The Tech Post
This post will discuss the thoroughly discussed tech guidelines decided by the mods of all the interconnected bug rp communities.
While this is the standard, it is liable to change if the environment so calls for it.
Without further ado,
Bug RP Tech Guidelines!
Weaponry:
These are the following weapons we have access to in the bug world!
Fully Allowed
- Melee weapons of any kind from the early 2000s and back (knives, swords, tridents, spears, bludgeons, etc.).
- Early handheld projectile based weapons (crossbows, bows, slingshots, etc.). Poison tipped arrows are allowed.
- Armor and shields, pretty self explanatory.
- Poisons. There are a number of poisons readily available if you can explain how you got them in a realistic way.
In Moderation
- Rudimentary guns. Some firearms will be allowed under very strict moderation, including early muskets, early revolvers, early flintlocks, blunderbuss-esque weapons, and the like.
- Heavier early projectile launchers and ammo (Ballistas, catapults, trebuchets, rudimentary canons, rudimentary mortars, Hwachas and Huo Ches (early “firework” launching weaponry), among others).
- Gas weaponry. Very specific uses, typically backstory uses. Highly unlikely for it to be used in active roleplay. Not after the spore bombs. Likely limited at tear gas.
- Flare guns.
- Flame throwers. Very, very strict moderation. And very, very early forms.
- Sniper crossbows. Sniper rifles were voted out, but enough mods wanted snipers to stay, so this is the compromise.
- War/battleships. The Rebelliant lives.
- Explosives. These live in a limbo state, of “some are allowed, some not,” and it’s best to just clarify with a mod.
Absolutely Not
- Tanks. We are not putting canons on armored vehicles.
- Bomber planes, fighter jets, and other wartime aircraft. Idk ride a wild dragonfly or smth into battle. Or a bird. Some people have those. Have your how to train your dragon moment
- Any guns that are not on the rudimentary guns list. No, you do not get any automatics.
- Nuclear Fucking Bombs. Stop it. We said no months ago after the last one.
- Anything the would require tech we do not have in the modern day, stop it, you’re bugs, not even humans have that???
- Drones. Not like- the type of bug- like tactical military drones. You don’t get to have that.
- Long range missiles.
- I could go on forever about what isn’t allowed, use your common sense.
Aesthetic Tech:
Aesthetic, daily life, home, business, and other related tech!
Fully Allowed
- Audio entertainment technology, stuff like old radios, cassettes, old speakers, record players.
- Some visual entertainment technology, like film projectors.
- Communication technology (in some cases). Walkie talkies, rotary phones/landlines, telegraphs
- Film cameras
- Ovens, refrigerators, toasters, and other kitchen appliances as long as they aren’t very modern. Richer bugs can likely afford better items, but nothing “modern”.
- Instruments. Yay, go play music.
- Lighting fixtures. A variety of lighting systems are allowed, I’m gonna trust you to moderate yourselves on the lighting situation. Just don’t try and push it too much, y’know?
- other stuff, I’m not gonna sit here all day and list every possible technology item you can use, just use your common sense.
In Moderation
- Computers. Older, large blocky computers. Mostly used by larger established companies. Individual bugs pretty much never get ahold of them.
- Television. Old black and white is the norm, and most people don’t have them. Only some of the richest are capable of affording grainy color TVs.
Absolutely Not
- “Brick” phones or any sort of phone/communication device more modern than that.
- Any other versions of technology more advanced than what was mentioned in the previous sections.
- Again, I think common sense has you covered for the most part.
Transportation:
How bugs be movin!
Fully Allowed
- Carts, trailers, wagons
- Rafts, sailboats
- Hot air balloons, gliders
(Not technology but still worth mentioning)
- Wild bugs you’ve tamed
- Willing sapient bugs who are offering their services, there’s a lot of unique bugs out there
In Moderation
- Toy Cars. Chances are you probably don’t have one and won’t have one, very few do.
- Trains. There’s like- one or two train stations, the most prominent of which is the Goldliner express.
- Steam boats, cruise ships, other medium sea vessels. Very few in existence, most won’t have access to them let alone own them.
- Passenger planes. Just like the other group transportation stuff, not really owned by individuals.
Absolutely Not
- Any sort of motorized land vehicle.
- Bullet trains.
- entirely metal boats.
- excessively large boats.
- Submarines.
- Jumbo jets.
- helicopters.
- We’ve played this rodeo a lot, once again, COMMON SENSE WILL SAVE YOUR SORRY ABDOMEN!
Era, Industry, Resources, and Power:
Basically, what does society actually look like??
The actual technological era the Bugblrverse is in- can be debated. Looking at the technology, there is everything from medieval, to renaissance, to Industrial Revolution, to steampunk, to 20th century technological revolution. So- era is pretty hard to pinpoint.
A lot of life is largely lived in medieval, renaissance, and steampunk. These are the most common themes. It is also heavily dependent on the colony, so are more or less advanced than others, and in different ways.
Due to the somewhat recent Antdustrial Revolution, steam power (and with it, electricity) is starting to become more commonplace in public life, though it is still rudimentary and can be faulty.
Some larger industry corporations, such as Big Pebble Companies, the ASC, Beetle Corp, and Pineapple Corp, among a few others, have enough money to afford technology or hiring smithies capable of metal refinement, or afford research into expanding technologies, and due to this, corporations or governments with high reach, will at times be more developed than most bugs in the general populace.
There are a variety of resources widely available for bugs to use. Plant fibers, wood, stone, clay- most things you would find surface level in nature. Some bugs, if they have the resources, numbers, or capability to do so, can also salvage materials such as plastic, glass, and metals from Sugarbeasts (humans).
There is also the option of harvesting stuff from wild bugs. Snail and beetle shells, poison from spiders, claws and mandibles and weapons. If a large animal is killed, they can be harvested as well, feathers, scales, bones are all available materials if the means to get them are there.
Biological aspects are also fine and encouraged to be used! Camouflage markings? Awesome! Bombardier beetle abilities are so cool! Mantis reaction and attack speed? Yes! Trap-jaw ant leaping? Fun! Pheromones?? So many bugs have them, use them!! Use what you have available to your character! Not everything needs tech for it to work.
Some Other Notes
If you want to have a better chance of getting access to certain items/materials, there are a few things you can do!
Come up with an interesting backstory. If you give your character an interesting enough backstory, mods may be more receptive of having access to something from your character’s past or allowing you to have something happen in your character’s backstory.
Try and make something out of natural resources! If you can make a tool that carries a similar function to one that is otherwise difficult to access using natural resources that are readily available to a bug, you are much more likely to get the go ahead.
Having established character advancement. If you are a longstanding member, chances are you have built up your character, a legacy, knowability, and trust. If you are consistent and can build up your character in an authentic and believable way, you are likely to have a better chance at getting access to hard to access materials, resources, and technology.
You have magic. You have magic. Magic is canon! If you don’t have the tech for something, maybe your character can learn some for of magic capable of mimicking what you wanted!
Final Statements:
Ultimately, this is meant to be fun, while not being overpowered for- y’know- bugs- even if we are weirdly intelligent. It is up to mod discretion if something is overpowered, so please do try to keep things within reason. If you are still confused and have a question about what tech you can use, ask a mod! It’s going to vary a bit between different communities anyway just because of their environments. So have fun, and let’s bug out!