This is a world created by MacCallister of RPOL.net. He also created M's Matrix, and he is working on 'The Infinite Plane', and thinking about how neat a world based on 'The Mist' would be. I've helped him a bit as have some of my other players.
Anyone with suggestions is welcome to pitch in.
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AKA 'Only the Insects Survive' AKA whatever Mac wants to call it.
So what I was thinking was a slightly futuristic/modern setting however, due to a world-wide epidemic, humans were wiped cleanly from the earth, well almost cleanly. However during those last days, everyone who could do anything at all to find a cure, was. So of course, an entymology lab, backburnered their own research in order to contribute their own resources. These included some rudimentary nanotech, meant for genesplicing. So this doctor worked really hard at making a bacteria which could eat the virus, but was safe for humans. So in this effort, he combines some human DNA with the bacterial colonies, so that the bacteria would recognize human cells. Unfortunately he never saw this bacterial colony completed. Due to his efforts though the colony began to flourish.
Because of the mix of DNA, the bacteria began to develope in a similar fashion to full size humans. The twist is that since bacteria live, reproduce and die so quickly....it only takes a few years for the bacteria to accomplish what humanity took several thousand years to accomplish. Civilization. This was mostly due to the tools that had been left behind for them. The nanotech, the computers, the lab environment, and lots of DNA. Instead of developing like humans did, that is along a fire based society, these little creatures developed towards a biological base of existance. The components of cells, being easily modified and grown, were like humans and cars. So it was that they began to modify insects, which there were no shortage of in the labs, to carry their cities and transport them from one place to another, at first only in the lab. Then there was the discovery of 'Outside', that is, some brave souls found that there was a huge and vast landscape outside. With even more insects, and now...plants as well. The environment outside was usually fatal for any of the bacterium-men, unless they donned protective suits harvested from the chitin of some of their insects. But slowly this divided the society, splitting them between the outsiders, and the lab.
The Verser ports into this world as one of these bacterium, humanoid in shape and looks, but also kind of bubbly looking and he would get the chance to ride in a Dragonfly-pirate vessel.
The insect vessels use sound, visual cues and pheremones to communicate instead of radio. They would most often be grown with some kind of weapon, like pincers or claws. Some might have 'Troop Injectors' and poison stingers. Theres lots more I could go on about, just pick up a book and take a look at the insects and their arsenals.
So thats my idea, theres so much that could be done in a setting like that, and it would be awesome to play in. Let me know what you think! Any critique would be welcomed.
~McCallister
...The insect vessels use sound, visual cues and pheremones to communicate instead of radio. They would most often be grown with some kind of weapon, like pincers or claws. Some might have 'Troop Injectors' and poison stingers. Theres lots more I could go on about, just pick up a book and take a look at the insects and their arsenals....
1. Chitin Armor: (a Tech weapon): This is created by harvesting from insects in a hazardous operation since wild insects have harder shells for unknown reasons.: Density of Armor is 1@5: Coverage is Full, closed plate with a flexible underlayer at joints, and an open face for officers at 60%. Coverage is full face mask for men, and otherwise as for officers with 65% coverage.
2. Pincers (A Body weapon): Damaging: NOT Ranged: DR +10: RF 2
3. Claws (A Body Weapon): Damaging: NOT Ranged: DR -10: RF 3
4. Troop Injectors (neat idea): An Injector Needle Use skill is rolled vs. the Piloting skill of the other vehicle, or against the Agility of the targetted insect. Relative Success/5 determines how many are able to cross over per turn. An attempt at Disengagement requires a Difficult skill roll opposed by a Simple skill check.
5. Poison Stingers (A Body weapon): Damaging (Stinger): Not Ranged: Secondary Damage Rider Dangerous (Poison): RF 1
6. Dragonfly ships
7. Pheromone communication system
8. Sonic communication system--This is easy. Just like us, basically.
You'd probably have Dependent Symbionts as well. Aphids as liquid producers, and ants as guard dogs and donkeys....and these might be engineered to give them useful features like 1)Will not attack boss who smells like 'so'. 2) Higher intelligence.
Special Skills:
1. Superleap (due to inverse square law you can lift many times your weight.)
2. Utilize surface tension (to walk on water, or to break through it)
GM’s Note: This World uses a Donna’s Door. The reigning deity will continuously attack to cause a shrink to size until this is achieved, or until the person becomes infected with “Wipeoutâ€, and is thus heading toward death. If he survives “Wipeout†then the deity leaves him alone. At this point, he finds an empty world with dried bones at the car seats, and houses with trees growing through the roofs.
