"Setting: The Scramble for Earth" Topic

In the days of the mid-20th century, the planet Earth appeared outwardly at peace. Though a dozen conflicts raged in the world's jungles and uncountable civil disputes plagued the governments of that planet, in a stark contrast to a decade before and thirty years before that, the easily visible signs of a world in conflict could not be found. Had a visitor suggested the world was in a state of tranquility, the inhabitants of that planet might have expressed a different opinion. New technologies gave the two premier governments of the world, at odds over differing views on the proper ordering of the economy, the ability to annihilate virtually every living thing on the planet. Fear of destruction by humans on the other end of the globe hung over the minds of people on every continent. Few would guess that the troubles of the Earthlings, that then seemed so grave, would soon become petty and insignificant in the face of an event entirely unprecedented in human history.

Many trillions of miles away, discussions that would change the earth forever had just concluded. After many sessions of fierce argument, the Transgalactic League had finally voted to open a small planet, third from the sun of its system, to members of the League. After Earthlings had demonstrated their rise out of barbarism with the harnessing of the atom, the long-standing prohibition on exploitation and visitations of that backwater had been revoked. Though many League members had opposed the ban's end, few League states can resist the temptation to acquire territories on the resource-rich Earth. Unbeknownst to the Earthlings, the first of the conquest fleets have set course for their small planet. The Scramble for Earth has begun.

Basically, this is a generic 1950s alien invasion setting. Dozens of alien empires are landing on the Earth in hopes of gathering slaves/conducting science missions/world conquest/extracting resources/etc. As so often happened in movies of 1950s, armies of extraterrestrials face off against American soldiers, but I have thrown in a twist that has long been of interest to me: a Second Civil War between north and south over desegregation. I've been inspired by classic science fiction moives like War of the Worlds and the Day the Earth Stood Still (as well as homages like Super 8 and Mars Attacks!) which portray large-scale Earthshattering events as well as space monster movies of that decade. Earth is under attack from numerous alien empires, allowing for nearly any miniatures to be pitted against the soldiers and farmers of the Earth.

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The setting of the game would be a sort of stereotyped late 1950s/early 1960s that does not pay full attention to the fact that, say, the Little Rock Crisis and election of President Kennedy were years apart. I think the wide range of factions and possible battlegrounds allows for many different types of battles: a large-scale engagement between the army and a large invasion force, farmers fighting off cattle-abducting UFOs, and frightened desert-dwelling suburbanites against unknown monsters are all easily possible.

I have some more on the different factions I've thought up on my blog: kerrminiatures.blogspot.com

Predator.

I would maybe make it more "Star Guard" by Andre Norton, where the alien races have been given LIMITED ability to intervene and such on Earth, perhaps in support of allies they recruit among Earth's nations. Alien mercenary units, recruitment of humans to be armed with alien weapons, etc.

Interestingly, I just bought some Predator-esque figures from Pendraken.

@Yogibearminis, I like the idea, but I just don't think it fits with this. I think this fighting would be primarily on Earth. I do agree that the aliens in this will not be sent to Earth prepared for total war and will have limited resources, though their technological advantages and surprise are of great benefit. I'm imagining smaller scale battles, mostly between infantry with only a few tanks and flying saucers as support.

Baconheimer: "I just bought some Predator-esque figures from Pendraken"

Did you also buy his 1950s US soldiers?

You could paint their uniforms a slightly different color and use them as some covert government military unit that shoots down, battles and retrieves UFOs and their occupants without the public's knowledge, and uses captured Alien tech against new Alien arrivals. Throw in a few Men-In-Black "advisors" in there too. :)

Dan
TMP link

This isn't fiction.

Lol.

Dan

No, I bought the Predator figures before this idea had really formed in my mind, so I didn't get any of these guys. They're perfect for what I had in mind with the exception of being 10mm, which is only an issue because I currently have more 15mm stuff.

Your thread there is part of my inspiration for finally getting this idea down in writing.

Baconheimer

Baconheimer

Well, if you get this done for 15mm I'm definitely interested in seeing your updates and pictures as you move along.

Dan

After looking at the Pendraken figures, I really like the way they look. Maybe I will do this project, though I still won't be for a while as I have a lot of other things to paint first. I certainly will keep everyone updated if I do.

Baconheimer