NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm getting very sick of all the hyper-advanced civilizations going around today. It's not really that they're godmodding, since they all agree to have anti-matter beams, reactice energy shields, and ships that can cross the galaxy in a matter of days, or even hours. It's that these things shouldn't be there at all. There comes a time when technology stops being interesting and starts being ridiculous.

What's required is that players can slow down, shrug off the ultra-powerful technology, and interact like realistic space empires. So I'm starting a new closed RP. I'm very interested in your replies, but the basic agenda should be:

1. Technology that's futuristic, but not too futuristic. Travel times should be limited to high-STL through low-FTL. Correspondingly, interaction takes place on the scale of months or years. Going to other worlds becomes DIFFERENT from going to the local liquor store.
2. A commonly agreed upon frame of reference. This could be as simple as limiting ourselves to a 1000-LY radius from earth, all the way up to a comprehensive backstory, and common agreements on how key technologies will function.

Please reply if you're interested

If your getting sick of all the hyper advanceed nations, then RP with someone else. People happen to like weapons that can annilate all life on a planet!

I just started a puppet nation that I was planning on RPing in Future Tech with, and I would like to get it involved in this specific RP. It seems like a good idea. My nation is called The Empire of the Fading Suns.

Thats good and all, but space opera is part of what makes FT fun.
Maybe you should make 'Sol II' or something.

Ubertech in itself is not bad. It only becomes bad when it becomes the focus of the story. (Of course, if you just don't like ubertech, that's your problem and you don't really belong in the majority of FT RPs from what I've seen.)

Characters are what should be the focus of the story, and in my RPs, I try to ensure this. I admit that I am a highly advanced FT civilization with the ability to cross the galaxy in hours, but that is just a means to an end. My goal is to develope my characters, rather than wank over 'my super-uber-godtech pwns you.'

Many of the FT nations enjoy being advanced. It was our choice in the first place. This is Freeform RP, and you can't dictate how we should Roleplay, and I am sure you will get many angry messages, so good luck on those, this one wont be one of them.

Good luck with Sol II.

~Siesatia

Characters are what should be the focus of the story, and in my RPs, I try to ensure this. I admit that I am a highly advanced FT civilization with the ability to cross the galaxy in hours, but that is just a means to an end. My goal is to develope my characters, rather than wank over 'my super-uber-godtech pwns you.'

YAY! Same mentality. If only you weren't Anti Xeno...

You don't seem to appreciate just how vast this galaxy is. It's thought generally that the Milky Way is 100,000 lightyears in diameter, not including things they can't see like dark matter. Some people have RPed their FT nations as being on the other side of the galaxy to Earth. I have placed Bretonia, for example, about 6,000 - 10,000 lightyears closer to the galactic core than Sol. To travel that distance even with an FTL drive similar to that of Star Trek's would simply take too long. But with an STL or even a primitive FTL, it would just make most RPs impossible. You're not talking a few months or a couple of years, you're talking hundreds of years MINIMUM, maybe even thousands of years, just to travel to places where two nations could bump into each other. And then there's the need for highly advanced communications, otherwise you may never speak to your homeland ever again. Even with a limit of 1,000ly (something impossible for most FT RPers now that they have already determined their positions in the galaxy -- some FT RPers might even have territory 1,000ly across), you're talking impractical lengths of time both for travelling and for communications.

I like to think I haven't made Bretonia ridiculously advanced. They have a sophisticated FTL drive now, for the very reasons highlighted above (although mobile FTL is still a new thing for them, advanced only because it is based on static FTL devices... and even so, it takes them a little longer to travel to places than most will claim). Other than that, they still have two classes of ships that do not have shielding technology, etc.

I dont see a need for crappy FTL. As pointed out above, even star trek's Warp Drive would take years to cross the galaxy. Thats why you use stuff like Coaxile Warp Drive, or Hyperspace From Star Wars, so RP's become possible.

Indeed, hyper-advanced civilizations are becoming plentiful these days. But hyper-advanced civilizations with intergalactic, particle beam toting cruisers are not that bad in my book. What I truly despise is a nation that bases all of their technology on a television show. I saw someone trying to sell off their Qaracetum metal or something, and they said that it was "the basis of our nation's advanced technology." I clicked on a link they provided, and found out that it was some kind of antigravity quantum metal or somesuch that they copied off of Stargate. If your entire technological tree sprouts from a fictional material that should not exist, then help yourself to a science book for some new ideas.

I really don't see anything wrong with this kind of tech as long as everyone agrees. Its just the sheer numbers of omg50kmpl4n3tn00kz0rz that some people use that annoy me.

I try to use my own tech. But I steal stuff off of Star Trek everynow and then,

I just dont like people who go " oh my beam is better than your beam! "

Besides, everyone likes star trek.

I prefer to mix and match my techs. I draw from star trek, star wars, battlestar galactica, and 40K. I placed myself on the far outreaches of the galaxy. Not many peeps there

I take bits from a lot of sources: 40k, Star Wars, Freelancer, Homeworld, my own twisted imagination, and the occasional bit "adapted" from other RPers.

I need to get a life.... sigh

I need to get a life.... sigh

Nationstates is a life of its own. Even if it is a very nerdy life...

*Pokes around the bushes outside..* ...here life! Here lifey lifey lifey! Here life!

As for the orginal post, it's minds like that that I fear keeps our RL space exploration stuck on Earth. Imagine if any of the concepts we rp out were 'real'. Personally the colonized solar system idea appeals to moi.

By now most of ya probably know how I put together my FT concept, but if it weren't for other people that came up with the ideas (love that TV, RP stores, and Borders..) in the first place, NONE of us would be here enjoying the benefits of far reaching imaginative types that came before us all.

All hail imagination. =^^=

OOC: I'll be the first to confess to having a hideously super-clarketech nation. But to be fair, I will admit that it is unrealistically uber. However, I've had some good fun being unrealistically uber. There's nothing wrong with it in itself.

Personally I find poor paragraphing and obnoxious spelling far more vexing than In-Character technological advancement.

Yeah, it's the fun that supposed to come first, with grammar attached. Why are we even here if were not ALL rpers making stuff up?

I try to use my own tech. But I steal stuff off of Star Trek everynow and then,

I just dont like people who go " oh my beam is better than your beam! "

Besides, everyone likes star trek.

Star Trek RULES!

Wait... Clarketech? As in Arthur C. Clarke? Or am I thinking of something else?

I've used (so far) Fusion Beams, Plasma Cannons, Mirrors, Sensors, Cyclic Lasers, Conventional Explosives, Hyperspace Jumps (Star Control-type), Sonic Cannons, Neuroshock, EMP, and so on.

I find it more fun to think of a truly unique weapon, like using huge mirrors to redirect large amounts of sunlight onto a foe.

Wait... Clarketech? As in Arthur C. Clarke? Or am I thinking of something else?

I've used (so far) Fusion Beams, Plasma Cannons, Mirrors, Sensors, Cyclic Lasers, Conventional Explosives, Hyperspace Jumps (Star Control-type), Sonic Cannons, Neuroshock, EMP, and so on.

I find it more fun to think of a truly unique weapon, like using huge mirrors to redirect large amounts of sunlight onto a foe.

Nice sun-beam death ray. :cool:

As for me the only FT stuff that gets under my skin is Biotech and Nanotech being used for things they aren't good at as well as people treating starships like an electron. Everything else I take part in myself so let the fun times roll.

As for my tech I take ideas from novels, computer games, movies, TV shows, meld them together and come up with my own. It's fun, especially desiging ships on DOGA.

The idea wasn't that FT was dewdish. It was that some people might like a more subdued feel to the technoscape and the scale of galactic diplomacy. In any case, there seems to be only one other person interested..

Ubertech in itself is not bad. It only becomes bad when it becomes the focus of the story. (Of course, if you just don't like ubertech, that's your problem and you don't really belong in the majority of FT RPs from what I've seen.)

Characters are what should be the focus of the story, and in my RPs, I try to ensure this. I admit that I am a highly advanced FT civilization with the ability to cross the galaxy in hours, but that is just a means to an end. My goal is to develope my characters, rather than wank over 'my super-uber-godtech pwns you.'


Exactly. I made my civilisation incredibly advanced for similar reasons. The other one I really like is if you are uber, then you have a small amount of ships, and are always outnumbered (although I'm still working on getting the numbers right, and I've just realised I majorly screwed up. But Rping is supposed to be a learning thing)

Perhaps It's just because I play to much warhammer and love heroic last stands, but the idea of a small fleet, that could make God want to pay out ransom, always outnumbered and stretched thin in their desite to help everyone they can appeals to me. But hey, whatever floats your boat - that's what roleplaying is about, right?.

It works if you get them with the shields down. Undiluted sunlight, when concentrated, can be powerful.

Anyway, who expects someone to use mirrors? ^.^


On the topic of the Uber:Ships ratio, I usually have small fleets, as then I can properly maneuver them to cut back losses. Not to mention you can do specific-targeting, like hitting specific weapon emplacements.

Then again, when they do get hit, they just go kablooie, or are heavily crippled.

What I find interesting is those FT nations that have more than one, or even one, 12km super ship. I only find this so because I try to rp my nation (as it is developing in nationstates) into it. As such, and many others who do this, would never have the resources, manpower, or technology, to build/maintain something that huge.

I would be interested, would we can have the fun, just having it a small distance from earth. Now, would we all have to be humans? Cause if so or not we have a nice little plot here.

Kindura, my race (or species if you will) is entirely my creation. They are a non-humanoid species and are in a true sense "alien". As such, it is a challange to RP them because you must "become one of them" so to speak. But RP'ing them is fun for me so I do it. That's the main reason why I'm here, after all. As for the technology, I really don't care. Central Facehuggria has the right idea - its just a means to an end. I do not use planet destroying technologies - my race, would find the concept insane. Otherwise our technologies are advanced.

What I find interesting is those FT nations that have more than one, or even one, 12km super ship. I only find this so because I try to rp my nation (as it is developing in nationstates) into it. As such, and many others who do this, would never have the resources, manpower, or technology, to build/maintain something that huge.

We have one "prototype" ship at about that range (8km). However, the vast majority of my ships are under the 1.5km range. But you must also remember, that with future tech comes more efficient production methods. Ouur ships are essentually "grown" and "molded" into shape. They are also self healing, so minor "wear 'n' tear" damage is constanly being repaired.

I would be interested, would we can have the fun, just having it a small distance from earth. Now, would we all have to be humans? Cause if so or not we have a nice little plot here.

Well, bear in mind that I would fit in this "nice little plot" here ;) And no, we are definatly not human....

The drooling masses have spoken!

*Thunder and lightning*

Fine, you win. I just wish I could have used my nuclear-powered Rock-On-A-Stick. I would have preferred to slowly develop my technology over the course of centuries, but I think I'll just steal yours instead. Toodles!

Ah Frack, Well, someone close this now.

Ah Frack, Well, someone close this now.

(OOC: I've been wondering, is "Frak" or "Frack", as you say, actually an example of profanity, or is it just something BG made up?)

OOC No idea, its in Battlestar Galatica, but I don't know what it means, I use it as a show of dissapointment mostly, not a swear word.

The drooling masses have spoken!

*Thunder and lightning*

Fine, you win. I just wish I could have used my nuclear-powered Rock-On-A-Stick.What exactly prevents you from using it? Seeing as it is your nation, not anyone else's...

The drooling masses have spoken!

*Thunder and lightning*

Fine, you win. I just wish I could have used my nuclear-powered Rock-On-A-Stick. I would have preferred to slowly develop my technology over the course of centuries, but I think I'll just steal yours instead. Toodles!
If that was your point, then you should realize that most FT nations HAVE slowly developed their technology. Simply jumping up and shouting 'I HAVE AN UBER DEATH RAY OF DOOM AND YOU ARE ALL DEAD!' is grounds for ignoring.
You can get away with some 'ass space' development, that is simply having something with no development, but its usualy small things, IE: A new type of fighter or something.

BTW, Dontgonearthere takes an agressive approach to copyright infringments, and theres the small matter of the International Mall Copyright Treaty, which will bring about thirty very large nations down on your head if you copy anything from me.
And then theres Vrak, the Walrus nation, you dont mess wit' da walrus. ;)

Simply jumping up and shouting 'I HAVE AN UBER DEATH RAY OF DOOM AND YOU ARE ALL DEAD!' is grounds for ignoring.So is doing the same with developing over half a year.

BTW, Dontgonearthere takes an agressive approach to copyright infringments, and theres the small matter of the International Mall Copyright Treaty, which will bring about thirty very large nations down on your head if you copy anything from me.Your ego is still encompassing half the galaxy, yes? You know, there is this small thing about copyrights for $Stuff in NS being ludicrously stupid. Approximately comparable to NATO (The IRL one) going BWAHAHA! I R COPYRIGHTED TEH N00K! THOU ARE DEAD, COMMIES!

And for some odd reason, I do consider the idea of an (Apparently hive- minded, or the population would say something about the idea being ludicrously stupid) entire nation going to 'RAWR! WAR! YOU COPIED US!' to be all so slightly... Well, representing the lack of common sense, sanity, and possibly sentience of the player in question...

Your ego is still encompassing half the galaxy, yes? You know, there is this small thing about copyrights for $Stuff in NS being ludicrously stupid. Approximately comparable to NATO (The IRL one) going BWAHAHA! I R COPYRIGHTED TEH N00K! THOU ARE DEAD, COMMIES!

And for some odd reason, I do consider the idea of an (Apparently hive- minded, or the population would say something about the idea being ludicrously stupid) entire nation going to 'RAWR! WAR! YOU COPIED US!' to be all so slightly... Well, representing the lack of common sense, sanity, and possibly sentience of the player in question...
There are very specific things that can be copyrighted and very specific things that cant. Obviously copying one thing would not be grounds for war, possibly a stiff warning and a slightly rude note.
If somebody simply copies and pastes my ENTIRE storefront (coughfutureenglandcough) I get rather more angry.
*strokes his ego*

And for some odd reason, I do consider the idea of an (Apparently hive- minded, or the population would say something about the idea being ludicrously stupid) entire nation going to 'RAWR! WAR! YOU COPIED US!' to be all so slightly... Well, representing the lack of common sense, sanity, and possibly sentience of the player in question...

In my nation, the arms industry holds great sway. Further, they don't like people infringing on their copyrights. Therefore, they tend to...eh...influence my government into invading people who copy their equipment and produce cheap knockoffs. And since my government is essientially led by a tiny clique of people, it isn't *too* hard to influence. Not like a Democracy or similar government.

Of course, that's just an IC justification for the OOC fact that I hate it when people take my ideas and use them without credit. Pics and stuff I'm okay with, but when people take my writing and try to pass it off as their own, I get a little antsy. Wouldn't you?

*points to CF and says "Yeah, right!"*