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Races

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Morgul:
Recently, I've been re-thinking a good deal of how things work in this universe of mine, and I'm trying to make eveyrthing feel like it fits... well, inorder to do that, I've been talking to Reaka. She hit on a good point, asking my why there's not other races besides the sooni, and the Grey? (I've also decided to tunr the Overseers into the Grey's legislative body... I'll update the races sticky thread once I decide how I'm making it all work.)

So, the question is, should I have other races? I don't want many if I have more at all... Like one or two. I'm not sure. What do you think? (Keep in mind, these races will be playable by the players in the game)

--Chris

contingencyplan:
One thing I'd like to see would be robots and cyborgs.  While not necessarily a "race", and maybe not even a playable one, I think we might could add them into the game.

Robots are autonomous computer-controlled beings created by humans.  They are especially common in Terran-controlled areas - the government uses robots to do most jobs so its citizens have the time to pursue their own interests.  Much of the society is provided and cared for by robots.

The Terrans have advanced the research of robots considerably, and this is especially evident in their military.  Their smaller, simpler combat fighters, as well as non-combat freighters and cargo ships, are controlled by on-board AI.  They are also working on robots capable of making more advanced battlefield decisions, allowing them to use robot infantry units.  Prototype units are seeing limited combat with promising results.

I was even thinking we might have a race of robots, created by the Terrans, who gained self-awareness, rebelled, and fled their human creators.  No one knows what happened to them; there have been no reported sightings.  The Terran government chalked the incident off to "risks associated with robotics research" and declared the rogue robots destroyed when no trace of them was found.  Most have forgotten about them since, but they're still out there... somewhere...


Cyborgs are humans that have had much of their body replaced with cybernetic tissue.  We see some of this today (i.e., 21st century) with advances in robotic limbs for people missing a leg or an arm.  In the future, we might have robotic eyes or hearts or such.  Some, especially soldiers, who have had severe damage to their bodies have had a much larger portion of their body replaced, some to the point that the only organic, human part of their body is their brain - the rest is robotics (think Dragoons from Starcraft, but more human-looking).  The League has been researching this extensively - controlling electronics and cybernetic bodies directly via the brain.   They believe that consciousness defines life, so even if only the brain remains and the rest of the body is machine, the person is still alive.  Thus, they seek to protect and extend people's lives through the use of these cybernetic bodies.

They are also focussed on remote-controlling ships using this brain-machine interface.  They are now introducing prototype carriers with smaller ships that are controlled not by a pilot in a cockpit, but rather a pilot onboard the carrier controlling the ship remotely.  Ongoing experiments are seeking to interface larger fighters with their pilots through this brain-machine interface.

~Brian

Morgul:
Interesting idea, but it kinda conflicts with the sotry I'm writting. Here's the jist of how AI works:

Right now, only basic AI has been achieved. You can carry on a conversation with it, albeit a basic one. Imagine HAL, but remove all understanding of emotion, and make him seem... well... slightly less human than he did already.

However, there are 'true' AI... but I put true in quotes because it's organic based. Basically, use the Grey's organic technology, since it interfaces seamlessly with normal technology, and then either incorperate a sentient being into the grey technology (Which is how Grey ships are made, btw) OR, genetically engineer the AI based on that. Combine a computer AI, and an organic AI to create a machine that can feel.... and kick a tonne of ass.

Now, Cyborgs would be more your pirate characters, but I think they'd exist. (They should be a playable 'Race', but not be allowed to be League or Terran. However a League or Terran player could *become* a cyborg, if they wished...)

I do like the carrier idea. Hmm.....

whitelynx:
morgul: Think of this, though... today, we already have machines capable of recognizing voice commands and synthesizing speech. There are also algorithms that have been developed to mimic sentence structure and meaning in English and other languages. In 700 years, don't you think we'd be able to think of a way to put those together with a good dose of logic (think of the AI code that goes into games... only 700 years from now) and come up with a machine that could converse with a human and follow orders?

contingencyplan: The only other problem I see with your suggestions is something that Chris has told me before about the general structure of the League and the Terrans. (Chris: correct me if I'm wrong) The Terrans tend to shun the use of AI or computerized hardware in general, preferring to have large crews, since then mechanical or electrical faliure can't incapacitate a ship easily. This helps give the Terrans their strong military, as well as their reputation for being quite hardy. The League, on the other hand, tend to make use of technology, especially robotics and AI, to the fullest extent possible as a way to help offset the obscene advantage in numbers that the Terrans hold.

Dave

Morgul:

--- Quote from: "whitelynx" --- In 700 years, don't you think we'd be able to think of a way to put those together with a good dose of logic (think of the AI code that goes into games... only 700 years from now) and come up with a machine that could converse with a human and follow orders?[...]
--- End quote ---


Well, I didn't say AI didn't exist. Sure, you can carry on a conversation, and order it to do things... but if you ask it a simple question, "How do you feel?" It has no answer. Even if you ask it, "Which do I look better in, the red shirt or the green one?" It still can't answer. It has no opinion, and no real depth... it's like talking to a computer :-p. (Ever see people try to have conversations with the computer in Star Trek? Doesn't work, does it?) Heck, it may even be able to take basic action on it's own... but it certainly can't really formulate concepts, or learn at a high level... even basic abstract thinking is way beyond it.


--- Quote from: "whitelynx" ---[...]The Terrans tend to shun the use of AI or computerized hardware in general, preferring to have large crews, since then mechanical or electrical faliure can't incapacitate a ship easily. This helps give the Terrans their strong military, as well as their reputation for being quite hardy. The League, on the other hand, tend to make use of technology, especially robotics and AI, to the fullest extent possible as a way to help offset the obscene advantage in numbers that the Terrans hold.[...]
--- End quote ---


That's all very true. Dave gets the gold star for today.

--Chris

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