Your first step to playing Mutant Mayhem is to determine the details of your game's setting and world. The details of your world that you will build during this step of preparation are generalized elements that provide a framework for your game. In future steps, you will build more specifics onto these general elements.

Think of your game of Mutant Mayhem as existing in its own dimension; give it the details and elements that seem most interesting to you and your players. To build your world's details, you need only answer the following series of questions. You and your players should answer these questions together, collaboratively.

By default, humans and mutants are assumed to exist in all mutant mayhem games. How common humans and mutants are may vary depending on the narrative focus of each particular game.

• How many mutants inhabit the world?
  Describe the mutant phenomenon as it exists in your world.
• Do aliens (extraterrestrials) exist in your world?
  If aliens exist in your world describe each species; then answer the additional questions below.
  • How long ago did they arrive on Earth and what was their means of arrival?
    Describe when each species of aliens arrived on Earth and the means by which they traveled to Earth.
  • Is the aliens' presence on Earth a guarded secret; or have they made their presence known to humans?
    Describe the state of secrecy of each alien species' presence on Earth.
  • Do the aliens have any agenda(s)?
    Describe each alien species' agenda on Earth and the current state of completion of that agenda.
  • Do aliens have any connection to TBIRD and TGC-X71?
    If aliens have a connection to TBIRD or TGC-X71, describe each alien species' connection.
  • How do the aliens feel towards mutants?
    Describe each alien species' general feelings towards mutantkind.
  • Are aliens playable as a player character entimorph?
    If any of the alien species' are playable as player character entimorphs, state which ones here. If there are any limitations or requirements for player character alien species' aspects, note them here.

• What is the highest level of technology in your world?
  Describe the technologies that are considered advanced technology in your world. While you're at it, describe experimental technologies as well as common technologies as they exist in your world.
• Who in your world is capable of developing new technology?
  Describe who, whether organizations, groups, institutions, or individuals are capable of producing technology and what kind of technology each is capable of producing.
• Based on the answers to the previous question, do robots or artificial intelligence exist in your world?
  If Robots or AI exist in your world, answer the additional questions below.
  • How advanced are Robotic and Artificial Intelligence technologies?
    If Robots and AI are capable of prolonged autonomous operation, answer the additional questions below.
    • Who is capable of producing advanced robots and AIs?
      Describe who, whether organizations, groups, institutions, or individuals are capable of producing robots and AI.
    • How common are advanced robots and AIs in your world?
      Describe whether advanced robots and AIs are commonly encountered in your world, or are rarely or only occasionally encountered. The answer to this question should logically be influenced by the previous question.
    • Are robots and/or AI playable as a player character entimorph?
      If robots or AI are playable as player character entimorphs, state which ones here. If there are any limitations or requirements for player character robots/AI aspects, note them here.

• Does the supernatural or paranormal exist in your world?
  If the supernatural or paranormal exists in your world, describe it in broad strokes. We recommend limiting supernatural and paranormal elements in your world to such things that will not be confused with mutants so as not adversely draw focus from the mutant theme of the game.
• Do mystical or magical powers exist in your world?
  If mystical or magical powers exist in your world, describe them; then answer the following questions.
  • Who is capable of possessing and using mystical or magical powers?
    Describe who can or might be able to wield mystical or magical powers and under which circumstances.

• What is the origin of the TGC-X71 mutagen?
  Describe who or what created the mutagen gel that is known as substance TGC-X71 and how it came into TBIRD's possession.
• How long ago did the first TGC-X71 leak occur and who is responsible for that leak?
  Describe who caused the original TGC-X71 leak that started the mutant phenomenon and when it happened.
• Besides people that work for TBIRD, who knows of the existence of mutants?
  List groups or individuals that are aware of the existence of mutants and describe their general feelings towards mutants.

In this next preparatory step you will focus the general details of the world you've built into more specific details to build a campaign. Like for building your world, you need only answer the following questions.

• Where in the world is the campaign set?
  Start small - a town, a specific neighborhood in a big city, or similar location. As the campaign progresses, you can expand the setting as the story being told dictates. Setting your campaign in a fictional place can help keep your campaign free and unrestricted, as you'll be required to create all the detail from scratch. However, if you're worried about the effort this might require, your chosen location can be based on a real place; you can rename and rebrand parts of the location at your discretion.
• What are some remarkable features of this location?
  A remarkable feature can be any place or thing for which the inhabitants of the location have a fondness or passion. It should be something around which, or somewhere that people gather for various events and might likely rally around if threatened. As examples of remarkable features, consider a historical site, a statue or memorial of a popular and famous historical figure, a local sport team's venue, a popular shopping mall, a large public art installation or mural, a scenic public park, or a zoo that conserves rare and endangered species.
  
  Describe each feature - it's physical appearance and characteristics as well as why it is beloved by the inhabitants of your location.
• What are some troublesome features of this location?
  A troublesome feature can be any place or thing for which the inhabitants of the location have a dislike, hatred, or waryness. It should be something that people avoid, protest, criticize - either publicly or secretly, and may - either publicly or secretly celebrate its demise. As examples of troublesome features, consider a rundown factory that produces things that are detrimental to society or the environment, a statue or memorial of a reviled or infamous historical figure, a shady bar whose regulars are members of a criminal organization, an abandoned shopping mall now overrun by squatters and addicts, or a plot of land befouled by toxic substances.
  
  Describe each feature - it's physical appearance and characteristics as well as why it is reviled by the inhabitants of your location.
• What is TBIRD's presence in this location?
  Your location will definitely have one or more features owned, operated, or influenced by Trans-Bio Industrial Research & Development Inc. (TBIRD). Perhaps TBIRD has installed an office building, a research facility, a supply depot, or a factory in your location. Perhaps your location has multiple TBIRD facilities. TBIRD features are both remarkable and troublesome. A location will benefit from the many jobs TBIRD creates as a result of its presence; but the mystery and occasional controversy that tends to surround the work TBIRD does is the troublesome flipside to that coin.
  
  TBIRD might even have connections to previously defined remarkable or troublesome features in your location.
  
  Describe each TBIRD feature; - it's physical appearance and characteristics as well as ways it is sometimes both remarkable and troublesome. If any previously defined remarkable or troublesome features bear any connection to TBIRD, describe those connections here and elaborate on how those connections complicate the way in which the feature is remarkable or troublesome.

• What is the entimorph composition of the group of player characters?
  PC group compositions can vary significantly, depending on the type of campaign desired. Determining this could be a collaborative decision; if the GM has a specific idea for the campaign, they could unilaterally determine the PC group composition, provided all the players agree and accept that determination.
  
  The PCs could be all Mutants, all Humans, all Aliens, or even all robots and AI; of course, the PCs could be a varied mix of entimorphs.
• Does the campaign have an overarching theme?
  Setting a theme for your campaign is optional; but it is recommended. Theming your campaign can help focus and inspire adventures; and it can promote group cohesion.
  
  PC group entimorph composition can provide some guidance for the campaign's theme. An all Mutant group could be fiercely protecting their identities from The World Above (i.e. the human world). An all Human group, may have just learned of the existence of mutants; perhaps they're curious and want to learn more about mutants or perhaps they're bigoted jerks that just want to eliminate the mutants for being different. An all Aliens group may be enacting some bizarre agenda of which the mutants are somehow unknowingly a part. An all robots/AIs group may be dispatched by TBIRD to find and eliminate mutants; being intelligent, do they mindlessly obey their programming, or do they rebel against their creators and befriend or help the mutants?
  
  Determining a theme for a mixed entimorph group might be a bit more more challenging; though it need not be if you consider TBIRD's influence. A great theme for any group is exposing TBIRD's nefarious work. In any case, be sure to keep in mind all of the elements of your campaign that you've built so far; those elements can also help you set a theme for your campaign.

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