OK, my take:
The Machine still is incredibly vast and all, constantly reforming, but it's still irregular. I like the ideas that basically summed it up to Clockwork Pellucidar. Huge caverns, sometimes with cities, sometimes with dinosaurs, basically "swimming" in the vast Machine like the surface continents. The Engineers don't bother with the contents, they're just around to maintain the Machine.

Oh shit. This certainly turned out more popular than I ever imagined when I first posted it.

Very well, the next issue would be what kind of people the Delvers would be and what kind of stuff they would be bringing with them. For example, would they bring lots of guns just in case? Would they carry lots of heavy equipment with them (someone mentioned stuff like pressure suits in the first thread) or would they pack light? How long would they be able to survive on the rations they would have to bring with them? Would most Delvers be cut-throat scavengers who'd stab their own mother in order to get paid, or would they be rational men of science? What kind of person would it take to risk life and limb traversing a giant machine, with the very distinct possibility of not making it back?

>>4823871
Would they be like in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. maybe?

>Would most Delvers be cut-throat scavengers who'd stab their own mother in order to get paid, or would they be rational men of science?

BOTH. Think of it like archeology vs tomb raiders with a smattering of indiana jones thrown in for good measure. Some are in it for science, some for the money.

>>4823893
The similarity is there, but I'd like it more in the direction of the source material, Roadside Picnic. You get the main entrance, maintained by an international military base, but you also get a number of emergency access hatches, some of them guarded, some of them not, most undiscovered, all around the world.

>>4823871
mixture of both. You have your groups doing it for science. These can be the naive groups trying to learn or your really scary ones who will stop at nothing to understand. Same with the treasure hunters.

re posted from the last thread because it was right on the end.

Here is my take on the machine.

Inside you not only find area of total machinery, but
also vast caverns, some of which have pockets of machinery poking in, other do not. Some caverns are lit by massive glowing gears and crystals, others are not.

Some of these caverns have vast empty cities, the size of states, and others are as large as one office builiding or smaller.

Most of these caverns are uninhabited a very few are inhabited.

The inhabitants appear humanoid,and human like, they are clearly related to humanity in some form.

Some of the inhabitants appear to be from ancient human cultures and others have no earthly surface analog.

The empty cities are where delvers mainly scavenge for artifacts to return to the surface. Anything can be of value from a writing device, to some kind of pieces of artwork, or what is assumed to be artwork.

The Engineers mainly prowl the mechanized sections of the machine..

It is still not clear if the ancient civilizations and their descendants are in anyway the creators of the machine, or are in fact anyway related to it.

They of course have legends and stories, but these tales have yet to be backed up with hard evidence.

Inner oceans and rivers have been found, with piping that diverts the water to various parts of the machine...

Almost any surface environment's analog can be found inside of the machine and its caverns, along with entirely new ones, from a clockwork jungle, only called such because it if difficult to pass through all the working mechanical parts, to a frozen lake the size of texas with an empty Ice City, it should be noted that this city is built on a scale completely wrong for humans, and is better suited to beings nearly twice as large.

There is an Empty Town, very near the first exploration point into the machine that is the starting basebcamp for most delvers. This city was the first to be picked clean of artifacts. It is now a watering hole literally, as there is a supply of fresh water being shipped in from the surface via complex piping.

Just a little bit to make the setting more like an adventure filled hollow earth tale.

as I feel that empty sterile worlds that make you go insane and kill your friends are better in books and movies then player driven RPGs.

But thats just me.

>>4823992
>>4823975
>>4823867
BY YOUR POWERS COMBINED...

How about equipment? Having had no actual experience with expeditions of any kind, I can only assume that in an environment like the Machine, one would obviously need a lot of rations and water (since none, or at least very little of it exists there) and a lot of heavy equipment probably would be necessary (radios, various camera equipment, grappling guns). Still, you don't want to be bogged down by a lot of heavy gear when you're risking getting caught in a giant cog and crushed to death, so I can assume they just bring exactly what they need (maybe even less) and nothing more.

As for weapons, I'm thinking they just bring the bare minimum. Big caliber pistols for punching through any hostile Engineers and scaring off plunderers, and that's about it. No need to bring clunky assault rifles or SMGs.

The general tech level is what bothers me most. In an environment where exploring the Machine is such a priority, I can only assume that the most important thing would be communications, data storage devices of various kinds and miscellaneous survival gear. But how advanced should these be?

I liked the idea in one of the threads about advanced grappling guns reverse engineered from the Machine. The radios will probably be powerful and compact enough that you would be able to communicate with base camp from quite a distance without bringing a heavy hunk of metal. The data storage devices, however, are giving me a headache. I'm thinking some kind of PDA deal with cameras and various analyzing soft- and hardware, but I don't really want it to be a tricorderish thing.

>>4824045

We are Clock Planet!

I dislike the idea of "caves full of living things, HURR HURR"

None of this land of the lost shit.

Abandoned cities where the people starved to death because the Machine performed its irregular 10-500 year reconfiguration and sealed them in, or closed the ceiling of their deep valley is one thing, a cavern full of dinosaurs is another.

One thing, though, there should be some living things in the Machine.
Like rats, bugs, a few odd plants and mushrooms, lizards, etc.

The Machine cleans up and reconfigures randomly every 10-500 years, so these organisms never survive long enough to get really deep or evolve special subterranean traits, but they DO make their way down.

These rats and lizards and bugs provide sustenence for the odd scientist or treasure hunter who was unlucky enough to be seperated from his group by a sudden and unpredictable shift in the room configuration, sealing his way forward and spining the room sideways.

Caves of living things are completely counter to everything that's been established so far and, frankly, are inferior to the original idea.

Equipment... hmm.

Environmental suits, self cleaning thanks to derived technologies, with food and water dispensers. Everything as compact as possible, all planned for long expeditions with minimum weight. Grappling guns with ropes. Large caliber and/or special anti-Engineer weapons. Either go for low velocity stuff designed not to harm the Machine, or go all out, with handguns designed to punch through an Engineer. Inflatable tents made mostly from organic materials, you want to sleep without being harassed by the Engineers. Communication equipment should be either short to medium range and lightweight or a backpack-mounted affair designed for maximum range and penetration, possibly also derived from the Machine. Problem with complex technology is that it tends to attract Engineers.

>The data storage devices, however, are giving me a headache. I'm thinking some kind of PDA deal with cameras and various analyzing soft- and hardware, but I don't really want it to be a tricorderish thing.

.....NOTEBOOK AND PENCIL. WANT A PICTURE OF SOMETHING? DRAW IT. NEED A MAP? DRAW IT. NEED TO RECORD SOMETHING? WRITE IT DOWN. LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR SOMEONE? WRITE A NOTE AND RIP IT OUT.

Never runs out of batteries, is immune to EMP, wont short out in water, can still work even with multiple bullet holes in it, can be used as kindling in a fire, the list goes on.

i swear to the fucking gods that everyone COMPLETELY ignores the KISS rule. KEEP. IT. SIMPLE. STUPID.

>>4824181
don't forget various things like cutting torches, signal flares, climbing equipment, magnetic pinions designed to attach to the machine without harming it too much, light sources, etc.

>>4824181
You, good sir, just thought of something I had completely missed. Nobody wants to bring too much advanced shit, because it's kind of like smearing yourself in honey and leaping into a nest of fire ants.

>>4824207
The problem with this is that the only one who would ever want to record parts of the machine will a) want to analyze it, or b) want to sell the information to someone. This is why drawings are quite ineffectual. No matter how good you are at drawing, it will be very difficult to properly draw every part of a mechanism nobody even understands. Not to mention that the Delvers might miss an important part that would be caught upon later inspecting a video tape. I think some kind of recording device is pretty much a must.

>>4824245
yea, but i thought this was supposed to be like 1950's or something. Sorry if im thinking more indiana jones and less star trek wank.

Thanks to the Engineers, we better stick to some really old fashioned stuff. Just a small photo device for quick shots, working with standard films. Maybe a slightly larger hand camera, running on clockwork for a few minutes. Lamps are battery-based, working with LEDs. The technology was around back then, but in our timeline there were no white LEDs until the 1990s. Maybe they developed them out of necessity.

A hand-cranked dynamo, to recharge electrical systems on the fly. Maybe give it a belt adapter, to run it off some exposed Machine parts when in a pinch.

>>4824271
>Technology we basically have access to today = Star Trek.
Yeah, good luck with that.

I dont miss mountains, or clear blue skies,
I love macanobridges, and when engineers pass by.
I love the hollow world, with all its sights and sounds.

Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!
Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!

I love the inner oceans, engineers dont like dirty things,
we have to run fast, after stealing things.

I love the hollow world and all its crazyness.

Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!
Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!

I love clockwork tornados, and mechanoracanids!
I love hot magma, and the technosquids!

I love the hollow world, its such a brilliant place.

Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!
Boom De Ya Da! Boom De Ya Da!

Now it just needs pictures.

"Remember - while you have been approved for expeditions into the machine and have been granted your Delver license, the UNSERC (United Nations Subterranean Exploration and Research Committee) maintains the tunnel compound and checkpoints. Contraband and other forbidden devices and substances, a full list of which you will find listed on page 437 in this handbook, will be confiscated by UNSERC security upon discovery. The Machine is largely unknown to mankind yet, and as such many personal weapons, devices, and substances perfectly legal on the surface may confiscated. Please rest assured that more often than not this is for your own safety, as well as for the safety of the Machine."

I just want to remind people that in the original Machine thread OP said that the setting took place in 2008. Which kind of makes sense when you think about it.

I would imagine that most Delvers would go out in groups of four.

One is the "leader," usually someone who's had the most experience exploring the Machine. He would probably carry the majority of the rations and water, with a radio (and backup power for it) and a handgun on him/her for protection from Engineers.

The second is the "scientist" person; the one who goes delving to analyze the machine and to try and bring back artifacts. Carries the camera (I suspect it'd be a film camera) and recording device (whether its visual, audio, both or a simple notepad and paper) and also have a handgun for protection.

Third is the guard. The one who's on the lookout for Engineers that appear hostile towards the group. He lugs around larger guns, some form of explosive (Grenades, C4, etc.) and a large, heavy melee weapon (sword, sledgehammer, etc) should ammo run out and/or something needs to get broken off for the scientist to study.

The fourth is the medic. General first aid skills and is there to assist the other three in their duties. Helps carry gear, rations, ammo... All the other shit. Maybe he also helps out with mapping where they went.

>>4824245
This.

Pad and pencil are good for notes and quick sketches, but you really don't what to sit in one place for an hour to make a meticulous sketch of something and risk running into an engineer who sees you as a speed bump.

Cameras are best, but like all technology will may attract the attention of an engineer.

Old style flashpan cameras are practically invisible, but the flash might draw attention, while digital cameras are fast, small, and easy to use, but act as a beacon while on.

>>4824271

Going off the original OP, the tunnel leading to the Machine was discovered in the 1930s. He expected the end setting would be modern with some differences as affected by such a world-changing discovery, but by and large the same tech-wise.

However I think a campaign could be based at any time past the initial discovery.

>>4824348

If memory serves me, in the original thread the general consensus was that instead of a "Space Race" that we had in the 50's and 60's, it was a "Tunnel Race" between the US and USSR to build another tunnel that reached down to the Machine.

The majority of inventions we have today still exist then, but there's no NASA, novel satellites, and a bit slower level of communication (no public Internet, broadband, etc.) because the level of technology spent on data recording and storage is some of the more booming business sectors. So, maybe a multiple terrabyte flash drive exists in the Machine to store all the data?

>>4824311
We need a "Delver's Primer" guide written in the style of the Imperial Guardsman's guide that downplays the dangers of the Machine while stressing caution and intelligent use of tools and careful exploraion for the good fo mankind.

"While exploring the Machine, your party may encounter various pieces of mobile or attached machinery. These "Little Engineers" are the workforce of the Machine, laboring tirelessly to keep it in working order.
If you see one, don't panic! their might appear strange or dangerous, but they are there for everyone's best interests. Be sure to make way for our friend, the Little Engineer!"

>>4824405
The Imperial Guardsman's Uplifting Primer, written by the Vault-Tec advertising team. Obvious choice.

Idea? What if, once you get to the center where the machine is, gravity starts pulling the other direction? So after you get down to 'midpoint', say, you start climbing back 'up' into the machine?

>>4824501
We already had the issue. Apparently the inner sectors have irregular gravity, and the physical laws start to break down. Nobody knows about the very heart.

So it seems that we're out of ideas. Bummer.

Archived anyway.

Not Sure if Related, but it's the only mechanical thing I can find offhand.

Alright, I think I'm going to run a game with Spirit of the Century.

The players will be joining an expedition led by the first explorer. The first time they were unprepared, now they have all the best equipment, funding and expertise. Unfortunately, word has gotten out, and now rival expeditions set out at the same time.

Definitely leaning more towards the Adventure! view of things, though I might well introduce some of the Horror elements as the expedition gets deeper and deeper.

>>4824643
Don't be fooled by his appearance, that's an Engineer. Part of the brain is replaced by Machine parts, there's no turning back for this poor creature.

>>4824643
>>4824804

Surely he's a delver then? One who's begun to get affected by the Machine.

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Don't gamble on your life, strike it rich! Strike out with the MANNCO DELVERSTIK 7000 SERIES.

I was imagining the Machine to be made from some sort of neigh-invincible material, but parts are removable because for some reason or another, the Machine is modular. Before people started REMOVING parts, the Engineers primarily moved gears from assemblies that needed to be turned off or were no longer required to newer ones. The implications are that you CANNOT damage any Engineers without disjointing their parts, the machine's repair-forging is relatively new. Perhaps parts that were once solid whatever-the-fuck are being stripped down to look more like gears such as those in the OP picture, to get materials to replace missing parts.

People keep saying that Engineers will basically hunt you down and grab the parts back, but at the same time they say Engineers are simple-minded and that the tech level should be apparently appropriate to the setting. What I want to know is HOW THE ENGINEERS CAN SEE YOU. Or if they can't, are they finding the parts based on the magnetic fields that people keep talking about? Rather that bolts everything is held together and bar-coded with magnets, and the engineers can 'see' them?

For those wanting any sort of life down in the Machine, there is no light, no source of food, and at least insufficient water. Unless the Machine feels like playing Mother to the Delvers, bringing them food and water (if they are helpful).

>>4824941
From MANNCO industries come the next REVOLUTIONARY TOOL in our popular line of DELVER DEVICES.

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In addition, the DELVERCAM carries a SUPER-BRIGHT LED flashlight, essential to every delver team! And new in the DELVERCAM series is the SONIC RESONATOR, which fools those Little Engineers into thinking you're a working cog in the Machine! Never be bothered by the machine again!

Bonus features include HAND CRANK and KINETIC CHARGER. Wind it, wear it, charge it as you walk, run, climb, dive, shake in your sleep to keep the ELECTROMITES from you! As long as its clipped to your belt you will never be without power!

Don't gamble with your life, strike it rich! Strike out the MANNCO DELVERCAM.

>>4824941
>>4825056
BRB buying now

>>4825685
dammit /tg/ look at this shit, I spent too much time on it for the thread to die right after

>>4824941
>>4825056
>>4825685
Shit just got real.

ok
has a system been set upon (DH 4e 3.5 WoD) ?

>>4825781
>DH
LOL NO

Someone said SotC.

>>4825781
Is that Klinger?

>>4825879
It certainly is.

>>4824828

I remember tossing a similar idea out in a thread last night, based on a book. Did it take off? I think that would be AWESOME. Nothing more horrible than losing a friend to an angry engineer, getting out, and finding him waiting on your next expedition with a head full of gears.

Also: is the machine sentient?

>>4825923
who knows?

>>4825685

You win a gold star, anon.

>>4826172
thanks, bro.