Nephilim's Requiem: The Game

Started by ZK, June 21, 2007, 11:09:11 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ZK

Hey all, I'm simply curious if this would gain any attention at all. It wouldn't or would happen in the city of Lyran [where the story is] or not. It'd use BESM 3rd Edition or so rules to allow combat to have some sort of progression. It'd star with three races, Humans, Byts and Nephilims [Awakened]. The setting would be the same as the story, a cyber/bio-punk setting under a totalitarian based government to help regulate life.

The players could have worked within one of the divisions of the government and found faults within it and set up a resistance.

As well, various other things do happen in the series that would happen within this game too. The awakening of the Nephilims and the granted "life" of the Byts to give players a choice as to play something else other then a human and not be a mindless machine.

Any takers? Questions?
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

kongming

*raises hand shyly*

Just one question. How much setting info do we need? Cuz... I know absolutely nothing. As in, not even what Nephilim's Requiem is.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

ZK

I'll be providing all the information on that accord that you need. Seeing as I am the author of the series. ^.^
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

kongming

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Creeper

You may count me in as well!

Perhaps our good friend Jimmy Fingers will make a return?
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

Muse

ZK, you have my attention.  :)  Please, tell us more. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

ZK

I've decided to host it in the city of Kibou, basically much like Lyran but in a far more advance state of decay. It is also owned by Rokujou Inc. and is located somewhere near where Kyoto Japan would be. It is far more a dystopia city then Lyran is, so punishment and authority is even more harsh. There are also far more crime and is home of multiple criminal organizations merged together to form one authority about, often paying off Rokujou Inc.' military business and even buying some of their aid to hold their grounds. The south-east quadrant was completely sealed off from the rest of the city due to a dangerous viral outbreak from the harsh realities of the outside world through an "accidental" leakage. The part of the city still has life, but it is usually made as a means of a prison for criminals and a fertile crescent of other dastardly deeds that would make the staunch citizens flinch in disgust.

The city is based more in an compass shape [eight points] over the cross design of Lyran. It isn't as large as Lyran is in width based on points, but it makes up with the multi-layers going to a surprising eight layers. Four above level, four underneath. The four underground are used primarily as industrial means and low rent, low priority homes for those who are poor.

Being another city owned by Rokujou Inc., it as well has introduced Nephilims within the system to go around with Byts. Only the military, private business above ground, wealthy and a few lucky individuals who came across one, actually owns a Nephilim.

Although the city is owned by the corporation, it still allows it to police itself with independent detective agencies and police forces as a part of a social experiment as well, is a bit more lenient of having children then Lyran [Lyran is primarily based on gene augmentation from two parents and born in a Symbiosis Womb Machina instead of actual conception between two adults.] given they have the proper authorization for child birth and ability to keep the child up. Accidents do happen although as they forgo the "serum" to keep them from being able to copulate and usually ends up with a heavy fine and the child is taken away and sent to a foster parent [although a few turn up missing within the seams and never heard from again].

Kibou as well has an active resistance as it seems the resistance against the corporation is multi-city based and have not been exterminated. Although the resistance have been nearly destroyed multiple times, it seems to come back just as strong as it was before.

Kibou is also a multi-ethnic based city, keeping to not just the Japanese, but immigrants from various other nations live there, boosting the languages required to two primaries. Japanese and English and thousands of other dialects and tongues from various other ethnicities.

As well, the Awakening although having started in Lyran has also happened here in Kibou. The "self aware" business between the Byt and Nephilim beings are kept more hushed and dealt with quickly with the detective force owned by the Rokujou Inc. to keep it on the down-low to keep from wide-spread panic that masses "play things and basically slaves" now have a free will of their own and often react violently to a harsh owner who used them merely as tools. A small portion of Nephilims and Byts work actively with the resistance against the city, often posing as mindless automotrons before going about their rounds and causing mayhem.

These various plot-hooks and other tidbits offers a lot for players to go with. I hope this helps with various other questions as to where the story and such takes place. It may not be in Lyran and does not possess SPE#3318, but it does give enough significance as the city finds life of it's own.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Creeper

Eeeeexcellent. I thinking of Re-inventing Jimmy Fingers as a sort of mobster (yakuza, whatever the crime family happens to be) lawyer, with a soft spot for broken or discarded Byts.
Is there at least the appearance of law, or is it a total fascist goverment type setting?
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

Creeper

#8
Also: what power level are you using, if you're going with BESM third edition.

Edit: And any Genre skill set?
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

kongming

Quote from: Creeper on June 21, 2007, 10:52:42 PM
Also: what power level are you using

IT'S OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

Creeper

WHAT NINETHOUSAND?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!

And shouldn't you be using splash attack?!
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

ZK

Haven't determined the numerical points yet, either it'll be 295 to 350. Somewhere within that area. As some attributes are not allowed [with specific types, for example, homo-psyches don't exist in regular humans]. But it will be using the Cyber/Bio-Punk Skill Set.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

MagicalPen

*eagerly awaits character creation*

My On and Offs
When the Ink Runs Dry

Looking/Available for New Games

ZK

#13
Since humans will basically be humans while Byts will be human-like, but obviously machines. And Nephilims will be human-like, but obviously a different species of sapien all together.

For example, Byts can sustain damage better and can be "Reincarnated" as their information can be copied and installed into another Byt and Nephilims have minor regeneration and a few other nifty abilities.

Humans although are allowed to have Sixth Sense and some other things. As well, reason to play human? More points and easier to access places Byts and Nephilims cannot.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

Um, I'm interested...but I don't know the system. I used to, but it's been years and all my resources seem to have vanished. Are you still looking for players and/or can help with that glitch in my interest?
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Muse

All right, I'd still like to know more about Nephlim, but could I perhaps play a human guy with some advanced cybertech in the style of the the Cyberpunk RPG.  Sleek, stylish, with all kinds of gadgets built into your arms and eyes and such? 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

ZK

Cybernetics are generally frowned upon in Nephilim, bioware is what is in the "in thing" when it comes to alteration, but it isn't a "hard" cyberpunk/biopunk setting like Shadowrun or Cyberpunk. Both are highly restricted in the cities albeit those who work for the Rokujou Inc. But it's highly unlikely for someone to get any enhancements otherwise, unless you're rather wealthy or go based on black market for sales. Now, for personal weaponry and such, it's much easier to obtain then hard body modifications.


N.R. is a mixture of Post Apoc and Biopunk. Mainly it's quite a bit after the fall and humanity has started rebuilding itself. Basically, take Fallout, but the majority of everyone lives in one of the Vaults. Body modification isn't needed, but enough weapons to fry something with a laser gun is.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

I like body modification. How far from the human baseline can a character reasonably go?
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

#19
Body modification as I said usually goes for those of a military or police force. Think of I, Robot type bit of replacement parts. As for "body mods" as I said, it's generally frowned upon unnecessarily adjustments. As for other things, they tend to use Byts and Combat Enhanced Nephilims to do it.

Remember, there are three primary playable races.

Humans, Byts [Androids basically.] and Nephilims [Take humans and bump them up a notch with special abilities and such]

In other words, you must have a damn good reason to get body augmentation on the cyber-level. And for combative/illegal Bioware.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

What kind of special abilities can a Nephilim have? What kind of bioware is possible for a human to get his hands on, and don't think about probable when you answer that question; I'm not going to let a literaturical challenge like "a damn good reason" stand between me and something interesting. At the very least amputations, genetic defects, and rich friends can make for a framework of such a rationale. I want to get a feel for what is possible before I decide on what I want. I tend towards strange characters with secrets, so something like Alternate Form attribute as a way to hide abilities IC would work very, very well for me.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

#21
There would be no need for Alternate form as none of the modifications are obvious unless purposely done that way. A lot of Attributes are not allowed in this game, as it is more gritty then I can shoot energy beams out of my eyes and launch a rocket out of my arm. Body Modification is down low, as nearly no one does it, as I said, without a good reason.

Humans are well, primarily humans. Byts come in different models with different abilities from combat advantages [like say, weapon in your body to ingrained night vision and stealth] whilst Nephilims are basically living bioware. As they're able to regenerate wounds, have quicker reflexes and are able to use Low Level Psionics. While as for humans, they're primarily that. Humans. Reliant upon their own native abilities, Items and Weapons.

Weaponized body modifications for humans are restricted to military usage and are highly illegal for anyone else to have. They can be bought on the black market for quite a lot of money, but it's rarely done. The only real benefits you can get from body modifications from a regular standpoint is a nice replacement part with more strength, resilience and cannot break as easy as your human body one can. If you want to go about with fake arms and legs and say be a martial artist, you can.


As for strange characters, try being a Nephilim. They're already Marked -3 and have an Ism against them for being "different" from a general society stand-point. Many awakened Nephilims either try to hide their identity, try to be human or revel in their other-worldliness.


In a simple response. Humanity is near extinct, why would you want to go away from your humanity by modifying your body to be more -alien- to the structure of humanity?
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Muse

I'm looking at the idea of some rich man's personal Nephlim, custom tailored to be a submissive slave girl and bodyguard (or even special agent) who upon awakening leaves him to join the rebellion but is still possessed of submissive tendencies and wishes to find a human (either gender) of worthy character to serve. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Ryvaken

Quote from: Z.K. on June 23, 2007, 11:47:07 AMIn a simple response. Humanity is near extinct, why would you want to go away from your humanity by modifying your body to be more -alien- to the structure of humanity?
In a simple answer, because humanity is a state of the mind, not the body. Because that state of mind is predicated on the ability to adapt, to survive, to invent and use tools in any situation. Because pragmatism says that if something can be made better, then it should be made better.

But, you've got my brain skipping gears. A lot of my interest in this game is dead, but there are a few synapses adding to a different concept. How's nanotechnology and cybernetics in this world?
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

Hence why humans do not copulate, are grown in vats and are regulated by the Corporation. Aside from Kibou in a primary, as it is giving an experiment as to allowing copulation between humans. [Sex is not outlawed per-se, but copulation is].

Nano-technology is in the high, as it's used to produce "citizens", to augment genetics on a direct thread to produce Nephilims and to make bioware so readily available, making transplants a thing of the past [unless it was of a really rare blood-type].

As for cybernetics, they're mainly used as usable prosthetics to replace irreplaceable limbs and bone structures in the body. Military applications do exist, but usually on those who were damaged in combat, who really wish to keep fighting and do sign the notice that they will no longer be considered "free" as they have weaponized gear hardwired into their bodies.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

That tells me that it's possible. Not the idea that I was considering, but perhaps something more interesting. OK, I think I have a design in my head. Nanotech in the high and sapient robots means a limited application grey-goo scenario is not entirely beyond rationale. I'm thinking I want to make Helios. Or, rather, Daedalus. I never liked Icarus that much, but Daedalus is another story entirely.

I'm going to assume that you have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm considering a character, a Byt I suppose, with nanotech components allowing the creation and recreation of non-eutectic materials to form the macroscale body. Such a character would have considerable control over his appearance. That would be either a Dynamic Power or, for a cheaper and more limited option, a series of Alternate Forms and Identities, reflecting a limited number of programmed forms. Elasticity, Regeneration, possibly Size Change, and Swarm are also key abilities. Any remaining points would likely go into features or combat abilities. Stats would be heavy on the soul and mind, lower on the body.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

While that is all fine and dandy, I see problems in it already. A fully weaponized Byt with those sort of capabilities would be owned purely by the Government and would be on far Bleeding Edge in technology. Nanotech has more of a biological and medical usage in NR. If you were to make a Byt with that and then went Awakened and rogue, you'd be a power-house that would have no equal which would make it kind of pointless to have any other players.

Technology takes a back-drop and isn't a main focus of the NR series. Al La Blade Runner and Ergo Proxy respectfully. While in Ergo Proxy one of the main characters was quite powerful and had nifty abilities, the key factor was that he wasn't human and he wanted to be it. Internal conflict of what he was and what he wanted to become.

The series uses technology as a back-drop and a plot device, not as a key component to the story to be used actively, it's a passive part. Out of the scope of all the players.

Thus saying, abilities and such that Byts, Nephilims and Humans have will be low grade at start and progress forward.

Story and Intrigue are the key components of this series, not how many people you can kill before you get hurt, if at all.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

#27
Actually this character is better suited for stealth and recon, not combat. It would be an experimental unit which may or may not mean cutting edge -- the right defects could easily make it more of a hack-job.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

Still, nanotechnology in NR is mainly focused on organic material as opposed to synthetics of any sort. Regardless of the abilities on either stealth or combat, that Byt is far too weaponized to be considered a PC. It's far too powerful to be a starting character.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

Ok...considering there isn't a single weapon in the design I label that as a confusing analysis but you're the boss.

My original idea was to use a similar nanotech augmentation on a human host, granting regeneration and a degree of control over appearance -- skin, hair, simple tissues like fat, enough control on the bones to alter his appearance but not enough to, say, grow an extra arm or something. This idea has the advantage of being limited to an organic shell rather than pure technology, but has the disadvantage of incorporating nanomechanical processes into a human body. Your statement seems to indicate that such an idea is more plausible, however.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

It'd be more suited for a Nephilim then a human as their genetics permit such rapid transformation to the whole of the body more readily then a human does. As they already have regeneration as it is from their genetics. Byts are always "robot" centric in design, they always have a distinguishing mark [even in their closest companion model designs] that separate them from humans and keeps them from being accidentally thought of as a human.

As for weaponizing. I don't mean as in having offensive abilities, but abilities that can be considered a nuisance to the government if they do not have control of. Fighting a Byt with body armor and energy weapons is much easier then trying to track one down that can assume the forms of another human.

Nephilims on the other hand, considering that they are new, have different capabilities, including a few things they're finding now, like psionic abilities. All are low key at first, but are capable of growing potentially powerful. Nephilims have a bigger and stronger chance of gaining unique abilities that around your specifications then a human or a Byt would.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

OK, then I guess I need to learn about the Nephilim. Because right now all I know is that they have a biological regenerative capability and psionic powers, the latter of which is strike one against that race.
In creativity, meaning.

Creeper

Dammit, now I have a bajillion ideas. Would my mob-lawyer idea still work? Or were you looking for resistance-oriented characters?

Edit: Also, do bytes have to be completely mechanical? Or are they allowed some living parts?
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

ZK

Byts are all completely mechanical and synthetic for those who have "life-like" features and are companion models.

Some factions, mainly that of the dying Yakuza [near completely gone] do aid the Resistance while being able to keep up with their usual rackets, although they seem to be as they were when they first originated before falling into the world of pure organized crime.


So if you were "mob" related, the Yakuza would be the place to be a part of. Awakened Companion Model Byts do have sensors and other things and when they Awaken, they do feel pain, pleasure and what naught.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Creeper

Yesss... a high-priced Yakuza lawyer! How is the plot going to be handled? Is it individual plotlines, or will all the PC's be thrown together?

Boo on complete androids. Feels a bit too much like masturbation to me. Ah well, that's what illegal technology is for!
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

ZK

*chuckles* Heh, why do you think Nephilims were made? Not just for their other applications. ^_~ They're complete Androids and robots. They have "flesh" well, the companion models. It's cultivated like real flesh, but it doesn't bleed. And yes, it's possible for a companion model to orgasm, just when they're Awakened. They do it because they find a release, it's no longer a program. ^.^
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

*poke* Nephilims were made? You have approached the smallest part of my capacity to be confused. Few people manage to get that far. Commendable. Could you give some background on what, exactly, these nonhuman races are?
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

Nephilims were made in the same sense a human of a regular regulated city would be. But with genetic alteration and modification in the embryos and actual human genome structure. Traits were written into the coding which made them "naturally" prone to certain traits. As well, were docile due to the fact of the removal of certain enzymes were left out of the process. The first Nephilim was actually created by a mistake with "relic" technology combined with the new age biological nano-technology. Nephilims are a basically a byproduct of a mistake that the organization decided to simply profit off of due to the "citizens" it produced were more like well bred slaves.


As to what the relic technology and how the procedure happened, that's left to the "unknown" as it's used as a plot device in my actual written series. The end of it, actually shows what it is all about.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Creeper

Yeah, but the 8 year old in me also kinda wanted 'Terminator' style body guards. Like Arnold. Man that was an awesome scene where he cuts his arm off to show the mechanically goodness inside.

Still, the reasoning makes sense from a societal standpoint. If you want to control the amount of cybernetic enhancements in society, you're not going to put parts in your servants that could possibly be harvested then adapted for human use. A genetically engineered organ would probably be even harder to steal and adapt to a human.

That doesn't mean there aren't a few crackpots and criminals trying anyways, rught?
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

ZK

*chuckles* I see, well weaponized Nephilims are basically like Evil T-1000 in a sense, well, given on what form of special ability they take that is.

As for the other statement. Humans were -vastly- advanced in the past as they were in the current time in the series. Far superior...a tasteful hint.

As with various other things, cyberwear tends to be rejected by living hosts easier then it does "dead" ones. Bioware is easer to obtain and has a better usage. Sure, not saying you can't replace a limb or so, but, more non-human adjustments tend to work better with a "living" body and not a human. That's basically the type of Byt you'd be looking for, but I wouldn't use them as they've been mainly discontinued, considered horrific and such.

Basically, they are what the Strogg are in the Quake series.

But that gives me an idea of a nice antagonist. :D
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

...that's bad. I was close to having a workable character, but at this point the concerns I have about this setting have advanced to the flashing red lights and unpleasant klaxon-like noises stage.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

Hrm, if you've read the lexicon, well, growing lexicon it should have helped some.

To clear up some concerns. It's simply this, the world was devastated to nearly being completely uninhabitable for an experiment gone awry that was suppose to aid the earth. They failed at countless times escaping [as historians will tell you the official notice] and the domed and underground cities were built. Having lost a lot of technology in their efforts, they focused primarily on life support and hence advanced in biomechanics and nanotechnology as a whole.

Time line goes as this.

Our Time -----> Humanity advanced in technology ------> Planetary Conditions Worsen -----> Solution thought to be found -------> Apposed Solution Backfired, New Dark Age ----> Grey Area [Supposedly Lost Records]------> Current Age.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Creeper

Just looked up Stroggs and hey, I approve. I'm on board for when you start this thing.
Ons and Offs, yo: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=4370.0

Too tired to post Wednesday night. Posts on Thursday!

Ryvaken

Great. Everything that didn't make sense in IW with precious little of what did. Now, what the heck is a strogg...oh lord that's your idea of cybernetics? I think I'm going to bail out now. No wonder you thought a strategic application of technology was overpowered; screwdriver beats hammer every time.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

#44
No, it's not my idea of cybernetics, it's my idea of what happens when you weaponize cybernetics in Nephilim's Requiem. Replacement parts can be done, but when you add weapon systems and other things to it, the body tends to reject it unless the host was under a lot of augmentation and becomes far less human then before. Known as recycled soldiers.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

Rejection is absurd. Assuming nerve-computer integration is used to control prosthetics -- not far fetched considering there are successful experiments in doing exactly that now -- any functions of the implant can be utilized by simple force of will, no different from commanding a muscle. The mind is incredibly adaptive in this regard -- control is not an issue.

As for autoimmune response, the precepts of genetic engineering allow for complete control over such issues. Simplest solution is to wipe out the immune system. No immune system, no rejection. You're putting machines into the body already, and you have the nanotech to alter human bodies, so creating the robotic equivalent of white blood cells and antibodies is trivial. You build the things out of carbon and iron, easily obtained from the blood stream, and power them off the metabolism. The augmented human has different dietary requirements than the rest of the population and has one of the most powerful regenerative and immune systems possible.

So the only real question is structural support. If you're putting rocket launchers on your back, you deserve to look like an idiot. It's a lot more effective to alter the dermal layer with carbon plates and add a semiautomatic handgun into the forearm behind a trick wrist. It doesn't take much to make an agent rather than a soldier with all the technology you've devised, so the only question is why it seems like none of it is used.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

Not to explain myself and ruin a lot, but they're using technology they have little to no knowledge of. As it was there before they were. A lot has happened in the gray period of time that no one really recalls. As if a lapse in history happened between those x' numbers of years. In primarily of things, it's simple as this. There is no demand for that sort of body modification with the readily available Byts to use it.

Nephilims on the other hand, cannot use cybernetics or bio-tech at all, their body rejects it regardless of the measures. As they do exist, you need to have quite a lot of influence and money to fund it. And forget about getting it installed on the black market. They may might be able to steal it for you, but getting it in you is an adventure of it's own. Now, the only thing that is really readily available is prosthetic replacements. Black market variations would possible have stronger limbs, perhaps something as you'd state, a secret compartment or perhaps electrified attacks, but nothing completely drastic.

Someone could run faster, kick you across the room and electrocute you with a punch, but no shape-shifting or shooting energy bolts out of their hands. As modifications as it is is far and few between unless necessary [as they're expensive regardless, unless on the police force or military, it's in the pension to get replacement parts.

As for other things, having such parts is considered a rather strong social stigma, sure you may have Byts and Nephilims as servants, but now you want to be one too? Type attitude.

But, some things don't work like they do in other games. If I wanted a hard cyber/bio punk type game, I'd run Shadowrun or Cyberpunk 202X.

The genre that NR would fall under would be a mixture of Post-Apoc, Cyber/Bio Punk, Mystery and Horror.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

That development of technology only exists if someone made it exist. You have humans using machines they don't understand to reproduce and humans concerned about the purity of the human condition. It's a contradiction. It is only maintainable by an outside force. Now, that could set the stage for an interesting RP, but only if there is room to play with the limits of what is possible. Instead, you've given bizarre restrictions and a massive amount of largely conflicting information to the point where I'm not entirely sure that you're not making it up as you go along. A few examples.

Alternate form is unnecessary as modifications are subtle unless designed not to be. Modifications carry significant social stigma. If they aren't noticeable, how do they generate stigma?
Nephilim are best for unusual concepts, but they can't be modified.
Humans are grown using genetic manipulation, but the knowledge of how to manipulate genes is lost. The gene pool continually shrinks, genetic defects appear in random mutations, everyone dies.
The lack of demand for body modification. That in and of itself tells me that you aren't thinking this through. With all the steroid abuse in professional athletes, all the cultures that involve tattoos, scars, piercings, all the mythology and ritual around making the body stronger by any means possible, and you honestly think a viable method of human modification would have no interest?

I dunno. Maybe these things need to exist for this kind of world. I figure you would have not made the choices you made unless you were sure they fit into what you were trying to make, and I can respect that. But, unless everything in this post registers as a genuine error, oversight, or misunderstanding of some kind, it's not a world I want to RP in. Which is a shame, since there really are similarities to the absolute best games I have ever played.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

#48
I'm not honestly going to bother to explain the entirety of it as it would ruin the entirety to the plot of the whole series as it is. But you are looking over various portions. There are contradictions in the world, PURPOSEFUL contradictions that the characters will come to disagree with as some of the characters have already done in their backgrounds.

I'm tired of this debate over a setting in a series that I've designed.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

Ryvaken

It's not a debate. Never has been. You could call it an interrogation, a lecture, an exploratory discussion. A debate assumes that two people have their opinions and try to convince the other to change his mind. My premise in this conversation has been to learn as much as I can about this setting to determine whether or not it is one I would enjoy playing. My latest posts have been geared towards explaining why I believe it is not an enjoyable prospect for a simple reason. Half of what you say confuses me, and that tells me that there is missing information, which could radically alter my analysis. There is enough here that I'm going to regret the decision not to join this game, but I believe I would come to regret joining it more. I wish you success and happiness, farewell.
In creativity, meaning.

ZK

It's completed on paper. Sad part is, I haven't revised it fully and published it on the net, so far the first two parts of the prelude is up.

The basic premise in the series is of two major themes: Discovery and Hope. Mainly it's about people who question the contradictions, the differences and way and rebel against it after they find out the truth and tend to be mortified when they figure it all out. As well, the Awakening is a series of random events [not in just Byts and Nephilims] but in also humans too as to what is really going on.

Not to really spoil the series, but Rokujou Inc. and The Collective are rather vast and highly influential, in truth, all of the members of the higher offices are in fact Awakened. They employ the "infected" [aka Byts and Nephilims who Awakened to their higher status and gained a soul in retrospect] as their own agents to go against the others.

While they seem to be trying to "keep peace" and other things, they're basically doing one thing. Controlling humanity. How they sleep, how they eat, what they can wear, who they sleep with and so on. The Resistance is basically those who "awaken" from their zombified slumber and try to get to the bottom of it, without being completely quelled in their attempts. The series focuses mainly on a former Resistance Member and an Awakened Nephilim as they get down to the bottom of what is really going on in their city and their world.

As with the previous statements involving modifications and such, regular body modification [piercings, tattoos, limb prosthetics, and organ replacements] are all allowed in moderation for various reasons for a "delusion" of a free life whilst the other forms are a bit harder to control and are mainly used for military applications only and are rare and few between at that. Another reason for this is that they're relearning a lot of old technology and replicating it with their own as they discover facets of life. Now the last part, no citizen but a few suspecting Resistant members actually know. Humans generally in the series act as if they're a part of the corporation themselves, living by their rules and never questioning authority. But as stated once again, the Resistance "awakened" to the truths and are rebelling against it, using any means necessary to get out their message.

Relics of the past are still "alien" to them until modification, from advanced cybernetic enhancements to that of the strange "Corpse Soldiers" as I stated previously. As well, with the previous statements, the city is vastly regulated as it would seem, although Kibou has more freedom then Lyran did, so some things are a bit more lax, as is arms dealing on the black market and some modifications to prosthetic parts are available too. Aside from the usual sex trade and so on.

As for some good things to relate to. Take Blade Runner, Ergo Proxy anime series and now that I think of it, Equilibrium and THX-1138 on the latter parts of how the city is ran. More of a softer version of the latter with the ability to have emotions in the former.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

ZK

And we have a winner here! You're quite bright, there Josh. You were able to analyze and assess the background information and paradigm of the setting with relative ease. I was thinking of Logan's Run as an inspiration, but I left it out of suggestion, but I should have added it as it was quite a bit of a classic as Blade Runner was a cult classic.

And the players portray the new element, those who see against the authority and the truth of the world and it's entirety and rebel against it.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

ZK

Well, I trust the story-basis of behind the scenes and I know the other players will not meta-game this knowledge. But in this world, the actual truth of the survivors of the cataclysm that nearly destroyed all life was in the low thousands at best. The majority of humanity was spread thin between two constructs within the gray era. The first attempt was an obvious failure as their escape to another planet came up short with limited resources, manpower and other facilities that space could not always provide. Scrapping that project, the corporation started on another project. Known as the "Seed". Essentially what this was, is a series of self enclosed habitats where humanity can flourish and go on their daily life.


[Gray Period: Classified To Citizens]

But, along the lines, the remaining developers went mad in their design, instead of building a new safe haven, they built a series of self replicating machines which the rest of the "real" humanity could lord over and control the rest of the world like ants in an ant colony [See God-Complex]. The breeding procedure was first a few failures as a few remaining survivors [of lower class standing] were used under harsh breeding campaigns and other grotesque mockeries in an attempt to extend life [Hence the coming of the Corpse Soldier, not really a live being, but they provided how sick the human mind can be and used these "living" soldiers to fight for boredom and over other small corporations that remained.].

The group themselves with discovery [and madness] found a strain, of hidden potential. Basically a pandora's box to even to them today, that unlocked the potential for psionics. They did succeed in some form, but the recipients with the gene therapy ended up eighty percent of the time going completely insane. But that didn't stop them, but all of including them in the populous as a whole. Breeding them for their own gains and then interbreeding with them to create the race stronger. Soon there was a war between corporations where the corporations fought over rights of this new discovery and Rokujou Inc. ended up the victor after cannibalizing other remaining corporations. Now with this new knowledge and pandora's box still being peeked into, they found ways to create other life-forms and how to keep other traits at bay, keeping the spoils for themselves.

Over the course of selective breeding, even amongst themselves they finally figured out all they needed to know to replicate human traits and breed people without the usage of copulation. Eight women were chosen and hard-wired into central hubs at the center of the development center to give constant birth ever so often of these genetically augmented people. Thus created the self sustaining cities that birthed the first "Adam and Eve" of the new age while the corporation stayed in the background as the "new government" to aid life into. As with all of this hidden potential and pushed aside, the first Nephilim was born out of accident. SPE#3318-76SERA. She was a special case as her genetics caused her to have memory lapses of another being that was written in the code via "error" [no one knows how it happened, fate perhaps decided to intervene]. She was kept largely in captivity and used for intense experimentation in the city of Lyran, developing her latent psionic skills and apparent inability to die, only seeming to reincarnate. Seeing as to profit over this new discovery, they made new models based off of the original for profit amongst their new pawns and to see if Nephilims were going to be the next stage in humanity.

[End Gray Period]

As for people born free, they're all submitted and a part to the drudgery that all citizens [both high and low] go through, but the seeds of discord was interwoven within their genetics as a part of a failsafe that the corporation could not overwrite or completely take out, only suppress. So various individuals will show traits of moderate to light inherent fault and self-will, but once one completely finds an error in it's current set paradigm, it will completely awaken as a babe finds the difference between reality and fantasy as it matures. This is set over all of the creations, human, Byt and Nephilim.

As for cross-breeding between humans and Nephilims, it has yet to be successful at all, as the genetics in the Nephilim do not accept the seed or fertilize the egg in the right way resulting in grotesque mutations, stillborns and failed births. The only Nephilim capable of breeding with humans was SPE#3318-76SERA, which created her child ZIV in the process.

Now for the span of life, Nephilim life is vastly longer then humans and they have just been introduced En Masse, at the end of the written series, Sera is close to eight hundred years, now she was the longest lived and have produced various other results, in other sense, she is the living Goddess of her race as a whole. [As well, resulting in a lot of the original members of the corporation leaving their ancestors to rule and as well, losing a lot of information in the process of how exactly the relic devices work fully.]


Now on for the facet of humanity between the drones and the Resistance. The notice between the two are apparent and the corporation tries it's best to cull any uprising at any cost, from bribes to eventual assassination squads. As with humanity as a whole, they're seen as the proverbial bogey-man and urban legends. Things the corporation tell you of if you're a naughty child when you grow up. In reality, the only people who live in reality are those who are part of the Rokujou Inc. The Collective and The Resistance.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

ZK

Eight Females were used in the Lyran project. There are eighteen in Kibou. Gestation periods are increased as the women are more now machine and biomechanical devices then woman. They can produce 1-3 children per three months period.

But there are errors like you've stated. Hence why open copulation was permitted [within reason and experimentation] in Kibou to stock it's people still. As for spirit of all things, Byts were the first edition of servant androids touched up a notch, I left out their creation as Byts are older then the city itself, predating themselves on Relic technology.

As for creations awakening. Nature, fate or whatever you want to categorize it, -loves- change. ^.^
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

ZK

Take your time, you can always make a character later.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

ZK

Not to say a "I told you so" but this game has to go on hold for a few days. My Assistant Manager just put in her two weeks notice and my Third Key was arrested at work yesterday. So yeah, I have a lot of work days now.
On's/Off's --- Game Reviews

"Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may judge what is sane."

kongming

Third Key? What's that? Ooh! Ooh! And arrested for what? *ear grows*
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.

Ons/Offs:
https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=9536.msg338515

MagicalPen

I wont be able to post this weekend, nor most of next week since i am MOVING big time. Monday and Tuesday Morning (July 1st and 2nd) will be the last oppurtunities i will get to post. Just FYI.

My On and Offs
When the Ink Runs Dry

Looking/Available for New Games