What are you reading in 2025?

[jian]

I really dislike the speed of the transition, and the way humans turn out to be so damn special. Being human myself, I don’t mind if we turn out to be special in some way, but outstripping well-established spacefaring races in a matter of a couple of centuries just rubs me the wrong way. Plucky old humanity, my left buttcheek.

I much prefer the Pliocene exile books, where these problems are less evident. At least until Magneto shows up, doesn’t do much, and then is conquered by the power of wuv (retch).

Yeah, that’s all fair. The idea that humans are more talented at powers is, of course, highlighted in the Pliocene saga in the first place, though that is used against them to some degree by the Tanu.

In RPG terms it’s a little refreshing that humans get +1 psychic power rather than being adaptable or flexible or something.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

In RPG terms it’s a little refreshing that humans get +1 psychic power rather than being adaptable or flexible or something

That’s true - better than some kind of space elf, I guess. But the DM seems to have houseruled that a +7 to psychic power is more appropriate for humans, and it kind of throws the game balance out of whack. The DM’s boyfriend’s character is mind-controlling chumps left and right, while my Simbiari rogue is not only barely psychic, but he’s constantly dripping slime everywhere, which makes stealth an absolute nightmare.

 

[John Lloyd1]

I really dislike the speed of the transition, and the way humans turn out to be so damn special. Being human myself, I don’t mind if we turn out to be special in some way, but outstripping well-established spacefaring races in a couple of centuries just rubs me the wrong way. Plucky old humanity, my left buttcheek.

I much prefer the Pliocene exile books, where these problems are less evident. At least until Magneto shows up, doesn’t do much, and then is conquered by the power of wuv (retch).

I got the impression that intermixing between humans and tanu was how 'modern' humans gained such powers. Very circular in a time travel sort of way that doesn't hold up to close examination.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

I got the impression that intermixing between humans and tanu was how 'modern' humans gained such powers. Very circular in a time travel sort of way that doesn't hold up to close examination.

Yes, there’s definitely some “becoming your own grandpa” going on there. The poor Australopithecus left by the sidelines again, replaced by space-elves and telephone sanitizers.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I got the impression that intermixing between humans and tanu was how 'modern' humans gained such powers. Very circular in a time travel sort of way that doesn't hold up to close examination.

Once you have time travel that isn't blocked off in some fashion, that sort of thing in kind is intrinsic to the beast.