Is Cantr a dystopia?

[Gran]

Hello there. This is a question I caught myself asking this morning whilst I read this other somewhat unrelated thread. Here are the reasons why I thought I should ask myself this question:

• Most societies in Cantr live either under the rule of few or the rule of one, with those who control the government also controlling most of the economy by claiming right, directly or indirectly, to a number of tools and machines.

• Most interaction between races*, if it's not sporadical or in small scale, ends up with generalized war and genocide and later with general lasting enmity between the peoples involved.

• Most characters live in poverty, even if they do live in a wealthy town, relying on the land for subsistance and with limited possessions, mostly scrap tools or bone ones.

• Most characters have to rely on themselves to get done the things they want done. Constructive cooperative action is very limited, either by mindset or by the general annoyance of the game's lack of features to deal with the asynchronical nature of interaction.

• Most people have to walk around armoured and armed because of natural or player-generated threats. Yet it's not safe to say that the next morning there won't be a bunch of corpses lying around.

I'm not all certain about all of this, but the question stands. And you, what do you think about it?

[*Race: It was very silly to use this word. It was supposed to designate language groups.]

[kaloryfer]

imho:
1) check
2) dunno
3) check
4) somewhat check
5) check

A nice question, Gran.
Actually, when I think about my characters, most of them are struggling to achieve something despite living in big and active town. The more I think about that, the more I believe that they would be better off alone.

Or is it only negative selection kicking in in Cantr?

[Oob]

When I started the thread you have a link to, it was your third point about poverty which I refer to as 'semi-primitive society' that is the idea I was raising for discussion, with science and invention being the key to possible 'evolution' in game. I have to say I didn't know about other races in Cantr, I have assumed the inhabitants of the game world were all Cantrians, maybe there is the possibilty that a technologically advanced race (enlightened and cerebral, who progress beyond primitive war and voilence) could be the force to help move towards a more high-tech future.

The question I keep asking myself is, how can things move forward in Cantr so societies and economies can advance beyond the points you have highlighted. Will it end up with some weird dystopian communities driving electric powered vehicles but still using bone tools. I continue to wonder quite how things will work out many years from now in Cantr.

[The_Pagan]

Most societies in Cantr live either under the rule of few or the rule of one, with those who control the government also controlling most of the economy by claiming right, directly or indirectly, to a number of tools and machines.

While this does seem to be a trend of cantr societies, it doen't really mean it's a dystopia. Take Queen Elizabeth I of England. She was a strong leader, ignoring/overruling the advice of her council on many occations and one of England's best rulers and went down in history as Good Queen Bess. Yes, she had flaws, but during her reign, England wasn't a dytopia.

Most interaction between races, if it's not sporadical or in small scale, ends up with generalized war and genocide and later with general lasting enmity between the peoples involved.

I haven't to see this in-game but it seems to go against the describiton of Cantr for new players - the leaving a trail of bodies etc.

Most characters live in poverty, even if they do live in a wealthy town, relying on the land for subsistance and with limited possessions, mostly scrap tools or bone ones.

I'l say no here, because of game mechnics, this is often more convient. It is a primitive society (regardless of the technology). For the society to devolope, something will have to be done to restict taking resources or limit them, so trade becomes more essental.

Think of it as if there was a money tree. Would you go to work or will you spend the same time climbing the non-dangerous money tree for often more money than you'll get going to work?

Most characters have to rely on themselves to get done the things they want done. Constructive cooperative action is very limited, either by mindset or by the general annoyance of the game's lack of features to deal with the asynchronical nature of interaction.

I haven't found this. People tend want to help be it role play reasons or because they don't want to wste ticks.

Most people have to walk around armoured and armed because of natural or player-generated threats. Yet it's not safe to say that the next morning there won't be a bunch of corpses lying around.

I would blame the sleeping sickness for this. We don't really catch it either, we often choice it, due to giving up on the character or disinterest in the game. Because it's a choice, I wouldn't tick the dystopia box for this one.

[Chris]

The word "dystopia" isn't precisely right. But yes, many inherent features of Cantr make anti-social and tyrannical behavior easier to pull off than they might be in the real world. On the other hand, don't ignore the many Care Bear towns.

P.S. Looking over my 5 characters, I would say 3 are in Care Bear towns, 1 is in a town controlled by a warrior clan, and 1 is in a dysfunctional republic.

[Marian]

• Most societies in Cantr live either under the rule of few or the rule of one, with those who control the government also controlling most of the economy by claiming right, directly or indirectly, to a number of tools and machines.

Most 'societies' in Cantr consist of about ten people on a first name basis, five of which are in a permanent coma. One person taking charge in that situation can't really be compared to any real life government. The same goes for any real concept of an economy.

[dryn]

I would say that it is very hard for Cantr to be very dystopian purely since it is so easy to fulfil your basic needs, except on certain islands.