Take a walk down the neon-soaked streets of Love City, a towering futuristic arcology enjoying a retro-revival in the years after a devastating War. Cybernetics, genetic engineering and ubiquitous computing rub shoulders with big suits, little lies, soft curves, and hard drinks.
This is a technoir setting. Here’s what that means to me:
Tech: The technology of Love City is deliberately left somewhat ambiguous, so tables can fine-tune it to their specifications, but it’s generally assumed that cybernetics, nanotechnology and bioengineering are all a common fact of life. The online Wire is literally everywhere, connecting everyone in real-time and providing all manner of digital diversions. Love City itself is a vast, multi-leveled sprawl of an arcology, with the wealthy elite occupying the scenic top levels while the working classes toil in the neon-lit dark below. Even modern devices are often designed with a retro flair. Tech has made some huge advances in what people are capable of, but despite it all, life is still difficult and cheap as ever.
Noir: Cynicism, secrecy, greed, (tainted) idealism, naked ambition and a certain doomed nobility are written into the playbooks. Culturally speaking, there’s a huge Neo-Noir revival going on, and so with the all the carelessness of future generations looking back you’ve got guys in ‘50s suits dancing ‘30s dances with girls in ‘20s dresses to ‘40s music backed up with futuristic beats. The cars are big and sleek and shiny, the drinks are strong and large as a dockworker’s mitts, and thanks to tailored genetic immunities the cigarette smoke is thick in the clubs again.
Tech Limits: Cybernetics and genetic engineering are fine, and most people have plenty of gadgets at home and on their person, but there are no “native” AI - all SIMs started as people. Likewise, if there are robots, they are deliberately clunky and limited. You are free to make up incidental tech as it suits you, especially if it’s just for color, but not as a way to get around needing Assets. Enjoy!
Hosted and narrated by:
Peter Woodworth (WriterPete)
Started 05/28/14.
Scenes played: 2
License: Community License
