Setting Details

Society knitted together by hierarchical social obligations. Ex: Middle ages Europe, pre-European Japan. "I am a serf of Lord Feigen"

The society is in the midst of a major dispute over ideas or institutions. Ex: American Civil Rights movement, Chinese Pro-democracy movement

Force screens, tractor beams, fast FTL radio, "living machines", genetic alteration of adult minds, sensa-skin; similar to David Brin's Uplift series, or alternatively, the Transmetropolitan comic series

Slower-than-light space travel, fusion power, implants, orbital tower, ballistic airliner, cybertank, bioweapons, reflec, Gauss needlers, fission/electric power, orbital-collected solar power, cloning, simple implants, bionics, plastiskin; late-1990s to "the near future"

Permanent alternation of the human body is important; this can mean cybernetics, biological upgrades, chemical enhancement, etc.

Turning a fast buck, trade, administration

Larger-than-life characters facing epic challenges

Creatures with powers or abilities beyond those of typical animals; Unicorns, Tribbles, etc.

Intelligent human-like beings: Elves, Vulcans, etc.

Psionics are an outgrowth of the processes of life, and variables such as species, emotions and states of consciousness can affect psychic powers.

All people are psychic, but special training is required to make use of the ability. Psionics will tend to be restricted to powerful groups with resources for training.