I questioned where to put this thread, but I really think it has potential for various RPGing background or situations, so I'm hoping it can stay here...
Let's say that for some reason (we'll discuss that later), every person on the planet suddenly disappeared. Gone from the world. No more people, anywhere. ... Further, all dressings of society were left in place exactly as they are now, without first being tidied or deconstructed.
What would be left of those remnants left to nature after 1,000 years? After 10,000 years? After 100,000 years?
For example: Would houses still be standing if there were no one left to control fires caused by lightning storms? How much damage would trees cause to structures without anyone around to keep them pruned away? Would any of them still be secure from wild animals years and years from now?
Or what about transportation -- How long does it take for vegetation and weather to wear away an entire stretch of Interstate? What would become of our vehicles?
And wildlife? Hoo-boy ... Which species would take over the landscape without people to get in the way?
Give me your best guesses.
As for the RPG aspect, most of you here are creative enough to see the potential angles: pandemic wipes out population in the future, and spacefaring explorers come home years later; or bereft of a sentient race, the World itself mystically repopulates with gnomes, elves, etc. from some other plane of existence; or animals (anthro)evolve to take our place and inherit a bunch of "relics" of the past age. Could have been caused by war, disease, mass kidnappings, whatever.
I'm trying to "realistically" imagine what would be left.
Let's say that for some reason (we'll discuss that later), every person on the planet suddenly disappeared. Gone from the world. No more people, anywhere. ... Further, all dressings of society were left in place exactly as they are now, without first being tidied or deconstructed.
What would be left of those remnants left to nature after 1,000 years? After 10,000 years? After 100,000 years?
For example: Would houses still be standing if there were no one left to control fires caused by lightning storms? How much damage would trees cause to structures without anyone around to keep them pruned away? Would any of them still be secure from wild animals years and years from now?
Or what about transportation -- How long does it take for vegetation and weather to wear away an entire stretch of Interstate? What would become of our vehicles?
And wildlife? Hoo-boy ... Which species would take over the landscape without people to get in the way?
Give me your best guesses.
As for the RPG aspect, most of you here are creative enough to see the potential angles: pandemic wipes out population in the future, and spacefaring explorers come home years later; or bereft of a sentient race, the World itself mystically repopulates with gnomes, elves, etc. from some other plane of existence; or animals (anthro)evolve to take our place and inherit a bunch of "relics" of the past age. Could have been caused by war, disease, mass kidnappings, whatever.
I'm trying to "realistically" imagine what would be left.
