[Interest Check] Deus Ex

[Valkyrur]

I think there should be a fair bit of interest, but I figured I rather have a bit of discussion about a possible role play before moving to start it up.

For those who don't know about Deus Ex...

In order of chronology (In the game, that is)

It begins with Deus Ex: Human Revolution where 'augmentations' - technological tools that enhances a person's physical or mental abilities - are still new and quite recently implemented. The augmentation in this era is still bio-mechanical in nature and fairly easy to observe. Not everyone is compatible with augmentations, and some have some sort of biological reaction to it.

After that game, no matter what the player choice. Technology progresses to develop 'nano-technological augmentation'. In Deus Ex, these augmentations (called 'nano-augs' for short). I didn't play this series, so I'm not too sure about this one, but I think nano-augs already look exactly like biological parts. In other words, a nano-augmented hand looks like a real human hand.

In Deus Ex: Invisible War, the technological enhancements are called 'bio-mods'. I'm not too sure what happened to nano-augs, but these bio-mods are pretty similar to nano-augs. This is the last game in the series.

I think it'll stay that way, considering how wide-ranging the possible endings for that last game is. Spoilers ahead.

Spoiler

Invisible War had multiple endings which determine the actual fate of the Earth and it's people. On one hand, you could have Helios from Deus Ex to take power, and continue leading the people. Helios, being a super-computer, is 'perfect' and counts every person in its decision. Here, the JC Denton ending. Everyone is equipped with bio-mods. A perfect democracy is made.

Or if in Invisible War, you let the Illumati regain power... It looks like capitalism to me? I'm not sure about the real definitions for the term, but either way, the global economy has been restored and the world experiences an age of prosperity. Ophelia, some unknown entity monitors and controls every citizen... Okay, it sounds like some kind of dictatorship now. Here. The Illumati Ending.

Or maybe you thought the Templar sounds like a cool name. You let the Templars take over the world. I disliked this ending most. Apparently, the Templars has returned the world back into the Dark Ages. I think bio-mods have been removed as well, but I'm not sure. Here for the Templar Ending.

... Or you couldn't make a decision. So you decide to stay neutral. All factions were apparently equal in strength with no upper hand gained from your decision so the world ultimately succumbs to all-out war. This ultimately destroys the world enough to make it look really like Casshern Sins (an anime, lol). In this post-apocalyptic world, the 'Omar' has taken power... I've no idea who these 'Omar' are... Or whoever that guy lying down at the end is. Looks really Al Bhed. Kinda reminds me of the part where the Home was destroyed eh? Desert, check. Goggle-like glasses, check. Whatever. Here, the Omar Ending.

EDIT:

I found out about the Omar. They're a group of almost fully, or fully, bio-modded humans that share a group mind. In other words, they are like the Geth in Mass Effect. Except they're humans... Or trans-human. Whatever.

Well, read the spoiler or not, it's up to you. Either way, non-linearity of such games really make it quite a hassle to know where to place the role play. I think the only options we have for now is either before Human Revolution, after it, during Deus Ex, or some time after Deus Ex.

However, going at it before Human Revolution means that technology is still not developed enough that augmentations are near-human looking. They may not be compatible for some people... Still advanced and cool though.

After Human Revolution would be difficult. We will need to choose one of the endings, but either way, the world continues to progress into Deus Ex, with nano-augs, so I think what happened after that is implied. Technology probably progressed either way with the development of augmentations.

During Deus Ex is a possibility, since we can just ignore the main storyline and act out a path that may be following the actual game's timeline - just not involving the main character in the original game. We may receive news about the game's storyline progress at random, or we may not. Hm.

Some time after Deus Ex would be interesting. I think if Eidos wishes to make another Deus Ex, they would do it some time after Deus Ex, and before Invisible War. During this period, there is 'The Collapse', a period of economic depression and war that led to the formation of various factions that would later be involved in Invisible War. We could assume the Invisible War explanation of Deus Ex's events as canon and just work on that period.

What think you guys? The different choices would make the role play different in some way or another. Say, choosing 'some time after Deus Ex' would mean the plot will be more linear since it would most likely be about getting involved in a war. Or choosing 'during Deus Ex' would allow for more freedom. You could go at the role play like Grand Theft Auto (Like I literally did in Human Revolution) or play it like... Uh. Basically, there's more freedom.

Feel free to share other ideas and stuff. This is just a planning stage. I'll have to iron out all these details before getting to the real sign up thread.

That and some features for the role play I have in mind:

If you played Human Revolution (not sure about Deus Ex and Invisible War), you would realize your actions are sometimes reported in the newspapers. Lol. I know for sure since it happened to me for a not-so-good reason.

So, I was thinking perhaps there could actually be dedicated writers to create random newspaper articles for the role play... Okay. After typing this out, I think it sounds crazy, but I'll just leave it here for you guys to consider.

An events system like in Evanescent Fairytale or Eureka Academy is quite likely to exist... I won't be using it to guide character behavior though, just using it to keep track of what's going on. Maybe a 'summary system' is a better word for it hm?

Which gives me another idea as I type. I think for this role play, it would be nice if everyone writes a simple summary of what happened in the post so it's easier for people who are slower to speed read enough to get a post to continue this role play... Hm... Honestly, the fun in role playing is reading, so I suppose it's weird to have this idea up but I guess it makes it easier for people to keep up.

And I've no idea about plots yet. If you have a big idea, share it!

Long post. I think a lot more research needs to be done regarding the era later on, but I'll leave that out for now.

 

[ribbit]

After that game, no matter what the player choice. Technology progresses to develop 'nano-technological augmentation'. In Deus Ex, these augmentations (called 'nano-augs' for short). I didn't play this series, so I'm not too sure about this one, but I think nano-augs already look exactly like biological parts. In other words, a nano-augmented hand looks like a real human hand.

Just to clear things up here, nano augmentations are basically injected into the person while mechanical augmentations are physical features that are added onto the body (like metal arms ). Gunther Hermann and Anna Navarre are the last two mech augs from the looks of it in the original.

After Human Revolution would be difficult. We will need to choose one of the endings, but either way, the world continues to progress into Deus Ex, with nano-augs, so I think what happened after that is implied. Technology probably progressed either way with the development of augmentations.

Deus Ex's augmentation progress is more of Taggart's proposal. There is augmentation, but it's on a tight leash and only used in the military (UNATCO). You may have had to have played the original (as I have multiple times) to see this, but the breakthrough in augmentation technology that Doctor Reed made was for nano augmentations. The secret ending is where she goes to Bob Page to continue her work that eventually is tested on Paul Denton and his brother JC.

During Deus Ex is a possibility, since we can just ignore the main storyline and act out a path that may be following the actual game's timeline - just not involving the main character in the original game. We may receive news about the game's storyline progress at random, or we may not. Hm.

Why on Earth would you ignore the game's actual story? It's amazing. If you were going to do it, you'd have to go after Invisible War. I haven't played it, so I don't know how it ends (and quite frankly, I don't really care xP Invisible War was crap compared to the original). To not involve JC Denton is a sin , so you'd be better off going after Invisible War. I would have played it, but that game can't play on any modern PC

Some time after Deus Ex would be interesting. I think if Eidos wishes to make another Deus Ex, they would do it some time after Deus Ex, and before Invisible War. During this period, there is 'The Collapse', a period of economic depression and war that led to the formation of various factions that would later be involved in Invisible War. We could assume the Invisible War explanation of Deus Ex's events as canon and just work on that period.

This wouldn't be possible. Eidos Montreal had a very limited point of time that hadn't been planned out through books and other media throughout DX and IW. At least that's what I heard. I'd still go after it, because the Collapse was caused by JC's choice at Area 51 in the original, and Invisible War kind of mixes all 3 choices together. So really besides what's been "documented" in the games, nothing worthy of note happened in between the original and Invisible War that could be led into IW.

I'd be interested, but I've never RP'd before. Although I've got quite a bit of Deus Ex knowledge and I'm not half bad of a writer (just uncomfortable about people seeing my work and reading others') so I could probably give this a go.

 

[Valkyrur]

Thanks for expressing interest. This role play would probably be better with a player that knows the game's setting well. I've only played Human Revolution, so I do not know about the original Deus Ex. And well, the story is great, but I thought role playing it as it happens in the game would be like playing the game itself. From what I see, the tendency of the role play to die out appears to be higher.

And apparently, Invisible War did involve JC Denton, only not as a main character. Apparently, he fused with Helios and has developed a future for humanity that he deems perfect. If the player decides to go with him, he creates a perfect democracy where everyone's views are counted. At least, that's what I understand of the ending. There's another video where he explains what would happen if the player chooses his ending. Fairly detailed, and explains more.

 

[Tipsynaruto]

Hm.. currently playing and im loving the hell out of Human Revolution, though i havent played the others. When you get more finalised with setting and such, i might give it a go, depdning on things

 

[ribbit]

And apparently, Invisible War did involve JC Denton, only not as a main character. Apparently, he fused with Helios and has developed a future for humanity that he deems perfect. If the player decides to go with him, he creates a perfect democracy where everyone's views are counted. At least, that's what I understand of the ending. There's another video where he explains what would happen if the player chooses his ending. Fairly detailed, and explains more.

Yeah, fusing with Helios was one option at the end of the original, and they just kind of mixed a bit of all 3 endings together into Invisible War. JC's younger brother (or sister depending on your choice), Alex, is the main character of the second. I haven't really seen much because my computer refused to play it, so I know next to nothing about it. But if you enjoyed Human Revolution, the original might be enjoyable. I personally love it. I have a playthrough going right now so I'm still fresh on what goes on, and I remember/learn more things each time. Not sure how you'd put the multiple choices to complete things in here, because you pretty much have that choice anyways I'd assume Although I know next to nothing on how RPing works besides what I've seen in a few threads that I've skimmed.

 

[Valkyrur]

Here:

http://finalfantasyforums.net/showthread.php?t=50116