Dark Future Discussion

[Rob]

Cultivate!

[Rob]

Inspirational Material
1984 (Book)
28 Days Later (Movie)
A Clockwork Orange (Movie)
Babylon AD (Movie)
Batman Beyond (TV Series)
Battlefield Earth (Movie\Book)
Beyond Thunderdome (Movie)
BioShock (Video Game)
Blade Runner (Movie\Story)
Brave New World (Book)
Children of Men (Movie\Book)
Dark City (Movie)
Dark Heresy (RPG Game)
Death Race (Movie)
Demolition Man (Movie)
Deus Ex (Video Game)
Doomsday (Movie)
Equilibrium (Movie)
Escape from New York (Movie)
Fahrenheit 451 (Movie\Book)
Fallout Series (Video Games)
Five Years Gone episode from Heroes TV Series (TV Series)
Gattaca (Movie)
Ghost in the Shell (Anime)
I Am Legend (Book)
I, Robot (Movie\Book)
Logan's Run (Movie)
Mad Max (Movie)
Max Headroom (TV Series)
Most William Gibson & Neal Stephenson books (Books)
Neuromancer (Book)
Pitch Black (Movie)
Red Faction (Video Games)
Road Warrior (Movie)
Scanner Darkly (Movie\Book)
Screamers (Movie)
Six-String Samurai (Movie)
Snow Crash (Book)
Soylent Green (Movie)
Starship Troopers (Book\Movie)
Syndicate (Video Game)
Tank Girl (Movie\Comic)
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Video Game)
The Fifth Element (Movie)
The Matrix (Movie)
The Running Man (Movie)
The Warriors (Movie)
They Live (Movie)
THX 1138 (Movie)
Total Recall (Movie\Story)
Twelve Monkeys (Movie)
Ultraviolet (Movie)
V for Vendetta (Movie\Comic)
Various Doctor Who Episodes (TV Series)
Wanted (Movie)
Warhammer 40,000 (Minatures Game)
Watchmen (Comic)
Wraith: The Oblivion (RPG Game)

[Omen]

I'm a big fan of "Utopia Gone Wrong" type of 'dark future' genre, something along the lines of Logans Run and also virtually any kind of cinematic undead movie.  I think the real reasoning behind that enjoyment is the depth of which you can explore societies 'dark side'.  Something like the cop in the undead movie being a symbol of 'servant to society' role, yet out for himself.  Also, something like the complacency of the Logans Run arcology citizens; who sacrifice freedom and knowledge for a short lived paradise built upon the horrors of the unseen ( food coming from escaped individuals, carousel etc. ).  Not to mention the other sandman who even once he escapes the arcology, cannot bring himself to let the others go and challenge the society he's grown up in.

[Rob]

Oh man, I adore Logan's Run. I wonder if the long rumored Remake will ever surface.
I think its also been well established that I love undead cinema, so you're speaking straight to my heart.

I think a dystopian setting that incorporates the undead, in some fashion, would make for a great setting. Light supernatural elements to help punctuate how horrible the world has gotten. I really like the idea of being able to show that any character, no matter how noble, has a dark side to. Thats something we could try to work into the setting.

[Omen]

I think a dystopian setting that incorporates the undead, in some fashion, would make for a great setting. Light supernatural elements to help punctuate how horrible the world has gotten. I really like the idea of being able to show that any character, no matter how noble, has a dark side to. Thats something we could try to work into the setting.

Bingo!  Thats why I want to do the star trek zombie game, it is the 'perfect' utopian society gone wrong.  Over dependence on luxuries dispensed by matter creators, a communistic like government that has access to virtualy unlimited access to the private lives of its citizens, and the virtually unlimited access to resources to fuel it all.  Holographic sentient beings, aliens denied entrance to the society because they are deemed 'inferior' through a social distinction, all encompassing governing agency that serves as the 'protector' and 'provider', a potentially unrealistic 'respect all cultures' attitude, or any fantastic device such as transporters/warp engines/instant communications that link the entire federation together.

It will crumble like a house of cards.

[Citizen Joe]

Setting: Terraformed Mars.  Probably about 70% complete.  Probably a couple hundred years in the future after the solar system gets exploited for resources. 
Dystopia comes from the idea that Mars was going to be a new Earth, but the corporations funding the terraforming have corrupted those ideals.  Most Martians have only limited access to knowledge and the really nice technology is in orbital habitats that they can't get to.  In order to survive and work on Mars, people are extensively modified both physically and genetically.  Even then the upper class corporate suits live in comfortable, environmentally controlled structures while the work force struggles. 
Genetic engineering to create a biosphere could run amok and there may even be nanites that can inhabit a corpse to continue working despite inhospitable terrain.
Shipments of ice both water and ammonia still bombard Mars from the outer solar system in an attempt to get the atmosphere just right.
Maybe there was an ancient race that lived on Mars before and maybe some of their technology will turn up.

[Omen]

Setting: Terraformed Mars.  Probably about 70% complete.  Probably a couple hundred years in the future after the solar system gets exploited for resources. 
Dystopia comes from the idea that Mars was going to be a new Earth, but the corporations funding the terraforming have corrupted those ideals.  Most Martians have only limited access to knowledge and the really nice technology is in orbital habitats that they can't get to.  In order to survive and work on Mars, people are extensively modified both physically and genetically.  Even then the upper class corporate suits live in comfortable, environmentally controlled structures while the work force struggles. 
Genetic engineering to create a biosphere could run amok and there may even be nanites that can inhabit a corpse to continue working despite inhospitable terrain.
Shipments of ice both water and ammonia still bombard Mars from the outer solar system in an attempt to get the atmosphere just right.
Maybe there was an ancient race that lived on Mars before and maybe some of their technology will turn up.

Exosquad ( the genetically engineered workers meant to terraform mars turn on humanity )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exosquad

[Omen]

Setting:

A swarming legion of alien craft that progress their way across the galaxy at sublight speeds, consuming raw resources of one solar system after another destroying everything in their path.  FTL civilizations find them virtually indestructable or so numerous that they are overwhelming, only contained by their slow sublight speeds often taking 5-20 years to move from solar system to solar system bringing annihilation upon the way.

The alien craft are actually giant biospheres requiring massive amounts of resources to maintain themselves.  Inside each craft lies an artificial earth like 'Valley' populated by several races that can in turn travel to other biospheres through teleportation devices.  They have long since lost their knowledge of the artificial world they live in and are limited by the seemingly unscalable 'mountains' that line each 'valley'.  A ruling theocracy is maintained on each 'Valley' of this artificial world network, who maintain the machinery in secret with ancient rituals and practices they no longer know the meaning of.  Sometimes a valley disappears ( having been destroyed in the space fleet by some means or another ) and is never heard from again, their teleportation network just simply no longer working.

The valleys  themselves are paradises with several rivers running through them from a towering waterfall that finds itself looming over the temples the ruling theocracy maintains.  The valley floors are gently slopping plains with spots of forest that provide a wealth of food and resources for the civilizations with in.  The races inside are either the origianl builders of the ancient spacecraft or are evolved sub species left to their own devices after the ancient ones disappeared.   In either case, they are all unknowing of the destruction their great network of 'valley worlds' bring down upon those it consumes.

1. Races could be fantasy style, dwarves/elves/humans on the inside.
2. Could mix fantasy and science fiction
3. Psionics could replace 'magic'
4. Races on the valley worlds could actually be barbaric and violent, moving from one valley to another as they are either destroyed or damaged beyond repair.  Their valley skies would suddenly fall blacker then the blackest night, the suns and stars having dispapeared entirely.  The valleys could violently be rocked as the spacecraft itself takes damage on the exterior, driving the populations in terror or worst ( opening a hole to vaccum ).  Teleportation pads could lead to horrifically damaged worlds where the entire population has been sucked out of a gash that was 'repaired' by the ships autosystems.

[Artemis]

I really liked Exo-Squad, it was morally ambigious, dark gritty, had combat, had espionage.

[Rob]

Setting:

A swarming legion of alien craft that progress their way across the galaxy at sublight speeds, consuming raw resources of one solar system after another destroying everything in their path.  FTL civilizations find them virtually indestructable or so numerous that they are overwhelming, only contained by their slow sublight speeds often taking 5-20 years to move from solar system to solar system bringing annihilation upon the way.

The alien craft are actually giant biospheres requiring massive amounts of resources to maintain themselves.  Inside each craft lies an artificial earth like 'Valley' populated by several races that can in turn travel to other biospheres through teleportation devices.  They have long since lost their knowledge of the artificial world they live in and are limited by the seemingly unscalable 'mountains' that line each 'valley'.  A ruling theocracy is maintained on each 'Valley' of this artificial world network, who maintain the machinery in secret with ancient rituals and practices they no longer know the meaning of.  Sometimes a valley disappears ( having been destroyed in the space fleet by some means or another ) and is never heard from again, their teleportation network just simply no longer working.

The valleys  themselves are paradises with several rivers running through them from a towering waterfall that finds itself looming over the temples the ruling theocracy maintains.  The valley floors are gently slopping plains with spots of forest that provide a wealth of food and resources for the civilizations with in.  The races inside are either the origianl builders of the ancient spacecraft or are evolved sub species left to their own devices after the ancient ones disappeared.   In either case, they are all unknowing of the destruction their great network of 'valley worlds' bring down upon those it consumes.

1. Races could be fantasy style, dwarves/elves/humans on the inside.
2. Could mix fantasy and science fiction
3. Psionics could replace 'magic'
4. Races on the valley worlds could actually be barbaric and violent, moving from one valley to another as they are either destroyed or damaged beyond repair.  Their valley skies would suddenly fall blacker then the blackest night, the suns and stars having dispapeared entirely.  The valleys could violently be rocked as the spacecraft itself takes damage on the exterior, driving the populations in terror or worst ( opening a hole to vaccum ).  Teleportation pads could lead to horrifically damaged worlds where the entire population has been sucked out of a gash that was 'repaired' by the ships autosystems.

That is really cool, not sure if that would be something I could write but thats a game I'd like to check out

Setting: Terraformed Mars.  Probably about 70% complete.  Probably a couple hundred years in the future after the solar system gets exploited for resources. 
Dystopia comes from the idea that Mars was going to be a new Earth, but the corporations funding the terraforming have corrupted those ideals.  Most Martians have only limited access to knowledge and the really nice technology is in orbital habitats that they can't get to.  In order to survive and work on Mars, people are extensively modified both physically and genetically.  Even then the upper class corporate suits live in comfortable, environmentally controlled structures while the work force struggles. 
Genetic engineering to create a biosphere could run amok and there may even be nanites that can inhabit a corpse to continue working despite inhospitable terrain.
Shipments of ice both water and ammonia still bombard Mars from the outer solar system in an attempt to get the atmosphere just right.
Maybe there was an ancient race that lived on Mars before and maybe some of their technology will turn up.

I like that, but I'd be to tempted to focus on Mars and neglect Earth. But it is, something that we could even do if we decided to focus on Earth. Hint at Mars in the setting for awhile until we develop the Mars area as a full world too....

Exosquad ( the genetically engineered workers meant to terraform mars turn on humanity )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exosquad

I think this might be an issue we run across for anything we do. When trying to create an original media there will always be parallels drawn... even if they are unintentional *sigh*

[Omen]

Hmm, how about a machines take over the world type scenario ala Matrix ( without the virtual world ) and instead of annihilating us from existence, humanity is simply shoved aside.   The machines become sentient and view us as kin to the way we view pests or rodents, we do not necessarily exterminate pests unless they invade our private spaces and the same could apply to the machines.  Human civilization collapses as the machines take control of resources or simply push human civilization aside by force and humanity is forced back to a primitive life style in what wilds of earth still remain or even the detritus of civilization left behind.

1. The plot could involve a 'take back the earth' feel.
2. The machines could be viewed as gods, worshipped by humans reduced to a primitive cultural basis.
3. Time travel ( I hate time travel, humans can arrive to discover this horrific future )
4. Humans could still possess low level technology; combustible engines, light industrial capacity in comparison to the machines high energy physics tech, near perfect conductors, etc. etc.
5. Humans could be seeking a way off earth to escape the machines
6. Humans could attempt to communicate with the machines ( while having nothing substantial to offer ).
7. Players could be machines ( difficult )
8. Humans have evolved psionics, which the machines attempt to study but find elusive. *I like this one.

[Citizen Joe]

I like that, but I'd be to tempted to focus on Mars and neglect Earth. But it is, something that we could even do if we decided to focus on Earth. Hint at Mars in the setting for awhile until we develop the Mars area as a full world too....

Focusing on Mars was the point.  There was some complaining about how a Dark Future Earth would have issues with reality modifiying your gameworld.  By dumping to Mars, you can specifically state what is and is not available.  The corporate state can control the information.  In the end, the Martians don't know anything about Earth except what they've been told.  So if you extrapolate Earth future-history and technology, and then get it wrong, the in game Martians can simply write it off as Earthling propaganda.  It is even conceivable that Earth was destroyed but that is being kept secret.  It should be exceedingly hard to get off Mars, and even if you do, you probably wouldn't survive on another planet.  The corps might cast Earth in a Heavenly light as a reward for loyal service.  When people do retire, they would supposedly go back to Earth and live a great life on their retirement income... of course, once aboard ship and placed into hibernation for the trip, they are just spaced to save money from the pension fund.

But, ya, the point of Mars is that you can borrow from Earth and extrapolate without worrying about getting it 'wrong'.  Mars also has more exploration possibilities. 

[Omen]

The LHC ( Large Hardon Collider ) was officially tested ( with a single beam ) today and will commence actual high energy physics experiments within a couple months.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

Now, in complying with the standard demonization of science from an overly paranoid and largely uneducated populace I shall construct a fictional basis to take advantage of our worst fears!

1. LHC opens gate to hell.
     A. Do not use that typical mythological christian ethnocentric hell, use the Hindu hell instead!
2. The earth is instantly 'teleported' to another dimension, where inexplicably we do not cease to exist or are torn from our earthly coils of life.
     A. The dimension is one of a 'perception' becomes reality dimension, the shear # of people on earth that have a similar perception actually maintains the earths existence where normal physics would have eradicated everything.  Humans would of course fall into chaos as civilization collapses and other 'imagined' perceptions become reality.  In the christian dominated america, small towns could be haunted by demons and devils, while in the more spirit believing areas of the globe like africa and asia have 'ancestor spirits' made real.  Mythical asian dragons roam the earth with ancient jewish kabalah golems, powerful indian spirits, magic casting wiccans, and any number of creature dreamed up by a large enough populace based upon their delusions/beliefs.
3. The earth is slowly being consumed at the rate of 1-10 mile a day, expanding from a sphere where the collider was first built.  It is inexplicable, terrifying, and unstoppable.
     A. A globe of pure black just expands engulfing the planet slowly, the earth with a circumference of 25k and a diameter of 7.5k  miles will be consumed ( at 1 mile a day ) in 20 years or ( at 10 miles a day ) alittle over 2 years.  Civilization could collapse suddenly or slowly, the populcae consumed with terror of not knowing whats on the 'other side of the globe of darkness'.  People would flee en masse by any mode of transportation possible.  Countries would be forced to annihilate people attempting to flood across the oceans or bordering countries.  The game would be short lived 2-20 year period, but players could be individuals trying to escape, solve the problem of the globe, or simply go inside the globe to see what happens.  A game of apocolyptic surival in a world that will inescapably be annihilated.
     B. Things could emerge from the cube, monsters, changed humans, etc.
     C. The globe could be perfectly 'safe' on the other side.  The earth and all of its inhabitants simply transported to a mirror quantom universe that is exactly the same.
     D. Repeat games could take place anywhere, at any point, with anyone out of 6 billion people on earth.
     E. Zombies!  ( the globe expands 1 ft every 20 seconds at 1 mile a day or 10 ft every 20 seconds at 10 mile a day ) Zombies would have to be fast but they could infect people that escape the globes expanding wall.
     F. Globe could be limited in size, it could expand and retract.

Countless possibilities.

[Jeremy]

The dark future setting that i am Gming currently is set in a future world that is run similar to Shadowrun without magic. But i am pushing that fact that the reason why things are the way they are (both in the historic section of the world and the current state of the campaign world) is due to a interdimentional empire has slated the world for resources, and seeks to wipe out the inhabitants. This can open the game to a 'sliders' feel where the PC's attempt to protect earth from the empire or stall the inevitable takeover.

In my world the empire is made up of Orcs and goblinoids (no magic). immediately that gives the PC's a sense of what is in store for them.

Another dark future could be one where the survivors of humanity are the ones that crash landed on an alien planet. The earth was destroyed, ruined, or overrun by bugs. While the Humans use technology (and maybe psionics), this other race lives in harmony with the world around it, using magic or even living technologies. While there may have been some cooperative achievements between the two (creature like the warforged exist, a mix of technologies from both sides) the two races are so different in thinking that tensions very high. Add into the mix that what ever destroyed earth could be coming to this planet next.

[Jeremy]

Dark Future/ Dying earth:

After the end of the last great war (WW3) humanity has been consolidates into cramped  Sharn size cities. The effects of the last war are killing the earth slowly and the few remaining resources are vanishing.

Add into the mix; the remnants of genetic weapons still linger in the shadows. Werewolves, and Vampires (made from genetic manipulation) and various monsters and altered humans exist in the shadows of the cities, once made for the war and now abandoned. Living weapons abandoned by destroyed countries exist in the wilds. The feeling would be that while the PC's go about the game, they can see the end of humanity coming closer, it would be up to the the DM if the PC's can save it of not.