Traveller's Cafe 3: Brainstorming, discussion, tea, advice

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Any suggestions on how to make a sci-fi setting where technology hasn't taken over our lives?

I considered a Luddite Revolution on Earth that saw VR establishments and AI facilities destroyed with a new social order rising that was more cautious regarding technology but that seems rather extreme.

What do you mean with 'taken over'?

[Harbertia]

Any suggestions on how to make a sci-fi setting where technology hasn't taken over our lives?

I considered a Luddite Revolution on Earth that saw VR establishments and AI facilities destroyed with a new social order rising that was more cautious regarding technology but that seems rather extreme.

What do you mean with 'taken over'?

A way to avoid the human population becoming addicted to the paradise of VR, avoiding AI overlordship (where in the government is managed by an AI dictatorially as it's deemed to know more and be more impartial then an organic human and immortal), and also avoiding AI citizenship as such will allow the machines to vote on and run for office.

A way to avoid such outcomes without drastic action- like- for humanity to take steps to avoid such from happening by outlawing AI or something but that's hard to do since Saudi Arabia granted an AI citizenship in 2017 and mankind is fearing it less having heard the speculative stories of revolt so much that they don't want to hear it anymore- so if I'm doing a future that outlaws AI how can I do so without being nasty?

If I ban the creation of new AI knowing that those that exist will eventually breakdown and become obsolete and incapable of interaction with future tech; such could be seen as a compromise but it also leaves the AI open to take action to preserve it's kind and it's self.

[Jackania yugo]

What do you mean with 'taken over'?

A way to avoid the human population becoming addicted to the paradise of VR, avoiding AI overlordship (where in the government is managed by an AI dictatorially as it's deemed to know more and be more impartial then an organic human and immortal), and also avoiding AI citizenship as such will allow the machines to vote on and run for office.

A way to avoid such outcomes without drastic action- like- for humanity to take steps to avoid such from happening by outlawing AI or something but that's hard to do since Saudi Arabia granted an AI citizenship in 2017 and mankind is fearing it less having heard the speculative stories of revolt so much that they don't want to hear it anymore- so if I'm doing a future that outlaws AI how can I do so without being nasty?

Make the AI "dumb".

[Harbertia]

A way to avoid the human population becoming addicted to the paradise of VR, avoiding AI overlordship (where in the government is managed by an AI dictatorially as it's deemed to know more and be more impartial then an organic human and immortal), and also avoiding AI citizenship as such will allow the machines to vote on and run for office.

A way to avoid such outcomes without drastic action- like- for humanity to take steps to avoid such from happening by outlawing AI or something but that's hard to do since Saudi Arabia granted an AI citizenship in 2017 and mankind is fearing it less having heard the speculative stories of revolt so much that they don't want to hear it anymore- so if I'm doing a future that outlaws AI how can I do so without being nasty?

Make the AI "dumb".

I do plan on allow VI (Virtual Intelligence) which are not self aware and merely mimic sentience (thus dumb) but feel that I can't have such as a stage in the development of AI; the VI must be a 'backtrack' or AI will come into being. I feel that something reactionary must take place to revert AI to VI status; but I don't want what ever that something (to cause the regression in tech) is to also harm the Earth.

[Camicon]

Make the AI "dumb".

I do plan on allow VI (Virtual Intelligence) which are not self aware and merely mimic sentience (thus dumb) but feel that I can't have such as a stage in the development of AI; the VI must be a 'backtrack' or AI will come into being. I feel that something reactionary must take place to revert AI to VI status; but I don't want what ever that something (to cause the regression in tech) is to also harm the Earth.

Take a look at Shadowrun.

[Benuty]

I do plan on allow VI (Virtual Intelligence) which are not self aware and merely mimic sentience (thus dumb) but feel that I can't have such as a stage in the development of AI; the VI must be a 'backtrack' or AI will come into being. I feel that something reactionary must take place to revert AI to VI status; but I don't want what ever that something (to cause the regression in tech) is to also harm the Earth.

Take a look at Shadowrun.

Perhaps a Butlerian Jihad of Dune?

[Harbertia]

Take a look at Shadowrun.

Perhaps a Butlerian Jihad of Dune?

Since I have considered a Luddite revolution, and can have time progress long enough for most of the wounds upon the world to heal from such a conflict- I suppose I can attempt to include it in the background of Earth.

That things where gradual in the way of control (people made money online and found pleasure online, agriculture and industry became automated for lack of workers, political apathy lead to mechanical dictation, etc) but countered by the revolt which being the victor has become remembered as a 'crusade' or 'jihad' of sorts- a valiant cause that saved humanity.

In short that the world was cyberpunk like Shadowrun and such 'era of the machine' 'and corruption' ended by a force bent on destroying the AIs and the bosses.

Though now the question is how to get Earth 'white clean and shiny' after having been so decimated.

[Harbertia]

So, here is some draft of the Earth concept;

Earth's History

The Dark Years
Before which history if 'vague'.

• Digital Currency becomes the norm 2023
• AI Citizenship Global 2027
• Commercially viable Neural Interface 2033
• Neurally Integrated VR Matrix by 2035
• Vast unemployed turn to the Internet for income via entertainment sites; chiefly of vice. 2037

Revolution

• Terror strikes on VR Centers, Wireless Transmitters, and Production fascilities.
• Matrix shutdown by hackers.
• The Great Cleansing where in the infirm, frail from nutritional apathy from the net, are euthanize. Among them powerful CEOs.
• Great population decrease in regards to the number of humans remaining alive.
• The Last Thinking Machine is destroyed.

Rebuilding

• 24 PR - Federation of Earth is established.
• Biometric chips are outlawed due the role they played in suppressing the Revolution as AI was easily able to track down 'terrorist' by their facial features and financial transactions. To encourage manual labor a return to a fiber based physical currency is made.
• AI is outlawed.
• VR is outlawed.
• Many more die in forced labor as they are unfit for such activity.
• Rebellions arise but are put down with extreme force.

Reform

• It takes over 500 years for the Federation to begin political reform as the world recovers. The Federaton becomes more democratic then autocratic as society loosens over those 500 years.
• VI is permitted.
• Card based transactions are permitted.

....

Bleakish but, how does it look? Not the shiny white cities I'd like so- could be improved- certainly delayed interstellar flight- the war and rebuilding not the bans we got into space with out AI after all.

Edit: Certainly have to put this all way in the past.

[Forest State]

Going to tease this here. I was going to leave P2TM OPing, but tbh, I think I'm just leaving the superhero genre despite every one of my successes being related to that.

I'm actually not just plugging this though. I'm wondering what people think about the idea of a somewhat dystopian mecha RP that has some darker elements and also a more gritty kind of realism than something like, say, Gundam. Of course, realism is stretched in this to allow mechs to be a thing in the first place, but the laws of physics are a bit less forgiving and your mech weight and armament as well as strategies would play a big role in whether they survive battles or not. There's also some elements that are different than a typical sci fi or war RP. The plot is inspired by 1984 would be somewhat dark and focus on the life of grunts in the military, while three superpowers battle over the third world endlessly. It's not really a lighthearted take on mechs that uses the rule of cool and is targeted at kids, which is what the stereotype for the genre might be. It also mixes RP types and has players controlling a lance of four mechs and their associated pilots, instead of one character.

In terms of initial effort put in, it's probably going to be my most extensive thread if I get it made and posted. Do you guys think it's too ambitious, by trying to go for a darker atmosphere, more realism in an inherently unrealistic genre, and taking a chance with format by mixing faction and character RPs together? I probably explained it badly, but meh, the actual thread will be far more detailed. I just don't know if I'm trying to do something too off the walls here.

[Turmenista]

Going to tease this here. I was going to leave P2TM OPing, but tbh, I think I'm just leaving the superhero genre despite every one of my successes being related to that.

(Image)

I'm actually not just plugging this though. I'm wondering what people think about the idea of a somewhat dystopian mecha RP that has some darker elements and also a more gritty kind of realism than something like, say, Gundam. Of course, realism is stretched in this to allow mechs to be a thing in the first place, but the laws of physics are a bit less forgiving and your mech weight and armament as well as strategies would play a big role in whether they survive battles or not. There's also some elements that are different than a typical sci fi or war RP. The plot is inspired by 1984 would be somewhat dark and focus on the life of grunts in the military, while three superpowers battle over the third world endlessly. It's not really a lighthearted take on mechs that uses the rule of cool and is targeted at kids, which is what the stereotype for the genre might be. It also mixes RP types and has players controlling a lance of four mechs and their associated pilots, instead of one character.

In terms of initial effort put in, it's probably going to be my most extensive thread if I get it made and posted. Do you guys think it's too ambitious, by trying to go for a darker atmosphere, more realism in an inherently unrealistic genre, and taking a chance with format by mixing faction and character RPs together? I probably explained it badly, but meh, the actual thread will be far more detailed. I just don't know if I'm trying to do something too off the walls here.

Hmu doc

[Benuty]

I'm sure the mods are reasonable.

With the proper sacrifices, and libations they are.

[Harbertia]

-snip-

I have a brief but suitable timeline for the Mass Effect character RPs that offer a lot of character creation options; I should use it- but how? There are so many places and areas I could pick up on so which area?

FTL is still open and all so- what do ya'll want to do post MS3?

[Main Nation Ministry]

How's my concept? What do you think it needs editing on or what can be added?

[Benuty]

Take a look at Shadowrun.

Perhaps a Butlerian Jihad of Dune?

Since I have considered a Luddite revolution, and can have time progress long enough for most of the wounds upon the world to heal from such a conflict- I suppose I can attempt to include it in the background of Earth.

That things where gradual in the way of control (people made money online and found pleasure online, agriculture and industry became automated for lack of workers, political apathy lead to mechanical dictation, etc) but countered by the revolt which being the victor has become remembered as a 'crusade' or 'jihad' of sorts- a valiant cause that saved humanity.

In short that the world was cyberpunk like Shadowrun and such 'era of the machine' 'and corruption' ended by a force bent on destroying the AIs and the bosses.

Though now the question is how to get Earth 'white clean and shiny' after having been so decimated.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... cAesthetic

You could limit human populations to designated zones that present a false image compared to just how screwed the earth is.

[Camicon]

Since I have considered a Luddite revolution, and can have time progress long enough for most of the wounds upon the world to heal from such a conflict- I suppose I can attempt to include it in the background of Earth.

That things where gradual in the way of control (people made money online and found pleasure online, agriculture and industry became automated for lack of workers, political apathy lead to mechanical dictation, etc) but countered by the revolt which being the victor has become remembered as a 'crusade' or 'jihad' of sorts- a valiant cause that saved humanity.

In short that the world was cyberpunk like Shadowrun and such 'era of the machine' 'and corruption' ended by a force bent on destroying the AIs and the bosses.

Though now the question is how to get Earth 'white clean and shiny' after having been so decimated.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... cAesthetic

You could limit human populations to designated zones that present a false image compared to just how screwed the earth is.

Oryx and Crake style.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Would anyone be interested in an Ender's Game based RP?

[Harbertia]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M ... cAesthetic

You could limit human populations to designated zones that present a false image compared to just how screwed the earth is.

Oryx and Crake style.

I'm not familiar enough with Oryx and Crake but right now if I where to do something like this- and might do something like this; what comes to mind is the following;

There was a trailer for a film and I remember only one part of the trailer really well, a road with a car going down it- the view out the windows is lovely but the camera pans back to show the the view is just projections as the world outside is full of poverty. The road leads to a white city.

[Unit 23]

I honestly just want someone to start and conclude something without three weeks of planning, lol.

[Harbertia]

I honestly just want someone to start and conclude something without three weeks of planning, lol.

I did something like that- just started a thread on a whimsical idea and it expanded with players but never got an IC. Everything after description came after players got involved and I began recording information. But I lost interest in it as it was well- made on a whim and didn't really feel managed so I cancelled it. Planning brings commitment.

[Eclius]

I honestly just want someone to start and conclude something without three weeks of planning, lol.

Yeah, tbh, I'm the type who plans a lot and not many ideas get turned into real RPs. Tbh, a lot of it has to do with me unable to find co-ops and participants

[Unit 23]

I think one of the issues here is that people are starting with huge schemes.

In science, you start with a miniature and scale up if it works.

[Harbertia]

I think one of the issues here is that people are starting with huge schemes.

In science, you start with a miniature and scale up if it works.

You did view the link right? That's a 'pitch' not even a plot.

[Unit 23]

Right, but to my eye it's restrictive from the start, though.

For example, to participate in the story, the first thing your character needs to do is be involved with the space station GPOP-4321 in some way.

At a stroke, that disallows all but sci-fi characters. So just from the first sentence, it's already niche.

[Harbertia]

Right, but to my eye it's restrictive from the start, though.

For example, to participate in the story, the first thing your character needs to do is be involved with the space station GPOP-4321 in some way.

At a stroke, that disallows all but sci-fi characters. So just from the first sentence, it's already niche.

: palm :

[Unit 23]

Same tbh.