New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

[AlexanderHowl]

Was the French Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by economic factors such as no taxation of the elites and high taxation of the common folk? Was the Haitian Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by legitimate protests against the treatment of the enslaved population? Now, one of the reasons for the American Revolution was envy because the people of Quebec received preferential treatment as compared to the American colonialists and because of the envy that the American colonialists felt towards the Native American tribes whose territories were protected by the British monarchy.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Was the French Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by economic factors such as no taxation of the elites and high taxation of the common folk? Was the Haitian Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by legitimate protests against the treatment of the enslaved population? Now, one of the reasons for the American Revolution was envy because the people of Quebec received preferential treatment as compared to the American colonialists and because of the envy that the American colonialists felt towards the Native American tribes whose territories were protected by the British monarchy.

There are always paradoxes in that sort of thing. The poor folk of the Vendee took the monarchist side. Perhaps they were more interested in city vs country then noble vs common. Also a lot of the French Revolution was not so much noble vs poor as new money vs old money.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Was the French Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by economic factors such as no taxation of the elites and high taxation of the common folk? Was the Haitian Revolution caused by envy or was it caused by legitimate protests against the treatment of the enslaved population? Now, one of the reasons for the American Revolution was envy because the people of Quebec received preferential treatment as compared to the American colonialists and because of the envy that the American colonialists felt towards the Native American tribes whose territories were protected by the British monarchy.

In each case people saw themselves as unjustly excluded from power over their own lives. In each case a massive increase both in literacy and public access to news allowed ordinary people a view of themselves as entitled to a say. Not as commoners helpless facing their lords, but as the Sovereign People taking back their rights.

Change how people see themselves and either apathy or revolution can be the fruit.

[jason taylor]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

In each case people saw themselves as unjustly excluded from power over their own lives. In each case a massive increase both in literacy and public access to news allowed ordinary people a view of themselves as entitled to a say. Not as commoners helpless facing their lords, but as the Sovereign People taking back their rights.

Change how people see themselves and either apathy or revolution can be the fruit.

It is one of the noticeable things that it is very hard to bring about an incremental reform a la Aral Vorkosigan. Often it just brings people to the point where they are powerful enough to show resentment.

To bandage the off topic ness how could this dilemma be brought out of a prince who does want to lean on his subjects less hard then his ancestors but needing to manage the reforms carefully? Perhaps this is to boring to be a seed compared to revolution.

[jason taylor]

Actually most political circumstances are potential sci fi seeds because sci fi has always been as much about politics as science. We just change the names to avoid flame bait and rejuggle the circumstance to make it more to our taste.

[AlexanderHowl]

True, political scientists often used science fiction as a platform for thought experiments. If you want an example of a dictatorial human utopia (complete with a bioroid underclass), you only need to look at the stories of Cordwainer Smith. Of course, it can get a bit boring, which is often why space opera is more successful than political science fiction.

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

In each case people saw themselves as unjustly excluded from power over their own lives. In each case a massive increase both in literacy and public access to news allowed ordinary people a view of themselves as entitled to a say. Not as commoners helpless facing their lords, but as the Sovereign People taking back their rights.

Change how people see themselves and either apathy or revolution can be the fruit.

This is the key concept; it's not just about "envy." People can and do get terribly frustrated when they perceive the status quo as backwards, hide-bound, unresponsive and corrupt. If those in charge of governing either can't or won't help address genuine problems people actually face, then the people turn to those who say they can and will.

If those who make such promises can rise to power through normal channels, then they're called (more or less successful) "reformers." If they're blocked from power and must use alternative (usually violent) means, they're called "revolutionaries" -- if they win.

If they lose, of course, they're called "traitors," or even "terrorists," and either shot or hanged. :)

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

It is one of the noticeable things that it is very hard to bring about an incremental reform a la Aral Vorkosigan. Often it just brings people to the point where they are powerful enough to show resentment.

To bandage the off topic ness how could this dilemma be brought out of a prince who does want to lean on his subjects less hard then his ancestors but needing to manage the reforms carefully? Perhaps this is to boring to be a seed compared to revolution.

The Vorkosigan Saga is fine SciFi fun. The ins and outs of an intelligently managed reform program would involve lots of intrigue and troubleshooting. Intrigue and troubleshooting are great PC adventure basics.

[Astromancer]

InTry this idea...

This is a supers idea stolen from the Stormwatch comic. Basically, a group of supers decides to set humanity free. This group is on the same power level as the Silver Age Justice League. You've got a powerful wizard placing mystic truths in humanity's minds via the collective unconscious. A group of super-gadgeteers have offered the masses nanotech with easy control so that everybody can live in luxury and splendor. And those are only the start.

All the world's power elites are in terror. If no one needs them if everybody is rich and free, what happens to their power?

You can go several ways with this. Your PCs could fight to protect the masses from the fury and bitterness of the dethroned elites. Alternately you could try in several different ways to contain the chaos.

Even if the NPC supers simply passed out cornucopia nanotech, chaos would ensue. Superheroes would have plenty to do. If someone could enter the collective unconscious itself, and take away humanity's illusions, the lasting chaos before the liberation would be profound. And a great challenge for heroes.

[Gedrin]

I don't see a lot of sane people endorsing the "brain wash humanity and give them gray bombs" plan.

Of course The Authority are pure and true, with the best of intentions and absolute power over such a world...so I'm probably just over reacting.

But for grins, let's say they are pure and true and will never disagree, spit into factions or treat all of civilization as a plaything to be molded to their view of how things should be (...again). The power elites, with the introduction of the utopia-tech, they've lost all their power that wasn't based in personal influence. Authoritarians in charge of extractive economies offer nothing to their subjects or their posse anymore, and the tech gives the proverbial peasant enough firepower to take him out. The Elon Musks of the world use the unlimited resources to do their own thing, and you'll have ocean cities and Mars missions...which some idiot will try to blow up. I'm pretty sure your supers will have their hands so full with "Joe Bob is building the worlds largest can of beer...it's about 1200 meters tall at this point, second place is at 1100m", "Steve is building a bridge to Okinawa...from Kansas", and "two factions who have conflicting visions are printing tanks to defend the one true Utopia" that you'll need some mustache twirlers of villains (again, not sure how they didn't get "fixed" but hey) or they could just be opposed to the new regime. "But they're not a regime!", you cry...we'll get to that.

Stopping this sort of thing depends on your benevolent "We promise we're not dictators" having a real panopticon at their disposal, and one that can see the future. Eight billion people with the resources of a billionaire (sans personal influence) will be hard to predict, not for the rational problems, but for the mile tall beer can problems.

Of course, you might say that not everyone would have the resources of a billionaire...and now you've got a different problem. Essentially, billions of people asking "Why cant I have a space ship if Elon Musk can?" Now, your folks might be fine with a couple hundred thousand space ships zooming around at ludicrous speeds in orbit...but someone's going to have to be ATC... Essentially, someone has to be in charge (or we accept some seriously wacky levels of functional Anarchy what with humanity being "fixed"), and your supers are the only remaining candidates. They've conquered the world by transforming it into something only they can govern, which is kinda a neat way to go about it.

The supers responsible for this have an exciting new career of developing an entirely new form of government and regulatory system while making sure the solar systems largest Valentines Day card doesn't destroy Austrailia. OR, they can blame it all on saboteurs and reactionaries (I recommend Goldstien and Snowball for villain names) from the old power elite.