![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
(I present the following in the hope of healthy debate and a greater understanding of the game world. Please don't hurt me!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
DC was my go to RPG for many years and I was overjoyed to discover that there is a 3rd Ed in the works (almost as happy as I was to find this forum!).
As a game master, DC was my guilty pleasure. This was a game world that allowed me to conduct communal stories that appealed to me more than the other “generic” style game worlds. The ability to send my players into a tail spin with subtle twists and hidden agendas gave me hours of fun.
There is one thing that has never sat right with me in regards to the game world though. I could never bring myself to “believe” the day to day tech and social aspects. I just can’t see people going backwards, tech wise, no matter how bad things get (until nothing at all works, then I can see humanity having no issues picking up clubs and rocks
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
In some ways, the day to day back drop of DC stole a lot of the conspiracy IMHO. A conspiracy should be completely hidden. The masses should be blissfully unaware that they are being subverted and used for a conspiracy to work.
I have no issue with the concept of life “sucking” for most people due to poverty and exploitation, but there is no “carrot” that I can see to keep people in place. There is nothing keeping their anger in check and nothing for them to aspire to.
Applying conspiracy theory to our world, the masses are kept in line by media, entertainment and a false sense of protection by governments (in the Western world at least). We aspire to get the latest toys, wear the latest fashion, drive the latest car, etc. The fact that we put ourselves in to major debt, there by forcing the majority to become wage slaves, hardly even registers as a concept for the greater community. The only time most people even give the government a thought is when polices impact directly (loss of work, higher taxes, etc.), or media outlets tell them.
To me, the DC world as set should have imploded. There is nothing but oppression to keep great unwashed masses in check (and when you have nothing left to lose, fear means little long term … especially to angry hungry mobs).
As such I always saw the DC universe as an alternate reality as opposed to a possible reality and for me that took away part of the “fear” for the player.
To me DC would be a truly scary game if the world setting seemed more like the evolution of our existing way of life as opposed to an alternative. All the Dark-Tek, minions, empathy and conspiracies would still fit well IMHO, but their existence would create a far bigger impact once the crumbs of truth become exposed.
Please don’t take these comments as a slight on the game, as I stated I love it. As anyone is able to do in an RPG, I changed the DC setting to suit my wants for the story telling.
It could be argued though that a 20 year old game needs its background tweaked to reflect the changes to the world during that time.
So am I alone in this thinking or did I miss the “point” somewhere along the line?
I am happy to be wrong as long as I get to understand
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)