brave world now

circa 2120: overview | solo #1 | solo #2 | group | resources | asic200

Quick Dates:

January 9th: Assignment briefly introduced in class.
January 16th: Detailed overview of RPG assignment in class. Highlight various stages.
February 6th: In class demonstration of an RPG game (we’ll be playing a short game, called “The Search For Tiger Joe.”).
February 13th: Physical copy of 1st assignment due before start of class. Class time on 13th or 27th used for groups to agree on their 1st set of group project parameters.
February 13/27th: Submit electronically group notes from work done on Feb 8/15.
March 19th: Physical copy of 2nd assignment due before start of class. Class time used for groups to agree on their 2nd set of group project parameters.
March 19th and 26th: Dedicated class time to work on the group assignment (essentially finish the RPG assignment).
March 31st: Group assignment must be handed in via email to asic200@gmail.com (by midnight).
April 2nd: Playing our games!

Dates (with Descriptions):

January 9th
First class. Introduction to global issues from a science and arts perspective. Later on, we’ll have a bit of time to introduce the RPG assignment to the class, as well as practice a little role playing via a networking game. To get a sense of what a table top role playing game is like, we recommend checking out this video which will give you a general idea of the game play (not required, but it’s kind of fun to watch). Note, however, our assignment is less about dwarves and orcs and more about attempting to imagine a future version of our planet.

January 16th
We’ll spend a good bit of time going over the table top RPG assignment in the second half of this class. Essentially, we’ll go over the various stages.

Just a note: 1st solo assignment (~ 1500 words on physical geographic, climate considerations) will be due on Feb 13th.

February 6th
Here, we’ll try to sort out our RPG playing groups. A big chunk of this class will be devoted to showcasing the game mechanic that will be used in the games created. We will have a mock adventure for the class to go through, complete with dice and with Dave and Allen playing the GM role. We will hand out the game mechanic during this class – if you have a set of RPG dice, we encourage you to bring them out.

February 13th
First solo world building assignment due before start of class (physical copy please). This is because it also acts as pre-work so that group discussion over world building elements is better served. Note that this (or the 27th’s, depending on when you’re doing the PCR lab) entire 3 hour period for this date is devoted to this task. (pre-reading for assignment is the IPCC AR5 Working Group 1 report for policymakers (The physical science basis) (http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg1/WG1AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf) and the Global Warming of 1.5C report (https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2018/07/SR15_SPM_High_Res.pdf).

At the end of this in-class group work session, you should be able to agree as a group on the features of your world as outlined in the Solo Assignment Part 1 exercise PLUS a first crack at brainstorming ideas for a possible game narrative.

February 13th or 27th
Please submit (electronically to asic200@gmail.com, or share via google docs) your group’s report from Feb 13th or 27th. We won’t be marking it at this stage, but will need it when we look at your second assignment.

2nd solo assignment (~ 2000 words on human and biological, societal structure, culture, stresses, conflicts) will be discussed – link to Solo 2 Assignment: note due on March 19th.

March 19th
Second Solo assignment due before start of class (physical copy please). This is because, like before, it will also acts as pre-work so that group discussion over world building elements is better served. Note that the entire 3 hour period for this date is devoted to this task. (pre-reading for assignment is the IPCC AR5 Working Group 2 report for policymakers (Impacts, adapations and vulnerabilities) – (https://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/WG2AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf). The Global Warming of 1.5C report also has a lot of good info you can use (https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2018/07/SR15_SPM_High_Res.pdf)

At the end of this session, you should be able to agree as a group on the features of your world as outlined in the Solo Assignment Part 2 exercise PLUS (if there is any extra time) more discussion around brainstorming started in the February 13th/27th class.

March 19th and 26th
Group time to flesh out/finalize the 2 required backstories (see group assignment link), work out (at least) a skeleton of the adventure scenario (i.e. their story elements/scenes, drafts of maps), as well as discuss what everyone’s player characters can be (i.e. so we avoid situations where everyone is the same). Homework will entail each student fleshing out their player character contribution (in principle, each group will therefore have a set of pre-generated characters for people to choose from and use when the games are played on the last day). Homework may also entail delegating folks to finalize backstory and map tasks, as well as brainstorm for possible details associated with each element/scene. You essentially want to use these two weeks to get your elements/scenes so that they are starting to be in good shape.

March 31st
Note that although we have access to your google doc works in progress, we will ask for a final copy of your game that can be sent to asic200@gmail.com on April 3rd. This is to ensure that everyone has something ready for our final class.

April 2th
In each group, one or two individual will be assigned the role of GM (game master, narrator, guide, etc). The other members of the group will rotate to another adventure module, whereby gaming will ensue! We’ll bring snacks!

Images
1. Delta Vega- Star Trek by Albert Whitlock, 1966 (via https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/4919013338)
2. circa 1964, LIFE magazine (via https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/23065033180)
3.Perfect Body by Norman Saunders, 1939 (via https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/4151692997)
4.The Hotspur cover, 1946 (via https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/23743677710)

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