Ok, to be clear, he did NOT steal my idea as my idea was never public, he never knew about it, and any judge would rule that his idea was so much better conceived that society would benefit from his while gaining nothing from mine, but let me explain. Monte Cook just release into beta what appears to be a very cool game both in terms of setting and mechanics, Numenera, check it out. In short, it's set one billion years in the future, science is so advanced it seems like magic, and nano-technology is pervasive, and the foundation of much of this magic. (Really, go check out his description not mine.)
What is interesting is that the campaign I am starting with my kids, and that I am developing is very similar ... my notes used the same quote as him, "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", and nanotech is the foundation of all "magic". The characters have no idea it's there.
Here's what I started as an unpublished blog post January 2011 ... months (maybe a year) before Monte's Kickstarter..
I am a total tech head. Almost everything I think or do is focused around technology. I teach digital photography, digital video, publications, video game programming and am the tech coordinator for a school district. I also like being able to explain why things work the way they do.
So, a campaign is born. Set 2500 years in the future. After a great cataclysmic event (technology/man-made) about 500 years from now. Basically nano-tech gone haywire. In the D&D world, all magic is explained by nanotechnology. The micro bots have permeated everything (metachlorian-like) ... they are in flesh, steal, soil, air ... everywhere. They communicate with each other, they can consume and alter matter at the sub atomic level. When properly controlled, they are very powerful. (Mis-use is what led to the cataclysm).
People don't know about the technology. Magic just functions as it does in D&D.
I have alot more notes, and now I am sure I can stea ... um ... barrow ideas from the much more talented Monte. My Pathfinder campaign, is utilizing the various modules and adventure paths, but they are based in my post technological-collapse world. Galorian is Earth for me. I am putting the Inner Sea in Europe. What is awesome about using Earth, is that all the maps I could ever need already exist. I can even use existing structure/blue prints (nano-tech could "heal" buildings). While I am primarily using purchased content, when I have to create something it will be way easier.
Again, to the D&D characters, it's just D&D. They memorize their spells, and when triggered voila, fireball. They don't need to know it's nanotechnology causing it. I picture the spell book full of cyrptic computer language/commands. The gods are all people from during the cataclysm that became powerful through an understanding of the technology.
I also like the idea that no matter what system and in what time we play, I can somehow make it part of the larger campaign. Top Secret is when the nanotech begins and we lose control, Shadow Run is shortly after everything changes, then it collapses into itself and we are in Gamma World for awhile, ultimately we hit D&D/Pathfinder. Just to loop around again. (I envision a Battle Star Galactica-Esque scenario, "All this has happened before, and all this will happen again"). There are layers of nanotech, "new" and "Ancient", deeper and stronger magics. Again, check out Numenera. I was fortunate to be a play tester once, and it has alot going for it. Given the fact that I signed an NDA and did not pay much attention to what that meant I am going to say nothing other than to strongly encourage you to check it out.
