American Warlord C.Y.O.A. Preview.

If we do not succeed, then we run the risk of failure. - Vice President Dan Quayle.

The Year is 2040 and America, long having balanced on a knife's-edge, has finally toppled over the precipice into all-out civil war. Most of the military has declared itself neutral and dedicated its efforts to ensuring the safety of civilians wherever possible, but in most of the country the only law is the law of the gun. Fortunately America has a great many of those.

So, who are you, anyway?

1.) Militia leader.
You have long been prepared for this kind of eventuality, maybe you were even hoping for it. With a substantial stock-pile of weapons and a cadre of like-minded patriots you are one of the best-placed individuals to restore order to the streets (assuming that's what you're trying to do, of course). Being firmly embedded in the local community you can look forward to at least some level of support from the civilian population.

Of the people, by the people, for the people / Behind every blade of grass.

2.) Rogue military commander.
While most of America's military has declared themselves neutral, there are some exceptions, mainly amongst the national guard. You yourself were a ranking officer in the United States military, but there is no United States anymore, so now you and your men are out for yourselves. Whether you intend to restore the shining city on the hill or merely jump at the opportunity for looting and gathering personal power remains to be seen.

Actual military training / Serious hardware.

3.) Celebrity.
America loved its celebrities, and America loved you. Your name was (and indeed still is) known in households all over the world, your face was on billboards up and down the nation, and an endorsement from you could ship millions of dollars of product. Now you have become embroiled in the ongoing crisis and it's time to apply your winning charisma in the service of whatever faction you support.

Of the people, by the people, for the people / Raw, naked charisma.

4.) Interfering foreigner.
The world's last remaining super-power is on its knees. Foreign nations desperate to either win favour with a resurgent U.S.A., or slit its throat while they have the opportunity have dispatched expeditionary forces to the troubled nation. You have the backing of a nation-state, including the best equipment they can provide, however you are likely to encounter stiff resistance from the still-proud (and heavily armed) populace who resent your meddling.

Serious hardware / Bleeding-edge tech.

5.) Billionaire tech C.E.O..
You have spent your life amassing power and wealth, and now you have the opportunity to do so more directly. Yours is not the first company to treat warfare as an extension of its business practices, and you personally have the resources to compete with the militaries of most small countries so why not make your play? The next-gen tech your company produces can be leveraged into an advantage and while loyalty can't be brought, you'd be surprised how cheaply it can be rented.

Bleeding-edge tech / Money talks.

6.) Gang-banger.
The F.B.I. may have triumphed over the mafia back in the twenties, but organised crime never really went away, albeit now it's less about garlic-breathed men in suits carrying suspicious violin cases and more about heavily-tattooed youngsters in saggy trousers with hand-guns tucked into their waistbands. You are just one such product of the mean streets, and since law and order have collapsed you and your homies (and their ilk) are now the closest thing to an organised authority in some areas.

Behind every blade of grass / Urban warfare specialist.

7.) Glowie.
America may be down, but it's not out just yet. Washington D.C. is still protected by a few military units whose commanders have prioritised protecting the government over keeping the populace from the worst ravages of civil war, and the sinister tendrils of the alphabet agencies are reaching out to try and bring the country back under the sway of Capitol Hill. They say that 'military intelligence' is an oxymoron, can you prove them wrong?

Bleeding edge tech / E-warfare.

8.) Evangelical crusader.
Gays! Transexuals! Abortions! Atheists! Is it any wonder that God has smote the wicked nation of the old America like a modern-day Sodom!? The mega-church you run certainly doesn't think so. You are now leading a crusade to build a new, more pious country, returning to the original values of the puritans who founded America. You don't mind spilling the blood of the unrighteous to accomplish this goal, and if you have to make a few martyrs out of your own flock along the way, well so much greater will be their reward in heaven.

Raw, naked charisma / Money talks.