Explore the Bookshelf: (Current Year) - Hackers fighting back against the system.

Explore the Bookshelf is the series where I play through my bookshelf, front to back.

This time we're playing (Current Year) by alimakesrpgs, bought in the Queer Games Bundle 2024.
https://alimakesrpgs.itch.io/current-year

Three sessions, starting <t:1745769600:F>

Concept:

The surveillance state you live in has classified you as Threats. A mysterious entity has contacted you and patched you into the system in order to fight back.

To quote the book:
"[i] was here

you’re being watched.
no matter where you are, no matter who you are, you are under surveillance.
at any time, the people in power, or people acting alone, can tell what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and why.
the devices you claim to own can be turned against you, and it’s only a matter of time before they are.

do you want that to change? (y / n)

------------------------------------------

good choice.
you’re not off the grid like you might hope but the grid works for you now. welcome to ⍰(current year)⍰.

Touchstones I can think of are: Watch Dogs, Mr. Robot, Person of Interest.

Aim:

Explore the game and its systems, dodge an overbearing surveillance state, use your special talents and access to fight back.

Tone:

I think as per default, the tone of the game is quite tense and serious, focusing on themes of surveillance state, oppression and the people who fight back.

Subject Matter:

(current year) deals with themes including:

• Surveillance, privacy invasion, and government/corporate control

• Police brutality and systemic oppression

• Hacking, cybercrime, and moral ambiguity

• Economic disparity and class struggle

• Potential for violence, injury, and consequences for actions

  We will use a layered set of safety tools and the Open Hearth Code of Conduct obviously applies.

• I would like to create audio recordings of the sessions, based on a layered system of consent (no consent - consent for private use - consent for broader publishing to the Open Hearth - consent for broader publishing through the Open Hearth).
  If you feel uncomfortable with being recorded, that is totally fair and I would prefer playing with you without recording the sessions over not playing with you at all.

•