A tentative question: what kind of technological development could we count on? I suppose it should all be fairly conservative, but still, what can we expect from, say, nanotechnology or cybernetics?
That's an important question that I've been considering for awhile now, but it's hard to answer. To address those two technologies specifically, I think that cybernetics, in the medical sense, will be very well mastered by the year 2053. All but the most complex organs could be replaced in any first-world nation, though such technology would still be quite expensive. Neural cybernetics, however, I think would be much more complex - As of the year 2053, or even decades beyond that, I believe that fully sapient AI, as well as direct human mind-AI interfaces, will still be elements of fiction.
Nanotechnology is tougher to measure, but it should be rather more advanced than the current day's technology as well. I suppose we can assume that it will generally keep pace with other technologies - That is, if a particular gadget is feasible by all other technological standards, we can assume that a lack of nanotechnological advancements won't hold it back (within reason). This
is a really weak and flimsy definition, but most nanotechnological requirements would just be
implied in the context of this NES anyway.
Now, to the more fundamental, first question. How can I set a standard for technological progress? On the first page I have a reserved "tech file" post, which I suppose can serve that purpose to some degree. I'll try to keep it up to date with technology samples from various fields, as well as descriptions of ship construction and such (which may be compiled from player stories, by the way).
However, this can't be an exhaustive list. I guess you can ask me whether a specific something is feasible or not, and I can answer on a case-by-case basis. If someone has an idea for a more exhaustive method, I'd love to hear it.
das said:
Also, I would like to state belated alarm at the fact that Nuclear_kid is one of the four people that will apparently have the greatest amount of influence on the history of this universe. No offense, but I remember King Ryan.
Well, I've not had the pleasure of sharing a NES with Nuclear kid, but I
had noticed that he's hosted a NES or two before, which requires some degree of dedication and ability. As you can see, I'm not averse to using the Mighty GM Hammer of Justice to strike down any plainly wrong ideas, so any... eccentricities shouldn't become an issue.
I don't intend to forcibly eject any players from my NES unless they
really deserve it, and I have no reason to believe that Nuclear kid won't make a more serious effort at a European nation today.
And anyway, the four starting nations won't necessarily have the greatest impact on history, either. The big pattern might change a lot, yeah, but often the smaller, more "regional" patterns are the ones that have the greatest influence on the game's flow. And by the time those are being set, this NES will have plenty of slots for the current band of disgruntled NESing geniuses, and then some.
Gaining power in Israel, taking control of the scientific community allowed greater scientific freedom, Slowly politically taking over Israel until finally eradicating the religious craziness here and eliminating religious leader to bring down that ideal. And than going on to make my empire.
