2300 AD - Earth is destroyed

[Grievous]

What do you think about utilizing the 2300 AD setting, but with the twist that Earth is destroyed in some cataclysm? The specifics of the event would of course be important, but I'm thinking of evaluating this more generally here (so it could be anything from an ecological disaster to a Kafer or Pentapod induced event). So, what would be the impact on the setting?

This is incorporating the trope of Earth's destruction as seen in settings like Eclipse Phase into the setup of 2300 AD, which is in its traditional incarnation in many ways still tightly bound up in the earth nations (giving it the "19th century but in space!" vibe that it can be said to have). With Earth's destruction, obviously the colonies become more important and would carry the flag for humanity. Transhumanist ideas could perhaps be explored a little more as well as the proverbial umbilical cord has been cut, too.

So, how do you think the setting would look like after such an event/alteration?

 

[ottarrus]

It's an interesting premise but the colonies of 2300 are still attached to Earth by an umbilical cord. Better than 85% of the human population still lives on Earth... not the Core Worlds of Earth and Tirania, Earth itself.
Of all the colonies, perhaps three can construct stutterwarp ships [France, Germany, America] but to do so would take so much technical know-how and resources from the survivors that extinction is a distinct possibility.
This DOES NOT mean that your premise isn't possible. It would take a major rewrite of the setting material [which you already know] but the setting would become far, FAR grittier and survival oriented. Nevertheless, the idea is certainly worth discussing.

 

[WHULorigan]

It's an interesting premise but the colonies of 2300 are still attached to Earth by an umbilical cord. Better than 85% of the human population still lives on Earth... not the Core Worlds of Earth and Tirania, Earth itself.
Of all the colonies, perhaps three can construct stutterwarp ships [France, Germany, America] but to do so would take so much technical know-how and resources from the survivors that extinction is a distinct possibility.
This DOES NOT mean that your premise isn't possible. It would take a major rewrite of the setting material [which you already know] but the setting would become far, FAR grittier and survival oriented. Nevertheless, the idea is certainly worth discussing.

Perhaps the setting name becomes 2450 AD.

 

[ottarrus]

Perhaps the setting name becomes 2450 AD.

Well, like I say, the idea is interesting and worth entertaining.

 

[Takei]

It's an interesting idea. A lot would depend on the nature, extent and speed of the destruction. Just Earth or the entire solar system? I've not read 2300 AD in a long time so can't remember how many colonies are self-sufficient, or could be if absolutely needed.

 

[Grievous]

The typical scenario in this trope only does away with Earth, allowing the extra-solar colonies to continue, so let's go with that.

Looking at the population of the Sol system, it isn't much, but potential refugees would bolster the numbers somewhat. Looking at my notes, the Lunar Colonies are the largest bunch with 6M+. The Belt is the next largest grouping with only 100k.

The fact that starship manufacturing becomes more arduous is kind of interesting as that can lead to relatively small fleets in the setting, which well, makes things more interesting (and allows for more adventures to be more meaningful for the setting as a whole). Of course, a big question here would be what is stopping the Kafers from just rolling over humanity and obviously this would need a solution.

Tirane is set to become the second Earth in this scenario, really. Humanity doesn't totally lose a center.

Here's a quick list of colonies with over 1M inhabitants:

France

Tirane/Nouvelle Provence - 200,000,000
Beta Canum-4/French Continent - 20,000,000
Beowulf/Europe Nouvelle - 10,000,000
Nous Voilá/Nous Voila - 10,000,000
Kimanjano/Fromme - 6,000,000
Aurore/Aurore - 4,000,000
Adlerhorst/Saint Benoit - 3,000,000

Japan

Tirane/Amaterasu - 100,000,000
Daikoku/Daikoku - 10,000,000

Germany

Nibelungen/Nibelungen - 80,000,000
Beta Canum-4/German Continent - 10,000,000
Adlerhorst/Neumark - 4,000,000
Hochbaden/Kolonie Zwei - 4,000,000
Joi/Halbinsel - 3,000,000
Dunkelheim/Dunkelheim - 1,000,000

Brazil

Tirane/Provincia do Brasil - 100,000,000

Azania

Tirane/Tundukubwa - 70,000,000

Australia

Tirane/New Canberra - 60,000,000
King/Huntsland - 2,000,000
Kingsland/Kingsland - 1,000,000

Britain

Beowulf/Alicia - 30,000,000
Beta Canum-4/New Africa - 10,000,000
Tirane/New Albion - 6,000,000
Joi/New Cornwall - 3,000,000
Crater/Crater - 2,000,000

Manchuria

Kwantung/Kwantung - 20,000,000
Cold Mountain/Han Shan - 10,000,000
Tirane/Tunghu - 3,000,000
Syuhlahm/Chuyuantii - 1,000,000
Chengdu/Anyou - 1,000,000

Argentina

Tirane/Santa Maria - 9,000,000

America

Tirane/Tirania - 3,000,000
King/New Columbia - 3,000,000
Hermes/Hermes - 3,000,000

Ukraine

Aurore/Novy Kyiv - 4,000,000

Arabia

Daikoku/Al Marjiti - 4,000,000

Inca

Heidelsheimat/Pachamama - 1,000,000

Texas

Heidelsheimat/Alamo - 3,000,000
Austin's World/Trinity Flats - 1,000,000

Mexico

Kwantung/Azteca - 3,000,000

Independent

Tirane/Freihaven - 200,000,000
Tirane/Wellon - 200,000,000
Heidelsheimat/Heidelsheimat - 5,000,000
Joi/Elysia - 4,000,000
Aurore/Tanstaafl - 2,000,000

I also like how this flattens the distance between Tier 1 and lower tier factions, which might make things more dynamic and interesting out there in the Arms. The France-German rivalry remains as a big thing, the British-Argentine rivalry is considerably evened, etc.

 

[CordwainerFish]

What do you think about utilizing the 2300 AD setting, but with the twist that Earth is destroyed in some cataclysm?

Too soon.

 

[Bryn the 2300AD guy]

When Attack Vector: Tactical came out, I considered the exact same issue. Realistically, there are few planets where Human life is sustainable without large infusions of stuff from Earth, and Human civilisation on those would immediately regress.

In Beanstalk we have a good decription of one of the most habitable worlds in Human space. Its' native tech level is basically 17th or 18th Century. All the modern stuff on the planet is made on Earth and shipped there. Even the most advanced colonies are still essentially extraction economies, providing ore, petrochemicals and food to Earth in return for manufactured goods.