Editing Transhuman Space (section)

==Setting==
The game assumes that no cataclysm — natural or human-induced — swept [[Earth]] in the 21st century. Instead, constant developments in [[information technology]], [[genetic engineering]], [[nanotechnology]] and [[nuclear physics]] generally improved condition of the average human life. Plagues of the 20th century (like [[cancer]] or [[AIDS]]) have been suppressed, the [[ozone layer]] is being restored and Earth's [[ecosystem]]s are recovering (although thermal emission by [[fusion power]] plants poses an environmental threat—albeit a much lesser one than previous sources of energy). Thanks to [[Medicine|modern medicine]] humans live [[Genealogies of Genesis|biblical]] timespans surrounded by various [[artificial intelligence|artificially intelligent]] helper [[Application software|applications]] and [[robot]]s (cybershells), sensory experience [[Broadcasting|broadcast]]s (future TV) and [[cyberspace]] [[telepresence]]. Thanks to cheap and clean [[Nuclear fusion|fusion]] energy humanity has power to fuel all these wonders, restore and transform its home planet and finally settle on other heavenly bodies.

Human [[genetic engineering]] has advanced to the point that anyone—single individuals, [[Same-sex marriage|same-sex couples]], groups of three or more—can reproduce. The [[embryos]] can be allowed to be developed naturally, or they can undergo three levels of tinkering: 
1. ''Genefixing'', which corrects defects; 
2. ''Upgrades'', which boost natural abilities (Ishtar Upgrades are slightly more attractive than usual, Metanoia Upgrades are more intelligent, etc.); and... 
3. Full transition to ''parahuman'' status (Nyx Parahumans only need a few hours of sleep per week, Aquamorphs can live underwater, etc.) Another type of [[human genetic engineering]], far more controversial, is the creation of [[bioroid]]s, fully sentient slave races.
[[Image:Transhuman Space Earth.png|thumb|left|300px|Political map of Earth in the ''Transhuman Space'' setting.<br>{{legend0|#d2d200|Chinese Bloc}} {{legend0|#808000|Other allies of China}}<br>{{legend0|#0000ff|American Bloc}} {{legend0|#0080ff|Other allies of the USA}}<br>{{legend0|#8000ff|European Union}} {{legend0|#32c0bd|Pacific Rim Alliance}}<br>{{legend0|#ff00ff|Indian Bloc}} {{legend0|#804000|Caribbean Union}}<br>{{legend0|#000000|South African Coalition}} {{legend0|#5f5f5f|Other allies of the SAC}}<br>{{legend0|#ff8b17|Transpacific Socialist Alliance}} {{legend0|#ff0000|Russian Bloc}}<br>{{legend0|#008000|Islamic Caliphate}} {{legend0|#b9b9b9|Unaffiliated}}]]
People can "[[mind transfer|upload]]" by recording the [[simulation]] of their brains on [[Disk storage|computer disks]]. The [[Emulator|emulated]] individual then becomes a ''ghost'', an [[infomorph]] very easily confused with "[[sapience|sapient]] [[artificial intelligence]]". However, this technology has several problems as the solely available [[mind transfer#Serial sectioning|"brainpeeling"]] technique is fatal to the original [[Organism|biological]] [[lifeform]] being [[simulation|simulated]], has a significant failure rate and the philosophical questions regarding [[personal identity]] remain equivocal. Any infomorph, regardless of its origin, can be plugged into a  "cybershell" ([[robot]]ic or [[cyborg|cybernetic]] body), or a biological body, or "bioshell". Or, the individual can illegally make multiple "xoxes", or copies of themselves, and scatter them throughout the system, [[exponential growth|exponentially increasing]] the odds that at least one of them will live for centuries more, if not forever.

This is also a time of [[space]] colonization. First, humanity (specifically [[People's Republic of China|China]], followed by the United States and others) colonized Mars in a fashion resembling that outlined in the [[Mars Direct]] project. The [[Moon]], [[Lagrangian point]]s, [[inner planet]]s and [[asteroid]]s soon followed. In the late 21st century even some of [[Saturn]]'s moons have been settled as a base for that planet's [[Helium-3]] scooping operations.
[[Image:Transhuman Space Earth economic.png|thumb|right|300px|Economic map of Earth in the ''Transhuman'' Space setting.<br>{{legend0|#00ff00|Fifth Wave: ([[Memetics]], [[Nanoengineering]], and [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]])}}<br>{{legend0|#0000ff|Fourth Wave: ([[Biotech]])}}<br>{{legend0|#c600c6|Third Wave: ([[Information Age]])}}<br>{{legend0|#ff0000|Below Average}}]]

Transhuman Space's setting is neither [[utopia]] nor [[dystopia]], however: several problems have arisen from these otherwise beneficial developments. The [[generation gap]] has become a chasm as lifespans increase. No longer do the elite fear death, and no longer can the young hope to replace them. While it seemed that outworld colonies would offer accommodation and work for those young ones, they are being replaced by genetically tailored bioroids and AI-powered cybershells. The concept of ''[[human condition|humanity]]'' is no longer clear in a world where even some animals speak of their rights and the dead haunt both cyberspace and reality (in form of infomorph-controlled bioshells or cybershells).

And the wonders of high science are not universally shared — some countries merely struggle with [[Information Age|informatization]] while others suffer from nanoplagues, defective drugs, implants and software tested on their populace. In some poor countries high-tech [[tyrant]]s oppress their backward people. And in outer space all sort of modern [[crime]] thrives, barely suppressed by military forces.