1) What's the Tech Level in general? I know you said if it's on "Ghost in the Shell" it's possible, but some peeps don't know what that is. Just a brief rundown of a tech level.
-Human modification is broken up into "Classes."
Class III:Fully Cybernetic Body. Essentially a brain in a robot body. Very Rare. Exorbitantly expensive.
Class II: 40%-100% Cybernetic body. Usually attributed to quadrapaligics and others who have suffered extensive trauma. Highly Expensive.
Class I: 10%-39% Cybernetic Body. The second most common class. Included arm, leg, organ, and skeletal prosthesis.
Class 0: Less than 10% Cybernetic body. Most common class. Usually, ocular implants, brain implants, and medical equipment. (pacemakeretc.) Negligible change in strength, etc,
A-Class: Androids. Human Shaped robots that perform menial tasks. Usually stationary. Follow orders. Simple AI.
2) How far reaching is this GNN into the lives of people?
- Should a person make the right choices, they could essentially live without ever needing to experience the GNN. There are many who prefer analog technology and avoiding the GNN would be as simple as you or I giving up the internet. It would still exist and change the world around us, but we decide how personally we let it affect us.
Realistically though, the GNN encompasses countless facets of life. Some examples are: Accessing bank accounts, Browsing the internet, communicating through IM/Phone Calls/E-Mail, Storing information for businesses and government agencies, etc, It is essentially the system that connects of all the world's technology. I hope that makes some sense.
3) Have their been any legal reprocussions of privacy laws being sidestepped or ignored, if it even happens?
- As the level of technology increased at such a fast rate, it is a very delicate legal matter. As Britain has used public CCTV's for many years, the line of where "enough is enough" has yet to be drawn. There are heated arguments on both sides. This is truly a situation where the politicians' generation gap shows the most.
4) Marketing and Advertising, how far do they go to get the attention of customers now? Is it down to a Minority report type of personal ID?
- Although advertising has not become so personal as to refer to you by name, a user can customize their GNN settings to filter out certain "tags" or even list preferences. Higher end signs in the cities can read these settings and advertise accordingly. Most signs are still good-old ink on paper.
5) Speaking of companies, have most of them accepted the new wave of cybernetics and flow with it, or are there still companies that prefer to do business in the traditional style? (IE, old style cars with manual stick shift, CD record labels, etc)
- MP3s/MP4s are the meat and potatoes of music downloads. CD’s are treated with same respect that we treat cassette tapes-in general, not very highly. Albums however are looked at as antiques and are experiencing a revival with the “analog” and “hipster” crowds. In a world where you can download almost any media, it’s cool to be old-fashioned I suppose.
6) Has anyone really jumped to the forefront of the literal "Arms" race for cybernetic parts? (Forgive the pun)
-In compliance with UN regulations and several international treaties, it is a felony “to modify or alter any prosthetic, artificial limb, or cybernetic construct or system, in a manner intended to cause bodily harm or damage to public or private property.” In short: It’s highly illegal to even hollow out a place for a weapon, especially in Britain. Now, that never stopped criminals before…
7) Any new subcultures or the like focusing on cybernetics? Are there any new types of addiction and drugs?”
-The largest new subculture are the “Glossers” although they take that term offensively. It refers to the glossed-over look they have in their eyes. It is a result of staying “inside” the GNN for long periods of time, sometimes several days. They are often malnourished and are looked down upon as those who cannot accept living in “reality.”
- A popular new hook in the party scene however is “Synthing,” based on Synesthesia- a neurological condition that causes a mixing of the senses such as “tasting sounds” or “smelling music” etc. It is where a large party of people will take common recreational drugs, and try to electronically alter and mix their senses while eating, listening to music, during intercourse, etc.
-There are also those who would try to “hack” into their own brains in order to initiate an artificial high. So far, results are ambiguous.
How is politics handling the newfound cyber limbs? Are they embracing it and passing laws left and right to keep up? Or are they kind of sweeping it under the rug until something big happens?
-It is a mix of both, progressive politicians see the need to allow this science too grow safely, while more old-fashioned leaders see the need to regulate the technology, lest the people become “A bunch of damn Swarzeneggar robots!” Sen. Greene, Rep. Ohio.
9) Have there been any notable scandals involving politicians employing new unfound ways to manipulate the technology yet?
-Ironically, the largest scandal on everyone’s minds is the election of Robert Hall. For no reason other than he is the only the third US President to be sworn in unmarried.
10) How about democratic process, if there is any? Is that handled differently now due to practically unhindered access to the GNN?
-There are limitations as to where the GNN can be accessed and in what regard, military/business/government agencies have systems in place to block certain aspects of the GNN in order to protect information. In general, the law systems in most of the world have seen no need to change their processes as of yet.
11) What about the rest of the world? What's going on in, say, America?
- America is the #1 rated country for safe and reliable cybernetic surgeries, followed by Britain, and then Germany and Japan.
-Following WW3, America has pulled most of their military forces back to the mainland, although they still maintain bases in allied countries. For the first time, America has allowed Britain to erect a military base in Washington State.
-Most western countries are seeing an influx in immigration in response to new technology. This has led to stronger immigration reforms across the world.
-South America is recovering from being the largest of the warzones with UN aid.
12) Are global politics any different after WW3?
-With the rise in war crimes, the UN gave power to INTERPOL to train and field agents that would be able to travel to other countries and aid local agencies in the arrest of war criminals only.
-Trade agreements and other minutiae have changed, but it is of little importance to the story.
-The Middle East is as sensitive an area as always and has been largely left alone, save for imports and exports.
-Sadly, the British noble family is no more. ;_;
-After WW3, US President Hanlon resigned from office after repealing his reinstating of the draft.
13) Any new enemies or alliances formed as of WW3?
-North Korea v. Japan, USA, Britain, and Denmark (lolwut?)
-Malaysia v. Australia
-Russia v. China (very tense)
-USA v. Russia (calming)
14) Have the superpowers changes hands at all?
-China and Russia have seen the largest loss in status, but they are still considered superpowers. The current superpowers are considered: USA, Britain, the combined EU, Russia, China.
15) New weapons or developments? (Such as Metal Gear-esque Squad coordination)
-"Future Soldier" systems have been implemented in almost all developed countries. (this will not be a major point in the story buy I'll leave this link to give you an idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Soldier
-In a controversial move, Britain is allowing it's police force to once again carry sidearms and less-lethal weapons. This is to combat the obvious disadvantages an unmodified human would face against a Class III body.
16) Particular famous generals or pioneers?
-US President Arnold Hanlon: reinstated the draft.
-General David Avis: commander of US forces in the S. American front.
-Hank Riley: folk hero of Australian war. No one is sure that he truly exists.
-Dr. Giles Ferrin: the “Father of modern Cybernetics.” I tried to read his files to explain his work to you guys, but I had to lie down after three pages. Just take my word for it.
17) New branches of the military as a result of this?
-Most developed countries have increased funding to their R&D and Intelligence branches to include these new technologies.
-USA, Britain, and Japan are the only three countries with dedicated branches to handle cybercrimes.
Whoo! I hope that whets your appetite for now!
As I will also be PC’ing the director of the ECD, I have one more thing to add:
If I can get at least 4 player characters to join, I will open 2 slots for official ECD agents to act as go-betweens between myself and the PCs. So invite people to join!