Futuristic The Rich Live Longer [Detailed - Open]

[RealisticFantasy]

Also potentially interested, waiting on confirmation of certain details. What I'm curious about is what sway Intuitech have over this world - it seems to me like they've become a sort of corporate dictatorship governing over culture and society. How did this come to pass? I'm also wondering what this world looks like - is it like the present day, or are we in a kind of dystopian future where things have moved on, technology has developed further and become more widespread, etc? Finally I'm wondering what our characters' main goal is - sure we're outcasts but that doesn't mean we have to go about unravelling the entire system (especially if we can survive off of stealing other people's time).

Thanks!

I imagine it developed over time like a cultural snowball. At first, it was just cool gadgets that increased the standard of living and then it developed into a societal pressure that everyone needed whatever new tech they rolled out. Eventually, the elite realized the sway they had and decided to cement themselves as the elite which developed into the point we find ourselves at. It’s definitely a more distant future, cyberpunk-ish. As for motivation, that’s really character by character... which adds interesting conflict and character dynamics! What is the best action to take? Why should they help others or help themselves? Do you want to just survive or thrive? Should you overthrow and dismantle the system... for the betterment of everyone or just to place yourselves at the top of the hierarchy? You could always play a reluctant type that's pushed by majority rule. I imagine the characters involved would have a particular distaste for the system due to some event or situation specific to them which would then motivate them to enact change in their world. Sure, they could continue to survive as they are (maybe?) but stagnant characters that are perfectly satisfied with their current situation and have no reason to change it sure aren't interesting to write nor read about.

I'm very open-ended on plot points as I like for every writer and every character to contribute to the story in a meaningful way.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

So in this respect, this is aiming to be fairly freeform/sandbox? I.e. we have our characters, and we can play around according to our desires and have quite a lot of control over what's going on.

Thanks for the clarity on the other points. Given you say this is a cyberpunk world, I'm still wanting to know more information about the lore of the world - what the cities/locations are like, what general technology there is, maybe a bit more fleshing out of this elite-vs split.

Yeah, sandbox-y stuff is my go-to. I'm big on character interaction over railroading people into a plot. I like to say characters write themselves.

As for lore, I haven't really thought anything out so I'm making this up on the fly. As such, it's definitely open to criticism and/or modification. Let me know what you'd like to see if it's not involved and we can see how to make it work!

I imagine the world is divided into class-based districts. Likely, the next poorest district doesn't know what the richer districts are really like. Sure, they're better but they don't know how better. It adds to a reasoning of complacency. I plan on having my character an ex-elite so maybe she can motivate the others by telling them just how unfair it is?

Looking at inspo pictures, I like the idea of vertical divisions. I think it implies that we couldn't grow out anymore so we had to grow up. Naturally, the elitest of the elite would be at the top (ha! it's a literal representation of a figurative phrase XD) where things are pristine, white and chrome, and actual vegetation and sunlight. They would have the most advanced, up-to-date technology to make their very difficult lives easier. Lot of leisure time so drugs, drinks, gambling, the whole shebang.

The poorest would be on ground level where it's dark and dingy, smog-filled, living day-to-day. It wouldn't be uncommon for people to run out of time and keel over (gotta have population control somehow, hm?). They'd work with the scraps of the upper levels' tech, piecing stuff together if they have to. Inventive people. Likely factory-ish work which produces components for the upper level tech.

Then, there's the Underground which primarily live... underground. Off the grid, minimalist. Even not always welcome among the poorest of the poor because they're branded as criminals. Of course, law enforcement isn't that active in the lower levels so the Underground can get away with mingling there.

There would definitely be clearance gates and levels from one district to the next. The lowest ones aren't heavily guarded, if guarded at all, so they can be hacked, overridden, confused, what have you but mid- to high-level have appropriate enforcement that prevents an individual district-hopping whilly nilly.

Spoiler: Elite Levels Inspo

Spoiler: Mid-Levels Inspo

Spoiler: Lower-Levels Inspo

 

[RealisticFantasy]

If you'd like to start a character sheet, you can post it here

 

[RealisticFantasy]

This all sounds like something I can get behind - I'm picturing a kind of cyberpunk Mistborn.

What I think you (or I guess we) could do at this point is to integrate your opening ideas into it a bit more. For example, the STATUS and time systems could be used as a way of keeping the ground-level impoverished subservient; popularity is determined by the trends of the Elite, and time apportioned as a reward for loyalty to the 'good values' upheld by the governance. As the STATUS system allows for anyone to mark down a potential rival/enemy to get them out of the way, you need something totalitarian ensuring all are kept in check. Meanwhile among the elites it allows for corruption favouring certain trend-setting houses.

Another question: if the poor live in such squalor, how come they can be assessed for STATUS dependent on social media? Do even these smog-dwellers have access to futuristic mobile devices and the like?

I'm not familiar with Mistborn but if it works for your reference!

I was thinking something along those lines. Do consider, though, that one individual mark down someone's STATUS doesn't tank them into oblivion as it's an average of all ratings and a rating is roughly equivalent to an encounter with another person (not every person will rate every other person for every interaction but most will because that's how the world works). So no matter if you're a 5.00 or a 2.75, you can't just rid yourself of your annoying next door neighbor. Also, others will know that you rated them and how you rated them. As a social elite, running around and tanking ratings for no reason would subsequently tank your own. Now, hosting a very nice dinner party, inviting your enemy, and egging them on all night in secret so they have a public meltdown and everyone drops their rating for ruining the atmosphere would be wholly appropriate.

Also, higher STATUS also allows for access to better tech, living areas, etc, etc, likely the benchmark for accessing higher levels (and not being on a manifesto of felons, for our plucky heroes). And there is also consideration for what is culturally appropriate in each district. Scavenging for parts in the low levels likely wouldn't knock your STATUS but doing that in the high levels would drop you from a perfect average to desolate in seconds. What exactly influences your STATUS and in what way varies by district.

Also, consideration of relative difference in STATUS is important. In the high levels the difference between a 4.9 and a 4.8 could be massive whereas the difference between a 2.9 and a 2.8 would be minimal in the low levels. It's meant to be more complex than just popular, important figure = high rating.

STATUS is social currency, access to resources. Time is monetary, exchanged for goods and services.

Every person on the grid is connected to Intuitech's overarching Network. Access to the Network is fundamental for the society to function - think a combination of internet and banking services. There's no such thing as cash so the only way to purchase things is with time (or maybe bartering if you can work out a deal), which exists in a sort of virtual domain on the Network. Even the Underground has to be on the Network to some extent, though they exist in their own dark web-ish domain.


...I'm thinking I should make a lore thread XD

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Update: Considering the amount of interest I’ve received in this RP, I’m willing to accept more people that currently listed so don’t be deterred by that concern (if you previously were). Still, the RP is not first come, first serve and not necessarily everyone will be accepted. Thanks for your understanding. I’m here for any comments, questions, or concerns and looking forward to seeing your characters.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

In case you wanted more lore: Futuristic - The Rich Live Longer - Lore

The thread will continue to expand as questions are asked and answered.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Here is the link to an OOC thread if anyone has further questions, comments, concerns, or just wants to chat