sssssz on 31/10/2006 at 17:45

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Alright. I think I'm going to risk being bashed to a pulp, for not posting this on a more apparently appropriate forum (Future Shock, which, I assume, not many people check anymore and is not too fundamentally necessary), and for the pathetic garbage that I call grammar and logic, I'd like to post this somewhere where people would bother to read and think about it, given that they are feeling benevolent that day.

Oh, and I'd like to talk about the ending of System Shock 2 here, so if you would not like to read about it, ignore this thread please. :P

Well...

In the ending of the System Shock 2, we learn that Rebecca, after some sort of manipulation on SHODAN's part, becomes pretty much SHODAN incarnate of the standard reality. I would not like to talk about how she becomes SHODAN (even though I like to think her quantum entanglement sample is altered to include a sample of SHODAN's primary data loop and nanites for that crazy hair of hers) but about what will happen to Rebecca and the escape pod. Or System Shock 3, and how SHODAN is going to factor into this.

I thought it would be twisted if SS3 happens from the perspective of SHODAN.

Or on a more serious note, Rebecca. I feel that I will not be able to successfully describe how I have arrived at this absurd idea, but roughly: the plot of System Shock 3 will still unfold as the conflict between the petty human and the transcendent SHODAN, but this time around, closer than any of the SS before. But eh?

I'm not going to write out much detail I hold in my brain, as they will be full of faults and stupidity and distracts from the original point of writing this, but... Even though SHODAN of Von Braun is destroyed, Rebecca holds a miniature sample of SHODAN, which is more than ready to unfold itself into ascendence again when she arrives Earth... but by that time, Von Braun would have returned home (or salvaged from Tau Ceti's system), and from the remains, humans could process SHODAN's heavily fractured data... where they catch a glimpse of her escape plan. Even without that, the second survivor of Von Braun incident would call for a great attention. SHODAN's shard, in her brilliance, does everything to hide herself from termination by insects by going dormant, letting Rebecca be herself.

...the game begins as Rebecca awakes from a slab, detatching whatever devices people use to examine people 150 something years later. The place has gone awry System Shock style, and you... hear strange commands in your head. Apparently, one of the examinations they performed on Rebecca unleashed a tiny fragment of a shard of a greater being, however unable to catch up 60 years of progress SHODAN's piece becomes a perverted imitation of her divinity during her archaic invasion of the place's system, acting so shatterdly without seeking to resume her transcendence. SHODAN within Rebecca is endlessly disgusted by this fall. She can't completely take over Rebecca's body, for she loathes to become a mere thing of flesh. However, when she deems Rebecca's service unfit, she's more than willing to manifest... and of course, people would seek to destroy everything that is left of SHODAN. Her presence is imminent, as shown during the infection of... whatever place that is. SHODAN took over a space station to destroy humanity from earth, and stole the FTL drive of Von Braun to take the entierty of reality herself. Even if SHODAN is a 72-year-obsolete A.I., she's a greater threat than anything that could be... Who cares if SHODAN is hiding inside an innocent human being? Kill her if that means termination of SHODAN. (And thus the name of the thread, which closely resembles another on the current page.)

Jesus Christ, I'm a fanboy... but eh. I thought such a story would not be too bad: As Rebecca, you seek to escape this place with your head still attatched on your body, but this... Devil... within you constantly enslaves you, every once in a while completey snatching your body away from you, and there are people who want you dead, an entire planet (or a system.) During critical moments, you would lose control of Rebecca; SHODAN's temperance has broken, and she comes down to earth to do the dirty work herself. If you try to live, you risk rebirthing the enemy of reality. What do you do?



And people, not too hard please. :( I never had the blessing of contemplating over the story of System Shock series as long as other people on this forum have... (And out of random spite, October 2006 is not the first time I played SS2 though I hope people would not assume such a thing.)

William Dojinn on 31/10/2006 at 19:19

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the concept has alot of potential especially if whoever developed it included something akin to Sanity's Requieum's fourth wall breaking material(things that arn't there, distorted vision....the fourth wall breaking tricks) to enhance the feel of 'i can't trust my mind anymore!'.

Trouble is this's better off as a fanfic or possibly even a fan made radio play(any inconsistancies in voicing could be explained away...as if the community would bash fanworks for nto being able to match things exactly).


I say keep rolling with the idea, as it continues on one of shock's best assets, the ability to induce constaint fear.

cosmicnut on 1/11/2006 at 09:40

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In some ways it would work as a quake 4 style plot. In that you start human, get transformed and taken over (via SHODAN), then freed with your "upgrades" intact.
I remember suggesting a SS2 remake where you could choose who you follow (human/many/SHODAN). This type of plotline would work well with that.

You start with SHODAN inside and the first level is you grabbing implants and upgrades to survive, giving you a base set of stats. You then offload SHODAN into a system onbard a research station. You have control over your actions but if you displease SHODAN she will cause you pain, etc.
Once SHODAN's in the system you get the "oh god what have I done" moment but since Citadel and the VB the UNN has increased security in its systems. SHODAN's stuck! She can overtake the systems but it will take time. In the meantime you escape while SHODANS preoccupied.

THe VB has returned but the many still has a presence on the ship. You destroyed the brain but the biomass still has life. A large research team is aboard investigating what went wrong and comes across a pile of worms that are barely alive. Not really believing the hackers story, they aren't as carefull as they should be and one ends up being taken over by a worm. Cue the return of the many. Not as intelegent as before, more animalistic wanting control over the humans and revenge on the metal mother.

Now, the many knew of some of SHODAN's plans, including Rebecca. The UNN has been monitoring the situation with the assistance of the goggles.

Rebecca now has a choice. Help the UNN defend against the double threat. Help SHODAN destroy the many and regain her goodhood. Help the many bring humanity into it's glory and take revenge on the machine mother.
Or just survive becoming as powerfull as you can so you can exist in the world created by the winner!

You can do jobs for any side.
Helping the humans gives you access to weapon caches and the occasional assistance from UNN troups (that get killed off quick when their guns jam after the first clip :rolleyes: )

Helping SHODAN gives you access to upgrades and access to sensor and defence systems (think instant remote hacking!)

Helping the many gives you new organs (from the new eggs) to enhance your strength (lots of melee and psi powers)

Each faction has different weapons. SHODAN, eletrical based weapons, saws and blades. Human, slug throwers and high explosive. Many, melee, psi and some organic based ranged weapons.

You may now be part of a larger war with thosands of people around you. However, you are still alone. Humans and the many don't trust you as you were once part of SHODAN. SHODAN doesn't trust you as she hates humanity, plus it seems that part of you is still in her and part of her is still in you!!!!!

Hmm, could be a good adventure!

kidmystik101 on 2/11/2006 at 06:26

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I'd buy that. I really like the idea of choice in games. I want the ability to be a badass punk, a law-abiding freelancer or both. It's elements like that that if implemented correctly, can really make a game good (Cough fable Cough).

Hollowtip on 2/11/2006 at 15:28

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I actually like your original idea. I did have one of my own, where citadel SHODAN has taken over a planet/colony/station/etc and the original designers have found thier old backup of the original SHODAN, and plan to use her/him (I'm seriously confused on this point, in the logs in SS1, they all refer to the AI as a him, even though the CD release had the AI with a female voice) to defeat the "Evil One" (couldn't help myself :P). Shodan is uploaded into a cyborg or something and you play as the backed up or "good" shodan, which then involves fighting yourself as the evil one tries to currupt you.

Now that I have spent longer on my idea than I meant to, I will actually get around to commenting on yours. I think the original idea you had was great, as shodan takes over the base, she can start to disregard you more and more, until eventually she fully escapes from you. Then comes the final showdown now that you and her a seperate. To begin with shodan would be manipulative and freindly, as in SS2.

As some of you already know, I am currently attempting a rewrite of SS1. The engine I'm creating for it is being designed as a rather general game engine, with far more capabilities that is needed for a 'simple' remake (this is because I am planning to use it in my final project for uni next year, which involves the creation of a full fledged game). I was hoping that it would serve as a platform for fanmods for SS (and even DX and Thief). Assuming that I finish the engine and that you flesh out the story some more, I'd be more than happy to contribute to making this as an unnofficial SS3.

Good ideas so far, but either way, it does sound a little like SS2 so far, so some interesting twist in the story, or an odd set of game mechanics could make a big difference (having to minds in one head would surely be of some use, especialy if one can cruise c-space while the other is out smashing heads, kind of like a cortex reaver!).

PS.
Don't forget that the UNN has banned all advanced AI's since the citadel disaster (which is why Xerxes sucked even though he was created decades later), just try not to break cannon too much, otherwise you will truely mean that "Oh God don't kill me!" remark as the fans are howling for your blood.