Khonshu Alpha

The primary inspiration for Khonshu Alpha was Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World. These were seemingly inspired by mid-20th century pulp sci-fi. This is a world where radiation gives almost instantaneous and useful mutations, and where ancient technology consists of Flash Gordon-style ray guns. This gives those games a more science-fantasy feel.

For the Khonshu Alpha project, I wanted to go in a slightly different direction. I'd like it to be inspired by more recent 21st century “hard” science fiction (I'll probably throw together an Appendix N at some point).

I want a setting that's rich and full of wonders, but not quite the pulpy free-for all that the older games had. I'd like the technology and creatures to be a little more in line with real world science. Basically I want to provide a fig leaf of plausibility pasted over the sci-fi nonsense.

i.e. Radiation doesn't give you superpowers, it gives you cancer.

So I'm going to limit the technology tropes in Khonshu Alpha to the following:

Technology that won't be in Khonshu Alpha

Simple Artificial Gravity – No grav plates Psionics Hyperspace Drives Ray Guns FTL Communication Time Travel Force Fields Extreme Mutations – No laser beam eyes.

Technology that will be in Khonshu Alpha

Nanotechnology Robotics Biotechnology Cybernetics Artificial Intelligence Von Neumann Machines Cognitohazards Mind Uploading Cryonics Virtual Realities

My hope is that limiting myself in this way, will force me to be a little more creative.

by Norton Glover – [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] RPG Blog: Polyhedral Nonsense #Dungeon23

Since the Malfunction, the pets and and livestock of Khonshu Alpha have been forced to evolve to survive, often becoming dangerous to the surviving humans. Here are some more of the notable creatures.

Cuddlefiends: Before the Malfunction, these were genetically engineered bear/monkey hybrids designed to be companions and pets for small children. They were small, furry and had big soulful eyes.

After the Malfunction, when the ship's food processors failed, these creatures were often killed and eaten. A few managed to escape (or were released), and fled to abandoned areas. Over the years, they have evolved to become carnivorous pack animals, who will emerge from hiding in small swarms, overwhelming their prey, and devouring them whole.

Parents in the human tribes often warn their children that if they don't behave, the Cuddlefiends will steal them away.

Shatter Bugs: Small roach-like bugs that make high-pitched siren-like noises. Harmless in small numbers, when they gather in a large enough mass, the combined volume of their cries can cause actual physical damage.

Mad-Mold: Common in enclosed spaces, like vents or tunnels. This orange-colored fungi releases spores, that when inhaled, cause vivid hallucinations. Some collect the mold to use in mystic rituals, or for medical purposes.

Traitor Hawk: Predator originally designed to hunt pigeons in Khonshu Alpha's many parks. Post-Malfunction it has nearly tripled in size, and hunts any creature it can in Khonshu's parks and agricultural spaces.

Hoplings: Former agricultural rabbits that have been grown in size and intelligence. They've formed a martial, honor-based culture. Basically bunny Klingons.

by Norton Glover – [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] RPG Blog: Polyhedral Nonsense #Dungeon23

In Sean McCoy's initial #Dungeon23 post (https://seanmccoy.substack.com/p/dungeon23), he provided a list of 52 prompts. The idea is that each week, you'd select one at random and use it as a theme for the week.

It's a good list, but a little fantasy oriented. So I've made my own list of prompts specifically for the Khonshu Alpha setting. If I don't have a better idea, I'll use this for inspiration.

1. Electricity
2. Void
3. Paranoia
4. Automation
5. Corrosion
6. Fanaticism
7. Mutation
8. Cold
9. Plants
10. Meat
11. Crystals
12. Vehicles
13. Information
14. Metal
15. Genetics
16. Dreams
17. Collision
18. Anomaly
19. Chaos
20. Industry
21. Blood
22. Light
23. Illusion
24. Plumbing
25. Water
26. Recreational
27. Flux
28. Plague
29. Flight
30. Evolution
31. Flight
32. Reptiles
33. Cyborg
34. Fungi
35. Gadgets
36. Magnetism
37. Gravity
38. Radiation
39. Hybrid
40. Brains
41. Madness
42. Robot
43. Membrane
44. Senses
45. Invisible
46. Poison
47. Nanotech
48. Quantum
49. Weapons
50. Insects
51. Savagery
52. Mental

by Norton Glover – [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] RPG Blog: Polyhedral Nonsense #Dungeon23

Most of the #Dungeon23 projects I've heard about seem to be fairly standard fantasy settings, even if they're not strictly set in dungeons. Most of them will probably use general OSR stats for mechanical things like monsters and NPCs.

Khonshu Alpha, being a post-apocalypse science fantasy sort of setting, doesn't really have an obvious go-to system to use.

I'm considering a few options:

Make it System Agnostic: Don't use any stats. Obviously this is a lot easier to write, but I feel like this is putting a lot of work on the shoulders of the GM that actually runs this setting. Even if I'm the only one who ever runs anything in it, I'd essentially just be putting off work to the future.

Make it OSR: OSR isn't necessarily fantasy. There are lot of OSR-style science fantasy games. If I just use fairly basic OSR stats, it should be accessible to the largest number of users. On the other hand, OSR rules may not be the best fit for this setting.

Use a Specific System: There are a number of science fantasy systems to choose from: Mutant Future, Mutant Year Zero, Cepheus Atom. I could even go old-school and run Metamorphosis Alpha or Gamma World. The problem here is that none of these games are particularly popular. Picking any one limits the reach and usefulness of the final product.

Traveller: Traveller and its open-source version Cepheus Engine, while not as large as the OSR, has a big following. There's already a lot of sci-fi material for this system available to use a reference. But obviously, still a smaller audience than OSR. I've written elsewhere about my enthusiasm for writing stuff in Cepheus Engine. https://polyhedralnonsense.com/2022/07/02/the-new-osr-the-case-for-the-cepheus-engine/

Currently, I'm leaning toward either OSR or Traveller. I don't think I have to decide right away, since I don't think it's necessary to provide any actual stats for everything on the very first day. I think I can probably go for a month before I have to make a decision. I don't want to go much further than that, or I'll just be making more work for myself.

by Norton Glover – [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] RPG Blog: Polyhedral Nonsense #Dungeon23

Khonshu is the name of the Egyptian god of the Moon. Supposedly it means ‘He-who-traverses [the sky]’, which seems appropriate. Khonshu is considered the protector of those who travel at night, which matches the setting well.

Khonshu is also a healing god, which if you wanted to stretch the metaphor a bit, is what the players are probably trying to do to the ship.

There are a few different alternate spellings of the god's name. I just picked the one that looks the coolest.

The Alpha part of the ship's name is really just a homage to Metamorphosis Alpha. I'm also thinking it suggests there may be other generation ships, Beta & Theta perhaps, floating around out there somewhere.

I've also been messing around with a logo for the setting:

by Norton Glover – [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] RPG Blog: Polyhedral Nonsense #Dungeon23