Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #28: Nanotechnology I is a role playing game supplement published by Skirmisher Publishing for use with the Mutant Future system. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License with some parts being considered to be Open Game Content as a result. Wisdom from the wastelands is a series of small supplements containing new material for the Mutant Future game; this particular issue is the first to focus on nanotechnology.
The supplement is available as a PDF from RPGNow for $0.99 but it is also included in the Wisdom from the Wastelands ‘Nanotech’ Bundle for $1.99, which contains all the nanotech issues and was how it was purchased, as well as the complete Wisdom from the Wastelands Issues 1-52 Bundle for $27.74. This is a seven page bookmarked PDF. One page is the Open Game License and front matter and one page is an ad for other supplements.
The supplement starts with a discussion on nanites in general and divides them into two categories, organic and robotic. It considers how durable nanites are and their vulnerabilities, how they can be hosted by someone, or something, how mutants are affected by nanites – as they were originally intended just for pure humans, compatibility is not definite – and how many different types can be in a body.
There is a table for organic nanite failure, some of whose results are pretty dangerous to very deadly, how nanites work with parasitic mutations (they basically don’t), how they can be destroyed and how they can be programmed.
Next is Example Nanites. There are four types of nanites in this section. Augmenters can grant one of several mutations, by permanently altering the genetic code, without the user being considered to be a mutant, if they are Pure Human. Destroyers, both organic and robotic, are designed to destroy living matter or machinery respectively. These are dangerous. Oxycarriers carry oxygen and allow their user to survive in hostile atmospheres, or ones lacking oxygen. Finally, Purgers rid the body of toxins.
New Drugs is the final section and has two new drugs. Immuno-Suppressor is used to allow organic nanites to infiltrate a host. Purge is actually not a drug but another organic nanite that is intended to purge a body of all nanite swarms.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #28: Nanotechnology I in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with the major sections linked but not the tables or subsections. There is also a short table of contents that is to a similar level of depth. Navigation could therefore be a lot better.
The text maintains a two column format and no errors were noticed. There are a few generally non-specific colour illustrations that appear to be generally related to genetics. Presentation is therefore okay.
The supplement provides enough details on nanites and their uses, disadvantages, dangers and vulnerabilities to be useful. There are only four types of nanite described, and more would have been nice, but a Mutant Lord could come up with more of their own using these as a base. Some of the types are pretty obvious ones. One possible problem with coming up with new nanites is making sure that they are not overpowered – this could be very easy to do by accident.
One possible complaint is that two of the items have very similar names, Purgers and Purge. Both are very similar in type as well, but have slightly different uses, one purging toxins the other purging nanites. Having more noticeably different names would have been helpful.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #28: Nanotechnology I is a useful addition to Mutant Future using a technology that is often found in science fiction and it can be found by clicking here.
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