Voss is a tiny biomechanical nanobacteria produced by bologs as an odorless, tasteless, liquid. The bioorganic voss feed on common metals and metal alloys causing them to become brittle and more susceptible to rust. The more complex the metal, the longer the process takes (i.e. steel takes longer to break down than iron). Voss is a self-replicating organism that is constrained only by its food source. This means that voss spreads quickly over metals as the bacterium feed and multiply.
High concentrations of voss gas were introduced into Earth’s atmosphere after meteors made of solidified voss struck the earth. Further applications of liquid voss are regularly dispersed by bolog sweep teams during Korr eradication efforts. Liquid voss that is not attached to a food source evaporates under heat and is carried up into the air, descending again with the rains. Large quantities of water dilute liquid voss’s effectiveness, but the gaseous form can spread over a wide area without losing its potency.
Effects of the Voss
Human technology has suffered enormously from the effects of the corrosive voss. Power stations are down. Many electronic devices such as television sets, radios, and computers have become inoperable. Steel supports for skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels have become compromised. Without constant maintenance, vehicles, gear, and weapons cease to function. Voss is the most demoralizing weapon the Korr possess as it reduces cities to ruins and strips men of the tools to fight off the invasion.
Combating the Voss
The corrosive effects of the voss are not instantaneous. Corrosion occurs over a period of days, weeks, and even months, depending on the concentrations of voss in the area. In many cases, humanity has had time to adapt and find alternate sources of metals for necessary items. Humans have also discovered a number of ways to counteract the worst effects of the voss.
Regular oiling and cleaning can stop voss corrosion. Liquid voss may be killed by certain oils, cleaners, and other lubricants (including gasoline and other petroleum-based products), which prevents further damage, but does not repair damage that has already been done or prevent recontamination. Metal coatings such as paint or enamel delay corrosion, but a simple scratch is all that is needed for voss to take hold.
Motorcycles and older vehicles with simpler engines and items such as Ham radios that contain fewer electronic parts are being sought by the Resistance as they are easier to clean and maintain. OLS technicians have also designed specially modified sprayers that give “oil baths” to the small number of functioning large vehicles such as cars, tanks, helicopters, and fighter planes that are still operational, but these vehicles grow weaker each time contact with voss is made.
Since voss gas is lighter than air and disperses with rains, deserts and other regions with low precipitation tend to be less affected by the corrosion. Many airtight facilities such as underground bunkers and bomb shelters have also resisted the worst of its effects. Basements and sublevels have also proven valuable, particularly for storage of items such as weapons, medical supplies, and canned goods.
Voss in the Campaign
Voss is a plot device designed to shake up the gameworld. It is up to the director to decide how much voss contamination is present in any given area and what equipment, weapons, and vehicles are still usable. In general, major cities have higher rates of voss contamination than rural areas, but this may be affected by a variety of factors including weather conditions, proximity to voss craters, and recent Korr operations.
Jury-Rigging
Jury-rigging refers to makeshift repairs or temporary devices made with whatever tools and materials happen to be on hand. In the Stormrift setting, jury-rigging has become a common practice, as metal parts are replaced with those more resistant to voss corrosion. Jury-rigging requires not only mechanical skill, but also the ability to think “outside the box.”
Jury-rigging need not always be relegated to an abstract die roll. Roleplaying game players tend to have a diverse amount of knowledge and may know how to do something the director does not. This is not only understandable, but should actually be encouraged. Let’s face it, if you include rules for jury-rigging in a game, everyone at the table suddenly turns into MacGyver. In a world where technology has taken a huge leap backwards, any gaming group worth their dice is going to try to push the envelope and try to find ways to make things work. In fact, humanity’s resilience and ability to overcome hardships in the face of adversity is one of the major themes of the Stormrift setting.
Directors should encourage creative use of pursuits and gimmicks and be flexible with their rulings. Don’t bother poring over old weapons manufacturing texts to decide whether or not a Sten gun can be made from piece of copper tubing and some wires. If it sounds cool, let the character make a roll. Jury-rigged items have a limited lifespan, so at the very worst you’ll end up with a slightly overpowered device that is extremely unreliable and prone to fail at the most inopportune times.
High concentrations of voss gas were introduced into Earth’s atmosphere after meteors made of solidified voss struck the earth. Further applications of liquid voss are regularly dispersed by bolog sweep teams during Korr eradication efforts. Liquid voss that is not attached to a food source evaporates under heat and is carried up into the air, descending again with the rains. Large quantities of water dilute liquid voss’s effectiveness, but the gaseous form can spread over a wide area without losing its potency.
Effects of the Voss
Human technology has suffered enormously from the effects of the corrosive voss. Power stations are down. Many electronic devices such as television sets, radios, and computers have become inoperable. Steel supports for skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels have become compromised. Without constant maintenance, vehicles, gear, and weapons cease to function. Voss is the most demoralizing weapon the Korr possess as it reduces cities to ruins and strips men of the tools to fight off the invasion.
Combating the Voss
The corrosive effects of the voss are not instantaneous. Corrosion occurs over a period of days, weeks, and even months, depending on the concentrations of voss in the area. In many cases, humanity has had time to adapt and find alternate sources of metals for necessary items. Humans have also discovered a number of ways to counteract the worst effects of the voss.
Regular oiling and cleaning can stop voss corrosion. Liquid voss may be killed by certain oils, cleaners, and other lubricants (including gasoline and other petroleum-based products), which prevents further damage, but does not repair damage that has already been done or prevent recontamination. Metal coatings such as paint or enamel delay corrosion, but a simple scratch is all that is needed for voss to take hold.
Motorcycles and older vehicles with simpler engines and items such as Ham radios that contain fewer electronic parts are being sought by the Resistance as they are easier to clean and maintain. OLS technicians have also designed specially modified sprayers that give “oil baths” to the small number of functioning large vehicles such as cars, tanks, helicopters, and fighter planes that are still operational, but these vehicles grow weaker each time contact with voss is made.
Since voss gas is lighter than air and disperses with rains, deserts and other regions with low precipitation tend to be less affected by the corrosion. Many airtight facilities such as underground bunkers and bomb shelters have also resisted the worst of its effects. Basements and sublevels have also proven valuable, particularly for storage of items such as weapons, medical supplies, and canned goods.
Voss in the Campaign
Voss is a plot device designed to shake up the gameworld. It is up to the director to decide how much voss contamination is present in any given area and what equipment, weapons, and vehicles are still usable. In general, major cities have higher rates of voss contamination than rural areas, but this may be affected by a variety of factors including weather conditions, proximity to voss craters, and recent Korr operations.
Jury-Rigging
Jury-rigging refers to makeshift repairs or temporary devices made with whatever tools and materials happen to be on hand. In the Stormrift setting, jury-rigging has become a common practice, as metal parts are replaced with those more resistant to voss corrosion. Jury-rigging requires not only mechanical skill, but also the ability to think “outside the box.”
Jury-rigging need not always be relegated to an abstract die roll. Roleplaying game players tend to have a diverse amount of knowledge and may know how to do something the director does not. This is not only understandable, but should actually be encouraged. Let’s face it, if you include rules for jury-rigging in a game, everyone at the table suddenly turns into MacGyver. In a world where technology has taken a huge leap backwards, any gaming group worth their dice is going to try to push the envelope and try to find ways to make things work. In fact, humanity’s resilience and ability to overcome hardships in the face of adversity is one of the major themes of the Stormrift setting.
Directors should encourage creative use of pursuits and gimmicks and be flexible with their rulings. Don’t bother poring over old weapons manufacturing texts to decide whether or not a Sten gun can be made from piece of copper tubing and some wires. If it sounds cool, let the character make a roll. Jury-rigged items have a limited lifespan, so at the very worst you’ll end up with a slightly overpowered device that is extremely unreliable and prone to fail at the most inopportune times.
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