Sci-fi, Psychic Powers, and Setting Design

Astromancer · 09-22-2022, 04:09 PM

Julian May had a lively Sci Fi setting with lots of Psi. I'll go look it up.

I'm back it's The Saga of the Pliocene Exile . You can skim out some tech, the Torcs, and some interesting varient terminology.

lugaid · 09-23-2022, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Julian May had a lively Sci Fi setting with lots of Psi. I'll go look it up.

I'm back it's The Saga of the Pliocene Exile . You can skim out some tech, the Torcs, and some interesting varient terminology.

Her Galactic Milieu series is connected to the Pliocene Exile one, and consists of four books as well: Intervention (also published in two parts as Surveillance and Metaconcert), Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask, and Magnificat.

Territan · 09-25-2022, 07:11 AM

I'll just go ahead and ask what the literary agent within me is asking:

"Where's the main conflict? Is it the bright-and-hopeful space operatic vibe of millions of cultures dancing the galactic dance versus the atrocities that those cultures had to rely upon to get there? Is it the tension of living in an otherwise harmonious society while trying to hide the screaming psychic monster within you and keep the populace around you from seeing all the other screaming psychic monsters around them? (I'll admit that one has a certain Æon vibe to it; let's pin it and keep going.)"

Balor Patch · 09-25-2022, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Territan

I'll just go ahead and ask what the literary agent within me is asking:

"Where's the main conflict? Is it the bright-and-hopeful space operatic vibe of millions of cultures dancing the galactic dance versus the atrocities that those cultures had to rely upon to get there? Is it the tension of living in an otherwise harmonious society while trying to hide the screaming psychic monster within you and keep the populace around you from seeing all the other screaming psychic monsters around them? (I'll admit that one has a certain Æon vibe to it; let's pin it and keep going.)"

The Saga of the Pliocene Exile is what it says on the tin: criminals, including some very high powered psychics, get exiled to the Pliocene with a surprising twist. Julian May is a good writer.

I'm having trouble remembering the other set (it's been 30+ years): Family saga about exiling those very high powered psychics? Maybe?

Territan · 09-25-2022, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balor Patch

The Saga of the Pliocene Exile is what it says on the tin: criminals, including some very high powered psychics, get exiled to the Pliocene with a surprising twist. Julian May is a good writer.

I'm having trouble remembering the other set (it's been 30+ years): Family saga about exiling those very high powered psychics? Maybe?

The "literary agent" questions were more directed at the original thread rather than the books, but those are very good to know about too. I'll want to look up at least one of those to read up on that twist.

Agemegos · 09-25-2022, 06:27 PM

What is the template adventure for player characters in RPG campaigns set in this universe?

That is: what adventures do PCs usually have? What do they do on those adventures?

Arith Winterfell · 09-26-2022, 02:00 PM

Some really great thoughts and questions. Indeed, I've actually wondered if I should have started with questions rather than statements. XD

I've been thinking about two broad angles in terms of general setup for characters.

1) PC's work for for a patron, The Whitesun Institute which researches and works to protect psionically gifted individuals. This also involves exploration of psionically interesting locales (alien ruins, secrets held by a corporation, etc).

2) Alternatively, PC's are outlaws due to their actions, abilities, or just for being from a society where their gifts were feared. So they deal with fleeing or fighting bounty hunters, etc.

Or combine both to a degree.

The conflict being those gifted with psionic abilities are often sought after by others, sometimes this is valid employment, problem is its often outlawed in many societies (telepaths invading privacy, etc) and this makes them outlaws in many societies. That said even tyrants seek them as they are useful for ferreting out rebellions or traitors, and they are often sought after as part of spy vs. spy conflicts.

So things get multi-layers with one groups outlaws being another groups patriots.

Also blend in body-horror of gruesome experiments by ruthless corporations, and resulting insanity for poor victims.

09-22-2022, 04:09 PM	#1
Astromancer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Virginia	Re: Sci-fi, Psychic Powers, and Setting Design Julian May had a lively Sci Fi setting with lots of Psi. I'll go look it up. I'm back it's The Saga of the Pliocene Exile . You can skim out some tech, the Torcs, and some interesting varient terminology. __________________ Per Ardua Per Astra! Ancora Imparo Last edited by Astromancer; 09-22-2022 at 04:12 PM.

09-25-2022, 07:11 AM	#3
Territan Join Date: Sep 2004	Re: Sci-fi, Psychic Powers, and Setting Design I'll just go ahead and ask what the literary agent within me is asking: "Where's the main conflict? Is it the bright-and-hopeful space operatic vibe of millions of cultures dancing the galactic dance versus the atrocities that those cultures had to rely upon to get there? Is it the tension of living in an otherwise harmonious society while trying to hide the screaming psychic monster within you and keep the populace around you from seeing all the other screaming psychic monsters around them? (I'll admit that one has a certain Æon vibe to it; let's pin it and keep going.)"

09-25-2022, 06:27 PM	#6
Agemegos Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oz	Re: Sci-fi, Psychic Powers, and Setting Design What is the template adventure for player characters in RPG campaigns set in this universe? That is: what adventures do PCs usually have? What do they do on those adventures? __________________ Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 09-25-2022 at 06:36 PM.

09-26-2022, 02:00 PM	#7
Arith Winterfell Join Date: May 2014 Location: Indiana, United States	Re: Sci-fi, Psychic Powers, and Setting Design Some really great thoughts and questions. Indeed, I've actually wondered if I should have started with questions rather than statements. XD I've been thinking about two broad angles in terms of general setup for characters. 1) PC's work for for a patron, The Whitesun Institute which researches and works to protect psionically gifted individuals. This also involves exploration of psionically interesting locales (alien ruins, secrets held by a corporation, etc). 2) Alternatively, PC's are outlaws due to their actions, abilities, or just for being from a society where their gifts were feared. So they deal with fleeing or fighting bounty hunters, etc. Or combine both to a degree. The conflict being those gifted with psionic abilities are often sought after by others, sometimes this is valid employment, problem is its often outlawed in many societies (telepaths invading privacy, etc) and this makes them outlaws in many societies. That said even tyrants seek them as they are useful for ferreting out rebellions or traitors, and they are often sought after as part of spy vs. spy conflicts. So things get multi-layers with one groups outlaws being another groups patriots. Also blend in body-horror of gruesome experiments by ruthless corporations, and resulting insanity for poor victims.