So after talking with a potential player I came up with an idea for a setting yesterday, it's an amalgam of fallout and deus ex with my own twists. I'm looking for feedback.
Earth, the 23 rd century. The population of mankind has ceased to rely on governmental authority and in their ashes, corporations have risen to become the new ruling powers. The United States is no longer the United States, no longer divided by state lines. North America is now defined by alphanumerical sectors. The streets run rampant with crime and corruption, now aided by cybernetic advancements the world had never seen. Some factions used to experiment with other tech, back a century or two ago when the threat of nuclear war was still on everyone’s minds. Unfortunate for the generation they were experimenting on, unwillingly and unknowingly. A mix of radiation and dark matter altered their very cells to produce something horrifying. A large cover-up commenced, though eventually word got out about the redzones: secure areas in which the mutants are now forced to live. We are a small force, tasked with keeping the peace of our sector amidst the vast criminal activity of the slums. Our sector includes one of the corporation headquarters as well as one of the redzones and the surrounding land. Because of this, the task force includes members of all walks of life. We are the Wardens.
Genre: sci-fi (cyberpunk) with some fantasy elements
Tones: Horror, Mystery
Archetypes: Human, Mutant, Android, Clone, Splicer, Alien
Archetype definitions:
Humans are often cybernetically enhanced individuals, as cybertechnology has become a commonplace occurrence. Even if they aren’t, humans are taught from an early age how to interact with the advanced technology that now dominates the world. Humans are the ruling class of society, though Mutants and Androids aren’t really treated as parts of society anyway.
Mutants are the outcasts of society, a generation or two removed from the horrifying actions of the previous governmental authorities. Unsanctioned testing was done on small areas of the country in an attempt to create the perfect soldier. Instead, the people were disfigured, altered permanently to look sound and act different than humanity. Some even developed extranormal abilities due to the volatile mixture of radiation and dark matter. After the coverup was discovered, treatment of Mutant individuals got better.
Androids are a controversial but necessary entity in today’s society. Usually put to work in factories or as personal assistants to high class citizens, Androids can also function in any other role imaginable. That is where the danger lies, for some feel that it won’t be long before the Androids decide they are tired of being slaves. The corporations assure their populations that something so dire would never happen, as they regulate the Android workforce and ensure proper function on a strict basis.
Clones are a collection of creatures created in a lab, used for manual labor and things too dangerous for an Android to do. They are sterile and typically more physically apt than intelligent, specifically because they were designed to be that way. Clones are treated slightly better than Androids and Mutants, having the ability to live within the regular sector zones rather than the redzones like Mutants.
Splicers are humans that go against the grain, so to speak, and instead of replacing flesh with metal, fuse the genetic code of other creatures onto themselves. This is an act typically shunned by society and often but not always, you will find Splicers living in the redzones.
Aliens have the ability to shapeshift and are curiously strange individuals. Beyond that, they are a mystery (because of plot reasons).
The unique perks of each archetype:
Humans are the only achetype that can use cybernetics, as the other specie's bodies reject them. Androids do not get cybernetics created for them, as they are created to be whole and non-upgradable.
Mutants are able to use the Genesys system's magic actions (I was considering building in a sort of progression system with that, starting off with 2 magic actions and going from there, without the need to spend xp, just acquiring it as we level) At any rate, they are going to have some sort of benefit to being a magic user over the Aliens, something that gives them a more unique trait that makes the archetype desireable.
Androids have a unique way of interacting with machines ( was thinking kind of their own custom magic action unique to them that allows them to speak with machines or a technomancy sort of effect)
Clones I'm not entirely sure about yet. They are the more physically imposing archetype, suited well for melee brawling and such. I've been trying to figure out some unique perk for them but I haven't come up with one. Maybe they can resist bad environments easier or have a weak form of regeneration.
Splicers I wanted to have the ability to temporarily shift around their stats in their own unique way as well as gain some sort of natural ability like a claw/bite attack or being amphibious, something like that, based on splicing in animal dna.
Aliens are going to be shapeshifters who can also use the game's array of magic but their primary focus would be towards shapeshifting (I was thinking of having all their shifting be towards things from their world, to keep it more alien and not step on the Splicer's stuff). For this I would create some unique alien creatures and that list would be available to the alien players.