A Dying World: Interest, discussion, and maybe signups?

[Vomica]

Whooosh! I, the great and perhaps conceited Vomica, am presenting an RP idea I've been working with for a good long while now. Many of those that know me well have heard whispers and rumors of some of my efforts about a 'structured RP' for a while now, and perhaps some who only know me by reputation have even heard hint of it. Here it finally is, at least one of the first serious steps to get this going!

Premise: Envision our world in the near future... perhaps four or five decades from now. Envision that world where life and civilization doesn't lapse, and science doesn't implode. A world where the budding technologies of the day are actuality. Wide scale commercial fusion reactors, consumer level nanotechology, quantum computing, high temperature super conductors, a perfect knowledge of proteins and the ability to re engineer microbes to a paragon level. ...I'm sure you get the idea. Science is still science however, there are no teleporters, time machines, 'nanities', or other fabrications of sci-fi... this world is one of ultra-realism. One where nothing fantastic has happened, other then the results of research and study. As for culture and society? The EU is one country and is the fourth most powerful country, with the US, China, and India ahead of it (Going from lowest to highest). Regardless, the UN is the ultimate government authority -- but the true power lays in the corporations. One corporations, Saulic Labs, stands apart. They are the ones who produced fusion, the space elevators, and everything... ...they are the most powerful entity on the face of the planet (And the owner of most space stations, and the few moon bases -- and runs the outposts on the other celestial bodies).

...that was rambling. I encourage questions (I have two notebooks full of setting information, so ask away. Please.) The premise is this... the first 'scifi' level technology is being experimented. A transporter of some sort, in the belly of highest security lab on the planet. The characters are part of the research time being sent in... ...you see. The teleporter works. It functions by sending people to a certain coordinates (Oh yes, I have this mapped out -- going to non-Euclidean levels. Hooray for Riemann manifolds). ...someone had a bright idea to set these coordinates to a part of the universe that shouldn't be (As in the square root of -1, or some such.) ... ... ...whatever the result of that idea is that people are being sent to investigate!

(This RP was orginally written as a GURPS campaign. I won't be making the players use the rules, but I do plan on using it at least on the book keeping side of things -- for my personal use to keep track of things. Don't worry about it. I'm weird like that.)

That was random gibberish. I know. Please. Ask questions if clarification is needed for any interested parties. This RP is about character development, complex plots and NPCs, and simulationist gaming theory.

[Just some lady]

=D Yaaay~


Also, more seriously, looks good. ^^ I, of course, am interested.

[Blaze]

Ohohohohohohohohohohohohohoho~

Color me interested (it's a shade of indigo.)

[Zoey]

Im interested but... I have some questions:

1) Probably the first question everyone will think. Will there be TF's?

2) What EXACTLY will our characters be? Like military guys, going in to check where no man has ever gone before? And what freedom will we have making them?

3) You mentioned this being written in GURPS. Will this involved rolling dice and such table top rpg elements?

4) You never said what happened to culture and society. What happened?

5) What nation, where will the story begin?

[Roggamer22]

Sounds like a fun party time.

[Vomica]

1) Probably the first question everyone will think. Will there be TF's?

2) What EXACTLY will our characters be? Like military guys, going in to check where no man has ever gone before? And what freedom will we have making them?

3) You mentioned this being written in GURPS. Will this involved rolling dice and such table top rpg elements?

4) You never said what happened to culture and society. What happened?

5) What nation, where will the story begin?

Thanks Zoey, I needed questions to answer.

1. TFs are extremely possible to happen to the characters, I won't shoe horn them in, but as an experienced GM I'll make sure to include hooks and hints in play of what might cause what (In some cases it might even be warranted to OOCly say 'GO THAT WAY FOR <blank>'). I wouldn't bring this RP to MSF if TFs weren't important to a few plot elements. ...so yeah.

2. The characters are all experienced, talented, or proven experts in various fields. Yes, military professionals are being sent in... but not grunts. Special forces level. Same goes for any maintenance or researchers. You have full freedom as long as it makes sense for them to be going in... ...rule of thumb would be 'Would this character fit in on an expedition going treasure hunting in an ancient tomb?' or such.

3. Again, I'm only going to be using GURPS for book keeping (Unless everyone would prefer it to be table top style instead of free form. I'm flexible.) so there will be no dice rolling... unless it's requested.

4. Right! What happened here. ...after the whole 'global energy crisis' was fixed with solar technology that is on a scale of magnitudes better today, and fusion reactors, almost every resource driven crisis boiled away. With no more flashpoints to happen, the international community become far less hostile... with no developed nation having that large of a standing army. Out of the industrial nations (Which is most now by the way), nationalism has worn away in a sense of peace. ...think Pax Romana on a world wide level. So. Art, technology, science, it was all allowed to flourish. ...does this help? Or anything you want me to elaborate on? I have notes on various topics, and I'll type out what you find important or interesting to know.

5. As for the country? Australia in the southern part of the Northern Territory -- landlocked, away from fault lines, and many other storms. ...dust storms don't count. Right?

[Harri-chan]

Sounds like it's going to be great, V! I'm definitely interested in this one.

[Evra]

my interest'o'meter is dinging! this rp does indeed sound like it could be fun.

ooc questions ~ how many slots will there be for players? as it does appear this rp has the interest of the community.
how often will it be updated? cause I probbaly wont be able to post from 6 am-4 pm my time on school days.

Rp questions ~ will the research be primarily military with a few researchers? or will it be primarily research with a few military guards?
what is the level of technology in the weaponry part of this world? still regular m4a1's, ak-47s and such or are there more futuristic weapons?

Thats it for questions I have at the current .. could have more later though!

[Miku-chan]

I'm interested in this as well, though wonder if a supernatural based character would fit into your views of play on it. Nothing over crazy, just empathy type characters...(Like the betazoids or Vulcan types from star trek)

[Vomica]

Evra:

1: I initially expected to have between four or five slots, but I can bump that up by one or two. ...but more than six is really hard to GM on a forum based system. So yes, this might need to be selective. ...as for time constraints? You only need to respond every other day -- that is what my plan is. But the less you respond to in each post, the less I can give you to work with. If I type up three paragraphs, and a player replies with a sentence... ...you see where I'm going with that.

2: The team is comprised of mostly researchers. The mission statements sent out have not identified why even military is going, or why, but the mission of 'See if this portal works!' is obviously a cover. Since part of the team roster include geologists, biologists, physicists, chemists, linguists, etc. The science crowd, some of them at least, might serve the military. The team is being gathered from both the public and private sector, so you know, anything goes (And the players can make anything they want... if any initial roles are missing, NPCs will fill the gap.) As for the weapons? Ballistic weapons, like the ones you listed, are antiques. The primary arms of the militaries tend to be metal projectile weapons accelerated via chemical combustion (Just as modern arms), but most are primarily composed of high performance plastic. There are laser weapons and rail gun tech, but most are used as artillery or are mounted arms (There are a few specialty items... like how in real life Berreta does produce a 25 mm anti material rifle.)

Miku: Just a flat no. There is no known 'supernatural' in this world. ...in this universe at least.

[ZeroForever]

question
would mutants or other modified humans like cyborgs be possible, both are well within technological possibilities (the main issue against it is social morality but if corporations rule I wouldn't expect that to last.)

either way sounds interesting and good luck.

[Blaze]

I have a question.

Why are the scientists testing to see what happens if they set the teleporter to coordinates that don't exist? I don't think, 'for the lulz' is a valid reason anymore.

[Vomica]

Zero: Yes. To a realistic degree, there is genetic engineering going on, and cybernetic prosthetic that surpass natural abilities, but they are not standard -- there was no 'singularity' and there is no such thing as transhumanism (Perhaps, not yet at least), but science has surpassed that of the natural human frame.

Blaze: That is not known at the time. The orders have come from the CEO and founder of the corporation, who also just happens to be a board member on most of the other large boards. It's rumored within those in the mission that he knows more. No on has the clearance for the official story, but it is rumored that here were experiments of this nature before...

[Knight Errant]

Right a couple questions.

1. Will the people going through this teleporter know that there is livable space at the destination? As in, did they send a probe in first? And as for that, is there a set way of returning? Or is this a one way trip. And if it is a one way trip... what do they expect to accomplish?

2. Will the teleporter be a company or a government project? And will the characters be employees of said government or company?

I am reminded heavily of the Stargate movie as I write this post. It may influence my character heavily. Right now I'm imagining a army officer being sent through as my character. That is subject to change.

[Vomica]

Dact:

1. Namely. All members of the research team have been told, officially, that this is the first use of the teleporter. This is the story being given to the media. Unofficially, the characters have been told through the grape vine that is a lie. There is something there. Not just something. ...but some video feed was recovered from a robot that was sent through. It's confirmed that there are things assumed to be plants, a sky -- with stars at night, and an atmosphere almost like Earth's. No more information about these previous attempts are known. However: Armed escorts are going. The expedition is scheduled for 72 hours officially, but a months worth of food and water is being sent. Part of the known roster is a linguist, among other professionals, such an expert would only be sent for a reason. The conclusion should be obvious (And people can, ICly, say if they do any snopping around, rumor gathering, or even hacking before they go. But being caught will... high treason anyone?)

2. Technically? It's a private corporation working beneath international contract. Actually? Saulic Labs is powerful enough where they run the governments. The CEO is easily the most powerful person on the planet, in terms of finances, politically, and influentially. I'll make sure to include his, along with numerous other NPC bios at the time this RP starts. Or earlier if anyone in specific is requested.