NationStates Jolt Archive

When I roleplay ft, I use relatively primative technology as part of my national personality. And yet, no-one else does. After rp-ing mt for a while, it's like god-moding is suddenly aloud. There are blow-up-the-universe guns, impenatrable shielding, and seemingly infallible inhibitors, and fighters capable of engaging battle-ships. Some ft-ers claim to have only lost one battle, which sounds insane. How am I supposed to survive in all this?

You could go for numbers. For example, massive fleets of relatively low tech vessels. Another option would be to RP as NFT, rather than FT proper.

Or ally with some strong power/alliance.

My advice is to simply RP with people on a similar technological level as yourself. Or, if you're RP'ing with more advanced players, don't participate in tech-oriented RP's. For example, I'm what people often refer to as Uber-Future and, if you're as primitive as you say, would likely win in a tech-off. However, if this is a character RP (Maybe one of your citizens is on vacation in Klonor) then my advanced tech really won't be that important to the RP. Do you see what I mean?

Find people who aren't godmodders and wankers. I've run into the same problem myself, so I just avoid RPing with people who have 1000 Super Star Destroyers appear at an isolated, unimportant solar system just to kick everyone else's butt. Good/fair RP'ers are hard to find, but they exist. I've found a few of them lately that I would gladly invite to any RP's I might create in the future.

My tech is somewhere inbetween NFT and ubertech, being Treknology and all. My solution to RPing a fight with lower tech nations is to have very few ships compared to them, and dumbing down my tech so that their weapons could actually damage me, when it normally wouldn't damage Trek ships at all. Some people don't like doing that, but I don't mind the fluidity. Plus, it's about the fun of the RP, not about how much you can kick everyone else's butt. If I RP against superior tech nations, I try to avoid a confrontation with them. It could be as simple as not firing on them, or as underhanded and manipulative as forcing Klonor and Five Civilized Nations into a war with each other instead of against me (duuuude, that was so fun. Too bad I disappeared and wasn't able to finish it. Heh, sorry for disappearing like that, Klonor.).

Eh, don't worry about it. Just last month I had to drop out of one of my own RP's, there are times when RL gets in the way.

True it seems GMing is legal in FT *cough*Seph*chough* but if you look hard enough you'll find the few FT RPers who actualy will put forth the effort to make the RP fair for you (if they are more advanced).
Take me for example, I felt I was getting far to powerful months ago so I end my thrid civil war in a nice bloody end. Thus I became a war ravaged "empire" who lost roughly 1/3 of her military, the earth nation, 3/4 of the Epsilon Eridian defenses, and alot ships.
Anways you need someone I'm up.

I think you've found out that in FT there exists those who would use RPing as a way of beating up on people. It's not pretty, it's not right, but there you go.

Best thing to do is some intro RPs and see who bests suits your playing style, and stick with them, either ignore or limit your interaction with the rest, and try to have fun.

About all the advice I can give you.

and fighters capable of engaging battle-ships.

Well, in all honesty, space fighters/bombers are designed to attack larger targets, and bring down the big ships by simply outnumbering and outmanuvering the battleship.

Er...unless you mean one fighter vs. a battleship

Take me for example, I felt I was getting far to powerful months ago so I end my thrid civil war in a nice bloody end. Thus I became a war ravaged "empire" who lost roughly 1/3 of her military, the earth nation, 3/4 of the Epsilon Eridian defenses, and alot ships.

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimp

>_>

Nah, just kidding. You know I....tolerate you.

<_<

I think you've found out that in FT there exists those who would use RPing as a way of beating up on people. It's not pretty, it's not right, but there you go.
Actualy I use FT RPing for mostly character RPing that is extremly open ended without the MT or PMT limitations.


And AO glad to see you havn't left to....I miss Rave! :(

If the player you're facing isn't a jerk, he won't deploy stuff he knows you can't tackle. (Or, if he does, he'll scale it down so it doesn't become a curbstomp, as I do.)

Ah, yes, I love it when people deploy such wonders as uber-missile-blocking-shields-o-d00mz, but then fire off a hundred thosand dimension-warped missiles that your shields cant block because THEYRE IN ANOTHER DIMENSION!
(cue X-files theme)

But yeah, Im looking for somebody to RP with. Im attempting to build a non-GM'd robotic nation, my only 'uberfuture' tech is sentient robots :P

I use fairly primitive FT technology. TG me or give me your IM handle, we can do something. I've been looking for a gaming partner lately.

In my opinion, FT is an overly-broad classification. FT includes many sub-categories that ought to be as exclusive as MT and FT are. There are people who roleplay as little more than PMT with faster-than-light travel, people who roleplay with gigantic capital ship fleets of doom, and people who will claim to be able to destroy your planets, suns, and then erase you from history for good measure. Then there are the majority who are in-between. I would like to see the FT category split into four categories:

Primitive Future Technology: FTL travel allowed for appropriately equipped ships, weapons are modern to postmodern in nature, no planet/star destroying or temporal weapons, no trans-dimensional or similar technologies for any use except FTL travel, no transporters or replicators, speed/accuracy limited communications and scanners, strict fabrication and cost limits on technologies on the far end of post modern and above.

Future Technology Limited: a moderate number of advanced biological/technological augments are allowed, no planet/star destroying or temporal weapons, trans-dimensional and similar technologies may be used for power/propulsion sources and FTL travel, molecular transport/replication allowed with strict range and acceptable condition limits, FTL communications and scanners allowed, moderate fabrication and cost limits on items of future technology (limited fleet size, especially for well-equipped ships).

Future Technology Unlimited: many advanced biological/technological augments are allowed, basic planet/star destroying weapons allowed, no temporal weapons, trans-dimensional and similar technologies allowed in forms not easily used offensively, molecular transport/replication allowed, hyper-accurate communications and scanners allowed, loose fabrication and cost limits on items of future technology (unlimited fleet size, as long as it can be justified in roleplaying).

Hypothetical Future Technology: all technologies allowed, planet/star construction and destruction allowed, temporal and dimensional weapons allowed, no standing rules on limited access to labor or resources.

In my opinion, FT is an overly-broad classification. FT includes many sub-categories that ought to be as exclusive as MT and FT are.

Yeah, but one of the beauties of FT is that you can (provided the players aren't jerks) have such disparate tech levels interacting. In MT, one nation who got a major tech advantage would curbstomp all the others. But in FT, you can plausibly have a super-advanced nation who doesn't go around doing that, since there's effectively an unlimited amount of resources in space. FT Wars should probably be more of the 'idealogical' type, the kind that doesn't start or end particularly easily.

Yeah, but one of the beauties of FT is that you can (provided the players aren't jerks) have such disparate tech levels interacting. In MT, one nation who got a major tech advantage would curbstomp all the others. But in FT, you can plausibly have a super-advanced nation who doesn't go around doing that, since there's effectively an unlimited amount of resources in space. FT Wars should probably be more of the 'idealogical' type, the kind that doesn't start or end particularly easily.
But they aren't. In fact, FT roleplayers frequently seem quicker to arms than many MT and PMT players. Though the value of OOC dialogue cannot be overstated, the gulf between levels of advancement in future nations is not so easily bridged as you make it out to be. In fact, the primary method seems to be altering the power of one's technology for the sole purpose of each interaction. This, besides casting aside anything resembling realism, is a stopgap measure at best. If I "refit" all of my ships to better match a superior enemy, what happens when a third player steps in? Do I vary damage at all? Who is damaged more by what? It creates a system of problems that can be addressed only by further departure from consistency.

You and I both know we differ fundamentally on the ligitimacy of more far-fetched incarnations of future technology, so this is perhaps a futile argument to make, but if a player wants to use toys like temporal weaponry, planet-scarring mega lasers, and sensor systems that can reach over hundreds of light-years to show you the bolts on the frame of a cloaked starship... I would prefer that they keep their nations away from Xanthal rather than send a horrendously crippled shadow of a starship to its door with the promise "but I won't use them on you!"

It's been a really long time since I last RP'd. I think that last time I did it would have been sometime in 2004.

Anyway, using Xanthal's idea I would classify myself as a Primitive Future Technology. My space fleet is comprised of modified versions of the space shuttle used by NASA. I also use what I call 'Offworlds'. These are giant space stations used to house entire cities.
I also have a system for faster than light travel, and by using this technology I have also created the 'Armageddon Cannon' which is used to fire asteroids from a near by asteroid field.

The reason I have stated all this is because, after reading over the thread there are people here that are looking for an RP, and it's been far too long since I last RP'd, so if anyone is starting an RP it would be great if you could telegram me.

...don't RP war?

OOC: I personally think I am Future Tech Limited - seems about right for Star Trek Technology. Personally, I would not tech-wank in a war unless the enemy tried to do so as well; for example, if I planned a conflict with a less technologically advanced nation, I'd work out some other ways of doing it aside from direct confrontation (unless you wanted to, in which case tactics come into play rather than just firing a crap-load of weapons at eachother, as you would not win against my weaponry.

Thanks, thats a really good system, Xanthal, you should make a dedicated thread. I slot in as primitive/limited. If anyone wants to an rp, search for "FT war: No Tech Wanking!" (a saviour has come!). I'm a central player and it's a large affair, so I can't really join anything new.

And AO glad to see you havn't left to....I miss Rave! :(

Bah...there's something about this place. Each time I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!

But they aren't. In fact, FT roleplayers frequently seem quicker to arms than many MT and PMT players.

Yes, this is a problem.

Though the value of OOC dialogue cannot be overstated,

Agreed.

This, besides casting aside anything resembling realism, is a stopgap measure at best.

It's a stopgap measure that works, Xanthal. :p

If I "refit" all of my ships to better match a superior enemy, what happens when a third player steps in?

For me, it's not even an IC thing. It's an OOC thing, like 'the weapons do this and this, take what damage you will.' That's how I've RPed for a year now, and it seems to work for me.

Do I vary damage at all? Who is damaged more by what? It creates a system of problems that can be addressed only by further departure from consistency.

It's the other players who assign damages. :p

You and I both know we differ fundamentally on the ligitimacy of more far-fetched incarnations of future technology, so this is perhaps a futile argument to make,

You're probably correct, but it's still fun. :p

but if a player wants to use toys like temporal weaponry, planet-scarring mega lasers, and sensor systems that can reach over hundreds of light-years to show you the bolts on the frame of a cloaked starship...

Planet scarring weapons aren't too far beyond the reach of modern technology, let alone FT. :) Though, I agree on the temporal tech... even I in my penis envy refuse to use technology like that. :p

I would prefer that they keep their nations away from Xanthal rather than send a horrendously crippled shadow of a starship to its door with the promise "but I won't use them on you!"

Okay, but what if that's not an option? Like, let's say you get into a war with someone, and that someone calls on an ally. We'll say, C'Tan, since he is pretty much the opposite of your low-tech ideal. Are you saying you'd ignore C'tan, just because he RPs (and does so masterfully, I'm forced to admit) ubertech?

I don't know people well enough to pre-judge, and of course there's a case-by-case strategy that must be applied when deciding such matters, but on principle alone I would say yes, probably I would ignore him. I am highly appreciative of good roleplaying, but such disparate technology levels simply do not mesh, especially where war is concerned. If all parties can agree, that's one thing. But when you get into that area encounters cannot be made casually.