Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
The year was 2025. Advancements in technology had rocketed humanity to an age of unprecedented prosperity. The population had skyrocketed to roughly 9.5 billion. Android servants began to take the brunt of the labor for most of mankind. Large corporations controlled most commerce and the governments were barely able to keep them in check. Though the world was not without problems, the future looked bright. At least for a time. An alien invasion, nuclear war, biological weapons; These are just some of the events that were in store for the world. The winter of 2025 led to the decimation of the planet amongst every imaginable apocalypse short of the supernatural. Zombies outnumber humanity 100 to 1. Stranded alien attack forces must contend with human survivors for basic needs. Humanity walks the fine line between extinction and survival every day.
What Is Afterworlds?
In October 2013, Drew “Udo” Long brought 7 players and 8 volunteers together for a weekend of game experimentation the likes of which none of the participants had ever experienced before. A long-time fan of apocalyptic fiction, Udo put together a short, weekend-long story about a small group of raiders and a colony of settlers attempting to find a hidden cache of supplies. Hilarity ensued, friendships were forged, and Afterworlds was born. Afterworlds is a post-apocalyptic live-action roleplaying game with safe mock-weapon combat and foam-dart blasters. It contains adult themes and is set in a wasteland where most forms of the apocalyptic future have come to pass. Game staff develop the overall storyline and play many different characters throughout an event to challenge and engage the players. As a player, you assume the role of a character in this fictional world, where you must survive and eke out a violent existence among mutants, robots and monsters. You may need to team up and remain vigilant to survive the wasteland; some may choose to go it alone and face a much more dangerous path. Any way you choose to go about it, the formula remains the same: loot, scavenge, fight, and survive. This is a highly competitive game with a ruleset designed to be fluid and understandable while extensive and engaging. One of the overarching themes of the game is that you are not the default hero. You could suffer terrible defeat at any moment, and that danger keeps you on edge and shapes your every action.
Content Disclaimer
Afterworlds contains depictions of simulated violence, as well as occasional uses of loud noises, flashing lights and absence of light, concepts like cannibalism and disease, depictions of bigotry, abuse, graphic violence and injuries, as well as disrespectful or satirical representations of real-world concepts like religions and corporations. While there are very strong adult themes throughout the game, Afterworlds will NEVER condone or allow the use of sexual assault or rape themes in our narratives or depicted scenes, whether player or staff run. Afterworlds events might take place in undeveloped locations and thus might contain situations of limited accessibility.
How To Use This Book
The Afterworlds Game Guide is designed to provide an outline for the mechanical and thematic components for the Afterworlds live-action roleplaying game. Anyone who wishes to participate in an Afterworlds live-action roleplaying event must read and follow the rules for conduct, safety, combat and roleplay outlined in the early chapters of this book. A greater understanding of the rules leads to a smoother, more enjoyable game experience for everyone. Failure to abide by game rules may result in disciplinary action. The later chapters of this book explain character customization and gameworld elements in greater detail. Changes, fixes, supplemental materials and expansions will become available as the game develops over time.