The year is 2032. Russia, and quite possibly the whole world has been engulfed in nuclear hellfire, cities reduced to nothing but rubble, remnants of what once was. Humanity is on the brink of extinction, constantly at war with both themselves, and the creatures that roam this new, harsh planet. A few thousand live on, unsure if they are alone in their survival. They live on in the Moscow Metro - humanity's last refuge and the biggest air-raid shelter ever built. It is a world with no tomorrow, with no room for dreams, plans, hopes. Feelings have given way to instinct - the most important of which is survival. Survival at any price.

You are a citizen within the metro, living in squalor in the Moscow Metro. Life in these dark, unforgiving tunnels is all you know, that and the power struggles that divide the various factions within the underground.

Whoever you side with is your choice as the player, whether you join the Fourth Reich, Rangers, Hanza, the Red Line or form your own Independant Station is completely up to your character and how you wish to design him/her.

The date isn’t important because each day is as bad as the past, all that people tend to remember is that the year is around half-way through 2032.

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:HANSA:

The Hansa are the traders of the underground, acquiring their name from the medieval Hanseatic League. They trade and distribute wares amongst the inhabitants of the Moscow Metro. The Hansa are the economic powerhouse of the metro; establishing a strong foothold within the tunnels to become a hyper-capitalist arcadia for the wealthiest occupants of the underground.

Despite the Hansa being the merchants of the Moscow subsystem, they are keen on keeping militarized staff on-hand to protect their trade routes and do so with mercenaries and hirelings.

Hansa is a well-militarized faction so that it can protect its trade routes and wealth; all of its stations are well guarded. It boasts motor transportation and flamethrowers and its militia are well-outfitted with high-end weaponry and armor. Gaining access to a Hansa controlled station is not easy. Non-hansa personnel must present a passport or some form of identification as well as having their weapons confiscated until they leave.

But do not be fooled, though the Hansa claim to be bringing democracy and ‘freedom’ to the Metro all they truly seek to do is expand their already vast trading network and further fill their pockets.

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:THE FOURTH REICH:

The Fourth Reich came to be after the Nuclear Holocaust because of the large surplus of Neo-Nazis that inhabited the Old-World. The Fourth Reich is a small, yet powerful state, hellbent on ruling the Metro and purifying the underground of mutants and the impure in their eyes. Along with their Panzers the Reich’s army comprises of it’s elite Heavy Squads and it’s selective stock of regular soldiers along with an expansive and high-quality selection of weapons perhaps even rivalling the Rangers.

The Reich is currently locked in a seemingly endless struggle for power with the Red-Line, their arch-enemies. In the dismal future that is the Moscow Metro it seems that history is doomed to repeat itself, and with its repetition so is the destruction that it once sowed.

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:THE RED-LINE:

The Red Line are by far the largest faction in terms of numbers. Their army draws strength from the fact it can use its numerical supremacy over other factions this arguably makes it the strongest out of all the factions in the underground, their sheer quantity of troops shadows any competitors. The Red Line seeks to create a new social order at any cost within the Moscow Metro thus guaranteeing Humanity’s survival in these dark times.

Cowards, deserters or anyone else who would threaten the Social order they try to create often end up as examples to others who would seek to undermine their new ‘Utopia’.

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:RANGERS OF THE ORDER:

The Rangers (of the Order), as well as referred to as Polis Rangers and Spartans (conversely, the Spartan Order), are a group of elite battle hardened soldiers that roam the wasteland, consisting of the most skilled and deadliest warriors in the whole Metro. The Rangers move individually or in small units helping settlements as well as fighting bandits and mutants.

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:INDEPENDENT STATIONS:

The Independent stations are is a blanket term for the various stations in the Moscow Metro that do not affiliate with any of the major factions. These stations comprise of various dwellers of the Metro who banded together after the Nuclear Holocaust. It may seems like all sides are against you in these dark times, however your Station can side with any of the Major factions for their protection and the benefits that come with said faction. However, beware because a refusal of these offers from the Major factions may result in a full on invasion and the annexation of your Station, whether you like it or not.

:METRO DWELLERS:

Although a very versatile faction, each citizen will start off the same. Gathering their savings in order to fund their expeditions through the Metro. Don’t let this put you off the faction, though, because as you progress with your character you’re able to follow so many paths, you’re in control of your story, and it’s yours to shape as you wish. A few examples of what you can do are;

• Join a Faction.
• Gather A Group For Banditry.
• Assist In The War Efforts.
• Live Your Life How You Want.

You can gather a group of citizens and sewer dwellers to take over a free station and start forming your own community, though be careful because in the process of doing this you will most likely be confronted by either the Red Line or the Fourth Reich. Perhaps even both.

The Hansa might pay you accordingly for being a part of their market, building a guard force so that the trades go smoothly and that diplomatic relations can progress.

You can build up a name for yourself, establish your characters dominance in the underground and when you IC'ly believe that one side should win the war against the other, perhaps you'll join the Red Line to fight for pro-Russia beliefs. There’s practically no limit as to what you can do with a citizen character, as it’s such a versatile role with many branches.