We started a new campaign!
A few of us just started a new campaign! We might have room for one or two more people if anyone has been looking for an opportunity to join in a game of Fully Automated!
I'm not the GM, fyi, so participating is contingent on the preferences of our GM. But I'm excited to finally be trying this game as a player!
Big oof
Am I crazy for assuming that they're in "go for broke" mode, and everyone else assumes this too?
Yeah, that was my thought.
I think it's clear that Biden and the west is banking on collapsing the country economically, which I totally understand as a reasonable idea. But I think that it fails to account for the incredibly unpredictable and negative consequences of collapsing a state. And that's before considering that it's a nuclear state.
It looks pretty cool, although the thing I'm most curious about is whether it has any underlying message or just feigns at it.
I don't expect something controversial, but is it going to say anything about America in 2025? Or is it just an artful presentation of superhero fights? We'll see.
I've heard of at least one: believe it or not, Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C..
They're a socialist Israeli football club popular among leftist Israeli Jews and Arab Israelis. Famously, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli hostage who was killed in Gaza in August was among their fans.
As you can imagine, they face a pretty hostile environment throughout Israel these days.
I think people should also be aware that Israeli football culture is notoriously violent and nationalist. Even by Israeli standards.
It should come as no surprise at this point that Israelis have come to believe in an entitlement to act aggressively anywhere in the world and treat any response as illegitimate and unjustifiable. This has become an inherent part of Israeli nationalist culture from top to bottom at this point.
You know what I find so odd? Her dad is one of Jamaica's most renowned economists. He's a highly respected long-time presence in Jamaican economic policy. His academic and policy work is far to her left, and they're apparently estranged.
I wonder if she's familiar with her dad's work. I wonder if she'd been able to sit down and have dinner with him at any point over the last year and ask his thoughts what he would've said.
That is factually untrue.
Brig Gen Itzik Cohen declared last week that the hundreds of thousands of people remaining in northern Gaza have been reclassified as combatants and no further food will reach them.
They are going to be eliminated, and the land annexed and resettled.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/07/idf-israel-military-no-return-remarks-north-gaza
Awesome! This is an exciting surprise!
I read a preprint of this, and I really loved it. Everyone should check this book out!
I've heard this called "soft climate denial", and unforntuately it's widespread.
People like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi say that they believe in climate change. But let's imagine that we're roommates and you told me that there's an out of control wildfire a few miles away and the governor has told us all to evacuate. One roommate says that they don't belive it and they're staying. And I say 'Shame on you for denying this! I firmly believe in the wildfire. It's urgent that we act now, which is why I've ordered travel maps on Amazon so we can begin plotting our evacuation route as soon as they arrive.'
Would you characterize this is accepting the crisis, or being in a state of soft denial?
What broad coalition?
There was no coalition. It was a campaign by and for white college educated professional women in the suburbs.
That's not a coalition, that's a book club.
Do you know what I'd like to see?
Instead of banning them, ban the extraction of profit on producing and selling them. Turn them into an entirely recreational market. I'd love to see the outcome of trying that.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, because over the last year I was writing the world guide for a solarpunk setting to be used with a tabletop RPG or as a writing guide. And while I was working on this, OpenAI came along and put the Turing test out to pasture.
Several existential crises later, the result looked remarkably like I hadn't thought about it at all: in the game setting, there are robots and they are treated like people. Like Bender on Futurama.
I think @[email protected] (love the username, btw!) is absolutely right that our concerns are all largely shaped by the presumption that today, everything someone builds is built to benefit the creator and manipulate the end user. If that isn't the case, than a convincing android could just be... your neighbor Hassan.
Most machines probably wouldn't have a reason to pretend to be human. But if one wanted to, that's basically transorganicism. No disrespect to OP, but if a machine is sentient, trying to restrict it from presenting as organic seems pretty similar to restrictions on trans people using the restroom that matches their presentation.
And if they are trying to deceive you maliciously, well... I currently know everyone I meet is organic, and I already know not to trust all of them.
I think his intense commitment to getting Trump elected makes more sense when you consider this article.
His enormous wealth is largely stored in the form of Tesla stock, and that stock has been valued based on the belief that it isn't a car company, it's a robotaxi service currently selling the hardware to finance the software development. The value -- and his wealth -- can persist indefinitely as long as investors continue to accept that premise, no matter how long delayed. But if something tangibly undermines that premise, Musk could conceivably lose the majority of his wealth overnight.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency is probably the greatest threat to his wealth. He doesn't worry about competitors or protestors or Twitter users or advertisers. They're all just petty nuisances. But the federal regulator over roads... that is his proverbial killer snail. And I think fully capturing the entire federal regulatory state is his strategy to permanently confine that snail.
More than anything else, I think that's what is motivating his radical embrace of fascism.
I feel like if you think about this for even a minute this seems like the worst possible idea ever.
I mean, sure it's an achievement. But so is smashing the moon into the Earth.
At least 13, likely less than 19. Where you land is contextual to neighborhood and costume. And any age if you're with someone under 10.
DAMN! That's fucking hilarious.
And also... you know. Sad. But boy: it's wild how well that aged.
I'm giving a talk on open source robotics today at 1 PM Pacific!
I volunteered to present a talk on Robot Operating System (ROS) to the Open Automation Club. Details can be found here: https://www.autobio.blog/robot-operating-system-with-andy-gross/
If you want to join, this is the link (although I added the word "POTATO" to prevent bots from doing anything weird. Remove the word POTATO to access the meeting).
https://us06web.zoomPOTATO.us/j/85686205319?pwd=QUuCxqbbfYb3xhjf8X3Nqrn9VGVxHy.1
That doesn't sound at all like the point he was making, but I haven't read the book so I'll withhold further opinions.
Examining Octavia Butler's unpublished Parable of the Sower sequels
I gotta say that I feel weird reading this examination of Octavia Butler's notes.
I'm reading Parable of the Talents right now, and I had to stop. It's gotten too fucking dark. It's about the fascist takeover of America by Christian Nationalists, and a major character just died, and there is sexual exploitation of children... I really like Butler and Parable of the Sower, but this just got so dark I decided to read the summary and find out if I wanted to read more, and I don't think I can read this, at least not right now.
Reading about the unpublished sequels feels even worse. It seems like Butler had a head full of so much darkness and cynicism, and her published works were just the processed output after she managed to find the least brutal version of her thoughts. These books were her at her most hopeful! YIKES.
I like her and these books, but I just had to vent about some of this.
An interesting short: "HYPERVOLTAIC CHRONICLES" by THE LINE ANIMATION
Project: Hypervoltaic Chronicles Client: The Line Animation Music & Sound Design: Box of Toys Audio BACKGROUND / Hypervoltaic Chronicles" is a client-funded…
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/14202920
> There was a post on Reddit that praised the ubiquitous "Dear Alice" commercial, and inevitably a comment criticizing praise for a commercial. This led to me to wonder more about who it was that made this famous solarpunk advertisement. The answer is an animation studio called The Line. I went looking at some of their other work, and came across this interesting demo short for what appears to be a proof of concept or pilot for a solarpunky animated monster hunting series. > > I don't love the heavy use of guns. But setting that aside, I think the art is interesting. I'm fascinated to see what people are doing with the artistic and conceptual toolset solarpunk offers, and I think this is a use case that I wouldn't mind seeing more of. > > Unfortunately, this demo is as far as the project went. But I'm happy to see that the folks at The Line appear to have some broader interest in solarpunk, and I hope they keep putting it into practice in unique ways.
An interesting short: "HYPERVOLTAIC CHRONICLES" by THE LINE ANIMATION
Project: Hypervoltaic Chronicles Client: The Line Animation Music & Sound Design: Box of Toys Audio BACKGROUND / Hypervoltaic Chronicles" is a client-funded…
There was a post on Reddit that praised the ubiquitous "Dear Alice" commercial, and inevitably a comment criticizing praise for a commercial. This led to me to wonder more about who it was that made this famous solarpunk advertisement. The answer is an animation studio called The Line. I went looking at some of their other work, and came across this interesting demo short for what appears to be a proof of concept or pilot for a solarpunky animated monster hunting series.
I don't love the heavy use of guns. But setting that aside, I think the art is interesting. I'm fascinated to see what people are doing with the artistic and conceptual toolset solarpunk offers, and I think this is a use case that I wouldn't mind seeing more of.
Unfortunately, this demo is as far as the project went. But I'm happy to see that the folks at The Line appear to have some broader interest in solarpunk, and I hope they keep putting it into practice in unique ways.
Solarpunk Presents just released an episode on Fully Automated!
Attached: 1 image What a treat we have this week! @[email protected] had on one of our developers to discuss Fully Automated, #solarpunk #worldbuilding, and #rpg s in general! Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsrCIYMyaHU https:/...
Full disclosure: I'm the one in the interview. But still, I think this was a great episode! I really appreciated the questions Ariel asked and where the conversation went. There's so much I wish we could've covered, but considering the limitations of time, I have no regrets.
Share thoughts. I think there are other podcasts that would be a good fit to discuss this game. If so, though I'd encourage other devs of the game to consider going on. I think the diversity of perspectives would be cool to hear.
New adventure idea: Rock-a-by Baby!
I had this idea for an adventure. I wanted to post it here so I don't forget it, and also to share it in case anyone else wants to use parts of this.
~
Players investigate a fatal industrial accident in a mining project by a fault line management agency. They discover that the deceased had uncovered a conspiracy: the agency has been slowly infiltrated at multiple levels by members of the suicide cult NostroCramo. This group believes that the world is a simulation, and seeks to crash the simulation to liberate themselves and anyone else who is trapped in it, and they've become convinced that triggering a massive earthquake will do it.
To do so, they've infiltrated the Seismic Management Division of the Pacifican Department of Geology, which is responsible for conducting deep subterranean operations to execute small controlled releases of energy along fault lines. Their plan has been to use the agency's resources to do the exact opposite purpose: instead of modeling out the safest way to release energy, they've been setting up an energy release meant to trigger the biggest possible release along the entire San Andreas fault line ever: the first magnitude 10+ quake.
The players have to investigate the death, discover that the accident was really a murder, uncover the conspiracy, then make their way through mine shafts to disable the charges. They must work their way all the way to the location of the largest charge in a bunker sitting 7 km down within the earth's crust. They can initially be trying to move undetected to avoid motivating the cultists to trigger the charges early, and then later be racing them down to the last and deepest one.
(I'm calling it "Rock-a-bye Baby" for now, although I'm pretty sure I can do better than that. Feel free to suggest cooler names.)
We now have videos! An introduction AND actual play videos!
Fully Automated! is an open source tabletop RPG set in a solarpunk future! This channel is for hosting videos related to the game.
I created a brief introductory video explaining the premise of the game, another describing the premade characters, and four actual play videos to show folks what the game looks like in practice!
I've uploaded these to YouTube and of course PeerTube as well!
https://video.everythingbagel.me/c/fully_automated/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@FullyAutomatedRPG-nz1wh
I don't plan on making any more content at the moment, but I'm glad to have a few videos that I think might help people who want to know more get a clearer picture on what this is. And if we happen to make more video content in the future, we now have somewhere to put it!
We're now listed on RPGGeek.com!
An open world solarpunk adventure RPG styled after classic multiplayer pen-and-paper tabletop role playing games. This game is the product of an independent open-source collective. Details on the project can be found on their website: https://fullyautomatedrpg.com. ~~~ Get ready for adventures in...
RPGGeek.com is a website for rating and discussing role playing games. We now have a product listing there. If anyone is registered to the site, consider going on and leaving a rating or review!
I just read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and I can't believe it took me until now to read it.
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/13156086
> Parable of the Sower is such a good book. > >First, it's interesting that it starts right about now. The book starts in mid-2024, and even mentions that its an election year. That was a fascinating experience to read a scifi book in the moment in time in which it is set. It still feels like it takes place about 20 years in the future. It was written 31 years ago, so politically things have seemed to move as many steps forward as backward. It seems like a lot of things have not gotten better and worse than when Butler wrote it, so in some sense I feel like I'm looking at it as a near future in the same way as when it was written a generation ago. I guess I'm glad things didn't go as badly as in the story, but it's rough that the looming threat from 30 years ago feels the same distance away now as then. > >Second, it's painful to read. Although the events described in the book haven't happened in the book's setting -- California -- the social collapse and migrations described have happened in Honduras, Gaza, Yemen, and certainly others I'm not aware of. It was really hard to read that and know that it was already real somewhere. > >Third, as a solarpunk novel -- and really as general fiction -- it feels like it should be part of a high school curriculum. It's really well written and an engrossing read. Since publishing Fully Automated, I often relate solarpunk stories to that game. What might I have added to the game if I'd read this before? How well does it naturally fit? One thing that struck me is that her emerging in-world faith -- Earthseed -- reminds me quite a bit of elements of Seekerism, a new faith tradition in Fully Automated. I wish I'd known and included direct references to Earthseed, but it's nice when the game has alignment with great works that I wasn't directly familiar with. > > Has anyone else read this? What do you folks think?
I just read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and I can't believe it took me until now to read it.
Parable of the Sower is such a good book.
First, it's interesting that it starts right about now. The book starts in mid-2024, and even mentions that its an election year. That was a fascinating experience to read a scifi book in the moment in time in which it is set. It still feels like it takes place about 20 years in the future. It was written 31 years ago, so politically things have seemed to move as many steps forward as backward. It seems like a lot of things have not gotten better and worse than when Butler wrote it, so in some sense I feel like I'm looking at it as a near future in the same way as when it was written a generation ago. I guess I'm glad things didn't go as badly as in the story, but it's rough that the looming threat from 30 years ago feels the same distance away now as then.
Second, it's painful to read. Although the events described in the book haven't happened in the book's setting -- California -- the social collapse and migrations described have happened in Honduras, Gaza, Yemen, and certainly others I'm not aware of. It was really hard to read that and know that it was already real somewhere.
Third, as a solarpunk novel -- and really as general fiction -- it feels like it should be part of a high school curriculum. It's really well written and an engrossing read. Since publishing Fully Automated, I often relate solarpunk stories to that game. What might I have added to the game if I'd read this before? How well does it naturally fit? One thing that struck me is that her emerging in-world faith -- Earthseed -- reminds me quite a bit of elements of Seekerism, a new faith tradition in Fully Automated. I wish I'd known and included direct references to Earthseed, but it's nice when the game has alignment with great works that I wasn't directly familiar with.
Has anyone else read this? What do you folks think?
Campaign 1: Regulation; The Soundtrack!
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/13067768
> I finally got around to making a playlist of the music used to score the starter campaign, Fully Automated: Regulation! > > I think it's a collection of real bangers. I hope that for people who haven't played these stories, this might give an enticing taste of what to expect. And for people who might've played, perhaps it takes you back to some memorable moments. > > Demonstration of Power > > - The stakeout: “This DJ” by Warren G > - Fight scene!: “Dare to be Stupid”, covered by The Cybertronic Spree > - Roll credits: “Fine”, by Lemon Demon > > Psychonautica > > - Opening Sparing match: “Champion” by Buju Banton > - Entering neurospace: “Just dropped in” by Kenny Roger > - The mindscape: “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C.” by André 3000 > - Dance battle: “Do the Damn Thing” by Rupee > - The Bathhouse: “Ants to You, Gods to Who?” by André 3000 > - Android assault: “Robot Rock” by Daft Punk > - Synthesizing the cure: “The Oligo Separation Verse” and “Analytical Gangster” by True Speak > - Roll credits: “Pony” by Deluxe > > Piece of Mind > > - Surf Intro: “Cecilia Ann” by The Pixies > - Fighting back: “Headshot” by she > - Starting the investigation: “No Time for Dreaming” by Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band > - Sneaking around: “The Sensual Woman” by The Herbaliser > - Piecing things together: “Cause for Alarm” by The Heavy > - Research montage, pt.1: “Metrocenter 84” by Sunset Neon. > - Research montage, pt.2: “You Rock Me” by she > - Making a plan: “Drag and Drop” by the Soul Motivator > - Showtime: “Swing Break” by the McMash Clan, feat. Kate Mullins > - Showdown: “Mastermind” by Deltron 3030 and Dan the Automater > - Showdown, cont’d: “Don’t Get In My Way” by Zach Hemsey > - Roll credits: “UNLVD” by Socalled > > Olives Fair in Love and War > > - Vampire fight: “Dark Entities” cover by Daniel Guerra Caballero > - Roll credits: “Birdhouse in your Soul” by They Might Be Giants
Campaign 1: Regulation; The Soundtrack!
I finally got around to making a playlist of the music used to score the starter campaign, Fully Automated: Regulation!
I think it's a collection of real bangers. I hope that for people who haven't played these stories, this might give an enticing taste of what to expect. And for people who might've played, perhaps it takes you back to some memorable moments.
Demonstration of Power
- The stakeout: “This DJ” by Warren G
- Fight scene!: “Dare to be Stupid”, covered by The Cybertronic Spree
- Roll credits: “Fine”, by Lemon Demon
Psychonautica
- Opening Sparing match: “Champion” by Buju Banton
- Entering neurospace: “Just dropped in” by Kenny Roger
- The mindscape: “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C.” by André 3000
- Dance battle: “Do the Damn Thing” by Rupee
- The Bathhouse: “Ants to You, Gods to Who?” by André 3000
- Android assault: “Robot Rock” by Daft Punk
- Synthesizing the cure: “The Oligo Separation Verse” and “Analytical Gangster” by True Speak
- Roll credits: “Pony” by Deluxe
Piece of Mind
- Surf Intro: “Cecilia Ann” by The Pixies
- Fighting back: “Headshot” by she
- Starting the investigation: “No Time for Dreaming” by Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band
- Sneaking around: “The Sensual Woman” by The Herbaliser
- Piecing things together: “Cause for Alarm” by The Heavy
- Research montage, pt.1: “Metrocenter 84” by Sunset Neon.
- Research montage, pt.2: “You Rock Me” by she
- Making a plan: “Drag and Drop” by the Soul Motivator
- Showtime: “Swing Break” by the McMash Clan, feat. Kate Mullins
- Showdown: “Mastermind” by Deltron 3030 and Dan the Automater
- Showdown, cont’d: “Don’t Get In My Way” by Zach Hemsey
- Roll credits: “UNLVD” by Socalled
Olives Fair in Love and War
- Vampire fight: “Dark Entities” cover by Daniel Guerra Caballero
- Roll credits: “Birdhouse in your Soul” by They Might Be Giants
I love this artist's work (Joan_de_art). This vision of a city really captures how i picture Los Angeles in Fully Automated.
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/12656646
> Created by /u/joan_de_art on Reddit.
I recorded a podcast episode about Fully Automated!
I just wanted to share that I recorded an upcoming episode of the Solarpunk Presents podcast!
I recorded it last Thursday, so I'm guessing it'll probably come out in September. I hope it went well. I'm a little concerned I was overcaffinated and also got too excited and might sound like it. But hopefully that won't be too much of a problem.
I'm very excited to hear it. The conversation felt very lively, and I'm eager to see what comes of it.
If anyone knows of other opportunities to talk on streams or podcasts, let us know! You can offer to go on yourself or refer another person. Cheers!