The War of the Rat (PEACH) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The War of the Rat (PEACH)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
legion_fardreamer
Feb 26, 2008 20:13:24 Here's an idea I thought I would share with you guys. Anyone remember the movie The Secret of NIMH? Imagine if that experiment happened on a more widescale front. Rats are a nuisance now, but imagine if they were human level intelligent and hostile to human life? Mankind would have a serious problem. Now imagine if they started developing their own versions of our technology. Cyberrats, nanotech rats, rats packing poison needler pistols... How long would mankind last then? And then, of course, there's the rats that have begun to mutate, and gain powers outside the norm. How do you drown a rats that has gills? How do you poison gas a rat that is immune to poisons? How do you nuke a rat that can absorb and release radiation? I'd love to hear an evaluation of this idea.
#2
Huscarl
Feb 27, 2008 16:18:15 Many sorts of animal apocalypses can work. We haven't been able to wipe out stupid rats, so smart ones could be a problem.

Once they start arming themselves with tech, however, the problem changes. Tech requires manufacturing, which requires materials, factories (of one sort or another), and transportation for collection and distribution. Once the rats develop infrastructure, we can attack that instead of them.

Steve
#3
jaid
Feb 27, 2008 18:55:05
Many sorts of animal apocalypses can work. We haven't been able to wipe out stupid rats, so smart ones could be a problem.

Once they start arming themselves with tech, however, the problem changes. Tech requires manufacturing, which requires materials, factories (of one sort or another), and transportation for collection and distribution. Once the rats develop infrastructure, we can attack that instead of them.

Steve

secret of nimh rats apparently get psychic powers though :S (or at least, some of them do). additionally, their infrastructure would largely be our infrastructure i suspect. just as they stole power from farmer whatsisface, as well as most of the materials for pretty much everything they make. it's tricky to bomb the sewers of a major city without creating somewhat of a backlash within that major city ;)
#4
ead
Feb 28, 2008 7:24:15 What if the Rats shall see us, humans as a nuisance???.
#5
Huscarl
Feb 28, 2008 10:22:59 That would be awfully arrogant of them, since so much of their ecosphere depends on us. They're practically symbiotes.

Now, I could see them looking upon us as a resource ...

Steve
#6
goricexii
Mar 01, 2008 1:14:14 There's a game I'll try to track down for you; I remember it being a free download on rpghost but I can't remember the name at the moment. Anyway it was about an animal liberation movement--led by animals who were awakened, sentient.

I think your idea is pretty good--and I would recommend doing it in a similar way to this other game, in that only SOME rats are awakened. Nevertheless who really notices rats?
#7
ead
Mar 07, 2008 12:40:04
Nevertheless who really notices rats?

That makes them very dangerous, because we think that they are weak.
#8
ed_209a
Mar 10, 2008 9:41:41
What if the Rats shall see us, humans as a nuisance???.

That would be awfully arrogant of them, since so much of their ecosphere depends on us. They're practically symbiotes.

Now, I could see them looking upon us as a resource ...

Urban rats will see a remarkable decline in population if anything happened to us. They live on our garbage. They hide from hawks and cats in our walls.

I think intelligent rats would either separate themselves from humans to form their own society, or try to keep humans from killing themselves off.

Perhaps there are Int 24 rats that regularly e-mail "hints" to scientists working on ecological and alternate energy projects.

Perhaps some of DHS' best informants are really Rattus norvegicus sapiens...
#9
ead
Mar 13, 2008 9:52:25
I think intelligent rats would either separate themselves from humans to form their own society, or try to keep humans from killing themselves off.

They also could take over the Earth, like The Planet of The Apes.
#10
legion_fardreamer
Mar 16, 2008 0:21:37 What I was thinking of was along the lines of "They did this to us. Time for payback." As I, and others, have said, rats are fairly smart on their own, but when we start playing with them genetically, we are asking for it. Here's a thought. Maybe they go the "Flowers for Algernon" route. They get so smart that they hate us for altering them that way, and are smart enough to know how to hit us where it hurts. They aren't caring about a society, or the future, or even survival. They just want revenge. Somehow, I don't think I'm the only one who could see the nightmare of rat suicide bombers. We can't even stop the human ones, and they're much easier to see. Rats are burrowers when needs be, and the idea of rats that are smart enough to steal a nuclear warhead, and insane enough to use it, gives me the shivers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 legion_fardreamer Feb 26, 2008 20:13:24	Here's an idea I thought I would share with you guys. Anyone remember the movie The Secret of NIMH? Imagine if that experiment happened on a more widescale front. Rats are a nuisance now, but imagine if they were human level intelligent and hostile to human life? Mankind would have a serious problem. Now imagine if they started developing their own versions of our technology. Cyberrats, nanotech rats, rats packing poison needler pistols... How long would mankind last then? And then, of course, there's the rats that have begun to mutate, and gain powers outside the norm. How do you drown a rats that has gills? How do you poison gas a rat that is immune to poisons? How do you nuke a rat that can absorb and release radiation? I'd love to hear an evaluation of this idea.
#2 Huscarl Feb 27, 2008 16:18:15	Many sorts of animal apocalypses can work. We haven't been able to wipe out stupid rats, so smart ones could be a problem. Once they start arming themselves with tech, however, the problem changes. Tech requires manufacturing, which requires materials, factories (of one sort or another), and transportation for collection and distribution. Once the rats develop infrastructure, we can attack that instead of them. Steve
#3 jaid Feb 27, 2008 18:55:05	Many sorts of animal apocalypses can work. We haven't been able to wipe out stupid rats, so smart ones could be a problem. Once they start arming themselves with tech, however, the problem changes. Tech requires manufacturing, which requires materials, factories (of one sort or another), and transportation for collection and distribution. Once the rats develop infrastructure, we can attack that instead of them. Steve secret of nimh rats apparently get psychic powers though :S (or at least, some of them do). additionally, their infrastructure would largely be our infrastructure i suspect. just as they stole power from farmer whatsisface, as well as most of the materials for pretty much everything they make. it's tricky to bomb the sewers of a major city without creating somewhat of a backlash within that major city ;)
#4 ead Feb 28, 2008 7:24:15	What if the Rats shall see us, humans as a nuisance???.
#5 Huscarl Feb 28, 2008 10:22:59	That would be awfully arrogant of them, since so much of their ecosphere depends on us. They're practically symbiotes. Now, I could see them looking upon us as a resource ... Steve
#6 goricexii Mar 01, 2008 1:14:14	There's a game I'll try to track down for you; I remember it being a free download on rpghost but I can't remember the name at the moment. Anyway it was about an animal liberation movement--led by animals who were awakened, sentient. I think your idea is pretty good--and I would recommend doing it in a similar way to this other game, in that only SOME rats are awakened. Nevertheless who really notices rats?
#7 ead Mar 07, 2008 12:40:04	Nevertheless who really notices rats? That makes them very dangerous, because we think that they are weak.
#8 ed_209a Mar 10, 2008 9:41:41	What if the Rats shall see us, humans as a nuisance???. That would be awfully arrogant of them, since so much of their ecosphere depends on us. They're practically symbiotes. Now, I could see them looking upon us as a resource ... Urban rats will see a remarkable decline in population if anything happened to us. They live on our garbage. They hide from hawks and cats in our walls. I think intelligent rats would either separate themselves from humans to form their own society, or try to keep humans from killing themselves off. Perhaps there are Int 24 rats that regularly e-mail "hints" to scientists working on ecological and alternate energy projects. Perhaps some of DHS' best informants are really Rattus norvegicus sapiens...
#9 ead Mar 13, 2008 9:52:25	I think intelligent rats would either separate themselves from humans to form their own society, or try to keep humans from killing themselves off. They also could take over the Earth, like The Planet of The Apes.
#10 legion_fardreamer Mar 16, 2008 0:21:37	What I was thinking of was along the lines of "They did this to us. Time for payback." As I, and others, have said, rats are fairly smart on their own, but when we start playing with them genetically, we are asking for it. Here's a thought. Maybe they go the "Flowers for Algernon" route. They get so smart that they hate us for altering them that way, and are smart enough to know how to hit us where it hurts. They aren't caring about a society, or the future, or even survival. They just want revenge. Somehow, I don't think I'm the only one who could see the nightmare of rat suicide bombers. We can't even stop the human ones, and they're much easier to see. Rats are burrowers when needs be, and the idea of rats that are smart enough to steal a nuclear warhead, and insane enough to use it, gives me the shivers.