America’s Fourteen Recognized Megaregions:

1. New York Seaboard
Standing as the most populous and largest megaregion in America, the New York Seaboard is an amalgamation of the sprawls of all major northern east coast cities. The megaregion itself is thusly a melting pot of Americans from all around the country as well as immigrants from around the globe. The New York Seaboard is known for its heavy politicization. It acts as a sort of experimental zone for policy makers, though this comes with heavy backlash. The Seaboard has a large population of Enforcers to subjugate the population. Despite its issues, the New York Seaboard is also known for its massive population of high level executives from corporations around the globe. If there is any place for the games of the one percent, its New York.

2. Greater DC
Greater DC is the host of all major federal and political undertakings. Considered the capital of America, the megaregion is extremely dense with people. Greater DC is divided into two subsectors and the difference between the regions is extremely evident. While the political sector of Greater DC is lavish with vegetation and regal megastructures, the general sector is cramped, unstable, and broken. The constant riots in the general sector that push against the political sector are quelled only by the massive installment of Enforcers that protects DC. It is estimated that the Enforcer branch in DC is the number one most funded and largest in all of America.

3. The Derelict City
Throughout the 21st century, midwestern industry was broken down, abandoned, and rebuilt dozens of times. Megacorporations occasionally took to manufacturing in the skeletal buildings that curtain major industrial locations like Cleveland and Pittsburgh. When those industries fell others would take their places. This cycle repeated time and time again until the effects of climate change ripped through the midwest, leaving it a deserted and polluted shell of the agricultural land it once was. With the constantly attacking dust storms, most citizens of the eastern midwest chose to evacuate, finding solace in the megacities across America. Over time, the once bustling midwestern sprawl became a mostly abandoned ghost town. The shells of once mighty factories run by the titans of industry are now desolate and empty, not fit for even the squatters that fled the midwest. Any remaining residents find themselves taking up not even a fraction of the available space. This area has since been dubbed The Derelict City.

There are still a few large industries running a handful of factories in the Derelict City which employ most of the remaining natives. Crime rates are surprisingly low in the area considering just how empty the Derelict City is. Unless they stand as one of the operators of the last few industrial plants, the residents of the Derelict City sprawl are likely part of the small council of midwestern politicians constantly fighting on the Derelict City’s council to preserve and rebuild the area. Of course, not much headway is gained as an equal part of the council seats are taken by corporate representatives acting as the mouthpiece of the Derelict City’s last few remaining industries. These company representatives are often pushing for entire deregulation of corporate affairs while the natives of the midwest fight to bring the land back to prosperity. The Derelict City currently has no region specific police force. Enforcement of the law comes exclusively from sparse federal Enforcers and local corporate hires.

4. The Detroit Stacks
As the uncontrollable sprawl of the Derelict City enveloped the land around Ohio, the Detroit megaregion grew more and more dense as there was nowhere to expand to without undertaking the expensive costs of wrecking the derelict sprawl. Without anywhere to go, Detroit corporations opted to expand upwards, with region officials having little choice but to accept the proposal. In no time at all, the Detroit Stacks were born and the megaregion became a system of layers easily marked according to the financial hierarchy of Detroit’s citizens.

5. Metrochicago
Despite Metrochicago’s once booming megalopolis state, the megaregion has since fallen from grace. Disagreements in policy between smaller regions within the city have left its governing parties not only going against the federal government but also going against its own people. As such, Metrochicago has devolved into something of a warzone as the governing body is unwilling to relinquish power to anyone who isn’t willing to take it by force. Corporations still run productions in Metrochicago but not without massive paramilitary presences. Most of the citizens seek safety in the massive network of old era tunnels snaking beneath the megaregions known as “the Catacombs”.

6. The Bastion
When the rising water levels started to pervade further into south Florida from the Everglades, the smart few began to migrate north in fear of what was to come. It wasn’t until massive hurricanes and cyclones began to flood the entire southern half of the state that mass migration took place. People ran for their lives in hopes to escape the rising tides. In a ditch effort to save their land, a chain of northern counties began construction of a massive tidal wall. When the whole of Florida began to submerge and the experiment in flood prevention technology was the last thing protecting the whole state from going under, any survivors of the Florida floods rushed to the newfounded megaregion. Named for its position as Florida’s last bastion of defense, the Bastion is a massive city of refugees struggling to find a place amongst the already packed fortress city.

7. The Miami Platforms
The Bastion wasn’t Florida’s only hope to maintain itself as active state. Through desperation, the governing parties of the Bastion approved massive corporate projects to create oceanic platforms where Miami once stood. This was almost wholly regulated by the corporate conglomerate funding the project known only by the title Miami Corp. It is believed that Miami Corp is made up of a number of other international corporations who are using the Miami Platforms as a massive center for production, research, and development away from the eyes of the nation. Getting in and out of the Miami Platforms is very difficult, and there isn’t much media coverage going on within.

8. Neo Orleans
The Bayou’s become a lot more than a swamp at the bottom of Neo Orleans. Despite the issues with rising water levels, Louisiana decided to deal with the problem quite differently than Florida. While the Bastion built its walls, Neo Orleans built its city higher. Flood waters rose to overtake the old city, but Neo Orleans was built on top of it. On the city’s lowest levels in the southern zones of the megaregion, you can still see the remnants of the city that once was and the vegetation that sprouts up from below.

9. The Texas Sprawl
When Texas became the first free state of America, its population grew immensely, allowing the state to expand rapidly and create one of the largest megaregions in terms of total area. Some speculate the Texas Sprawl was built so wide to alleviate the intense dust storms that scar the deserts around the megaregion. This has caused central sprawl real estate prices to skyrocket, creating a clear wealth division in the Lone Star State. The Texas Sprawl has become a city of districts internally placed within each other with governmental officials and extremely wealthy individuals residing at the center.

10. The Vegas Triangle
The crown jewel of the Free State of Nevada, the Vegas Triangle has one of the greatest incomes of any megaregion globally. Free of most federal regulation, businesses throughout the region are booming with revenue. One would think this Laissez-Faire stance on economics would lead to innumerable cases of malpractice and corruption in business, and while that is true, the Vegas Triangle maintains its appearance as an oasis in the desert. As comfortable as it can be, though, the region isn’t without its problems. With the craziness and uncontrollable daily goings on of The Strip, the region is a hotspot for outlaw action, drug crimes, and dangerous streets.

11. South City “The City of Angels”
The self-proclaimed paradise of the west, South City is one of the most populous megaregions in America encompassing what was once Los Angeles as well as the surrounding area where the city expanded into throughout the 21st century. In reality, that much couldn’t be further from the truth. As the 2064 elections grow closer and closer, chaos is ever present in the streets. Political turmoil in the city’s urban sprawl is at an all time high with riots in the streets, veiled and corrupt political dealings in the shadows, and a populous with views split between all five of the major political parties. Small districts in the city are more contested than ever both in terms of elected offices and street rivalries that tear violently through South City’s slum districts. South City is one of the two major megaregions that make up the ‘Twin City Sprawl’, a sprawl of urban cityscape that covers America’s western coast along California. Its sister region is The Bay Region to the north.

There are a number of smaller ‘districts’ in the megaregion, but for one reason or another, you find yourself in the Reclaim Zone. The Reclaim Zone is a large district emanating out from one main street. The district gets its name from the origin of its architecture and infrastructure. Most of the buildings in the Reclaim Zone are now defunct factories of corporations that have either gone under or moved to better locations. These shells are now the basis for cheap hotels, smaller scale manufacturers, as well as innumerable clubs and bars. Believe it or not, the Reclaim Zone used to hold the greatest employment rates in South City Sprawl, but times have changed. As more and more people migrated to the district, the Reclaim Zone became a home to slumming populations and street vagabonds. As population increased, so did the tension in the streets as did the demands for better conditions.

When riots began to tear through Reclaim Zone streets in 2035, Enforcers were barely able to hold back the crowds from turning strikes and protests into a full-blown war in the streets across South City. As violence continued for a span of three weeks, large scale companies shut down production activity in the district temporarily, but when the riots ended in the Reclaim Zone, the turmoil they brought didn’t leave. The Reclaim Zone became known for its most dangerous times, attracting a completely new sort of individual and corporation. With the decreased regulation due to broken infrastructure and lack of Enforcers in the area, seedy business practices began to take root in every Reclaim Zone industry. Crime began to flourish and the monolithic factories that once housed reputable corporations were bought out by gangs and criminal organizations. Clandestine business has become the trademark of the Reclaim Zone, whether its corps, gangs, or mercs in power.

12. The Bay
The Bay is certainly the most flourishing megaregion in the west. Due to the astronomical investment that was the western tidal wall, The Bay’s sprawl has managed to redirect the rising tides into a small channel in between itself and its sister region. A massive hydroelectric power plant was constructed between The Bay and South City and it provides most of California’s power. The Bay is also known for being the political capital of the west, having all five major parties actively participating and relevant in politics. The same could be said for gangs of course, as there are few areas more lucrative for underground business than The Bay.

13. Portland
The engineering powerhouse of the Northern coast, Portland is a scourge of industrialization. Factories plague every block with hazy smog. While the factories of Portland’s sprawl barely manage to protect themselves from the nearly lawless streets, paramilitary organizations are hired on by every well-respected company, making the business of muscle very lucrative in the Portland megaregion. This is done mostly because of the constant gang violence in the streets. While a number of small time groups rule the streets with an iron fist, one criminal mob stands above all the others and is respected even more than the megaregion’s law: The Lords of War. The Lords are the biggest weapon-running mafia in America and have an unparalleled record of crushing their enemies.

14. Seattle
Increases in population density have sent Seattle’s economy skyrocketing. Production hit an all time high and the city couldn’t expand fast enough. As such, the expansion of the megaregion shot along the southern border to prevent the expansion of Portland into Washington territory. The cooperation between the cities has all but turned into a full blown war as both vy for control of the northern coast. Seattle bites back against its enemy in the streets by way of the ruling gang, the Civilis Cipher. Civilis Ciphers are known for their incredibly advanced mental augmentations that give them impeccable cognition. The group was once branded as a terrorist organization, manipulating technology and media to bring about its goals, but as they have slowly gained control over Seattle’s day to day business, that reputation has since been met with swift elimination.

With the rapid advancement of technology in modern times, the ability to meld metal with flesh has become commonplace. Having started out as an early 21st solution to atrophy and the loss of limbs, cybernetic augmentations were looked to as a way to offer the human body back to those who may have lost theirs. It wasn’t until an American conglomerate corporation titled Symbiont started to push this research to its limits, offering promises that their augmentation could surmount human ability. This was done by grafting artificial extensions of the nervous system into the human body, connecting the complex system up to a specific neural interface embedded in the grey matter called an Electronic Brain. As Symbiont rolled this technology out at public tech conferences, the company became known as the first pioneer into the Cybernetic Age.

Human ability can be augmented to allow for incredible speed, bionic strength, and amazingly fast mental calculation. While the quality of these products can vary between manufacturers, cybernetic prosthesis is available to the masses. This isn’t without its drawbacks however. With the extreme edge given to augmented people in all professions, the masses became desperate for their own cyberware. This has led to lower quality and homemade enhancements, which is hypothesized to be the root cause of the Cyber Plague, Split-Periphery Electronic Cognition Syndrome is the slow degradation of perfect sync between the brain and the Electronic Brain. When the speed of firing synapses starts to lose its synchronization, the cognitive processes regulated by the person begin to split into two slightly off consciousnesses in their mind. While the effects of SPECS can be minor at first, the further along a person’s synchronization degrades, the more confusion, dementia, and psychosis will start to grip them as they become no longer able to recognize who they are or which or their cognitive processes is their own. While SPECS almost always results in the eventual death of the victim, it is all too common that some degree of psychotic violence comes first as paranoia gets too strong in the victim’s mind. The speed that SPECS takes hold of one’s mind varies greatly on many factors. Biological aptitude of the brain’s ability to lose synchronization is a major factor, but more often the cause of advanced stages of SPECS is the over-augmentation of the body or the use of low quality prostheses that don’t do well to match the biological brain’s speed.

While the Cyber Plague is inevitably lying in the fate of every augmented individual to some degree, there exists one way to stave it off when it becomes a problem. Created by Genetek, a chemical compound was synthesized that helps the brain fire in a way that matches the Electronic Brain. This compound was refined into a drug then called Neurosynthase, or more commonly Neurosynth. Due to the resonant realignment of brain waves caused by Neurosynth, the drug has become highly addictive to augmented individuals, producing a unique sense of heightened focus and euphoria. Once Genetek realized the demand for their product, price was marked up astronomically and Genetek clinics began to dominate the streets. With prices so high and street prices even higher, Neurosynth is only further coveted. It is because of this that SPECS is so cataclysmic. Due to these potentially dangerous effects of Cyberware. All major surgeries and enhancements require a person to register as an Augmented Person with the government. Of course, not all augmented individuals are registered if they choose more unconventional means of implanting.

As internet technology exponentially developed, the interface technology that humans used to interact with their virtual fountain of knowledge did as well. It started with simple sensory inputs, but humanity has since sought to access their endless stream of information with as little latency as possible. Thus, the Direct Cranial Interface was created. This was the first form of what would come to be called a cyberdeck, allowing for a person to interface with media through their brain, disregarding the sensory information of the body entirely.

Virtual reality allowed for explosive growths in every genre of consumable media, but it wasn’t without its drawbacks. The allure of virtual reality has become extremely powerful, leaving some people preferring to live jacked in above all else. There have been multiple documented cases of people losing themselves in virtual reality, choosing to live in cyberspace as their body withers away to thirst and hunger outside the cyberdeck. Others have become crazed, confusing the two instances of reality and falling into debilitating psychosis. Virtual reality has also offered a medium for a whole new range of ‘E-Drugs’ that can be addicting a crippling psychological way. Despite all of the very real fears that virtual reality brought, it has paved a path for humanity to access information infinitely faster and became the main medium for interacting with Cyber Matrix and Labyrinth. It exists in various stages, allowing for people without cyberdeck augments limited access to the medium.

Leaps in internet technology have left the people with information that is more accessible than ever. Of course, the interface medium of man and keyboard was always limited in its speed compared to the marvels of the brain. One company, Cryptotechnics, sought to fix that. Thus, the first iteration of Cyber Matrix software was created. In an attempt to neurally interface with the massive database that is the internet, Cryptotechnics utilized boundary-pushing virtual reality Total Immersion technology to create a new way to experience information. Cyber Matrix software, requiring the user to literally connect their brains with an interface via brain implants, offers the user a three dimensional virtual reality world that they can access information through. The new interface medium was known for being difficult to master, but once a user became accustomed to traversing the new world, the speed at which one could access information increased exponentially.

As Cyber Matrix software rose in popularity, America as a whole sought to adapt the technology. The increase in Cyber Matrix users only increased the size of the Cyber Matrix, allowing users to traverse the cyberspace with new freedom. Before long, a majority of internet use was on Cyber Matrix software, interconnecting the digital space in a new and explorable world. This wasn’t without its drawbacks, however. With an entirely new medium of digital code, cybersecurity changed entirely as hackers and other malicious entities had millions of new channels to use as avenues for their work. Things came to a head for the first generation of the Cyber Matrix when a nationwide attack struck America in a single night. During that time frame, billions of dollars were stolen from a number of international corporate conglomerates. The attack took place in a number of states across the nation where battles with thousands of security systems rocked the nation. States had their entire power grids fluctuate, grids of the Cyber Matrix were permanently corrupted when fighting against the attacking presence. In the end, the attack was successful, paving its way as the largest heist in history. Those responsible are still at large, but the trail seems to have gone entirely cold.

This global scare paved the way for the second generation of CM software. Massive backlash had Cryptotechnics crashing into the dust, forcing the government to step in and work with the company to keep nationwide information available. After nearly a month of global downtime, the economy could finally resurrect on a mysterious new software: Labyrinth, the Cyber Matrix’s successor. Labyrinth offered encryptions that were thousands of times more elaborate than the Cyber Matrix and also introduced locked private instances that were cut off from the rest of the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth itself is not static like its predecessor. The world is constantly changing and rewriting its structure. Since its introduction, information security has increased immensely. Hacking still exists as an issue, but the knowledge and ability of malicious entities is nowhere near what it once was. It’s said that no one outside of high level government officials and the mysteriously unknown corporation that developed Labryrinth knows how to access the source, but the same was said about CM technology until the Matrix Incident.

Explosive advances in the field of robotics have left humanity relying on machines more than ever, and machine learning is only growing more powerful and more complex as a byproduct. It was less than two decades into the 21st century when humanity created its first trivial forms of artificial intelligence. It wasn’t until Cyber Matrix software was developed that the advancement of AI truly skyrocketed in capability. Matrix AI was a marvel to society and technological advancement began to increase at an even more exponential rate as more AI were created. The formation of a truly perfect AI didn’t occur until years later. Behind closed doors in R&D compounds of an unknown company, the Singularity was rumored to be created. Historians pinpoint the exact time it happened by referencing information that charts the explosive surge in technological advancement. Within a week, there were Singular AI popping up across the globe in the hands of any megacorp that could afford to create one.

Two weeks after the genesis of singular artificial intelligence, everything had changed. The original problems that caused the emergency regulation was unknown, but the effects of America to outlaw and exterminate any singular AI were seen soon after. Chaos wracked the streets as robotic minds with any control over the physical world doused the life from human lungs. Entire banking systems were compromised, massive blocks of the Cyber Matrix were sealed and barred entirely from entry by mysterious entities, and entire grids of electrical systems surged in and out of life as inhuman creatures fought for their lives. During the events that transpired after the emergency legislation, people across the globe were warned from accessing the Cyber Matrix as a few who dared delve in were found with pistols pressed against their temples or minds melted from the inside out by their cyber deck.

‘The AI Catastrophe’, as it was dubbed marked a loss of thousands of lives globally. It took only days for hundreds of developed countries around the world to follow in the footsteps of America. The United Nations has also taken to open hostility against any nation that utilizes singular AI openly. Of course, AI in and of itself remains at an all time high for its active use throughout the world, but measures are always taken to prevent another catastrophe. The whole forceful cleanup was a mess after all, and speculative scientists and Labyrinth Runners alike hypothesize that there may have been a handful of hyper-intelligent entities that evaded sweeps of closed systems, and the abandoned Cyber Matrix is another thing entirely.

As advances in rocket science have lead to an increased popularity of launching satellites and orbital stations has spread across the world. Free of regulation outside of Orbital stations themselves, it has become an increasing trend for high level corporate officials and politicians to create their own orbital stations. There now exists a whole society above the atmosphere, though very few know about what goes on off of the Earth.

Campaign Manager
Cyber Security // Technology Manager
Legal Advisor // Lawyer
Campaign Treasurer
Fundraising Manager
Campbell’s Doctor
Reporter
Bodyguard // Mercenary
Lobbyist
Driver
Friend of candidate
Private Investigator
Benefactor (If you want to use this, develop some sort of business, how it works, and what you’ll need to do to run it. This role doesn’t just give you free reign to infinite cash.)

General Information

NAME:

ALIASES // TITLES:

SEX:

AGE:

APPEARANCE:

OCCUPATION: (What did you do before the campaign? Or what do you still do? This can be held prior to the campaign or ongoing.)

CAMPAIGN TEAM POSITION: (Your position under Campbell. What do you do? See first post for various ideas.)

Psychological Profile

PERSONAL GOAL: (Why are you still around? What are you trying to achieve?)

CAMPAIGN GOAL: (Why did you link up with Campbell? What are you trying to do for his platform?)

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: (Who are you really? What morally defines you? What drives you?)

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: (What are your views on the world? While a partisan identity would be nice to include, feel free to define yourself outside of the five parties. This is important as Campbell will eventually have to choose a party to represent.)

SECRETS: (What are you hiding? What would it cost you if someone found out what’s behind the veil?)

FEARS: (What keeps you up at night? What makes you freeze up in the moment? What do you avoid at all costs?)

REPUTATION: (How does the world view you? What are you known for? How do your people act around you?)

LIKES: (Feel free to list a few.)

DISLIKES: (Same as above)

QUIRKS: (What makes you unique for better or worse?)

Background Information

”Character Quote”

Operative Information

AUGMENTATIONS: (What sort of Cyberware are you equipped with?)

EQUIPMENT: (What are you carrying on the job?)

SKILLS: (Feel free to list a few and elaborate a bit.)

FLAWS: (Aim for three or so. Equal or greater to your number of skills.)

NOTES: