Earth, colony or other

[Guy_LeDouche]

Just curious what folks thought

[Stormseed]

If I ever run it, I plan on making it a colony... in the same dimension as Rifts Earth. It would explain why the cavalry hasn't arrived at any rate.

[sHaka]

I have it as Earth, but drop enough red herrings to keep the players guessing.

[9voltkilowatt]

I just went with Earth, I didn't really see any need to come up with (and explain) some convoluted backstory.

[Ziggurat the Eternal]

If I ever run it, I plan on making it a colony... in the same dimension as Rifts Earth. It would explain why the cavalry hasn't arrived at any rate.

and the use of MDC technology

And space fightingness. So much easier to use existing tech like ccw, and biotech like necrol, than to make up your own. but making up your own is comendable and awsome.

[The Baron of chaos]

I've voted for no opinion but in truth i've my personal ideas. For me Slicer earth is the PAST version of one well known megaversla planet: WORMWOOD. Who is by the way the PAST version of Nightland(after massive fossilization and calcification). I know i'm Fu*#ed up in my mind.

[taalismn]

I'm going with Colony...'Earth Overrun by Killer Machines' is just too 'Terminator-esque' for my cliche-worn mind, but a world of people(and probably a Machine rewriting its own history) who have utterly forgotten they came from someplace else allows more leeway....

[Guy_LeDouche]

Hooray!! Someone else thought Splicers exsists only in Pam Ewing's head!

For me Slicer earth is the PAST version of one well known megaversla planet: WORMWOOD. Who is by the way the PAST version of Nightland(after massive fossilization and calcification). I know i'm Fu*#ed up in my mind.

That's not messed up, that's a great idea. I like that one a lot, for what its worth.

[Aramanthus]

I voted!

[bradshaw]

I've always liked the way you think DF.

and you can make your own history, plus populate the world with odd critters.

[cornholioprime]

Even though folks here are telling of what they call it in their games, the planet of Splicers CLEARLY isn't Earth.

Even before NEXUS terraformed the planet -and there's no evidence whatsoever that Terraforming was even tried before NEXUS -the world of Splicers consisted of a single ocean.

Oceans are marked and separated by land masses. One single ocean as opposed to the several that we have here = landmasses in completely different configurations. Which means that this is a different planet altogether...somewhere out there.

Also, there is the fact that Earth was NEVER as magically dead as SplicerWorld is. Not even in the millennia after Atlantis' fall.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that even the H.U Universe is less hostile to Magic and Psionics than this world is (I forget just how much magic energy is in that setting, though).

Just re-read the Librarian's Tale through once more (as well as the Characters from other Palladium Games Conversion Section further on in the book) and you find those little nuggets of info.

[Kelorin]

I like the idea of Splicers being in the same dimension as Rifts Earth, but Rifts Earth never advanced to the point of expanding outside the solar system. They were on the verge of it and had sent probes to Alpha and Proxima Centauri, but then the cataclysm hit, and that was the end of that.

[Prince Cherico]

its a colony world if it was on earth people wouldent forget that
they were on earth theres just too much history

[Kelorin]

From the Splicer Development Group thread:

I've got a work in progress idea for a link between Rifts Earth & the Splicers planet. In broad strokes:

- Splicers planet is in fact a colony world.
- It exists in the far future of Rifts Earth (a couple hundred to thousands of years after 109 P.A.)
- The original colonists were actually from the assorted Orbital colonies (see MiO Mutants in Orbit)
- Original orbitals were clearly skilled in genetic engineering (mutant animals from MiO), and were fairly well stocked in a wide variety of Earth based plant & animal genetic samples.
- Due to lack of long term living space requirements for the various colonies, coupled with generational population expansion, the orbital colonies realized that they would run out of usable, habitable space within 2 - 3 generations.
- The colonies & Moon Base at some point start receiving star system telemetry from a previously lost deep space probe, (MiO indicates that pre-cataclysm Earth sent out dozens of probes into deep space in all directions).
- The probe reveals a new Earth like planet in a previously unknown, but relatively close star system. (Still would take hundreds of years to reach using standard sub-light drives known to the orbital colonies)
- After much debate, a joint effort is begun to use a large asteroid & create a generational ship. An advanced AI, based on A.R.C.H.I.E & S.C.A.R.A.B technology (Rifter, can't remember which one) is designed to command the mission during its long journey. This AI also serves as the eventual basis for N.E.X.U.S.
- Most of new colonists are actually frozen embreyos of human, animal, & plant stocks. Only a small number of adult colonists are placed in stasis for the long journey. M.O.N.I.T.O.R. is designed to awaken the new colonists, & help educate the new baby colonists about their origins in safe shipboard environment 20 years before the ship arrives at its destination.
- Due to spaceborne radiation, & localized space phenomena, much of M.O.N.I.T.O.R.'s historical database is damaged. Only the first generation of adult colonists even remember being from Earth, eventually even this knowledge is lost.
- Hundreds of years pass, & Splicers world becomes as it is now.

Far away into the stars, the original orbital colonies themselves have decayed in their orbits, & burned up into Earth's atmosphere. The few humans that survive on the Earth's surface, are the thralls of dozens of Demon lords, & Alien Intelligences, so there is no help that can come from the original homeworld.

NOTE: I'm considering putting together a Rifter article around this idea. Applications of the concept would include playing in MiO campaign either for or against the deep space colony plan, as well as sabotage, subterfuge, engineering & mining challenges etc. This could also allow for a Space 1999 style campaign as the small human / mutant animal crew of the generational ship, as it travels to its far off destination (& the possibility of encountering new alien species - & getting new genetic information from them). And finally, some Technojackers, & Bookworms might learn that the original ark is still in orbit. The possibility of pure Earth strain genetic stocks would make a tempting target. N.E.X.U.S. may also realize that there would be a lot of advanced space technology aboard the Ark as well. Is M.O.N.I.T.O.R. still active? How would it react to the interlopers. As ally or a new enemy? What other secrets does the Ark hold?

[Jockitch74]

From the Splicer Development Group thread:

I've got a work in progress idea for a link between Rifts Earth & the Splicers planet. In broad strokes:

- Splicers planet is in fact a colony world.
- It exists in the far future of Rifts Earth (a couple hundred to thousands of years after 109 P.A.)
- The original colonists were actually from the assorted Orbital colonies (see MiO Mutants in Orbit)
- Original orbitals were clearly skilled in genetic engineering (mutant animals from MiO), and were fairly well stocked in a wide variety of Earth based plant & animal genetic samples.
- Due to lack of long term living space requirements for the various colonies, coupled with generational population expansion, the orbital colonies realized that they would run out of usable, habitable space within 2 - 3 generations.
- The colonies & Moon Base at some point start receiving star system telemetry from a previously lost deep space probe, (MiO indicates that pre-cataclysm Earth sent out dozens of probes into deep space in all directions).
- The probe reveals a new Earth like planet in a previously unknown, but relatively close star system. (Still would take hundreds of years to reach using standard sub-light drives known to the orbital colonies)
- After much debate, a joint effort is begun to use a large asteroid & create a generational ship. An advanced AI, based on A.R.C.H.I.E & S.C.A.R.A.B technology (Rifter, can't remember which one) is designed to command the mission during its long journey. This AI also serves as the eventual basis for N.E.X.U.S.
- Most of new colonists are actually frozen embreyos of human, animal, & plant stocks. Only a small number of adult colonists are placed in stasis for the long journey. M.O.N.I.T.O.R. is designed to awaken the new colonists, & help educate the new baby colonists about their origins in safe shipboard environment 20 years before the ship arrives at its destination.
- Due to spaceborne radiation, & localized space phenomena, much of M.O.N.I.T.O.R.'s historical database is damaged. Only the first generation of adult colonists even remember being from Earth, eventually even this knowledge is lost.
- Hundreds of years pass, & Splicers world becomes as it is now.

Far away into the stars, the original orbital colonies themselves have decayed in their orbits, & burned up into Earth's atmosphere. The few humans that survive on the Earth's surface, are the thralls of dozens of Demon lords, & Alien Intelligences, so there is no help that can come from the original homeworld.

NOTE: I'm considering putting together a Rifter article around this idea. Applications of the concept would include playing in MiO campaign either for or against the deep space colony plan, as well as sabotage, subterfuge, engineering & mining challenges etc. This could also allow for a Space 1999 style campaign as the small human / mutant animal crew of the generational ship, as it travels to its far off destination (& the possibility of encountering new alien species - & getting new genetic information from them). And finally, some Technojackers, & Bookworms might learn that the original ark is still in orbit. The possibility of pure Earth strain genetic stocks would make a tempting target. N.E.X.U.S. may also realize that there would be a lot of advanced space technology aboard the Ark as well. Is M.O.N.I.T.O.R. still active? How would it react to the interlopers. As ally or a new enemy? What other secrets does the Ark hold?

Really interesting idea.

[Jockitch74]

I have it in the 3 galaxies. Theres something about a system that is over run by nanites. Its in the 3 Galaxies book. Can't remember the page number off hand.

[Aramanthus]

I remember reading that too. I also don't remember the page number either.

[cornholioprime]

I have it in the 3 galaxies. Theres something about a system that is over run by nanites. Its in the 3 Galaxies book. Can't remember the page number off hand.

Yes...but if memory serves that planet is COMPLETELY devoid of all life.

Different planet and solar system altogether.

(Not to mention that IRL most of the 3 Galaxies/Phase World Books were writen by a different author almost 10 years earlier.)

[Aramanthus]

I'll look it up after I get home from both work and my excercise routine.

[Jockitch74]

I have it in the 3 galaxies. Theres something about a system that is over run by nanites. Its in the 3 Galaxies book. Can't remember the page number off hand.

Yes...but if memory serves that planet is COMPLETELY devoid of all life.

Different planet and solar system altogether.

(Not to mention that IRL most of the 3 Galaxies/Phase World Books were writen by a different author almost 10 years earlier.)

True, but for me its an excellent way to put Splicers somewhere in my game. Change a few things here and there and walla.

[Aramanthus]

Which ever GM and player should remember about all of these games PB publishes. Have fun and use whatever material you want too for your game. Please keep us posted as to how it goes. I know I want hear about it.

[TechnoGothic]

I am Late to the Question...

For me, Colony Planet 100%

I set in somewhere in the 3 Galaxies.
This way characters from Phase World may show up on a Quest for Earth or the Forge. Only to discover the Bio-Tech using humans and the machine...
Also allows splicer characters to leave the world some day, some how.

THE SPLICE MUST FLOW