Evolution of an Age, What's the next step? Options

[Crimson Jack]

This would be conjecture, but what direction do you see the SR world going through next? We've seen SURGE and new metavariants introduced. A smattering of new spells and metamagic. Do you forsee anything interesting happening to the magic of the sixth age in the years to come? Possible storylines that might come back into play that are eluded to in previous SR game modules?

[Voran]

I'm just amazed (and happy) they haven't delved into the whole boomers and hardsuits realm yet.

[Shadow]

Hopefully no more Anime themes...

I would expect that space is the next step. Perhaps a colony on the moon or Mars. The tech is already so advanced it is going to be hard for them to improve the current tech but it's possible. I would like to see another Cannon Companion and Man & Machine book as well.

[xizor]

hmm how about colones on the floor of the ocean near an underwater vent...
(don't remember if that has already happened to any degree or radian)

prehaps another try at a sealed biosphere
neat topic :D

[Voran]

I am a bit concerned that we're going to get into the realm of 'lasers for everybody!'.

In Canon Companion, there's already a laser pistol thats sorta like the lasergun (in my opinion) Governor Terminator used in "The 6th day". A pistol with a clip-like powerpack. And laser costs have dropped significantly since their debut in Street Sam Catalog.

[Grey]

Shadow: Ares already has a station on the moon.

xizor: There are already two underwater colonies, one is Proteus, but I don't recall who the other is made by.

[Crimson Jack]

A world event wouldn't be out of the question either. I could see something happening to the Native American nations possibly. Nations being annexed or corps trying to get too greedy and causing some more Great Ghost Dance style fallout. The native american theme isn't really touched upon any more too often. It's almost ignored... unless there's something going on in the extended novels.

[Shadow]

The last book I read, I forgot the title, had a couple of serious border wars going on between the natives in Canada and the US. It was the book about the super genetic clones, and the girl had MBW 3.

[Crimson Jack]

I know this topic has been talked about before, but it just seems like the Native Americans wouldn't be able to keep all that land forever.

[Shadow]

Well as long as they are unified they can....

Sound familiar?

[Grey]

Break out the blankets infected with small pox.

[A Clockwork Lime]

The only reason they were able to secure the land in the first place is because they had magic on their side, which at the time was completely new to the vast majority of the world. But that's changed since then, and it's a lot easier to defend against magic (there's no drain associated with Spell Defense, Reflecting, or Shielding) than it is to cast it, and hermetic elementals can be summoned well beforehand, with much more dedication and focus, than nature spirits to escort vehicles into hostile areas.

Sure, elementals may not have all the cool powers nature spirits do, but their superior physical combat abilities and especially if accompanied by watcher spirits (for either superior numbers or to counter shamanic watchers) can thrash any nature spirits they come into contact with... and they'll stick around for several days at a time, unlike nature spirits which have at most a 24 hour lifespan before their shamanics have to risk injury again to set up their defenses.

And considering the way the Amerinds have been treating Caucasians (which is exactly the way they were treated themselves), they shouldn't act all smug and ethically superior when the UCAS and other countries they've pissed off come marching home.

[Panzergeist]

More undersa and moon colonies, and a return to Mars. Assuming, of course, that corps and/or nations haven't already sent more people to mars and just not made it public. The timeline, and Dunkelzahn's will, both suggest that the US might have found evidence of an alien civilization on Mars. Also, I see the threat of the horros being publicized, and small incursions into Earth by them begining. The first generation of baby dragons whose eggs were lain after the awakening should be hatching soon. Magic will get more powerful over the next few decades, probably becoming able to do things it couldn't do at all before, like affect space-time. Cyberware and bioware will become cheaper, and the markup factor for alpha beta delta and cultured ware will decrease. Genetic engineering and nanoware will also become more common and have wider applications. There will be an increasing resentment towards corporations, and a growing movement worldwide to reduce their power and return to the old order in which nations had soveirgnty and corps didn't. Sentient non-metahumnas such as shapeshifters will rise up and form a nation of their own, unless existing governments grant them human rights in the near future. A larger portion of the population will be awakened. Cybermancy will get good enough that cyberzombies are worth the cost in some cases, though cybermancy will still have the same mental and spiritual side effects, and therefore be a really bad thing to have done to you. Finally, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I see some of North America rejoining the UCAS by 2100.

[Crimson Jack]

CAS/UCAS merger? Hmmm...

[Voran]

I also think there may be a shake up with the NAN down the line. When they came to power, they had the benefit of a unified cause and specific focus. Since they've split into their individual states, they seem to be conducting themselves independently, and in some ways, just as bad as the big business/big government system before them. They don't all get along with each other, and in some cases seem actively opposed. I don't think its likely they'd ever completely lose their hold, but I could see erosion of their control, or even further splintering of the existing NA nations into even smaller states.

[Smiley]

Rather than more future, i'd like to know about the PAST... like when The Big 'D', The Laughing Man, and co. are all talking, exactly what are they talking about? Yes, i know about Ancient History's website and it's really really good and informative, but i could use some full, specific, straight-from-the-dragon's-mouth, details. That includes Dunkelzahn's death, too.

[sidartha]

[Panzergeist]

One more thing. Mixing magic and technology in general will become more feasible. We'll see more mages with a little bit of ware, and it will become easier to use spells like increase cybered attribute, and heal/treat on people with lots of ware. Object resistance will decrease, making it easier, for instance, to powerbolt drones. I think we'll also see more kinds of enchanted items, including ones that can be used by mundanes. Also, I think there will be a wider range of things that enchanting can do, so magical items will have more than just a focus type and force. There will be more specific abilities, such as enchanted items that permanently have a sustained spell in them that doesn't have to be recast when the item is removed. I don't expect to see ultrapower items that can do anything like in D&D, but I do think magic will become more accessible. I do not expect to see mass production of magic items, however.

[Smiley]

[Dax]

As far as world shakeing events going down, I'd perfer to see the inevitable showdown that's going to crop up between the Peublo Corporate Council, the CAS, and Ghostwalker against Aztlan.

We've all seen the set up coming for a while now, and when the war does eventually break out. I pretty much see Aztlan getting hammered from all sides. The Trifecta of the PCC, CAS, and GW swooping down from the north, and Amazonia taking full advantage of that fact and slashing up from the south.

Aztlan seems to have this amazing ability to piss of the rest of the world to the point where they beat the Azzies to a pulp. Then the Azzies start building up again and the whole cycle repeats.

I'd alos like to see more stuff happening with Saito and his little mini country....and what the heck is with Tibet anyway? I wanna know how they got that uber ward!

[Kanada Ten]

[Smiley]

[Kanada Ten]

Bah, this is as pointless as the Adept vs Sammy debate.

This post has been edited by Kanada Ten: Mar 26 2004, 03:19 AM

[A Clockwork Lime]

[Smiley]

Data dragons. What can i say.