Pyres of Vam » sci-fi http://www.pyresofvam.com Roleplaying, ramblings and other good stuff Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:59:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Campaign Setting: Power of Youth http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/campaign-settings/campaign-setting-power-of-youth/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/campaign-settings/campaign-setting-power-of-youth/#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:15:26 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2431 Here's an outline of another campaign setting I've been working on. Feel free to use and alter it as you wish. If you do use it or have some ideas about it, I'd love to hear them.
It is said that the spark is in all of us, yet by the end of puberty it is gone. It is not known why, but children have a strong connection to the power of the spark. It flows in them in ways still not fully understood by adults. Very young children use the spark sporadically, for play and their own simple purposes, without thought. As children grow older, they begin to understand their powers better, using them consciously and with more control. Around age 10 for girls and 12 for boys, Transition begins. Children undergo many physical and psychological changes during this stage and it is when their spark is at is peak, very powerful and unpredictable. Transition is a stressful and strange time for children and many lose control of their magic as the power flares and fluctuates, burning brightly before it is snuffed out entirely. Girls usually complete the Transition by ages 15-17, while boys usually complete it by ages 16-18. After this, the spark is dead forever. Because adults are unable to harness magic, children are highly valued for their abilities. Many children do not utilise the spark effectively and are more dangerous to themselves than others, or are merely an annoyance. However, children of particular talent and power are recruited into harsh military programs to perfect their control over the spark and harden them into tools of war. Children are taught from a young age that fighting for their faction is the highest honour and the greatest deed that one could hope for. Propaganda floods the schools, homes and streets, and armies recruit children as young as 8 to train to fight their horrendous battles. ]]> Here’s an outline of another campaign setting I’ve been working on. Feel free to use and alter it as you wish. If you do use it or have some ideas about it, I’d love to hear them.

It is said that the spark is in all of us, yet by the end of puberty it is gone. It is not known why, but children have a strong connection to the power of the spark. It flows in them in ways still not fully understood by adults.

Very young children use the spark sporadically, for play and their own simple purposes, without thought. As children grow older, they begin to understand their powers better, using them consciously and with more control. Around age 10 for girls and 12 for boys, Transition begins.

Children undergo many physical and psychological changes during this stage and it is when their spark is at is peak, very powerful and unpredictable.

Transition is a stressful and strange time for children and many lose control of their magic as the power flares and fluctuates, burning brightly before it is snuffed out entirely. Girls usually complete the Transition by ages 15-17, while boys usually complete it by ages 16-18. After this, the spark is dead forever.

Because adults are unable to harness magic, children are highly valued for their abilities. Many children do not utilise the spark effectively and are more dangerous to themselves than others, or are merely an annoyance. However, children of particular talent and power are recruited into harsh military programs to perfect their control over the spark and harden them into tools of war. Children are taught from a young age that fighting for their faction is the highest honour and the greatest deed that one could hope for. Propaganda floods the schools, homes and streets, and armies recruit children as young as 8 to train to fight their horrendous battles.

Every year, new drugs are trialled in attempts to keep children young and keep their spark alive for as long as possible. Experiments are conducted upon children’s brains, leaving many permanently damaged or worse, in attempts to unlock the secrets of the spark. Some believe that it is the mental state of children that is the key to their power, and so they experiment on the mentally disabled as an alternative route to the answers they seek.

Schools are hotbeds of propaganda but some children catch on or have different ideas and sow the seeds of rebellion. Such children meet in secret after classes to discuss what the adults are really up to, what the war is all about, how they are developing in their talents, and what they will do to avoid being recruited. Groups of children roam adult cities and towns as rebels, vigilantes or criminals, using their powers however they see fit.

Rumour has it that there are hidden towns out in the wilderness populated entirely by children. Gangs of teenagers rule these child towns and the children live however they can free from the control of adults, but left to their own devices to learn about the radical changes they are going through. All the while, they must deal with the normal trials and tribulations of puberty – sexuality, friendship, bullying, and growing up – as well as the great unstable power that they wield, its consequences and the reality of life after the Transition, when their power fades and they find themselves as young adults in a world that considers them past their use-by-date.

Inspiration: Ender’s Game, Lord of the Flies, Dark Angel, Neon Genesis Evangelion

]]> http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/campaign-settings/campaign-setting-power-of-youth/feed/ 0 Tweets of Doom for the week ending 2010-11-14 http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-11-14/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-11-14/#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2010 09:58:13 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2247 This is a compilation of this week's Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
  • Double rainbow! OMG! http://yfrog.com/evr88yj
  • I managed to do 623 words at lunch today. That'll do. I'm still almost two days ahead. Now time for #pathfinder and Chinese!
  • This http://bit.ly/d4A1sI made me investigate ICONS then this http://bit.ly/a6iLnb and the currently half-price PDF made me buy it #rpg
    • This is a compilation of this week’s Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
    • Double rainbow! OMG! http://yfrog.com/evr88yj
    • I managed to do 623 words at lunch today. That’ll do. I’m still almost two days ahead. Now time for #pathfinder and Chinese!
    • This http://bit.ly/d4A1sI made me investigate ICONS then this http://bit.ly/a6iLnb and the currently half-price PDF made me buy it #rpg
    • 16,750 words so far. Only 220 today. Also busy the last few nights. I’ll get back into the regular 2000 words per day tomorrow #nanowrimo
    • I really loved the outtake at the end of Ep 7 of JourneyQuest. How would your fantasy PCs react to seeing an aeroplane? http://bit.ly/cuKv2n
    • 18,831 so far! Back on top of the game! I’m thinking things are moving a little slow, but the MC is almost in the thick of things #nanowrimo
    • RT @greatwolf So, what’s up with Showdown? I answer this question here: http://tinyurl.com/38e5pou
    • Just read Play Unsafe by @grahamwalmsley in one enjoyable sitting. There’s some good advice in there and some nice little improv tricks #rpg
    • No words today or yesterday, but just planned out the basic outline of the rest of the story. Tomorrow’s Goal: 6,000 words. #nanowrimo
    • OMG… I made Cthulhu in Doodle Devil! That’s awesome! I love how the result of a combo of two elements can tell little story sometimes, too
    • MISSION SUCCESSFUL! 8,578 words today! Bringing me up to a total of 27,409 – enough for Monday and Tuesday. Awesome! #nanowrimo
    • It was definitely a good move to spend some time planning out my story a bit more. It made me excited again and got me on a roll. #nanowrimo
    • I think it also helps that it’s raining today. It always makes me feel creative. I think I have water elemental ancestry in there somewhere.
    • @grahamwalmsley Inspired me to run an improv game for my wife with platforms. She was a cyborg psychologist on a space elevator. Good times.
    • Download and play the finalist games for Game Chef 2010 http://gamechef.wordpress.com/2010-playoff-rules/ #rpg
    ]]>     http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-11-14/feed/ 0 Tweets of Doom for the week ending 2010-10-31 http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-31/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-31/#comments Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:54:20 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2210 This is a compilation of this week's Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
    • Pledge to back #HumanContact and get an exclusive #ApocalypseWorld character playbook: the Quarantine! Best offer ever! http://bit.ly/c7slqj
    • New Pyres Post: Free Exclusive Apocalypse World Character Playbook http://wp.me/pS7pB-zx
    • RT @DriveThruRPG DriveThruRPG Doctors Without Borders Flood Relief for Pakistan $25 for over $700 in RPG items - http://bit.ly/d2kyxD
    • So, my estranged Internet has finally returned to me... but for how long?
      • This is a compilation of this week’s Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
      • Pledge to back #HumanContact and get an exclusive #ApocalypseWorld character playbook: the Quarantine! Best offer ever! http://bit.ly/c7slqj
      • New Pyres Post: Free Exclusive Apocalypse World Character Playbook http://wp.me/pS7pB-zx
      • RT @DriveThruRPG DriveThruRPG Doctors Without Borders Flood Relief for Pakistan $25 for over $700 in RPG items – http://bit.ly/d2kyxD
      • So, my estranged Internet has finally returned to me… but for how long?
      • Finished the Dalish Curse. Good fun. Best parts were the ones my wife made up herself. She is officially a GM now! So proud! #rpg #love
      • Adventure Gaming Engine (AGE) from #DragonAge #RPG is pretty good. Thought Dragon Die was unnecessary, turns out it’s cool. PS Stunts rock!
      • I promise a reskinning post really soon! I’ve tweeted it, it can’t be untwet. And so it will be.
      • Also, played a good game of #pathfinder last night. Evil bards are my favourite baddies :) Except plague druids and rich intellectuals.
      • I know I’m late, but check out the iPod/Phone to-do list app that makes your life an #rpg: http://www.rexbox.co.uk/epicwin/ EPIC WIN!
      • Pip is even better than I realised (it’s improved from the initial app): fudge dice, colours, lockable dice and more! http://bit.ly/amkKeo
      • Okay, last shout-out: Evernote http://www.evernote.com/ Excellent app for the GM on the go, for out-of-the-blue ideas and mini-worldbuilding
      • Finally got my 77 coins in Echo Bazaar. Now just need to uncrazy myself. #ebz
      • Machine of Death: A collection of stories about people who know how they will die http://amzn.to/9MZwkQ Buy it Oct 26! http://bit.ly/bBdOX7
      • #ebz Purportedly the cats of the city know a secret or two. The common tabbies and gingers can co… http://fallenlondon.com/c/370703
      • Check out the pilot for the first made-for-torrent series, #PioneerOne: http://vodo.net/pioneerone
      • Last day to sign up for #NaNoWriMo. 50,000 words in 30 days. Quantity trumps quality. No Plot? No Problem! Join at http://www.nanowrimo.org/
      • Also don’t forget to get a #NaNoWriMo calendar wallpaper http://bit.ly/bevhTT and for Windows users try out #Scrivener http://bit.ly/c3KEeW
      • Ugh… I’m sick :( Head feels like it’s gonna implode. Worst timing too, as I start NaNoWriMo and also try to generate some blog content.
      ]]>       http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-31/feed/ 0 Free Exclusive Apocalypse World Character Playbook http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/free-exclusive-apocalypse-world-character-playbook/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/free-exclusive-apocalypse-world-character-playbook/#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:17:49 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2203 This is too good to not post. You should be backing Joshua A.C. Newman’s Human Contact, a hard science fiction roleplaying game about what happens when a rationalist, free, democratic society explores its universe and finds others that have different values than it has. It deals with those interactions on both a personal and societal level. It will be awesome, but there is now another incredibly cool reason to back the project.

      Any current backers and anyone else who backs the project before time runs out in 18 days will receive a free exclusive Apocalypse World character playbook written by Vincent Baker. The character is called the Quarantine. Here’s a run-down:

      The Quarantine has been locked away, suspended in ignorance of the outside world, throughout the Apocalypse. But his ignorance is nothing compared to what he knows: he remembers what came before and knows what caused it.

      Not that it will help him.

      If that doesn’t sound good, then you probably haven’t read Apocalypse World. If it does sound good, get over to Kickstarter and back Human Contact. It’s shaping up to be a great game and now you get a cool supplement for another great game, too. You can’t lose.

      ]]>       http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/free-exclusive-apocalypse-world-character-playbook/feed/ 0       Tweets of Doom for the week ending 2010-10-10 http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-10/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-10/#comments Sun, 10 Oct 2010 11:00:33 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2193 This is a compilation of this week's Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
      • @trollitc a new international D&D contest! Win 4 new D&D books, anywhere in the world! http://bit.ly/danddessentials #RPG
      • New Pyres Post: Troll in the Corner - International D&D Contest http://wp.me/pS7pB-zc
      • Kickstarter - Cursed Pirate Girl: "Our Generation's Alice in Wonderland" Jeremy Bastian comic book: http://kck.st/aFB7TF Only 6 days left!
        • This is a compilation of this week’s Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
        ]]>         http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-10/feed/ 0 Tweets of Doom for the week ending 2010-10-03 http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-03/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-03/#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:53:44 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=2162 This is a compilation of this week's Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
        • Wife has become the #minecraft master. Sky stairs now have spiral waterfall that takes you down from highest square to sea level. Proud :)
        • #Dexter and salt-and-pepper chicken fingers... Life is good!
        • #RibbonDrive arrived today http://bit.ly/9zAavr Looks sweet! Reading while listening to the included CD. Thanks @mcdaldno :)
          • This is a compilation of this week’s Tweets of Doom. For more, check us out and follow us on Twitter.
          ]]>           http://www.pyresofvam.com/odds-ends/tweets-of-doom/tweets-of-doom-for-the-week-ending-2010-10-03/feed/ 0 VERV http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/verv/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/verv/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:46:51 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=1009

          VERV was not always the solar system-uniting virtual reality device that it is today, able to connect users on distant worlds and give a better life to users on worlds where terraforming did not take hold. VERV has come a long way since its humble beginnings as the Virtual Engineering Rig (VER). It was developed to allow engineers to construct virtual models of buildings, ships, weapons and so on and then perform stress tests and other evaluations of the models under realistic conditions.

          VERV was not always the solar system-uniting virtual reality device that it is today, able to connect users on distant worlds and give a better life to users on worlds where terraforming did not take hold. VERV has come a long way since its humble beginnings as the Virtual Engineering Rig (VER). It was developed to allow engineers to construct virtual models of buildings, ships, weapons and so on and then perform stress tests and other evaluations of the models under realistic conditions.

          Another function of VER allowed users to manipulate robotic limbs as if they were the user’s own, allowing remote repair, exploration and even fine manipulation of deadly substances. This function also found use in a medical offshoot of VER – labelled the Virtual Examination Rig. Doctors were able to virtually explore the body and conduct surgery using a virtual overlay showing the locations of arteries, organs, tumours and so on.

          As VER became more popular and widespread, independent engineers and members of the public acquired VER systems for their own use. The input and modifications made by these individuals and groups brought VER to an unofficial second version (VERII). VERII moved from augmented reality towards fully embracing virtual reality. VERII featured the ever-popular Otherworld virtual reality “game” where members could participate in virtual combat, trade with others and interact over long distances.

          VER’s developers hired the creators of Otherworld and developed an official third version of the hardware and software (VERIII). VERIII proved very successful and by the time VERVI was released, technology had progressed by leaps and bounds. VERV, the current and publically proclaimed “final” version of the VER hardware is now able to accept a vast range of software, and even allows users to create software from scratch. It connects users to Otherworld and contains fully modular applications which even the most inexperienced user can easily understand the basics of.

          VERV is said to be the “final” version of VER because the hardware is now complete and realised, with incredible flexibility for additional modules, so much so that there is unlikely a need for a new overhaul of the system. Additionally, as VERV can now accept any software, its potential appears endless.

          Indeed, this potential is being realised by more and more people every day, from children to the elderly. It has united the system, but also presents a new venue for the dark side of humanity. Teenagers see and participate in all manner of vices in illegal v-clubs, hackers spy on individuals, groups and governments, shady deals are made in the anonymity of black boxes, and terrorists rub virtual shoulders with politicians.

          VERV has laid the groundwork and it is now up to humanity to decide what to do with it.

          ]]>           http://www.pyresofvam.com/concoctions/verv/feed/ 0           Diaspora: PDF Release http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/diaspora/ http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/diaspora/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:32:46 +0000 Mockingbard http://www.pyresofvam.com/?p=817

          Diaspora is a hard science-fiction roleplaying game (using the FATE system). I’ve never run or played any science-fiction roleplaying games, but I’ve heard that Diaspora is well worth a look. It’s now available in PDF form for less than $15, so there’s no excuse not to check it out. You can grab Diaspora from RPGNow or Lulu (where you can also get it in print).

          ]]>           http://www.pyresofvam.com/announcements/diaspora/feed/ 0