JD Metagame question

[Techno-Guru]

I know there are genetically enhanced gorrilas running mob families in Mega-City one, but are there any other anthromorphs running around helping/making trouble for the Justice Department? Police dog jokes aside, I am curious since I am not that familiar with the universe at large.

 

[Arabin]

Well, to begin, there are no cats and dogs left, only robodogs and such.

I believe that the apes were a special case, and any other modified species would be seen as a mutant, and therefore be kicked out of the city to live in the Cursed Earth, a radioactive wasteland full of mutants.

However, there are plenty of aliens in Mega-City One, and there is a lot of resentment against them by the overcrowded humans.

I guess the most important thing to remember is that pretty much anything can happen in Mega-City One. I remember a story around Christmas where there were some farmers in the Cursed Earth who had "bred" modified turkeys, so they the turkeys were self cooking. They were intelligent enough that they would pluck themselves, turn on the oven, get everything ready and then climb into a pan in the oven to cook. Of course, one turkey got smart, and tried escaping... and with a few friends... he's probably still out there somewhere.

Arabin

 

[Techno-Guru]

Well, to begin, there are no cats and dogs left, only robodogs and such.

I figured as much, probably because the fatties were experimenting with alternative sources of food. :wink:

I believe that the apes were a special case, and any other modified species would be seen as a mutant, and therefore be kicked out of the city to live in the Cursed Earth, a radioactive wasteland full of mutants.

I need to do some reading (I'm interested but I possess nothing on the Dreddverse) but that would seem logical, and give the characters a way to get in through the Undercity.

However, there are plenty of aliens in Mega-City One, and there is a lot of resentment against them by the overcrowded humans.

Another good angle, but I would have to explain why they would bother coming to such a flithy, clastrophobic place where all the locals are varying degrees of insane.

I guess the most important thing to remember is that pretty much anything can happen in Mega-City One. I remember a story around Christmas where there were some farmers in the Cursed Earth who had "bred" modified turkeys, so they the turkeys were self cooking. They were intelligent enough that they would pluck themselves, turn on the oven, get everything ready and then climb into a pan in the oven to cook. Of course, one turkey got smart, and tried escaping... and with a few friends... he's probably still out there somewhere.

Arabin

True, I figured as much when I first learned about the Fatties (who the heck else has portrayed massively overweight people so prominately?) However, your Cursed Earth story definitely takes the cake on what I would define as out there.

 

[Techno-Guru]

Thank you Arabin for your response. Now for two more questions that show I'm too cheap to go out and buy something Dredd at the moment (yet I should since this universe is so cool.)

1. In regards to "Judges Around the World", while they definitely don't dress like the Mega City folks, do they have different weapons/equipment? Or do they all just drive Lawmasters and shoot Lawgivers that look slightly different?
2. In the case where the Judges find a especially talented individual that they missed recruiting and "convince" to join them, does that new cadet have to sit through the same fifteen years as the ones they've been drilling since the age of five or is the regime compressed for older recruits that demonstrate high competance in a critical area (marksmenship, knowledge of The Law, etc.)?

 

[Valaryc]

i don't own BritCity or any similar product....but i think they wear different uniforms and use similiar (!) equipment. the russian variant uses different slugthrowers i think (from the russian gambit trilogy)....but i don't know.

to your second question:

if your "talent" is a psionic there will be a chance he may serve in the psi division.

for any other...they won't go out on the streets as a streetjudge. maybe they will be transfered to a "less action division" like accountant division,serve at the the academy,be an auxiliary judge (that are the people that don't pass their final test but are too good to kick out..so they get a job) or go scientific (like C.S.I. MegaCity1). but as i said....no street judges

 

[Techno-Guru]

Thank you Judge Morbo. Your answer, while it doesn't make sense from a mechanic standpoint (specialist Judges being prestige classes and all that jazz), makes perfect sense from a story-telling angle.

 

[Techno-Guru]

On second thought, now that I've had a chance to step away from my keyboard, what is keeping a older recruit (early twenties) from being a street judge? Not going to argue, just curious.