New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

When the Bough Broke

The first round of the Plague Wars were somewhat obvious. Vast numbers of people dropping dead was sort of a clue. The second round was probably inspired by old Zombie Movies. Plagues that turned the body's immune system against the brain. Violent insanity sometimes occured, but like most insanity, passivity was far more normal. The third round got subtle.

In case I didn't make it clear enough the world population in the scenario as written is less than one billion people. Social chaos and the collapse of international trade and communication contribute to uncertainty about the state of the world. Some natons the Europeans mostly, Canada, the USA (the Covid-19 crisis was a learning experience), Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea (North Korea no longer functionally exists, but China claims the land and has made it clear that S. Korea calling itself Korea is grounds for war), and Japan, have about mid-20th century populations.

The USA has built a sunscreen (see here) so global warming is being held in check. There have been serious improvements in energy generation technologies. Making fuel from algae is a commonplace and mature technology. Thorium power generation is also a mature technology and fusion is being to become commercially viable. But many poor nations still burn fossil fuels, pushing the CO2 levels higher. Risking the stability of the atmosphere.

Many of those nations still burning fossil fuels are demanding all their demands be met before they de-carbonize. Given that most of these nations are dictatorships, and dictators always need more money to secure their political control. As they get more money, they need more money, and the need never stops growing. No nation or group of nations could ever appease the appetites of dictators.

The USA has established several stable space habitats and there is a Mars colony researching terraforming. Many people want to get off-planet because they see Earth as doomed. So the competition for places is fierce and often bitter.

Although no one knows who came up with the plague weapons conspiracy theorists have had a field day. While the USA is by far the least logical choice for the plague generator (both the nature of our society in general and our ecconomy particularly renders the USA especially vunerable to bioweapons) still gets most of the accusattions. Still, many far weaker victems our also punished for crimes they had no reason or desire to commit. Xenophobia is itself a plague, and that plague grows in strength and depth.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

When the Bough Broke

The first round of the Plague Wars were somewhat obvious. Vast numbers of people dropping dead was sort of a clue. The second round was probably inspired by old Zombie Movies. Plagues that turned the body's immune system against the brain. Violent insanity sometimes occured, but like most insanity, passivity was far more normal. The third round got subtle.

Asia in this setting has taken a brutal blow. Making things worse is the endemic corruption in most Asian societies. The graft skimmed off of exo-womb projects means these nations are condemned to shrinking populations. The more democratic societies are doing better. But the ethnic conflicts in all Asian nations have led to terroism and revolt because of failure of most exo-womb programs to be fair or even fake the appearence of fairness. Indonesia, which in this setting is a stable democracy with low levels of corruption by even Western standards, is a rare bright spot outside of northeastern Asia. Taiwan and South Korea are both doing well. Japan is stable but stagnant xenophobia and isolationist.

Africa is mainly an empty wasteland with a few advanced cities near the coasts. These cities work on maintaining the continents mines using telepresence rigs to do the mining work. There are constant rumors of guerilla groups or lost tribes in the wilderness.

The Pacific Islands other than Hawaii and New Zealand are mostly empty. Their populations were generally wiped out early in the plague wars. The USA leads a group that says there are still descendents of the Pacific islanders around. The islands belong to them. China challenges this and proclaims their ownership of the now deserted islands. War has come close several times.

[Luke Bunyip]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

The USA leads a group that says there are still desendents of the Pacific islanders around. The islands belong to them. China challeges this and proclaims their ownership of the now deserted islands. War has come close several times.

New Zealand has a sizable Pacific Islander population. Not sure if this fits with your setting concept.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

New Zealand has a sizable Pacific Islander population. Not sure if this fits with your setting concept.

They're very much with the USA on this point. But New Zealand has only around three million people and they aren't in a place to challenge/fight China. As New Zealand has title to most of the disputed islands (they got them as trust territories from the League of Nations) they were always going to be in the thick of this fight.

[Astromancer]

One well detailed sci fi setting many people ignore is the implied post-apocolyptic setting referred to in the vignettes in GURPS:Bio-Tech.

It's basically Gama World with the serial numbers filed off and comedy and satire dumped for Gothick Horror and Action film violence. As the Transhuman Space books detail the setting about 30 years eariler many resources and potential threats are already detailed as is the solar system in the setting.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

When the Bough Broke

The first round of the Plague Wars were somewhat obvious. Vast numbers of people dropping dead was sort of a clue. The second round was probably inspired by old Zombie Movies. Plagues that turned the body's immune system against the brain. Violent insanity sometimes occured, but like most insanity, passivity was far more normal. The third round got subtle.

Russia in this setting is in ruins. The Eastern half of Siberia is mainly under Chinese control, the exceptions are Chukota and Kamchatka which the USA has occupied to keep the Chinese farther away. Where the USA is apologetic China is furiously proclaiming their right to reclaim teratories stolen from them by Russia. From the Urals to the Chinese occupied zone is an area of weakening control to pure anarchy. Russia, west of the Urals is chaos vaguely hidden by repression. Most serious analystis assume that Russia started the Plague wars, the great fear is that Russia still has some monstrous tricks up their sleeves.

China is agressive and paranoid, this makes them dangerous. Fearful of colapse, China is grabing for control of territory and resources to sustain her industry and prosperity. Given the massive corruption of the Chinese government and the stagnant Chinese econnomy, these are forlorn hopes.

The project to control the waters of the Tibetan Plateau (See here for details) which has been ongoing for decades, is bringing new chaos to southern Asia. China has cut off the rivers that millions of people count on for water and diverted the flow towards themselves. The possibility of a nuclear war is terrifying the planet.

[AlexanderHowl]

What kept Russia from glassing China when the Chinese invaded its territory?

[Anders]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

What kept Russia from glassing China when the Chinese invaded its territory?

Sneaky buggers that they are, the Chinese had developed a missile shield in secret. A few missiles got through - Chinese population is down to 900 millions - but most of the destruction was averted. The problem is that the missile shield was designed as a one-off for budget reasons - they are no longer shielded. And a lot of people are angry at them.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

What kept Russia from glassing China when the Chinese invaded its territory?

At this point most people assume that either Russia isn't together enough to do that (ie the rockets and nukes are too deteriorated to be effective) or they're to afraid of the backlash. As neither explanation sits well with the planet's intellgence agents, they're desperate to know more.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Anders

Sneaky buggers that they are, the Chinese had developed a missile shield in secret. A few missiles got through - Chinese population is down to 900 millions - but most of the destruction was averted. The problem is that the missile shield was designed as a one-off for budget reasons - they are no longer shielded. And a lot of people are angry at them.

Ooh that's a fun idea. Fits with an out of control embittered China nicely. Consider that idea stolen oh witty one.