A Modern World of Supers [Supers]

AlexanderHowl · 09-23-2019, 06:45 PM

Since there are more than a few questions about historical divergence with my previous world of supers, I want to posit a modern world of supers. The premise of this setting is that a mutation of the flu virus triggers the expression of latent super genes within 0.1% of the human population in 1994. While the source of the super genes in unknown, the most popular hypotheses is alien genetic engineering during the distant past, though it is impossible to find evidence to support that hypothesis.

Genetic testing after the initial wave showed that a further 0.9% percent of the population possesses latent super genes. Over the past 25 years, the percentage of humanity that expressed super genes increased by 5% per year, meaning that 0.34% of humanity currently expresses super genes. While research has been conducted to deliberately express super genes, they have largely been unsuccessful, resulting in injury or death of the participants.

Of the 0.34% of the human population who expresses super genes, 90% have 100 CP in abilities and talents, 9% have 200 CP in abilities and talents, 0.9% have 300 CP in abilities and talents, and so on. Expressed abilities and talents include every advantage except for Jumper, Snatcher, and Ultrapower. The most valuable supers are supers with Warp, especially for the national space programs.

So, imagine that the divergence has only been in the past 25 years. The 9/11 attacks never succeeded, the warnings of the precogs were taken seriously by superheroes who bought tickets for the right flights, so the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq never occurred. Super hero registration occurred throughout the developed world during Clinton's administration, allowing for licensed supers to function as a form of law enforcement with federal jurisdiction. Super villains exist, but the majority of them avoid direct confrontations with super heroes, preferring to go into business or politics.

What other changes would you expect? What type of character would you want to play in such a setting? Would you want to play a super hero, someone born with latent super powers, or a super normal, someone pushed to excel due to competition from supers?

09-23-2019, 06:45 PM	#1
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	A Modern World of Supers [Supers] Since there are more than a few questions about historical divergence with my previous world of supers, I want to posit a modern world of supers. The premise of this setting is that a mutation of the flu virus triggers the expression of latent super genes within 0.1% of the human population in 1994. While the source of the super genes in unknown, the most popular hypotheses is alien genetic engineering during the distant past, though it is impossible to find evidence to support that hypothesis. Genetic testing after the initial wave showed that a further 0.9% percent of the population possesses latent super genes. Over the past 25 years, the percentage of humanity that expressed super genes increased by 5% per year, meaning that 0.34% of humanity currently expresses super genes. While research has been conducted to deliberately express super genes, they have largely been unsuccessful, resulting in injury or death of the participants. Of the 0.34% of the human population who expresses super genes, 90% have 100 CP in abilities and talents, 9% have 200 CP in abilities and talents, 0.9% have 300 CP in abilities and talents, and so on. Expressed abilities and talents include every advantage except for Jumper, Snatcher, and Ultrapower. The most valuable supers are supers with Warp, especially for the national space programs. So, imagine that the divergence has only been in the past 25 years. The 9/11 attacks never succeeded, the warnings of the precogs were taken seriously by superheroes who bought tickets for the right flights, so the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq never occurred. Super hero registration occurred throughout the developed world during Clinton's administration, allowing for licensed supers to function as a form of law enforcement with federal jurisdiction. Super villains exist, but the majority of them avoid direct confrontations with super heroes, preferring to go into business or politics. What other changes would you expect? What type of character would you want to play in such a setting? Would you want to play a super hero, someone born with latent super powers, or a super normal, someone pushed to excel due to competition from supers?