Tales from the Darkness: Vehicles

Originally published June 23, 2014

A while back I was involved in an Apocalypse World game using Jamil Vallis-Walkers's Darkness rules. A psychic darkness covered the world with only a few hours of twilight everyday. It was an evocative setting but my character died in an unsatisfying way. In the interest of getting past that bad experience, I used the Mythic Game Master Emulator is run a short game for myself, to exercising some demons or shadows. I found it pretty therapeutic. Here is some material from that game.

Vehicles

I chose a new playbook for my character as she made a new startin the world. Despite Jamil's advice I think Drivers do work in this world. If anything racing through the darkness, hoping you don't run out of gas, is even more nerve wracking than camping around a camp fire, scavenging firewood.

The Bus

This converted city bus glows from hundred of LEDs and Christmas tree lights. The roving home of the Cult of Light it has carried this ragtag mix of religion and family ever further south, hunting the sunlight.

Stats:

• Power +1 (rugged)
• Looks +2 (quirky, garish)
• 1-armor
• Weakness +1 (unreliable)

Background

When my Savvyhead turned Driver managed to escape her situation (with judicious use of Bonefeel), she took up with a cult on their way south. Their bus had broken down and she showed up with exactly the tools to fix it. It seems she is the only one who can keep it running.

Philosophically this was an example taking one of the vehicle blocks with high looks and running with it. It also serves as a way to keep the darkness at bay creating a island of safety in a dangerous world.

Until it breaks down again.

The Death Bike

This military motorcycle has been recently refurbished and armed with twin machine guns. Built for off road maneuvering and highway pursuit, it has been reinforced with armor plating and spikes to deter boarders. The gauges are electronic adding a safe glow to the interior.

Stats:

• Power +2 (fast, off-road)
• Looks +2 (flashy, spikes & plates)
• 1-armor
• Weakness +1 (cramped)
• attached machine guns [3-harm close/far area messy]

Background

The rusty hulk that forms the body of the Death Bike was found at small hold of Salt. Though little more than a wreck,the local Driver was able to easily repair the damage of 50 years of neglect.

In this case I decided to go for power and looks and not much else. Normally this build offers no armor, so it made sense to allow it to be some sort of souped up motorcycle (I could also see a dune buggy). Cramped made a good weakness as it really only has room for two people at most.