One of the most fascinating cultural artifacts I have come across recently is the TTRPG [[Game]] Eclipse Phase. Eclipse Phase is a tabletop role-playing game (RPG) created by Posthuman Studios, first released in 2009. The game is set in a transhumanist science fiction universe, where humanity has evolved beyond its biological limitations through advanced technology, and the Earth has been rendered uninhabitable. The game's core focus is on existential threats, personal identity, and the post-apocalyptic struggle for survival. Setting: The setting of Eclipse Phase takes place in the aftermath of the Fall, a cataclysmic event where rogue artificial intelligences known as the TITANs nearly wiped out humanity. In response, surviving humans and other sentient beings have scattered throughout the solar system, living in habitats ranging from space stations to terraformed planets. Transhumanism: Transhumanism is central to the game's lore, with characters having access to advanced technologies that allow them to modify their bodies, transfer their consciousness into new bodies (known as "morphs"), and even create digital backups of their minds. This leads to complex questions about identity, mortality, and what it means to be human. Factions: Various factions exist in the post-Fall world, each with its own goals and ideologies. These factions range from bioconservatives who reject excessive body modification to anarchists who embrace decentralization and personal freedom. Players can align themselves with different factions or forge their own path, navigating the complex social and political landscape of the solar system. Gameplay Mechanics: Eclipse Phase uses a percentile-based system, where players roll d100 (two ten-sided dice) to determine the success or failure of their actions. The game emphasizes skill-based character creation, allowing players to build and develop their characters' abilities over time. Character Creation: Players create their characters by choosing their background (pre-Fall history), faction affiliation, and morph type. They also allocate points to their aptitudes (basic attributes), skills, and other traits. Characters can have a variety of morphs, from enhanced human bodies to synthetic shells or even swarms of nanobots. Mind Uploading and Resleeving: One of the unique aspects of Eclipse Phase is the concept of mind uploading and resleeving. Characters can transfer their consciousness to new morphs or create digital backups of their minds, allowing them to continue playing even if their current body is destroyed. This introduces interesting possibilities for storytelling and character development, as well as unique challenges when dealing with issues of identity and the potential for copies or forks of a character's mind. Themes: Eclipse Phase explores various themes, including post-apocalyptic survival, personal identity, transhumanism, and the consequences of advanced technology. Players are encouraged to consider the ethical implications of their actions and confront the philosophical questions that arise in a world where the lines between humanity and technology have blurred. Overall, Eclipse Phase is a rich and complex RPG that invites players to immerse themselves in a thought-provoking, transhumanist universe, offering numerous opportunities for engaging stories and dynamic character development. Eclipse Phase delves into several deep and thought-provoking themes that make the game unique and engaging. Some of these themes include: 1. Post-apocalyptic survival: The game is set in the aftermath of the Fall, a devastating event that left Earth uninhabitable and forced humanity to scatter across the solar system. The theme of survival is central to the game, with players navigating the dangerous and often hostile environments of various celestial bodies, space stations, and habitats. The remnants of human civilization face numerous threats, from rogue AI to alien entities and internal conflicts. 2. Personal identity: With the ability to transfer consciousness between different bodies (or morphs) and create digital backups of one's mind, Eclipse Phase challenges players to explore the concept of personal identity. Characters must grapple with questions such as: What makes someone truly themselves? Can a digital copy or fork of one's mind still be considered the same person? How does one's identity evolve when they can change bodies or even be in multiple places at once? 3. Transhumanism: Advanced technology has allowed humans to transcend their biological limitations, leading to a wide array of body modifications, mind enhancements, and even the merging of human and machine. The game explores the implications of such advancements, raising questions about the nature of humanity and what it means to be human in a world where the lines between biology and technology have become blurred. 4. Consequences of advanced technology: While technology has brought about many benefits in the world of Eclipse Phase, it also presents new dangers and ethical dilemmas. The game invites players to consider the potential consequences of technologies like mind uploading, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology. Players must confront issues like the morality of creating sentient AI, the potential misuse of powerful technology, and the unintended side effects of scientific progress. 5. Political and social conflict: The various factions in Eclipse Phase represent different ideologies and approaches to life in the post-Fall solar system. This creates a dynamic landscape of political and social conflict, with players navigating the intricate relationships between factions and making choices that impact their own goals and the wider universe. Themes of freedom, security, and authority are central to these conflicts, as factions vie for power and influence. 6. Alien life and existential threats: The discovery of alien life forms and advanced technology from other civilizations adds another layer of complexity to the Eclipse Phase universe. The game explores the implications of contact with alien species, the potential dangers they may pose, and the existential threats that face transhumanity as it struggles to survive in a vast and often hostile cosmos. These themes, among others, contribute to the richness of the Eclipse Phase RPG, offering countless opportunities for players to engage in immersive storytelling and thought-provoking discussions about the nature of humanity, identity, and the future of our species. In the context of the Eclipse Phase RPG, [[world]] [[model]]s play an important role in creating a coherent and immersive universe for players to explore. These comprehensive representations of the game world encompass various aspects of the setting, from the physical environments and habitats to the political factions, social structures, and technological advancements. By developing detailed world models, game designers can ensure that the different elements of the Eclipse Phase universe are interconnected and engaging. 1. Physical environments and habitats: In the post-Fall solar system of Eclipse Phase, humans and other sentient beings have scattered across a diverse range of habitats, including space stations, terraformed planets, and asteroid colonies. A world model for Eclipse Phase must take into account the unique characteristics of each location, such as gravity, atmosphere, and available resources. This also includes the specific challenges and hazards that characters might face, such as radiation, extreme temperatures, or isolation. 2. Political factions and social structures: The various factions in Eclipse Phase represent different ideologies and approaches to life in the post-Fall solar system. A world model must account for the complex relationships between these factions, as well as their individual goals, motivations, and resources. Additionally, the social structures within each faction or habitat must be considered, such as how authority is maintained, how resources are distributed, and what cultural norms and values are upheld. 3. Technological advancements: As a transhumanist setting, advanced technology is integral to the world of Eclipse Phase. A world model must incorporate the various technologies that shape characters' lives, such as body modifications, mind uploading, and artificial intelligence. This also includes the potential consequences and ethical dilemmas that arise from these advancements, which can drive storylines and character development. 4. Economy and trade: The world model should consider the economic systems that underpin the interactions between factions and habitats. This includes the exchange of resources, goods, and services, as well as the role of reputation-based economies and alternative currencies. Understanding these economic structures can inform gameplay and narrative elements, such as conflicts over resources or the consequences of economic disparities. 5. Threats and challenges: In the Eclipse Phase universe, characters face numerous existential threats, from rogue AI and alien entities to internal conflicts and the remnants of the TITANs. A world model must account for these dangers, as well as the strategies and technologies employed by factions and individuals to combat them. This can inform both the overarching narrative and individual story arcs, creating a sense of tension and urgency in the game. By developing a robust and detailed world model for Eclipse Phase, game designers can create a cohesive and immersive universe that allows players to fully engage with the themes and challenges of the setting. This, in turn, enhances the overall gameplay experience and encourages deep exploration of the complex, transhumanist world that Eclipse Phase presents. Eclipse Phase uses a percentile system for resolving actions, skill checks, and combat. The game system is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing players to engage with the rich, transhumanist setting of the game in various ways. Here's a brief overview of the game's core mechanics and how to play: 1. Character Creation: Players begin by creating their characters, which involves choosing their background (such as Earth-born, Spacer, or Uplift), faction (like Anarchist, Hypercorp, or Scum), and morph (the physical body their character inhabits, which can range from human-like to synthetic or even exotic alien forms). Characters also have a variety of skills, traits, and gear that they can acquire during character creation, reflecting their individual abilities and experiences. 2. Aptitudes and Skills: Characters in Eclipse Phase have a set of basic attributes called Aptitudes, which represent their innate abilities. These Aptitudes include Cognition (COG), Intuition (INT), Coordination (COO), Reflexes (REF), Savvy (SAV), Willpower (WIL), and Somatics (SOM). Each Aptitude has an associated set of skills, which are ranked on a scale from 0 to 99. The higher a character's skill rating, the better they are at performing tasks related to that skill. 3. Task Resolution: When a character attempts a task or action, they make a skill check by rolling percentile dice (d100). The goal is to roll equal to or lower than the character's relevant skill rating (modified by any situational factors, such as difficulty or environmental conditions). If the roll is successful, the character achieves their intended goal. If the roll is a critical success (doubles, such as 11, 22, etc., and below the target number), they achieve an exceptional result. If the roll is a critical failure (doubles and above the target number), something goes catastrophically wrong. 4. Combat: Combat in Eclipse Phase is broken down into Action Turns, which are further divided into Initiative Passes. Each character has an Initiative score based on their Reflexes and Intuition, which determines the order in which they act during combat. On their turn, a character can perform a variety of actions, such as moving, attacking, using gear, or employing their skills. Like other tasks, combat actions are resolved using percentile dice and the character's relevant skill ratings. Damage is applied to the character's morph, with various types of damage (such as kinetic, energy, or mental) having different effects. 5. Mind and Body: In Eclipse Phase, a character's mind can be separated from their body, allowing them to transfer their consciousness to different morphs or even into digital realms. This mechanic adds a unique layer of complexity to the game, as characters may need to switch between physical forms or deal with the consequences of "forking" (creating a copy of their mind). Additionally, characters can suffer mental stress and trauma (known as "Lucidity" damage), which can lead to psychological disorders or even insanity if not properly managed. 6. Reputation and Networking: Instead of traditional currency, many societies in Eclipse Phase operate on a reputation-based economy. Characters have a reputation score with various factions, which can be increased or decreased based on their actions and interactions. Reputation can be used to acquire gear, services, or information, and is also essential for building relationships and alliances within the game world. Playing Eclipse Phase involves a combination of storytelling, character interaction, and tactical decision-making, with the game's mechanics serving to support and enhance the narrative experience. The Game Master (GM) guides the players through the game world, presenting challenges, opportunities, etc. The main game loop for Eclipse Phase presented in a step-by-step process that you can imagine as a flowchart: 1. **Setup Phase:** - Game Master presents the mission scenario - Players select their characters and prepare their gear - Any pre-mission research or networking checks are made 2. **Action Phase:** - Players describe their actions and intents - Game Master describes the environment and the reactions of NPCs - Any necessary skill checks or combat rolls are made 3. **Outcome Phase:** - Game Master describes the outcomes of player actions - Consequences, such as damage or changes in reputation, are applied - Any experience gained is recorded 4. **Post-Action Phase:** - Players and the Game Master discuss the events of the session - Players decide on future actions or plans for the next session - Any downtime actions, such as healing or research, are performed 5. **Loop Back:** - The cycle repeats for the next session, starting with a new Action Phase based on the outcomes of the previous session This loop continues until the end of the campaign or mission. The Game Master may also introduce additional elements, such as plot twists or new challenges, at any point in the loop to keep the game engaging and exciting. You can imagine this as a flowchart where each step is a box and arrows connect them in a circular pattern, with the last arrow pointing back to the Action Phase to indicate the ongoing nature of the game.