Author Topic: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm  (Read 9527 times)

Mr_Pleasington

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Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« on: August 09, 2005, 03:16:31 AM »
I've lately been inspired to return to designing my own strategic play by face/email/message board  4X sci-fi game.

I need some help.  It's not necessary to know anything about the game to help me.  Basically, I need Sciences and research goals that are typical to sci-fi.  I know I could just look up research trees for several video games, but I thought I'd see  what we could come up with.

Some guidelines:
-no weapons. Those will be dealt with later
-keep it fairly broad
-FTL travel has been discovered.

Research is divided into three areas, Military, Science, and Social.   Again, skip military for now.

Here are examples of what I have so far-

Science:
Terraforming
Artificial Intelligence
Total Autonomation (requires A.I.)
Organic Industry

Social:
Cloning Tech
Neural Grafting
Propaganda

Spriggan

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2005, 04:24:56 AM »
Intresting, I'll come up with some stuff once I get time later in the week.
Screw it, I'm buying crayons and paper. I can imagineer my own adventures! Wheeee!

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The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2005, 09:24:31 AM »
You need nanotech, medical research, bionics (for limb replacement), transportation (FTL, "warp" driver or hyperspace/travel, or teleportation, or several of the above). Power research (utilizing alternative energy sources like unused atomic or quantum energy sources, etc).

Legion

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2005, 10:03:12 AM »
How about....new forms of governements can make up some or use some good paper governements.  Also what about like a refinery type research to enhance the power supply sources.  Maybe some reasearch into reforce building materials to make certain items stronger (like buildings roadways, and other things of that nature)

Will post more when I think of more
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The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2005, 10:18:09 AM »
Anti-gravity (propulsion, materials transport), anti-matter (disposal). Energy projection (for protection for hazardous environments, such as mining or working with radioactive materials or chemicals. energy projection could be used for mining as well.

Legion

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2005, 12:09:45 PM »
what about improvements in houseing, buildings that can hold more people, new luxury items?
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Entsuropi

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2005, 01:30:40 PM »
Go buy GURPS Ultratech 1 and 2. Read. Those have an obscene amount of sci fi tech in them.
If you're ever in an argument and Entropy winds up looking staid and temperate in comparison, it might be time to cut your losses and start a new thread about something else :)

Fellfrosch

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2005, 02:28:13 PM »
What about the healh insurance industry. If you have near god-like ability to heal people, who decides what will be covered and what will not be covered? Are people enslaved to insurance policies? Does insuranse policies dictate who can be helped and who can't be helped? What is considered life-threatening when nearly anything can be cured? How would one set up a social security system for varied species?

Also there could be all kinds of social research on the interaction between different sentient species. Aliens may not necessarily think and feel as humans think and feel. There would probably be a lot of psychological research to be done there.

Here's another list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction_themes
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Legion

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2005, 03:00:08 PM »
what about advances in computer and information technology, maybe a world wide wireless communication feature, better computers, and Robotics.
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The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2005, 03:47:47 PM »
Quote
Go buy GURPS Ultratech 1 and 2. Read. Those have an obscene amount of sci fi tech in them.

*twitch*

Ok, you've hit on a pet peeve. When one is CREATING an RPG, it is a good idea to be familiar with ones of similar setting. However, once you've gotten past that stage and are actually building the setting, using another person's property as direct source material is just wrong on so many levels. It's fine if you're building a GURPS setting. But if not, don't go read GURPS Ultratech as you write your setting.

Mr_Pleasington

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2005, 03:56:46 PM »
All good suggestions, gang.  Some I'd already incorporated.

For the record, this isn't an RPG...technically.  It probably falls more under the category of strategy board game.  But without much of a board.

Mr_Pleasington

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2005, 05:07:22 PM »
While there are some great ideas here, it dawns on me that this would be much more helpful if I provided some context.  

Let me make an inquiry and see if I can do just that.

Legion

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2005, 05:23:44 PM »
the more information you can provied the better ideas people will have that are relevant to the game
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Mr_Pleasington

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2005, 05:26:46 PM »
Spoken like a true gentleman, Legion.  

That's why Fell was kind enough to give me a forum to do just that.  You'll notice "Endless Stars" is now our playtest arena.

Shortly, I'll have the the info I've got so far posted there.  Then you all can make suggestions.  We'll work out a all kinds of things and then, hopefully, playtest it!

Come join the fun!

Entsuropi

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Re: Sci-Fi Tech Brainstorm
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2005, 05:41:40 PM »
I'll play the romulans, and nobody will ally with me :)
If you're ever in an argument and Entropy winds up looking staid and temperate in comparison, it might be time to cut your losses and start a new thread about something else :)

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