P2TM Community Discussion Thread: I

[Madrinpoor]

If we're swapping dream ideas, I remember I once had a dream about if the U.S.A. had annexed Afghanistan. Cowboys riding around fighting the Taliban in 2008 could be fun.


...That is indeed esoteric.

"In the Beginning, there was darkness, and silence, and GOD floated above the surface of the black sea. GOD tore HIMSELF asunder--HIS eyes became the stars, the Earth was molded from HIS bones, HIS blood became the seas. HE breathed HIS final breath upon the Earth and formed humanity, and from HIS head HE forged the Nexus of Creation, the Garden of Stars--Heaven. Heaven, city of light, Paradise, home to the angels and the souls of the dead and those cunning mortals who know how to step sideways through death and escape the Reaper."

Meanwhile the ruler of Heaven has disappeared and the city is on the brink of falling apart.

Lavan, if you're still doing this I would join.

[Rudaslavia]

Anyone up for a good old fashioned Western set in the opening days of a fictionalized Mexican Revolution? A gang of desperados sent on the lam after a train robbery gone wrong, only to find themselves in the middle of a multi-sided power struggle between the Mexican Federales, rebels, roving bandit factions, and American bounty hunters.

[Reverend Norv]

Anyone up for a good old fashioned Western set in the opening days of a fictionalized Mexican Revolution? A gang of desperados sent on the lam after a train robbery gone wrong, only to find themselves in the middle of a multi-sided power struggle between the Mexican Federales, rebels, roving bandit factions, and American bounty hunters.

Let's go.

[Reverend Norv]

I've been toying a bit with an idea of my own, loosely inspired by the history of the Czechoslovak Legion after World War I.

It's set in a fantasy world reminiscent, technologically and culturally, of early 20th-century Europe. But there are important differences. The continent is dominated by three more-or-less autocratic imperial powers, in which royal and noble families have held authority for millennia - because magic (the "Heritance") is genetic and flows in families. This has retarded the creation of nation-states; various ethnic groups across the continent may want self-determination, but multiethnic Heritor empires led by magical elites remain the predominant form of political organization. Think Tsarist Russia or Austria-Hungary, only Franz Ferdinand can create firestorms in Sarajevo with his brain.

But the steam engine, machine gun, aeroplane, and explosive shell are great equalizers. All have been put to good use the last six years, as the three Heritor empires have waged a bitter and largely senseless war for control of the continent. When the smoke cleared, only one remained standing: the Grand Duchy of Bruselas, whose victory had largely been bought by promising independence to subject nations within the other two empires. The Berendine Empire, once the most powerful state in the continent, barely remains standing: its various minorities have declared independence, while revanchist Heritor "routiers" (think magical, noble-born Freikorps) attempt to restore the new nations to the imperial fold. And the Sartovan Authority - the continent's largest but least populated empire, stretching nine thousand kilometers from the tropical south to the frozen north - has suffered the biggest collapse of all. Not only have many of its own minorities declared independence, but its Heritor dynasty has been overthrown by the technological-populist Budushevist Salon. Now Sartova is engulfed in anarchy: Budushevists, Loyalists, anarchists, apocalyptic cults, and ethnic minorities all struggle for dominance across the former Authority's vast territory.

In the midst of this is the Destinat Legion. The Palatinate of Destin was a province of the Berendine Empire, known for its distinctive language and culture. Well-educated, prosperous, and proud, Destinats chafed under the imperial yoke. When war came, both Bruselas and Sartova promised them independence, and tens of thousands joined the Legion: a volunteer formation funded by Bruselas that fought in the Sartovan Army on the Equatorial Front of the war. The Legion expected to return to Destin having earned their homeland's independence on the battlefield.

Instead, the collapse of both Berend and Sartova left the Legion trapped in an anarchic borderland. Hunted by vengeful Berendine routiers, they struck a deal with Bruselas: if they could make their way nine thousand kilometers north to the icebound port of Zarykomi, which Bruselas had occupied, then the Archducal Navy would ferry them home. Between Zarykomi and the Equatorial Front lie jungles, deserts, tundras, flooded rivers, Budushevist armies, Loyalist wizards, cannibalistic cults, and worse. The one path through is the Transhemispheric Railroad: a single rail line crossing all of Sartova from south to north.

This is the story of that anabasis. Characters will start as members of the same Destinat platoon, the sole survivors of an ambush by Berendine routiers. They will have to find their way to the railroad and link back up with the Legion, having plenty of adventures as they go; from there, they will serve as scouts and diplomats and explorers, screening the Legion's slow crawl across Sartova. The RP will remain open, because the Legion will swell as it goes: picking up refugees, former POWs, activists, prophets, and anyone else trying to escape the Sartovan anarchy. That will give plenty of scope for new, non-Destinat characters.

Overall, I am aiming for a fantasy tale, gritty war story, and road-trip movie all rolled into one. There will be plenty of scope for player-driven worldbuilding, since the above summary obviously raises as many questions as it answers. Questions, suggestions, and expressions of interest are all most welcome.

[Rudaslavia]

Anyone up for a good old fashioned Western set in the opening days of a fictionalized Mexican Revolution? A gang of desperados sent on the lam after a train robbery gone wrong, only to find themselves in the middle of a multi-sided power struggle between the Mexican Federales, rebels, roving bandit factions, and American bounty hunters.

Let's go.

Exactly where I got the inspiration!

I've been toying a bit with an idea of my own, loosely inspired by the history of the Czechoslovak Legion after World War I.

It's set in a fantasy world reminiscent, technologically and culturally, of early 20th-century Europe. But there are important differences. The continent is dominated by three more-or-less autocratic imperial powers, in which royal and noble families have held authority for millennia - because magic (the "Heritance") is genetic and flows in families. This has retarded the creation of nation-states; various ethnic groups across the continent may want self-determination, but multiethnic Heritor empires led by magical elites remain the predominant form of political organization. Think Tsarist Russia or Austria-Hungary, only Franz Ferdinand can create firestorms in Sarajevo with his brain.

But the steam engine, machine gun, aeroplane, and explosive shell are great equalizers. All have been put to good use the last six years, as the three Heritor empires have waged a bitter and largely senseless war for control of the continent. When the smoke cleared, only one remained standing: the Grand Duchy of Bruselas, whose victory had largely been bought by promising independence to subject nations within the other two empires. The Berendine Empire, once the most powerful state in the continent, barely remains standing: its various minorities have declared independence, while revanchist Heritor "routiers" (think magical, noble-born Freikorps) attempt to restore the new nations to the imperial fold. And the Sartovan Authority - the continent's largest but least populated empire, stretching nine thousand kilometers from the tropical south to the frozen north - has suffered the biggest collapse of all. Not only have many of its own minorities declared independence, but its Heritor dynasty has been overthrown by the technological-populist Budushevist Salon. Now Sartova is engulfed in anarchy: Budushevists, Loyalists, anarchists, apocalyptic cults, and ethnic minorities all struggle for dominance across the former Authority's vast territory.

In the midst of this is the Destinat Legion. The Palatinate of Destin was a province of the Berendine Empire, known for its distinctive language and culture. Well-educated, prosperous, and proud, Destinats chafed under the imperial yoke. When war came, both Bruselas and Sartova promised them independence, and tens of thousands joined the Legion: a volunteer formation funded by Bruselas that fought in the Sartovan Army on the Equatorial Front of the war. The Legion expected to return to Destin having earned their homeland's independence on the battlefield.

Instead, the collapse of both Berend and Sartova left the Legion trapped in an anarchic borderland. Hunted by vengeful Berendine routiers, they struck a deal with Bruselas: if they could make their way nine thousand kilometers north to the icebound port of Zarykomi, which Bruselas had occupied, then the Archducal Navy would ferry them home. Between Zarykomi and the Equatorial Front lie jungles, deserts, tundras, flooded rivers, Budushevist armies, Loyalist wizards, cannibalistic cults, and worse. The one path through is the Transhemispheric Railroad: a single rail line crossing all of Sartova from south to north.

This is the story of that anabasis. Characters will start as members of the same Destinat platoon, the sole survivors of an ambush by Berendine routiers. They will have to find their way to the railroad and link back up with the Legion, having plenty of adventures as they go; from there, they will serve as scouts and diplomats and explorers, screening the Legion's slow crawl across Sartova. The RP will remain open, because the Legion will swell as it goes: picking up refugees, former POWs, activists, prophets, and anyone else trying to escape the Sartovan anarchy. That will give plenty of scope for new, non-Destinat characters.

Overall, I am aiming for a fantasy tale, gritty war story, and road-trip movie all rolled into one. There will be plenty of scope for player-driven worldbuilding, since the above summary obviously raises as many questions as it answers. Questions, suggestions, and expressions of interest are all most welcome.

I will eagerly dive face-first into the worldbuilding process, should you throw up an OOC/WIP thread. Holy shit.

Cy would also be integral to the fleshing out of the world's military lore.

[Romanum et Britannia Minor]

Would anybody be interested in an RP involving noble families in a medieval kingdom?

The RP takes place in the Kingdom of Dalmatia and begins in the year 1200. It is to do with the various noble families such as the Aurel, Bronca, Shibenskog, and Dipisino, who are vying for power in Dalmatia.

[Theyra]

I've been toying a bit with an idea of my own, loosely inspired by the history of the Czechoslovak Legion after World War I.

It's set in a fantasy world reminiscent, technologically and culturally, of early 20th-century Europe. But there are important differences. The continent is dominated by three more-or-less autocratic imperial powers, in which royal and noble families have held authority for millennia - because magic (the "Heritance") is genetic and flows in families. This has retarded the creation of nation-states; various ethnic groups across the continent may want self-determination, but multiethnic Heritor empires led by magical elites remain the predominant form of political organization. Think Tsarist Russia or Austria-Hungary, only Franz Ferdinand can create firestorms in Sarajevo with his brain.

But the steam engine, machine gun, aeroplane, and explosive shell are great equalizers. All have been put to good use the last six years, as the three Heritor empires have waged a bitter and largely senseless war for control of the continent. When the smoke cleared, only one remained standing: the Grand Duchy of Bruselas, whose victory had largely been bought by promising independence to subject nations within the other two empires. The Berendine Empire, once the most powerful state in the continent, barely remains standing: its various minorities have declared independence, while revanchist Heritor "routiers" (think magical, noble-born Freikorps) attempt to restore the new nations to the imperial fold. And the Sartovan Authority - the continent's largest but least populated empire, stretching nine thousand kilometers from the tropical south to the frozen north - has suffered the biggest collapse of all. Not only have many of its own minorities declared independence, but its Heritor dynasty has been overthrown by the technological-populist Budushevist Salon. Now Sartova is engulfed in anarchy: Budushevists, Loyalists, anarchists, apocalyptic cults, and ethnic minorities all struggle for dominance across the former Authority's vast territory.

In the midst of this is the Destinat Legion. The Palatinate of Destin was a province of the Berendine Empire, known for its distinctive language and culture. Well-educated, prosperous, and proud, Destinats chafed under the imperial yoke. When war came, both Bruselas and Sartova promised them independence, and tens of thousands joined the Legion: a volunteer formation funded by Bruselas that fought in the Sartovan Army on the Equatorial Front of the war. The Legion expected to return to Destin having earned their homeland's independence on the battlefield.

Instead, the collapse of both Berend and Sartova left the Legion trapped in an anarchic borderland. Hunted by vengeful Berendine routiers, they struck a deal with Bruselas: if they could make their way nine thousand kilometers north to the icebound port of Zarykomi, which Bruselas had occupied, then the Archducal Navy would ferry them home. Between Zarykomi and the Equatorial Front lie jungles, deserts, tundras, flooded rivers, Budushevist armies, Loyalist wizards, cannibalistic cults, and worse. The one path through is the Transhemispheric Railroad: a single rail line crossing all of Sartova from south to north.

This is the story of that anabasis. Characters will start as members of the same Destinat platoon, the sole survivors of an ambush by Berendine routiers. They will have to find their way to the railroad and link back up with the Legion, having plenty of adventures as they go; from there, they will serve as scouts and diplomats and explorers, screening the Legion's slow crawl across Sartova. The RP will remain open, because the Legion will swell as it goes: picking up refugees, former POWs, activists, prophets, and anyone else trying to escape the Sartovan anarchy. That will give plenty of scope for new, non-Destinat characters.

Overall, I am aiming for a fantasy tale, gritty war story, and road-trip movie all rolled into one. There will be plenty of scope for player-driven worldbuilding, since the above summary obviously raises as many questions as it answers. Questions, suggestions, and expressions of interest are all most welcome.

Greatly interested in this

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

I've been toying a bit with an idea of my own, loosely inspired by the history of the Czechoslovak Legion after World War I.

It's set in a fantasy world reminiscent, technologically and culturally, of early 20th-century Europe. But there are important differences. The continent is dominated by three more-or-less autocratic imperial powers, in which royal and noble families have held authority for millennia - because magic (the "Heritance") is genetic and flows in families. This has retarded the creation of nation-states; various ethnic groups across the continent may want self-determination, but multiethnic Heritor empires led by magical elites remain the predominant form of political organization. Think Tsarist Russia or Austria-Hungary, only Franz Ferdinand can create firestorms in Sarajevo with his brain.

But the steam engine, machine gun, aeroplane, and explosive shell are great equalizers. All have been put to good use the last six years, as the three Heritor empires have waged a bitter and largely senseless war for control of the continent. When the smoke cleared, only one remained standing: the Grand Duchy of Bruselas, whose victory had largely been bought by promising independence to subject nations within the other two empires. The Berendine Empire, once the most powerful state in the continent, barely remains standing: its various minorities have declared independence, while revanchist Heritor "routiers" (think magical, noble-born Freikorps) attempt to restore the new nations to the imperial fold. And the Sartovan Authority - the continent's largest but least populated empire, stretching nine thousand kilometers from the tropical south to the frozen north - has suffered the biggest collapse of all. Not only have many of its own minorities declared independence, but its Heritor dynasty has been overthrown by the technological-populist Budushevist Salon. Now Sartova is engulfed in anarchy: Budushevists, Loyalists, anarchists, apocalyptic cults, and ethnic minorities all struggle for dominance across the former Authority's vast territory.

In the midst of this is the Destinat Legion. The Palatinate of Destin was a province of the Berendine Empire, known for its distinctive language and culture. Well-educated, prosperous, and proud, Destinats chafed under the imperial yoke. When war came, both Bruselas and Sartova promised them independence, and tens of thousands joined the Legion: a volunteer formation funded by Bruselas that fought in the Sartovan Army on the Equatorial Front of the war. The Legion expected to return to Destin having earned their homeland's independence on the battlefield.

Instead, the collapse of both Berend and Sartova left the Legion trapped in an anarchic borderland. Hunted by vengeful Berendine routiers, they struck a deal with Bruselas: if they could make their way nine thousand kilometers north to the icebound port of Zarykomi, which Bruselas had occupied, then the Archducal Navy would ferry them home. Between Zarykomi and the Equatorial Front lie jungles, deserts, tundras, flooded rivers, Budushevist armies, Loyalist wizards, cannibalistic cults, and worse. The one path through is the Transhemispheric Railroad: a single rail line crossing all of Sartova from south to north.

This is the story of that anabasis. Characters will start as members of the same Destinat platoon, the sole survivors of an ambush by Berendine routiers. They will have to find their way to the railroad and link back up with the Legion, having plenty of adventures as they go; from there, they will serve as scouts and diplomats and explorers, screening the Legion's slow crawl across Sartova. The RP will remain open, because the Legion will swell as it goes: picking up refugees, former POWs, activists, prophets, and anyone else trying to escape the Sartovan anarchy. That will give plenty of scope for new, non-Destinat characters.

Overall, I am aiming for a fantasy tale, gritty war story, and road-trip movie all rolled into one. There will be plenty of scope for player-driven worldbuilding, since the above summary obviously raises as many questions as it answers. Questions, suggestions, and expressions of interest are all most welcome.

You know I am fully into everything in this. Yes please.

[Pasong Tirad]

Been meaning to join another RP again. Let's do it.

[Reverend Norv]

Excellent. I have gotten started elaborating the lore and writing the OP.

[Leudal]

Anyone interested in a Pokémon themed RP?

I used to be around here quite a bit, but stopped coming by somewhere pre-corona due to various reasons. Now recently i started to miss the good old RP days and felt the urge to pick it up again. So here i am wondering if anyone is up for a Pokémon RP. And if you are, what kind of Pokémon RP would you enjoy most? Just poking around to see if people are interested enough to get something up.

[Madrinpoor]

Guys, gals, and nonbinary pals, the political RP gears are turning again!

This time, there is talk of rebooting HOTB, a 1960s U.S. political RP from 2021...in a new and improved fashion! This comes from the folks who made the successful ongoing Latin American political RP Nation in Turmoil (which you should join) and the offspring RPs of the legendary Washington RP that lasted five years a while back (like 2014-19 or something). And now, due to the declining popularity of P2TM overall, and the need for fresh ideas, we want YOU!

The discord link is here to help plan, put together, and eventually participate in this new 1960s Political RP that will more than likely 1.) be cool 2.) start in 1968 when America was really in the shit...this is the time of Dixiecrats, Rockefellers, and Black Power, where will you fit?

Anybody of any experience welcome

[Constaniana]

Anyone interested in a Pokémon themed RP?

I used to be around here quite a bit, but stopped coming by somewhere pre-corona due to various reasons. Now recently i started to miss the good old RP days and felt the urge to pick it up again. So here i am wondering if anyone is up for a Pokémon RP. And if you are, what kind of Pokémon RP would you enjoy most? Just poking around to see if people are interested enough to get something up.

I might be. Did you have more of a sandbox in mind, or did you have some ideas for a definitive plot?

[Theyra]

Just curious if anyone would be interested in helping me with an idea I have. It is a post-apocalyptic fantasy rp set in a custom world during its bronze age where the world has been devastated because the workings of a
evil demi-god known as Balathu in his plan to rule the world, he managed to sever the connection between the mortal world and the godly realm. Leaving the two worlds cut off from each other and humanity on its own since the gods are stuck in the godly realm. Causing the world to suffer along with bands of hostile humans or humanoids known as Reavers who were Balathu's followers, who now roam the land attacking and pillaging and now follow their own plans after Balathu was killed.

So players would be playing as surviving demi-gods that have come together to try and restore the world. Like trying to restore the connection to the gods and possibly failing that, try to become gods themselves.

This interesting to anyone?

[Rudaslavia]

Guys, gals, and nonbinary pals, the political RP gears are turning again!

This time, there is talk of rebooting HOTB, a 1960s U.S. political RP from 2021...in a new and improved fashion! This comes from the folks who made the successful ongoing Latin American political RP Nation in Turmoil (which you should join) and the offspring RPs of the legendary Washington RP that lasted five years a while back (like 2014-19 or something). And now, due to the declining popularity of P2TM overall, and the need for fresh ideas, we want YOU!

The discord link is here to help plan, put together, and eventually participate in this new 1960s Political RP that will more than likely 1.) be cool 2.) start in 1968 when America was really in the shit...this is the time of Dixiecrats, Rockefellers, and Black Power, where will you fit?

Anybody of any experience welcome

I'd probably hop in and assume the role of our boy Ted Kapa as former National Security Advisor and current Secretary of State to the president circa '68. A sort of grim amalgamation of Tscherim Soobzokov with a figure like Henry Kissinger.

[Madrinpoor]

Guys, gals, and nonbinary pals, the political RP gears are turning again!

This time, there is talk of rebooting HOTB, a 1960s U.S. political RP from 2021...in a new and improved fashion! This comes from the folks who made the successful ongoing Latin American political RP Nation in Turmoil (which you should join) and the offspring RPs of the legendary Washington RP that lasted five years a while back (like 2014-19 or something). And now, due to the declining popularity of P2TM overall, and the need for fresh ideas, we want YOU!

The discord link is here to help plan, put together, and eventually participate in this new 1960s Political RP that will more than likely 1.) be cool 2.) start in 1968 when America was really in the shit...this is the time of Dixiecrats, Rockefellers, and Black Power, where will you fit?

Anybody of any experience welcome

I'd probably hop in and assume the role of our boy Ted Kapa as former National Security Advisor and current Secretary of State to the president circa '68. A sort of grim amalgamation of Tscherim Soobzokov with a figure like Henry Kissinger.

Sounds cool!

[Rudaslavia]

I've had this idea bouncing around the ol' noggin for a little while. Figured I'd gauge potential interest on here before starting an OP.

Thinking of a Second World War character RP of the superhero horror genre. Set in the weeks leading up to the Normandy landings in late spring of 1944, the Allied powers are confounded by the sudden emergence of a Nazi superheroine who goes by the name of Germania. Blessed with extraordinary capabilities ranging from super strength to the power of human flight, Germania lays waste to Soviet forces in the East, drawing Stalin's counteroffensive to a near-complete halt in April 1944.

With Operation Fortitude underway, the German High Command has reportedly reassigned their living superweapon to France in anticipation of an Allied invasion. The tides of the war are once again beginning to turn in the Axis' favor. Aware that Germania's presence in the area will virtually guarantee a victory for the Reich on D-Day, the CCS has assembled an elite unit of covert operatives under the command of 1st Lieutenant Henry Healy to be dropped into France ahead of the Normandy landings. Consisting of men and women of varied backgrounds and proficiencies, their mission consists of two simple objectives: to uncover Germania's mysterious origins, and to destroy her by any means necessary.

They are the Allies' last hope. They are the Hellcats.

[Kavanis]

Forgive me if this is big dumb.

Would a play-by-post D&D campaign work in P2M? Or is that something that would be too difficult to organize by BB-style posting?

[Lavan Tiri]

Forgive me if this is big dumb.

Would a play-by-post D&D campaign work in P2M? Or is that something that would be too difficult to organize by BB-style posting?

It could theoretically work but I think it would lose a lot of what makes DnD fun.

[Lavan Tiri]

Just curious if anyone would be interested in helping me with an idea I have. It is a post-apocalyptic fantasy rp set in a custom world during its bronze age where the world has been devastated because the workings of a
evil demi-god known as Balathu in his plan to rule the world, he managed to sever the connection between the mortal world and the godly realm. Leaving the two worlds cut off from each other and humanity on its own since the gods are stuck in the godly realm. Causing the world to suffer along with bands of hostile humans or humanoids known as Reavers who were Balathu's followers, who now roam the land attacking and pillaging and now follow their own plans after Balathu was killed.

So players would be playing as surviving demi-gods that have come together to try and restore the world. Like trying to restore the connection to the gods and possibly failing that, try to become gods themselves.

This interesting to anyone?

This and Norv's idea are both quite sexy.

[Ceystile]

Just curious if anyone would be interested in helping me with an idea I have. It is a post-apocalyptic fantasy rp set in a custom world during its bronze age where the world has been devastated because the workings of a
evil demi-god known as Balathu in his plan to rule the world, he managed to sever the connection between the mortal world and the godly realm. Leaving the two worlds cut off from each other and humanity on its own since the gods are stuck in the godly realm. Causing the world to suffer along with bands of hostile humans or humanoids known as Reavers who were Balathu's followers, who now roam the land attacking and pillaging and now follow their own plans after Balathu was killed.

So players would be playing as surviving demi-gods that have come together to try and restore the world. Like trying to restore the connection to the gods and possibly failing that, try to become gods themselves.

This interesting to anyone?

You know I love me some fantasy

[Theyra]

Nice to see interest, I have developed it since I posted it initially, and if either of you two wishes to help then just something. Either way, I will be working on it but, not sure when it will be up.

[Hinzland]

Forgive me if this is big dumb.

Would a play-by-post D&D campaign work in P2M? Or is that something that would be too difficult to organize by BB-style posting?

I did a modified D20 RP a while back but it just didn’t translate well enough into NS. I think it’s still here some where… https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=515161

[Nova Catania]

I have an idea for a space RP inspired by Avatar. Basically, in the middle of the 22nd century, a coalition of Earth’s militaries invade a habitable exo-moon of a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri. The conflict begins, when the locals (whose tech level ranges from hunter-gatherers to Renaissance era tech in the big empires) organize planet-wide to fight the humans. Will you be a local fighting for your home? An Earth commander doing your duty? A greedy developer seeking to exploit the resources of the exo-moon? A soldier on either side, seeking peace? I’ll be the High Commander of the Earth fleet, a few lower level commanders n the ground, as well as any Earth leaders chiming in. The Earth coalition’s tech is not quite Star Trek/Wars level, since guns are still kinetic weapons, but explosives are usually plasma based. The ships have FTL tech, and are propelled by ions. If there is more interest, I’ll flesh out more tech details.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

So, I wanted to make a compelling narrative where, in the not-too-distant future, a group of protagonists has to survive in a warzone filled with killer robots (but more low-tech and practical than you see in most fiction. No humanoid robots with guns, but robots built around specially designed guns)

Watch this video for an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bgad3HRb64


However, there needs to be a scenario where our protagonists are in an area with killer robots, and I want this to be closely linked to modern-day politics. I can think of a thousand scenarios involving killer robots, but specifically, I want US killer robots in a hostile urban environment.

Anyone any ideas how that could work out?