Comments on: Episode 29 – World Building: Magic & Technology http://www.bearswarm.com/episode-29-world-building-magic-technology An Explicit RPG Podcast Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:40:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike Mc http://www.bearswarm.com/episode-29-world-building-magic-technology/comment-page-1#comment-151 Mike Mc Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:47:13 +0000 http://www.bearswarm.com/?p=174#comment-151 I sent an e-mail in through your contact button on the main page, but here I am adding a comment as well just in case you don't check that e-mail often: Read Warren Ellis' 'Global Frequency.' The premise of the comic (which was only 12 issues) is that a mysterious former spook who calls herself Miranda Zero has created a network of 1001 individuals with specialized skills or knowledge who she can call on to handle emergency situations; every issue has a different artists and a different team dealing with a different issue (ranging from alien signal-viruses to doomsday cults). There's one issue in particular (#2, in the first trade paperback) called "Big Wheel" that's about a team sent in to deal with a government cybernetics project that's about to escape into the larger world. Military grade cybernetics and enhancements are given a rather unflinchingly brutal look, not just in the freakish 500 million dollar man but even for the woman who just has one "super-arm." As she puts it: "I have to be careful with it. Bioelectric enhancements are cranky. It's not just a case of sticking an artificial arm on. The surrounding bones and fibers have to be hardened and supported, or else the new arm will rip clean off your shoulder the first time you flex. You'll need tensile support across your back, or your spine will snap the first time you lift something heavy. For a job like Quinn's you need new skin; human skin isn't tough enough to handle the subcutaneous tension of superhuman strength. You'll take a chip in your brain to handle the specific dataload from the artificial nerve system controlling the arm. You're getting the idea right?" And why did this emergency happen in the first place? "Richard Quinn woke up two hours ago from a three-day sedation period following his last operation. And some damn fool let him look in a mirror." Read the series, I'm sure it'll give you guys plenty of fodder. I sent an e-mail in through your contact button on the main page, but here I am adding a comment as well just in case you don’t check that e-mail often: Read Warren Ellis’ ‘Global Frequency.’ The premise of the comic (which was only 12 issues) is that a mysterious former spook who calls herself Miranda Zero has created a network of 1001 individuals with specialized skills or knowledge who she can call on to handle emergency situations; every issue has a different artists and a different team dealing with a different issue (ranging from alien signal-viruses to doomsday cults).

There’s one issue in particular (#2, in the first trade paperback) called “Big Wheel” that’s about a team sent in to deal with a government cybernetics project that’s about to escape into the larger world. Military grade cybernetics and enhancements are given a rather unflinchingly brutal look, not just in the freakish 500 million dollar man but even for the woman who just has one “super-arm.” As she puts it:

“I have to be careful with it. Bioelectric enhancements are cranky. It’s not just a case of sticking an artificial arm on. The surrounding bones and fibers have to be hardened and supported, or else the new arm will rip clean off your shoulder the first time you flex. You’ll need tensile support across your back, or your spine will snap the first time you lift something heavy. For a job like Quinn’s you need new skin; human skin isn’t tough enough to handle the subcutaneous tension of superhuman strength. You’ll take a chip in your brain to handle the specific dataload from the artificial nerve system controlling the arm. You’re getting the idea right?”

And why did this emergency happen in the first place?

“Richard Quinn woke up two hours ago from a three-day sedation period following his last operation. And some damn fool let him look in a mirror.”

Read the series, I’m sure it’ll give you guys plenty of fodder.

]]>