The Technocrats
Technocratic Class Characters
Alignment: Usually neutral, often true neutral
Suggested Races: Human, Automaton
Suggested Classes: Techie, Civilian, Face
Suggested Archetypes: Field Machinist, Authority, Suave
Suggested Ladders: Savant, Born Leader
You might enjoy playing a character who belongs to the Technocratic Class if one or more of the following statements are true:
- You want to play a character who excels at solving problems through technology, logic, and advanced knowledge.
- You are intrigued by the idea of shaping society through innovation and scientific advancement.
- You want to be part of a faction that values intellect, precision, and progress above all else.
- You’re drawn to the challenge of balancing technological advancement with ethical concerns in a world dependent on innovation.
Background: Technocrat
If your character was born and raised within Salvation, you can choose this background instead of those listed in the Ultra Modern Redux rulebook.
From an early age, you were identified as a prodigy by the Technocrats. Selected for your aptitude, you were immersed in an environment of relentless education and experimentation. Every aspect of your upbringing—from scientific inquiry to philosophical debate—was tailored to develop you into a pioneering mind dedicated to the advancement of Salvation. Whether you embrace the Technocratic ideals or feel burdened by their expectations is up to you. Regardless of your stance, you emerged as a highly skilled operative trusted with the city’s most vital innovations.
- Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Engineering
- TL 4 Engineering Kit, you gain proficiency with the Engineering Kit if you aren't already.
- Languages: One language of your choice
- Renown: 1 and Rank 1 with the Technocrats
Suggested Characteristics
Those who rise within the ranks of the Technocrats are shaped by a life devoted to intellectual rigor, problem-solving, and the pursuit of progress. Their personalities often reflect a methodical and calculated nature, with an unshakable confidence in their abilities. Some are idealists who genuinely believe in the power of technology to improve lives, while others view the world as an endless puzzle to be solved.
Technocrats forge strong bonds with those who share their passion for innovation but may struggle to connect with those outside their intellectual sphere. They tend to value practicality over sentimentality and often view emotions as secondary to logic. Whether as brilliant inventors, shrewd strategists, or relentless researchers, they stand as the architects of a future built on the foundation of technological mastery.
Contacts
Technocrats operate at the intersection of governance, research, and industrial development. Their influence is critical to the smooth functioning of Salvation, making them both respected and resented by those who rely on their systems. Technocrats frequently engage with engineers, administrators, researchers, and enforcers, ensuring the continued progress of the city-state through technological innovation and rigid protocol adherence. Their deep integration into Salvation’s infrastructure grants them access to valuable information and influential allies. Over time, they cultivate a network of individuals across various sectors who can provide critical support when required.
Gain 4 contacts from the following table. 2 of these are allies and 2 of these area rivals.
Structure
Rank and Renown: Technocratic Bureau
The Technocratic Bureau operates on a rigid hierarchy that rewards technical skill, problem-solving capability, and unwavering loyalty to the principles of progress. Promotions are based on the ability to enhance system efficiency, solve complex challenges, and contribute to the Bureau's long-term strategic goals.
Rank 1: Junior Analyst
- Prerequisite: Renown 1 with the Technocratic Bureau
As a new recruit, you start as a Junior Analyst, familiarizing yourself with the Bureau’s foundational systems and protocols. Your duties include data analysis, minor administrative tasks, and assisting senior technocrats. While your tasks may seem routine, they are essential to maintaining the flow of information and ensuring operational precision.
- You are issued a Technocratic Bureau insignia, identifying your affiliation.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 2: Systems Clerk
- Prerequisite: Rank 1, Renown 3 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +2 or higher
As a Systems Clerk, you handle more complex tasks, such as overseeing data networks, managing intra-bureau communications, and handling secure files. You are trusted with greater responsibilities and play a role in keeping key systems operational.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any TL0-1 item in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 3: Coordinator
- Prerequisite: Rank 2, Renown 5 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +3 or higher
As a Coordinator, you manage junior personnel, ensuring the smooth execution of projects and daily operations. You are expected to optimize workflows and maintain system integrity. Your expertise makes you a key figure in advancing Bureau initiatives.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any TL2 item in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 4: Supervisor
- Prerequisite: Rank 3, Renown 10 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +4 or higher
Supervisors are specialists in a particular field, whether it’s resource management, research coordination, or technological oversight. You are tasked with ensuring that your sector operates at peak efficiency and adheres to Bureau regulations.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any TL3 item in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 5: Director
- Prerequisite: Rank 4, Renown 15 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +6 or higher
Directors oversee major departments and are responsible for large-scale operations and strategic planning. You coordinate cross-departmental projects and work closely with high-level officials to implement Bureau policies.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any TL4 item in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 6: Executive Technocrat
- Prerequisite: Rank 5, Renown 25 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +8 or higher
Executives are top-level technocrats involved in shaping the future direction of Salvation. Your authority extends across multiple sectors, and your decisions have a direct impact on the city's technological and societal trajectory.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any TL5 item in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Rank 7: Chief Administrator
- Prerequisite: Rank 6, Renown 50 with the Technocratic Bureau, Investigation skill +10 or higher
As a Chief Administrator, you are among the highest-ranking members of the Technocratic Bureau. Your influence spans across the entirety of Salvation’s governance and infrastructure. You are trusted to implement key directives, oversee critical initiatives, and ensure the continued advancement of the settlement.
- Gain one additional contact from the Technocratic Bureau contact table.
- You gain access to technology. You can purchase any Cybernetics (excluding Dark Gear) in the Ultra Modern 5 Redux source book.
- You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice.
Innovation. Progress. Control.
The Technocrats are the intellectual backbone of Salvation, wielding influence through their mastery of technology and science. Led by a council of elite engineers and scientists, they hold the keys to innovation, ensuring that the city remains on the cutting edge of development. Their labs and workshops, scattered throughout the city, are places of discovery where new advancements are forged in the midst of a harsh, resource-scarce world. While many see them as salvation’s saviors, others view them with suspicion due to their close ties to the Administrator and their often utilitarian approach to problem-solving.
The Technocrats dominate the research and development sectors, ensuring their innovations shape Salvation’s policies, economy, and even military strategy. Their partnership with the Administrator gives them near-unquestionable authority in technological matters. Many other factions rely on their expertise, and those who oppose them risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving world. Though admired for their brilliance, their power has led to tensions with groups who fear their growing control over every aspect of city life.
When they speak, their voice is smooth and methodical, carrying no warmth, only cold clarity. "You’ve arrived. Good." There’s no handshake, no welcoming smile—just a nod, as if acknowledging your existence is formality enough. You feel both scrutinized and insignificant, as though a single misstep could render you obsolete in their perfectly ordered system. Yet beneath the clinical demeanor, you sense something more—a relentless drive for progress, an intellect honed to razor-sharp efficiency, and an unshakable belief that logic, above all else, must govern the future.
Goals
- Technological Superiority: Remain ahead of rival settlements by controlling research and access to advanced technology.
- City Development: Innovate and deploy new infrastructure solutions to keep Salvation habitable and growing.
- Efficiency Above All: Promote logical, data-driven decisions, prioritizing results over emotions or tradition.
- Knowledge Control: Manage and regulate technological knowledge to ensure that it remains a source of power for the settlement.
Data does not lie—only those who fear its truth do. A perfect society is one where every action is measurable, and every variable is under control.
Where Do I Fit In?
You hold a vital role within the Technocratic Bureau, a streamlined, meritocratic organization driving the technological and societal evolution of Salvation. Your position may range from an entry-level analyst compiling data and maintaining information systems, to a mid-level coordinator managing key technological operations, or even a high-ranking technocrat making strategic decisions that steer the city’s future. The Bureau emphasizes structured career progression, rewarding innovation, precision, and strategic thinking. Whether your focus is on mastering intricate systems, optimizing governance protocols, or navigating complex socio-political networks, the Bureau offers numerous opportunities to expand your influence and refine your expertise.
Chaos is merely the absence of systems. Build the right system, and you eliminate chaos entirely.
History is not a collection of stories. It is a blueprint of mistakes we will never repeat.
Influence
The Technocrats wield immense influence over the political and operational frameworks of Salvation. With their mastery of advanced technology — from automated security drones to city-wide data networks — they maintain unparalleled control. Their presence is felt in every aspect of life, though few understand the full extent of their reach. Through the seamless integration of surveillance systems, predictive algorithms, and cybernetic enforcement, the Technocrats ensure the city runs with precision and order. For leaders and policymakers, the Technocrats' support is indispensable. Without their technological expertise and infrastructure, the city’s stability would quickly unravel. Consequently, they are central to every major political alliance, and their loyalty is vital to maintaining Salvation’s future.
To see the future, we must shape it first. Progress waits for no one; it either moves with us or leaves us behind.
Culture
The Technocrats are driven by a relentless pursuit of efficiency, precision, and technological mastery. Discipline, innovation, and unwavering commitment to progress lie at the heart of their culture. Senior Technocrats mentor junior members, fostering expertise in engineering, data analysis, and system design. New recruits undergo rigorous intellectual and technical training, immersing themselves in fields such as advanced programming, network security, and cybernetic augmentation. Mastery of technology is the highest virtue, and personal advancement is intrinsically linked to contributions toward the stability and advancement of Salvation.
Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the ability to predict and neutralize conflict before it begins.
Comments