Campaign Introduction - Shadows Over Valissia

Greetings traveler, and welcome to Lunar City!

Campaign Goals

This campaign seeks to experience a Modern/Sci-Fi game played within the familiar frame of 5e's rules. To emphasize a survival sci-fi setting, magic has been stripped from the game and replaced with many technological equivalents. Because this is an amalgamation of multiple rules sources, homebrew and 5e itself, it is possible there are some rules imbalances or mistakes and might require balancing.
With how broad Modern/Sci-fi/Cyberpunk and Post Apocalypse settings can be, everyone will have their own vision of what they want to play. The rules should hopefully be broad enough to let you play whatever archetype or trope you wish. Some things such as Flight, Space Marine/Fallouts Power Armor may be cool but are likely going to be level restricted for balancing purposes. Melee should be just as easy to accomplish as 5e normally is, and with the addition of Enhanced Monosuits strength builds should be as appealing as Dexterity-based ones!
Themes will vary over time and I will try and accommodate everyone's personal tastes and interests.

Setting/Game Important Information

The following is some useful information about the world, its lore and other important notes. I am theming the game a lot off of Cyberpunk and Arcane, but only surface level. There is a lot of inspiration from other sci-fi as well, such as Starfinder, Star Wars, Star Citizen and many others.
• Cybernetics do not work quite as they work in Cyberpunk. Prosthetics and body modification are not as prevalent and are usually replacements. Because bodysuits and armor are the common way of using implants and cybernetics, it is less common for those to use something permanently attached to ones body.
• There is no Faster than Light travel, but Space Ships can traverse within a Solar System fast with Sub-Space Drives.
• Travel between systems is accomplished with Warp Gates, or worm holes.
• Shield Generators, Gravity Plates, Laser weapons and anti-gravity levitation exist.
• Gloomium is refined Uranium and is similar to atomic weaponry. Normal Atomic bombs do not exist. It has different properties than an atomic bomb.
• Undead exist, and are often created in places where Gloomium bombs have been dropped.
• Magic does not exist, though some effects may be functionally similar or replicated by advanced technology.
• The Heavy Weapon property has been changed, small creatures can use any weapon.
• Firing while prone no longer suffers disadvantage (except for the Bow!).
• All firearms are assumed to be fairly loud unless equipped with a Silencer.
• There is no distinction between simple and martial weapons. Characters are automatically proficient in any weapon they wish to use, and their class features will determine further specialization.

Skill Replacements

Arcana is replaced with Technology
Skill: Technology
Use this skill to solve advanced computer related problems:
• Know your way around a computer’s OS.
• Access secured systems via bugs and exploits.
• Change a machine or robot’s programming.
Religion is replaced with Engineering
Skill: Engineering
Use this skill to solve problems related to obscure and forgotten advances in scientific achievement:
• Figure out how to repair devices, structures, and systems.
• Attempt to create new devices, structures, and systems.
• Decipher the purpose of machines, experiments, and other technologies you encounter.
• Identify the company or organization responsible for developing and producing machines, experiments, and other technologies you encounter.

Lunar City and Valissian Prime

The campaign starts in Lunar City, located on the moon Valissian Prime. The celestial body is the moon of Old Valissian, which was annihilated during the Principality of States civil war. More of the war can be found in the History of the Galaxy page on the Worldanvil.
The Moon is large and has a dense, breathable atmosphere. Due to years of corporate pollution it has a dense layer of sulfur dioxide suspended in the upper atmosphere that has given the world a blue hue. Because of this, it is commonly called "The Blue".
Valissian Prime has a similar gravity to Allysar, which is comparable to our Earth, because of a uniquely dense core. It has a significant amount of water flow from geothermal activity deep in its surface, but much of the water that flows through the city is contaminated with chemicals and must be filtered before it can be drank.
Lunar City is a megacity that covers nearly a quarter of the moons surface. The city is protected by an old Sky Shield, that prevents orbital bombardment from Capital Ships as well as asteroids and meteors. The moon is uniquely at risk of being hit by small chunks of debris and rock from an asteroid collision a few hundred years ago. Despite this, there are settlements on the remainder of the planet, known as "The Wastes". Settlements exist across the world and outside the sky shield, but it is prone to bombardment and few are brave enough to make their way outside the protection of the city.
Lunar City is uniquely situated over an area that was covered in miles of large cracks. These cracks led to unique mineral deposits and was a lucrative source of minerals for corporations. It is still mined to this day. They are usually between 300 and 500 feet wide, but can vary greatly in size.
The lowest levels in the canyons are known as the Wretch, filled with refuge, toxic waste and the lowest dregs of society. It is a place of darkness, tunnels and if the rumors are to be believed, horrors that no sane person should ever see.
The next level, sometimes still with solid ground beneath ones feet, is known as the Gutter. Many of these areas are large bridges that span the gap. Lunar Cities poor lives here, often in complete darkness where the canyons and cracks have been paved over. Many of these areas live in poverty, some worse than others.
The ground level is often just called "The Streets" and is better off than the Gutter. It is often paved and even has wheeled vehicles that roam the streets. Above it are "The Lanes", where hover vehicles glide along and form the cities traffic. There is a magical netting that protrudes across the street automatically to catch vehicles who collide, or who's propulsion fails. Though these can occasionally (frequently) fail.
Outside of the city is the Azure Interstellar Spaceport. This mega-space port is adhoc, and handles all of the commercial traffic that travels offworld. Very little of it is above ground, as asteroids are a constant danger. Many hangars, some gigantic, frequently open and close to allow access to the many segments o the space port. From here, tunnels and Skygates allow access to the interior of the city. There are rumors of tunnels leading from the Gutter to the access tunnels of the Spaceport, but the authorities are quick to dispel these as myths.

Pitch

You grew up at the Nova Hostel located in The Gutter. This has been your home as you either came of age, or as you are getting back on your feet. There is a route up to the surface called "The Topside Alley", one that is generally patrolled by the Lunar City Police Department to prevent problem-makers from moving contraband. That said, many still find there way around the roadblock, or through different routes... for a price.
The Hostels matron is named Gloria. A bit aged and slow, she usually means well and has generally treated you with respect. Despite this, life in the Gutter is a harsh one, and you have learned to survive.
You are all friends and familiar with Arika, your gangs defacto leader. An orphan herself, you have always looked up to her. She has always pushed for the party to be better, to rise from the grime and make something of ones self. You are fairly familiar with the local area, known as The Dives, but wish to get out and make something of ones self. Perhaps get a place of your own, make it topside, or some other goal! She has called everyone together to do a job, one that hopefully should bring in some credits and be the catalyst that elevates you out of this life.
Do you remember any interesting landmarks in the city? Invent a location! What was it, why did you go there, what was remarkable about it?
What secrets or things of interest does your character have? I would love to work with everyone on special things for their character.
What goals or aspirations does your character have? What drives you, what goals do you have?
What enemies does your character have? Have you upset anyone, or has anyone upset you?
What got you into your class?. You are level 1, what got you there? Keep it reasonable and consider the campaign beginning.

Useful Links

Character Creation Information
Equipment
History of the Galaxy