Our Comic Lab in the Playground: An experimentation class

[Darklord Bright]

Nintendo-inspired comics aren't exactly a new and exciting concept.

[Felyndiira]

You should ask yourself what make us see the difference between a child and an adult. I think they are, in the particular case of OotS-style: Size; the head proportion; the feet proportion and lack of muscles and breast.

By the way... Her shoes are a little blur

Thanks for the feedback, Methos and Herpeste ^^.

The character was supposed to be more of an in-between of a child and an adult; I wanted her to look a bit younger than an average adult, although taller and older than child Haley. The hair, though, I scrapped and basically redid from scratch, resulting in the following:

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3026/violatest.gif

Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated ^^.

[Mina Kobold]

Thanks for the feedback, Methos and Herpeste ^^.

The character was supposed to be more of an in-between of a child and an adult; I wanted her to look a bit younger than an average adult, although taller and older than child Haley. The hair, though, I scrapped and basically redid from scratch, resulting in the following:

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3026/violatest.gif

Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated ^^.

Shouldn't she have arms?

I think that the charter would look More like a child if it had bigger eyes (cartoon children have big eyes for this very reason) but that's just my opinion.
It's good :smallsmile:

[John Cribati]

By the way, I need a D&D guy familiar with gestalt rules to collaborate on my comic with me. Any takers?

[Silverraptor]

By the way, I need a D&D guy familiar with gestalt rules to collaborate on my comic with me. Any takers?

Eh. I don't know the difference between gestalt or otherwise. But I do know DnD rules for 3.5

[John Cribati]

Eh. I don't know the difference between gestalt or otherwise. But I do know DnD rules for 3.5
Good enough, because I have some homebrew feats and such I want to run by someone, else everyone starts calling my characters munchkins.

[Bayar]

By the way, I need a D&D guy familiar with gestalt rules to collaborate on my comic with me. Any takers?

I know the gestalt rules. And more random D&D 3.5 knowledge...like builds and funny ftuff like the spelunker.

[John Cribati]

I know the gestalt rules. And more random D&D 3.5 knowledge...like builds and funny ftuff like the spelunker.

Excellent. I'll keep in touch with you then.

[Felyndiira]

Shouldn't she have arms?

I think that the charter would look More like a child if it had bigger eyes (cartoon children have big eyes for this very reason) but that's just my opinion.
It's good :smallsmile:

Thanks for the reply, Kev ^^.

The reason that she doesn't have arms is because it's a template; I'll add arms when I arrange the character into the comic. About the eyes, though - I actually tried giving her bigger eyes before, but it looked admittedly a bit creepy, so I ended up keeping the smaller eyes.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4683/thelargeeyes.png

[Maximum Zersk]

Here are the main characters.

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/Zorosuke/Characters_Main.png

How do they look?

[icastflare!]

Here are the main characters.

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/Zorosuke/Characters_Main.png

How do they look?

I love the look of the one in the middle, do they have names.

[MethosH]

Here are the main characters.

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/Zorosuke/Characters_Main.png

How do they look?
they look like I could hug and love then forever and ever! :smallbiggrin:

[Mina Kobold]

Thanks for the reply, Kev ^^.

The reason that she doesn't have arms is because it's a template; I'll add arms when I arrange the character into the comic. About the eyes, though - I actually tried giving her bigger eyes before, but it looked admittedly a bit creepy, so I ended up keeping the smaller eyes.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4683/thelargeeyes.png

Makes sense.
Strangely I can't see why that would look creepy, but it hardly matters, it's good both ways :smallsmile:


Here are the main characters.

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/Zorosuke/Characters_Main.png

How do they look?

You spend all that time on figuring out how to make a female feline and not one of the main characters are one? :smalltongue:

They're very good, though.

[Maximum Zersk]

I love the look of the one in the middle, do they have names.

I still have to pick out names.


they look like I could hug and love then forever and ever! :smallbiggrin:

:smallbiggrin:


You spend all that time on figuring out how to make a female feline and not one of the main characters are one? :smalltongue:

They're very good, though.

I needed the female body template for the beginning of the first chapter. Also could get handy for later on.

Alright, I'm going to work on the first page of the comic now. The page lay-out is going to be like an average graphic novel, though, so I'll see how that turns out.

Thanks for all the help guys!

[Dvandemon]

Can anyone tell me if an assassin can be a Lich? I believe I heard that somewhere on the RPG threads

[Bayar]

As long as he can create the phylactery, yes.

Of course, the DM can make a level 1 human commoner lich if he wants, because he does not have to abide by the rules if he doesn't feel like it.

[John Cribati]

Okay, how do draw a hood/cloak? I find it very frustrating.

[Hyoumu Yau]

Okay, how do draw a hood/cloak? I find it very frustrating.

Look in the Illustrator Help Thread in the Arts and Crafts section, I think there was a guide for hoods and cloaks there somewhere.... :smallwink:

[CrimsonAngel]

Check out the guy in the 4th panel.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/CrimsonAngelChris/oots/45.png

[Silverraptor]

Hey Methos, can you add my contest to the first post?

[MethosH]

Hey Methos, can you add my contest to the first post?

Will do : )

[icastflare!]

hey vengeance rising is on the front page. nice. out influence is growing. the steve vote is secured. ( yay for random references)

[CrimsonAngel]

Wow, I had an amazing dream last night. I was a time traveler from about 20 years from now and I went forward a long time, where the bottom half of North America was a desert wasteland. I had a few sword fight here and there, had a green fox follow me around, and I saved Texas from a giant missile. Oh, I totaly forgot to mention my fox xould fly and... shoot tornadoes out of its tail. I was standing with my fox on the capital building, fighting of ninjas, when a giant missile came into view, heading towards us. A huge crowd surrounded the building and the ninjas ran away. My nameless fox leapt into the air and shot a whirlwind at it and the missile blew up. There was a large explosion, and I woke up 2 whole hours later than I normaly do.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/CrimsonAngelChris/oots/25.png
I need to write this down.

I'm meant to grow a goatie, it's all clear.

Posting my story here, I actualy used this, blown up, as my Writing TAKS story.

[icastflare!]

Posting my story here, I actualy used this, blown up, as my Writing TAKS story.

my goodness. why cant I have dreams that EPIC!!!! they better give you a 110%

[CrimsonAngel]

The prompt was "a time you worked with others".

[icastflare!]

The prompt was "a time you worked with others".

we ever need filler, we will keep this in mind. It will have tough compitetion with " fan mail with the golems who could beatbox."

[MethosH]

I've just updated the "Important things" section of the first post. I recommend you all to check it out.

I've also added Silverraptor's contest. :smallsmile:


EDIT:

OMG CA O.O'

I want to see a comic out of that :smallbiggrin:

[Silverraptor]

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/NamonakiRei/Kyaa.pngWow!

I didn't expect you to make so much of a deal about it. But hey, I'm happy!:biggrin:

[Dvandemon]

Okay a few things:
1)How do you make a thumbs up OoTS style?
2)How do you make the "take picture' hand-pose OoTS style?
3)How about the "glug-glug-glug" or the "phone call"?
4)How would you make an expression of disgust?*

Oh and how would I show a Psion using powers? Do I have a little energy coming from the temple and a thought bubble? Would it make more since to use the Displays described?

*I'm thinking the eyes of :smallconfused: and the mouth of :smalltongue: but frowning. More like shock disgust and not :smallyuk:

[MethosH]

Okay a few things:
1)How do you make a thumbs up OoTS style?
2)How do you make the "take picture' hand-pose OoTS style?
3)How about the "glug-glug-glug" or the "phone call"?
4)How would you make an expression of disgust?*

Oh and how would I show a Psion using powers? Do I have a little energy coming from the temple and a thought bubble? Would it make more since to use the Displays described?

*I'm thinking the eyes of :smallconfused: and the mouth of :smalltongue: but frowning. More like shock disgust and not :smallyuk:

I'm feeling too lazy to draw right now.. but...

1) The closed hand on OotS style is a ellipse, with the skin color, that has 3 lines inside. To add the "thumbs up" just add a thumb line outside of the ellipse.

2) Take picture you can do with the 3 fingers. Take a good look on your own hand.

3)The phone call you can make with the close hand and 2 lines for the thumbs and the other finger.. I think.. never tried that.

I'm not sure what you meant with "glub-glub-glub"

4) disgust is a expression of surprise, sadness and anger. so... :smallyuk: + :smalleek: + :smallfrown:

[Dvandemon]

1) Oh wait found it (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0067.html) in the last panel
2) I meant more the square camera kind (maybe more a picture frame actually), I don't know what you mean :smallconfused:
3)Well try if first:smalltongue:
4)Great

[John Cribati]

Okay, is there some sort of tutorial for drawing a wolf? I need one.

And out of curiosity, what would you think about a Barbarian/Ranger whose animal companion is a Dire Goat?

[MethosH]

Okay, is there some sort of tutorial for drawing a wolf? I need one.

And out of curiosity, what would you think about a Barbarian/Ranger whose animal companion is a Dire Goat?

I don't think there is one. Your best shot is to search for animals like wolfs on the OotS comic or on CrimsonAngel's posts, import the image to InkScape and try to make your wolf inspired on them.

After you should post your update here so we can all tell you what we think :smallbiggrin:

[Dvandemon]

Oh and how would I show a Psion using powers? Do I have a little energy coming from the temple and a thought bubble? Would it make more since to use the Displays described?

Um, theres still this

[Arti3]

Okay, is there some sort of tutorial for drawing a wolf? I need one.

And out of curiosity, what would you think about a Barbarian/Ranger whose animal companion is a Dire Goat?
Check out Hinjo's wolf and go from there.

[Keris]

Um, theres still this
Well, Rich has had Psions in comic once (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0494.html) or twice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0546.html), maybe similar effects to him?

[CrimsonAngel]

Okay, is there some sort of tutorial for drawing a wolf? I need one.

And out of curiosity, what would you think about a Barbarian/Ranger whose animal companion is a Dire Goat?

I used the Belkar as a goat from when he was sick for my goat template.

[Dvandemon]

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx118/Dvandaemon/media1-3.jpg

So this a Xorn I tried to draw OoTS style. What do you think? I was thinking if this design didn't work, that i would use the shape and mouth used for the kobold head, point it straight up and put on the eyes, arms and legs

@V:Why thank you :smallredface::smallsmile:

[CrimsonAngel]

Maybe use the kind of eyes the NFCC had, but other than that it's awesome!

[MethosH]

My idea for the SilverRaptor contest:

http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/SRCpng.png

[Silverraptor]

My idea for the SilverRaptor contest:

http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/SRCpng.png

Heh, nice!

Though why does he have 3 eyes?:smallconfused:



Also, if anyone wants to add multiple different outfit, that would be appreciated. Since it's going to be a group of them and there's going to be a mix of classes among them and I'd like to differentiate them.

[MethosH]

Heh, nice!

Though why does he have 3 eyes?:smallconfused:



Also, if anyone wants to add multiple different outfit, that would be appreciated. Since it's going to be a group of them and there's going to be a mix of classes among them and I'd like to differentiate them.

This is why:

http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/images/promoimages/d/dime/video_game_heros/splinter_cell_chaos_theory.jpg


Night vision!

[Silverraptor]

This is why:

http://www.mtv.com/games/video_games/images/promoimages/d/dime/video_game_heros/splinter_cell_chaos_theory.jpg


Night vision!

Kind of hard to tell. Can you make the device more obvious?

[MethosH]

Kind of hard to tell. Can you make the device more obvious?

I'll try :smallbiggrin:

[Arti3]

Do or do not.
There is no try.

[Silverraptor]

Also, could you put in the first post all the entries so I won't have to comb through the thread when I need them.

[CrimsonAngel]

What SilverRaptor contest?

[Maximum Zersk]

Make a SpecialOps Troglodyte. That's what he asked for anyway. The award is a cameo in his comic.

[Silverraptor]

Make a SpecialOps Troglodyte. That's what he asked for anyway. The award is a cameo in his comic.

Exactly.:smallcool: For reference, the trogodytes in original form are in my comic.

[John Cribati]

And out of curiosity, what would you think about a Barbarian/Ranger whose animal companion is a Dire Goat?

This is the guy. If he looks off, it's because he's been Zombified.
http://i44.tinypic.com/2mq0scn.jpg

[CrimsonAngel]

Try using colors similar to oots. For example, I copied the colors and made the zombies on the left.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/CrimsonAngelChris/oots/g17.png

[MethosH]

Try using colors similar to oots. For example, I copied the colors and made the zombies on the left.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/CrimsonAngelChris/oots/g17.png

I curse you and yours well designed hairs! :smallmad:

[icastflare!]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/CrimsonAngelChris/oots/g17.png

holy crap, scoss is zombified and stole gausra's sword!

[CrimsonAngel]

Those are characters from my first webcomic.

[MethosH]

Attention: Call to arms... Or pencils... Or InkScape... Or whatever....

So... I was just at this thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8107980&posted=1#post8107980) and it make me think about science fiction universe based on space interaction.

Things like... Freelancer, Mass Effect, EVE, Star Wars (not so much), Star Trek, Taikodom, and so on.

And really made me go nuts about starting a universe building space-based project like this. I know I don't really have the time to do it alone, and it will be kind of sad to do so... (besides, if I put myself alone on another project The Q would try to crucify me)

So here is what I'm proposing:

A Universe Building Project based on space interaction more than planet interaction. Maybe we can go later on design the worlds (if we really get that far).

Here is the steps I'm thinking about (in this precise order):


Factions/Races/Civilizations/whatever designs (not much full and complex well-structured ideas, just basic ideas and designs)
Universe simplistic design: Where all the mapped systems are.. how many they are... names... sectors... and who controls what (that is important)
Finishing the races/factions/guilds/corporations/whatever designs now that we will have their homeland and we can work on conflicts and alliances based on territory
Ships Designs for each race/faction/whatever
Common Tech Design: Decisions like... do we have teleport system? Do we have fasers? Do we have laser guns or just regular projectile? Do we have force fields?
Start on the "universe story": At this point we can think on comics... Fill the gaps on stories about alliances and wars... Make a time line
Planet Design: I'm not really hoping to get this far... But with we do... OMG WE ARE AWESOME!


The first thing I want to say is... Who ever decides to join... Lets not get too much over our heads and try to bit more than we can chew. Lets set a limitation of 5 factions/nations/whatever (if we make real progress we can add more later or even change this number) and limit the ship design too. Create a goal make easier for us to say "here is where I need to stop working on this and move on". We can always go back and change things later. It's our universe.

There is absolute no rush with this project and I don't mind that we take our time to make it. I just hope to convince as many as you as possible and never let this die! :smallbiggrin:

Who's with me?

[Darklord Bright]

Dibs on an alien race.

[MethosH]

Dibs on an alien race.

Great! I'm not alone! :smallbiggrin:

I sure want to see your idea :D

I've got one already. Isn't really an "race" is more of a faction/corporation.
Let me just go fancy here for a moment:

Argotanians United

The Argotanians United started as human company many years ago and grew so fast and so powerful that suddenly, as a surprise for more conservative parties, declared itself fully independent from any government or culture. Due to their cut of the exploration sector of the industry they were able to quickly explore a once unmapped sector, turn it into a safe and profitable zone, and declare it territory of the now first independent corporation, The Argotanians United.

as you can see this is just a basic idea, but I think that we are, for now, just looking for basic ideas and go with the best ones :smalltongue:

(I'll will work on a design later)

[Dogmantra]

Dibs on the space elves.

[Mina Kobold]

Attention: Call to arms... Or pencils... Or InkScape... Or whatever....

So... I was just at this thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8107980&posted=1#post8107980) and it make me think about science fiction universe based on space interaction.

Things like... Freelancer, Mass Effect, EVE, Star Wars (not so much), Star Trek, Taikodom, and so on.

And really made me go nuts about starting a universe building space-based project like this. I know I don't really have the time to do it alone, and it will be kind of sad to do so... (besides, if I put myself alone on another project The Q would try to crucify me)

So here is what I'm proposing:

A Universe Building Project based on space interaction more than planet interaction. Maybe we can go later on design the worlds (if we really get that far).

Here is the steps I'm thinking about (in this precise order):


Factions/Races/Civilizations/whatever designs (not much full and complex well-structured ideas, just basic ideas and designs)
Universe simplistic design: Where all the mapped systems are.. how many they are... names... sectors... and who controls what (that is important)
Finishing the races/factions/guilds/corporations/whatever designs now that we will have their homeland and we can work on conflicts and alliances based on territory
Ships Designs for each race/faction/whatever
Common Tech Design: Decisions like... do we have teleport system? Do we have fasers? Do we have laser guns or just regular projectile? Do we have force fields?
Start on the "universe story": At this point we can think on comics... Fill the gaps on stories about alliances and wars... Make a time line
Planet Design: I'm not really hoping to get this far... But with we do... OMG WE ARE AWESOME!


The first thing I want to say is... Who ever decides to join... Lets not get too much over our heads and try to bit more than we can chew. Lets set a limitation of 5 factions/nations/whatever (if we make real progress we can add more later or even change this number) and limit the ship design too. Create a goal make easier for us to say "here is where I need to stop working on this and move on". We can always go back and change things later. It's our universe.

There is absolute no rush with this project and I don't mind that we take our time to make it. I just hope to convince as many as you as possible and never let this die! :smallbiggrin:

Who's with me?

ME, ME, PICK ME! *jumps up and down in enthusiasm*

I got no ideas yet but I sure won't stop thinking before I get one... Or steal one :smallamused::smalltongue:

[Darklord Bright]

Voilà, alien race and planet generated, courtesy of the Darklord.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4653/zodahaanarchive.png

Edit: Will try to work on some more space-related stuff like ships and such once there are more interactions for me to work with, but for now I'm just assuming that the Zodohaani do a lot of inter-stellar trading.

[Mina Kobold]

Voilà, alien race and planet generated, courtesy of the Darklord.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4653/zodahaanarchive.png

Edit: Will try to work on some more space-related stuff like ships and such once there are more interactions for me to work with, but for now I'm just assuming that the Zodohaani do a lot of inter-stellar trading.

Dibs on making another race and planet! I just got a good* idea.

*Well, in my mind anyway.

[Maximum Zersk]

Count me in too, Methos. This'll be fun.

I'll see if I can work on a race.

@Darklord: That is awesome. I have a question, though. In this matriarchal society, how are the men treated?

[smuchmuch]

I am intersted in helping with this glaxy building project.

[licoot]

Can I help?
I've got no great ideas as of yet but would be glad to help.

[Darklord Bright]

@Darklord: That is awesome. I have a question, though. In this matriarchal society, how are the men treated?

They have a much smaller opportunity to get decent jobs, usually relegated to being servants or miners. Only the rare exception is able to become a warrior, or get a decent position in a noble house without having to kill people to get there.

It is generally assumed that the men will look after the families while the women do the fighting and work with politics, though as I said, there are exceptions.

[licoot]

I just had an Idea for a race:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/slaves.png?t=1269002960

They would be a poor race exploited and enslaved by their neighbors, although not being a violent race they have a strong scene of pride. There is only one colony still standing on their home planet, one that isn't either controlled or enslaved anyway. And this is only kept alive via being hidden and the native warriors knowledge of their environment. This race is not that tecnologically advanced, but does use slightly modified technologies of other races.
Their name would be some kind of code, because the surrounding civilizations simply regard them as primitive beings and have simply cataloged them in explorations.

I think a way to help this would be if there native languages all consisted of clucks, or something along those lines, because of this (the language not being like conventional ones) the other civilizations thought they went intelligent.
Their Planet:
A swamp planet about the size of earth, it is technically a moon to a large Barron planet. It is surrounded by a smog masking it from easy view. The main reason why its inhabitants were isolated and their technology is so far behind
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/theplanetfortheslaves.png?t=1269004436

[Cizak]

METHOS!!!!

I. HATE. YOU!

Why are you always coming up with all these awesome ideas? Why do you continue to break the limit of your own awesomeness? And why, whyyyy are you so much better than me? I use to think i'm pretty good at coming up with stories, and then you just crash into this site and shatter all my thoughts that I am somewhat good, you... you... you damn half-human-half-god!

[Blayze]

Ideas for space species? Well, here goes nothing.

-The Ablinai-



"Saw my brother today. He'd become an Ablinai. Wasted a whole clip on him, but I don't care -- I won't let them have him."

"When you go up against one Ablinai, you're going up against all of them. It's like playing chess against four grandmasters who are of the same mind."

The Ablinai is not a species as such, it is a psychic, self-replicating parasitic organism -- but referring to those it takes over as Ablinai has become a common practice.

The original -- and so far, only -- Ablinai ever encountered was discovered by a scientist whose identity has long been forgotten. The parasitic Ablinai struck when it had its chance, latching onto its new host's head and merging with them.

The ablinai then used its host's scientific knowledge to answer the question of how to keep itself alive. It read their memories, learned of factions and wars, and decided to join the fray.

It grew extra portions of its body that then fell off, becoming smaller versions of itself that sought hosts of their own. It had a mental connection with each of them -- they were essentially biological message receivers.

With each additional host, the Ablinai's intelligence and knowledge grew. Nobody knows how long the parasite will live for -- only one has ever been discovered -- but somehow the hosts seem ageless as a result. They do not need sustenance or rest, and the Ablinai can even claim corpses if the brain is fresh enough.

This means that if the Ablinai are to ever be eliminated as a threat, the original one must be destroyed -- assuming, however, that its death will end the nightmare.

Easier said than done, however, when there's an entire faction out there that operates as one entity -- and they have not only the combined knowledge and brainpower of billions of people, but have also adapted many different forms of technology from each species to suit their singular purpose.

[Keris]

So here is what I'm proposing:

A Universe Building Project based on space interaction more than planet interaction. Maybe we can go later on design the worlds (if we really get that far).
Your ideas and projects are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
But before I go off on one about the ideas already put forward, what level of science and what level of fiction are you thinking of here?

Oh and FWIW, a race is a distinct population within a species. Unless there are no biochemical barriers (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoBiochemicalBarriers) and half-human hybrids (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HalfHumanHybrids) running around, the aliens aren't anything like the same species.

[Mina Kobold]

Ideas for space species? Well, here goes nothing.

-The Ablinai-



"Saw my brother today. He'd become an Ablinai. Wasted a whole clip on him, but I don't care -- I won't let them have him."

"When you go up against one Ablinai, you're going up against all of them. It's like playing chess against four grandmasters who are of the same mind."

The Ablinai is not a species as such, it is a psychic, self-replicating parasitic organism -- but referring to those it takes over as Ablinai has become a common practice.

The original -- and so far, only -- Ablinai ever encountered was discovered by a scientist whose identity has long been forgotten. The parasitic Ablinai struck when it had its chance, latching onto its new host's head and merging with them.

The ablinai then used its host's scientific knowledge to answer the question of how to keep itself alive. It read their memories, learned of factions and wars, and decided to join the fray.

It grew extra portions of its body that then fell off, becoming smaller versions of itself that sought hosts of their own. It had a mental connection with each of them -- they were essentially biological message receivers.

With each additional host, the Ablinai's intelligence and knowledge grew. Nobody knows how long the parasite will live for -- only one has ever been discovered -- but somehow the hosts seem ageless as a result. They do not need sustenance or rest, and the Ablinai can even claim corpses if the brain is fresh enough.

This means that if the Ablinai are to ever be eliminated as a threat, the original one must be destroyed -- assuming, however, that its death will end the nightmare.

Easier said than done, however, when there's an entire faction out there that operates as one entity -- and they have not only the combined knowledge and brainpower of billions of people, but have also adapted many different forms of technology from each species to suit their singular purpose.



Gah! Stop writing these so fast!

I won't get to post mine (which I'm trying to do as good as Bright did his) so here's a prototype of it :smallbiggrin:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7013/tiencaz1.png

They're Caz, or more specific Tien'Caz*, from the planet Gran'Llanura. The race is based upon Free market value and a 'survival of the fittest' motto for males and a 'protect at all cost' for females (they're sparse in numbers) they're excellent merchants and cooks but surprisingly doesn't have any colonies. more to follow when I'm Pudding finished! :smallmad::smallbiggrin:

*Means they live in the Western Trade Union of Gran'Llanura

EDIT:
Yes I'm using food names instead of swearing, sue me :smalltongue:

[Mad Mask]

Great idea Methos! I've got an interesting concept for a human "nation". I'll just open up my illustrator...

One thing that bothers me though: the limit of 5 civilisations seems a bit small, given the size of this forum. I think it's already full. Or have I misunderstood something?

[Keris]

One thing that bothers me though: the limit of 5 civilisations seems a bit small, given the size of this forum. I think it's already full. Or have I misunderstood something?
As I understand it, after submitting any number of basic designs, we argue amongst ourselves to decide which 5 we end up using.

[Mina Kobold]

As I understand it, after submitting any number of basic designs, we argue amongst ourselves to decide which 5 we end up using.

I hope it doesn't end before I'm done, I have worked very hard on the page about the Caz for hours (and I'm not even finished yet!) :smallfrown:

[MethosH]

First let me say... WOW You guys are awesome :smallbiggrin:
I didn't expect so many replies in so little time.

Ok, now back on track.


Dibs on the space elves.

Hey just go for it despite the cliche. This is kind of a "species/clan/factions/civilizations" brain storm stage.


Voilà, alien race and planet generated, courtesy of the Darklord.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4653/zodahaanarchive.png

Edit: Will try to work on some more space-related stuff like ships and such once there are more interactions for me to work with, but for now I'm just assuming that the Zodohaani do a lot of inter-stellar trading.

They have a much smaller opportunity to get decent jobs, usually relegated to being servants or miners. Only the rare exception is able to become a warrior, or get a decent position in a noble house without having to kill people to get there.

It is generally assumed that the men will look after the families while the women do the fighting and work with politics, though as I said, there are exceptions.

*hug* This is awesome! Despite the fact that they look a lot like those guys from world of warcraft


I just had an Idea for a race:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/slaves.png?t=1269002960

They would be a poor race exploited and enslaved by their neighbors, although not being a violent race they have a strong scene of pride. There is only one colony still standing on their home planet, one that isn't either controlled or enslaved anyway. And this is only kept alive via being hidden and the native warriors knowledge of their environment. This race is not that tecnologically advanced, but does use slightly modified technologies of other races.

Their Planet:
A swamp planet about the size of earth, it is technically a moon to a large Barron planet. It is surrounded by a smog masking it from easy view. The main reason why its inhabitants were isolated and their technology is so far behind
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/theplanetfortheslaves.png?t=1269004436

That is actually a good idea. I really haven't thought about the possibility of a species that don't actually "owns" its territory on any sector and is just explored by the others. Keep that on the list and lets see if the idea survives the other stages of the universe building process.


Ideas for space species? Well, here goes nothing.

-The Ablinai-



"Saw my brother today. He'd become an Ablinai. Wasted a whole clip on him, but I don't care -- I won't let them have him."

"When you go up against one Ablinai, you're going up against all of them. It's like playing chess against four grandmasters who are of the same mind."

The Ablinai is not a species as such, it is a psychic, self-replicating parasitic organism -- but referring to those it takes over as Ablinai has become a common practice.

The original -- and so far, only -- Ablinai ever encountered was discovered by a scientist whose identity has long been forgotten. The parasitic Ablinai struck when it had its chance, latching onto its new host's head and merging with them.

The ablinai then used its host's scientific knowledge to answer the question of how to keep itself alive. It read their memories, learned of factions and wars, and decided to join the fray.

It grew extra portions of its body that then fell off, becoming smaller versions of itself that sought hosts of their own. It had a mental connection with each of them -- they were essentially biological message receivers.

With each additional host, the Ablinai's intelligence and knowledge grew. Nobody knows how long the parasite will live for -- only one has ever been discovered -- but somehow the hosts seem ageless as a result. They do not need sustenance or rest, and the Ablinai can even claim corpses if the brain is fresh enough.

This means that if the Ablinai are to ever be eliminated as a threat, the original one must be destroyed -- assuming, however, that its death will end the nightmare.

Easier said than done, however, when there's an entire faction out there that operates as one entity -- and they have not only the combined knowledge and brainpower of billions of people, but have also adapted many different forms of technology from each species to suit their singular purpose.



Another type of idea that haven't crossed my mind. A great idea! Maybe they are somewhat misunderstood by the rest of the universe?


Your ideas and projects are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
But before I go off on one about the ideas already put forward, what level of science and what level of fiction are you thinking of here?

Oh and FWIW, a race is a distinct population within a species. Unless there are no biochemical barriers (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoBiochemicalBarriers) and half-human hybrids (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HalfHumanHybrids) running around, the aliens aren't anything like the same species.

We are now in the species/civilizations/factions/whatever stage of the development. The idea is not to think much on the level of science now, just basic concepts for civilizations. After we decide the 5 (more or less) that will go into the universe we will explore the ideas and decide the level of science. All we have now to go with is "space exploration" and civilizations big enough to rule over entire sectors (sectors being a group of solar systems).

And nice tip with the race x specie. I don't think we should allow half-human hybrids.


Gah! Stop writing these so fast!

I won't get to post mine (which I'm trying to do as good as Bright did his) so here's a prototype of it :smallbiggrin:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7013/tiencaz1.png

They're Caz, or more specific Tien'Caz*, from the planet Gran'Llanura. The race is based upon Free market value and a 'survival of the fittest' motto for males and a 'protect at all cost' for females (they're sparse in numbers) they're excellent merchants and cooks but surprisingly doesn't have any colonies. more to follow when I'm Pudding finished! :smallmad::smallbiggrin:

*Means they live in the Western Trade Union of Gran'Llanura

EDIT:
Yes I'm using food names instead of swearing, sue me :smalltongue:

I kind of like this idea despite the fact that it makes me think more "fantasy medieval" than "sci-fi". I'm curious about their development on space.


Great idea Methos! I've got an interesting concept for a human "nation". I'll just open up my illustrator...

One thing that bothers me though: the limit of 5 civilisations seems a bit small, given the size of this forum. I think it's already full. Or have I misunderstood something?

You misunderstood. We will throw many ideas on the table and choose from them. I really don't want this to become a mess, because that is the first step for a project to die, so we should, at first, limit the number of civilization that will make it to the universe in this first cut. We can always save the other ideas to introduce them later if we think we have room for that.

[John Cribati]

I Call the Proud Warrior Race Planet!

[Mina Kobold]

I kind of like this idea despite the fact that it makes me think more "fantasy medieval" than "sci-fi". I'm curious about their development on space.

Funny how it turns out, I actually went with rodent people because I thought 'we need something not entirely humanoid', added some clothing I liked and suddenly they look like fantasy...
What's wrong with me! :smalleek::smalltongue:

Anyway, finished it. Hope it's not too stupid.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/168/caz1.png

To answer a few questions that might arise:
Yes, their language is based of Spanish (albeit with different grammatical rules, which are consistent in the names)
Yes, they do brew bamboo beer and wine.
Yes, that's a Western Trade Union version of Wikipedia.
No, they're not cat people :smalltongue:

[Darklord Bright]

*hug* This is awesome! Despite the fact that they look a lot like those guys from world of warcraft

They are a little similar, I guess, to the Draenei. But only on a very basic level - if you take a closer inspection:

Zodohaani don't have:
Hooves
Horns
Glowing white eyes
Elf ears
Hair Tentacles
Blue skin
Tails

Zodohaani also have slightly scaled skin, whereas Draenei do not. So yes, it's only a slight resemblance in the end. :smallsmile:

[Dogmantra]

I hope there's actually a human race else my idea for Elves doesn't work at all... though it sort of does, I guess.

[Mad Mask]

Well, here's a draft of my concept. I'll add more stuff later:


The Columbian Confederation

http://www.kinogo.com/victor/sp/ccflag&sc1.png
Left to right: the Confederal Flag and the Space Colony Unity

Millennia ago, a nuclear holocaust between the two superpowers of Earth nearly extinguished the human race if not for the fact that had been averted at the last minute. Realising how swiftly the extinction of humanity could have occurred, both sides agreed that something had to be done to prevent any future cataclysm. They combined their scientific knowledge, and using state-of-the-art technology, built twelve gigantic space colonies capable of interstellar travel, crewed by the best of the species, and sent them to spread the human race across the stars. And so was born Project Columbus.

Flash forward thousands of years later. The mission performed far better than the initial previsions. It was so well executed that the scope of Project Columbus expanded well beyond its original purpose, and essentially became a nomadic civilisation leaving the print of human presence on every terraformable world it could find – the Columbian Confederation.

The Columbian Confederation includes mainly the original twelve and the more recently constructed non-sedentary space colonies, along with their attached spacecrafts. While the worlds they settled are technically part of the alliance, they are generally left to fend for themselves and are largely ignored.

[Keris]

We are now in the species/civilizations/factions/whatever stage of the development. The idea is not to think much on the level of science now, just basic concepts for civilizations. After we decide the 5 (more or less) that will go into the universe we will explore the ideas and decide the level of science. All we have now to go with is "space exploration" and civilizations big enough to rule over entire sectors (sectors being a group of solar systems).
Sorry, I phrased that somewhat ambiguously. I meant to ask how "hard" the science is in this setting. Will we have a foundation in real science, or is it all just fanciful nonsense? How "realistic" will the setting be?

[MethosH]

Well, here's a draft of my concept. I'll add more stuff later:


The Columbian Confederation

http://www.kinogo.com/victor/sp/ccflag&sc1.png
Left to right: the Confederal Flag and the Space Colony Unity

Millennia ago, a nuclear holocaust between the two superpowers of Earth nearly extinguished the human race if not for the fact that had been averted at the last minute. Realising how swiftly the extinction of humanity could have occurred, both sides agreed that something had to be done to prevent any future cataclysm. They combined their scientific knowledge, and using state-of-the-art technology, built twelve gigantic space colonies capable of interstellar travel, crewed by the best of the species, and sent them to spread the human race across the stars. And so was born Project Columbus.

Flash forward thousands of years later. The mission performed far better than the initial previsions. It was so well executed that the scope of Project Columbus expanded well beyond its original purpose, and essentially became a nomadic civilisation leaving the print of human presence on every terraformable world it could find – the Columbian Confederation.

The Columbian Confederation includes mainly the original twelve and the more recently constructed non-sedentary space colonies, along with their attached spacecrafts. While the worlds they settled are technically part of the alliance, they are generally left to fend for themselves and are largely ignored.

Damn. That isn't actually a bad idea, but kinds of conflicts with my idea and sounds like would limit the use of humans for others.


Sorry, I phrased that somewhat ambiguously. I meant to ask how "hard" the science is in this setting. Will we have a foundation in real science, or is it all just fanciful nonsense? How "realistic" will the setting be?

I think as realistic as we can without interfering with the fun of this project.

[Mad Mask]

Damn. That isn't actually a bad idea, but kinds of conflicts with my idea and sounds like would limit the use of humans for others.

It doesn't have to, they can co-exist with Earth. After all, it's been almost a thousand years, and I doubt that Earth would just have sent them and then stayed in its hole until the end of time. "Reuniting" with their former brethren would make for interesting encounters. :smalltongue:

[icastflare!]

just a question, but do we have to draw anything related to the idea? I cant draw to save my life but I have an interesting idea for this.

[MethosH]

just a question, but do we have to draw anything related to the idea? I cant draw to save my life but I have an interesting idea for this.

You don't have to. I'm sure many of us would be glad to draw any good idea you have :smallbiggrin:

[SinisterPenguin]

*Stuff*

This certainly sounds like an interesting idea. I'd love to participate.

But before we go further (and I apologize if this has been brought up already, I sorta skimmed the last page)...what sort of FTL travel are we using for this 'verse? Wormholes? "Gates"? Alcubierre drives/warp drives? Teleporting? Something else entirely?

This is, of course, assuming that we are using FTL travel at all. Slower-than-light is a possibility as well, though FTL would of course make things a great deal more convenient.

[Dogmantra]

I'm working on art just for gits and shiggles but I can't for the life of me do my idea in semi-oots style as all the other stuff has been, so I doubt the art styles will mesh that well.

First though, I have text:

Araphinis Mons (Elfishness) is a disease that causes the carrier's body to change in appearance, to resemble that of a mythological elf. The disease can be passed on to the carrier's offspring, who have much more pronounced symptoms, and some that first generation do not suffer from.

Symptoms begin to appear around two weeks after infection and after this point there is no currently available cure for the disease. The carrier's jaw becomes thinner, and more pronounced along with the cheekbones, his ears become slightly elongated and pointed, and his eyes widen. These symptoms have more effect the younger the infected, as they are still growing and prone to change, with some middle aged adults barely recognisable as first generation elves. Some first generation elves who contracted Araphinis Mons when very young also have slightly canine teeth. The infection also leaves carriers sterile in 90% of cases.

Second generation elves are, as far as scientific knowledge extends, only produced when a first generation elf who has not been left sterile has a child. They have even more pronounced cheekbones and thinner jaws. Their ears are also more pointed and their eyes wider than those of a first generation elf, with around half of all observed being heterochromatic. They also have small fangs or tusks that protrude from their lower jaw and their noses have been reduced to a pair of slits. All second generation elves observed so far have been bald, though whether this is natural or they shave body hair for cultural reasons is unknown. Second generation elves are genderless and completely devoid of visible sexual organs. It is unknown how they reproduce, if at all.

Elves do not have large communities, with first generation tending to live with humans. There are some small second generation communities, but often they become electrical engineers, or if they are not clever enough, bodyguards, as they tend to be not only more intimidating, but stronger and more agile than humans. It appears that second generation look down on the first generation, especially those who deliberately got themselves infected; second generation refer to the first as "antiphim" and to themselves as "probim".

It has been noted that second generation elves outnumber first generation by a long margin, and is therefore theorised that the second generation are capable of production. Some even think that the roughly half-and-half split of homochromia and heterochromia is the elvish equivalent of gender. Other theories are quite common, with a prevailing one being that elvish proficiency with electronics comes from a different sense, possibly one that can sense energy or its flow. Some theories, however, are blatantly false, like the theory that the Caz are considered an elvish delicacy.

[Mina Kobold]

Some theories, however, are blatantly false, like the theory that the Caz are considered an elvish delicacy.

Especially when you consider the fact that most other people will get pissed when you eat their cook or the guy who gets you the cool sci-fi stuff :smalltongue:

The former would be kind of ironic too.

[Dogmantra]

Especially when you consider the fact that most other people will get pissed when you eat their cook or the guy who gets you the cool sci-fi stuff :smalltongue:

The former would be kind of ironic too.

...

OR ARE THEY?
:smalltongue:
(blatantly false that is)

[Mina Kobold]

...

OR ARE THEY?
:smalltongue:
(blatantly false that is)

Well, the Caz would definitely be a delicacy if they were tasty to elves, They only exist in large quantities on one planet.

EDIT:

I'll do a page on Caz technology tomorrow.

[icastflare!]

alright my idea introduces my own race and the system they live in.

They are known as shadowlings.They are humanoids with the general size of the races, but they are covered with a shadow cloaking the shadowling's entire body. It is a multiple use shadow. It can be used to cover an area, to shield someone, to hide something, make said area dark, or even into a weapon.For weapons it can be used to create a weapon. Using this shadow takes much of the shadowlings energy, but still makes them a formidable foe. When a shadowling uses its shadow, you can see their true form. It is a typical human with gray skin. They normally have black, grey, neon green, or dark green. The typical hairstyle is a pony tail for both genders. Other popular designs are spiked short hair and being bald.


They live In the X7 system. It was mostly a human mining facility, until the shadowlings came from a barrage of crashing spaceships. The shadowlings overcame the humans and raided incoming ships thinking it was still under human control. The fact it was a mining planet echoes within the style of armor and weapons.

Many of the weapons are adapted mining equipment. The few weapons that are not influenced by mining are similar to ceremonial weaponry or makeshift weapons you would see out of a beginners workshop. The most common melee weapon is the scorching halberd. It is a halberd with most of themetal ment to cleave into the opponent made up of a burning material found in the wastes of strip mining operations. It is called Milak and is commonly used as with the halberd, and to dispose of trash without piling it or directly burning it.

For the ranged weapons, the most common rifle is a scrap laser Y-2 rifle. Normally it is as the title state's made out of scrap metal. It uses a source of power such as a battery to fire its ammo at enemies. For Close burst weapons, there is the Milak distrubutor. In a sense, it is a flamethrowers that uses Milak instead of fire.

As for the armor, it is mostly pieces of scrap welded on to each other. It only covers vital area's, as not to restrict the users movement.For the heavily armored troops, It consists of steel covering all area's of the body. The helmet has a glass screen in the front that is normally in a V pattern. They have vents along the side if the head for air. Though some have larger vents,because of a fear of suffocating. While it is extremelly rare, some are more afraid of it than others.

For the vehicles, they have few space ships. It comes in 3 variations: The hulking freighter, and the fast raiding ship, and the carrier. A freighter is ment to hold heavy artillery and to shell planets from orbit. The raiding ship is to attack enemy airships. They try hit and run tacts, along with boarding the enemy ship. The carrier is to carry infantry and acts as sort of in between. It carrys guns to defend itself, but it is not ment as a prime fighting vessel.

The society is run by a Shadow master. He is the leader of the forces. The shadow leader has a council to make sure he does not go on a power trip and to find a new leader if the current shadowmaster dies. Then it is a Magistrate. Normally they rule communities and cities. Next is the development overseer. He Makes sure a certain part of the community.

In the army, the highest position is Grand Destroyer. He controls the military. Next is the conquerer. They control parts of the army and make sure they are content and are working at peak performance. Next is the Gulroth. Then the Zigil. The lowest rank is the Slithyik. They are cannon fodder for the higher ranks.

The current Shadow master is Dagiz Warpsmile. He is very charismatic and has turned radicals into follows in less than a minute . He weeds out all threats to his rule. The tool he uses most to keep the threats is blackmail and torture.

The Current Grand Destroyer is Voss'skoz. She is a manipulating leader. Her main tactics are terrorizing the enemy and divide and conquer. She has defended key points with deadly efficiency. Most would not cross her.



EDIT: If I am missing something vital,tell me and I will fill it in on another post.

[Darklord Bright]

So, I got bored.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5874/scan0010z.png

[icastflare!]

So, I got bored.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/5874/scan0010z.png

intimidating,:smalleek: goes with your race. I like it

[MethosH]

This certainly sounds like an interesting idea. I'd love to participate.

But before we go further (and I apologize if this has been brought up already, I sorta skimmed the last page)...what sort of FTL travel are we using for this 'verse? Wormholes? "Gates"? Alcubierre drives/warp drives? Teleporting? Something else entirely?

This is, of course, assuming that we are using FTL travel at all. Slower-than-light is a possibility as well, though FTL would of course make things a great deal more convenient.

It is a great question but it shouldn't be asked right now.
As you can see on my original post on the idea I would like to this in a series of steps, being "tech" the step number 5. As I agree with a FTL system of travel I don't think this is the time to discuss that.

You guys sure write a lot :smallbiggrin:

I'll finish up my faction idea and I'll read what you've posted

[icastflare!]

Methos am I missing anything? I have a nagging feeling I am

[SinisterPenguin]

It is a great question but it shouldn't be asked right now.
As you can see on my original post on the idea I would like to this in a series of steps, being "tech" the step number 5. As I agree with a FTL system of travel I don't think this is the time to discuss that.

Are you sure? I mean, I can understand leaving most tech for the last step, but the system of FTL travel used could have an enormous impact on the entire dynamic of the world; the most obvious being if fast interstellar space travel is limited to certain systems by a network of gates or somesuch. As I understand it so far this is somewhat of a space opera-ish setting so deciding on a system of intestellar travel is doubly important.

Just my opinion, is all. It just seems like something we might want to get out of the way now.

[MethosH]

Methos am I missing anything? I have a nagging feeling I am

I'm... not sure what you are talking about. :smallconfused:


Are you sure? I mean, I can understand leaving most tech for the last step, but the system of FTL travel used could have an enormous impact on the entire dynamic of the world; the most obvious being if fast interstellar space travel is limited to certain systems by a network of gates or somesuch. As I understand it so far this is somewhat of a space opera-ish setting so deciding on a system of intestellar travel is doubly important.

Just my opinion, is all. It just seems like something we might want to get out of the way now.

I understand your point of view and a admit that FTL travel is a critical point, but isn't really getting in the way right now. At this point we just want basic ideas for civilizations, we are not even at the point where we decide exactly how deep in the space are we going to get (if we are sticking to galaxy, universe or even just one system).

If the decision of a certain "tech" starts to get in the way of any of the creation process we can easily stop for a moment and say "ok, lets just decide this", but that isn't the situation right now. And if we decide to change things when we come up with the FTL form of travel we can. It's all universe, we can always go back and change things to fit new and approved ideas.

For now lets just stick with the civilizations/factions/stuff... During the universe/sector/system/galaxy creation (the next step) we figure out our FTL thing.

[Maximum Zersk]

Well, flam it. I was working on a race, when the coopered Inkscape closes down. AND I forgot to save. Now I'm going to have to start all over again.:smallfurious:

[icastflare!]

I'm... not sure what you are talking about. :smallconfused:




I mean my entry. It seems a bit off. maybe I am just a worry-wort. or a negative nancy. how I long to be a regular nancy.

[MethosH]

I'm working on art just for gits and shiggles but I can't for the life of me do my idea in semi-oots style as all the other stuff has been, so I doubt the art styles will mesh that well.

First though, I have text:

Araphinis Mons (Elfishness) is a disease that causes the carrier's body to change in appearance, to resemble that of a mythological elf. The disease can be passed on to the carrier's offspring, who have much more pronounced symptoms, and some that first generation do not suffer from.

Symptoms begin to appear around two weeks after infection and after this point there is no currently available cure for the disease. The carrier's jaw becomes thinner, and more pronounced along with the cheekbones, his ears become slightly elongated and pointed, and his eyes widen. These symptoms have more effect the younger the infected, as they are still growing and prone to change, with some middle aged adults barely recognisable as first generation elves. Some first generation elves who contracted Araphinis Mons when very young also have slightly canine teeth. The infection also leaves carriers sterile in 90% of cases.

Second generation elves are, as far as scientific knowledge extends, only produced when a first generation elf who has not been left sterile has a child. They have even more pronounced cheekbones and thinner jaws. Their ears are also more pointed and their eyes wider than those of a first generation elf, with around half of all observed being heterochromatic. They also have small fangs or tusks that protrude from their lower jaw and their noses have been reduced to a pair of slits. All second generation elves observed so far have been bald, though whether this is natural or they shave body hair for cultural reasons is unknown. Second generation elves are genderless and completely devoid of visible sexual organs. It is unknown how they reproduce, if at all.

Elves do not have large communities, with first generation tending to live with humans. There are some small second generation communities, but often they become electrical engineers, or if they are not clever enough, bodyguards, as they tend to be not only more intimidating, but stronger and more agile than humans. It appears that second generation look down on the first generation, especially those who deliberately got themselves infected; second generation refer to the first as "antiphim" and to themselves as "probim".

It has been noted that second generation elves outnumber first generation by a long margin, and is therefore theorised that the second generation are capable of production. Some even think that the roughly half-and-half split of homochromia and heterochromia is the elvish equivalent of gender. Other theories are quite common, with a prevailing one being that elvish proficiency with electronics comes from a different sense, possibly one that can sense energy or its flow. Some theories, however, are blatantly false, like the theory that the Caz are considered an elvish delicacy.

I was really enjoying the idea until you start talking about the second generation elves. Make them a "mysterious" and "recluse" culture sounds kind of silly... Since the first second generation elves were sons/daughters of humans, or at least grandsons/granddaughters... You make it sound like humans are completely useless stupid junk that can't even figure out if their grandchildren can reproduce so, in an adolescent rage of "nobody loves me" all these sick grandchildren decide to form their own society of sick grandchildren.

It made me imagine the following situation: All the blind people in the world decide that suddenly they are pissed about the people that can see, so they go out and build their own blind society... After a few years people care so little about the blinds that they happens to forget why people get blind/born blind and stop really caring... And them kids around the fire tell creepy stories about how blind people can actually shot lasers from their eyes, and that is why they use sun glasses a lot.

I think that if you lose the "second generation elves have their own culture" this is a great idea. I just don't like that culture you came up with. Sorry :smalltongue:


alright my idea introduces my own race and the system they live in.

They are known as shadowlings.They are humanoids with the general size of the races, but they are covered with a shadow cloaking the shadowling's entire body. It is a multiple use shadow. It can be used to cover an area, to shield someone, to hide something, make said area dark, or even into a weapon.For weapons it can be used to create a weapon. Using this shadow takes much of the shadowlings energy, but still makes them a formidable foe. When a shadowling uses its shadow, you can see their true form. It is a typical human with gray skin. They normally have black, grey, neon green, or dark green. The typical hairstyle is a pony tail for both genders. Other popular designs are spiked short hair and being bald.


They live In the X7 system. It was mostly a human mining facility, until the shadowlings came from a barrage of crashing spaceships. The shadowlings overcame the humans and raided incoming ships thinking it was still under human control. The fact it was a mining planet echoes within the style of armor and weapons.

Many of the weapons are adapted mining equipment. The few weapons that are not influenced by mining are similar to ceremonial weaponry or makeshift weapons you would see out of a beginners workshop. The most common melee weapon is the scorching halberd. It is a halberd with most of themetal ment to cleave into the opponent made up of a burning material found in the wastes of strip mining operations. It is called Milak and is commonly used as with the halberd, and to dispose of trash without piling it or directly burning it.

For the ranged weapons, the most common rifle is a scrap laser Y-2 rifle. Normally it is as the title state's made out of scrap metal. It uses a source of power such as a battery to fire its ammo at enemies. For Close burst weapons, there is the Milak distrubutor. In a sense, it is a flamethrowers that uses Milak instead of fire.

As for the armor, it is mostly pieces of scrap welded on to each other. It only covers vital area's, as not to restrict the users movement.For the heavily armored troops, It consists of steel covering all area's of the body. The helmet has a glass screen in the front that is normally in a V pattern. They have vents along the side if the head for air. Though some have larger vents,because of a fear of suffocating. While it is extremelly rare, some are more afraid of it than others.

For the vehicles, they have few space ships. It comes in 3 variations: The hulking freighter, and the fast raiding ship, and the carrier. A freighter is ment to hold heavy artillery and to shell planets from orbit. The raiding ship is to attack enemy airships. They try hit and run tacts, along with boarding the enemy ship. The carrier is to carry infantry and acts as sort of in between. It carrys guns to defend itself, but it is not ment as a prime fighting vessel.

The society is run by a Shadow master. He is the leader of the forces. The shadow leader has a council to make sure he does not go on a power trip and to find a new leader if the current shadowmaster dies. Then it is a Magistrate. Normally they rule communities and cities. Next is the development overseer. He Makes sure a certain part of the community.

In the army, the highest position is Grand Destroyer. He controls the military. Next is the conquerer. They control parts of the army and make sure they are content and are working at peak performance. Next is the Gulroth. Then the Zigil. The lowest rank is the Slithyik. They are cannon fodder for the higher ranks.

The current Shadow master is Dagiz Warpsmile. He is very charismatic and has turned radicals into follows in less than a minute . He weeds out all threats to his rule. The tool he uses most to keep the threats is blackmail and torture.

The Current Grand Destroyer is Voss'skoz. She is a manipulating leader. Her main tactics are terrorizing the enemy and divide and conquer. She has defended key points with deadly efficiency. Most would not cross her.



EDIT: If I am missing something vital,tell me and I will fill it in on another post.

I dislike this for two reasons:
1 - I think you went too much in the realm of fantasy with the shadow thing.
2 - You just over thought. You went in to much details and you even created characters, weapons and ships. I think that right now we should just stay in the basic. First because a lot is going to be shaped in this universe yet (FTL, locations, level of tech, etc) and second because we still don't know who/what is going to make this first cut after we vote.

Mostly I think you should worry about not enter much in the fantasy realm.

But that may be just me...


Well, flam it. I was working on a race, when the coopered Inkscape closes down. AND I forgot to save. Now I'm going to have to start all over again.:smallfurious:

That happened to me! Lucky I turned auto-save on yesterday! :smallbiggrin:

EDIT:
My Idea:


http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/ArgotaniansUnited.png

[John Cribati]

The Kashningrions

Appearance: Think a centaur based off of a crab. Four segmented legs grow out of a semicircular carapace. Near the top front of the carapace, there is a human-like torso from which comes four arms and a head with two eye stalks. The entire organism (save the eye stalks, which can retract into the head, and the joints, to allow for movement) is covered in a nigh-impenetrable green-blue exoskeleton. Males are darker with thicker, studded armor on their arms. Females are lighter in color, and their arms are bladed rather than studded. They are amphibious in nature.

Politics:
In general, they have a "Proud Warrior Race" vibe to them. "Male" and "female" only matter in terms of reproduction. Their caste system is based solely on how good a fighter you are. Their system reflects this: The head of any given state is called the "Commander," who is subject to assassination at all time. Though "assassination" works differently on this planet; In order to take power, you must challenge the commander to a one-on-one match and kill him (or her).

Planet:
About twice the size of earth, with around one and a half times the gravity. The surface is 80% Ocean. Most of the land there is is used for growing food crops. A good portion of the population lives in floating colonies, raising food animals underwater, but the beaches and such are known to have a few settlements as well.

Technology: As far as weapons go, personal blasters are for cowards. Only ships are outfitted with laser technology. They prefer to fight one-on-one with their claws, counting on their tough exoskeletons to protect them.

Anyone wanna draw for me?

[MethosH]

I have an idea for a semi-aquatic alien species based off crustaceans. Many Legged, with exoskeletons (color to be determined later), eye stalks, the whole works, though claws are an option. Males are darker with thicker, studded armor on their arms. Females are lighter in color, and their arms are bladed rather than studded. They are amphibious in nature.

Politics:
In general, they have a "Proud Warrior Race" vibe to them. "Male" and "female" only matter in terms of reproduction. Their caste system is based solely on how good a fighter you are. Their system reflects this: The head of any given state is called the "Commander," who is subject to assassination at all time. Though "assassination" works differently on this planet; In order to take power, you must challenge the commander to a one-on-one match and kill him (or her)

Planet:
About twice the size of earth, with 4 times the gravity. 80% Ocean. Most of the land there is is used for growing food crops. Cities are mostly underwater, but the beaches and such are known to have a few settlements as well. Food animals are raised underwater.

More later.

Primary exports: Food Crops and Animals, soldiers

Fun fact: On a planet with 4 times the gravity of the earth creatures with exoskeleton that can survive outside of the water would have to be very... very... VERY small. I think that even the ones inside the water would have to be very small.

Other that I kind of like the idea.

Also, I have a new concept:

Voltor

The Voltor are an strange species to the eyes of others. Their strange biology have an exomuscle above and exoskeleton that covers their small, round shape, bodies. The Voltor technology revolves around biotechnology. All of their ships, armors, weapons and vehicles are bio-engineered to connect to their exomuscles in order to, practically, become an extension of their bodies.

Common Voltor:
http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/Voltor.png
Voltor on a humanoid bio-suit:
http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/VoltorSuir.png

[John Cribati]

Fun fact: On a planet with 4 times the gravity of the earth creatures with exoskeleton that can survive outside of the water would have to be very... very... VERY small. I think that even the ones inside the water would have to be very small.

[/IMG]

Well, Darklord put human-sized creatures on a planet with 2x the size of Earth. That would make the planet 4x as massive (Square Cube Law FTW!) and thus have everything weigh 4 times as much.

/Nitpick

Anyway, I guess you could say that They're more of a "what if Humans evolved from crustaceans" kind of idea. Also, I'm kind of split on whether or not to give them claws. Thoughts?

[MethosH]

Well, Darklord put human-sized creatures on a planet with 2x the size of Earth. That would make the planet 4x as massive (Square Cube Law FTW!) and thus have everything weigh 4 times as much.

/Nitpick

Anyway, I guess you could say that They're more of a "what if Humans evolved from crustaceans" kind of idea. Also, I'm kind of split on whether or not to give them claws. Thoughts?

Not true, size alone don't affect gravity. Density affect gravity.
Why can't you just change the gravity to something like... half of earth's gravity?

[Dogmantra]

I think that if you lose the "second generation elves have their own culture" this is a great idea. I just don't like that culture you came up with. Sorry :smalltongue:

Remind me where I put in "second generation have their own culture" again? I put that they tend to use certain slang words and there are some small communities of them, but I thought the whole thing was that they didn't have a culture... Hmmm, maybe I am a really good writer, it's just I never write what I intend. :smalltongue:

[MethosH]

Remind me where I put in "second generation have their own culture" again? I put that they tend to use certain slang words and there are some small communities of them, but I thought the whole thing was that they didn't have a culture... Hmmm, maybe I am a really good writer, it's just I never write what I intend. :smalltongue:

They secretly reproduce among themselves without telling everyone about it in small communities but somehow having a larger number than the first generation... There is a secret society going on there. I know it. You know it. And that guy from Da Vinci's code know it. :smallannoyed:

[Dogmantra]

They secretly reproduce among themselves without telling everyone about it in small communities but somehow having a larger number than the first generation... There is a secret society going on there. I know it. You know it. And that guy from Da Vinci's code know it. :smallannoyed:

Or maybe that's a load of rubbish. Eh?
EH?

Eh?

Put it this way: if 90% of your species is sterile and you find out that you're not, what are you going to be doing?

[Maximum Zersk]

I know what I'd be doing. :smallamused:


http://www.officialpsds.com/images/thumbs/Cigar.png

[Mina Kobold]

Fun fact: On a planet with 4 times the gravity of the earth creatures with exoskeleton that can survive outside of the water would have to be very... very... VERY small. I think that even the ones inside the water would have to be very small.

Other that I kind of like the idea.

Also, I have a new concept:

Voltor

The Voltor are an strange species to the eyes of others. Their strange biology have an exomuscle above and exoskeleton that covers their small, round shape, bodies. The Voltor technology revolves around biotechnology. All of their ships, armors, weapons and vehicles are bio-engineered to connect to their exomuscles in order to, practically, become an extension of their bodies.

Common Voltor:
http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/Voltor.png
Voltor on a humanoid bio-suit:
http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/VoltorSuir.png

Perhaps everything on the planet evolved to be big AND survive the pressure?
They had quite a while to do it.

Now about the Voltor:

They're really, really great. It's a creative idea and it has much potential, it deserves an internet... But I don't have any so you'll have to do with a singing frog :smalltongue:

EDIT:
If we're not deciding about faster than light travel yet then I'll wait with the Caz technology. Lets just say they use bamboo-wood and rubber/plastic a lot, since that's what they can make themselves (they can and do produce some metal items too but it's not as easy on Gran'llanura)

[Blayze]

Another type of idea that haven't crossed my mind. A great idea! Maybe they are somewhat misunderstood by the rest of the universe?

Perhaps. Then again, all the Ablinai is concerned with is its own survival -- and if that comes at the cost of every other life in the universe, then that's fantastic as it will eliminate war.

That, and with every brain in the hive mind focused towards scientific advances... just think how dangerous the other species would consider an enemy capable of using *all* its brainpower for scientific and technological advances.

[Keris]

Well, Darklord put human-sized creatures on a planet with 2x the size of Earth. That would make the planet 4x as massive (Square Cube Law FTW!) and thus have everything weigh 4 times as much.
No it wouldn't. For one thing, doubling the radius makes the planet 8 times as massive (you know, 2 cubed. Cube law and all that). For another, surface gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the planet's radius. You're only going to have 2g surface gravity on a planet 8 times as massive as Earth, but with twice the radius.
And "size" doesn't play any part in the square-cube law, as it's not a dimension. It can be used to express any single dimension or product of dimensions. For all you know, DLB was meant that the planet's volume was twice Earth's, which puts surface gravity at around 1.6g if we assume Earth-like density. (Obviously this is a flawed assumption, as materials would be compressed and become higher density under the greater gravity. But I'm too lazy to work that out at the moment.)
For a planet with twice the volume of Earth and four times the surface gravity, it would need to be around 2.5 times as dense as Earth.
For one with double the radius and four times the surface gravity, still about twice as dense.

[Szilard]

Aw, Keris got to the science of gravity before I did. :smallfrown:

But yeah, he's right.

[John Cribati]

Well, I just got told. That's what A computer nerd gets for trying to be a physicist.

Anyway, should my crab people have claws or not?

[Keris]

Anyway, should my crab people have claws or not?
I'd say no. They need to be able to manipulate objects with a fair level of precision in order to develop, and use, technology. I can't see a claw being that dexterous.

[Mina Kobold]

Well, I just got told. That's what A computer nerd gets for trying to be a physicist.

Anyway, should my crab people have claws or not?

Well, a more flexible 'hand' would be crucial to their technological development, if they can't manipulate objects then it would make little sense for them to have developed tools, let alone spaceships :smallsmile:

It's up to you though.

EDIT:

Ninja Ed Ninja'ed

[John Cribati]

I'd say no. They need to be able to manipulate objects with a fair level of precision in order to develop, and use, technology. I can't see a claw being that dexterous.

An actual crab has 8-10 limbs, two of which are claws. I was thinking that my aliens would have 4 legs, 2 arms with hands, and 2 arms with claws. Claws would be better for a warrior race, but 4 hands would make technology and such a lot easier.

[Mad Mask]

So as of now the factions consist of:

The Ablinai
The Argotanians United
The Caz
The Columbian Confederation
Elfishness (not really a faction though)
The enslaved aliens
The Krashningrions
Shadowlings? (may need revising due to fantastical nature)
The Voltor
The Zodohaani

Have I got everyone?

I've also created some new concepts for the Columbian Confederation's colonies. I hope it's not too early, but these crafts are their main trait.

The Twelve Colonies of the Columbian Confederation
While they have constructed several other space habitats, the twelve original colonies still remain the most important ones in the entire confederation, although they have been heavily refitted over the centuries with more advanced technology stolen from alien races or developed by Columbian scientists.

Each station is composed of a gargantuan torus capable of housing millions of people, rotating around a central cylindre to create artificial gravity. In addition to the human population, the ring contains a fully established ecosystem, allowing easy transplantation in case of terraforming and giving the illusion of living in a natural environment.

The colonies' voracious consumption of energy is provided by several massive nuclear fusion reactors in the centre of each station. The stations are still using nuclear pulse propulsion (in layman's term, moving the craft with nuclear explosions), although the technology has been refined to use more fusion based reactions.

While at first the habitats were intended to be only used for exploration (extraterrestrial intelligences were still unknown at the time), encounters with hostile alien species caused the Columbian Confederacy to add numerous weapons to their vehicles. Each colony is able to launch by itself barrages of nuclear and kinetic missiles, but their real military capabilities lie in their abilities to carry small battlecraft called destroyers.

Destroyers are, in essence, moving nuke boxes. They are catapulted from railguns to provide an initial speed boost and enormous laser beams from the colonies superheat a propellant for additional acceleration, with ion drives to provide secondary thrust. More than 80% of the vehicle mass is composed of thermonuclear missiles, with a tiny crew compartment firmly lodged deep into the middle of the craft. This is only a command crew, the rest of the destroyer being automated and having no life support.

EDIT: There are other spacecrafts, but I'm not going to detail them yet. Plus, if we decide to include such faster-than-light travel, the colonies will also have FTL drives.

[MethosH]

Perhaps everything on the planet evolved to be big AND survive the pressure?
They had quite a while to do it.


Atrobiologists do have a go explanation. I'm just not sure which. I think it's something about that none of the early stages of evolution would survive such gravity, for creatures with full exoskeleton.



Now about the Voltor:

They're really, really great. It's a creative idea and it has much potential, it deserves an internet... But I don't have any so you'll have to do with a singing frog :smalltongue:

EDIT:
If we're not deciding about faster than light travel yet then I'll wait with the Caz technology. Lets just say they use bamboo-wood and rubber/plastic a lot, since that's what they can make themselves (they can and do produce some metal items too but it's not as easy on Gran'llanura)
[/QUOTE]

Well sir, thank you for this lovely singing frog. :smallbiggrin:


Perhaps. Then again, all the Ablinai is concerned with is its own survival -- and if that comes at the cost of every other life in the universe, then that's fantastic as it will eliminate war.

That, and with every brain in the hive mind focused towards scientific advances... just think how dangerous the other species would consider an enemy capable of using *all* its brainpower for scientific and technological advances.

That is one idea I really like. :smallsmile:


An actual crab has 8-10 limbs, two of which are claws. I was thinking that my aliens would have 4 legs, 2 arms with hands, and 2 arms with claws. Claws would be better for a warrior race, but 4 hands would make technology and such a lot easier.

I think we should keep 2 claws and 2 hands. I think we can come up with some "claw oriented" technology.


So as of now the factions consist of:

The Ablinai
The Argotanians United
The Caz
The Columbian Confederation
Elfishness (not really a faction though)
The enslaved aliens
The Proud Warrior Crustaceanoids
Shadowlings? (may need revising due to fantastical nature)
The Voltor
The Zodohaani

Have I got everyone?

I think so : )



I've also created some new concepts for the Columbian Confederation's colonies. I hope it's not too early, but these crafts are their main trait..

I'll read this later, gotta go eat soemthing :smalltongue:

[Keris]

An actual crab has 8-10 limbs, two of which are claws. I was thinking that my aliens would have 4 legs, 2 arms with hands, and 2 arms with claws. Claws would be better for a warrior race, but 4 hands would make technology and such a lot easier.
You're gonna be straying pretty far from the basic crab shape then, which wasn't implied in your initial post.


The stations are still using nuclear pulse propulsion (in layman's term, moving the craft with nuclear explosions)
"God was knocking, and he wanted in bad." -Footfall
You'll need some severe bracing on the rings. And really good sound insulation along the supports, or no-one will be able to get a wink of sleep during course changes.

Destroyers [...] are propelled by enormous laser beams shot from the colonies,
You're propelling them with light pressure? I can't really see that working for a battleship.

More than 80% of the vehicle mass is composed of thermonuclear missiles, with a tiny crew compartment firmly lodged deep into the middle of the craft.
Any reason you have a crew at all? Also, beware of people blowing you up before you get a chance to fire your missiles.

[Mad Mask]

"God was knocking, and he wanted in bad." -Footfall
You'll need some severe bracing on the rings. And really good sound insulation along the supports, or no-one will be able to get a wink of sleep during course changes.

Of course.


You're propelling them with light pressure? I can't really see that working for a battleship.

The laser is used to heat a propellant. I should have made that clear in my post.


Any reason you have a crew at all?

To make strategic decisions. Since no-one wants to read about the life and times of military computers, Columbian AI is just not advanced enough to replace human thinking.


Also, beware of people blowing you up before you get a chance to fire your missiles.

That would be unlikely. Except in Q-ship scenarios, even lasers won't hit instantly because of the large space between the two sides; therefore, the destroyer will have enough time to fire its nukes. They'll also have laser point defence to protect themselves.

[Keris]

To make strategic decisions. Since no-one wants to read about the life and times of military computers, Columbian AI is just not advanced enough to replace human thinking.
Have you considered remote control? Or are you operating at that ranges were lightspeed delays are noticeable? (Yet close enough to be propelled with a laser mounted on the mothership. :smalltongue:)

That would be unlikely. Except in Q-ship scenarios, even lasers won't hit instantly because of the large space between the two sides; therefore, the destroyer will have enough time to fire its nukes.
If the laser is moving at c, how could you have any time to fire your nukes? You couldn't detect it being fired until it hits you, unless you have FTL sensors of course.

[licoot]

I've had an idea for the name of my slave race, it would be some kind of code, because the surrounding civilizations simply regard them as primitive beings and have simply cataloged them in explorations.

I think a way to help this would be if there native languages all consisted of clucks, or something along those lines, because of this (the language not being like conventional ones) the other civilizations thought they went intelligent.

[Mad Mask]

Have you considered remote control? Or are you operating at that ranges were lightspeed delays are noticeable? (Yet close enough to be propelled with a laser mounted on the mothership. :smalltongue:)

It's just for the initial speed boost. When they're out of range, they'll use another propulsion system (I think I'll remove the ion drive; too inefficient).


If the laser is moving at c, how could you have any time to fire your nukes? You couldn't detect it being fired until it hits you, unless you have FTL sensors of course.

Who uses lasers offensively any way? You'll need tons of energy to cut through your opponents armour plating (which could very well be mirrored) and it becomes inefficient at long range (due to dispersion, I think [I don't remember the exact term]). You're better off with missile, nuclear or kinetic, who will destroy your enemies' craft in one hit if they get past their point defences, and are much more efficient at the long ranges of space combat.

[John Cribati]

The Pleocygrans

Appearance: Think a centaur based off of a crab. Four segmented legs grow out of a semicircular carapace. Near the top front of the carapace, there is a human-like torso from which comes four arms and a head with two eye stalks. The entire organism (save the eye stalks, which can retract into the head, and the joints, to allow for movement) is covered in a nigh-impenetrable green-blue exoskeleton. Males are darker with thicker, studded armor on their arms. Females are lighter in color, and their arms are bladed rather than studded. They are amphibious in nature.

Politics:
In general, they have a "Proud Warrior Race" vibe to them. "Male" and "female" only matter in terms of reproduction. Their caste system is based solely on how good a fighter you are. Their system reflects this: The head of any given state is called the "Commander," who is subject to assassination at all time. Though "assassination" works differently on this planet; In order to take power, you must challenge the commander to a one-on-one match and kill him (or her).

Planet:
About twice the size of earth, with around one and a half times the gravity. The surface is 80% Ocean. Most of the land there is is used for growing food crops. A good portion of the population lives in floating colonies, raising food animals underwater, but the beaches and such are known to have a few settlements as well.

Technology: As far as weapons go, personal long-range weapons are for cowards. Only ships are outfitted with lasers, missiles,and such technology. They prefer to fight one-on-one with their claws, counting on their tough exoskeletons to protect them.

Anyone wanna draw for me?

Fix'd. Anything else we need?

[Mad Mask]

Fix'd. Anything else we need?

Aren't they a little weak? Having only melee weapons, you could kill one with a musket.

[John Cribati]

Aren't they a little weak? Having only melee weapons, you could kill one with a musket.

I'm trying to limit their power bit. They'd already be practically unstoppable at close range. You want me to give them lasers, too?

[Mad Mask]

I'm trying to limit their power bit. They'd already be practically unstoppable at close range. You want me to give them lasers, too?

Doesn't matter if you're good at close range when your enemy can shoot you tens of meters away. That's modern armies don't have swordsmen anymore.

And lasers, with their high energy requirements, are horrible personal weapons. Maybe assault rifles or shotguns?

[Mina Kobold]

Doesn't matter if you're good at close range when your enemy can shoot you tens of meters away. That's modern armies don't have swordsmen anymore.

And lasers, with their high energy requirements, are horrible personal weapons. Maybe assault rifles or shotguns?

What part of 'Nigh impenetrable shell' don't you understand?

They are obviously so powerful that you can't break their shells before the close-quarter combat begins :smalltongue:

[Mad Mask]

What part of 'Nigh impenetrable shell' don't you understand?

They are obviously so powerful that you can't break their shells before the close-quarter combat begins :smalltongue:

That would be very unrealistic, especially with the futuristic weaponry available. :smalleek:

[Emperor Ing]

What kind of an enviroment would a creature have to grow up in in order to evolve the nigh-inpenetrible shell? The way I see it such a planet would be so deadly the attackers would be dead way before they were even able to see the shelled aliens' general location.

[Mina Kobold]

What kind of an enviroment would a creature have to grow up in in order to evolve the nigh-inpenetrible shell? The way I see it such a planet would be so deadly the attackers would be dead way before they were even able to see the shelled aliens' general location.

Well, their planet do have a higher gravity if that's a factor, but Herpestidae probably has a better explanation *shruggery*

[Mad Mask]

What kind of an enviroment would a creature have to grow up in in order to evolve the nigh-inpenetrible shell? The way I see it such a planet would be so deadly the attackers would be dead way before they were even able to see the shelled aliens' general location.

A Wizard Did It.

That's the only possible explanation, even bio-engineering won't get you that far.

[John Cribati]

If I remember my biology, a crab's shell is a silicate, which is what makes up most of the sand in the oceans. On the planet that I forgot to name, the sand is more of a carbonate, so much so that you can call the Kashningrion's shell a derivative of diamond.

I now wait to see my ass-pullery get shot to hell and back

[Keris]

I now wait to see my ass-pullery get shot to hell and back
Glad to oblige.
Shells are composed of many things, but chitin and calcium carbonate are major components. Neither of those are silicates. (Heck, one is a carbonate.) I am not a biologist.
Additionally, there is a world of difference between diamond and a carbonate. Compare diamond with graphite and even coal. All three are composed of carbon, but they are very different. It depends on how the carbon bonds together, in graphite it forms layers of hexagons, in carbon it forms a cubic lattice, and it coal it forms a huge mess with numerous other elements attached wherever. Diamond is strong because of the lattice shape it forms, not because it contains carbon. And as a carbonate is already stuck with 3 oxygen atoms (it's CO32-), it can't form the lattice. I am not a chemist.
Also note that while diamond is hard, it is not particularly tough, so can be shattered. Not so useful for armour.

[MethosH]

@licoot

I like the idea of their language :smallsmile:

@Mad Mask

You, accidentally, made me think about gravity generation. We need to decide later if we are going to end up with gravity generators or if we are going to use what we currently know scientifically about artificial gravity.

But that is for later guys, lets not focus too much on the technology yet since MUCH can change. We don't even know what factions are making this first cut. No harm in discuss it but lets not get too far or it will end up just a huge ball of mixed ideas.

Attention:

I'll give 3 more days for the factions and I'm going to call a vote. Everyone will be able to give 6 votes and you won't be able to vote on a faction you made up. The votes will last one week and after that the 6 factions with more votes will move to the next step of this universe building.

[John Cribati]

And with that, I return to the "Wizard did it" explanation.

[BRC]

I was going to make a race for this space thing, but it sounds like I have a LOT to catch up on.

Currently my idea is for a race who lost their planet, so they roam the galaxy. They're expert engineers, but they don't have the facilities needed to build stuff, so they salvage parts from other races, and then sell it. Essentially, an entire race of greasy used car salesmen.
"This Cruiser was last owned by a little old lady, she only used it once a week to strafe the shops"

[Keris]

I was going to make a race for this space thing, but it sounds like I have a LOT to catch up on.
Go ahead and make it regardless. Nothing is set in stone about the universe yet, so you don't need to worry about conflicting with pre-existing material.
And even if your race is very similar to an existing one, it's won't matter as it's very unlikely that both will make it though the voting process.

But straight off the bat, how do you lose a planet. They're kinda big, you know, it's not like they can slip down the back of the sofa.

[BRC]

Go ahead and make it regardless. Nothing is set in stone about the universe yet, so you don't need to worry about conflicting with pre-existing material.
And even if your race is very similar to an existing one, it's won't matter as it's very unlikely that both will make it though the voting process.

But straight off the bat, how do you lose a planet. They're kinda big, you know, it's not like they can slip down the back of the sofa.
By "Lose" I mean "Rendered their planet uninhabitable", they still know where it is, it's just a blasted toxic hellscape that can support no life and is roamed by the Nanobots they built in order to fight a minor plague. The Disease mad them throw up, feel ill, and die in maybe 5% of cases. The cure (Nanobots) had trouble telling the difference between the bacteria, any other bacteria, or really any other organic matter.

Then somebody decided to try Nuking the areas infested by the Nanobots. That didn't help either.

Edit: I might reshape them from Used Car Salesmen to more Mercenary scientists. They're Brilliant, but with the loss of their homeworld they are shattered, and they are often very distrustful of their own technology. Their old specialty was Nanotech, but those that survived have a hatred for it. They seek to purge all of their own Nanotechnology that's still around in the galaxy. However, for the last couple hundred years they had been boosting themselves with Nanotech, so those that are left who purged themselves, are very weak.

Of course, there are still "Tech Heads", those that use the old Nanobots, often they've boosted themselves past safe levels, making them very dangerous and in some cases half mad.

Edit 2: Ooh, a storyline could be centered around some people getting onto the planet and collecting some of the Nanobots, threatening to release them as a "Nanobomb"

[MethosH]

By "Lose" I mean "Rendered their planet uninhabitable", they still know where it is, it's just a blasted toxic hellscape that can support no life and is roamed by the Nanobots they built in order to fight a minor plague. The Disease mad them throw up, feel ill, and die in maybe 5% of cases. The cure (Nanobots) had trouble telling the difference between the bacteria, any other bacteria, or really any other organic matter.

Then somebody decided to try Nuking the areas infested by the Nanobots. That didn't help either.

Edit: I might reshape them from Used Car Salesmen to more Mercenary scientists. They're Brilliant, but with the loss of their homeworld they are shattered, and they are often very distrustful of their own technology. Their old specialty was Nanotech, but those that survived have a hatred for it. They seek to purge all of their own Nanotechnology that's still around in the galaxy. However, for the last couple hundred years they had been boosting themselves with Nanotech, so those that are left who purged themselves, are very weak.

Of course, there are still "Tech Heads", those that use the old Nanobots, often they've boosted themselves past safe levels, making them very dangerous and in some cases half mad.

Edit 2: Ooh, a storyline could be centered around some people getting onto the planet and collecting some of the Nanobots, threatening to release them as a "Nanobomb"

I'm the only one that think this is oddly familiar? (http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Quarian)

[BRC]

I'm the only one that think this is oddly familiar? (http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Quarian)
Hey, my guys destroyed their world because their Nanobots were too stupid. The Quarians lost their homeworld because their big robots were too smart.

[MethosH]

Hey, my guys destroyed their world because their Nanobots were too stupid. The Quarians lost their homeworld because their big robots were too smart.

Not saying its a bad idea. I kind of like it. I'm just saying it feels familiar :smallbiggrin:

[BRC]

Not saying its a bad idea. I kind of like it. I'm just saying it feels familiar :smallbiggrin:
"Robots turning against their creators" is so old it's origional.

[Mad Mask]

I was just wondering, what will happen to the people whose faction doesn't make it into the final vote? Will they have to stay away from this project? If they don't, they'll have much less influence than the 6 people who own a civilisation.

[MethosH]

I was just wondering, what will happen to the people whose faction doesn't make it into the final vote? Will they have to stay away from this project? If they don't, they'll have much less influence than the 6 people who own a civilisation.

No, they won't have to stay away from the project and nobody "own" a civilization. The idea is for us to create this together. If someone feels touchy about a civilization because he/she had the original idea that person should say should say so. If this is the case we will remove that idea from the vote and from the universe so it stays untouched like the so called creator wants it.

I really don't want to listen to anyone crying things like "Oh yeah?! But I had the original idea and I don't like where this is going to I'm pulling out and take MY idea with me".

We all will get equal rights to everything that its created here. If the majority wants to change something it will be changed.

EDIT:

By the way... In my mind you are cyclops in real life.

EDIT 2:

I also want to add that any civilization that get cut out in the first vote may have a chance in a later stage if we feel there is enough room for another faction. So save your ideas.

[Darklord Bright]

I really don't want to listen to anyone crying things like "Oh yeah?! But I had the original idea and I don't like where this is going to I'm pulling out and take MY idea with me".

Hm, I recall having heard near exactly that from someone we've both had dealings with before... In other words: I see what you did there! :smallwink:

I will say, just as a reference point to others who may want to think up ideas for the Zodohaani, that my inspiration was, on a basic level, Orzhammar from Dragon Age, only if it were mixed with Coruscant from Star Wars.

Of course, it has also got my own ideas, like the race itself, and the mining operations and such. There's a network of tunnels beneath the city to work with, after all... :smallsmile:

Edit: I might also mention that I would totally love the Police-type warriors to have combine voice distorters. Just sayin' :smalltongue:

[MethosH]

Hm, I recall having heard near exactly that from someone we've both had dealings with before... In other words: I see what you did there! :smallwink:


Living and learning, my friend... Living and learning. I really want to avoid fights, so every decision that end up stuck will be solved by vote. We all have seen what "nah... Lets just argue. We are civilized, I'm sure we can find a middle ground" brings.

[Dvandemon]

Hello i'm a little confused. What is the length of a rod compared to a wand and staff? What is the length of a shortspear compared to Lien's longspear?

[Mina Kobold]

Hello i'm a little confused. What is the length of a rod compared to a wand and staff? What is the length of a shortspear compared to Lien's longspear?

What does that have to do with anything?

[Keris]

Hello i'm a little confused. What is the length of a rod compared to a wand and staff? What is the length of a shortspear compared to Lien's longspear?
Rods are somewhere between wands and staffs in length, with wands being 6-12 inches long, rods 2-3 feet, and staffs 4-7 feet.
I see an OotS style wand being a line about the length of the character's foot, a rod being thicker and around the length of his arm, and a staff being anything from the length of his leg to a head taller than him.

A shortspear would be, well, shorter than a longspear. It can be held one handed, can only strike adjacent foes (while a longspear can strike foes up to 10 feet away, as Lien demonstrates (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0473.html)), and can be thrown easily. While the longspear is longer than a character is tall (although it should be longer, but it would be difficult to draw into the panels then), a shortspear would be something from the height of the character down to the height of his body (a head smaller). It would be much thinner if it is meant to be thrown.

I might try to sketch up some examples of each quickly, or might forget.

What does that have to do with anything?
Despite still being currently overtaken with "Let's make a Sci-Fi setting", this is still the Comic Lab. :smalltongue:

[Mina Kobold]

Despite still being currently overtaken with "Let's make a Sci-Fi setting", this is still the Comic Lab. :smalltongue:

I meant, 'What does he need that for? A comic?'

I was curious

[Emperor Ing]

Comic concept continued:
Ok, so for this metroid sprite comic, i've been coming up with a few ideas. One thing I wanna try to do is to have the comic focus on one single character instead of 5 as is the case in WTwU. There will be other characters and storylines going on in the background but you will only know what the main character knows.

Here's the pilot comic I made that'll probably fit into the prologue.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll246/EmperorIng/1-1.png

Questions? Comments? Critique?

[Dvandemon]

I meant, 'What does he need that for? A comic?'

I was curious

Why yes I do actually :smalltongue:

Well Rand, I may have never played the old Metroid games ('cept on Super Smash Bros. Brawl) that looks good but the border color made the whole thing a little confusing for me

[Keris]

I might try to sketch up some examples of each quickly, or might forget.
Here we go:
{table="width=470px"]{colsp=2}
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z257/kerisrain/Wand.png[br][B]Wand|{colsp=2}
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z257/kerisrain/Rod.png[br][B]Rod|{colsp=2}
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z257/kerisrain/Staff.png[B]Staff

{colsp=6}
{colsp=3}
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z257/kerisrain/Lspear.png[br][B]Long Spear|{colsp=3}
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z257/kerisrain/Sspear.png[B]Short Spear[/table]


Questions? Comments? Critique?
I'd suggest using a font with the same pixel size as the sprites, or swapping to a more comic-y typeface. You might also want to consider changing to a 2x3 format instead of 3x2, so you don't cause screen stretching.
Also, you made a couple of typos. "Your welcome" should be "You're welcome", and "skrew" should be "screw".

[Darklord Bright]

I was going to see if I could work on a design for a Zodohaani vehicle (Originally, I was going for a sort of "Harvester"-style thing that collected resources from other planets and asteroids) but I ended up making something awesome. I just need to find a way of tying it into something now :smalltongue:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1476/scan0011p.png

[Silverraptor]

Alright, I though I would contribute to this thread for more than just a contest. For those of you who want to make a 3D tunnel opening, here's how I did it in Idiosyncrasy #13.

First, we start with a blank background like so.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects1.png

Then we take the mouth of the opening and place it where we want the opening to be on the panel.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects2.png

Finally, make the ground above the opening and move the nodes so that they fit onto the opening like so.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects3.png
Tip: Make sure you slant the ground like that and to provide a straight path on the top exiting the opening while being connected to the other part of the path. You may need to practice with this somewhat.

I hope this helps some people in the future.:smallsmile:

[John Cribati]

Okay, I need this for a story, sort of. Would one of you sciencey types know any conceivable way to make a refrigerator work in a Steam Punk setting?

[Maximum Zersk]

Lots of Ice?

[Silverraptor]

Okay, I need this for a story, sort of. Would one of you sciencey types know any conceivable way to make a refrigerator work in a Steam Punk setting?

How a refridgerator would work?:smallconfused: Well in my imagination, there are no refridgerators in the future, just machines that preserves anything in time inside it. A special field is needed to keep everything in.

[John Cribati]

How a refridgerator would work?:smallconfused: Well in my imagination, there are no refridgerators in the future, just machines that preserves anything in time inside it. A special field is needed to keep everything in.
Someone seems to be misunderstanding The concept of Steam Punk. Tvtropes to the rescue, as usual:

Retro-style Speculative Fiction set in periods where steam power is king. Very often this will be in an Alternate Universe where the internal combustion engine never displaced the steam engine, and as a result all manner of cool steam-driven technologies have emerged, ranging from the plausible to Magitek with a Hollywood Science Hand Wave. Largely, Steampunk runs on Rule Of Cool. Sometimes combined with the work of Charles Babbage on mechanical computers to produce a kind of retro Cyber Punk set entirely in the Victorian era or a close analogue, minus the exploitation.


So basically, I want to figure out how one could conceivably make a steam-powered fridge, or at the very least, I need some quality, sciencey-sounding bull****t

[BRC]

Steam Driven Fans keep the food cool. Technobabble driven "Thermal Coils" draw heat away.

[Silverraptor]

Uggg... TvTropes.:smallyuk:

[Keris]

Finally, make the ground above the opening and move the nodes so that they fit onto the opening like so.
I strongly suggest adding a couple more stages here. There is no clear indication of what "the ground above the opening" consists of, nor what "like so" indicates.
I would draw an additional panel about changing the angle of the wall, then one about adding the ground (maybe using a different colour to distinguish it), and finally move the nodes, displaying the finished tunnel.

Okay, I need this for a story, sort of. Would one of you sciencey types know any conceivable way to make a refrigerator work in a Steam Punk setting?
Simple answer: Draw a machine with lots of pipes, spinning wheels, little chimneys, maybe a steam whistle, and a door on the front. Tell the reader that this is a refrigerator. Done.

Complex answer:
Use an absorption cooler. You only need heat to power it, and it works somewhat like this:
Start with pure liquid ammonia. You'll need to compress the ammonia to get it into liquid form (so use a steam powered pump, 'waste cold' from the fridge and constricting pipes), and distil it to get rid of any water. You can use the distillation to get it to the top of your cooler, which is useful as it can then flow down. Of course, you'll need to compress it again to get back to liquid form when distilling it, but eh. Such is life.
You introduce the anhydrouswater free liquid ammonia to a hydrogen rich atmosphere, at lower than room pressure. It then begins to boil, and will draw heat from the surroundings to do so. Make sure this part of the machine has a lot of surface area (long thin pipes, radiator fins, that sort of thing), as it's the bit that cools.
The ammonia vapour should continue to sink through the machine, and you can reintroduce it just before the distiller, into a reservoir of liquid ammonia. The ammonia vapour will be absorbed into the liquid ammonia, and your hydrogen can rise up a separate pipe to be reused. To remove any last bits of ammonia from the hydrogen, you can pipe across the run-off from your distiller, which will be diluted ammonia and should absorb and carry the remaining ammonia vapour to the bottom with it.

In summary, a machine with lots of pipes, a chimney and maybe a set of wheels.

Uggg... TvTropes.:smallyuk:
Fine, Wikipedia to the rescue instead.
"Steampunk [...] denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England — but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date."

[John Cribati]

While I just barely understood that, Thank you very much, Keris. At first, I only needed it for a technobabble gag, but then I remembered that the show I'm basing the story off of actually has steampunk refrigerators that they use as torture devices, and I was genuinely curious as to how that would work.

What do you think about a steam-powered jet ski? Could that work?

[Keris]

While I just barely understood that, Thank you very much, Keris.
Yer welcome. If there's any bit you want me to explain in greater detail, or go into the physics behind, I'll do my best.


What do you think about a steam-powered jet ski? Could that work?
Not realistically. Steam engines are pretty heavy, and would need a decent sized boat to carry them. You need a fuel source, furnace, boiler and motor unit. In addition, while the first thing to truly resemble the modern propeller was developed in the 19th century, the pump-jet engine used in Jet-skis and the like wasn't built until over 100 years later.
You could possibly have a reservoir of high pressure superheated steam used to propel the vessel, giving it a limited range and the potential to explode and kill the riders, but I can't see it being very efficient.
Best to handwave this one. Draw water from the river/lake/ocean/swimming pool, heat it with some kind of phlebotinum, and use the pressure difference between water and steam (water is about 1600 times as dense as steam) to drive the craft with a jet of water.

[John Cribati]

Just out of curiosity, what would you say about a Giant Steampunk (http://piandao.org/screencaps/ep33/ep33-10.png) Drill (http://piandao.org/screencaps/ep33/ep33-1146.png)?
(second link is a size comparison. those are people on that thing).

[Keris]

Just out of curiosity, what would you say about a Giant Steampunk (http://piandao.org/screencaps/ep33/ep33-10.png) Drill (http://piandao.org/screencaps/ep33/ep33-1146.png)?
(second link is a size comparison. those are people on that thing).
"Fund it"?

It is far from realistic. The largest of modern tunnel boring machines (or 'mole machines', which is a far better name) can only just get up 15m (≈50′) in diameter. But that doesn't prevent it from being awesome, so rule of cool takes over.

[Mina Kobold]

Uggg... TvTropes.:smallyuk:

You yukked the Tvtropes! :smalleek: Curse you, you son of a raging, unworthy *dissolves into incoherent mumbling while people in white cloaks tries to stop me*


"Fund it"?

It is far from realistic. The largest of modern tunnel boring machines (or 'mole machines', which is a far better name) can only just get up 15m (≈50′) in diameter. But that doesn't prevent it from being awesome, so rule of cool takes over.

Why would that do any difference? The fire nation just had bigger ambitions than us no-benders :smalltongue:

[Silverraptor]

Thanks Kerris. I'll put in the extra step as soon as possible.

And yes, I yukked TvTropes. I just don't see the big screaming deal with it except the uncanny ability of getting other people addicted for some reason.:smallsigh:

[Darklord Bright]

Thanks Kerris. I'll put in the extra step as soon as possible.

And yes, I yukked TvTropes. I just don't see the big screaming deal with it except the uncanny ability of getting other people addicted for some reason.:smallsigh:

It's useful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. It's kinda like you're saying "I don't like it because other people do."

[Mina Kobold]

It's useful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. It's kinda like you're saying "I don't like it because other people do."

I second this and add 'expands your horizon' to the list.

[MethosH]

Ok, I think this is it.

Votes start now:


The Ablinai (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8110308&postcount=318)
The Argotanians United (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8108132&postcount=307) 2 (http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/ArgotaniansUnited.png)
The Caz (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8110384&postcount=320) (2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8110933&postcount=326))
The Columbian Confederation (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8111516&postcount=329)
Araphinis Mons (Elfishness) (not really a faction though) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8111935&postcount=336)
The Klinacio (enslaved aliens) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8109356&postcount=316)
The Krashningrions / The Pleocygrans (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8117653&postcount=373)
The Voltor (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8113362&postcount=351)
The Zodohaani (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8109018&postcount=310)
The Nakessh (Knack-E-shh) (nomand people that lost their planet) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8119720&postcount=386) 2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8119969&postcount=388)
H2.0 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8140553&postcount=441)

I hope I'm not forgeting anyone.

Some may have noticed that I've removed Shadowlings from the vote. I did this due to their extreme fantastical nature. They'll be added back on if icastflare! review them and propose something that doesn't have its origins on "magic".

Rules for voting:
You will be able to chose six of the above factions. You are not forced to vote for six, if you only vote on one that is your right, but at least six will get by this first stage (unless there is a huge commotion to change this).

You CAN'T vote to a race/faction/species that is your own creation.

The votes will be up for a week, after that we will use the six races/factions/civilisations with more votes.

Anyone can vote. If you wasn't part of the creation of any species/faction you can still vote.

Time remaning for votes: 0 days

Votes so far:


The Ablinai: 1
The Argotanians United: 3
The Caz: 5
The Columbian Confederation: 1
Elfishness: 0
The Klinacio (enslaved aliens): 2
The Krashningrions / The Pleocygrans: 3
The Voltor: 2
The Zodohaani: 5
The Nakessh (Knack-E-shh): 5
H2.0: 4


VOTES ARE NOW CLOSED

[licoot]

Can I vote for one now and save the other five votes for later?

[MethosH]

Can I vote for one now and save the other five votes for later?

Yes you can :)

My votes:

- The Ablinai
- The Zodohaani
- The Krashningrions
- The Caz
- The nomand people that lost their planet
- The enslaved aliens

[Blayze]

I vote for...

1) The Unpronounceables -- er, the Krashningrions.
2) The not-Quarians (nomad people that lost their planet).
3) The enslaved aliens (They look like self-conscious orcs. :P).

[Mina Kobold]

I has votes :smalltongue:

1. The Voltor.
b. The Zodohaani.
:3. The Columbian Confederation.
<*)))<. The nomand people that lost their planet.
E. The Argotanians United.

I'll save my last vote for later.

[licoot]

I vote for the Caz, The Argotanians United, The Krashningrions, and The nomand people that lost their planet, ill save the other two for later

[Silverraptor]

It's useful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. It's kinda like you're saying "I don't like it because other people do."

Well not so much as other people do like it that I don't like it. It's just that some of my friends are way too addicted to it. Seriously, if you compare my addiction to this forum compared to their addiction to TvTropes... it's not pretty. I'm sure they would even stop eating if their parents didn't force them. And it gets tiring to not be able to say hi to them in passing without hearing atleast 2 TvTrope related topics.:smallsigh:

So ya, I'm not against it in general, just what it can sometimes do to people.

[Silverraptor]

Alright. This is a more detailed explaination of my 3D cave entrance.

First, we start with a blank background like so.



http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects1.png

Then we take the mouth of the opening and place it where we want the opening to be on the panel. To make the cave mouth, make sure that one side of the mouth is higher than the other.



http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects2.png

Now we put the bottom ground over the cave opening.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects2a.png

Then we make the ground into a path by pushing the "Convert object to path" button. Several nodes should appear and you should move them so that you hav a slanted angle with a slight tail fitting into the cave opening. Here's an example without the opening.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects2b.png

If all goes well, you should have an outcome like this.



http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/silverraptor_photo/3Deffects3.png

You may need to practice this to really get the hang of it though.

[BRC]

I feel like I should expand upon, or at least name the "Nomad people who lost their planet".

Hrm...How about the Nakessh (Knack-E-shh). I'll try to design them later.

[Dogmantra]

I am voting only for the Caz currently because they're brilliant.

(Not to imply the others aren't brilliant :smallwink:)

[Keris]

Ok, I think this is it.
Hey-hey-hey! You're 5 hours too early. I should still have 3 and a half hours to finish refining my own concept before you start calling for votes. :smallannoyed:

[licoot]

It all depends on the time zone. It was late for me

Hey-hey-hey! You're 5 hours too early. I should still have 3 and a half hours to finish refining my own concept before you start calling for votes. :smallannoyed:

[Keris]

It all depends on the time zone. It was late for me
Time zones don't really come into it. I actually checked this, between Methos saying that he'd give it "three more days" and when he started calling for votes, there was a 2 days, 19 hours and 4 minutes interval. This is, of course, less than three days.

[MethosH]

Time zones don't really come into it. I actually checked this, between Methos saying that he'd give it "three more days" and when he started calling for votes, there was a 2 days, 19 hours and 4 minutes interval. This is, of course, less than three days.

So sorry :smallbiggrin:
Feel free to add your concept to the vote until tomorrow

[Silverraptor]

Hey Methos, can you add my tip for making 3D openings to the OP?

[licoot]

I really need to give the slave race a name: how does Klinacio sound, it wouldn't be their word but a word in another launguage. Some kind of clicking sound doesn't really make the best sounding name. Im not very good at names, just thought they needed one

[Mina Kobold]

I feel like I should expand upon, or at least name the "Nomad people who lost their planet".

Hrm...How about the Nakessh (Knack-E-shh). I'll try to design them later.


I really need to give the slave race a name: how does Klinacio sound, it wouldn't be their word but a word in another launguage. Some kind of clicking sound doesn't really make the best sounding name. Im not very good at names, just thought they needed one

Good name, to both of you :smallsmile:

[MethosH]

Hey Methos, can you add my tip for making 3D openings to the OP?

I will. I'm just finishing up a couple of things here and I will update the OP

[Mad Mask]

So sorry :smallbiggrin:
Feel free to add your concept to the vote until tomorrow

Tomorrow? At what hour?

I had this additional concept, but I don't know if I'll finish it in time...

[MethosH]

Tomorrow? At what hour?

I had this additional concept, but I don't know if I'll finish it in time...


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:49 PM.

I'll give more 24 hours, will that do?

[Keris]

Got my idea for a faction drafted, might try and come up with some images later.

H2.0

The members of the H2.0 faction are human, at least they were originally so. As medical technology increased, it eventually overtook the efficiency of the biological body in some areas. Seeing the opportunity, some people began voluntarily replacing healthy parts of their body with "superior" components. Because of this, they often refer to themselves as trans- or posthumans, and the collective monitor of H2.0 — Humans 2.0 — reflects this.
The amount of augmentation a given H2.0 might have varies greatly, even within the small communities they tend to form. One person might have artificial legs or arms nearly indistinguishable from those of a normal human, another might have a body entirely crafted from gleaming chrome, and a third might have chosen organic components, and might resemble a fantastic creature from mythology, such as a centaur or mermaid.
As time progressed, and minor augmentation became more and more commonplace in those who suffered accident, or simply wished to be immune to any number of harmful microorganisms, the technophiles of H2.0 became more and more extravagant. There exist people so far from the norm that they're entirely different beings. Minds uploaded into clouds of tiny robots, shared bodies and hivemind networks are not so out of the ordinary within a H2.0 community, and thanks to the advanced components within them, many can claim to be immortal, so long as the power holds out.
Within the current age of space travel and exploration, many H2.0 have taken to the stars, adapting their bodies to the worlds they find, instead of resorting to clumsy terraforming.

[MethosH]

Got my idea for a faction drafted, might try and come up with some images later.

H2.0

The members of the H2.0 faction are human, at least they were originally so. As medical technology increased, it eventually overtook the efficiency of the biological body in some areas. Seeing the opportunity, some people began voluntarily replacing healthy parts of their body with "superior" components. Because of this, they often refer to themselves as trans- or posthumans, and the collective monitor of H2.0 — Humans 2.0 — reflects this.
The amount of augmentation a given H2.0 might have varies greatly, even within the small communities they tend to form. One person might have artificial legs or arms nearly indistinguishable from those of a normal human, another might have a body entirely crafted from gleaming chrome, and a third might have chosen organic components, and might resemble a fantastic creature from mythology, such as a centaur or mermaid.
As time progressed, and minor augmentation became more and more commonplace in those who suffered accident, or simply wished to be immune to any number of harmful microorganisms, the technophiles of H2.0 became more and more extravagant. There exist people so far from the norm that they're entirely different beings. Minds uploaded into clouds of tiny robots, shared bodies and hivemind networks are not so out of the ordinary within a H2.0 community, and thanks to the advanced components within them, many can claim to be immortal, so long as the power holds out.
Within the current age of space travel and exploration, many H2.0 have taken to the stars, adapting their bodies to the worlds they find, instead of resorting to clumsy terraforming.

They are now part of the vote : )

[Szilard]

I vote for the H2.0 peoples.
And the zodohanni.

[John Cribati]

I'm thinking of changing my alien race name. It's... awkward.
They are now Pleocygrans (Plee- oh - CIE -grans)

And with that, I vote for them, the Caz, and the H2.0. I'll decide the others later.

[Darklord Bright]

Pretty sure you can't vote for your own.

[MethosH]

I'm thinking of changing my alien race name. It's... awkward.
They are now Pleocygrans (Plee- oh - CIE -grans)

And with that, I vote for them, the Caz, and the H2.0. I'll decide the others later.

Darklord is right. You can't vote for your creation. But I'll compute the other 2 votes.

Edit:

I'm surprised The Voltor aren't going to make it :smalleek:
I think they are a great and original idea :smallbiggrin:

[Dvandemon]

Can someone describe how to make the the Disintegrate effect on targets? How would it look on inanimate objects?

EDIT:@V: But, how do I do that? 'Cuz i'm like, thinking about drawing the character but use the drawing tool instead of lines for the limbs, outline the whole thing, then i'd delete the lines on the inside, color the fill off-yellow and add in the skeleton

[Emperor Ing]

Can someone describe how to make the the Disintegrate effect on targets? How would it look on inanimate objects?

What Rich does is have a skeleton of the character in the same place over the character template which is all colored off-yellow. What I personally do is just select the whole character file and Invert the colors. Note: Disintegrate is ALWAYS a green beam. However wether or not it's a thin green line or a Dragon Ball Z-esque energy blast is up to you.

On inaminate objects I think my method of inverting colors would work better.

[MethosH]

I've added the silverraptor's tutorial on 3D cave entrances to the main post.

I'm sorry I'm not having much time to update the main post as I should, but I'll get to it tomorrow.

On another note... Where are the votes? Come on! :smalleek:
vote for the voltor :smallbiggrin:

[Mad Mask]

My votes:

The Argotanians United
The Caz
H2.0
The Nakessh
The Voltor
Zodohaani

[licoot]

Can someone tell me whether this is a good fan comic idea,
Basically its called epic fail, its about a group of terrible adventures who think they're amazing, well some of them do anyway.

There is the party leader, a wizard who bunked off wizard school:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/mainstupidwizard.png?t=1269632951

The barbarian whose skills include flower arranging, flower pressing and knitting:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/barbarian.png?t=1269633268

A ninja who doesn't know what a shiriken is:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/ninjadoesntknowshuriken.png?t=1269633343
(just realized I never did his arms, oh well.)

A morbidly obese baby dragon:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/babydragon.png?t=1269633400

I also made a banner just for the sake of it:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/epicfailbanner.png?t=1269633454
Needs some work, but does any one think it is s good idea, I've literally just come up with it so as of yet I have no storyline, names, etc.

[Mina Kobold]

Can someone tell me whether this is a good fan comic idea,
Basically its called epic fail, its about a group of terrible adventures who think they're amazing, well some of them do anyway.

There is the party leader, a wizard who bunked off wizard school:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/mainstupidwizard.png?t=1269632951

The barbarian whose skills include flower arranging, flower pressing and knitting:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/barbarian.png?t=1269633268

A ninja who doesn't know what a shiriken is:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/ninjadoesntknowshuriken.png?t=1269633343
(just realized I never did his arms, oh well.)

A morbidly obese baby dragon:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/babydragon.png?t=1269633400

I also made a banner just for the sake of it:
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/epicfailbanner.png?t=1269633454
Needs some work, but does any one think it is s good idea, I've literally just come up with it so as of yet I have no storyline, names, etc.

I think it could be good :smallsmile:

Perhaps they could actually end up solving some problem or be mistaken for having done so with the actual hero(es) not wanting thge fame/not being belived? Just an idea.

[licoot]

I think it could be good :smallsmile:

Perhaps they could actually end up solving some problem or be mistaken for having done so with the actual hero(es) not wanting thge fame/not being belived? Just an idea.

thats actually a pretty awesome idea, I ]think i'll try it out.

[Dvandemon]

Since one is a wizard, how about they solve small problems by turning them into world threatening disasters*. Or they just barely win with well-written dumb luck. Nice banner BTW

*Do you know the wizzard i'm referencing?

Can someone help me brainstorm a plot for incentive comics about demon cockroaches and hobgoblins? I'm making loads of characters for my other comic idea (you know the one with the Psion, the Druid, Sorcerer and Monk?)can someone pitch a Macguffin they could all go after? Maybe something to do with the cosmology... and would it be bad if I base the planet on one of the world descriptions from "The Color of Magic" and "Equal Rites"?

EDIT: :eek: Oh no, I didn't mean it like that, i am talking about Rincewind (I make esoteric references like that all the time :smallredface:)

[licoot]

Since one is a wizard, how about they solve small problems by turning them into world threatening disasters*. Or they just barely win with well-written dumb luck. Nice banner BTW

*Do you know the wizzard i'm referencing?



I'm guessing this should be blatantly obvious, making me look stupid because I don't understand, but, what wizard

[Mina Kobold]

I'm guessing this should be blatantly obvious, making me look stupid because I don't understand, but, what wizard

Don't feel stupid, I haven't heard of him either :smallsmile:

Granted, I'm a fifteen year old Dane, I'm lucky I know who Gandalf is :smalltongue:

[licoot]

Don't feel stupid, I haven't heard of him either :smallsmile:

Granted, I'm a fifteen year old Dane, I'm lucky I know who Gandalf is :smalltongue:

who's Gandalf:smallbiggrin:

Incase you don't realise, that was a joke

[Dvandemon]

Maybe the baby dragon is obese because he's half red dwagon or fries all his food with his breath weapon. Can't wait to see it :smallsmile:


Oh and Rincewind was a wizard that flunked school as well. He was a massive coward that always got into serious trouble because of divine intervention. Its a great read and you should check it out from your local library sometime.

[licoot]

I made comic one of epic fail, but ironically, it seems to be an epic fail
http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/licoot/epicfailcomicone.png?t=1269807644
does anyone have any tips.

also, come on, vote for the enslaved aliens (the klinacio):smallbiggrin:

[Dvandemon]

:smalleek::smallconfused: Confusing...but your art is good

So would it be wrong to set the campaign world like the ones described in "The Color of Magic" and "Equal Rites"

[MethosH]

Only 2 more days to vote. If you still have votes and want to use them, please do it as soon as possible.

On another note:

I've added licoot's request for input on his upcoming comic to the "Important" section of the main post.
When this comic gets its own post it will be granted the status of a "Comic from the Lab" and added to the first post.

[Emperor Ing]

snip
does anyone have any tips.
Ya gotta make sure that it's clear as to what's going on, clearly there was a battle before but you imply it as if it's a dream sequence.

Also, please use the Blur tool sparingly.

[licoot]

I was trying to show them coming in to try and steal from/slay the dragon, but being interrupted by someone else, then waking to find the dragon and its hoard gone, and a baby dragon left.
Do you have any suggestions on how to show that better.

also my last two votes go to...
...the zodahanni and....
H2.0

[MethosH]

The votes are now over and we end up with 6 final species/factions/stuff. Here are the winners:


The Zodohaani
The Nakessh
The Caz
H2.0
The Krashningrions / The Pleocygrans
The Argotanians United


Now its time for us to move on the the second step. Design the galaxy/universe/system.

Things we need to figure out now:


Are we going to be working with galaxies, systems or planets?
Who lives where? What territory belongs to who and what is just null sec?
Who is next to who? Are there going to be alliances?
In case of a "galaxies map" we need to define our galaxies
In case of a "systems thing" (where we all live in the same galaxy but there are many solar systems) we need to come up with the systems and the planets within.
In case of planet (they are all in the same system and we limit ourselves to design just one big solar system) we need to come up with the planes.
Now is a good time to figure out "travel technology". We will go with FTL Drives? Jump Gates?

[licoot]

The votes are now over and, due to a tie, we end up with 7 final species/factions/stuff. Here are the winners:


The Zodohaani
The Nakessh
The Caz
H2.0
The Krashningrions / The Pleocygrans
The Argotanians United


Thats only six, whats the seventh?

[John Cribati]

I was recently thinking that the H 2.0 could be some kind of cult-type people that tries to spread the way of Biomechanism to the universe... or something like that.

[BRC]

I was recently thinking that the H 2.0 could be some kind of cult-type people that tries to spread the way of Biomechanism to the universe... or something like that.
How would they get along with the Nakeesh, who used to be reliant on Nanotech, and are now seeking to eliminate it after it grey-goo scenario'd their homeworld.

[John Cribati]

How would they get along with the Nakeesh, who used to be reliant on Nanotech, and are now seeking to eliminate it after it grey-goo scenario'd their homeworld.

Then those two would be enemies.

[Mina Kobold]

How would they get along with the Nakeesh, who used to be reliant on Nanotech, and are now seeking to eliminate it after it grey-goo scenario'd their homeworld.

Quite well, I'd say. Biotechnology can't spread like Nanobots since it's essentially just a change in the individuals biology, not an addition of a technological third-party with it's own, if primitive, free will.

It's up to them, though.

[BRC]

Quite well, I'd say. Biotechnology can't spread like Nanobots since it's essentially just a change in the individuals biology, not an addition of a technological third-party with it's own, if primitive, free will.

It's up to them, though.
It would probably depend on the Nakeesh in question.
The way I see it, there are three types
Type 1 still uses Nanotech, but only limited, very primitive, non-self-replicating forms. Stuff to diagnose illnesses, or give a temporary strength boost, or to serve as super-caffeine or something. This type of Nanotec can't reproduce and stops working after a few hours tops. They have a list of Safe varieties (Some of it far ahead of what other races have), and they refuse to develop more.
Type 2 hates all Nanotech, refuses to use it, and encourages other races to not develop it.
Type 3 is rare. They still embrace the full range of Nakeesh nanotechnology, in some cases going even farther than Nakeesh did before the plauge. They boost themselves with loads of nanotech. Their brains work in overdrive, their bodies self repair rapidly, they are monstrously strong, and can go for days without food or sleep.

However, they tend to live very short, intense lives as complications from so much boosting breaks them down. After a couple years, they are totally reliant on their nanobots for survival, and require more and more frequent treatments. When they can't get those treatments, they die.
Type 3 Nakeesh, Nanoheads as they are known, are considered dangerous criminals by most others. Most Nanohead communities are either pirates or mercenaries.
Edit: about 45% of Nakeesh are Type 1 with another 45% being type 2. About 10% are type 3.

[Keris]

Are we going to be working with galaxies, systems or planets?
I say solar systems. An entire galaxy is absolutely huge (billions of stars, tens of thousands of light years across) and multiple galaxies would mean we have the means to cross the gaps between galaxies (on the order of millions of light years).

Now is a good time to figure out "travel technology". We will go with FTL Drives? Jump Gates?

I'd personally like to avoid hyperspace methods, as it seems somewhat overdone to me. Jump gates would require someone to have placed the exit gate at your destination already, which would be detrimental to any space exploration going on.
Jump drives, warp drives or inertialess drives all hold potential in my eyes, although if jump drives are used and are instantaneous I think there should be some limit on where they can be used. Outside of a gravity well, inside a gravity well, wherever, so long as you can't simply disappear at will.

Thats only six, whats the seventh?
The seventh are the Typo Imps. It was originally planned to have 5 factions, but the votes went like this, according to Methos's summary:
1. The Caz (5 votes)
&#160;- The Nakessh (5 votes)
&#160;- The Zodohaani (5 votes)
4. H2.0 (4 votes)
5. The Argotanians United (3 votes)
&#160;- The Pleocygrans (3 votes)
6. The Klinacio (2 votes)
&#160;- The Voltor (2 votes)
8. The Ablinai (1 vote)
&#160;- The Columbian Confederation (1 vote)
9. Elfishness (0 votes)


I was recently thinking that the H 2.0 could be some kind of cult-type people that tries to spread the way of Biomechanism to the universe... or something like that.
Some of H2.0 would probably be proselytising the incorporation of machinery, others would be merely advocating it, but I think most would simply accept that others have made their own decision. They might have made the wrong decision, foolishly spurning the benefits of technology, but it was their decision to make.
However, I would be strongly against applying it to the entire faction. Factions, while themed, should be diverse, and the H2.0 culture is already geared towards individualism.

[licoot]

Surely the remaining Nakessh would have the ability to wipe out
entire planets belonging to their enemies useing the same technology that destroyed their own, of course i'm not saying that the ones that hate nanotechnology or the ones that accept it in small amounts would do this, but surely the nano-tecnology crazed ones might do this.

[Keris]

Surely the remaining Nakessh would have the ability to wipe out
entire planets belonging to their enemies useing the same technology that destroyed their own, of course i'm not saying that the ones that hate nanotechnology or the ones that accept it in small amounts would do this, but surely the nano-tecnology crazed ones might do this.
I'd damn certain there would be inter-faction treaties forbidding the use of WMDs, and imposing heavy control over largescale terraformers. Also, the destruction of the Nakessh's planet was helped along by nuking nanobot infested areas.

On another note, I foresee good relations between those Nakessh who embrace nanotechnology and those H2.0 who don't spurn it (i.e., the great majority of them). Heck, the 'Type 3' Nakessh pretty much are H2.0, or perhaps more accurately N2.0.

[Darklord Bright]

Just some Zodohaani cultural thoughts:
I was thinking, for the Zodohaani, that the warrior caste's final initiation into being a true warrior ends with the Zodohaani in question being marked with cheek and stomach tattoos. Not sure the significance yet, but it's a thought.

Also, when I was thinking about male roles in society, I realised that a man born into a noble family would still be noble, but with different obligations. For instance, they might be schooled from birth to learn the typical housework, and some fighting to protect the family at home, or they might act as one of the warrior caste, capable of directly defending their families. Typically, though, I'd think that they'd never raise above the same rights and liberties as those of a warrior (which are high, but not as high as most noblewomen, who might someday come in full control of an entire house.)

I'm also wondering what sort of relations the beings who generally prefer covert ops. and negotiations would have with the other species. Due to the resources found on their planet, I had decided before that they're probably star-traders, but undoubtedly there are some who have used the freedom of space to break free of their caste system if they were able to, and I'm not sure what would become of them.

[BRC]

Surely the remaining Nakessh would have the ability to wipe out
entire planets belonging to their enemies useing the same technology that destroyed their own, of course i'm not saying that the ones that hate nanotechnology or the ones that accept it in small amounts would do this, but surely the nano-tecnology crazed ones might do this.
Oh, definitely. However, Weaponized Nanotech is banned by every treaty imaginable, the Nakeesh have an especially intense hatred for the idea. Nanokeesh (The type 3's), while some of the more insane ones might be willing, most of them consider the idea despicable.


Here is specifically what went wrong on Nak (The Nakeesh homeworld). A disease started spreading very quickly, and it was tough enough to get through the boosted immune systems of Nakeesh. It was spreading fast, and they decided that individual treatments were too slow, so they allowed the Nanobots to spread virally through air, food, and water, letting the cure propagate faster than the disease. Now, while this specific cure had gone through plenty of tests, and the idea of viral nanobots had been tested before, they didn't really test the two together. For the first few weeks, things seemed to be working fine. However, each nanobot learn to identify the healthy cells of the individual it's inside, and spreads that knowledge on to nanobot's it builds. Because these Nanobots were spreading from person to person, they would get confused. A directly implanted subject was fine, as was somebody who "Caught' the cure from them, and so on. The problem arose when Nanobots that originated from one Initial subject "infected" somebody already carrying nanobots from somebody else. They shared data, got confused, and started attacking everything, while making new nanobots at an accelerated pace. Everytime one of these "Bad" nanobots got into a target with Healthy nanobots, they would spread the confusion. What's more, the nanobots started spreading to plants and animals, destroying them as well.

As soon as the plauge had started, people had started fleeing to orbit. Now that the aftereffects of the Cure were becoming known, a new wave of refugees arrived. After three orbital habitats were destroyed by the nanobots, the others began to refuse new refugees. Then, one of the largest surviving habitats got infected by a stowaway, and people started panicking. Nak's orbital defenses were turned against the planet, attempting to sterilize the infected areas, but so many places were infected. Not to mention, firing defenses designed to handle incoming asteroids or fleets at a planet's surface has some serious side effects (Besides, you know, the massive craters everywhere). Dust filled the atmosphere, radiation caked the surface, the sea temperatures rose from the heat of discharges, forests burned, ect. Ironically enough, one of the few things that survived were the nanobots, who carried on in the land between the craters. After the smoke cleared, the Nakeesh gave up on their homeworld, moving to colonies, or simply wandering the stars forever.


Nanokeesh (Type 3's) and H2.0 do in fact get along rather well. Nanokeesh are generally descended from those Nakeesh that lived far away from Nak itself, usually in small groups or on planets dominated by other races, so they didn't receive much in the way of refugees, or hear about the Devastation firsthand. H2.0 looks upon the Nanokeesh as good, if slightly extreme, friends. They both agree on the full use of technology to advance their lives, but I have a feeling H2.0 focuses more on general improvements. Nanokeesh on the other hand tend to focus on maximizing themselves. Making themselves as strong, fast, smart, tough, ect as possible with little regard for the consequences. They try to push themselves to the absolute limit. Tomorrow, you may die of organ failure, but today you can shrug off gunshots and rip a door off it's hinges with one hand. H2.0 learns from them, but dosn't want to be them.
The general opinion amongst Nanokeesh is that it wasn't Nanobots that destroyed Nak, it was Viralized Nanobots. Therefore, provided you don't let your nanobots spread between people (as most don't), you're fine.
Who H2.0 (as I imagine them) probably has more in common with is pre-cataclysm Nakeesh. Every Nakeesh had some Nanotech in them. They were generally stronger, healthier, and longer lived than they would have been naturally (Not to extremes. Basically the Average Nakeesh was at a level that would have been considered in the top 70% of Nakeesh without Nanobots). I wouldn't be surprised if the Nakeesh (Before the cataclysm of course) were what inspired H2.0 in the first place. "Those aliens embrace their technology, and look at them. We can do the same thing!"

[John Cribati]

Don't let me interrupt the worldbuild going on, but I've been recently working on an adaptation of "Burlew" Style.

http://i50.tinypic.com/29olxmt.jpg

I'm thinking of making the head a bit bigger, probably giving him fingers, but what I really need help with is eyes. I want them to have colors, but realistic eyes launch it into Uncanny Valley. So... Help?

[T-O-E]

Have you posted that before?

[licoot]

Have you posted that before?

If he has he hasn't for a while

[Mina Kobold]

Don't let me interrupt the worldbuild going on, but I've been recently working on an adaptation of "Burlew" Style.

http://i50.tinypic.com/29olxmt.jpg

I'm thinking of making the head a bit bigger, probably giving him fingers, but what I really need help with is eyes. I want them to have colors, but realistic eyes launch it into Uncanny Valley. So... Help?

Something like these? (http://keychain.patternspider.net/)

That's all I got, sadly :smallfrown:

[John Cribati]

Have you posted that before?

Yeah, i did, actually. Just not in this thread. I think.

[Emperor Ing]

I was trying to show them coming in to try and steal from/slay the dragon, but being interrupted by someone else, then waking to find the dragon and its hoard gone, and a baby dragon left.
Do you have any suggestions on how to show that better.

also my last two votes go to...
...the zodahanni and....
H2.0

First few panels is them coming in, then in battle prep someone else comes in to everyone else's confusion. have him preparing some sort of action before everyone wakes up. Also establish in the dialogue that they're waking up, question the dragon's locale and wtf's with the baby dragon.

[SinisterPenguin]

The votes are now over and, due to a tie, we end up with 7 final species/factions/stuff. Here are the winners:


The Zodohaani
The Nakessh
The Caz
H2.0
The Krashningrions / The Pleocygrans
The Argotanians United


Now its time for us to move on the the second step. Design the galaxy/universe/system.

Things we need to figure out now:


Are we going to be working with galaxies, systems or planets?

Personally I vote for star systems. A single system is a bit on the small side, especially considering the number of intelligent species we seem to have at this point, and galaxies are simply far, far too huge.


Now is a good time to figure out "travel technology". We will go with FTL Drives? Jump Gates?

Personally I've always liked the idea of the Alcubierre drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive), a sort of "mess around with spacetime so that you move faster than light despite not actually moving faster than light" thing. It's a bit similar to Star Trek's warp drive tech.

EDIT: Oh, and I should mention I was working on the assumption that we'd be handwaving the more problematic aspects of Alcubierre drive, such as the massive amount of energy required. Also that it might be completely impossible! :smalltongue:

[licoot]

Personally I vote for star systems. A single system is a bit on the small side, especially considering the number of intelligent species we seem to have at this point, and galaxies are simply far, far too huge.



Personally I've always liked the idea of the Alcubierre drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive), a sort of "mess around with spacetime so that you move faster than light despite not actually moving faster than light" thing. It's a bit similar to Star Trek's warp drive tech.
I think thats what we should do to

[BRC]

I say we work with Star Systems.

For FTL, I don't think we should do Warp Gates or Hyperspace. I think it should be some sort of system that requires considerable preplanning to pull off successfully and safely, with sending Drones to test routes or something. The point is, it's not something you can do on the fly if you want to show up safely and anywhere near where you want to be, so no fleeing mid battle.

By the way, an Idea, the Beacons.

A method for determining you're location in Space. Many major planets have a Beacon. The Beacon's are perfectly synchronized. Every (Let's say) Hour, each beacon sends out a powerful Light Speed Transmission consisting of the name of the planet, and the current Standard Galactic Date/Time (However that is measured. Pretty much the Sci-Fi equivilent of Greenwich Mean Time). If a Ship wants to determine it's location in Space, it listens for Beacon broadcasts and compares the current SGD/T with the one in the Broadcasts, a quick calculation involving the Speed of Light should tell the ship how far away from that Beacon they are. They then do this for every Beacon transmission they receive and, by consulting a decent map, they can use the distance to each beacon to determine their exact location in space.

[Mad Mask]

Personally I vote for star systems. A single system is a bit on the small side, especially considering the number of intelligent species we seem to have at this point, and galaxies are simply far, far too huge.

I agree, we should limit ourselves to an area at least smaller than the Orion Arm.


Personally I've always liked the idea of the Alcubierre drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive), a sort of "mess around with spacetime so that you move faster than light despite not actually moving faster than light" thing. It's a bit similar to Star Trek's warp drive tech.

EDIT: Oh, and I should mention I was working on the assumption that we'd be handwaving the more problematic aspects of Alcubierre drive, such as the massive amount of energy required. Also that it might be completely impossible! :smalltongue:

Maybe we could use the "space railroad" idea? A fixed road of distorted spacetime, built by normal spacecrafts, allowing for controlled transportation and preventing the disastrous idea of civilians crafts with engines capable of blowing up countries.

[Szilard]

I'm going to go with the idea that we're not just limited to one solar system, but not so much as a galaxy. Just a few solar systems, as others previously suggested, probably in a star cluster.

[Mina Kobold]

I say we work with Star Systems.

For FTL, I don't think we should do Warp Gates or Hyperspace. I think it should be some sort of system that requires considerable preplanning to pull off successfully and safely, with sending Drones to test routes or something. The point is, it's not something you can do on the fly if you want to show up safely and anywhere near where you want to be, so no fleeing mid battle.

By the way, an Idea, the Beacons.

A method for determining you're location in Space. Many major planets have a Beacon. The Beacon's are perfectly synchronized. Every (Let's say) Hour, each beacon sends out a powerful Light Speed Transmission consisting of the name of the planet, and the current Standard Galactic Date/Time (However that is measured. Pretty much the Sci-Fi equivilent of Greenwich Mean Time). If a Ship wants to determine it's location in Space, it listens for Beacon broadcasts and compares the current SGD/T with the one in the Broadcasts, a quick calculation involving the Speed of Light should tell the ship how far away from that Beacon they are. They then do this for every Beacon transmission they receive and, by consulting a decent map, they can use the distance to each beacon to determine their exact location in space.

That's a very good idea, I vote for that one.

I also agree that we should keep to less than a galaxy, otherwise the Caz would get some serious problems with the fact that they have exactly one planet to operate from :smalltongue:

[Lord Raziere]

hey, sorry to interrupt your space setting you've got going here, but I've got a webcomic idea, bit long though, thinking of calling Age of the Arcane

basically, first imagine your typical DnD setting.

now imagine all the wizards thinking the adventurers can't save the world forever, and that the military isn't competent enough to fill their shoes.

now imagine the wizards killing off all the royalty and nobles, and taking over themselves, which leads to a greater emphasis on magic and its development, which leads to more and better spells being discovered.

700 years later, multiple wizard-controlled empires now rule the world, adventurers are things of the past since the many threats they used to fight are now handled by the various forces the wizards send out to deal with them instead.the medieval weapons are gone, replaced by the arcane equivalent of guns and cannons, warriors are still around but they use weapons designed by mages.

however there are problems in the new society, the "evil" races (orcs, goblins, kobolds, trolls etc.) are still treated like garbage since the wizards overthrew the old order in the first place to defend the people from those races in the first place, and either slaves or if they are free, second class citizens.
now imagine that not everyone thinks the new order is a good thing, and that there are rebels out there seeking to overthrow the government for various goals and reasons, and that there is an undercurrent of revolution starting.

now imagine, that one day a young apprentice wizard is caught on the receiving end of this coming revolution...

whaddya think? good premise?

[Mina Kobold]

hey, sorry to interrupt your space setting you've got going here, but I've got a webcomic idea, bit long though, thinking of calling Age of the Arcane

basically, first imagine your typical DnD setting.

now imagine all the wizards thinking the adventurers can't save the world forever, and that the military isn't competent enough to fill their shoes.

now imagine the wizards killing off all the royalty and nobles, and taking over themselves, which leads to a greater emphasis on magic and its development, which leads to more and better spells being discovered.

700 years later, multiple wizard-controlled empires now rule the world, adventurers are things of the past since the many threats they used to fight are now handled by the various forces the wizards send out to deal with them instead.the medieval weapons are gone, replaced by the arcane equivalent of guns and cannons, warriors are still around but they use weapons designed by mages.

however there are problems in the new society, the "evil" races (orcs, goblins, kobolds, trolls etc.) are still treated like garbage since the wizards overthrew the old order in the first place to defend the people from those races in the first place, and either slaves or if they are free, second class citizens.
now imagine that not everyone thinks the new order is a good thing, and that there are rebels out there seeking to overthrow the government for various goals and reasons, and that there is an undercurrent of revolution starting.

now imagine, that one day a young apprentice wizard is caught on the receiving end of this coming revolution...

whaddya think? good premise?

I think it's a good premise, plenty of potential.
Now it all comes down to the comic itself, post what else you need help or opinions on and get the comic done for our viewing :smallsmile:

[Keris]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Nakeesh (Before the cataclysm of course) were what inspired H2.0 in the first place. "Those aliens embrace their technology, and look at them. We can do the same thing!"
I would be very surprised if they were, actually. H2.0 are based on a half-baked interpretation of transhumanist ideas, which is a movement around today. There are guys out there who use kitchen knives or scalpels bought online to make incisions in their arms, hand or fingertips, without anaesthetic, and insert RFID tags or magnetic implants under their skin. H2.0 is an extension of this into a future where medical science created bionic body parts which perform better than the originals.
While it's possible that some H2.0 were 'inspired' by the Nakeesh, the movement as a whole wouldn't have been.

EDIT: Oh, and I should mention I was working on the assumption that we'd be handwaving the more problematic aspects of Alcubierre drive, such as the massive amount of energy required. Also that it might be completely impossible! :smalltongue:
And that a even a warp bubble moving at 50c would take a month to get between Sol and Promixa Centauri, thanks to a lack of time dilation. And that a pilot would have no way of steering the craft once in motion.

By the way, an Idea, the Beacons.

A method for determining you're location in Space. Many major planets have a Beacon. The Beacon's are perfectly synchronized. Every (Let's say) Hour, each beacon sends out a powerful Light Speed Transmission consisting of the name of the planet, and the current Standard Galactic Date/Time (However that is measured. Pretty much the Sci-Fi equivilent of Greenwich Mean Time). If a Ship wants to determine it's location in Space, it listens for Beacon broadcasts and compares the current SGD/T with the one in the Broadcasts, a quick calculation involving the Speed of Light should tell the ship how far away from that Beacon they are. They then do this for every Beacon transmission they receive and, by consulting a decent map, they can use the distance to each beacon to determine their exact location in space.
That's going to run into a lot of problems. The signals would either be incredible weak or kill off all life on the planets they originate from. (A signal with intensity of 1 unit when measured 10ly away from the source would have an intensity in the region of 1020 units a planet's diameter away.
Additionally, how do you propose to synchronise the signals? Space is big, and unless we pick an FTL system that somehow avoids the problem, time dilation would screw you over. It might be possible to calculate the effects of time dilation and compensate for them, but I can't see it being worth it. A "Galactic Standard Time" would fail for that and political reasons. (Which planet's day do we use? Which year? What kind of subdivisions? Hell, what numerical base? Those sorts of questions would keep that proposal mired in bureaucracy.)
Finally, for this to be of any use, it would need to have begun decades ago. Should you find yourself 5ly from the nearest star, you're receiving signals sent from there 5 years ago.

Maybe we could use the "space railroad" idea? A fixed road of distorted spacetime, built by normal spacecrafts, allowing for controlled transportation and preventing the disastrous idea of civilians crafts with engines capable of blowing up countries.
As I understand it, the Alcubierre drive warps spacetime directly before and behind the ship. A "railroad" couldn't be build from this distorted spacetime, instead a structure designed to distort the immediate spacetime of the ships travelling along it would need to be built.
Additionally, from a narrative standpoint characters need to be able to go wherever. They may wish to explore the stars, and wouldn't be able to do so if constrained to a rail network.

Personally, I'd advise throwing all pretences of real science out the window with FTL travel, while there are several possible models for FTL travel, they are all unworkable without severe refinement, and there's always the issue of violating causality.

On another note, looking over the factions I realised that we do in fact have seven. Both Argotanians United and H2.0 imply the existence of a more general human faction, AU having declared themselves independent of the human government and H2.0 being a culture within humanity.

[Mad Mask]

Personally, I'd advise throwing all pretences of real science out the window with FTL travel, while there are several possible models for FTL travel, they are all unworkable without severe refinement, and there's always the issue of violating causality.

Then in that case, I'd suggest teleportation, perhaps taking the route of the Battlestar Galactica jump drives: you can technically jump anywhere in the universe, but the farther the distance is, the less likely you're going to be close to your intended destination, since the drive requires extremely precise calculations (made by a phlebotinum calculator on board of a spacecraft).

So to go to a neighbouring star system, a craft would generally make several small "jumps", each time readjusting its readings and redoing the calculations; this operation takes a lot of time, making combat teleportation somewhat difficult.


On another note, looking over the factions I realised that we do in fact have seven. Both Argotanians United and H2.0 imply the existence of a more general human faction, AU having declared themselves independent of the human government and H2.0 being a culture within humanity.

Earth should be a fairly minor planet with no unified government. It'll be a change from all the geocentric science fiction.

[Szilard]

So I suppose we should get a "map" of the stars near Sol, and go from there, then we have our small group of stars, and earth can be off to the side somewhere.

[Keris]

Then in that case, I'd suggest teleportation, perhaps taking the route of the Battlestar Galactica jump drives: you can technically jump anywhere in the universe, but the farther the distance is, the less likely you're going to be close to your intended destination, since the drive requires extremely precise calculations (made by a phlebotinum calculator on board of a spacecraft).
A workable idea, but we should avoid directly imitating another work. Draw ideas from it and develop them surely, but not ape them directly.
If you've already strayed from Battlestar Galactica's drives in your synopsis, then I apologise, I'm not familiar with the show.

So to go to a neighbouring star system, a craft would generally make several small "jumps", each time readjusting its readings and redoing the calculations; this operation takes a lot of time, making combat teleportation somewhat difficult.
While jumping around within combat would be difficult, I would imagine that one might be able to make a jump out of combat with little worries. Leaping, say, an AU straight up from the orbital plane of a system would put some distance between you and an attacker, and the space up there is pretty empty so a precise jump wouldn't be needed.

Earth should be a fairly minor planet with no unified government.
No unified government, possibly, but minor planet? Much of H2.0 would still be terran, and Earth supported a corporation which grew large enough to split off and form it's own faction.

It'll be a change from all the geocentric science fiction.
Sci-fi focusses on Earth for a reason. The readers are human. The characters are frequently human, so that we might associate with them. And humanity, as a whole, is rather attached to the insignificant little blue planet. We happen to live here, after all.

[BRC]

I think we can have Humans spread out throughout the stars, however they are divided. Each Human Colony is independent of others, so their not really a unified force or political power. Besides Earth, most Human colonies are just one city and a few towns, and the colonists don't feel any real loyalty to Earth, so they're not a "Faction", so much as they just exist.
Earth is a sizable planet, but because it's colonies are not tightly tied together, it's not a major player.

As for H2.0 and Pre-cataclysm Nakeesh. Okay, so they wern't the Inspiration, but they may have been some of the evidence early H2.0 used to gain support.


We should determine how long various races have been in contact with one another.

[Szilard]

Sci-fi focusses on Earth for a reason. The readers are human. The characters are frequently human, so that we might associate with them. And humanity, as a whole, is rather attached to the insignificant little blue planet. We happen to live here, after all.
So... Star Wars? :smalltongue:

[Keris]

So... Star Wars? :smalltongue:
Star Wars avoids it by not having an Earth at all (it is "in a galaxy far, far away" after all), but still has humans to be relatable. And even with no "Earth" type planet, it still keeps coming back to the same home planets of the principle cast.


Earth is a sizable planet, but because it's colonies are not tightly tied together, it's not a major player.
I wouldn't imagine the Nakeesh or H2.0 being major players either. (Oh, and by the way, it's H2.0.) The Nakeesh would be a fraction of their pre-nanodeath numbers, and would be limited to their ships, while H2.0 lacks any sort of social structure.

[BRC]

The Nakeesh had some colonies before the Nanopocolypse. Nothing nearly as big as Nak of course. Most of these colonies are relatively small (The Biggest colony is a planet containing one billion Nakeesh). Most of the Nakeesh live on ships or in orbital habits.
For reference, At the time of the Nanopocolypse, there were around 10 billion Nakeesh living on Nak, with another hundred million or so living on orbital habitats/colonies on other planets in the system. Another Six Billion Nakeesh were present in other parts of the galaxy, usually in small colonies or on starships or living on planets controlled by other races. About 20% of Nak's population were able to escape the Nanopocolypse (very cramped starships, filling up orbital habitats to their absolute maximum) before the orbital bombardments sterilized the planet.
Since then the Population hasn't exactly skyrocketed, a brief yet bloody civil war occurred after the bombardment, and lots of Nakeesh died as their medical technology took some time to get used to not relying on nanobots. There are about eight billion Nakeesh in the galaxy right now. As I said, the biggest concentration is one billion on a single planet. The majority of Nakeesh live in communities of less than 10 thousand, usually in the form of wandering starship fleets.
They're major players primarily because they've been living off capital they stored up before the Nanopocolypse. Their planet is gone and they refuse to use what used to be their bread and butter technology, but they still had alot of money and favors saced up. They've been using that influence to keep themselves independent, preventing other races from scooping up Nakeesh colonies and technology.

Maybe one part of the setting can be that the last Nakeesh who survived the Nanopocolypse are dieing out, and with them the last real legacies of Nak. The new generation of Nakeesh are trying to figure out how to define themselves and move forward.

[Dvandemon]

Can someone give a quick tutorial on making swirls? I also need someone to talk to about Cosmology (like Hindu or Norse Mythology) for the comic world.

[Keris]

Most of these colonies are relatively small (The Biggest colony is a planet containing one billion Nakeesh).
1 billion is not a small number. That's the population of China, or India, or 1800s Earth. It's over three times the population of the USA, or about one and a half times the population of Europe.

[...]
The majority of Nakeesh live in communities of less than 10 thousand, usually in the form of wandering starship fleets.
This isn't really consistent with what you've said previously. You said that there were 6 billion Nakeesh in colonies, and 20% of the 10 billion on Nak escaped (so, 2 billion, which fits your 'current population' total of 8 billion). One would expect that the 6 billion already set up on colonies would remain in their homes, and so we only have 1/4 of the population in fleets, assuming that none of those fleets joined or formed planetary colonies. Not really a species of space nomads anymore.
And if "most of" the 8 billion Nakeesh (which, incidentally, is still larger than the current population of Earth by roughly a 6th) are in communities of less than 10 000, we're looking at a minimum of 400 000 communities for that half of the population. That would mean there's 100 000+ space fleets.

[BRC]

1 billion is not a small number. That's the population of China, or India, or 1800s Earth. It's over three times the population of the USA, or about one and a half times the population of Europe.

1 billion is plenty small when you're considering an entire planet. You need to stop thinking of these factions as nations, and more as species. The numbers get significantly bigger.


This isn't really consistent with what you've said previously. You said that there were 6 billion Nakeesh in colonies, and 20% of the 10 billion on Nak escaped (so, 2 billion, which fits your 'current population' total of 8 billion). One would expect that the 6 billion already set up on colonies would remain in their homes, and so we only have 1/4 of the population in fleets, assuming that none of those fleets joined or formed planetary colonies. Not really a species of space nomads anymore.
And if "most of" the 8 billion Nakeesh (which, incidentally, is still larger than the current population of Earth by roughly a 6th) are in communities of less than 10 000, we're looking at a minimum of 400 000 communities for that half of the population. That would mean there's 100 000+ space fleets.
That was two generations ago (The last survivors of the Nanopocolypse are just now dieing out as their grandchildren reach adulthood). Also, alot of colonists died after the Nanopocolypse, when anti-nanobot sentiments spread, alot of colonies instituted a blanket ban on nanotech treatements. This meant that all the nanobot-based medicine the Nakeesh had been relying on was no longer used, and lots of people died as researchers raced to find non-nanobot based cures for illnesses nobody had really even noticed before. Not to mention that they were no longer using Nanobots to purify their drinking water, treat waste, make air breathable (Okay, they didn't shut the air scrubbers down immediately, but in alot of cases they rushed the job) grow food, or do lots of other things they counted on. Some colonies were totally wiped out in one way or another.

Also, the destruction of Nak caused alot of unrest in the colonies.
There were quite a few bloody civil wars. The Nakeesh colonies had always been closely tied with their homeworld. With it gone, alot of wars started, usually between people who wanted the colonies to become independent and those who wanted the colonies to remain governed by what was left of the Nakeesh government. Not to mention wars between groups with varying opinions concerning nanotech. Many colonies were totally reliant on trade with Nak, and were abandoned or sold with the planets destruction. Then, once these bloody civil wars were settled, these colonies got flooded with starving refugees, which in many cases caused even more problems.

So yeah, that 8 billion isn't Nak Survivors+Colonists. It's the children and grandchildren of those colonists and survivors after years of conflict, struggle, and chaos.
And 8 billion is more than earth's current population, the population on one planet. Spread out amongst the stars that's not much. All the other races probably have alot more than 8 billion disorganized people.

Though if it makes you feel better I'll decrease the number of surviving Nakeesh/ those in the colonies or increase the number of fleets.

Edit: Okay, how do these numbers sound. 8 Billion Nakeesh alive after the destruction of Nak. Since then Conflict, disease, starvation, and the population simply not being replaced fast enough (You'd be surprised how bad "Hey baby, our homeworld is destroyed, our civilization is ripping itself to shreds, and the technology that we built our greatness on is now taboo, and everybody is sick, hungry, terrified, or trying to kill one another, lets make babies" works as a pick up line. Maybe it doesn't translate well into whatever language the Nakeesh use). Anyway, current population total is at around 5 billion.