate to a single heir, a woman only ever referred to as 'Fortune.' Their recurring segment 'Fortune Favors the Bold' on West Virginia public television highlights developments in the quest to find Fortune and demand answers from her. Etcher seems to have been outed as developing psionic and biological weapons for unknown persons after his death. Who is Fortune? Where will she be next? And what does she know about M.C. Etcher and his work?

The survivors of Dogtown's grand ritual will find that their return heralds a shift in the wind. Gloucester's reprieve from the influence of the Entities is over, or will be if more than a handful of them choose to remain here. The combination of a place and people both touched by every Entity has a certain power to it, a certain inherent instability. Even so, without a hand to guide a ritual, it will be only that within their lifetimes: a measure of instability that draws the Entities' attention closer than one would desire. Dogtown may yet be the site of another ritual, but it will likely be centuries in the making.

➥ tl;dr: Congratulations! You survived Dogtown and it's fifteen years later. With so many people staying, the Fear Entities have remained relatively strong in this world, but it seems that Gloucester and Dogtown, at least, have had a reprieve. ADI is no-more, but there are offshoots of it across the country. Former members who are trying to fulfill its mission with or without the Hunt. Unfortunately, this means characters have no physical homes to return to. They'll need to start fresh without ADI's assistance.

At least Bonnie's Flophouse seems willing to help! Now known as Bonnie's Boarding House and run by a more politically savvy Skye (aka, the Visionary), who has found their voice and purpose in helping others, and a more tech savvy Cole Guttuso (aka, Pyre), who remains hidden and heavily invested in app development and research into innovative skin-grafting techniques.

Characters returning to Gloucester bring the Entities on their heels, unfortunately. They'll need to disperse or risk another build-up of Fear-based energy in Gloucester and the return of more sinister forces. The world is theirs, though. Time to make of it what they will.

Milo has chosen to stay with characters in this world, rather than returning to their own, but their bargain with ADI is no more. Should any non-human character desire a glamour to move freely in this world, they will need to negotiate it. Hope you brushed up on your fae legalese for any contracts and deals.

From this point forward, Apocalypse How is an Open Sandbox. Players are welcome to create their own narratives and have adventures trying to fight or give in to the Entities.

There will be a final OOC post from the mods at the end of the month as our farewell. We will be officially answering OOC questions and continuing IC NPC threads until the end of January. After that, each mod will continue NPC threads at their discretion.

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Event OOC - Apocalypse How

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 22:14:58 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Apocalypse How - OOC

And here we have our final poll for the game! Check out this IC POST for details on what characters will be walking into at the center of the Wolfe House. They are now left with a choice: to stay in the world of Apocalypse How or to leave and go… somewhere. ICly, characters have no idea where they're going. Reyes Amador and Bonnie Gale think the portal they've created leads home, but it is OOCly up to players where their character will end up if they choose to leave. Leaving comes with the danger that characters will be taking a piece of the Fear Entities with them to the new place they go. The Fear Entities might arrive before your character and ruin a world before they get there. They might arrive years after your character is dead. Or they might arrive at the same instant as your character in a nascent state, eager to explore a new world and grow themselves on whatever fears and life they find.

For those left behind, you'll need to survive escaping the house. Once you do, you'll find that some amount of time has passed since you went into Dogtown. And if you are staying… you're keeping some piece of the Entities in this world. How strong their influence is will depend on how many left, taking pieces with them. If the majority of characters leave, the Entities will be much reduced in strength with Dogtown returning to a kind of weird place with the occasional Happening. The Entities and their cults will likely rebuild their strength with time, but that's a distant problem. If most characters stay, the threat from the Entities will remain and they will find themselves constant targets from various factions wanting to use them for apocalypse rituals of their own. The wheel keeps turning.

The more characters that leave, the shorter the time dilation. As a note on an OOC level, if the majority of characters choose to stay, they will be walking out of Dogtown 10-15 years after they went in.

For any characters who are staying, they are welcome to attempt to talk to or even kill Bonnie and Reyes in the ballroom. On an OOC level, we're going to say that they'll only be able to kill these NPCs after the players who want to talk to them have done so.

Post below under the option you'll be going with for your character: Stay or Go.

REMEMBER: Staying or going does not have to be an IC decision. Your character could be prevented from entering the portal or get sucked in against their will. You, the player, get to decide what happens to your character here!

Please respond by 8 January, 11:59 PM Pacific time.

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Event OOC - The House That Wolfe Built (Finale)

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:49:22 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

The House That Wolfe Built - OOC

This is our Arc 3 and game finale. Characters will be entering into the Wolfe house and will not emerge until the game has ended… if they emerge at all. This event will determine who goes home/to other worlds, who stays, and what the state of this world will be when all is said and done. The mods are prepared for multiple potential outcomes, depending on character choices. The prompts to start will address entering and dealing with the house. There will be one additional prompt and poll posted on December 23rd that will decide the ultimate endgame state.

As a broad preview, character decisions will influence how powerful the Entities are in this world and how much time will have passed since they entered Dogtown. A time dilation effect will run throughout this entire event. It will feel like everyone who is going to enter Dogtown has done so by December 16th. For characters, it will ICly seem as if only a day or so has passed by the time they reach their ultimate goal and our endgame. If/when they emerge, a greater amount of time will have passed. How much time will, again, be dependent on in-character choices.

The event is designed to allow players to go wild with any and all ideas you have remaining for your characters. Always had an idea for a cool effect, but never had the chance to submit a player plot or use it in an event? Now's your chance! Additionally, there is an RNG sign up for players who might want their characters to find a little something extra. Up to four characters will be able to pick something up that will help them through one of the rooms in the house. Or, if they run into someone who seems like they need it more, they can give it away to that person.

➥ tl;dr: Characters will be facing a final set of trials within the Wolfe House. You might be able to find an item that can help you (or someone else) through at least one room if you sign up for our RNG. We will have an additional prompt and poll on December 23rd that will decide the ultimate endgame state for the world of Apocalypse How.

➥ Welcome: ???
➥ Come In: ???
➥ Say Hello: ???

People of Note

Nia Lehrer (she/her) - Nia is the Warden of ADI and a recently discovered budding avatar of the Hunt. She has spent her time largely away from the office on other missions around the country or conducting the political maneuvering necessary to keep ADI's operations going and funded. She has a direct, firm, and stoic demeanor. She has long disapproved of the use of magic, and while she recognizes there are gray areas, she considers herself to be morally corrupt for using some magic-users. She plans to step down as Warden once the current situation with people coming from other worlds is resolved, and surrender herself for judgment to the next leader of ADI. Since offworlders first met her in Quarter, information has come out that Nia bent the rules of ADI by allowing the Visionary to live, rather than killing them when they became an avatar, and has most recently advocated for using fear powers to restore a teen's dismembered arm.

Milo (they/them) - A known Fae-like being and one of the oldest offworlders previously held in ADI custody. They were let out and caused a bit of a fuss but were ultimately convinced to stick around and continue maintaining the offworlder’s illusions. They have shown clear Entity ties and both befriended some Offworlders and taken the names of others. While a truly Neutral force, they’ve made it clear their interests are currently in line with most of the rest of the offworlders. For now.

Michael C. Etcher and Fortune - M.C. Etcher is an enigmatic millionaire who made headlines in September 2022 after purchasing a previously unknown painting by M.C. Escher, the famous surrealist painter… and maybe someone who created Spiral artifacts according to the Desolation avatar Fenix Down.

It soon became clear that Etcher wasn't just an art collector when a Buffalo art exhibit he helped to sponsor turned out to have some very sinister effects. He also turned out to be prominent business rival of the Vast avatar Zyrian Steel. Etcher again made headlines in July 2023 with his Imagination Station museum park. The headlines specifically noted the success of his Buffalo exhibit and not the terrible effects that some people suffered from visiting it. That month, there was also the start of construction on a miniature version of Gloucester that was funded by an unnamed and mysterious individual.

Later, when characters went to fight Zyrian Steel and stop his apocalypse ritual, a mysterious woman calling herself Fortune turned up to offer her counsel. She told those she helped that she was there on behalf of several interested parties (including her boss) who wanted the group to defeat Steel. It was heavily implied that she was an avatar of the Spiral and working for Etcher, Steel's business rival. She also told characters she might "meet [them] in that charming park near where [they] live" and that they had more important things to be doing there than dealing with Steel and his little ritual.

The Wolfe Family - A wealthy family from Gloucester and Dogtown's early days whose known members include Richard Wolfe, Benjamin Wolfe, and Martha Wolfe. The Wolfes owned much of the land around Gloucester in the eighteenth century, including a large plot in Dogtown on which they had a grand house. An artifact from the Wolfe house turned up during the construction of a miniature version of Gloucester in the summer of 2023, though the reason it was found in the center of Gloucester rather than at the house's original location in Dogtown was never uncovered. In recent months, ghosts that appeared in Gloucester offered a little insight into the dangerous nature of the Wolfes and their home, and characters suffered nightmares in which they were trapped in the corridors of a house much like the one described by the ghosts.

Events/Information of Note

Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. And they've been happening for a long time. When player characters first arrived, ADI was making regular use of Dogtown as a testing ground for new recruits due to its constantly shifting but typically minor fear effects. Over the past two and a half years, however, the Entities' influence in Dogtown has grown more powerful and dangerous, and from July 2022 onward, Dogtown has been closed to the public to prevent harm to bystanders. ADI's explorations into Dogtown have continued as the area settled into a new, highly dangerous confluence of Entity influences. Creatures and effects have spilled out of Dogtown into Gloucester on a few occasions, including within the last month. In recent months, multiple people have gone into Dogtown and not re-emerged. Reyes Amador and Bonnie Gale were reported missing by Cole and the Visionary in early November, and Warden Nia Lehrer departed on a mission into Dogtown with a small team of trusted operatives a few weeks later.
A house stands in the center of Dogtown. Warnings from Bryn Fletcher, former baker and recently sighted ghost, told of a house at the center of Dogtown that Bryn was certain would "eat everyone." Since then, player characters have found a fence in Dogtown that could only be breached by supernatural means and discovered several methods of getting past it to the house beyond. While those efforts were already ongoing, all off-worlders received a message from ADI Warden Nia Lehrer over the private network created by Cole for communication outside of official ADI channels. The message carried a supernatural compulsion calling the off-worlders to enter Dogtown and come to the house at its center.

➥ Welcome
(cw: sudden violence, rot, swarms, choking, potential for severe injury, thalassophobia, blackmail)

Characters seem to have all made it inside the fenced area at the same time, in spite of coming in hours or even days apart. Time is strange here with the sun and stars flickering overhead. Beyond the trees, everyone will eventually be able to see a large, New England-style mansion with an enormous spiral burned into the side of it and a simple message: WELCOME :). Reaching the house is no easy feat. It seems that there really are monstrous things trapped inside this fenced area, maybe even the forces that have been influencing and reaching further and further outside of Dogtown to the world beyond.

The Entities are hungry, starving, and they want you. They will work in their own ways to try to impede characters from reaching the house. The only Entities that don't seem to be trying to block progress are the Spiral and the Web. The Web has even put out helpful little spiderweb arrows pointing characters around the most deadly hazards… if you're willing to follow the directions. Once people reach the house's wrap-around porch, they'll be safe from the Things in the yard.

Anyone trying to flee the fenced in area instead of going into the house will find that their way is impeded. The entry points they used are now blocked by twisting metal and thick, unbreakable web. The Spiral and Web really want you here.

➥ Come In
(cw: various, determinant, altered perceptions of reality, strangulation, derealization)

Characters will go through the house and experience various rooms based on Fears/Entities they might not have experienced, yet. Before they enter the first set of rooms, they will be lost in a twisting maze of corridors, menaced by People Who Are Not there. Linger too long outside the Trauma Rooms and you may find yourself touched and strangled by the People Who Are Not There. There's no pain, of course. Nothing is hurting you. But you may begin to feel… less yourself. Less Real. Do not linger too long or you may find that you Are Not There, either.

No matter if it’s one room, fifteen, or a room with multiple fears in it, the house seems hungry for the trauma of every Fear clawing for a fresh offering. Players will have full latitude to develop any Fear room they would like to inflict on their character and/or their character's CR as long as it aligns with the general nature of the Entities. By the end of this experience, every character will find themselves marked in some way by all fifteen Entities.

(NOTE: No one will be forced to play out anything they’re not comfortable with. Players are free to handwave their character passing through a specific room.)

➥ Say Hello
(cw: possible gaslighting, possible body horror, various)

Regardless of what horrors characters face, there might just be a friendly face to offer a helping hand. Milo seems to have followed the characters to the house and can be found in various rooms with any or all characters (or multiple characters) to help out how they can. Or simply offer unhelpful commentary.

A Handy Plotting Form

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State of the Game, November 2023

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 18:06:37 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

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State of the Game

Welcome to State of the Game 8: The Penultimate! We have some final updates for everyone as we power full-steam into our end-game. There will be one more update to close things out and discuss the ultimate world-state/character situation all of you might find yourselves in.

We also wanted to take a moment to thank everyone. Whether you've been with us in the game from the start, dipped in and out, or joined us later on, you've made this game what it is. This is Terri. When Kathryn, Ilana, and I were first conceiving this game we had a very broad Point A to Point B story planned. We wanted to give players as much opportunity to affect the story progression as we could while keeping within our timeline. When Lysoke joined us as a mod, he agreed to that same ethos.

As a result, we've solved apocalypse rituals in unique ways (who thought dead fish could help to avert an apocalypse?), altered major plot points (characters killed a major NPC who was meant to come back in the second act; instead, they gained an ally), and adjusted the major NPCs of import (Milo was meant to be a one-off encounter, but character efforts and engagement have turned them into a character that we've now considered potential endgame scenarios for). When the decision came on what to do about ADI and Nia, the Warden, we created broad plans for all potential outcomes. There have been many other smaller ways that players and their characters have affected events and outcomes. We wanted to make this a game that players had a tangible influence on for its plot. And all of you have certainly provided that! Our finale will feature another world-altering choice that we've gamed out a few different scenarios for. More on that in December as we come to our conclusion!

Onto some updates.

Applications for returning players ends today, Nov 25th. If you would like to bring back a character for the final event (or know those who might), please be sure to post applications before midnight. After that, we will be fully closing down apps for the game to see out its conclusion. Please remember that you need only re-post an accepted application to be admitted.

December will feature the last mod-run posts and events for the Apocalypse How game. After the game's conclusion, the comms will remain open should you want to continue any adventures in the world that's left behind after the final event.

November's NPC Interaction Post is the last for the game. If you'd like to interact with any of the game NPCs before the end, please post there!

A new Good Fences Prompt has been added to the Spun Out event. This is intended to be an interactive prompt where characters can try different ways to breach the fence surrounding the center of Dogtown. Multiple characters may breach the fence. There is no one right way to do it. Mods are simply looking for creative solutions. This may involve characters working together or even calling on NPC allies. Some of them may be very good at destruction…

While no event is ever mandatory, players are strongly encouraged to involve their characters in the December event. If they are not involved, they will ICly miss out on the finale events and in character discussions/decisions that are made around them. The final event will involve going into Dogtown. To ensure that all players have an IC reason to get their characters involved, a strong compulsion effect will be in place. Either something directly placed on your character or more indirectly by a character with a compulsion dragging your character into Dogtown. We hope this will give everyone an opportunity to play, even if their character might be ICly reluctant (with good reason)!

Thank you again for taking this journey with us, no matter how long or short your travels with us have lasted. We're excited to bring you the finale in the coming month, and to discover what choices you will bring to the ending of this story.

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Event OOC - Spun Out

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 02:43:19 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Spun Out - OOC

Summaries and content warnings for each prompt in the event are provided below. Please pose questions to the designated mod comment, and plot away! As a note, there will be a fourth prompt added in about a week to the post. We encourage players interested in Dogtown explorations to keep a close eye out.

➥ The Prison of Your Mind: 16 November-Ongoing
➥ The Scars You Bear: 16 November-Ongoing
➥ The Fundamental Forces: 16 November-Ongoing

➥ The Prison of Your Mind
(cw: memory loss, compulsion, mystery fluids, sleep paralysis, difficulty breathing, medical gaslighting)

The minds of people around Gloucester, including player characters, fall prey to strange forgetfulness and compulsions. Characters may behave perfectly ordinarily but suddenly realize they can't remember the last several hours or days. Other characters will find themselves in strange places around town with a viscous black liquid on their hands, feet, and mouths, not knowing what they did or where it came from (efforts to identify the source of the liquid will result in the investigating characters coming back equally confused and covered in it). Finally, intense bouts of sleep paralysis are suddenly gripping the population of Gloucester, as though the entire city has spontaneously developed a shared sleep disorder.

➥ The Scars You Bear
(cw: burning, darkness, leeches, unnatural elongating of limbs, body horror, physical maiming)

Some of the horrors of Dogtown are reaching out to leave their mark. Characters will notice a range of mostly non-lethal effects ranging from acid water, to a reaching darkness, to inconvenient leeches. The more unlucky might find their limbs elongating or their faces turning to plaster right before the eyes of a friend.

➥ The Fundamental Forces
(cw: existential dread, extinction, acrophobia, helplessness, potential for severe injury/broken bones)

Residents of Gloucester will see strange phenomena in their part of the world, both in the night sky and in the air around them. For the remainder of the game, the stars will appear to cluster more and more together, becoming ever fainter, like they're pulling away. Those who witness this will find themselves overcome with a bone-deep ache of dread as the knowledge that the universe will expire someday washes over them. Additionally, gravity seems to be having a field day around Gloucester and Dogtown. You might suddenly find yourself weightless and floating away or falling at a speed into the sky. What goes down must come up! And those who are flung toward the heavens (to a maximum of 2,000 feet) will be sent crashing back down. While it's impossible to control falling into the sky, those with abilities may be able to cushion their journey back to the ground. And those without may hope someone is around to help them. Characters are also welcome to try to catch or lasso those floating/falling. It will be akin to trying to hold and drag a person back who's hanging in midair. This odd gravity effect is also impacting objects. You might find car being lifted in front of your eyes or see a shopping cart hurtling down on you.

A Handy Plotting Form

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Activity Check Reminder: October (final AC!)

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 00:39:22 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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Event OOC - Ghosted

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:58:10 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Ghosted - OOC

Summaries and content warnings for each prompt in the event are provided below. Please pose questions to the designated mod comment, and plot away!

➥ Things Gone A-Rye: 16-31 October
➥ Taken Ill: 23-27 October
➥ Strange Communications: 20-31 October

➥ Things Gone A-Rye
(cw: ghosts; body horror related to physically wasting away)

The old-timey ghosts that appeared at the start of the month may have faded away, but starting on October 16 a new apparition begins making appearances. Victims describe the ghost as a skeletal figure that claws at its victims with bony hands that leave a deep chill behind for hours or even days. As ADI teams track and map appearances, it becomes clear that as time goes on, the ghost begins to actively target anyone associated with ADI, though it is not able to appear on ADI property. As more information becomes available, too, characters actively investigating the mystery will be able to identify the ghost by matching its face to photographs (or, in the case of those who met him, memories) of one Bryn Fletcher, looking much the worse for wear.

Bryn came to ADI's attention a year ago when his bakery, Better Loaf than Never, inadvertently began selling haunted bread and Bryn himself became trapped in a sourdough-based hellscape from which he was narrowly rescued by a team of player characters before it would have claimed his life. Better Loaf than Never closed permanently shortly after that series of events, and since then ADI has kept tabs on Bryn. Up until now there did not appear to be any reason for renewed concern–which is why no one initially realized that the first appearances of this "ghost" aligned with Bryn falling out of communication with his ADI handlers. It seems Bryn is trying to get back in contact, carrying a dire warning he struggles to communicate due to having become invisible and incorporeal. This prompt will have the option for NPC interactions with Bryn.

➥ Taken Ill
(cw: illness, fake children in distress, potential for fever-induced hallucinations)

Lost children haunt the city, seeking aid from nearby adults and leaving illness in their wake. Some people get very sick indeed while others might only get away with a few, light symptoms. It certainly doesn’t seem contagious, but the source seems sudden and unavoidable for those unlucky ‘chosen.’ Hopefully the symptoms don’t linger too long.

➥ Strange Communications
(cw: theft, puppets, derealization, dehumanization, potential limb loss, uncanny valley, supernatural compulsions)

The ventriloquism plague that was highlighted back in the July headlines is back with avengeance. It seems those TikTokers and others involved may have been influenced by strange, colorful swirls of pollen that are now blowing through Gloucester. Those spending time outside might find themselves suddenly finding it harder to talk to other people as themselves. Instead, they'll find they need to get an intermediary to be able to communicate. Snatch someone's skeleton decoration, give it a name, and you'll suddenly find it so much easier to talk to others. But at what cost? As time goes on and you give your puppet more personality, you'll find others starting to treat you as the one that isn't real. Get rid of it while you can. Just hope that you didn't panic and start using your hand with a little face drawn on as your puppet or you might have a little more difficulty ridding yourself of that burden.

A Handy Plotting Form

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OOC Intro

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:33:44 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

↬ Main Navigation

Welcome to Apocalypse How!

You've made it ~~back~~ to Gloucester, and you're probably in one piece! Mostly... This is our OOC Intro post, a place for new players to introduce themselves, get to know one another's characters and find see who and what and when might click.

This month, the mod-run event will be posted on October 16th. Be sure to check the Calendar to see what else we have going on!

A Handy Form

<p><table style="max-width:600px;width:100%">
<div align="left"><span style="font-family:helvetica;font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;">➥ PLAYER NAME</span></div><div style="border: dashed 2px #572f86; width: 600px;"></div><tbody><tr><td width="600px" align="left"><div align=justify><b>Contact</b>: 
<b>Can We Add You</b>: 
<b>Introduction</b>: Who are you? What are you into? Fandoms? Hobbies? Interests?
<b>Availability</b>: When are your optimal tagging times/what timezone are you in? Do you have a particular tagging style? 
<b>Extra</b>: Would you like to keep TDM interactions? Start fresh?</div></td></tr></table>

<p><table style="max-width:600px;width:100%">
<div align="left"><span style="font-family:helvetica;font-weight:bold;font-variant:small-caps;font-size:18pt;">➥ CHARACTER NAME</span></div><div style="border: dashed 2px #572f86; width: 600px;"></div><tbody><tr><td width="600px" align="left"><div align=justify><b>Canon</b>: 
<b>Age</b>: 
<b>Does Character Have Powers/Cursed Items</b>: Y/N
<b>Entity Affiliation(s)</b>: 
<b>Permissions</b>: <a href=LINK_PERMISSIONS>HERE</a>

<b>Information</b>: Give us a little insight into who this character is! What are they like?
<b>Plotting</b>: Any immediate plans or plots you want to get rolling? Is there a particular type of CR you're looking for? Do you want to get up to hijinks? Let your fellow players know!
<b>Visuals</b>: Gif/Image
</center> </table></center>

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Activity Check Reminder: September & An Announcement

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:35:08 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

PLEASE NOTE: This is our penultimate AC round. The October AC round will be the last month that we will be conducting an Activity Check. After that, we'll be moving forward with our endgame and welcome folks to participate without needing to worry about activity levels.

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Player Plot: A Farewell to (crab) Arm [OOC]

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 01:18:53 GMT

Posted by: wewillwewill

A Farewell to (crab) Arm
or when your therapist convinces you to give a hand for dinner

CW: Body horror, dismemberment, manipulation, disembodied limbs, stalking, creepy (non-sexual) touch, claustrophobia (through lack of personal boundaries)

Through a series of intertwining events, The (once John) Sheppard will be receiving a rather fancy and fully functional prosthetic/bio-mechanical arm to replace the arm mutated into a crab claw by the events in Buffalo, NY.

Thanks to the creation magicks of Elidibus and Emet-Selch, this will be fully functional arm with a few additional perks due to their paradigm. All good, right?

Well the problem is when they use this particular magic to make anything that stays around permanently, it becomes heavily influenced by their patrons. And when both work together to make something and their subject is a Hunt Avatar?

Well things take shape for the not-so-good.

The Skivvy

Ramping up with incidents and rumors in the latter half of September and into October are sightings and encounters of a mysterious entity and in time it may be revealed to be a ghostly or disembodied hand. Connecting it to Sheppard’s new arm may not be so easy, particularly since this sometimes nebulous, sometimes corporeal artifact will possess traits common to three fears and won’t just look exactly like Shep’s new arm.

Broadly this plot is a side-effect of Sheppard gaining a new arm and while it may be shaped by the more major events going on in Glouchester and even Sheppard’s own actions that something is up with his new appendage, it should run concurrent to anything happening and folk may choose or not choose to participate.

In addition this will be open to any who wish to participate. While some might be put on the trail via their contacts like the ADI or other sources, this is ultimately going to be something anyone can hear news about. Or experience directly.

Basics

This OOC post is to make the upcoming plot known. There will be another IC post to consolidate threads on so people can keep up, reference or read. That’s where any IC rumors, news or side story stuff will be posted.

Use this thread and the appropriate Questions and Scene Request comments below if you are interested. Besides interactions with the individual characters involved in the initial setup, scenes dealing with arm encounters will be available from both Maruah (Elidibus) and Indy (John Sheppard).

NPCs who are witnesses or survivors of an arm incident will be played by Maruah.

Information about expected arm ‘powers’ as a cursed piece of horribleness will be available on the IC post!

Scenes and investigations can happen any time between now and October and maybe some aftermath/residual stuff in November but the main bulk of fallout and resolution will probably be slated to happen in October, simply to help get some scenes out and done and allow for a wide range of schedule for participation!

Also, a handy form for scene requests!

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Event OOC - A Little Perspective

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 20:59:56 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

A Little Perspective - OOC

Welcome to the idyllic seaside town of Gloucester located along Cape Ann in Massachusetts! It's a place haunted by interesting stories and ghoulish tourist attractions, but this month, there's a new item taking center stage. As mentioned in news reports as far back as July, there's been construction underway for a new town square in Gloucester. In the center of this square sits a miniature version of town, an exact, scale duplicate sitting upon a large stone slab measuring 15x15-feet (roughly the size of a master bedroom). The slab raises the tiny town up about 3 feet from the ground.

The ringing of a replica bell hails the hour in the miniature Gloucester, a perfect plastic, foam, wood, and metal recreation. Perhaps you might enjoy the sight on a day out. But should you hear the ringing of the bells at just the wrong hour… you'll find yourself being sucked into the miniature town, itself, to suffer whatever fate awaits you there.

Summaries and content warnings for each prompt in the event are provided below. Please pose questions to the designated mod comment, and plot away!

➥ Small Fears: 16-19 September
➥ Big Fears: 16-19 September
➥ One Fear: 16-30 September

➥ Small Fears
(cw: Altered perception of reality, existential crisis, possible starvation, isolation)

Seven members of ADI go missing in the wider city, according to everyone else around them. Meanwhile, to those seven people, it’s everyone else who vanishes, leaving them in a faux ghost town haunted by very specific horrors and no way to put things right. Not from their side, at least. The unlucky seven will be chosen randomly from the list of sign ups below, we only ask that those signing up have a real and definable fear. Please also be aware: there is a strong possibility of characters being traumatized or even dying if part of the unlucky seven and death is still permanent as part of the setting. Characters might be injured, starved, crushed, or fall to their own nightmares if not rescued in time.

➥ Big Fears
(cw: gaslighting, potential for sadism, potential for large-scale destruction and injury/death, body horror, nausea, vertigo, supernaturally induced dread)

While some characters are drawn into the replica town, the rest will be left outside to help where they can. They'll be able to see tiny figures darting around the mini-Gloucester, but these figures are incredibly fast and it's likely going to take more than one person and/or traps to catch them. Or maybe you can find a way to communicate without words! In any case, the goal is to get people out. As soon as you're able to pull them past a certain 'bubble' they will regrow to their full size and suffer some illness as a result of this transformation, along with the sensation that they are much too big for their body.

Rescuing people will be complicated by a few things:

1. Normal citizens of Gloucester and even some native ADI members don't seem to notice the people trapped in the town.

2. Damaging or destroying buildings or other objects in the display seems to destroy the real version of them in Gloucester. This may result in panic, injury, and death for the regular citizenry.

3. Characters will have until the 19th to get people out, and they will feel that impending doom deadline when they see a little countdown clock in the replica city. After that entire town will disappear along with anyone still in it, and it will be like it was never there. No ordinary person in Gloucester will have heard of it or seen it. Even those native members of ADI who couldn't see the tiny figures will be wildly confused by talk of the town. All news stories about it will have vanished along with the town.

➥ One Fear
(cw: altered mental states; compulsion; painful transformation; dehumanization; being hunted; potential for violence, injury, and death, including gun violence)

Offworlders and staff of ADI find themselves in the role of hunter or hunted. At random, some characters experience small but unmistakable transformations that leave them with a feature associated with a traditional game animal–that is, an animal that has long been hunted by humans. Characters might sprout horns or antlers, animal ears, a tail, feathers, or any other distinctive animal feature; as long as that feature remains, everyone around them will feel the compulsion to hunt them down. What happens after that depends on the character; those particularly deep under the spell of compulsion may try to attack or kill the semi-transformed characters, while others may only trap them, or catch them only to let them go so the chase can resume. The only way to end the effect is to physically remove the animal feature, however painful that may be. Please note that character death remains permanent in the game's setting.

A Handy Plotting Form

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OOC Intro

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:25:55 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

↬ Main Navigation

Welcome to Apocalypse How!

You've made it ~~back~~ to Gloucester, and you're probably in one piece! Mostly... This is our OOC Intro post, a place for new players to introduce themselves, get to know one another's characters and find see who and what and when might click.

This month, the mod-run event will be posted on September 16th. Be sure to check the Calendar to see what else we have going on!

A Handy Form

↬ Main Navigation

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Activity Check Reminder: August

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 15:36:34 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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Event OOC - Feeling Faint: Update and an Announcement

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 19:56:43 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Feeling Faint: Update and an Announcement

Hey, everyone! We're here with an update on the current event and an announcement about the close of applications.

Event Update: Milo is staying in Gloucester and maintaining the illusion for non-humans/those with non-human features.

Thanks to the efforts of a wide variety of characters during the event who have made deals and/or appealed to them through kindness, Milo will be staying in Gloucester and continuing their illusions. While they have been told about Bonnie's Flophouse, they are pragmatic enough to know that native members of ADI will come after them if they try to just slip away. As such, they will be returning to HQ to bargain with the Warden of ADI for better accommodations while they maintain their existing deal.

Now that the monster is out of their room and has decided they like it better that way, Nia is aware that convincing them to go back downstairs probably isn't an option. A deal will be struck that will give Milo a small private house that will be heavily guarded and scrutinized by ADI at all times. Characters will be allowed to visit them, if they wish with the warning that doing so may result in the permanent loss of their names and other pieces of their identity. Whatever else people seem to think, ADI is continuing to take the threat that Milo poses to ordinary citizens (and even those in the know) very seriously. From this point forward, there will be a greater influence of the Spiral upon Gloucester. Characters may notice ordinary citizens struggling more and more with parsing what is actual reality. Particularly anyone living around Milo's new house location. Those in their neighborhood seem to be particularly afflicted and are more frightened than before. Anyone who is aligned with the Spiral will find they get a small ambient boost from this influence and terror.

App Announcement: We will be closing apps for new applicants in October; however, returning characters may submit applications through November.

We will not have a November application round, but will instead open the door for applications from returning players at any time. Those re-apping need only post their original, accepted application, and they will be granted entry to the game. Cast caps will not apply to characters re-apping for November. Applications for returning players will end on November 25th.

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Event OOC - Feeling Faint

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:02:36 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Feeling Faint - OOC

Summaries and content warnings for each prompt in the event are provided below. Please pose questions to the designated mod comment, and plot away!

➥ Flicker: 16 August - Potentially Onward
➥ Feint: 16-23 August
➥ Figment: 16-31 August

➥ Flicker
(cw: Alterations in reality and perception, chance for violence or injury, potential chance of loss of name or other pieces of a character’s identity, depending on conversations with Milo.)

Something’s going wrong with the glamours at seemingly random times, causing some characters to find themselves face-to-face with frightened and confused locals when the illusions fall. The source isn’t immediately apparent, but there does seem to be an odd meadow growing on the top of a warehouse near the docks...

➥ Feint
(cw: extreme distress, hallucinations, supernaturally heightened emotions, blood, monstrous creatures, potential for violence and death)

Characters hear a familiar voice calling out for help from the edges of Dogtown. It might be a loved one from home or here in Gloucester. You can even catch glimpses of them in the trees as they beg you to come help them. The cries elicit supernaturally heightened emotions, whether that be distress, rage, or something else. The compulsion to follow will be difficult (but not impossible) to resist. Those who do follow will be lured toward the blood river in Dogtown. They'll eventually catch sight of a monstrous, anglerfish-type creature that has a lantern on its stalk. This lantern intermittently turns into the important person shouting for help. Anyone seen by the monster as you approach the blood river will find themselves attacked. The creatures can be killed by ordinary means, but they are vicious and more than willing to shove the person you consider important into your face to try to distract you in the middle of a fight.

➥ Figment
(cw: hallucination, altered mental states, gaslighting)

Characters begin to see the visage of a strange man all around town. He's in books, posters, random bus adverts. No one seems to know who he is and an image search online doesn't yield results. Those who are keen to investigate Dogtown may find themselves especially prone to seeing the man. As you see him more and more, you'll find that you feel a brush of something, like a hand touching your shoulder. Those who are touched will feel compelled to gaslight others around them. It will feel good to do this, like you're taking back some level of control in a world that's spun away from you. But that feeling doesn't last, especially not as the compulsion leaves you and you're left with the knowledge that you've been trying to confuse and frighten someone you might just care about.

A Handy Plotting Form

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Activity Check Reminder: July

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:35:10 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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State of the Game, July 2023

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:57:51 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

↬ Main Navigation

State of the Game

Welcome to State of the Game 7: No One's Going to Heaven! Once more, we have some updates to share with all of you that we hope will help the game run more smoothly in these final months, as well as some additions/updates to the FAQ based on recent changes and additions to the status of ADI. We also have a few reminders to offer, so please make sure you read over the information thoroughly and provide us with any comments, ideas, or concerns.

Update to Activity Check:

new AC changes

Activity Check requires any ONE of the following proofs each month:

10 comments from your character (log and/or network).
log/network post. The top-level proof may ONLY be used for top-levels posted in the AC month.
A tag or thread (of any length) showing a character has ICly shared the results of a Dogtown Search Request with at least one other character who was not involved in the search. The spirit of this option is that we would like characters to ICly share potential plot information with one another.
If a player is organizing and running a Player Plot in a particular month, they may provide evidence of this (OOC posts, mod communications, a log set up for others to use) as evidence of game activity.

Game Timeline Reminders:

We'd like to remind everyone that the finale of the game is slated for December of 2023. For the most part, events have been slated and planned for over these next five months, so if you have any Player Plots you’ve been considering, now is the time to submit them!
With our final event occurring in December and the lead up beginning in November, October will be our final app round for the game, so hopefully anyone coming in or coming back will have a chance to establish CR and get settled.

NPC Interaction Post:

here

not

Locations and Housing Updates:

Locations

Housing

Arrivals Page and FAQ Updates:

Updated information to reflect that the network is now being run off of Cole's application. It is private from ADI higher-ups and natives.
Updated NPC sentiments to reflect that ADI NPCs are no longer wholly hostile to the use of supernatural abilities. They are still wary and watching closely, though. They want to make sure no one is using their abilities to harm innocents, just the 'bad guys.' During arrival, characters will be told to use any powers sparingly and informed of the consequences of use.
Updated drop information to reflect that as of July 2023 a third option is available for Characters to leave Gloucester's ADI to join with a separate (strictly no powers allowed) section of ADI in Wolf Pen, West Virginia, or strike out on their own. This would fall under the Alive Elsewhere In the Setting drop reason. Should players have another character in the game at the time of the 'retirement,' they are welcome to continue playing the retired character as they like without the need to make AC for that character or keep them involved in the main plot.

If you haven’t already, take a peek at the most recent Headline News as it offers some insight into upcoming plotlines. Thank you again for seeing this ~~horrible~~ journey through with us! Please comment below with any additional questions or feedback.

Updated FAQ Entries: ➥ How do I drop a character and what ICly happens to characters that are dropped?

Please post HERE to drop a character. ICly, the character will simply vanish or you may choose to have them leave the influence of ADI/the game and make a life for themselves in the world they've entered into. As of July 2023 a third option is available for Characters to leave Gloucester's ADI to join with a separate (strictly no powers allowed) section of ADI in Wolf Pen or strike out on their own. ADI personnel will tell characters that they have found evidence that at least some previous visitors from other realities have been killed (or worse) by the monsters out in this world.

➥ Are there game-issued network devices? How do they work? How does my character get online, in general?

Characters are provided with a smartphone during basic orientation. Depending on the department they join, they may also be issued a company laptop. Additionally, computers are abundant at ADI HQ, and characters working with ADI would be free to log into them to access the internet and whatnot. All characters are required to take a mandatory cyber security course during their first week at ADI, whether they stick with the group or not. Those who try to avoid the course will be tracked down and brought in for it. Players can assume that their characters will be given an in-depth tutorial on how to use a smartphone, how to set up accounts and passwords, access the internet, and what they need to do to keep themselves safe online and with technology in the modern world.

As of June 2023, Character's smartphones no longer have access to a network run by ADI. For the first day or so, there will be no group network access, but very quickly after they will receive a text with an 'invitation' to join the network. Anyone who clicks the invitation will find their phone redirected to automatically download a new app from a shady-looking URL that ends in the phrase "its-ya-boy-pyre." Upon being opened, the app is clearly a private chat program for characters. For now, at least, this chat program is private to player characters only, with ADI higher-ups unaware of its existence.

➥ Can my character have more than one account on the private network? Can they post anonymously?

Yes! The app prompts characters to set up their usernames and credentials, but there's nothing in place to stop someone from changing any of it or making multiple accounts after that first instance. Characters are welcome to post under each other's usernames/credentials if the players OOCly agree to it and the characters ICly obtain the information to do that. It's also possible for a particularly skilled hacker to get in and cause some mischief. If your characters is going to cause problems on that front for more than just a one-off thread/interaction, we'd just ask that you reach out to us on the Player Plots page.

➥ Are messages on the network truly private?

Yes. Possibly. Cole probably isn't snooping...maybe.

➥ How does the network work?

On arrival, each character is issued a smartphone, though it will have no contacts or internal ADI-communication options, at least for the first day they're in game. After that, they will recieve an app download link from an NPC named Cole that will allow them on a private chat program. Multiple logins may be created and anonymous posting is possible. The smartphones can also be used for calling and texting; those threads can be played out in private character inboxes. The default format of communication on the message board is text with the option to add images and links, but the board also has voice and video features similar to Discord. There is a directory that characters can use to contact anyone on the network.

➥ How do NPCs feel about the PCs?

Feelings and opinions among the NPCs are mixed. ADI employees native to this world are often wary of anyone who displays what they consider supernatural abilities. Though, as of July 2023, that tension has lessened somewhat as long as those abilities are clearly being put to use towards ADI's goals. Other ADI employees are off-worlders more empathetic toward the PCs... and often more depressed if they came from a magic-filled world now lost to them. By and large, everyone who works at ADI is at least willing to work alongside off-worlders, whether or not those off-worlders have their full trust.

The wider NPC community of Gloucester is skeptical of the number of outsiders who have moved into their small town, and are increasingly on edge around any arrivals they suspect of having supernatural abilities. Reactions toward PCs will largely depend on how those PCs treat the people around them.

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OOC Intro #23

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:20:50 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

↬ Main Navigation

Welcome to Apocalypse How!

You've made it to Gloucester, and you're probably in one piece! Mostly... This is our OOC Intro post, a place for new players to introduce themselves, get to know one another's characters and find see who and what and when might click.

This month, there will not be a mod-run event. Be sure to check the Calendar to see what else we have going on!

A Handy Form

↬ Main Navigation

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Activity Check Reminder: June

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:15:03 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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Something Has Happened...

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:40:36 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

We wanted to direct players to a recent Canon Update Request that will be occurring just before everyone heads down to Wolf Trap. Those living in Bonnie's Flophouse will find that the Visionary is even more aloof than usual for quite some time.

Make of the 'memories' they impart as you will.

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Event OOC - The 25,000 Light Year View

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:57:52 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

The 25,000 Light Year View - OOC

Based on character efforts with various NPCs, everyone is going to pull together for one last mission to deal with Zyrian. After that, Neil, Rae, and a number of other native ADI staff will be going their own ways in the world. But most have rallied behind Nia, and she'll be able to maintain a semi-stable organization with their existing resources.

The intro for the last part of the event will include a meeting led by Nia, Neil, and Rae. This is mainly designed to be informational, though, and will not have a direct prompt. It will provide some additional information they've been able to glean about Zyrian's plot.

Also thanks to character efforts, most of the sabotage by Benny and the artifacts will have been addressed. Most of the apartments will have electricity and water. D Block? Sorry. You're out of luck. It seems like that building's utilities have been sabotaged beyond repair. Characters will be consolidated into the remaining buildings when they return to Gloucester. Mods will reassign housing once the month shifts over. We will aim to keep existing roommates together, just consolidate into three buildings, rather than four.

We also wanted to add a few gentle reminders for players as we move into our final arc and end game.

First, Apocalypse How is ultimately a cosmic horror game and story. At the small scale, there are heroes, victories, and tales of hope. At the cosmic scale, all victories are Pyrrhic and fleeting. There are no conditions where one can win against the eldritch forces of the universe. The arrival of the Entities can be delayed. Their avatars can be killed. The apocalypses those avatars create can be disrupted. But, ultimately, the Entities cannot be defeated. Consider the simple mushroom and this meme as proxy for the Entities:

Second, given the above, please remember to be kind to one another OOCly and assume the best of someone's tone in any conversation. It's hard over text! Characters may make IC decisions that make sense for them given the genres, universes, and canon points they come from. And those might clash powerfully with a character from a different genre/universe/canon point. They may argue that their way is right, in-character. We love seeing people discuss their characters' motivations OOCly! Good characters having honest disagreements is fantastic!

It's just important to remember that in a game like Apocalypse How, there is no objectively correct answer or one that moves everyone to a win condition or the 'right side.' Apocalypse How as a game, much like its source material, is designed to raise ethical and existential questions with no easy answers more than actually answer them. This will continue to be a major part of the game as we move along.

We want to thank all players, past and present, for making this game what it is. We look forward to the final horrors to come with you through the last arc!

➥ tl;dr: There's an apocalypse happening in Wolf Trap where Copernicus is launching its new product: New Horizons. Nia, Neil, and Rae will be leading one last mission together before the latter two break from ADI. Characters have managed to fix most ADI housing sabotage and deal with the artifacts, but D Block ADI apartments will be permanently out of commission. Characters will be consolidated into other buildings.

➥ DANCE, DANCE REVOLUTION: 16-19 June
➥ WIRED: 16-19 June
➥ ENTER THE MATRIX: 16-19 June

➥ Dance, Dance Revolution
(cw: Compulsion, loss of autonomy)

A band for the event plays music that compels characters to dance in front of the stage with the lyrics serving as inspiration for the script. Dancers are forced to act out whatever is being narrated for them either by themselves or with a partner until the song ends. Songs can be anything from dancing for joy to a terrible break up, or even violence, just remember death is permanent and the song won’t stop until the last note is played.

➥ Wired
(cw: phantom limbs; body dysmorphia; body horror; existential horror; dead bodies; snakes, electric shock)

Characters are given the opportunity to explore some of the new tech booths at Wolf Trap. Try out a robotic hand you can move with your mind (ignore the phantom limb feelings), a mirror that lets you see yourself in different outfits and with cosmetic "enhancements" (ignore the body dysmorphia), or build your own little robot (ignore that they whir and click out terrified and pained messages in Morse Code). They're also given access to the server rooms at the park where they'll find a vast network of servers. An impossible number of them, really, all connected with wires. There are bodies scattered amongst the wires, some of them people who can be saved… others who are too far gone. Help to rescue people or destroy transmitters that seem to be left out near them. But work quickly. There are copper snakes roaming the place ready to deliver a jolt that will floor you… all the better for the wires to collect you and bring you into the fold.

➥ Enter the Matrix
(cw: dissociation and derealization; existential horror related to the size of the universe; villain actively attempting to induce a mental health crisis; altered mental states in general; paralysis; harm to imaginary animals)

Player characters and NPCs that have been captured by the wires and plugged into Zyrian Steel's machine will find themselves simultaneously aware of the fact that they are laying paralyzed with a bunch of wires hooked up to their bodies while also experiencing vivid, disorienting visions of being something small in a world too big for them as the machine tries to force their minds to comprehend the actual size of the universe and their miniscule place in it. Several sample visions will be provided in the prompt, but players are welcome to come up with metaphors and visions that reflect how their character's mind might try to shield itself from truly understanding what it's being shown. All the while, characters will find themselves coming closer and closer to integrating the knowledge they're seeing as visions with an understanding of their real, physical self and how they compare to the vastness of all existence. Coming to understand the size of the universe in this fashion is a Bad End likely to leave characters unplayable (as always, though, please remember that characters can have a close brush with death or a fate-worse-than-death and survive by tying themselves to an Entity as a player plot). The mindscape inside the machine operates on dream logic, and characters can find and interact with each other within it. They may delay understanding what the machine is showing them through various forms of mental resistance, and those who are able to focus on memories that give their lives meaning in spite of their cosmic insignificance may be able to break free long enough to unplug themselves. Otherwise, characters who are plugged into the machine will need to be rescued by someone outside of it.

A Handy Plotting Form

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Event OOC - Dogged: Update 2

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:33:41 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Dogged: Update 2

Hey, everyone! We're here with an update on the current event and some announcements. The votes are in and the following option has won:

Option #1: Nia Lehrer Remains In Charge

Under this option, PCs and NPCs will generally rally around Nia, in spite of her newly-realized avatar status. While ADI will be short-staffed, it will remain largely as it is now.

Notable changes that will occur:

Characters with supernatural abilities will be allowed off their leash provided they are only going after "bad people." Anyone going after random civilians will still be treated as a major threat and ADI will be much more vicious about stopping those threats.
All PCs (even ones with other Entity alignments) will become substantially more susceptible to the influence of the Hunt. Future event prompts and effects will reflect this with an increased focus on the mental and physical changes that may come with such an alignment. This will not be the only focus of events/prompts, but it will play a more prominent role.
Housing options will remain as-is.
Characters will continue to be paid as usual.

What this means is that general game mechanics will remain largely the same. Neil Grace and Rae Hargrave will be exiting the game as primary NPCs. Pam Ruan will be remaining in her post as HR lady… unless and until a PC reports her for being responsible for causing the artifact debacle. ADI will be severely short-staffed moving forward into end game; though, there are still enough native and non-native NPC staff to limp along. In addition, ADI has lost one of its major clients; therefore, while it will have resources, they will not be as robust as they once were.

Additional Announcements

#1
As part of the July changes (shuffling of NPCs and location information/FAQ), we will also be changing our AC Requirements after a suggestion from one of our players. AC will be reduced to a single proof (rather than two), and we will be adding in an additional proof type: Dogtown Searches. June AC will remain as it is. This change will be implemented in July.

As we move into end game, Dogtown investigation will become increasingly important. Players will be able to make AC showing proof that a search request was made within the AC period and their character shared the results of their search ICly with at least one other character.

#2
We will be implementing a monthly post for players who wish to interact with key NPCs. Please note that these CAN be used for AC, but if players are using them exclusively to meet AC requirements, mods reserve the right to request additional non-NPC proofs. Please also note that interaction with NPCs is not required to participate in the plot of the game. This is simply an additional potential avenue for engagement. Players will be limited to one thread per month with NPCs. This is to keep things manageable for the mods and to encourage players to share whatever their characters might learn in these interactions with the broader group.

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Activity Check Reminder: May

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 02:29:02 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Activity Check Reminder

Hi Team,

This is your reminder for AC! Please be sure to get your Activity Check in no later than the 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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Dogged: Update 1

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 22:34:03 GMT

Posted by: apocalypsehowmods

Dogged: Update 1

Hey, everyone! We're here with an update on the current event and a poll that will determine the main direction of the game going forward. Please vote below regarding which path forward your character(s) would prefer for ADI/its organization and Nia Lehrer, the Warden of ADI. Voting closes on June 7th at 11:59 PM Pacific (Jun 8, 2:59 AM Eastern/6:59 AM GMT/7:59 AM PM BST/timezone converter). Voting is one vote per character.

Each outcome will have IC ramifications for characters, some good, some bad. Choose what you think your character would and the mods will roll with the consequences. Depending on the results, this may require substantial updates to OOC information. We'll ask for your patience and kindness while we make those updates over the course of the month. We will have a post detailing any specific changes in July.

Two additional updates:

Thanks to multiple characters engaging with her, Pam Ruan will not be entering Dogtown to succumb to… some fate. She will ultimately be available in all of the below listed scenarios as continued support for PCs in terms of obtaining fake documentation and other basic needs to survive in the modern world.
While the ADI network went dead on May 25th, on June 3rd characters will receive a surprise message from Cole Guttuso, the ex-Desolation avatar formerly known as Pyre who lives at Bonnie's Flophouse. He has jury-rigged a private network just for offworld characters. Players should assume that the new private network functions more or less the same as the old network, except that no NPCs other than Cole appear to have access to it. While there will be an NPC response thread where characters can communicate with Cole, the primary purpose of his network post is for player characters to communicate with one another. Cole does not have any additional plot information to offer at this time.

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