New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

[Astromancer]

This idea follows several of the tropes I use alot but I think it goes somewhere new.

Basically, the middle and late 21st century is an ongoing crisis. The 2035-2060 period is often called the Plague War (although the evidence for biowarfare is ambiguous, but definitely interesting). Climate change forced mass migrations in Eurasia and Africa. Smaller scale problems created vast horrors too. The Water Wars between Egypt and Ethiopia ultimately caused a famine of amazing brutality and duration in Egypt.

The USA, relatively isolated from most of the worst of the crisis was the only source of regular aid and relief. Less because other nations were unwilling than that they were unable.

The setting of this campaign is Egypt. This is a fairly dangerous cyberpunk/biopunk Egypt. The Arab countries have been in serious crisis since the 2030s and the present year is 2114.

The population of Egypt is lower now than it was in the 17th century AD. The Nile Delta, always the agricultural powerhouse of Egypt, is ruined. Between being cut off from fresh supplies of silt for a century and a half, because of the Aswan dam, the delta is seriously eroded. The eighteen inch rise in world sea levels, which would have been brutal under normal circumstances, and is greatly magnified by the erosion, has totally salinated the delta. Egypt is dependent on food hand-outs from nations they despise.

The PCs are working for cultural NGOs. They are here to rescue the surviving antiquities and monuments. They also hope to arrange lucrative deals for the local people to be paid to preserve their heritage sites and ancient treasures. However the PCs must navigate an unstable cyberpunk environment filled with smugglers, fanatics, violent radicals, local mafias, and new age mystics.

Sometimes the PCs will have to track down stolen art treasures, other times they'll need to broker a peace between different factions to prevent turf battles that could destroy ancient monuments.

So, save the relics of the past, and promote a hope for a decent future.

[Astromancer]

On a Clear Day...

Now, in 2024, brain/computer interfaces are good enough to allow a sense of touch through cybernetic limbs. This was even on 60 Minutes. This scenario proposes that connections between the human brain and computers and computer networks greatly improve in the next two decades.

In this 2045, a skilled Interfacer can surf the webs while talking or moving. They can access sensors and receive sensory impressions from them. Mindhacking is the stuff of Sci Fi and Horror films, but texting is no issue. It is somewhat over dramatic to call it machine telepathy. Skilled Interfacers can, like Zoe Harriet on the old Doctor Who show, have all the advantages of a computer without losing any capacity of the human mind.

Sadly, not everyone can develop skill as an Interfacer. Most can only Interface at IQ-6. Each level of Interface Talent removes minus two of the limit, or adds plus two.

Basically, skilled Interfacers are superhuman, in a limited way. Just imagine how their gifts alter society at large. More to the point, imagine how the gifts of an Interfacer effects detective work or espionage.

[PTTG]

That sounds pretty cool. I'd mash it in with the other technothriller elements. Interfacers are just part of the scene with the solarpunk dronewar biohacking AI-driven near-future.