Appendix C1: Generic Mythos

The spaces are a faux concept with a pseudo nomenclature that defines where stuff is. Physical Space is the space in which we mundanely live. This Physical Space is the space in which we pretend to have the most knowledge. The other faux spaces exist to defy reality in the Physical Space and tell fun sciency fiction stories.

EXP has its own language for differentiating vehicle types. The primary separation is planetary versus extraplanetary. Planetary vehicles are mundane terra ones like cars, trucks and planes. Inatmo vehicle is another term for a planetary vehicle because they are constrained to being "in the atmosphere." Extraplanetary vehicles are the staple of sciency fiction and are capable of traversing the stars. Exatmo vehicle is another term for an extraplanetary vehicle are because they can function "exterior to the atmosphere." Exatmo vehicles have a host of different identifiers based on what they can do in outer space.

EXP moved away from the term races in the 1990s. The generic mythos supports a faux taxonomy that sounds sciency but is appearance-based. In sciency-language, appearance equals phenotype. So EXP’s faux taxonomy is organized by phenotype and nothing else. Life in EXP encompasses any consciousness. That consciousness can exist in an anthro, alien, robot or AI. Players create anthros, evolve aliens, and fabricate robots.

An artifact is a collective term for tools, devices, machines, weapons, or junque that the personas encounter. An artifact is anything that the players have no identified yet. Equipment is an artifact that the players have identified for their personas. The system that generates these artifacts is massive and is called the Technological Object Yield System. Player often refer to technological artifacts as toys. Toys are the generic equivalent of magic items in fantasy RPGs.

Tech level is a shortening of the term technological levels. The premise of tech levels in EXP is that any civilization can accomplish any technological achievement. However, the size, complexity, and required resources to accomplish that achievement are what differ. This premise is the basis of how anything can appear anywhere at any time. The artifact could be from an extinct civilization, an existing civilization, an alien civilization, or a clumsy time traveller.

In short, the higher the tech level, the smaller, lighter, more valuable and hard to understand an artifact is. Tech level 10 is our present mundane terra tech level.

The concept of Kirlian energy and auras has a long history of pseudo-scientific poppycock. In EXP, Kirlian energy, aura and forces are a sciency fiction extension of Kirlian Auras. In EXP, the Kirlian energies occur as the Think Space interfaces with the Physical Space. Kirlian auras and energies behave like static electricity produced as the Think Space rubs within the Physical Space. While static electricity is an evident phenomenon, very few personas can see Kirlian auras. Even fewer personas can manipulate Kirlian energies.

The Knite is the only vocation that can see and use Kirlian auras. The persona’s ability to manipulate this interspace friction makes them a Knite. The Kirlian energy empowers Knites to carry out psionic shenanigans in the Physical Space.

Kirlian energy is minimally present through the Physical Space. Any entity that is a powerful conductor of the Think Space can amplify Kirlian energy’s presence. Conducting the Think Space requires order, which is the purvey of a Knite. Any entity that is a powerful disruptor of the Physical Space can amplify Kirlian energy’s presence. Disrupting the Physical Space requires chaos, which is the purvey of an Anti-Knite.

The zany collection of technological artifacts all require power to operate. Many players don’t worry about how artifacts are powered and simply let everything work all the time. Not worrying about how artifacts get power is a perfectly valid campaign choice and fun. A scarcity based campaign may need a framework for energy sources. Not surprisingly, EXP has a faux framework for how things get energy and keep running. The power and energy framework in EXP lends itself to fun sciency fiction explanations.

There are four sources of energy in EXP, cells, fuel cells, fuel and power sources. Cell, aka batteries, are for personal artifacts that need portable power. Fuel cells are specifically for robots and not found anywhere else. Fuel is for planetary and extraplanetary vehicles. Power sources represent architectural infrastructure that resembles our mundane terra electrical grids.

The energy sources have three different formats: basic, rechargeable, and continuous. Basic energy sources are expendable and disposable. Batteries on mundane terra are an example of basic cells. Rechargeable energy sources charge themselves. When a solar cell runs out of energy, bright light can recharge it. Continuous energy sources deliver energy without interruption. A broadcast cell delivers energy from a continuous energy source.

There are basic, rechargeable and continuous batteries. There are basic, rechargeable and continuous fuel types. The various energy sources are replete with sciency fiction nomenclature: nuclear, magnetic, solar, and psionic, to name a few.