[Excerpt] Metaplot Options
almost 4 years ago – Mon, May 25, 2020 at 11:28:21 AM

• /Final Chapter Preview

Hey there, Agents & Operatives,

Our final preview before we share the last Kickstarter Manuscript update for Backers, this time from Unit 8, The Parallax View which takes a deep dive into metaplot options, discussing every significant Future Fate that affects the Technocratic Union. Options are provided for incorporating, ignoring, or subverting these metaplot options, and entire new metaplot options are introduced.

A Matter of Perspective: The Technocratic Union

The Technocracy has faced countless enemies throughout its existence. From the beginnings of Mage, the Technocratic Union has stood in opposition to the raw chaos of the Marauders, the vile corruption and decay of the Nephandi, and the throwback superstitions of the Council of Nine Mystick Traditions. From the earliest editions, the Technocracy were cast as opponents of all things supernatural, placing them in an inherently antagonistic relationship with the rest of the World of Darkness.

At times the Technocratic Union is portrayed as an omniscient oppressor, choking the world with its insistence on conformity, unity, and reason. In this role, the Technocracy is the enemy of imagination, a monolithic killer of dreams, and the gatekeeper of the status quo. Technocrats presented through this lens are cold, calculating, and terrifying masters of reality using mind control, propaganda, biological warfare, and state of the art violence to quell rebellion, crush their enemies, and promote their vision of Ascension.

Other times, the Conventions are depicted as the unsung heroes of a world on the brink of destruction. In this view, the Technocracy is the first, last, and only line of defense against a dozen apocalypses a day. Standing united in the face of every Reality Deviant you can imagine (and plenty you cannot comprehend), agents of the Technocratic Union perform the thankless task of saving humanity from threats that Should Not Be. Most people have no idea of the sacrifices being made by the brave operatives and Extraordinary Citizens standing on the Front Lines of a war for reality while the rest of us marry and reproduce, consume and conform, and go about the clueless and peaceful existence that Technocratic diligence grants to the Masses.

From yet another perspective, the Union is a cracking Monolith. Rotting from the inside and slowly crumbing beneath the weight of its own corruption, the Union is compromised. Conspiracies within the shadows of conspiracies twist the Technocracy from its lofty goals into a dark parody of itself. Humanity is going down the cosmic toilet and the self-proclaimed guardians of reason and rationality are being manipulated into hastening the trip. Hubris has given way to corruption and the whole damn thing is about to come down, taking the comforts of consensual reality with it.

The Truth?

So, which of these is true? What is the real face of the Technocracy? What motivates this group? What aims truly drive them behind the scenes?

Like anything in Mage, there is no simple answer.

Technocratic Engagements: Metaplot Options

Each of the following options present a particular view of the Technocracy, their enemies, the Masses, and the interaction between those elements. Below are broad overviews, story seeds, possible resolutions, and maybe an ending or two. Everything here is optional. Perhaps two or more of these options are true in your game. Most are not mutually exclusive and perhaps more than any other roleplaying game, Mage gives you a license to reshape truth to meet your needs.

The Council of Nine Mystick Traditions

For over 500 years, the Technocratic Union (and the Order of Reason that preceded it) has been defined as much by its most vocal opposition as by its own goals. Where the Technocracy has prized a quantifiable, predictable world, the Traditions have sought a world in which diversity, adaptability, and coexistence are of paramount importance. Both seek to shepherd the Masses to Ascension, but they have wildly different ideas about what that looks like. Ideas so different that they have been killing one another over them for five centuries.

The current relationship between the Council and the Technocracy can take on a number of forms within your game.

The Disparate Alliance

The Disparate Alliance is a new organization introduced in Mage 20. Comprised of old, familiar faces and offered as an alternative to the genocide against the Crafts allegedly performed by the Technocracy in the earliest days of the new millennium, the Disparate Alliance stands in opposition to both the Traditions and the Union. The “Who’s Holding Whose Strings” sidebar in Mage 20 does a pretty good job of illustrating the attitudes of the Disparate Alliance in relation to the Technocracy. Whether or not the Purge occurred is left up to the Storyteller, though it is highly recommended that if the Purge truly took place, one of the Fallen Technocracy options be employed – genocide is, after all, objectively evil.

The Disparate Alliance is likely to stand in opposition to the Technocracy no matter what. Hero or villain, the DA simply cannot reconcile its differences with the Technocracy or the Traditions. There is too much blood, the wounds are too deep and fresh, and the DA was formed based on mistrust of the other groups. The level of energy the Technocracy expends on this group should depend on the other metaplot options chosen. It is quite possible, for example, that a cell of Invictus agents might forge a bond with a DA cabal over the shared goal of purging the local Special Projects Division presence. Naturally, this allegiance, temporary as it may be, raises suspicion and alarm from other members of both factions.

The Marauders

While the Technocracy and the Traditions seek to build a better future, and the Nephandi aim to chuck the entire Tellurian into the metaphysical trash bin, the Marauders serve a very different purpose in the context of cosmic conflict. While a Marauder may have an individual goal (in fact, most do, even if those goals are buried beneath a generous helping of Quiet), the faction as a whole serves no master but raw, Wyld chaos; in a sense it does the Marauders a disservice to frame their position in the Ascension War through contrast with the other factions. Perhaps more than other mages, Marauders walk a lonely path toward their vision of Ascension. As the Marauder approaches greater insight and unleashes greater chaos, they become mired deeper in the sinkhole of their own Quiet until they can no longer function within the boundaries of consensus, as consensual reality can no longer hold them.

For more info ... much more! ... on possible metaplots and other options and suggestions, check in on Tuesday, when backers will get the full text of Chapter 7 and 8! That'll complete the Kickstarter manuscript previews and you'll be able to read the entire contents of the book before the end of the campaign when Kickstarter processes your payments and collects your funds.

• /End Preview
• /Begin Preparation for Grand Finale

#TechnocracyReloaded

#PossibleMetaplots

#FinalDays

FINAL WEEK: REWARD TIERS
almost 4 years ago – Sun, May 24, 2020 at 11:53:57 PM

Hello Agents & Operatives,

We're in the final week countdown of this Technocracy Reloaded kickstarter project-  it ends on Thursday, May 28th at 2:00 PM Eastern US Time - there's still time to recruit additional backers, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over the next 5 days to make sure that everyone has all of the information they need to support the project in the way that works best for them.

Review topics to cover over these final days:

• Reward Tiers
• Add-Ons 
• Stretch Goal Rewards 
• Final Checklist & Next Steps 

Whether you're backing your first project (thank you!) or a veteran of 100 Kickstarter campaigns, these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS that have been posted - the entire manuscript will be available to review before the campaign concludes).

BACKER REWARD TIERS

Like it says right at the top of the campaign page, we've come together to help create a beautiful Deluxe Edition of Technocracy Reloaded, a supplement for Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition. To borrow an analogy that I've used in past Kickstarter campaigns, this works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local PBS Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-HBO era): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.

Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.

 Welcome to the Union: Digital Only or Hardcover + PDF 

The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the Technocracy Reloaded book. The first decision you need to make in figuring out your reward tier is whether you want to receive a digital PDF version or if you want the deluxe hardcover book.

PDF ONLY REWARD TIERS:

• EXTRAORDINARY CITIZEN
• OPERATIVE
• DIGITAL ARCHIVIST

These are PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that seem to be ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library and be able to download at your leisure.

HARDCOVER+PDF REWARD TIERS:

• AGENT
• SUPERVISOR
• UPPER MANAGEMENT
• SYMPOSIUM PERSONNEL
• DELUXE ARCHIVIST
• Q DIVISION
• IVORY TOWER SCHOLAR
• MASTER
• CONTROL

These reward tiers include the traditionally-printed deluxe hardcover version of this book. That means the books are produced in a large print run at one time, and will have the best production values, from color clarity and appearance to binding and materials. In addition, these options also include the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

And, yeah, there's also the MANAGER Retail Tier if you're a pre-approved retail backer!

The only Reward Tier that does not include the PDF version of the book is the SYMPATHIZER tier. You should select this Reward Tier if you want to read the manuscript previews posted in the Backers-Only updates and wish to participate in the post-campaign Pledge Manager process but do not wish to commit to either a PDF or hardcover version of the final book at this time.

Again, to underline that: with the current uncertainty of the world and the limited ability to make long-term plans, the SYMPATHIZER tier will grant you backer participation in the post-campaign Pledge Manager, allowing you to upgrade your pledge tier and add additional rewards in the future, should your circumstances evolve. It's a good safety net for now, if you want to participate in this project but can't currently fully commit.

You'll note that the middle column - Access to Manuscript Previews - is included in ALL reward tiers. That's one of the perks of participating in this kickstarter campaign!

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS – All Reward Tiers include access to Backers-Only manuscript previews. With the exception of the final two chapters (which will be posted on Tuesday), I have posted the entire manuscript across multiple sections. You must be a kickstarter backer to access these previews, as the link will remain in a backers-only update post. The manuscript previews likely will not be available to those who pre-order the book at a later date.

Choosing Your Reward Tier

There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and parts of the manuscript were released. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.

WAIT! What about special reward tiers?!

Right! In addition to our "core" Reward Tiers, we've got another area for consideration. These are the Premium Rewards.

Multiple Copies

If you are backing for yourself and a friend (or just want a second copy for your collection), the SUPERVISOR Tier was designed for you.

And, if you are a retailer interested in making this available in your store, a special retailer tier, the MANAGER tier is open to you upon prior approval from Onyx Path (please email [email protected] prior to selecting this reward to confirm your status).

As noted on the main page of our campaign, shipping outside the US has gotten quite expensive. Splitting the shipping cost across two copies in a single shipment is one way to bring the cost per book down, if you're able to coordinate your backing and delivery with a friend.

Premium Reward Tiers

These special reward tiers offer some enhanced interaction with the setting, from submitting a name that will be used for a NPC incorporated into Technocracy lore, helping to design a device for Q Division, getting an insert signed by as many of the creative team as we can manage, playing in an online game with Travis that'll be streamed on Onyx Path's Twitch channel, or even the opportunity to submit reference photos and serve as an art model for an interior illustration.

These options are extremely limited. If you were interested in a premium reward tier that is completely accounted for, keep an eye on them during the final days of the campaign, as there is sometimes movement that opens them up as we approach the conclusion.

We also have a limited supply of deluxe hardcover copies of the Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition included in our DELUXE ARCHIVIST reward tier. Check each of the Reward Tier descriptions on the main campaign page for more details.

Summary

So, with all of that said - consider your Reward Tier selection. Are you backing to receive your copy of the PDF or hardcover version of Technocracy Reloaded? Did you jump on one of the limited premium reward options?

Make sure your Reward Tier matches what you're looking for - or, at least, covers most of what you're interested in. On Monday, we'll cover Add Ons and talk about how to tweak your Reward List to ensure you're getting anything that might be missing from your list.

And, with that, we progress with our program. Let's lock in our Reward Tiers and keep working towards growing the project so everyone has a chance to join in. DO NOT MISS OUT! And on to our final week and our campaign conclusion!

#TechnocracyReloaded

#Mage20

[Excerpt] Campaign Hooks
almost 4 years ago – Sun, May 24, 2020 at 11:53:37 PM

• /continue Unit 7 preview

Hello Agents & Operatives,

As we work toward our final manuscript preview release within this final week of our campaign, I'm get to share another section from Unit 7, which is all about advice and suggestions for the Storyteller. Today, we'll be looking at some Campaign Hook ideas from the chapter, which will be released in full to all backers next Tuesday - making the complete manuscript available for review before our campaign ends and Kickstarter collects any funds. 

Before we jump in, though, just a quick note on the schedule for these final days. I've got a bunch of updates coming that will be familiar to any backers who've participated in an Onyx Path project in the past few years - my basic review of the processes involved so that we're all on the same page.

Tomorrow (Saturday), I'll be posting an overview of the various Reward Tiers and how you can ensure you've selected the pledge tier that's appropriate for your needs and circumstances.

On Monday, I'll be covering Add On Rewards and providing an overview of changing your reward tier or total pledge amount to accommodate any tweaks you wish to make. This is a good one, because the Add On process can be confusing - it uses both Kickstarter and our post-campaign pledge manager to make it all work, so a bit of a multi-step process. Don't worry - I'll break it down before the end.

On the final day of our campaign, I'll provide a final checklist for review - things to ensure you've considered before Kickstarter closes the campaign and processes payments - as well as a note about the next steps and how I'll be managing the next phase of this project (spoiler: in BackerKit, with monthly updates to keep everyone in the loop).

So, before we get into all that boring James stuff, let's dig in to another preview from Chapter 7:

Campaign Hooks

Much like the frenetic web of a conspiracy theory, the smallest idea can spiral into an enormous, interconnected web of deceit, lies, cover-ups, and questionable schemes. Any time the simple gets convoluted, there’s opportunity for a story. While the Technocracy might prefer the straightforward route between two ideas, relying on Occam’s Razor to keep their worldview intact, it’s often in hindsight that they get to apply it, telling whatever story makes the most sense, regardless of the truth of the matter. Of course, for those on the inside, the details never quite fade from memory, but they might take on a hazy, dream-like quality. Did it really happen like that, or was it just the adrenaline? And those vivid flashes in dreams, those can’t be memories — right?

No matter what story gets fed to the public, the characters have to solve the problem first. The following scenarios are meant to serve as a jumping-off point, to either start a new chronicle or add on to an existing game.

Strange Bedfellows

For whatever reason — a greater enemy on the horizon, a curious but mutually beneficial blend of chaos and order, or just plain old human connection — Technocrats and Traditionalists have decided to (or been forced to) set aside their differing opinions on magic and work together. It’s an uncomfortable situation for both parties, to be sure, but necessary. Despite its oddities, it offers a distinct advantage against the antagonist; it’s not easy to prepare for the methodical and the unpredictable at the same time.

• Working together under pressure is one thing, but what happens when the threat is gone? Do you listen to orders to go back to fighting? Do you listen to orders to keep working together?
• The threat proves to be too large even for your combined forces, and you’re driven underground together. Cut off from your superiors while they regroup, you have to fight tooth and nail to survive.
• When all is said and done and the dust settles, it’s just your group. No managers giving orders, no supervisors checking in — as far as you can tell, the Union has been almost entirely removed from the city. Is rebuilding worth it? What do you say when someone higher up than you could ever imagine comes to call?

Wrongful Termination

Your superiors decides they cannot trust one (or all) of your group. For no reason you can determine, you’ve been Canceled. You have your personal resources — mostly equipment given to you by the Union, and unfortunately recognizable as such — and precious few friends willing to help you get out of dodge before the order can be carried out. The only problem is, you have no idea what you’ve done wrong. Do you stick around to clear your name? Start a life on the run? Break with the organization that has turned its back on you and join the other side?

• Your oldlife is still waiting for you — maybe not just like you left it, but it’s there. Do you go back and try to hide with your friends and family, knowing it might put them in danger?
• You’ve learned a few of the Technocracy’s tricks in your time serving them. You’ve got some dirt on your supervisor; do you use it against them directly, or go over their head and hope the order didn’t come down from above?
• You’re certain you’ve been framed, you just have to get enough evidence against your accuser. Is it worth racing against the clock and outwitting the powers that be to clear your name?

Something in the Water

You’re no stranger to the news of Awakenings and Enlightenment, and this isn’t even the tenth or twentieth time you’ve been sent out to make first contact with an individual struggling to control their newfound powers. What is strange is that it’s the tenth or twentieth time you’ve been sent out this month — and it’s not just your crew acting as welcome wagon; all the mid-level operatives seem to be run ragged lately trying to contain the surge of new mages. More and more are slipping through the cracks, and reality is struggling to keep up. Worse, the lack of information coming downstream makes you pretty sure that no one knows what’s going on.

• A secretive but hugely powerful group of vampires has been using the Masses to test how well Vitae carries power. The standing Prince, feeding off mages whenever possible, has been observing the effects of his blood on mortals, and watching how it tears the magical community apart.
• One of the Technocracy’s plans has backfired horrifically. Rather than breaking magic down to science and making it accessible, they’ve somehow done the opposite. The local Wi-Fi has never been stronger.
• As reality warps around the influx of mages, technology beings to deteriorate in an apparent trade-off. If there can be only one, how do you set things right for the Union?

More to come on Tuesday! In the meantime, remember to share your excitement and enthusiasm with your gamer friends and in your social media. We're in our final week, about to post the final section and have the complete manuscript up for review for all backers, and rushing toward the close of the campaign. Let's see if we can decipher another Stretch Goal or two and finish strong!

• /end preview
• /initiating close down sequence

#TechnocracyReloadedFINALWEEK

I said jump, down on jumpstart!
almost 4 years ago – Thu, May 21, 2020 at 04:20:16 AM

Hello Agents & Operatives!

We've achieved another Stretch Goal, launching a new batch of additional content for your game!

But first, we've added additional funds to the art budget to secure even more awesome art for the Technocracy Reloaded book! 

ACHIEVED! - At $152,000 in funding - Art Budget Increase: Additional funds will be allocated to the art budget for Technocracy Reloaded, allowing Onyx Path to include even more awesome art in this sourcebook.

And then, we added our next project: the Technocracy Reloaded Jumpstart PDF!

ACHIEVED! - At $155,000 in funding - Technocracy Reloaded Jumpstart, Phase One —Help us fund another supplement, featuring an introductory scenario that will launch your chronicle and get you started with the Technocratic Union. All backers receiving the Technocracy Reloaded PDF will automatically have the Jumpstart Scenario PDF added to their rewards list.

That puts our count at EIGHTEEN STRETCH GOALS achieved during the campaign so far - and we've still got one final week to go!

And where should we go for our 19th Stretch Goal: Jump Street! I mean, Jumpstart - Phase Two. Sorry, somewhere in my head is a 21 Jump Street pun, but since we're not quite to 21 Stretch Goals, we're somehow neighbors and it's clear the pandemic lockdown is affecting the terrible pun part of my brain.

So... Jumpstart!

At $159,000 in funding - Technocracy Reloaded Jumpstart, Phase Two —Help us fund a group of Ready-Made Player Characters to enable your group to join the chronicle instantly.

Turning an introductory scenario into a true ready-to-play package with some ready-to-go player characters! As with our Art Budget increase reward, this additional content will also allow us to add another two slots to the IVORY TOWER SCHOLAR premium reward tier, giving another few backers an opportunity to be a model for an interior illustration in one of the Mage projects we've unleashed. The additional spots will be added at Noon Eastern US Time the day following this Stretch Goal achievement, so if you've been hoping to get that premium tier, be ready.

At $162,000 in funding - Novella — A novella set in the world of Technocracy Reloaded will be written. All backers receiving the Technocracy Reloaded PDF will automatically have this added to their rewards list.

And after the Jumpstart, we're gonna get our story on, with a brand new Technocracy Reloaded short fiction piece! Previous Mage fiction has been award-winning stuff, so it'll be great to read a new tale set in this world.

Remember, everyone who joins in now will not only be able to share in the 18 Stretch Goals we've already unlocked, but will help unlock a 19th... and maybe 20th!... goal and additional content and rewards for all backers who have the Technocracy Reloaded PDF on their pledge tier rewards list. So, you're paying it backwards and forwards at the same time!

We're in our final week! Let's see if we can unlock one or two more goals as we bring this campaign in for a landing! There's still plenty of time and plenty more backers who are out there, ready to join, so don't forget to spread the word and invite them to check this project out before the end.

AND: Don't forget - we will have posted the entire preview manuscript before the campaign concludes so that you can dig into this project and make sure it's right for you before any payments are processed!

#TechnocracyReloaded

#FinalWeek

[Excerpt] Genre in a Technocracy-themed game
almost 4 years ago – Wed, May 20, 2020 at 07:40:24 AM

• /Concierge program initiating
• /guidance and suggestions

Hello Agents and Operatives,

Our preview today comes from Chapter 7 of the Technocracy Reloaded preview manuscript. This chapter, called Mission Control, is a guide to Storytelling for the Technocratic Union. A number of story seeds, tips and tricks are provided to ensure that the Storyteller can capture the feel of the Technocracy.

Today, I'll be sharing the advice and notes on running different genres within your game.

Genre

Generally, a loose set of elements and world-building rules, the genre of your game influences the action and the flavor of your game. The same simple concept can vary wildly between genres; the same fistfight might be an acrobatic duel over a ship’s deck in a pirate game, a drunken brawl in a smoky bar in a noir setting, or an after-dark rumble in an urban fantasy campaign. Genre informs the feel of the game, and how the characters feel in the world.

Solarpunk — Building a Better Future

Sometimes the easiest way to build a new world is to use the foundations of the one that came before. Learning from the mistakes of previous civilizations and forging a better path ahead is the governing principle of a solarpunk setting, and one well-suited to Technocratic ideals. Solarpunk technology leans toward environmentally friendly and sustainable innovation, often featuring elaborate and efficient machines cobbled together from the ruins and leftovers of a less-conscious society. Hydroponic gardens provide food and clean air for the masses, wind farms provide clean energy, waste is composted to fertilize fields or used to feed livestock. Nothing goes to waste, and everything is reused as often as possible. In such a setting, the Technocracy is less likely to be fringe group campaigning for their specific idea of a better world and is more likely to be a dominant group among mages.

Awakenings in such a setting come most often in inspired ways to reinvent existing technology, to make it more effective or more “green.” Long-standing projects of the Technocracy might include mag-lev railway systems between settlements, self-sustaining vertical gardens that double as fish hatcheries large enough to support entire communities, or solar banks efficient enough to power city-sized settlements.

Hallmarks of Solarpunk

• Hope
• Rebuilding
• Renewability
• Community

Weird West — Taming the Unknown

Reality gets tenuous in the sparsely-populated desert where boom towns build up around veins of gold (or stranger materials) and vanish just as quickly as they sprung up. Ghost towns are literal in this type of setting, runaway trains leap off their tracks and make their own path, and gunslingers are packing something a little more powerful than black powder. The Union usually plays the role of the sheriff in the weird west, instilling logic and order in an otherwise lawless wasteland — or trying to, at least. Reality Deviant populations are high, and even mundane mortals follow whatever rules they choose. In the face of chaos, with society a hair’s breadth from tipping over into insanity, you stand as the last bastion of order keeping everything in line. The Union seeks always to learn and convert when possible, rather than simply exterminate on sight, so while they are not particularly welcoming of indigenous ways, they are not as paranoid and xenophobic as many of the settlers accompanying them.

Hallmarks of the Weird West

• Guts Over Steel
• The Unknown at the Edge of Town
• The Mysterious Newcomer
• Peaceful Paranoia

Cyberpunk — Quelling the Rebellion

It’s the future the Technocracy has always dreamed of; reality stands stable, even with the incredible advancements of magic. Even the most far-fetched concepts are accepted as the products of science and technology; androids walk amongst the Masses, cybernetic augmentations are as common as cosmetic surgery, and no one bats an eye at holo-ads or hoverbikes. With the unprecedented levels of tech pervading society, the Technocracy also has unprecedented levels of observation. Reality Deviants have nowhere left to hide except in plain sight, trying their best to fit in with the Union’s idea of existence. Not a single Awakening occurs that the Technocracy doesn’t know about, and all new mages are indoctrinated to the ways of the Union. Of course, revolutionaries rise from regulations, and an underground movement has been gaining popularity. Resisting the constant surveillance and strictly enforced laws of reality, deviants and sympathetic mortals have started a grassroots movement to overthrow the powers that be. Whether or not they realize what the Technocracy is keeping at bay is a matter for debate, but their presence, rippling through subcultures and suburbs, is undeniable. While not everyone sees the Union’s rule as despotic, the movement is fast becoming and vocal minority that can’t be ignored.

Hallmarks of Cyberpunk

• Transhumanism and Augmentation
• Unchecked Innovation
• Society as a Well-Oiled Machine
• Chemical Escapism

Dystopian Sci-Fi — All of History at Once

What better way to learn than firsthand? Through impressive leaps in technology and unprecedented level of augmented reality, creatures of the past are brought to life with computer programs and hard light projections. Able to accurately simulate long-dead creatures for the first time, humanity’s understanding of ancient history progresses by leaps and bounds, re-writing some long-standing theories and confirming others. For a time, it was an academic golden age, with algorithms extrapolating to fill missing links and provide previously unimagined insight. The programs worked with hugely popular projections, and our understanding of the world expanded. Then came the bug in the code. The programming for harmless, autonomous hard-light projections crossed platforms to animatronic facsimiles, built to provide a true sense of mass and scale. Long-dead apex predators and megafauna suddenly came back to horrifying life, bolstered by their robotic bodies. With energy reserves to spare and no limitations programmed into their behavior, the horrific amalgam of mechanical engineering and animal instinct took researchers, citizens, and the Awakened by surprise.

Hallmarks of Dystopian Sci-Fi

• Hubris as Downfall
• Progress Sans Ethics
• Tyranny of Technology
• Out-of-Control Creations

We begin our final week countdown tomorrow! Let's keep on it and finish strong!

#TechnocracyReloaded

#OneWorld.OneTruth.OneOrder.ManyGenres

• /end communication routine
• /maintain social distancing parameters
• /stay safe
• /be well
• /persevere