[Interest Check] Impact, a post-apocalyptic fantasy RP

[Chevaleresse]

This is an idea based on a project I've worked on occasionally. I've had difficulty writing on it consistently, but it is essentially a post apocalyptic sci-fi/fantasy world covered (literally) in the remains of the former civilization. Players would take the role of an Enhanced, from a small village somewhere in the world, and work to survive the various threats presented to them while exploring the lost world and learning more about the mysterious event known as the Impact

Landscape & Survival

The landscape after the Impact is covered in a thick, dense layer of debris, several meters thick in most places. This results from the previous state of total urbanization. There is a large amount of technology encased in this shell of metal and mortar, most of which is badly damaged. Hills and mountains have been replaced by towering piles of the stuff, and the occasional half-intact foundation or frame takes the place of forest.

Most wildlife, already adapted to living in a metallic landscape, has transitioned fairly well, with plants able to eke out an existence by pulling most of their nutrients from the air and incorporating it into their biology, resulting in extremely tough, hardy structures. Animals often have similar metallic characteristics.

Humans have survived primarily by cultivating these plants in places where they already grow naturally. Some villages supplement their food with hunting, but this is uncommon as there are numerous species that are extremely dangerous to humans in existence, and the phenomenon of enhancement is not exclusive to humanity.

Enhanced

Enhanced are exactly what they sound like; individuals who reach the third level of 126 usage (see Element 126 usage) and amount to veritable superheroes. All of them have extreme levels of strength, speed, and toughness, as well as a certain amount of telepathy. There are many diverse viewpoints on the nature of their existence, not all of which are positive.

Ability varies widely between enhanced. Although nearly all meet a certain baseline for physical ability, most will exceed them in at least one category, some by vast amounts. Lesser enhancements are almost universally associated with other powers, including but not limited to strong telepathy, electromancy, and telekinesis.

Baseline powers are as follows:

Speed: Top speed of 120 kph.

Strength: Lift 500kg for extended amounts of time.

Durability: Able to withstand blows incurred as a result of tripping, etc at baseline speed without appreciable injury. Blows from others at baseline strength can be withstood without lasting consequences as long as they are not repeated.

Mental ability: Minor electromancy or imprecise telepathy within 5 feet.

Telepathy

Rather than the typical representation, telepathy in Impact relies on being able to detect and recognize emotional impressions. Simple raw strength in detection does not necessarily make one a good telepath; one has to be able to correctly interpret the sensations received, and piece these together to create an accurate picture of the person’s mental and emotional state.

On the side of manipulation, it consists of sending focused emotional impulses and, in the case of particularly powerful or skilled telepaths, impressions of thoughts or actions that ought to be taken. Full “mind control” is widely regarded as impossible by people educated on the matter; an individual typically cannot be manipulated into something they would not normally do given the right circumstances.

Element 126 - This is pretty much my explanation behind how abilities and such work, for those interested.

The theoretical element that lands in a mathematical island of stability. Its unique properties are not fully understood, but it is extremely toxic to almost all life on Earth. 98% of all life exposed to even trace amounts contract a unique wasting disease that causes systemic breakdown as the body attempts and fails to process the substance. It bonds readily with most other elements, but the compounds formed disrupt normal cellular function and act as incredibly potent toxins.

However, certain genetic sequences allow organisms to properly contain and process the compounds of element 126, allowing them to survive the suddenly massive amounts of it present in the atmosphere during the anomalous event known as the Impact. In most of these organisms it’s simply disposed of along with other waste products once the small amounts of it the body is capable of using are processed.

Some, rarer specimens -roughly 1 out of 100 survivors- are able to utilize element 126 for most basic cell functions in some way. This increases the efficiency of said functions, allowing greater energy production with lower energy input. The spare energy is usually directed toward simple survival in plants and microorganisms due to the largely inhospitable environment; in animals it is used to increase reaction time and brain processing power, and it also helps maintain larger than normal muscle masses, or muscles that are more powerful than normal ones of the same volume.

Another group, even rarer at about 1 in every 2000 survivors, can utilize it in virtually every location in the body. The mechanisms behind this are not fully understood, but the massive increase in efficiency and the enhancements present allow for obviously superhuman feats and abilities. These are always simply extreme extensions of human abilities, many stemming from the electrical manipulation present in normal body function; telepathy is simply a massively enhanced ability to detect the bioelectrical fields of others, while direct manipulation of electricity (“throwing lightning”) originates from the discharge control present in normal cell-to-cell communication.

This particular group has a few unique properties. The first is the simple magnitude of enhancement; even the slowest and weakest can run at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour in short bursts, with many being able to maintain this as a cruising pace. The second is the wide variety of abilities found; controlled electrical discharge is found almost exclusively in this group, for example, and most telepaths outside this group have a very short range, if not outright requiring bodily contact. The third is the commonality between individual enhancements. In contrast to the other group, in which most individuals have one or two notably enhanced characteristics, every member of this one has superhuman strength, speed, and durability, along with at least minor telepathy.

Element 126 has also been found bonded to various materials. It has many properties depending on which it has combined with, but the most common uses are in hyper-durable tools for use by those with extremely enhanced abilities when bonded with iron (and by extension steel.)

[Tomas Elliot]

What I like:

1) The fact that you seem to have put a lot of effort in the background and setting.

2) The fact that you went the extra mile to give a rational explanation and structures to the powers that appear in your roleplay. I mean, the moment you explain where the powers come from, it is immediately clear what their limits are, what they can and what they cannot do. Which is not banal, as most RPs feature powers that simply happen to somehow be there, and their limitations and regulamentations are based on "because the master/host said so". Compared to that, you surely made something more intriguing.

What I don't like:

1) The one thing I have a problem with in all post-apocalyptic settings: there is no conflict. The catastrophe has already happened, humans are now struggling to get back on their feet, why would I ever feel compelled to go on an adventure in such extreme conditions, instead of, you know, focusing my efforts on surviving and, if possible, rebuilding? And what motivations could a villain possibly have, what is there to conquer or to desire in a world ravaged by a catastrophe?

2) The fact that you are starting this now: summer is not the best time for roleplays, as most people are drastically reducing their activity (I for one will barely be here throughout august)...

Well, these are my two cents. Make of them what you will

[K_H]

Sounds interesting, i'm in on this one.

[xxAngel]

I'd be down to try