Freedom City - Campaign History

Campaign History

Set somewhere on the east coast of the United States (overlapping Atlantic City, according to the sourcebook's maps), Freedom City's history dates back to colonial times when super heroes first appeared there during the Revolutionary War. People with super-powers have existed throughout Earth’s history, but have become more prominent and numerous since the late 1930s. Freedom City is a particular "epicenter" for superhumans, but they are found in other cities and places around the world. Nearly every sort of super-power or gimmick found in the comic books can and does exist in the Freedom Universe (sometimes referred to as the A-Terra Universe). There is magic, super-science, extraterrestrials, lost worlds, gods, megalomaniacal super villains, and more. Despite this, the world on the surface is still very much like the Real World and most of the history and society from the Real World also exists there. Superheroes and villains have aged normally since their first appearances, with the exception of some who are particularly long-lived or even immortal. There have been several distinct "eras" of superhuman activity in the world, which coincidentally resemble different periods in comic book publishing history. Although everyone has heard about superheroes and villains, and probably seen them (on TV, if nothing else), most people on Earth live fairly ordinary lives, despite the occasional invasion from outer space or other threat.

A key event in Freedom City's history occurred during what became known as the Terminus Invasion. The extra-dimensional tyrant known as Omega launched an invasion of the city, resulting in vast destruction and the deaths of several superheroes; including one of Earth's greatest heroes: Centurion. This event was also responsible for the formation of the current Freedom League.

Freedom City is the setting for two stand-alone published adventure scenarios. The first, Time of Crisis, takes place in Freedom proper as well as its counterparts on parallel Earths. A follow-up called Time of Vengeance was released in November 2006.

In at least one possible future, Freedom City is still around in the year 2525 when it is the capital of the Confederation of Planets and home to the Freedom Legion (a version of the Legion of Super-Heroes).

Several locations in the setting are named after comic creators, such as the Kirby Museum of Art named after Jack Kirby and Claremont Academy (a school for young superhumans similar to the Xavier Academy) named after Chris Claremont.