July'25 Trench Poll

WHAT IS THIS ?

Around a month ago, I decided to try building up a setting that I could fill with stuff I’m interested in. However, I specifically wanted to expand around a focused, practical base, so I chose to sketch a roster of characters for a fighting game, using design elements and interconnected backstories to develop the setting, And it worked ! It wasn’t intended to spawn any concrete projects, just to provide grounding for those times when I want to follow a creative thread, Nothing was pushed or finished but it did the job, it got me to have fun world-building. I even sketched stages for some characters !

This is what I was missing for my GWW, they are purely an exercise in design with no real throughline, I never could figure out an overall dynamic with them, I may try to overhaul my approach with them too in the future =>

In any case as you will see further down, nothing is particularly advanced, it wasn’t the point, but I thought this could be a way to share a bit of my enthusiasm in a fun way. With this poll I’d like you to choose a design (or rather a duo) that you would like to see pushed, not to a fisnished piece necessarily, but explored further.

I’ll give a short description of the setting, keeping it concise (not really), followed by the characters.

SETTING

Broad type : Post apocalyptic in the distant reconstruction phase, extreme climates, most of the planet is bad to uninhabitable except in and around sparse  green zones  that are also rough but rich in resources.

Technological advancement : basic cyborg augments level, overall advanced but hindered by the environment, the simplest electrical systems have to be heavily insulated (constant EMP events) and wireless communication over long distances is impossible.

Retro futuristic vibe, everyday appliances need to be somewhat bulky and rugged, and if you move away from population centers the lack of infrastructure means you’ll have to rely on more basic tech or gas-operated machines.

Across the world but especially in green zones, there are hives of robotic constructs that endlessly build and dismantle uncanny megastructures, robots are passive but if their tasks are disrupted, more aggressive constructs can emerge from the hives.

Green zones are in great part a chaotic juxtaposition of dense vegetation and abandoned metal.

Scope : Continental scale, to keep it short, a green zone surrounded by deserts.

Politics : Accante is the hub-city of the green zone on the southern rim, city state built on repurposed megastructures. Throughout the zone there are many autonomous towns that have an interest in maintaining connections to Accante.

South : The protectorate is a federal entity that developed beyond the southern desert, it has secured a corridor and built a rail connection to Accante, prosperous business ensued and it sponsors further connections within the green zone where possible. Also pursues less friendly campaigns in the peripheral regions.

TONE :

Somewhat optimistic, humanity is expanding and their environment is endlessly challenging and mysterious. Characters are all affected by that process, they are constantly on the move, the technological status quo means life outside cities is still dangerous and everyone is self reliant (it’s a fighting game cast!),

CHARACTERS (placeholder names all over)

1a. ROOK

Age : early 20s

Origin : born in the destitute quarters of Accante, vowed to escape into the wilds.

Occupation: Survey/Field maintenance team leader fresh out of training, soon to set out on her first tour along the path of the soon-to-be-expanded Western rail line.

Drive : Confront the frontier, live on the move, be reliable.

Fighting style : Muay thai adjacent (Clinch, Knees and Elbows focus, trained in the slums) mixed with grappling (academy training)

Character outline : MOTIVATED, hyperactive, rigorous, awkwardly caring.

MISC : Manga side-character face, but she’s my main.

1b. PRINCE

Age : early 20s

Origin : born in resettled desert clan community (pacified raiders). Set out with his niece to look for his brother who disappeared when he was a child. Ended up stranded in the Accante slums (reasons TBD).

Occupation : successful prize fighter in the entertainment block.

Drive : Seeks to accumulate funds to pay for [something]. Be stronger than that asshole deadbeat brother.

Fighting Style : I dont know =X

Character outline : Loyal (to family), responsible, prideful, distrustful.

MISC : A popular trend in the Accante fighting scene is to add a narrative dimension to the bouts via pre and post-fight theater. « Raider-Drama » is a very popular genre that reinterprets folk tales from desert raider clan culture, actors take on the roles of the protagonists during the intro and build tension until they cede the scene to the fighters, taking on the same roles. When the fight is over the actors come back for an outro consistent with the outcome, flexibility is required.

PRINCE plays the fighting part of the « Raider prince », often challenged by rival raiders or fought over by raider-maidens.

2a. BODYGUARD

Age : mid 30s

Origin : born in a southern oil extracting community - Raider-adjacent criminal activity ended in her losing an arm in a shootout in her mid 20s. Struck a deal with protectorate :Amnesty in exchange for experimental augmented arms (both arms) and a lifetime of service.

Occupation : Bodyguard for high ranking protectorate figure, currently assigned to projects in the green zone.

Drive : Focus on the certainty of duty and purpose

Fighting style : Arms ?

Character outline : Quiet, Dutiful, Rigid, Implacable

2b. TECH GUY

Age : late 20s

Origin : born in a peaceful settlement in the inner protectorate region. His community benefited from technological developments and cultivates the ideal of the « man in motion », who pushes forward to reconquer nature, sound in body and intellect. Diligently he went through the motions and started a career in field research on ancient robotics.

Occupation : Currently monitoring a highly active hive in the eastern green zone.

Drive : Understand the hive, meet expectations, forge his own path, honor his family, never go back.

Fighting style : Muay Thai-adjacent (cleaner traditionnal style)

Character outline : Quiet, Dutiful, Withdrawn, Melancholic

3a PARTISAN

Age : mid 40s

Origin : born in a fiercely independant region in the western green zone, was sent to study in a more developed town closer to Accante, intended to become an megastructure surveyor/explorer. However in her 20s conflict broke out in the outer desert next to her native region (cultural ties) between partisans and the encroaching protectorate. She left her studies to join the guerillas, the conflict lasted 25 years on and off, her side lost.

Occupation : along with her fighters she was expelled from the outer desert region when peace was negotiated. Her native region considers returning veterans a political liability as they are pursuing projects with Accante and by extension, the Protectorate. She’s now in limbo.

Drive : Blank. She fought for most of her life and lost, all she has is her comrades.

Fighting style : Stim-fueled Berserker rage

Character outline : Bitter, Haggard, Tired, Impulsive, Generous, Empathetic

MISC : her native region is known for the traditional habit of chewing soothing root extracts that are toxic to non-natives, this high tolerance among fighters resulted in the widespread use of potent combat stims, to the point where some (including PARTISAN) have permanent « ports » implanted to facilitate the process.

3b DEALER

Age:Unknown

Origin : Unknown, he was a known fixer/exotic goods dealer in the western green zone even before the conflict. He sided with the guerillas and supplied them with weapons and stims for the whole duration, earning their trust. He still provides the veterans some supplies for free.

Occupation : Same as before, he is wanted in most developed areas of the green zone but remains elusive, authorities have quietly given up.

Drive : Inscrutable

Character Outline : Reliable, Spontaneous, Honorable, Idealistic (as far as PARTISAN knows)

MISC : It’s unknown whether he is wearing a mask or his face has been reconstructed.

4a. CORPORATE

Age : late 40s

Origin : born in a developed town near Accante, she was raised by her grandparents along with her younger brother LONER. They both studied to become megastructure surveyors and ended up taking part in notable expeditions in their early careers. After accumulating substantial experience in the field she accepted a more senior role in the overarching organisation, as it was participating in more and more development projects in collaboration with the protectorate.

Occupation : She now heads the whole project coordination arm of the organisation and spends her time touring sites and managing teams of megastructure experts accross the entire developed green zone. Currently working on an ambitious protectorate-led experimental project in the eastern fringe mountains.

Drive : Contribute to the momentum of technological development and enlightened self reliance (Man in motion philosophy).

Character Outline : Driven, Resilient, Lyrical, Charismatic

MISC : Has two teenage children who have far more modest ambitions

4b. LONER

Age : mid 40s

Origin : brother of CORPORATE, same path, however while his sister decided to step away from the field, he delved even deeper into it, conducting solo expeditions in obscure and dangerous recesses of megastructures throughout the green zone.

Occupation : He still works for the surveyor organisation, following no guidelines but always bringing back such valuable data that no one asks him to stop. He works alone, has a remote abode hours from the nearest settlement.

Drive : Fascination for the abstract patterns he sees in the chaos of the green zone, feels at home when immersed in it. Wishes his sister could see what he sees.

Character Outline : Petty, complacent, taciturn, self absorbed

That took an absurd and impractical amount of time and I find all of it cringe now, I'll need to find a better way to present these things because while the idea is appealing I'm not sure the delivery doesn't undermine it. In any case, I hope you find something you'd like to see more of, sorry about the late delivery I really underestimated the task.