Just did a quick search and was surprised not to see much in the way of a discussion about the game Bioshock. I had begun playing it some months ago - or so - and was just reinstalling it to get back into the excellent setting and considered how easily I could see the game integrating into the 40k universe. With its cross between high tech and retro imagery, its dirty science feel and the colapse of progross theme I would have expected to find discussions about Big Daddies, Adam, et. al.

Has anyone taken inspiration from this for a game? What are your thoughts on Adam and its use? Other thoughts?

I might very well have to use a big daddy in a dark heresy game now that you mention this. Your right there is a good deal of thematic overlay between the two games.

Ofcause if your going to use rapture, having the void replace water might work well.

I don't recall how Rapture worked, so you'll have to remind me there. (haven't got around to starting another game yet)

Certainly most of the Plasmid powers could be duplicated in the Psyker diciplines - though if one wanted to keep certain elements from the game they'd have to address the way in which powers were picked up there. I could imagine a type of science having been developed there to give temporary psyker ability through injections/dna recombining solutions. (read this transcript of a medical conference one time in which they discussed genetic manipulation and how it would be quite possible to build people so that the introduction of a chemical later in life could spark certain latent genes, changing their makeup in any number of ways ... the same thing could be done for psyker tallent I'm thinking)

And, whether you want to keep that much of the game concept or no, I have often found the idea of having players explore underwater ruins chock full of potential - among other things it introduces a number of new dynamics and removes a level of safety the players might take for granted above ground. (space, of course, does this in its own way as well)

Funny that you'd mention it, since I've been toying for quite some time now with the idea of adopting the Bioshock setting for a Dark Heresy adventure

The look and feel is right, with its art deco designs and science that goes kaboom, and how madness has taken over the place ... I have been thinking about Rapture being a social experiment led by some heretic noble of scientist who wanted to create his own underwater utopia, free from the oppression and narrow-minded fearfulness of the Empire. He would still be an Emperor-worshiping, law-abiding ruler, but someone who dreams of creating a perfect society of harmony .. y'know, a chance to start anew and try to do things in other ways.

Ofcourse, it would all go horribly wrong and the acolytes would be send to investigate the secret underwater city, posing as new inhabitants, and finding the secret way in, possibly via a ship that secretly sails to the city once every year or so...

Well rapture is ofcause a great undersea city, made from rusting, creaking steal and cracked glass. Many sections of the city are leaking and water is very where, just beyond the glass. Now replace the water with the vaccum of space, the leaks with hull breachs, the splicers with spook addicted mutant dregs, big daddies with heavily augmented Orgryn and the little sisters with child like servitors working for the heretek masters of the orbital.

Well the Objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand that permeates Andrew Ryans creation would be heretical in terms of the Imperium- the most creative and productive people in society should not hoard their work and skills- instead they must labour endlessly for the greater glory of the God Emperor and preservation of Humanity. Selfishness is a Thought-Sin!

SJE

SJE said:

Is a man not entitled to the sweat on his brow? "No", says the man on Terra "It belongs to the Emperor!"

Varnias Tybalt said:

Fixed it

If found the concept of reliving the memories of others when you are on adam interesting as well. Perhaps the creation of adam itself is a byproduct of creating mind wipes and servitors? (especially if either had even minor psyker potential) That could make for some very interesting stories.

Is a man not entitled to profit from his creativity ?

No says the Tech-Priests, those inventions are heresy.

Is a man not entitled to benefit from his strength of will ?

No says the Inquisition, the psykers belong to us.

This could make for an interesting campaign. A question to think about: In Bioshock, was there any way for Ryan to combat the growing power of Fontane without abbandoing his objectivist ideals ?

Or to generalise the question: How can the objectivist stop someone who always honours their agreements from building an army of willing and informed recruits from growing to the point where it can take over without the objectivist abbandoning his ideals ?

Maybe the forces of chaos were protecting this place from all outside influence (including their own and blocking psychic side effects) so that the people suffer the torment of realising that their ideals are what ruined them. Though this means that everyone living there is a heretic, so you would need something to prevent the Acolytes leaving and/or calling for Rapture to be destroyed. Placing it underwarter on an otherwise loyal planet allows you to trap them in a submarine, force them down there and leave them stuck.