New Reality Seeds

[Drifter]

Originally Posted by Prince Charon

That sounds like something that would have the government stepping in, unless the Foundation is government controlled, in which case it would be a gigantic issue in the next election.

Not necessarily. IW itself is based on a private corporation that has, somehow, told the government to back off. This would be the same thing; you don't get life extension or super-kids if the gov tries to take the secret. We'd burn it if we can't make a zillion dollars off it and/or play God.

That seems highly immoral, but what do I know?

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Drifter

That seems highly immoral, but what do I know?

Plenty I'm certain.

[Astromancer]

The superkids option/issue comes with all kinds of generational angst and jelousy. More drama that way.

[Anders]

No earthquake in Lisbon.

The earthquake had a major impact on philosophy and kickstarted the science of seismology.

[patchwork]

Good find, Anders!

Moscow, 1610: Sigismund III has taken Moscow, but Russia is a large and wild place. The boyars offer to acknowledge his 17-year-old son Wladislaw as Tsar if the latter will convert to Russian Orthodoxy. Naturally, Sigismund refuses - his son will not fall into heresy and risk damnation for a throne when he can make Russia Catholic by force! Yeah, that didn't work out so well. But suppose he had gone along with it - Wlad would no doubt be delighted to get out from under his father's shadow, if he can convince the old man that God will judge him mercifully (and of course he'll convert Russia, but - later...). There's a younger brother for the Polish throne, after all.

A Russia that avoids its Time of Troubles and Ivan the Terrible, with close dynastic ties to Poland...how long before it's a liberal great power?

[Flyndaran]

The volcanic eruption that killed off the "hobbit" hominids never happens. And/or their expansion led to mainland and larger population. What would their discovery mean for world culture?

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

The volcanic eruption that killed off the "hobbit" hominids never happens. And/or their expansion led to mainland and larger population. What would their discovery mean for world culture?

I figure this would provide support for scientific racism.

[Astromancer]

I'm reading The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. So try this idea.

Someone is doing something astounding in an Elizabethan Era echo on Quantum 6. A large number of improvements have been made in the chemical industries in Elizabethan London (circa 1565). Most of these are TL4 so far. Agents have discovered that someone working for Baron Burghley has set up a crude but functional solar furnace to boil brine for salt! Dozen's more are being built!

Rumors are going around London of the development of a clock that can go the sea and kept such fine time that one can work out the Longitude!

Is this the work of Centrum? The Cabal? A new faction? Or has Burghley unearthed a new talent with greater practical skills than Dee?

Anyway, here's a mystery to solve.

[Astromancer]

I was thinking of using Merlin as described in the original outing. A circle of normal mana with a 2000 mile radius out from the Trinity site, a 200 mile circle of high mana with the same center, and the rest of the world low mana except for the antartic mess.

There'd be a lot of tricky politics in that setting because everybody would have only one focus, sneak something by the USA. The meanspirited alliences of convenience would be many and manifold.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by TGLS

I figure this would provide support for scientific racism.

I think the opposite is just as likely. When dealing with such an obviously different species, human differences might seem all the more inconsequential.
Especially if no, or few, hybrids exist.