eclipseadmin's Blog

• Floating Cities for Venus
• Floating cities for water worlds
• Nanoplastic
• Spray-on laser shields.
• Jetpacks!

These links and more can be found at http://delicious.com/infomorph

Eclipse Phase Contributor Bio

Real Name: Brian Cross
Firewall Codename: Kylleran
Eclipse Phase Background Equivalency: Loonie/Argonaut
Previous Experience: Shadowrun, Fourth Edition, and a few other SR products (both 3rd and 4th)
About Me: I’m a graduate student by day and by night as well. I’m currently writing my dissertation and hope to be set loose upon the world soon. In my spare time I both play and write games and spend a great deal of time planning elaborate escape plans from my current geographical confines.
Transhumanist Interests: I’m both personally and professionally interested in the effects of accelerating technologies on the human-turning-transhuman condition. While I’m skeptical of such ideas as ‘the singularity’ happening on time (January 1, 2050, right?), I do think that the emerging technologies present the best opportunity that has come along in a long time to radically reshape our world into something better, something more egalitarian.
Eclipse Phase Contributions: I co-created the Eclipse Phase concept with Rob Boyle and have contributed to the development of the project as time has allowed. Specifically I’ve worked on the skills and some of the intro materials to the game.
Favorite Thing About Eclipse Phase: I like my sci-fi hard, but I realize not everyone does. In that vein, EP is about as hard as they come but also has a real (trans)human element that should resonate with even the most casual gamer. We’ve made a game that doesn’t sacrifice your post-singularity dystopian best-guess future, but it’s also a game that doesn’t require a Ph.D. in Physics to really get. It’s got something for everyone and it brings a whole new dimension to tabletop RPGs with the uploaded personality system (look ma, no deaths!).

The Outquisition is a term coined by Cory Doctorow for a networked group that works to aid people in a post-apocalyptic scenario:

the Outquisition; the opposite of the Inquisition — missionaries who come to your town to remind you of how awesome it can all be, leave behind a bunch of rad, life-improving systems and tools, and generally get on with the business of being happy, well-fed and peaceful.

Cory tossed around these ideas along with Alex Steffen from WorldChanging, and in response some other folks have launched Outquisition.org.

Imagine these folks like this passing out free textbooks, running holistic programs for kids, creating local knowledge management systems, launching microfinance projects, mobilebanking and complementary currencies. Helping rural landowners apply climate foresight and farm biodiversity. Building cheap, smart, quality housing for displaced people (not to mention better refugee camps), or an Open Architecture Network for cheap informal rehabs of run-down suburban housing. Hacking together DIY windmills and ad hoc smart grids, communication systems, water treatment systems — and getting really good at adaptive reuses of outdated infrastructure. In other words, these folks would be redistributing the future at a furious clip

Eclipse Phase Contributor Bio

Real Name: Rob Boyle
Firewall Codename: Sprite
Eclipse Phase Background Equivalency: Original Space Colonist / Anarchist
Previous Experience: Shadowrun, Fourth Edition, and numerous other Shadowrun and other game titles (full list here)

About Me: I’m a dad and game designer by day and a powernoise DJ, martial arts teacher, and dodgeball player by night. I have worked in the tabletop RPG industry as a writer, editor, and developer for over ten years now. I have been employed by FASA and FanPro and freelance for Catalyst Game Labs and other companies. I co-founded Posthuman Studios as a creator-owned enterprise. I consider myself an anarchist and transhumanist and have spent many years agitating for social change.

Transhumanist Interests: I look towards accelerating technologies as a means of empowering people, instigating radical social upheaval, and countering oppression, injustice, and control. I plan to live forever, and I plan to have fun doing it.

Eclipse Phase Contributions: I co-created the Eclipse Phase concept with Brian Cross and have overseen the entire project as lead developer. I’ve had my hands in all parts of the book, especially Game Concepts and Character Creation.

Favorite Thing About Eclipse Phase: That it portrays a future that is simultaneously cautious but hopeful. The post-apocalyptic flavor and existential risks emphasize that transhumanity walks on a cliff’s edge, but defeating death, creating new social models, exploring space, and other aspects of the game show that the future is still full of possibilities.