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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Zardoz" data-source="post: 548423" data-attributes="member: 704">Ways for the world to endWell, though it sounds like you already know what you want to do, here are some ways that for the world to end.  After all, Nuclear weapons arent the only game in town.  I will quote the ways I remember from a top ten ways the world might end list I read a few years ago.  Despite my best efforts, google could not find the original article.Ways the world might End1)  Weapons of Mass DestructionNuclear weapons could destroy cities and start Nuclear winter.  Chemical weapons could render the biosphere incapable of supporting life for a few years.  Biological Weapons could start a Plague that kills nearly all life.  Civilization essentially ends until that stuff in the back of my fridge develops inteligence.2)  Mass PollutionToxic and Radioactive contaminate the biosphere to the point where the water supply becomes completely undrinkable.  Constant Acid rain and crop failure result.  We all die of starvation, slowly and wretchedly.  Plenty of birth defects and mutant development along the way too.3)  Asteroid ImpactA huge impact at the optimistic side will cause tidal waves and nuclear winter will do the rest (ala Armageddon / Deep Impact).  Alternatively, we could get hit hard enough to shatter this puny planet and transform it into an asteroid belt.4)  Mass Volcanic EruptionThere is geological evidence of a Volcanic eruption that ejected billions of cubic meters of Lava.  This would have a huge effect on earths climate.  Some hold that such an eruption is what wiped out the Dinosaurs instead of a comet.5)  New Ice AgeAn Ice age simply decides to happen.  The ice sheets advance, and the climate changes.  Organized agriculture becomes impossible.  Food riots happen for a while, but in the end, we all starve to death.  Much like Mass Polution without the birth defects.  Some life continues, just not Human life.6)  Solar FlareThe Sun could pull a fast one, and eject a huge solar flare at us.  The UV radiation that would result would sterilize the planet in one huge does of radiation poisoning.7)  Rise of the MachinesMan could be destoryed by his own technology in one of (at least) two ways.  First, we could to a real life re-enactment of Terminator.  We create an AI or series of AI's that decide they can do better without us, and they win.  Second, some twit could create self replicating Nano-Technology which extracts its raw materials out of other matter at the molecular level.  This would result in Earth transforming into a ball of grey soup.8)  Alien InvasionLots of Movies too chose from here.  Independence Day with an alternate ending is the first one that comes into my mind.  An alien civilization with advanced technology shows up, eradicates the humans, and moves in.9) Judgement DayGod finally decides to put in an appearance.  He then gives humankind a failing grade, wipes the slate clean, and starts over elsewhere.Anyway, here are some more immediately useful suggestions for you, Velenne.  My first comment is that you are not looking at the big picture with your consequences.  Sure, America gets the shaft in your example, but contrary to popular media, America does not equal The Whole World.1)  Diplomatic Fallout:  If America did punch it up to DefCon 2 and held the world hostage to its Nuclear arsenal, when things normalized, there would be severe consequences.  The rest of the world would probably hit america with some pretty heavy trade sanctions.2)  Who is #1:  The world can eventually get on just fine without the US.  China could step into the #1 slot easily enough, but there is plenty of social unrest.  Japan has the technology, but not the Resources.  Russia could very easily be #1 if it can stablize instead of disintegrate.  The EU could form a new super nation if the cultural and language differences could be overcome.  The US could stay number one, but it wont have nearly the same influence it did before holding the world hostage to Nukes.  The nation you chose #1 should greatly reflect the tone of your campaign.3)  Rethink your Disaster:  A Nuclear Incident in the US, while effective, is just a bit predictible.  For one, when something happens in the movies, its almost ALWAYS happening to or in New York.  There are plenty of disasters that could happen.  Maybe the CDC has an accident in Atlanta and releases a super plague.  Or something contaminates America's food supply and renders the US unable to feed its self, making it dependent on other nations for food.END COMMUNICATION</blockquote>

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