Nukes are available in my world, although I restrict access to them.
Usually, you can only get them through governments. Sometimes, the black
market will have some. Corporations involved in deep space mining also
have some (where do you think the black market usually gets them from?).
Of course, if you get a character wealthy enough to buy the facilities
required to manufacture them, you could probably start building them for
yourself.
Nukes are an accepted part of life in my gameworld. They are a tool.
Like any tool, they can be misued, which is why societies have laws, ethical
systems, and sometimes religion. There are much more dangerous things in
my world than nuclear weapons.
Gaming with nukes can be fun, but they do offer a problem for a GM who
likes to give his players a "way out" when they screw up--if you screw up
and get hit by a nuke, there is no way out. If you're in a spacecraft and
a five-kiloton nuke hits, you're gone, you're hot plasma, end of story,
roll the credits, Mr. Carpenter.
Just one more "Remember, your actions may have reprecussions. Think before
you act" kind of thing players may have to deal with.
One way to control players with/looking for nukes. Make them legal, if they
are licensed. Governments allow companies (player characters can incorporate
themselves, just the way authors and other private citizens do now, so they
can get around that one) to have nukes for industrial purposes, etc., but
they naturally want to keep tabs on anything so potentially destructive;
also, you only get to buy your nukes when you have permission (i.e., a
license), and you have to apply for it and give good reasons. Governments
may also get to approve each use of a nuke, depending on law levels, etc.
Not only does this make it difficult for characters to get nukes, but it
provides potential additional adventures because anyone who applies for
this kind of license will have a nice government file on them, and it lets
the GM punish players who misuse their nukes (if they wish to do so).
Enjoy.
All opinions and material above is the responsibility of the originator.
Submissions: [email removed], or [email removed]
Administrator: [email removed] (James Perkins)
The TML is made possible by facilities provided by Tektronix, Inc.