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Loving the Isorian more and more with each update...

 scipio.au wrote:
Ah, k. I was reading it as "reaver" until I saw it in giant letters above Hansa's head.

I was too. Which of course made me immediately think about firefly.

"Revver" just doesn't "sound" right to my ears. But whatever.

If you listen to the audio on the videos and the podcasts that have been done, Rick Preistley consistently pronounces the word as you would for Scottish Border 'Reivers' not as in 'revving" an engine. Do not be misled by the spelling of the word.

Glad to finally see some concept art. Even if it doesn't do anything for me personally, it's nice to see that they're taking the hint.

However, someone needs to proofread better next time. The phrase is "faint of heart." "Feint of heart" sounds like some sort of love-based deception, which I doubt they meant.

 Guildsman wrote:
Glad to finally see some concept art. Even if it doesn't do anything for me personally, it's nice to see that they're taking the hint.

However, someone needs to proofread better next time. The phrase is "faint of heart." "Feint of heart" sounds like some sort of love-based deception, which I doubt they meant.

Thank god, I thought that I was the only one messing up posts

Concepts remind me of the different factions from Lost Planet 2, I approve!

 Dentry wrote:
Is anyone participating in the development forums at Dark Space Corp's site? I perused some of the threads and most of what I saw were (sometimes) veiled arguments of my tastes are better than yours. There does appear to be constructive discussion but it gets a bit muddled.

No, you've got it in one. A bunch of super-nerds arguing with other super-nerds about the subtle differences in hard sci-fi and space opera, and why one is better than the other...

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

Not a fan of the Freeborn icon, but am loving the Isorian one.

 Melcavuk wrote:
I'm participating on the development site and haven't found people to be overly argumentative, there have been a couple of users who felt the need to be overly critical and insulting however that is something that is the exception rather than the rule. On the whole I think there are some great ideas coming out over there and its a great chance to get involved.

 kenshin620 wrote:
As I said before, some people fall into the trap that they think this is an opportunity for a minis company to pander to them only
But sadly we live in a democracy which means people want different things (unless you donated $10,000 or something and then they'll listen to you )

 chris_valera wrote:
No, you've got it in one. A bunch of super-nerds arguing with other super-nerds about the subtle differences in hard sci-fi and space opera, and why one is better than the other...

The main detraction is that a lot of what I read, the arguments even when not argumentative or impolite or overtly hostile, is more justification for personal preference than an open discourse to grow the background. Particularly, in discussions with regards to sexual dimorphism, portrayal of female characters, and physical appearance of PanHumans (ie - species / races of GoA) words like furry and sexualized get thrown out there. One poster disparaged catgirls as unimaginative and unsuited to the game fluff while in the same post suggesting standard fantasy races like dwarves, elves, and such under the guise of humans exposed to different gravities and atmospheric conditions (he didn't state their nature explicitly but described short buff humans, tall thin humans, and so on).

I like this and this and this, and here is why that makes sense but those other ideas aren't logical. Please stop trying to shoehorn that stuff in there. That's not what Gates of Antares is about.

From my current understanding, Rick is trying to design a game world that's one-size-fits-all or a catch-all for scifi. And I could be wrong, of course, but it seems that DSC don't want to set the limits of what can or cannot exist in their universe, only describe what is. And like I said, much of the talk does appear constructive but it feels like people are afraid to give ground or be overly reasonable lest what they want not make it into the game.

chris_valera wrote:

Styuff

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

Considering your thread and posts are the only one's I've seen subject to moderator action over there, largely consisting of "I don't like X or Y, especially these core game mechanics, you need more Z, speaking of Z, this game needs Zombies" and then lots of angry responses to people responding to you, I'm not surprised that's your perception.

 Dentry wrote:
Not a fan of the Freeborn icon, but am loving the Isorian one.

 Melcavuk wrote:
I'm participating on the development site and haven't found people to be overly argumentative, there have been a couple of users who felt the need to be overly critical and insulting however that is something that is the exception rather than the rule. On the whole I think there are some great ideas coming out over there and its a great chance to get involved.

 kenshin620 wrote:
As I said before, some people fall into the trap that they think this is an opportunity for a minis company to pander to them only
But sadly we live in a democracy which means people want different things (unless you donated $10,000 or something and then they'll listen to you )

 chris_valera wrote:
No, you've got it in one. A bunch of super-nerds arguing with other super-nerds about the subtle differences in hard sci-fi and space opera, and why one is better than the other...

The main detraction is that a lot of what I read, the arguments even when not argumentative or impolite or overtly hostile, is more justification for personal preference than an open discourse to grow the background. Particularly, in discussions with regards to sexual dimorphism, portrayal of female characters, and physical appearance of PanHumans (ie - species / races of GoA) words like furry and sexualized get thrown out there. One poster disparaged catgirls as unimaginative and unsuited to the game fluff while in the same post suggesting standard fantasy races like dwarves, elves, and such under the guise of humans exposed to different gravities and atmospheric conditions (he didn't state their nature explicitly but described short buff humans, tall thin humans, and so on).

I found a significant amount of irony in that as I'd wager a solid population of them have as much a clue about women as manti te'o.

From my current understanding, Rick is trying to design a game world that's one-size-fits-all or a catch-all for scifi. And I could be wrong, of course, but it seems that DSC don't want to set the limits of what can or cannot exist in their universe, only describe what is. And like I said, much of the talk does appear constructive but it feels like people are afraid to give ground or be overly reasonable lest what they want not make it into the game.

And unfortunately, if that is his scope, his scope is far too large and at this point it makes it seem as if the universe doesn't have a ton of direction. Pandering to the masses and asking for "their input" is going to lead to less productive outcomes than if Preistly and co presented a solid foundation and allowed the player base to contribute to new parts.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Vaktathi wrote:

chris_valera wrote:

Styuff

--Chris
www.chrisvalera.com

Considering your thread and posts are the only one's I've seen subject to moderator action over there, largely consisting of "I don't like X or Y, especially these core game mechanics, you need more Z, speaking of Z, this game needs Zombies" and then lots of angry responses to people responding to you, I'm not surprised that's your perception.

Yeah. I disagree. I've read a lot of those threads and it is a whole bunch of super-nerds arguing about minutiae.

Kinda like the people that get so angry about the aerodynamics of vehicles or tank treads in a certain universe crawling with 8-foot genetically engineered super humans and 8-foot tall aliens that grow from spores and get larger the more important they are.

Chris sure likes his zombies. He's telling the former Rackham sculptor in the Simon Miniatures thread (where the sculptor is sculpting brilliant, Rackham-esque things) that "he should just make like a line of zombies or pirates or ninjas; core stuff that sells to fans" instead...



@Chris - here you go mate. Check these out for starters...

http://www.studiominiatures.com/Shop/Zombie-Miniatures.html
http://www.studiominiatures.com/Shop/Germans.html
http://wargamesfactory.com/webstore/dark-futures/zombie-horde
http://wargamesfactory.com/webstore/dark-futures/zombie-vixens
http://www.rpgminiatures.com/acatalog/Zombies_Boardgame_Miniatures.html
http://www.manticgames.com/Shop-Home/Kings-of-War/Undead/Core-Units-Zombies-and-Ghouls/Product/Undead-Zombie-Horde-60-Figures.html
http://www.manticgames.com/Shop-Home/Advance-Orders/Advance-Order-Zombie-Apokalypse/Product/Zombie-Apokalypse-Mega-Army.html
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1050054
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1120125
http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/zombie/latest

 Dentry wrote:
The main detraction is that a lot of what I read, the arguments even when not argumentative or impolite or overtly hostile, is more justification for personal preference than an open discourse to grow the background. Particularly, in discussions with regards to sexual dimorphism, portrayal of female characters, and physical appearance of PanHumans (ie - species / races of GoA) words like furry and sexualized get thrown out there.

"Furry" is the right word here. If the Panhumans were merely aliens, or humans with genetic adaptations that actually make some sense, they would be something that might appeal to furries. But making them human-descended means they are furries, or the descendants of furries. And personally, I think it's rather ridiculous to pretend that people who would have themselves and all their descendants turned into the creations of Doctor Moreau are so common that they could support multiple subspecies.

 AlexHolker wrote:
"Furry" is the right word here. If the Panhumans were merely aliens, or humans with genetic adaptations that actually make some sense, they would be something that might appeal to furries. But making them human-descended means they are furries, or the descendants of furries. And personally, I think it's rather ridiculous to pretend that people who would have themselves and all their descendants turned into the creations of Doctor Moreau are so common that they could support multiple subspecies.

It might be semantic, but I always thought furries were human-like animals rather than humans with animal characteristics. Does it matter either way, though? There is at least one 'animal' race with the Pansimians and there's concept work for cat people and dog people (or werewolves, not sure). A make-believe universe can be made to accommodate anything and accommodate it well.

I liked the fish people idea that someone suggested. It wasn't necessarily for the characters but the environments (underwater civilizations) it'd entail.

I hate the term Furry. It nearly always is thrown out in some form of derogatory way.

Cats in Science Fiction though? Who ever heard of that? I mean really. I know, how about a short incomplete list of cats in Science Fiction:

My favorite are the Kzinti from Larry Niven’s “Known Space” fictional universe.

Next are the Kilrathi from the Wing Commander series.

M’Ress a Caitian from Star Trek the Animated Series. Oddly enough Larry Niven included his Kzinti in Episodes he wrote for Star Trek the Animated Series.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home has a feline looking Caitian admiral as a background character.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier has a triple-breast catlike female stripper that meows and yowls exactly like a cat.

Doctor Who has The leonine Tharils in "Warriors' Gate" and the Cheetah People in "Survival".

One episode of Babylon 5 has Jha'dur, the last warmaster of the Dilgar and last surviving Dilgar in general.

Another feline folk species includes the Sisters of Plentitude in the episodes "New Earth" and "Gridlock" and Thomas Brannigan in "Gridlock".

Andre Norton wrote the Salariki, who progress with astonishing rapidity from being primitive Proud Warrior Race Guys (Plague Ship) to sophisticated members of the interstellar community (Android At Arms).

The Klees of Eelong in The Pendragon Adventure are giant, bipedal cats, and the dominant species in that world.

A. E. Van Vogt's The Voyage Of The Space Beagle had a cat-like alien called Coeurl

The Toralii in Lacuna are basically this, with a side order of Proud Warrior Race.

Star Wars as The Togorians.

Robert Westall's Urn Burial has the Fefethil; a race of anthro-cats who look like humanoid cheetahs, complete with cat-ears, tails and eyes but human-esque hands and fingers (albeit with retractable claws still).

One of the factions in Alkemy is the Khaliman Republic, a middle-eastern-style nation... populated entirely by anthropomorphic cat people.

The Starfire board game has the Khanate of Orion.

Star Fleet Battles: Lyrans (lynx) and The Kzinti (they apparently get around).

The Traveller Tabletop RPG has the Aslan (And the Vargr a race of Dog Aliens).

Star Wars The Old Republic the Cathar are a race of humanoid felines.

The Elder Scrolls has a very diverse race of cats called the Khajiit.

In EverQuest, one of the playable races later on are the Vah Shir, a species of anthropomorphic big cats.

Ever Quest II has the Kerrans, which physically resemble large humanoid felines. Their bodies are covered in fur with colors and patterns denoting their lineage.

Master of Orion series has an entire empire of cat-people, the Mrrshan, which were known for being one of the most aggressive and militaristic races throughout the series.

The Quest for Glory series has the Katta, a race of cat-like humanoids. It also has the Liontaur people, which are basically lions shaped like centaurs. Rakeesh in Quest for Glory II, III, and V is a major friend and supporting character of the Hero. Finally, Quest for Glory III has the Leopardmen, a secretive tribe in the jungle.

The Chanur novels is a series of five science fiction novels (forming three separate stories) written by science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh and published by DAW Books between 1981 and 1992. Featuring the Hani a feline-like species, maned, bearded, usually of red or tawny fur.

Thundercats.

The blue skinned Na’vi from Avatar.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Hunters of the Red Moon book has Cat like aliens.

The Marvel Universe has the Cat People, who were created from house cats by ancient sorcerers. The Avengers character Tigra got her powers from them.

I think the only kind of Alien that beats cat aliens might be bug aliens.

There you have it a not so complete list of Cat Aliens. Honestly, this is a race I was very much looking forward to. I have always been a fan of the Man-Kzin wars, and the Kilrathi from Wing Commander. So when I heard there were going to be a Cat like alien race I was ready to jump in. My understanding is that Rick and company have been talked out of it because of the silly "No Furry" talks. There is a big difference between so called Furries and Aliens decended from felines instead of apes. I hope there is a felonid alien race. Just my two cents.

 draugadan wrote:
I hate the term Furry. It nearly always is thrown out in some form of derogatory way.

Cats in Science Fiction though? Who ever heard of that? I mean really. I know, how about a short incomplete list of cats in Science Fiction:

I know your impressive list is admittedly incomplete but you missed the James Brown guy poignantly called Cat from Red Dwarf... and he's not even furry!

 draugadan wrote:
I hate the term Furry. It nearly always is thrown out in some form of derogatory way.

Cats in Science Fiction though? Who ever heard of that? I mean really. I know, how about a short incomplete list of cats in Science Fiction:... Just my two cents.

So, what you're saying is that cat aliens have been done to death, that they're like the zombies of sci-fi? Speaking of zombies...


Actually, I'm not actually a big fan of cat aliens, but the background of this universe practically demands "furries". Have you seen how many people dress up like animals at conventions or at parties? Imagine if they had access to free, painless body modification at the cellular level. There should be every kind of furry, literary homage, were-creature, spirit beast, mythological creature and skinbash imaginable. At 2% or even more of the future population, there should be billions and billions of them. Hell, there will probably be more Vulcans than ever canonically existed in Star Trek.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

Actually, I'm not actually a big fan of cat aliens,

Never would have guessed that from your planet hopping dog avatar pic....

Hey, cat aliens can be done well.




Not everything is a furry just because it resembles an earth mammal.

Is that a cat cyborg???

 cincydooley wrote:
Is that a cat cyborg???

What animal hasnt been turned into a cyborg yet?

I read a short story that gave a very interesting explanation or pretext for the presence of "furries".

This was a post-apocalypse story in which runaway climate change had forced the human population of earth to enclose itself in hive cities while they tried to modify the climate and ecosphere back to normal.

Obviously there was no room for animals, so they were gene-banked in order to be cloned back later, however some humans used genetics to incorporate some of the genetic characteristics of animals in themselves, thus producing cat people, etc. This was done in order to preserve some genetic code of the animal actually alive, for what were essentially religious purposes.

I'd sooner have a race of hyper-intelligent housecats with opposable thumbs in human-sized battle frames. A decadent and cruel race, hunting prey-species for sport, tormenting them before eventually consuming the broken husk in great swarms.

 Hercule Pyro wrote:
I'd sooner have a race of hyper-intelligent housecats with opposable thumbs in human-sized battle frames. A decadent and cruel race, hunting prey-species for sport, tormenting them before eventually consuming the broken husk in great swarms.

Not cats... but

 Zweischneid wrote:

 Hercule Pyro wrote:
I'd sooner have a race of hyper-intelligent housecats with opposable thumbs in human-sized battle frames. A decadent and cruel race, hunting prey-species for sport, tormenting them before eventually consuming the broken husk in great swarms.

Not cats... but

Spoiler:

We would be so frelled. But it would be fantastic in a game.

Especially due to the sheer panic of trying to kill a Predator while ignoring all other objectives.

 draugadan wrote:

Cats in Science Fiction though? Who ever heard of that? I mean really. I know, how about a short incomplete list of cats in Science Fiction:
Star Wars as The Togorians.

you forgot the cathar.

EDIT: darn it, didn't see you listed them under the old republic, my mistake

 Zweischneid wrote:

 Hercule Pyro wrote:
I'd sooner have a race of hyper-intelligent housecats with opposable thumbs in human-sized battle frames. A decadent and cruel race, hunting prey-species for sport, tormenting them before eventually consuming the broken husk in great swarms.

Not cats... but

Spoiler:

It says far too much about me that I was going for a Dark Eldar vibe. Cruel, spiteful, makes a nice noise when you rub their tummies. It's all there.

Still, a Big Game Hunter (Who is honestly not a Predator, nooo) would be a fun mercenary or special character. Maybe a third-party player picking off both sides?

Glad to see they have more info and some concept art even if it looks a bit necromunda/mad max road warrior. My only concern is how close their weapons resemble plasma weapons and the one guy basically has a power fist

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though considering whos making the game. I think we need more art of planets,fauna, infrastructure, ships and such to get a nice sampling of one sector of the game rather then more people. Most importantly aliens, just a few!

The art of the two dirty fellows just gives my mind this lingering first impression and the other part of my brain has to keep assuring it that other freeborn won't look like that (I dearly Hope so anyway).

Really glad to see forward movement though, if they drop something like this every day or so they can easily turn this around!

I don't think "Space Hobos" really did it for many...



Now trending towards 69% of goal.

I can't believe that the people behind this project aren't 'getting it'.

Maybe at the start, but not now!

I keep expecting them to unleash something spectacular... any day now?

Alpharius I think they would if they could they just don't have anything more than what you see here. I bet they thought Ricks name would be all they needed.

Mel and the Crew need to make a guest appearance.

I'd pay for a Man Kinz army, if they had some sculpts like the Hanza ones style.