History TabletopGame / GeniusTheTransgression

''Genius'' was made on RPG.net and has slowly grown into a setting as rich and detailed as any White Wolf has created. [[http://moochava.googlepages.com/genius Accessible through this elegant and finely-crafted link.]].

''[[http://sites.google.com/site/moochava/genius Genius: The Transgression]]'' is a fan Gameline for the TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness setting created by the author/artist of webcomic ''Webcomic/TheWaterPhoenixKing'', Kyle Marquis (better known on RPG.Net as Moochava), detailing the adventures of Geniuses, {{Mad Scientist}}s who can build impossible machines (called Wonders) thanks to their connection to the mysterious light of Inspiration. Drawing on every sci-fi and horror cliché out there, Genius [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder justifies the setting]], [[{{Reconstruction}} expands the tropes along their logical progression]] and links its themes to the real world. It will be instantly familiar to any fan of the genre.

%%* BackAlleyDoctor: A common Progenitor stereotype.
%%* BazaarOfTheBizarre: Any Lemurian Mercatus could look like this.

[[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1324KXmeN8HdOFz4N_zcHeUw_REosiVel?usp=sharing A second edition is has been written]] by a different creator. It is technically unofficial, but given the game's origins...

''[[http://sites.google.com/site/moochava/genius Genius: The Transgression]]'' is a fan Gameline for the TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness setting created by the author/artist of webcomic ''Webcomic/TheWaterPhoenixKing'', Kyle Marquis (better known on RPG.Net as Moochava), detailing the adventures of Geniuses, {{Mad Scientist}}s who can build impossible machines (called Wonders) thanks to their connection to the mysterious light of Inspiration. Drawing on every sci-fi and horror cliché out there, Genius [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder justifies the setting]], [[{{Reconstruction}} expands the tropes along their logical progression]] and links its themes to the real world. It will be instantly familiar to any fan of the genre.

* FiveManBand:
** Geniuses of different catalysts can follow this dynamic in their Collaborative:
*** TheLeader or BigBad: '''Hoffnung'''. Ambitious and full of hope, they have a vision for the world and will do much to achieve it. Their charisma and passion can convince others to join them in their cause.
*** TheLancer or TheDragon: '''Neid'''. Paranoid and envious, they nonetheless gravitate to those [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe who treat them kindly]] and their paranoia can keep a Collaborative on its toes.
*** TheBigGuy or TheBrute: '''Grimm'''. Fierce, quick to violence, and often martially-oriented, they also possess a strong sense of justice.
*** TheSmartGuy or TheEvilGenius: '''Staunen'''. They pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake, and their lofty dreams can help disillusioned Geniuses forget about their problems for a little while.
*** TheChick or TheDarkChick: '''Klagen'''. They serve as the OnlySaneMan of a Collaborative and usually are ones patching up Geniuses and their Wonders.
** Although the Foundations can cover multiple roles in a Collaborative, in the setting's history they fall under these:
*** TheLeader: '''Directors.''' They are the social and organizational experts of the Foundations, and often serve as TheFace for a collaborative.
*** TheLancer: '''Artificers.''' They plan out and build the Wonders that the Foundations use, and their passionate, creative, chaotic organization serves as a counterpoint to the other four Foundations.
*** TheBigGuy: '''Navigators.''' The most martial of the five Foundations, and the ones most willing to go into the unknown.
*** TheSmartGuy: '''Scholastics.''' Most often, these bookworms and theorists are the brains of their collaboratives.
*** TheChick: '''Progenitors.''' Healers and transhumanists, they are concerned with the improvement of the self.
*** SixthRanger: '''Rogues''', and possibly the '''[[AsianAndNerdy Ten Thousand Fans]]'''. None of them like Lemuria, and may be willing to work with the Peerage if so needed.
** The [[PsychoRangers Lemurian Baramins]], on the other hand:
*** BigBad: Originally: '''Dharmists''', human Geniuses who answered only to the Third Race. Now: '''Oracles'''. They place themselves as the moral authority of Lemuria, backing it up with unyielding zealotry and a Mania-powered ability to instantly know things.
*** TheDragon: '''Atomists.''' A faction of Lemurian Geniuses who long for the future once promised by nuclear power, they provide the long-term planning and strategy the Baramins need to prevail.
*** TheBrute: '''Etherites.''' They form the armed wing of Lemuria, using their expertise in Katastrofi to blast their enemies apart.
*** TheEvilGenius: '''Mechanists.''' Peerless engineers and designers, they create the Wonders that make Lemuria the superpower it is.
*** TheDarkChick: '''Phenomenologists.''' Manipulators and [[ConsummateLiar consummate liars]] to a man, they also serve as Lemuria's eyes.
*** SixthRanger or SixthRangerTraitor: '''Numericals,''' a nascent group with potential to be a true Baramin. '''Independent Echo Doctors''' also serve Lemuria's interests from time to time.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The Peerage's defeat of Lemuria and total removal of the Nine Unknown Men means that no one is in control, no one is responsible, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking no,]] [[IWantMyJetpack you are not getting that rocket car with the robot chauffeur]] without some ''[[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob serious]]'' [[InfiniteSupplies coin.]] (Note: it's the robot chauffeur that is ''really'' expensive.)

* '''The Center for Circumferential Navigation:''' Known mainly for their Mad Physics program. The Navigators are fearless daredevils who travel far horizons, [[TheyFightCrime fight crime]] and test the [[SuperPrototype experimental devices]]. The most recent group to join the Peers, originally [[DefectorFromDecadence the underclass of Lemuria]] but they've since earned their respect.

* RealityWarper: [[InsufferableGenius Unmada]] possess an uncontrolled version of this power that causes the world to [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve fit their version of reality]] better. That wouldn't be so bad, except it also summons [[PoisonousFriend Manes]]. They ''can'' be helpful, generally only to the Unmada in question, and even that's a bit chancy.

* PoisonousFriend: Unmada Manes (the Manes spawned or attracted by the fields [[RealityWarper Unmada]] produce) can guard areas, offer advice, or act as an information network for the Unmada in question. They also have [[DreamApocalypse vested interest]] in making sure the Genius [[PowerBornOfMadness stays crazy.]]

* AngryBlackMan: A lot of members of the Malcolm T. Washington Fellowship qualify. It's a Fellowship for African-Americans who like to work with arthropods, and a lot of Black Geniuses' Breakthroughs were shaped by racism and inequality. The resulting Fellowship has its share of Grimms and Neids who want to use giant bugs to either change the world for the better, or just get some payback.

* PoweredByAForsakenChild: Larvae are components for Wonders that require moral sacrifice, such as... well, the heart of a little orphan boy.

** A very specific {{Aversion}} outlined int he first edition book was everyone involved in the Manhattan Project, [[UsefulNotes/RobertOppenheimer]] most of all. Both the Peerage and the Lemurians kept strict tabs on the group, not wanting to risk the Havoc that might be wrought by a Genius's take on the world's first prototype nuclear weapon.

* BigCreepyCrawlies: The Malcolm T. Washington Fellowship, a Fellowship that accepts only Geniuses of African-American or African-Canadian heritage are specialists in this field. This might seem like a rather narrow charge, but it turns out that there are a lot of very smart, slightly crazy black people who really ''really'' want to work with giant bugs, especially when there's grant money involved.

* PowerPerversionPotential: Extremely high-- this is a game where [[PygmalionPlot customized individuals,]] MindControl devices and {{Transformation Ray}}s are common stock inventions. A lot of these applications, though, are Transgressions of some kind. Many are relatively minor-- indulging certain odd tastes will [[{{Squick}} weird out]] much of society, while using Wonders for fun shows a lack of respect for the dangerous power of mad science. Going too far ''will'' result in your [[KarmaMeter Obligation]] [[WhatTheHellHero going down,]] and ''hard''. "{{Love potion}}s" and other forms of sexual mind control are 100% analogous to ''{{rape|IsASpecialKindOfEvil}}'' and only a step above [[KillEmAll mass murder.]]

* AdultFear: A lot of the horror in Genius. Themes include "no one is in charge" and "humanity must adapt to changing technology, rather than technology changing for our benefit" and, most importantly "you were a dedicated scientist, [[MagicPoweredPseudoscience but now you are forever unable to do true research]]".

** [[AndZoidberg And]] [[StupidJetpackHitler Nazis]]. Though they may count too, what with their [[ArtisticLicenseBiology race]] [[IncestIsRelative theories]].

* CrystalSpiresAndTogas: One of the common Aesthetics Geniuses use. Plenty of them use it ironically; using it sincerely is associated with Lemuria and looks a bit skeevy among the Peerage.

* TorturedMonster: The Cold Ones.

*** Time Cube is In-Universe a Genius written Thesis on how to exploit time zones for use of Time Travel. Problem is that to us it's the ravings of a mad man.