Further Breaking the Broken Cog Cluster
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 5:59 pm
So, the Broken Cog, it's my take on melding some advanced domains together and adding some new ones. In some ways, the weird melding of cultures makes it feel a little Mystara (complete with an actual domain from ancient Blackmoor). But, that's also my way of creating a chaotic powder keg that's inspired by the events and regimes that lead up to World War 1, and "modern" (20th century onward) conflict in general. And of course, the core "metaplot" implies that tensions and violence between the domains will eventually escalate. And from there? Innovations for weaponry will get worse and worse, leading to a Time of Unparalleled Darkness prophecy of the apocalypse. (Threads, anyone?)
I'm mostly pondering on where to go next. I could do more crunch stuff, like items or other player options. But, I feel like I need to brush up and practice first. Likewise, more ways of getting players invested. I certainly fleshed out the cluster last year and I'm happy with most of the changes I made, without retconning my original idea. Though, I'm still somewhat disappointed with Ichthyos, if I'm honest. Beyond the obvious, the other inspiration was darker alternate history looks at Post-Ottoman Greece and its struggle to return. Ichthyos is more of a genuine downwards spiral. I wanted to capture that 19th century Greek inspiration a little better. Though, Alleigosto certainly has a lot more Italian inspiration, which I was happy with.
But, I'm open to other ideas, especially if they prove directly engaging to players. I have plot seeds of various groups that could very well alter the status quo of the cluster (for better or worse). Of course, some areas should prove extremely hostile and dangerous (the expanded outside wastelands of Nosos, almost all of Darkheath, the major quarantine zones of Rockbaecche, the lair of The Ancient Ones beneath Icthyos, and so on...) but there are plenty of less extreme places too, including all manner of mysteries (like "The Barmy Bomber" and his fiery ghost train, the strange outland survivor cults that fled Ichthyos, the Rimpiinzarsi family homestead and tavern's meat supply, Malgiallo's sickly subterranean secret, and more.) I do have ideas that originated on my blog that I could revive (including a disgraced professor of Alleigosto's university who merged with plant life in a freak accident) or other ideas to muse on. So, I'm quite open to ideas. I might post more concepts to develop in this thread too.
I'm mostly pondering on where to go next. I could do more crunch stuff, like items or other player options. But, I feel like I need to brush up and practice first. Likewise, more ways of getting players invested. I certainly fleshed out the cluster last year and I'm happy with most of the changes I made, without retconning my original idea. Though, I'm still somewhat disappointed with Ichthyos, if I'm honest. Beyond the obvious, the other inspiration was darker alternate history looks at Post-Ottoman Greece and its struggle to return. Ichthyos is more of a genuine downwards spiral. I wanted to capture that 19th century Greek inspiration a little better. Though, Alleigosto certainly has a lot more Italian inspiration, which I was happy with.
But, I'm open to other ideas, especially if they prove directly engaging to players. I have plot seeds of various groups that could very well alter the status quo of the cluster (for better or worse). Of course, some areas should prove extremely hostile and dangerous (the expanded outside wastelands of Nosos, almost all of Darkheath, the major quarantine zones of Rockbaecche, the lair of The Ancient Ones beneath Icthyos, and so on...) but there are plenty of less extreme places too, including all manner of mysteries (like "The Barmy Bomber" and his fiery ghost train, the strange outland survivor cults that fled Ichthyos, the Rimpiinzarsi family homestead and tavern's meat supply, Malgiallo's sickly subterranean secret, and more.) I do have ideas that originated on my blog that I could revive (including a disgraced professor of Alleigosto's university who merged with plant life in a freak accident) or other ideas to muse on. So, I'm quite open to ideas. I might post more concepts to develop in this thread too.
