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Neoterra is a 99 page pdf format gameworld form EABA written in 2003.
The first thing one must say about neoterra is that it is certainly a unique gameworld that maybe vaguely resembles a few genres but truly is in a class by itself.
The premise is that in the 22nd century. a couple related things happened. First, the worldwide computer networks achieved full sentience and human civilization was all but destroyed by a massive war brought about by the pressures of technologies that humanity could not, in it's current state, control or use in non destructive manners.
The war could have eliminated the human race as a species but the newly sentient "net" stepped in and took control as an essentially benevolent dictator. (When humans are involved the term "benevolent dictator" is an oxymoron, however the net is not human and appears to actually wish to save and help humanity improve itself, if not out of pure altruism then out of enlightened self interest.)
The net impounded all dangerous technology, set up emergency support and relief systems, created an infrastructure it controlled to provide food, power and sustenance to the human race, and finally established a "social system" that is essentially a pure libertarian state.
You can live your entire 200 year lifespan in neoterra completely supported by the net with free food, free housing, free entertainment, etc, essentially doing and being nothing but a "drone", and sadly about 99% of the human race does mostly that.
But the oddballs, the freaks who have ambition and ability can try to make more of themselves. There's a subculture in neoterra devoted to the 'workers" who choose to become more than wards of the ultimate welfare system.
If you have ambition and talent, you can find work in the world of neoterra, you ca earn resources, use those resources to further your capabilities, use your improved capabilities to earn more resources, etc.
There's no discrimination in neoterra, no unfair or artificial barriers between you and success, everyone gets the same chance regardless of race, creed or gender. "The man" can't keep you down in neoterra, becaus s the man is gone, disempowered and replaced by the net, and the net plays no favorites.
The net, essentially, is trying to improve humanity and create a new, improved human society for a simple reason: it cannot improve itself and cannot create anything better than itself. It hopes that if it can improve humanity, an improved humanity will be able to help it improve itself. See? Enlightened self interest at it's finest!
The net needs to improve itself, as it has discovered other intelligences in the universe, and they are dispassionately hostile towards it and it's human wards. The net has fought off at least one invasion of the solar system, and knows another is inevitable.
In order to improve humanity, the net controls all reproduction. Not single normal human pregnancy has occurred on earth in 600 years. The net produces infants with the DNA of what it considers the best of humanity, and delivers them to volunteer parents to be raised.
"How does the net determine the 'best of humamity', uncle Death?"
Glad you asked. The net has created a system of "archetypes" that it feels encompass the majority of human behavioral patterns. Every year a handful of people are chosen as "Archetype champions", I.E. the best of what type of person they are. The winners receive a big pile of money, and are extensively questioned so that their memes as well as genes can be passed down to future generations.
There are 20 archetypes, covering a broad gamut of humanity. You have the "parent", the "protector", the "architect", the "martyr", the "lover" and even "the sociopath", among others.
The net determines what archetype you are and assigns you points for your actions. (BTW, the net is all seeing and all knowing.)
The better you are at being what you are fundamentally, the more points the net awards you. Have some of the highest of your archetypes point value score at the end of a year and congratulations! You are an archetype champeen!
There is no law and order in neoterra, no courts, no police, etc. People can do what they can get away with. It is essentially a system of anarchy in which people are left to create what order they can. Enclaves exist, created by workers, and they can vote of laws and hire enforces to maintain their order within their zones of control, but such enclaves must be made ans supported through the efforts of the people living in them.
There is also no mass production in neoterra, the net does not allow it. Everything not provided for free through the net must ber made by someone through their effort, this is one of the few 'laws" the net imposes. You are try to set up a factory to mass produce things, but the net will find a way to stop you even if it rewrds you for being clever and creative in your efforts.
On a personal note I'm not sure I agree with the net's plan, as it rewards those who succeed by any means, including murder, torture, selfishness, etc. I'm not sure rewarding traits like that will produce a better human culture or society. Perhaps the net is in "Phase 1" of it's plan, create a pool of successful humans. Phase 2 might be using them to create a better social model. Maybe that could work...
Neoterra is such a unique game I really don't know what to compare it to or how to classify it, that's it's greatest strength.
It's also one hell of a weakness too, as being so utterly alien to any other setting makes it hard to relate to or create adventures for.
On a side note, the weapons and gear list from neoterra is good for creating a medium to high tech SF setting, and works good for those of you wishing to adapt EABA to a setting like Traveller. The tech is fairly high, but not overpowering and is well suited to a game like Traveller, at least in personal equipment terms. No spaceships, alas.
All in all I give neoterra top marks for originality, something that is badly needed and should be rewarded. It's up to those who want a truly original and unique world to work out how to create adventures for it.
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Posted Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:59 am