Science Fiction in Shadowrun, How's it Work? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Switch to: Outline Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Tashiro]

I've introduced some elements of pop culture and science fiction in my game - including having an author releasing books as alternate history, 'what would the modern world be like without the Awakening?' But this has raised some questions...

In science fiction in Shadowrun - how is it handled? If a classic series is resurrected, how's it played out? For example, Doctor Who - would the Awakening be addressed in-series? Could he Regenerate as an Orc (or would the fanbase scream)? If they continued with a series like Star Trek, how would the Awakening be addressed?

Just a thought - pop culture is a part of civilization, it would be interesting to see what it is like in 2070, and how it would integrate with a changed world.

[Ixal]

Imo it would certainly be addressed by now if only to use metahuman actors and avoid trouble with metahuman rights group. Unless the makers are associated with pro human groups I don't see why anyone would take the risk.
Also, too utopian series would likely have been shut down. Star Trek with its moneyless economy? No corp would want to present a future like that.

[SpellBinder]

Star Trek is still possible, if you take the Dark Universe side and twist it some more to include technos, magicians, and such. The Enterprise would be the flagship of the CC, and each of the AAA megacorps would have their own fleets and interstellar territories and such.

I'd expect Doctor Who would be completely retconned from the beginning into a wholly new story to accommodate the awakening, and maybe even make the time lords full on magicians.

If you really want to dig around for it, you can look for the OP RPG Alternity system StarDrive universe. It's far future and far from utopian like Star Trek was, with many stellar nations including one that might qualify for AAAA status in the way it behaves.

[Belker]

Wash: "That sounds like science fiction."

Zoe: "You live in a spaceship, dear."

Wash: "So?"

[nezumi]

Science fiction is a reflection of modern concerns, fears, hopes, etc., placed in a future setting. So what are the concerns, fears, hopes, etc. of the Shadowrun universe authors and publishers? Since SR espouses the 'big corporations run everything' philosophy, we should assume that the big-name writers are going to be corporate workers, reflecting what corporations think people worry about (or should worry about); apocalyptic settings where the modern infrastructure leaves people even WORSE off, or prosaic settings where technological advancement has lead to fulfillment of the species (rather than of individual aspirations). I'm sure there are plenty more!

Non-mainstream writers will tell stories about individuals fighting against the machine, or surviving independently out in space.

Of course, you'll still have shows like Firefly if that makes money. But don't expect deep thought from it.

Regarding the awakening specifically, yes, Star Trek will still be around. That series continues to make money. They'll probably incorporate the Awakening by doing another reboot of the series. Doctor Who can incorporate it by just having it in new episodes. I don't expect Doctor Who to be an orc though. Doctor Who has been on the air for 50 years, on and off, and how many doctors have been anything EXCEPT white males? He might have a dwarf ladyfriend, just to give a nod that way, and I'm sure there's a hilarious episode with a troll who can hardly fit through the Tardis's door, but metahumans are an oppressed minority. Any nod to them is just that; a nod.

[CanRay]

In "Wolf and Raven", Wolf almost directly references Star Trek when he mentions the Feral side of himself thinking of it as "Shamans In Space" after offering to give him "Warp Speed".